To a Young Ass
Poor little Foal of an oppresséd race!
I love the languid patience of thy face:
And oft with gentle hand I give thee bread,
And clap thy ragged coat, and pat thy head.
But what thy dulled spirits hath dismay’d,
That never thou dost sport along the glade?
And (most unlike the nature of things young)
That earthward still thy moveless head is hung?
Do thy prophetic fears anticipate,
Meek Child of Misery! thy future fate?
The starving meal, and all the thousand aches
“Which patient Merit of the Unworthy takes?”
Or is thy sad heart thrill'd with filial pain
To see thy wretched mother’s shorten’d chain?
And truly, very piteous is her lot—
Chain’d to a log within a narrow spot,
Where the close-eaten grass is scarcely seen,
While sweet around her waves the tempting green!
Poor Ass! thy master should have learnt to show
Pity—best taught by fellowship of Woe!
For much I fear me that He lives like thee,
Half-famish’d in a land of Luxury!
How askingly its footsteps hither bend?
It seems to say, “And have I then one friend?”
Innocent foal! thou poor despis’d forlorn!
I hail thee Brother—spite of the fool’s scorn!
And fain would take thee with me, in the Dell
Where high-soul’d Pantisocracy shall dwell!
Where Mirth shall tickle Plenty’s ribless side,
And smiles from Beauty’s Lip on sunbeams glide,
Where Toil shall wed young Health that charming Lass!
And use his sleek cows for a looking-glass—
Where Rats shall mess with Terriers hand-in-glove
And Mice with Pussy’s Whiskers sport in Love
How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play,
And frisk about, as lamb or kitten gay!
Yea! and more musically sweet to me
Thy dissonant harsh bray of joy would be,
Than warbled melodies that soothe to rest
The aching of pale Fashion’s vacant breast!