If of Religion I have made a sport, Then why not cite me to the Bishop's Court? Fair to the world let every page be set, And prove your charge from all I've said and writ:-- What if this heart no narrow notions bind, Its pure good-will extends to all mankind: Suppose I ask no portion from your feast, Nor heaven-ward ride behind your parish priest, Because I wear not Shylock's Sunday face Must I, for that, be loaded with disgrace? The time has been,--the time, I fear, is now, When holy phrenzy would erect her brow, Round some poor wight with painted devils meet, And worse than Smithfield blaze through every street; But wholesome laws prevent such horrid scenes, No more afraid of deacons and of deans, In this new world our joyful Psalm we sing That Even a Bishop is a Harmless Thing! [61] Text from the edition of 1795. First published in the _National Gazette_, Sept. 26, 1792, with the following introduction: "It is asserted in Mr. Russel's (Boston) _Columbian Centinel_ of Sept. 12 (and copied into Mr. Fenno's _Gazette of the United States_ of last Saturday) that 'the Clergy of this country are constantly vilified, and _religion_ ridiculed through the medium of the _National Gazette_.' The author of the assertion is requested to produce one or more passages from the National Gazette to support his charge, otherwise, we shall conclude it only _a dirty attempt to prevent the circulation of the National Gazette in the Eastern States_:--But further," here follows the poem. Not printed in edition of 1809. THE PYRAMID OF THE FIFTEEN AMERICAN STATES[62] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Barbara Pyramidum sileat miracula Memphis;[a] Heu, male servili marmora structa manu! Libera jam, ruptis, Atlantias ora, catenis, Jactat opus Phario marmore nobilius: Namque Columbiadæ, facti monumenta parantes, Vulgarem spernunt sumere materiam; Magnanimi coelum scandunt, perituraque saxa Quod vincat, celsa de Jovis arce petunt Audax inde cohors stellis _E Pluribus Unum_ Ardua Pyramidos tollit ad astra caput. Ergo, Tempus edax, quamvis durissima sævo Saxa domas morsu, nil ibi juris habes: Dumque polo solitis cognata nitoribus ardent Sidera fulgebit Pyramis illa suis! [a] The Latin verses were written by Mr. John Carey, formerly of Philadelphia.--_Freneau's note._ [IN IMITATION OF THE PRECEDING LINES] No more let barbarous Memphis boast Huge structures reared by servile hands-- A nation on the Atlantic coast Fettered no more in foreign bands, A nobler Pyramid displays Than Egypt's tyranny could raise. Columbia's sons, to extend the fame Of their exploits to future years, No marble from the quarry claim, But, soaring to the starry spheres, Materials seek in Jove's blue sky To endure when brass and marble die!