This song was composed while George Latimer, the fugitive slave, was <br />confined in Leverett Street Jail, Boston, expecting to be carried back <br />to Virginia by James B. Gray, his claimant. <br /> <br />Sadly the fugitive weeps in his cell, <br />Listen awhile to the story we tell; <br />Listen ye gentle ones, listen ye brave, <br />Lady fair! Lady fair! weep for the slave. <br /> <br />Praying for liberty, dearer than life, <br />Torn from his little one, torn from his wife, <br />Flying from slavery, hear him and save, <br />Christian men! Christian men! help the poor slave. <br /> <br />Think of his agony, feel for his pain, <br />Should his hard master e'er hold him again; <br />Spirit of liberty, rise from your grave, <br />Make him free, make him free, rescue the slave. <br /> <br />Freely the slave master goes where he will; <br />Freemen, stand ready, his wishes to fulfil, <br />Helping the tyrant, or honest or knave, <br />Thinking not, caring not, for the poor slave. <br /> <br />Talk not of liberty, liberty is dead; <br />See the slave master's whip over our head; <br />Stooping beneath it, we ask what he craves, <br />Boston boys! Boston boys! catch me my slaves. <br /> <br />Freemen, arouse ye, before it's too late; <br />Slavery is knocking, at every gate, <br />Make good the promise, your early days gave, <br />Boston boys! Boston boys! rescue the slave.<br /><br />Anonymous Americas<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/rescue-the-slave/
