Poems on Slavery — To William E. Channing

MASSINGER.

TO WILLIAM E.

CHANNING.

The pages of thy book I read, And as I closed each one, My heart, responding, ever said, "Servant of God!

well done!"

Well done!

Thy words are great and bold;

At times they seem to me, Like Luther's, in the days of old, Half-battles for the free.

Go on, until this land revokes The old and chartered Lie, The feudal curse, whose whips and yokes Insult humanity.

A voice is ever at thy side Speaking in tones of might, Like the prophetic voice, that cried To John in Patmos, "Write!"