Of all the isles the neighbouring ocean bears, None can with this their equal landscapes boast: What could we do on Saba's cloudy height; Or what could please on 'Statia's barren coast? 103 Couldst thou content on rough Tortola stray, Confest the fairest of the Virgin train; Or couldst thou on these rocky summits play Where high St. John stands frowning o'er the main? 104 Haste, shepherd, haste--Hesperian fruits for thee, And cluster'd grapes from mingled boughs depend-- What pleasure in thy forests can there be That, leafless now, to every tempest bend? 105 To milder stars, and skies of clearer blue, Sworn foe to arms, at least a-while repair, And, till to mightier force proud Britain bends, Despise her triumphs, and deceive thy care. 106 Soon shall the genius of the fertile soil A new creation to thy view unfold; Admire the works of Nature's magic hand, But scorn that vulgar bait, all potent gold. 107 Yet, if persuaded by no lay of mine, You still admire your climes of frost and snow, And pleas'd, prefer above our southern groves The darksome forests, that around thee grow: 108 Still there remain--thy native air enjoy, Repell the tyrant who thy peace invades, While, pleas'd, I trace the vales of Santa Cruz, And sing with rapture her inspiring shades. [158] Text from the edition of 1786. The poem was first published in the February (1779) issue of the _United States Magazine_, as a part of an extended article, with the title, "Account of the Island of Santa Cruz: Containing an original Poem on the Beauties of that Island. In a letter to A. P. Esq." The poem is introduced as follows: "I believe the best thing I can do with the rest of this paper is to transcribe a few dull heavy lines which I composed near two years ago on the spot." The poem consisted of fifty-two stanzas, corresponding to the following above: 1-4, 6-10, 14-16, 18-23, 31-34, 39, 40, 48-51, 53, 54, 56, 58-63, 70, 79-82, 85, 88, 96, 98, 100, 101, 104, 106-108. Freneau revised it with a careful hand for his edition of 1786. Some of the lines changed most notably are as follows: Stanza 1. "Less rigorous climes, and a more friendly sky." 6. "So some dull minds, in spite of age and care, Are grown so wedded to this globe below." 39. "Sweet spungy plumbs on trees wide spreading hang, The happy flavour'd pine grows crested from the ground." 51. "Where once the Indian dames inchanted slept." 56. "Cassada shrubs abound, whose poison root, Supplies the want of snow-white Northern flour; This grated fine, and steep'd in water fair, Forsakes each particle of noxious power." 70. "On yonder peaked hill fresh harvests rise, Where wretched he--the Ethiopian swain." 79. "He pants a land of freedom and repose, Where cruel slavery never sought to reign, O quit thee them, my muse, and tell me why."