The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume III Part 50

Be not deceived--the league of kings, Confederate crowns, this warfare brings; These send their hosts to forge our chains, Hara.s.s our sh.o.r.es, renew their reigns.

At Pilnitz they who join'd to swear And wage with France wide wasting war Till freedom should her claims recall, And Louis reign, or myriads fall;

At Pilnitz, with decided aim, They form'd their schemes to blast our fame: And, faithful now to what they swore, Would, kings dismiss'd and thrones, restore.

Ye hearts of steel, observe these hosts!

The odious train my soul disgusts; They rise upon the vultures wings To prop the tottering cause of kings.

Observe them well--through every grade They exercise the robber's trade; They sail upon a plundering scheme, They march, to give you sword and flame.

And burn you must, if, slow to act, You wait to see your cities sack'd, Yourselves enslav'd, and all things lose That labor earns or wealth bestows; If slow to send your heated b.a.l.l.s, Indignant, through their wooden walls.

O may you see their squadrons yield Their legions sink on every field; And new Burgoynes, to slaughter bred, Burgoynes, once more, in fetters led.

And may you see all foreign power Forever banish'd from your sh.o.r.e, And see disheartened tyrants mourn, And Britain to her h.e.l.l return.

THE SUTTLER AND THE SOLDIER.

"Who would refuse this cheering draught?"

The suttler said, and saying, laugh'd The soldier, then, the liquor quaff'd, And felt right bold.

The suttler soon foresaw the rest, And thus the son of Mars address'd, "This brandy is the very best Of all I've sold.

"The journey you are bound to go, In former times, I travell'd too, When Arnold march'd, with lord knows who, To seize Quebec.

"And if he fail'd in that a.s.sault, It was not, sure, the brandy's fault; The best, at times, may make a halt, Ay, break his neck.

"Now hear a dotard of your trade:-- Of old I lived by flint and blade, But, disregarded, and decay'd, I'm nothing now.

"This leaky shed is not my own, And here I stay, unheard, unknown, Poor Darby, and without a Joan, Nor horse, nor cow.

"But mend your draught--I have more to say:-- You now are young, and under pay; Be warn'd by me, whose hairs are grey; The time will come

"When you may find this trade of arms, The march, that now your bosom warms, Has little but illusive charms, Mere beat of drum:

"But yet, in such a cause as this I deem your ardor not amiss-- I know you are no hireling swiss; Your country calls:

"And when she calls, you must obey; For wages not--fig for the pay-- Tis honor calls you out this day To face the b.a.l.l.s.

"You have to go where George Provost Has many a soldier made a ghost, Where indians many a prisoner roast Or seize their scalps.

"And what of that?--mere fate of war-- G.o.d grant you may have better fare-- Go, fight beneath a kinder star, And scourge the whelps.

"They scarce are men--mere flesh and blood-- Mere ouran-outangs of the wood, Forever on the scent of blood, And deers at heart.

"When men, like you, approach them nigh, They make a yell, retreat, and fly: On equal ground, they never try The warrior's art.

"Then dare their strength--at honor's call Explore the road to Montreal, To dine, perchance, in Drummond's hall, Perhaps in jail.

"Of all uncertain things below The chance of war is doubly so; For this I saw, and this I know;-- Yet, do not fail.

"To live, for months on scanty fare, To sleep, by night in open air, To fight, and every danger share; All these await.

"But bear them all!--wherever led, And live contented, though half fed:-- A couch of straw, and canvas shed Shall be your fate!

"And mind the mark--remember me-- When full of fight, and full of glee, Be of your brandy not too free:-- Ay, mind the mark!

"Who drinks too much, the day he fights, Calls danger near, and death invites To dim, or darken all his lights;-- His noon is dark!

"It is a friend in a stormy day; Then brandy drives all care away, But, over done, it will betray The wisest sage.

"Then strictly guard the full canteen-- Its power enlivens every scene, And helps to keep the soul serene When battles rage.

"This potent stuff, if managed well, (And strong it is, the sort I sell) Can every doubt and fear expel, When prudence guides.

"Though mountains rise, or rocks intrude, This nectar smooths the roughest road, And cheers the heart, and warms the blood Through all its tides.

"Then drink you this, and more," (he said, And held the pitcher to his head) "This drink of G.o.ds, when Ganymede Hands round the bowl,

"Will nerve the arm, and bid you go Where prowls the vagrant Eskimau,[A]

Where torpid winter tops with snow The darkened pole,--"

[A] The savage inhabitants of Labrador, or New-Britain.--_Freneau's note._

"Enough, enough!"--(the sergeant said) "Now, suttler, he must go to bed-- See! topsy-turvy goes his head; I hear him snort."

"Since I know where to get my pay (The suttler answered rather gay) No matter what I said or say-- I've sold my quart."

MILITARY RECRUITING

To a Recruit Fond of Segar Smoking

----Ex fumo dare lucem Cogitat, ut speciosa dehinc miracula promat--_Hor._

When first I arrived to the age of a man And met the distraction of care, As the day to a close rather sorrowful ran Yet I smiled and I smoked my segar: O, how sweet did it seem What a feast, what a dream What a pleasure to smoke the segar!

In vain did the din of the females a.s.sail Or the noise of the carts in the street, With a spanish segar and a pint of good ale I found my enjoyment complete: Old care I dismiss'd While I held in my fist The pitcher, and smoked the segar.

What a world are we in, if we do not retire, And, at times, to the tavern repair To read the gazette, by a hickory fire, With a sixpence or shilling to spare, To handle the gla.s.s And an evening pa.s.s With the help of a lively segar.

The man of the closet, who studies and reads, And prepares for the wars of the bar; The priest who harangues, or the lawyer who pleads, What are they without the segar?