The rise, progress, and phases of human slavery How it came into the world and how it shall be made to go out

A man who lived for truth, and truth alone-- Brave as the bravest--generous as brave; A man whose heart was rent by every moan That burst from every trodden, tortured slave; A man prepared to fight, prepared to die, To lighten, banish, human misery.

The mighty scorned him, vilified, oppressed; The bitter cup of poverty and pain Forced him to drink. He was misfortune’s guest Through weary, weary years; his anguish’d brain Shed tears of pity--wrath--for Mankind’s woe; For his own sorrows tears could never flow.

He loved the people with a brother’s love; He hated tyrants with a tyrant’s hate. He turned from kings below, to God above-- The King of kings, who smites the wicked great. The shame, the scourge, the terror of their race, Those demons in earth’s holy dwelling-place.

Thou noble soul!--around thee gathered those Who, poor and trampled patriots, were like thee. Thou art not dead!--thy martyred spirit glows In us, a band devoted of the free; We best can celebrate thy natal day, By virtues, valours, such as marked thy way.

WILLIAM MACCALL.