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

And the vale with the fragrant hay.

Our place we know, we’re so very, very low,

’Tis down at the landlord’s feet;

We’re not too low the grain to grow,

But too low the bread to eat.

Down, down we go, we’re so very, very low,

To the hell of the deep-sunk mines;

But we gather the proudest gems that glow,

When the crown of the despot shines;

And when’er he lacks, upon our backs