Nettles.... Cruelty.
Reading edition
Nettles may be considered the appropriate emblem of cruelty. How often, while in search of flowers, have we felt the sting of these unrelenting plants! We call that punishment cruel which visits us without our doing an injury which deserves it; and, as we never wished to be in the vicinity of the Nettles, nor, therefore, to injure them, our boyish fancy looked upon them as cruel.
Spare not the babe, Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy; Think it a bastard, whom the oracle Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut, And mince it sans remorse. Shakspeare.
Do not insult calamity; It is a barbarous grossness to lay on The weight of scorn, where heavy misery Too much already weighs men’s fortunes down. Daniel.
Oh, he’s accurst from all that’s good, Who never knew Love’s healing power; Such sinner on his sins must brood, And wait alone his hour. If stranger to earth’s beauty—human love, There is no rest below, nor hope above. Dana.