The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest / The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

by Unknown

The Two Songs

By William Blake

(See page [98])

I heard an Angel singing

When the day was springing:

“Mercy, pity, and peace,

Are the world’s release.”

So he sang all day

Over the new-mown hay,

Till the sun went down,

And haycocks looked brown

I heard a Devil curse

Over the heath and the furze:

“Mercy could be no more

If there were nobody poor,

And pity no more could be

If all were happy as ye:

And mutual fear brings peace.

Misery’s increase

Are mercy, pity, peace.”

At his curse the sun went down,

And the heavens gave a frown.

By James Anthony Froude

(English historian, 1818-1894)

The endurance of the inequalities of life by the poor is the marvel of human society.