The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 2 (of 3)Freneau, Philip Morin
General
The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 2 (of 3)
Freneau, Philip Morin
American poetry
[70] This does not overdo the contemporary estimate of Cornwallis.
Attempting to crush at once the American rebellion by the use of the
harshest measures, he inaugurated a veritable reign of terror. "Cruel
measures seek and find cruel agents; officers whose delight was in
blood patrolled the country, burned houses, ravaged estates, and put
to death whom they would.... For two years cold-blooded assassinations,
often in the house of the victim and in the presence of his wife and
little children, were perpetrated by men holding the king's
commission."--_Bancroft._
[71] "Lord of war."--_Ed. 1795._
[72] This line and the nine following lines were omitted from the
edition of 1795.
[73] "Warrior."--_Ed. 1795._
[74] "Tyrant's."--_Ib._
[75] "And all wars be done."--_Ib._
[76] "Sir Henry be."--_Ib._
[77] "Manned by brave souls, to see the British shore."--_Ib._
[78] "As earthquakes shook the huge Colossus down."--_Ed. 1795._
[79] "By force convey."--_Ib._
[80] "Tyrant."--_Ib._
[81] "Nor say."--_Ib._
[82] "His godship."--_Ed. 1795._
[83] "The rage of Europe."--_Ib._
[84] "Mast."--_Ib._
[85] "Took one sad survey of your wanton waste."--_Ib._
[86] "Lost all your honours--even your memory dead."--_Ib._
[87] This and the five following lines omitted in edition of 1795.
[88] An allusion to the brutal execution of the patriot, Isaac Hayne, of
Charlestown, by General Rawdon, in the summer of 1781. The guilt of this
crime rests almost wholly upon Rawdon. Yet "his first excuse for the
execution was in the order of Cornwallis which had filled the woods of
Carolina with assassins."--_Bancroft._
[89] "Gog-magogs."--_Ed. 1795._
[90] "From depth of woods this hornet host he drew."--_Ib._
[91] "Envenom'd ruffians."--_Ib._
[92] "The mean invader."--_Ib._
[93] "The prisoner."--_Ib._
[94] This line and the next omitted from later editions.
[95] "Homeward flight."--_Ed. 1795._
[96] "Plan future conquests and new battles fight."--_Ib._
[97] This and the following five lines omitted from later editions.
[98] "Your murdering host."--_Ed. 1795._
[99] This and the following seven lines omitted from later editions.
[100] "Remorse be theirs."--_Ed. 1809._
[101] This line and the following omitted from later editions.
[102] "Each tyrant king."--_Ed. 1809._
[103] The later editions end at this point as follows:
"Swept from this stage, the race that vex our ball,
Deep in the dust may every monarch fall,
To wasted nations bid a long adieu,
Shrink from an injured world--and fare like you."
TO THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE AMERICANS[104]
Under General Greene, in South Carolina, who fell in the action of
September 8, 1781
At Eutaw Springs the valiant died;
Their limbs with dust are covered o'er--
Weep on, ye springs, your tearful tide;
How many heroes are no more![105]
If in this wreck of ruin, they
Can yet be thought to claim a tear,
O smite your gentle breast, and say
The friends of freedom slumber here!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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