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Poem
November 25, 1797
The Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
A poem lamenting the slave trade, inspired by an African prince's story of trading a boy for a watch. It describes the boy's separation from family, enslavement in the West Indies, parental grief, and divine retribution against oppressors.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SACRED TO THE MUSES.
THE NEGRO BOY.
An African Prince, on his arrival in England, being asked what he had given for his watch, answered, "What I will never give again— I gave a fine boy"
When avarice enslaves the mind,
And gain in view alone bears sway.
Man turns a savage to his kind,
And blood and rapine mark his way.
Alas! for this poor simple toy,
I sold a blooming negro boy.
His father's hope, his mother's pride,
Tho' black, yet comely to the view;
I tore him helpless from their side,
And gave him to a ruffian crew:
To fiends that Afric's coast annoy,
I sold the blooming negro boy.
From country, friends, and parents torn,
His tender limbs in chains confin'd;
I saw him o'er the billows borne,
And mark'd his agony of mind.
But still, to gain this simple toy,
I gave away the negro boy.
In isles that deck the western wave,
I doom'd the hapless youth to dwell
A poor, forlorn, insulted slave,
A beast that Christians buy and sell:
And in their cruel tasks employ
The much enduring negro boy.
His wretched parents long shall mourn,
Shall long explore the distant main,
In hopes to see the youth return,
But all their hopes and wishes are vain.
They never shall the sight enjoy
Of their lamented negro boy.
Beneath a tyrant's harsh command,
He wears away his youthful prime,
Far distant from his native land,
A stranger in a foreign clime.
No pleasing thoughts his mind employ,
A poor dejected negro boy.
But he, who walks upon the wind,
Whose voice in thunder's heard on high;
Who doth the raging tempest bind,
Or wings the lightning thro' the sky;
In his own time will sure destroy
The oppressors of a negro boy.
THE NEGRO BOY.
An African Prince, on his arrival in England, being asked what he had given for his watch, answered, "What I will never give again— I gave a fine boy"
When avarice enslaves the mind,
And gain in view alone bears sway.
Man turns a savage to his kind,
And blood and rapine mark his way.
Alas! for this poor simple toy,
I sold a blooming negro boy.
His father's hope, his mother's pride,
Tho' black, yet comely to the view;
I tore him helpless from their side,
And gave him to a ruffian crew:
To fiends that Afric's coast annoy,
I sold the blooming negro boy.
From country, friends, and parents torn,
His tender limbs in chains confin'd;
I saw him o'er the billows borne,
And mark'd his agony of mind.
But still, to gain this simple toy,
I gave away the negro boy.
In isles that deck the western wave,
I doom'd the hapless youth to dwell
A poor, forlorn, insulted slave,
A beast that Christians buy and sell:
And in their cruel tasks employ
The much enduring negro boy.
His wretched parents long shall mourn,
Shall long explore the distant main,
In hopes to see the youth return,
But all their hopes and wishes are vain.
They never shall the sight enjoy
Of their lamented negro boy.
Beneath a tyrant's harsh command,
He wears away his youthful prime,
Far distant from his native land,
A stranger in a foreign clime.
No pleasing thoughts his mind employ,
A poor dejected negro boy.
But he, who walks upon the wind,
Whose voice in thunder's heard on high;
Who doth the raging tempest bind,
Or wings the lightning thro' the sky;
In his own time will sure destroy
The oppressors of a negro boy.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Elegy
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Negro Boy
Slave Trade
African Prince
Slavery
Avarice
Abolition
Oppression
Poem Details
Title
The Negro Boy.
Subject
An African Prince, On His Arrival In England, Being Asked What He Had Given For His Watch, Answered, "What I Will Never Give Again— I Gave A Fine Boy"
Key Lines
When Avarice Enslaves The Mind,
And Gain In View Alone Bears Sway.
Man Turns A Savage To His Kind,
And Blood And Rapine Mark His Way.
Alas! For This Poor Simple Toy,
I Sold A Blooming Negro Boy.
His Father's Hope, His Mother's Pride,
Tho' Black, Yet Comely To The View;
I Tore Him Helpless From Their Side,
And Gave Him To A Ruffian Crew:
To Fiends That Afric's Coast Annoy,
I Sold The Blooming Negro Boy.
But He, Who Walks Upon The Wind,
Whose Voice In Thunder's Heard On High;
Who Doth The Raging Tempest Bind,
Or Wings The Lightning Thro' The Sky;
In His Own Time Will Sure Destroy
The Oppressors Of A Negro Boy.