The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume I Part 15

But here philosophers oppose the scheme: 45 This earth, say they, nor hills nor mountains knew Ere yet the universal flood prevailed; But when the mighty waters rose aloft, Roused by the winds, they shook their solid base, And, in convulsions, tore the deluged world, 50 'Till by the winds a.s.suaged, again they fell, And all their ragged bed exposed to view.

Perhaps far wandering toward the northern pole The streights of Zembla, and the frozen zone, And where the eastern Greenland almost joins 55 America's north point, the hardy tribes Of banished Jews, Siberians, Tartars wild Came over icy mountains, or on floats, First reached these coasts, hid from the world beside.-- And yet another argument more strange, 60 Reserved for men of deeper thought, and late, Presents itself to view:--In Peleg's days, (So says the Hebrew seer's unerring pen) This mighty ma.s.s of earth, this solid globe, Was cleft in twain,--"divided" east and west, 65 While then perhaps the deep Atlantic roll'd,-- Through the vast chasm, and laved the solid world; And traces indisputable remain Of this primaeval land now sunk and lost.-- The islands rising in our eastern main 70 Are but small fragments of this continent, Whose two extremities were Newfoundland And St. Helena.--One far in the north, Where s.h.i.+vering seamen view with strange surprize The guiding pole-star glittering o'er their heads; 75 The other near the southern tropic rears Its head above the waves--Bermuda's isles, Cape Verd, Canary, Britain, and the Azores, With fam'd Hibernia, are but broken parts Of some prodigious waste, which once sustain'd 80 Nations and tribes, of vanished memory, Forests and towns, and beasts of every cla.s.s, Where navies now explore their briny way.

_Leander_

Your sophistry, Eugenio, makes me smile; The roving mind of man delights to dwell 85 On hidden things, merely because they're hid: He thinks his knowledge far beyond all limit, And boldly fathoms Nature's darkest haunts;-- But for uncertainties, your broken isles, Your northern Tartars, and your wandering Jews, 90 (The flimsy cobwebs of a sophist's brain) Hear what the voice of history proclaims:-- The Carthagenians, ere the Roman yoke Broke their proud spirits, and enslaved them too, For navigation were renowned as much 95 As haughty Tyre with all her hundred fleets.

Full many a league their venturous seamen sailed Through streight Gibraltar, down the western sh.o.r.e Of Africa, to the Canary isles: By them called Fortunate; so Flaccus sings. 100 Because eternal spring there clothes the fields And fruits delicious bloom throughout the year.-- From voyaging here, this inference I draw, Perhaps some barque with all her numerous crew Falling to leeward of her destined port, 105 Caught by the eastern Trade, was hurried on Before the unceasing blast to Indian isles, Brazil, La Plata, or the coasts more south-- There stranded, and unable to return, Forever from their native skies estranged. 110 Doubtless they made these virgin climes their own, And in the course of long revolving years A numerous progeny from these arose, And spread throughout the coasts--those whom we call Brazilians, Mexicans, Peruvians rich, 115 The tribes of Chili, Patagon, and those Who till the sh.o.r.es of Amazon's long stream.-- When first the power of Europe here attained, Vast empires, kingdoms, cities, palaces And polished nations stock'd the fertile land. 120 Who has not heard of Cusco, Lima, and The town of Mexico--huge cities form'd From Indian architecture; ere the arms Of haughty Spain disturb'd the peaceful soil?-- But here, amid this northern dark domain, 125 No towns were seen to rise.--No arts were here; The tribes unskill'd to raise the lofty mast, Or force the daring prow thro' adverse waves, Gazed on the pregnant soil, and craved alone Life from the unaided genius of the ground,-- 130 This indicates they were a different race; From whom descended, 'tis not ours to say-- That power, no doubt, who furnish'd trees, and plants, And animals to this vast continent, Spoke into being man among the rest,-- 135 But what a change is here!--what arts arise!

What towns and capitals! how commerce waves Her gaudy flags, where silence reign'd before!

_Acasto_

Speak, learned Eugenio, for I've heard you tell The dismal story, and the cause that brought 140 The first adventurers to these western sh.o.r.es!

The glorious cause that urged our fathers first To visit climes unknown, and wilder woods Than e'er Tartarian or Norwegian saw, And with fair culture to adorn a soil 145 That never felt the industrious swain before.

_Eugenio_

All this long story to rehea.r.s.e, would tire; Besides, the sun towards the west retreats, Nor can the n.o.blest theme r.e.t.a.r.d his speed, Nor loftiest verse--not that which sang the fall 150 Of Troy divine, and fierce Achilles' ire.-- Yet hear a part:--By persecution wronged And sacerdotal rage, our fathers came From Europe's hostile sh.o.r.es to these abodes, Here to enjoy a liberty in faith, 155 Secure from tyranny and base controul.

For this they left their country and their friends, And plough'd the Atlantic wave in quest of peace; And found new sh.o.r.es, and sylvan settlements, And men, alike unknowing and unknown. 160 Hence, by the care of each adventurous chief New governments (their wealth unenvied yet) Were form'd on liberty and virtue's plan.

These searching out uncultivated tracts Conceived new plans of towns, and capitals, 165 And s.p.a.cious provinces.--Why should I name Thee, Penn, the Solon of our western lands; Sagacious legislator, whom the world Admires, long dead: an infant colony, Nursed by thy care, now rises o'er the rest 170 Like that tall pyramid in Egypt's waste O'er all the neighbouring piles, they also great.

Why should I name those heroes so well known, Who peopled all the rest from Canada To Georgia's farthest coasts, West Florida, 175 Or Apalachian mountains?--Yet what streams Of blood were shed! what Indian hosts were slain, Before the days of peace were quite restored!

_Leander_

Yes, while they overturn'd the rugged soil And swept the forests from the shaded plain 180 'Midst dangers, foes, and death, fierce Indian tribes With vengeful malice arm'd, and black design, Oft murdered, or dispersed, these colonies-- Encouraged, too, by Gallia's hostile sons, A warlike race, who late their arms display'd, 185 At Quebec, Montreal, and farthest coasts Of Labrador, or Cape Breton, where now The British standard awes the subject host.

Here, those brave chiefs, who, lavish of their blood, Fought in Britannia's cause, in battle fell!-- 190 What heart but mourns the untimely fate of Wolfe, Who, dying, conquered!--or what breast but beats To share a fate like his, and die like him!

_Acasto_

But why alone commemorate the dead, And pa.s.s those glorious heroes by, who yet 195 Breathe the same air, and see the light with us?-- The dead, Leander, are but empty names, And they who fall to-day the same to us As they who fell ten centuries ago!-- Lost are they all that s.h.i.+ned on earth before; 200 Rome's boldest champions in the dust are laid, Ajax and great Achilles are no more, And Philip's warlike son, an empty shade!-- A Was.h.i.+ngton among our sons of fame Will rise conspicuous as the morning star 205 Among the inferior lights:-- To distant wilds Virginia sent him forth-- With her brave sons he gallantly opposed The bold invaders of his country's rights, Where wild Ohio pours the mazy flood, 210 And mighty meadows skirt his subject streams.-- But now delighting in his elm tree's shade, Where deep Potowmac laves the enchanting sh.o.r.e, He prunes the tender vine, or bids the soil Luxuriant harvests to the sun display.-- 215 Behold a different scene--not thus employed Were Cortez, and Pizarro, pride of Spain, Whom blood and murder only satisfied, And all to glut their avarice and ambition!--

_Eugenio_

Such is the curse, Acasto, where the soul 220 Humane is wanting--but we boast no feats Of cruelty like Europe's murdering breed:-- Our milder epithet is merciful, And each American, true hearted, learns To conquer, and to spare; for coward souls 225 Alone seek vengeance on a vanquished foe.

Gold, fatal gold, was the alluring bait To Spain's rapacious tribes--hence rose the wars From Chili to the Caribbean sea, And Montezuma's Mexican domains: 230 More blest are we, with whose unenvied soil Nature decreed no mingling gold to s.h.i.+ne, No flaming diamond, precious emerald, No blus.h.i.+ng sapphire, ruby, chrysolite, Or jasper red--more n.o.ble riches flow 235 From agriculture, and the industrious swain, Who tills the fertile vale, or mountain's brow.

Content to lead a safe, a humble life, Among his native hills, romantic shades Such as the muse of Greece of old did feign, 240 Allured the Olympian G.o.ds from chrystal skies, Envying such lovely scenes to mortal man.

_Leander_

Long has the rural life been justly fam'd, And bards of old their pleasing pictures drew Of flowery meads, and groves, and gliding streams: 245 Hence, old Arcadia--wood-nymphs, satyrs, fauns; And hence Elysium, fancied heaven below!-- Fair agriculture, not unworthy kings, Once exercised the royal hand, or those Whose virtues raised them to the rank of G.o.ds. 250 See old Laertes in his shepherd weeds Far from his pompous throne and court august, Digging the grateful soil, where round him rise, Sons of the earth, the tall aspiring oaks, Or orchards, boasting of more fertile boughs, 255 Laden with apples red, sweet scented peach, Pear, cherry, apricot, or spungy plumb; While through the glebe the industrious oxen draw The earth-inverting plough.--Those Romans too, Fabricius and Camillus, loved a life 260 Of neat simplicity and rustic bliss, And from the noisy Forum hastening far, From busy camps, and sycophants, and crowns, 'Midst woods and fields spent the remains of life, Where full enjoyment still awaits the wise. 265 How grateful, to behold the harvests rise, And mighty crops adorn the extended plains!-- Fair plenty smiles throughout, while lowing herds Stalk o'er the shrubby hill or gra.s.sy mead, Or at some shallow river slake their thirst.-- 270 The inclosure, now, succeeds the shepherd's care, Yet milk-white flocks adorn the well stock'd farm, And court the attention of the industrious swain.-- Their fleece rewards him well, and when the winds Blow with a keener blast, and from the north 275 Pour mingled tempests through a sunless sky (Ice, sleet, and rattling hail) secure he sits Warm in his cottage, fearless of the storm, Enjoying now the toils of milder moons, Yet hoping for the spring.--Such are the joys, 280 And such the toils of those whom heaven hath bless'd With souls enamoured of a country life.

_Acasto_

Such are the visions of the rustic reign-- But this alone, the fountain of support, Would scarce employ the varying mind of man; 285 Each seeks employ, and each a different way: Strip Commerce of her sail, and men once more Would be converted into savages;-- No nation e'er grew social and refined 'Till Commerce first had wing'd the adventurous prow, 290 Or sent the slow-paced caravan, afar, To waft their produce to some other clime, And bring the wished exchange--thus came, of old, Golconda's golden ore, and thus the wealth Of Ophir, to the wisest of mankind. 295

_Eugenio_

Great is the praise of Commerce, and the men Deserve our praise, who spread the undaunted sail, And traverse every sea--their dangers great, Death still to combat in the unfeeling gale, And every billow but a gaping grave:-- 300 There, skies and waters, wearying on the eye, For weeks and months no other prospect yield But barren wastes, unfathomed depths, where not The blissful haunt of human form is seen To cheer the unsocial horrors of the way.-- 305 Yet all these bold designs to Science owe Their rise and glory.--Hail, fair Science! thou, Transplanted from the eastern skies, dost bloom In these blest regions.--Greece and Rome no more Detain the Muses on Citheron's brow, 310 Or old Olympus, crowned with waving woods, Or Haemus' top, where once was heard the harp, Sweet Orpheus' harp, that gained his cause below, And pierced the souls of Orcus and his bride; That hush'd to silence by its voice divine 315 Thy melancholy waters, and the gales O Hebrus! that o'er thy sad surface blow.-- No more the maids round Alpheus' waters stray, Where he with Arethusa's stream doth mix, Or where swift Tiber disembogues his waves 320 Into the Italian sea, so long unsung; Hither they wing their way, the last, the best Of countries, where the arts shall rise and grow, And arms shall have their day;--even now we boast A Franklin, prince of all philosophy, 325 A genius piercing as the electric fire, Bright as the lightning's flash, explained so well, By him, the rival of Britannia's sage.-- This is the land of every joyous sound, Of liberty and life, sweet liberty! 330 Without whose aid the n.o.blest genius fails, And Science irretrievably must die.

_Leander_

But come, Eugenio, since we know the past-- What hinders to pervade with searching eye The mystic scenes of dark futurity? 335 Say, shall we ask what empires yet must rise, What kingdoms, powers and states, where now are seen Mere dreary wastes and awful solitude, Where Melancholy sits, with eye forlorn, And time antic.i.p.ates, when we shall spread 340 Dominion from the north, and south, and west, Far from the Atlantic to Pacific sh.o.r.es, And people half the convex of the main!-- A glorious theme!--but how shall mortals dare To pierce the dark events of future years 345 And scenes unravel, only known to fate?

This might we do, if warmed by that bright coal s.n.a.t.c.h'd from the altar of cherubic fire Which touched Isaiah's lips--or if the spirit Of Jeremy and Amos, prophets old, 350 Might swell the heaving breast--I see, I see Freedom's established reign; cities, and men, Numerous as sands upon the ocean sh.o.r.e, And empires rising where the sun descends!-- The Ohio soon shall glide by many a town 355 Of note; and where the Mississippi stream, By forests shaded, now runs weeping on, Nations shall grow, and states not less in fame Than Greece and Rome of old!--we too shall boast Our Scipios, Solons, Catos, sages, chiefs 360 That in the lap of time yet dormant lie, Waiting the joyous hour of life and light.-- O s.n.a.t.c.h me hence, ye muses, to those days When, through the veil of dark antiquity, A race shall hear of us as things remote, 365 That blossomed in the morn of days.--Indeed, How could I weep that we exist so soon, Just in the dawning of these mighty times, Whose scenes are painting for eternity!

Dissentions that shall swell the trump of fame, 370 And ruin hovering o'er all monarchy!

_Eugenio_

Nor shall these angry tumults here subside Nor murder cease, through all these provinces, Till foreign crowns have vanished from our view And dazzle here no more--no more presume 375 To awe the spirit of fair Liberty;-- Vengeance must cut the thread,--and Britain, sure Will curse her fatal obstinacy for it!

Bent on the ruin of this injured country, She will not listen to our humble prayers. 380 Though offered with submission: Like vagabonds and objects of destruction, Like those whom all mankind are sworn to hate, She casts us off from her protection, And will invite the nations round about, 385 Russians and Germans, slaves and savages, To come and have a share in our perdition.-- O cruel race, O unrelenting Britain, Who b.l.o.o.d.y beasts will hire to cut our throats, Who war will wage with prattling innocence, 390 And basely murder unoffending women!-- Will stab their prisoners when they cry for quarter, Will burn our towns, and from his lodging turn The poor inhabitant to sleep in tempests!-- These will be wrongs, indeed, and all sufficient 395 To kindle up our souls to deeds of horror, And give to every arm the nerves of Samson-- These are the men that fill the world with ruin, And every region mourns their greedy sway,-- Not only for ambition---- 400 But what are this world's goods, that they for them Should exercise perpetual butchery?

What are these mighty riches we possess, That they should send so far to plunder them?-- Already have we felt their potent arm-- 405 And ever since that inauspicious day, When first Sir Francis Bernard His ruffians planted at the council door, And made the a.s.sembly room a home for vagrants, And soldiers, rank and file--e'er since that day 410 This wretched land, that drinks its children's gore, Has been a scene of tumult and confusion!-- Are there not evils in the world enough?

Are we so happy that they envy us?

Have we not toiled to satisfy their harpies, 415 Kings' deputies, that are insatiable; Whose practice is to incense the royal mind And make us despicable in his view?-- Have we not all the evils to contend with That, in this life, mankind are subject to, 420 Pain, sickness, poverty, and natural death-- But into every wound that nature gave They will a dagger plunge, and make them mortal!

_Leander_

Enough, enough!--such dismal scenes you paint, I almost shudder at the recollection.-- 425 What! are they dogs that they would mangle us?-- Are these the men that come with base design To rob the hive, and kill the industrious bee!-- To brighter skies I turn my ravished view, And fairer prospects from the future draw:-- 430 Here independent power shall hold her sway, And public virtue warm the patriot breast: No traces shall remain of tyranny, And laws, a pattern to the world beside, Be here enacted first.---- 435

_Acasto_

And when a train of rolling years are past, (So sung the exiled seer in Patmos isle) A new Jerusalem, sent down from heaven.

Shall grace our happy earth,--perhaps this land, Whose ample bosom shall receive, though late, 440 Myriads of saints, with their immortal king, To live and reign on earth a thousand years, Thence called Millennium. Paradise anew Shall flourish, by no second Adam lost, No dangerous tree with deadly fruit shall grow, 445 No tempting serpent to allure the soul From native innocence.--A Canaan here, Another Canaan shall excel the old, And from a fairer Pisgah's top be seen.

No thistle here, nor thorn, nor briar shall spring, 450 Earth's curse before: the lion and the lamb In mutual friends.h.i.+p linked, shall browse the shrub.

And timorous deer with softened tygers stray O'er mead, or lofty hill, or gra.s.sy plain; Another Jordan's stream shall glide along, 455 And Siloah's brook in circling eddies flow: Groves shall adorn their verdant banks, on which The happy people, free from toils and death.

Shall find secure repose. No fierce disease, No fevers, slow consumption, ghastly plague, 460 (Fate's ancient ministers) again proclaim Perpetual war with man: fair fruits shall bloom, Fair to the eye, and sweeter to the taste; Nature's loud storms be hushed, and seas no more Rage hostile to mankind--and, worse than all, 465 The fiercer pa.s.sions of the human breast Shall kindle up to deeds of death no more, But all subside in universal peace.---- Such days the world, And such America at last shall have 470 When ages, yet to come, have run their round, And future years of bliss alone remain.

[45] The text is from the edition of 1809. The poem, given originally as the graduating address of Freneau and Brackenridge at Princeton, Brackenridge delivering it, was first published In 1772 at Philadelphia, by Joseph Crukshank, for R. Aitken, bookseller. This pamphlet edition is the only one extant of the original poem. Freneau reprinted his own part, with many modifications and additions, in the first edition of his poems, 1786, explaining it with the following note: "This poem is a little altered from the original (published in Philadelphia in 1772), such parts being only inserted here as were written by the author of this volume. A few more modern lines towards the conclusion are incorporated with the rest, being a supposed prophetical antic.i.p.ation of subsequent events." The text of the edition of 1772, which is now exceedingly rare, is as follows:

A POEM ON THE RISING GLORY OF AMERICA

Being an Exercise delivered at the Public Commencement at Na.s.sau-Hall, September 25, 1771.

ARGUMENT

The subject proposed.--The discovery of America by Columbus and others.--A philosophical enquiry into the origin of the savages of America.--Their uncultivated state.--The first planters of America.--The cause of their migration from Europe.--The difficulties they encountered from the resentment of the natives and other circ.u.mstances.--The French war in North America.--The most distinguished heroes who fell in it; Wolf, Braddock, &c.--General Johnson,--his character.--North America, why superior to South.--On Agriculture.--On commerce.--On science.--Whitefield,--his character.--The present glory of America.--A prospect of its future glory, in science,--in liberty,--and the gospel.--The conclusion of the whole.

LEANDER

No more of Memphis and her mighty kings.

Or Alexandria, where the Ptolomies Taught golden commerce to unfurl her sails, And bid fair science smile: No more of Greece Where learning next her early visit paid, And spread her glories to illume the world; No more of Athens, where she flourished, And saw her sons of mighty genius rise, Smooth flowing Plato, Socrates and him Who with resistless eloquence reviv'd The spirit of Liberty, and shook the thrones Of Macedon and Persia's haughty king.

No more of Rome, enlighten'd by her beams, Fresh kindling there the fire of eloquence, And poesy divine; imperial Rome!

Whose wide dominion reach'd o'er half the globe; Whose eagle flew o'er Ganges to the East, And in the West far to the British isles.

No more of Britain and her kings renown'd, Edward's and Henry's thunderbolts of war; Her chiefs victorious o'er the Gallic foe; Ill.u.s.trious senators, immortal bards, And wise philosophers, of these no more.

A Theme more new, tho' not less n.o.ble, claims Our ev'ry thought on this auspicious day; The rising glory of this western world.

Where now the dawning light of science spreads Her orient ray, and wakes the muse's song; Where freedom holds her sacred standard high, And commerce rolls her golden tides profuse Of elegance and ev'ry joy of life.

ACASTO

Since then, Leander, you attempt a strain So new, so n.o.ble and so full of fame; And since a friendly concourse centers here, America's own sons, begin O muse!

Now thro' the veil of ancient days review The period fam'd when first Columbus touch'd The sh.o.r.e so long unknown, thro' various toils, Famine and death, the hero made his way, Thro' oceans bellowing with eternal storms.

But why, thus hap'ly found, should we resume The tale of Cortez, furious chief, ordain'd With Indian blood to dye the sands, and choak Fam'd Amazonia's stream with dead! Or why Once more revive the story old in fame, Of Atabilipa, by thirst of gold Depriv'd of life: which not Peru's rich ore, Nor Mexico's vast mines cou'd then redeem.