Peace to all feuds!--and come the happier day When Reason's sun shall light us on our way; When erring man shall all his Rights retrieve, No despots rule him, and no priests deceive, Till then, Columbia!--watch each stretch of power, Nor sleep too soundly at the midnight hour, By flattery won, and lulled by soothing strains, Silenus took his nap--and waked in chains-- In a soft dream of smooth delusion led Unthinking Gallia bowed her drooping head To tyrants' yokes--and met such bruises there, As now must take three ages to repair. Then keep the paths of dear bought freedom clear, Nor slavish systems grant admittance here. [1792] [52] Written for July 4th, 1792, and published in the _National Gazette_ under the title "Independence." Text from the edition of 1809. THE DISH OF TEA[53] Let some in beer place their delight, O'er bottled porter waste the night, Or sip the rosy wine: A dish of Tea more pleases me, Yields softer joys, provokes less noise, And breeds no base design. From China's groves, this present brought, Enlivens every power of thought, Riggs many a ship for sea: Old maids it warms, young widows charms; And ladies' men, not one in ten But courts them for their Tea. When throbbing pains assail my head, And dullness o'er my brain is spread, (The muse no longer kind) A single sip dispels the hyp: To chace the gloom, fresh spirits come, The flood-tide of the mind. When worn with toil, or vext with care, Let Susan but this draught prepare, And I forget my pain. This magic bowl revives the soul; With gentlest sway, bids care be gay; Nor mounts, to cloud the brain. If learned men the truth would speak They prize it far beyond their Greek, More fond attention pay; No Hebrew root so well can suit; More quickly taught, less dearly bought, Yet studied twice a day. This leaf, from distant regions sprung, Puts life into the female tongue, And aids the cause of love. Such power has Tea o'er bond and free; Which priests admire, delights the 'squire, And Galen's sons approve. [53] Published in the _National Gazette_, July 7, 1792. Text from the 1809 edition. ON THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY[54] A Day ever Memorable to Regenerated France Bright Day,[55] that did to France restore What priests and kings had seiz'd away, That bade her generous sons disdain The fetters that their fathers wore, The titled slave, a tyrant's sway, That ne'er shall curse her soil again! Bright day! a partner in thy joy, Columbia hails the rising sun, She feels her toils, her blood repaid, When fiercely frantic to destroy, (Proud of the laurels he had won) The Briton, here, unsheath'd his blade.