The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume II Part 15

Life's journey past, for death[118] prepare, 'Tis but the freedom of the mind, Jove made us mortal--his we are, To Jove, dear Theon,[119] be resigned.

[109] _Freeman's Journal_, January 2, 1782. In the editions of 1795 and 1809, the t.i.tle is "To an Old Man."

[110] "With me a while, old man, repair."--_Ed. 1795._

[111] "The torments of life's closing year."--_Ed. 1795._

[112] "Blasted."--_Ib._

[113] "Reason."--_Ed. 1795._

[114] "Folly."--_Ib._

[115] "That swells the breast."--_Ed. 1795._

[116] "Sent before the day."--_Ib._

[117] "The dawn arrives--he must not stay."--_Ib._

[118] "Fate."--_Ib._

[119] "Be all our cares."--_Ib._

PROLOGUE[120]

To a Theatrical Entertainment in Philadelphia

Wars, cruel wars, and hostile Britain's rage Have banished long the pleasures of the stage; From the gay painted scene compelled to part, (Forgot the melting language of the heart) Constrained to shun the bold theatric show, To act long tragedies of real woe, Heroes, once more attend the comic muse; Forget our failings, and our faults excuse.

In that fine language is our fable drest Which still unrivalled, reigns o'er all the rest; Of foreign courts the study and the pride, Who to know this abandon all beside; Bold, though polite, and ever sure to please; Correct with grace, and elegant with ease; Soft from the lips its easy accents roll, Formed to delight and captivate the soul: In this _Eugenia_ tells her easy lay, The brilliant work of courtly Beaumarchais: In this Racine, Voltaire, and Boileau sung, The n.o.blest poets in the n.o.blest tongue.

If the soft story in our play expressed Can give a moment's pleasure to your breast, To you, Great Men,[121] we must be proud to say That moment's pleasure shall our pains repay: Returned from conquest and from glorious toils, From armies captured and unnumbered spoils; Ere yet again, with generous France allied, You rush to battle, humbling British pride; While arts of peace your kind protection share, O let the Muses claim an equal care.

You bade us first our future greatness see, Inspired by you, we languished to be free; Even here where Freedom lately sat distrest, See, a new Athens rising in the west!

Fair science blooms, where tyrants reigned before, Red war, reluctant, leaves our ravaged sh.o.r.e-- Ill.u.s.trious heroes, may you live to see These new Republics powerful, great, and free; Peace, heaven born peace, o'er s.p.a.cious regions spread, While discord, sinking, veils her ghastly head.

[120] First published in the _Freeman's Journal_, January 9, 1782, with the following introduction: "On Wednesday evening, the 2d instant [January 2, 1782] Alex. Quesnay, Esq., exhibited a most elegant entertainment at the playhouse, where were present his excellency Gen.

Washington, the Minister of France, the President of the State, a number of officers of the army, and a brilliant a.s.semblage of ladies and gentlemen of the city who were invited. After a prologue suitable to the occasion, EUGENIE, an elegant French comedy, was first presented (written by the celebrated M. Beaumarchais), and in the opinion of several good judges was extremely well acted by the young gentlemen students in that polite language. After the comedy was acted the LYING VARLET, a farce; to this succeeded several curious dances, followed by a brilliant illumination, consisting of thirteen pyramidal pillars, representing the thirteen States,--on the middle column was seen a cupid, supporting a laurel crown over the motto, 'WASHINGTON, _the pride of his Country and terror of Britain_.' On the summit was the word _Virginia_, on the right _Connecticut_, with the names GREENE and LA FAYETTE, on the left the word _Pennsylvania_, with the names WAYNE and STEUBEN, and so on according to the birthplace and State proper to each general. The spectacle ended with an artificial illumination of the thirteen columns."

The prologue, written at the request of Mr. Quesnay, is as above.

[121] In the 1786 version, which was reprinted verbatim from the newspaper, this read "Great Sir," with the foot-note, "Addressed to His Excellency General Washington," and the rest of the poem was made to refer solely to him. In the later versions this was changed so as to read, "Addressed to the Commander in Chief and several of the officers of the American army then present at the theatre in Southwark."

STANZAS[122]

Occasioned by the Ruins of a Country Inn, unroofed and blown down in a storm

Where now these mingled ruins lie A temple once to Bacchus rose, Beneath whose roof, aspiring high, Full many a guest forgot his woes:

No more this dome, by tempests torn, Affords a social safe retreat; But ravens here, with eye forlorn, And cl.u.s.tering bats henceforth will meet.

The Priestess of this ruined shrine, Unable to survive the stroke, Presents no more the ruddy wine, Her gla.s.ses gone, her china broke.

The friendly Host, whose social hand Accosted strangers at the door, Has left at length his wonted stand, And greets the weary guest no more.

Old creeping Time, that brings decay, Might yet have spared these mouldering walls, Alike beneath whose potent sway A temple or a tavern falls.

Is this the place where mirth and joy, Coy nymphs and sprightly lads were found?

Indeed! no more the nymphs are coy, No more the flowing bowls go round.

Is this the place where festive song Deceived the wintry hours away?

No more the swains the tune prolong, No more the maidens join the lay:

Is this the place where Nancy slept In downy beds of blue and green?-- Dame Nature here no vigils kept, No cold unfeeling guards were seen.

'Tis gone!--and Nancy tempts no more, Deep, unrelenting silence reigns; Of all that pleased, that charmed before, The tottering chimney scarce remains!

Ye tyrant winds, whose ruffian blast Through doors and windows blew too strong, And all the roof to ruin cast, The roof that sheltered us so long.

Your wrath appeased, I pray be kind If Mopsus should the dome renew; That we again may quaff his wine, Again collect our jovial crew.

[122] Published in the _Freeman's Journal_, January 23, 1782.

THE ROYAL ADVENTURER[123]

Prince William of the Brunswick race, To witness George's sad disgrace The Royal Lad came over Rebels to kill by Right Divine-- Deriv'd from that ill.u.s.trious line The beggars of Hanover.

So many chiefs got broken pates In vanquishing the rebel States, So many n.o.bles fell, That George the Third in pa.s.sion cry'd, "Our royal blood must now be try'd; "'Tis that must break the spell:

"To you (the fat pot-valiant Swine To Digby said) dear friend of mine, "To you I trust my boy.

"The rebel tribes shall quake with fears, "Rebellion die when he appears; "My Tories leap with joy."

So said, so done--the boy was sent, But never reach'd the continent, An Island held him fast-- Yet there his friends danc'd rigadoons, The Hessians sung in High Dutch tunes, "Prince William's come at last."

"Prince William comes!"--the Briton cry'd-- "The glory of our empire wide "Shall now be soon restor'd-- "Our monarch is in William seen, "He is the image of our queen, "Let William be ador'd!"