The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume I Part 23

_Ferdinand_

To fifteen sail your charge shall be augmented: Hasten to Palos, and prepare again To sail in quest of this fine golden country, The Ophir, never known to Solomon; Which shall be held the brightest gem we have, The richest diamond in the crown of Spain.

PICTURE XVII.

Columbus in Chains[A]

[A] During his third voyage, while in San Domingo, such unjust representations were made of his conduct to the Court of Spain, that a new admiral, Bovadilla, was appointed to supersede him, who sent Columbus home in irons.--_Freneau's note._

Are these the honours they reserve for me, Chains for the man that gave new worlds to Spain!

Rest here, my swelling heart!--O kings, O queens, Patrons of monsters, and their progeny, Authors of wrong, and slaves to fortune merely!

Why was I seated by my prince's side, Honour'd, caress'd like some first peer of Spain?

Was it that I might fall most suddenly From honour's summit to the sink of scandal!

'Tis done, 'tis done!--what madness is ambition!

What is there in that little breath of men, Which they call Fame, that should induce the brave To forfeit ease and that domestic bliss Which is the lot of happy ignorance, Less glorious aims, and dull humility?-- Whoe'er thou art that shalt aspire to honour, And on the strength and vigour of the mind Vainly depending, court a monarch's favour, Pointing the way to vast extended empire; First count your pay to be ingrat.i.tude, Then chains and prisons, and disgrace like mine!

Each wretched pilot now shall spread his sails, And treading in my footsteps, hail new worlds, Which, but for me, had still been empty visions.

PICTURE XVIII.

Columbus at Valladolid[A]

[A] After he found himself in disgrace with the Court of Spain, he retired to Vallodolid, a town of Old Castile, where he died, it is said, more of a broken heart than any other disease, on the 20th of May, 1506.--_Freneau's note._

1

How sweet is sleep, when gain'd by length of toil!

No dreams disturb the slumbers of the dead-- To s.n.a.t.c.h existence from this scanty soil, Were these the hopes deceitful fancy bred; And were her painted pageants nothing more Than this life's phantoms by delusion led?

2

The winds blow high: one other world remains; Once more without a guide I find the way; In the dark tomb to slumber with my chains-- Prais'd by no poet on my funeral day, Nor even allow'd one dearly purchas'd claim-- My new found world not honour'd with my name.

3

Yet, in this joyless gloom while I repose, Some comfort will attend my pensive shade, When memory paints, and golden fancy shows My toils rewarded, and my woes repaid; When empires rise where lonely forests grew, Where Freedom shall her generous plans pursue.

4

To shadowy forms, and ghosts and sleepy things, Columbus, now with dauntless heart repair; You liv'd to find new worlds for thankless kings, Write this upon my tomb--yes--tell it there-- Tell of those chains that sullied all my glory-- Not mine, but their's--ah, tell the shameful story.

[48] First published in the edition of 1788, the text of which I have reproduced. Aside from several significant changes in Picture I., and the total omission of Pictures II. and III., the later editions contain but few variations. The edition of 1795 is signed "Anno 1774."

[49] The four stanzas beginning "This world on paper idly drawn," are omitted from later editions, and the stanza beginning "But westward plac'd" is made to read:

"Far to the west what lengthen'd seas!

"Are no gay islands found in these, "No sylvan worlds, by Nature meant "To balance Asia's vast extent?"

[50] In later editions the last three stanzas are omitted, and in their place is added the following, taken partly from the words of the Inchantress in the next picture:

"If Neptune on my prowess smiles, And I detect his hidden isles, I hear some warning spirit say: '_No monarch will your toils repay: 'For this the ungrateful shall combine, 'And hard misfortune must be thine; 'For this the base reward remains 'Of cold neglect and galling chains!

'In a poor solitude forgot, 'Reproach and want shall be the lot 'Of him that gives new worlds to Spain 'And westward spreads her golden reign.

'On thy design what woes attend!

'The nations at the ocean's end 'No longer destined to be free 'Shall owe distress and death to thee!

'The seats of innocence and love 'Shall soon the scenes of horror prove; 'But why disturb these Indian climes, 'The pictures of more happy times!

'Has avarice, with unfeeling breast, 'Has cruelty thy soul possess'd?

'May ruin on thy boldness wait!-- 'And sorrow crown thy toils too late!_'"

[51] Pictures II. and III. are omitted from later editions.

[52] The six lines beginning here are omitted in the later versions.

[53] This and the two preceding lines omitted in later versions.

[54] "Not one is so noisy as you."--_Ed. 1795._

[55] This and preceding line omitted in later versions.

[56] Two lines added in later editions:

"Small motes I see, from ebbing rivers borne, And Neptune's waves a greener aspect wear."

[57] "But to the depths below."--_Ed. 1795._

[58] One line added in later versions:

"A Spanish ponyard thro' his entrails driven."

THE EXPEDITION OF TIMOTHY TAURUS, ASTROLOGER

TO THE FALLS OF Pa.s.sAICK RIVER, IN NEW JERSEY[59]

Written soon after an excursion to the village at that place in August, 1775, under the character of Timothy Taurus, a student in astrology; and formerly printed in New-York.

CHARACTERS OF THE POEM

Timothy Taurus, Astrologer, in love with Tryphena.

Slyboots, a Quaker, and his two Daughters.

Dullman, a City Broker.

Deacon Samuel.

Brigadier-General Nimrod.

Lawyer Ludwick.