But none inquired how Peter used the rope, Or what the bruise that made the stripling stoop; None could the ridges on his back behold, None sought him shiv'ring in the winter's cold; None put the question,--"Peter, dost thou give The boy his food?--What, man! the lad must live: Consider, Peter, let the child have bread, He'll serve the better if he's stroked and fed." None reason'd thus--and some, on hearing cries, Said calmly, "Grimes is at his exercise." Pinn'd, beaten, cold, pinch'd, threaten'd, and abused - His efforts punish'd and his food refused, - Awake tormented,--soon aroused from sleep, - Struck if he wept, and yet compell'd to weep, The trembling boy dropp'd down and strove to pray, Received a blow, and trembling turn'd away, Or sobb'd and hid his piteous face;--while he, The savage master, grinn'd in horrid glee: He'd now the power he ever loved to show, A feeling being subject to his blow. Thus lived the lad, in hunger, peril, pain, His tears despised, his supplications vain: Compe'lld by fear to lie, by need to steal, His bed uneasy and unbless'd his meal, For three sad years the boy his tortures bore, And then his pains and trials were no more. "How died he, Peter?" when the people said, He growl'd--"I found him lifeless in his bed;" Then tried for softer tone, and sigh'd, "Poor Sam is dead." Yet murmurs were there, and some questions ask'd - How he was fed, how punish'd, and how task'd? Much they suspected, but they little proved, And Peter pass'd untroubled and unmoved. Another boy with equal ease was found, The money granted, and the victim bound; And what his fate?--One night it chanced he fell From the boat's mast and perish'd in her well, Where fish were living kept, and where the boy (So reason'd men) could not himself destroy: - "Yes! so it was" said Peter, "in his play, (For he was idle both by night and day,) He climb'd the main-mast and then fell below;" - Then show'd his corpse, and pointed to the blow. "What said the jury?"--they were long in doubt, But sturdy Peter faced the matter out: So they dismissed him, saying at the time, "Keep fast your hatchway when you've boys who climb." This hit the conscience, and he colour'd more Than for the closest questions put before. Thus all his fears the verdict set aside, And at the slave-shop Peter still applied. Then came a boy, of manners soft and mild, - Our seamen's wives with grief beheld the child; All thought (the poor themselves) that he was one Of gentle blood, some noble sinner's son, Who had, belike, deceived some humble maid, Whom he had first seduced and then betray'd: - However this, he seem'd a gracious lad, In grief submissive, and with patience sad. Passive he labour'd, till his slender frame Bent with his loads, and he at length was lame: Strange that a frame so weak could bear so long The grossest insult and the foulest wrong; But there were causes--in the town they gave Fire, food, and comfort, to the gentle slave;