Opening the text

The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 3 (of 3)Freneau, Philip Morin

General

The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 3 (of 3)

Name: The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 3 (of 3)
Author: Freneau, Philip Morin

Freneau, Philip Morin

American poetry

The glass has run--see ninety-seven has fled,
  And ninety-eight comes on with equal speed;
  While safe from harm, beneath their spreading vine,
  Columbia's sons in virtuous actions shine:
  Their generous contributions feed the poor,
  And sends them smiling from their patron's door;

  Sweet Peace and Plenty crowns the festive board,
  Where man reveres no domineering lord;
  But free from scenes of desolating war,
  Where kingdoms clash and mighty empires jar,
  He lives secure from all the dread alarms
  Of fell invaders and the din of arms:--
  Such scenes now past have once defil'd our shore
  And drench'd Columbia in her children's gore,
  Let man exult, the raging storm is o'er.

    To you, my customers, I bring the news
  Of feuds domestic and of foreign woes;
  Of Liberty extending her domain,
  And Truth triumphant in her glorious reign.

    Consider, patrons through the storm and snow
  With constant care I am oblig'd to go;
  Shivering and cold, I want the lively cup
  To cheer my heart and keep my spirits up:
  To stern winter's gloom can joy inspire;
  Now social circles grace the Hickory fire;
  And on your board, for friends and neighbors spread,
  The turkey smokes the industrious peasant fed:
  But not to me these blessings are dispos'd,
  Fortune's capricious hand to me is clos'd;
  I am condemn'd to labour long and hard,
  Unknown my troubles, scanty my reward.

    Such is the humble German's life of toil,
  Who now solicits your approving smile;
  My grateful heart still let your bounty share,
  And Peace and Freedom reign from year to year.

    _New-York, January 1, 1798._


[152] This was published as a broadside, and distributed with the paper.
As far as I can discover Freneau never reprinted it.




PART V

THE FINAL PERIOD OF WANDERING

1798-1809




THE FINAL PERIOD OF WANDERING

1798-1809[153]




ON ARRIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 1798[154]


  A happy gale presents, once more,
  The gay and ever verdant shore,
  Which every pleasure will restore
      To those who come again:
  You, Carolina, from the seas
  Emerging, claim all power to please,
  Emerge with elegance and ease
      From Neptune's briny main.

  To find in you a happier home,
  Retirement for the days to come,
  From northern coasts you saw me roam,
      By flattering fancy moved:
  I came, and in your fragrant woods,
  Your magic isles and gay abodes,
  In rural haunts and passing floods
      Review'd the scenes I loved,

  When sailing oft, from year to year
  And leaving all I counted dear,
  I found the happy country here
      Where manly hearts abound;
  Where friendship's kind extended hand,
  All social, leads a generous band;
  Where heroes, who redeem'd the land
      Still live to be renown'd:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 3 (of 3)Freneau, Philip Morin

General

The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 3 (of 3)

Freneau, Philip Morin

American poetry

The glass has run--see ninety-seven has fled,
  And ninety-eight comes on with equal speed;
  While safe from harm, beneath their spreading vine,
  Columbia's sons in virtuous actions shine:
  Their generous contributions feed the poor,
  And sends them smiling from their patron's door;

  Sweet Peace and Plenty crowns the festive board,
  Where man reveres no domineering lord;
  But free from scenes of desolating war,
  Where kingdoms clash and mighty empires jar,
  He lives secure from all the dread alarms
  Of fell invaders and the din of arms:--
  Such scenes now past have once defil'd our shore
  And drench'd Columbia in her children's gore,
  Let man exult, the raging storm is o'er.

    To you, my customers, I bring the news
  Of feuds domestic and of foreign woes;
  Of Liberty extending her domain,
  And Truth triumphant in her glorious reign.

    Consider, patrons through the storm and snow
  With constant care I am oblig'd to go;
  Shivering and cold, I want the lively cup
  To cheer my heart and keep my spirits up:
  To stern winter's gloom can joy inspire;
  Now social circles grace the Hickory fire;
  And on your board, for friends and neighbors spread,
  The turkey smokes the industrious peasant fed:
  But not to me these blessings are dispos'd,
  Fortune's capricious hand to me is clos'd;
  I am condemn'd to labour long and hard,
  Unknown my troubles, scanty my reward.

    Such is the humble German's life of toil,
  Who now solicits your approving smile;
  My grateful heart still let your bounty share,
  And Peace and Freedom reign from year to year.

    _New-York, January 1, 1798._


[152] This was published as a broadside, and distributed with the paper.
As far as I can discover Freneau never reprinted it.




PART V

THE FINAL PERIOD OF WANDERING

1798-1809




THE FINAL PERIOD OF WANDERING

1798-1809[153]




ON ARRIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 1798[154]


  A happy gale presents, once more,
  The gay and ever verdant shore,
  Which every pleasure will restore
      To those who come again:
  You, Carolina, from the seas
  Emerging, claim all power to please,
  Emerge with elegance and ease
      From Neptune's briny main.

  To find in you a happier home,
  Retirement for the days to come,
  From northern coasts you saw me roam,
      By flattering fancy moved:
  I came, and in your fragrant woods,
  Your magic isles and gay abodes,
  In rural haunts and passing floods
      Review'd the scenes I loved,

  When sailing oft, from year to year
  And leaving all I counted dear,
  I found the happy country here
      Where manly hearts abound;
  Where friendship's kind extended hand,
  All social, leads a generous band;
  Where heroes, who redeem'd the land
      Still live to be renown'd:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 3 (of 3)

The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 3 (of 3)

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