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Poem
February 20, 1806
Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Humorous verse recounting an elderly enslaved African named Cato on his deathbed, who refuses to have Scipio as a pallbearer due to past grievances of lies and whipping, showcasing 'African wit' through dialect.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
TRUE AFRICAN WIT
OLD Cato on his death-bed lying.
Worn out with work and almost dying-
With patience heard his friends propose
What bearers for him they had chose :
"There: Cuff and Caesar, Pomp and Plate,
Will they do ?" "Bery well" quoth Cato-
"And Bantam Phillips-now, for 'tother-
We must take Scipio Bantam's brother."
"I no like Scip," old Cato cries,
"Scip rascal-tell about me lies,
And got me whipp'd" —" Ki! 'tis all one,
Scip shall be bearer- Scip or none.'
"Mind me I" cries Cato, "if dat cur,
Dat Scip come bearer, I won't stir."
OLD Cato on his death-bed lying.
Worn out with work and almost dying-
With patience heard his friends propose
What bearers for him they had chose :
"There: Cuff and Caesar, Pomp and Plate,
Will they do ?" "Bery well" quoth Cato-
"And Bantam Phillips-now, for 'tother-
We must take Scipio Bantam's brother."
"I no like Scip," old Cato cries,
"Scip rascal-tell about me lies,
And got me whipp'd" —" Ki! 'tis all one,
Scip shall be bearer- Scip or none.'
"Mind me I" cries Cato, "if dat cur,
Dat Scip come bearer, I won't stir."
What sub-type of article is it?
Epigram
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Slavery Abolition
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
African Wit
Deathbed
Pallbearers
Slavery
Dialect
Whipping
Poem Details
Title
True African Wit
Subject
Deathbed Choice Of Pallbearers
Form / Style
Rhymed Dialect Verse
Key Lines
"I No Like Scip," Old Cato Cries,
"Scip Rascal Tell About Me Lies,
And Got Me Whipp'd" —" Ki! 'Tis All One,
Scip Shall Be Bearer Scip Or None.'
"Mind Me I" Cries Cato, "If Dat Cur,
Dat Scip Come Bearer, I Won't Stir."