was it for this—that prayers like these

should spend themselves about thy feet,

and with hard, over-labored knees

kneeling, these slaves of men should beat

bosoms too lean to suckle sons

and fruitless as their orisons?

was it for this—that men should make

thy name a fetter on men's necks,

poor men made poorer for thy sake,

and women withered out of sex?

was it for this—that slaves should be—

thy word was passed to set men free? swinburne.