"My brethren, we are free! The fruits are glowing Beneath the stars, and the night-winds are flowing O'er the ripe corn. The birds and beasts are dreaming. Never again may blood of bird or beast Stain with its venomous stream a human feast, To the pure skies in accusation steaming; Avenging poisons shall have ceased To feed disease and fear and madness; The dwellers of the earth and air Shall throng around our steps in gladness, Seeking their food or refuge there. Our toil from thought all glorious forms shall cull, To make this earth, our home, more beautiful; And Science, and her sister Poesy, Shall clothe in light the fields and cities of the free!" * * * * * Over the plain the throngs were scattered then In groups around the fires, which from the sea Even to the gorge of the first mountain-glen Blazed wide and far. The banquet of the free Was spread beneath many a dark cypress-tree; Beneath whose spires which swayed in the red flame Reclining as they ate, of liberty, And hope, and justice, and Laone's name, Earth's children did a woof of happy converse frame. Their feast was such as Earth, the general mother, Pours from her fairest bosom, when she smiles In the embrace of Autumn. To each other As when some parent fondly reconciles Her warring children, she their wrath beguiles With her own sustenance; they relenting weep:-- Such was this festival, which, from their isles And continents and winds and oceans deep, All shapes might throng to share that fly or walk or creep. That this was no mere poetic sentiment is proved by this pamphlet, which is an earnest vindication of Vegetarianism. H. S. S. W. E. A. A. [ORIGINAL TITLE PAGE.] A VINDICATION OF NATURAL DIET. BEING ONE IN A SERIES OF NOTES TO QUEEN MAB (A PHILOSOPHICAL POEM). [Greek: Iapetionide, panton peri medea eidos, Chaireis pur klepsas, kai emas phrenas eperopeusas; Soit' auto mega pema kai andrasin essomenoisi. Toisd'ego anti puros doso kakon, o ken apantes Terpontai kata thumon, eon kakon amphagapontes.] [Greek: ESIOD.] Op. et Dies. 1, 54. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. CALLOW, MEDICAL BOOKSELLER, CROWN COURT, PRINCE'S STREET, SOHO, BY SMITH & DAVY, QUEEN STREET, SEVEN DIALS. 1813. _PRICE ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE._ A VINDICATION OF NATURAL DIET.