 | The national jubilee, and other miscellaneous poems |  |
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THE NATIONAL JUBILEE:
RECITED BY THE AUTHOR, JULY 4TH, 1824.
Once more with gladness the revolving heaven
Hath to our souls, the day of freedom given—
The brightest day that ever blest the earth;
The day, that Liberty receiv'd her birth;
The day, that bade Columbia to be free,
And strike the Anthem of her Jubilee!
Hath to our souls, the day of freedom given—
The brightest day that ever blest the earth;
The day, that Liberty receiv'd her birth;
The day, that bade Columbia to be free,
And strike the Anthem of her Jubilee!
Ere this illustrious day, the earth was chill'd
With slaving dogmas, which the affections kill'd:
Each holy aspiration of the mind,
Panting to reach the height that heaven design'd,
Was by the faggot, kindled with the breath
Of superstition—smother'd into death.
The glorious symbols of immotal things
Were robb'd from heaven to plume the pride of kings;
So infamous the sacerdotal brood,
That while they pray'd the wine-cup foam'd with blood!
An opiate darkness o'er the world was spread,
And all the finer soul of man was dead;
He hug'd the chains, not daring to be free,
Lash'd with the crimson scourge of tyranny.
With slaving dogmas, which the affections kill'd:
Each holy aspiration of the mind,
Panting to reach the height that heaven design'd,
Was by the faggot, kindled with the breath
Of superstition—smother'd into death.
The glorious symbols of immotal things
Were robb'd from heaven to plume the pride of kings;
So infamous the sacerdotal brood,
That while they pray'd the wine-cup foam'd with blood!
An opiate darkness o'er the world was spread,
And all the finer soul of man was dead;
He hug'd the chains, not daring to be free,
Lash'd with the crimson scourge of tyranny.
Thus slavery chain'd the East,—but the West,
A germ of freedom rooted in the breast—
Yes, here the plant of Liberty sprang forth,
While crowns received the homage of the earth—
It grew—it flourished—blossomed in the Spring
With verdant hope of bounteous harvesting;
While Kings and Priests with jealous leer beheld,
Intent to blight its growth upon the field;
And when Britannia strove to pluck it forth,
And bend our conscript fathers to the earth,
They rose like sparkles kindled to a flame,
And scath'd the brilliance of her gorgeous name—
Amidst the blaze, consum'd her royal shrine,
And Monarchs trembled for their Rights Divine.
A germ of freedom rooted in the breast—
Yes, here the plant of Liberty sprang forth,
While crowns received the homage of the earth—
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With verdant hope of bounteous harvesting;
While Kings and Priests with jealous leer beheld,
Intent to blight its growth upon the field;
And when Britannia strove to pluck it forth,
And bend our conscript fathers to the earth,
They rose like sparkles kindled to a flame,
And scath'd the brilliance of her gorgeous name—
Amidst the blaze, consum'd her royal shrine,
And Monarchs trembled for their Rights Divine.
Who gave the signal word? O Muse, declare
The sainted names that laid their bosoms bare,
Their country to redeem—****
The sainted names that laid their bosoms bare,
Their country to redeem—****
Lee, Adams
first,
Then Henry's eloquence like thunder burst
And shook oppression's Idol—Hancock then,
And Jefferson, the first of mortal men,
Stood forth with all their energy of soul,
To prop the weak and animate the whole.
Franklin the statesman, patriot, and the sage,
Rose like the sun to guild a bright'ning age.
And Madison appeared with wisdom calm—
Monroe for Liberty made bare his arm.
Warren the martyr glorified his name,
Then rose immortal on the wings of fame.
Montgomery follow'd in his bright career,
Pour'd his rich blood and clomb the eternal sphere:
Mercer and Nash, to sacred Freedom given,
Drain'd their full hearts, then join'd their souls in heaven.
Knox, Lincoln, Sumpter, Clinton, Marion, Scott,—
Nor shall the veteran Shelby be forgot,
Who wrapp'd the Mountain of the King in flames,
And bore his conquering banner to the Thames.
The hoary Putnam, Prescott, Pomeroy, Green,
Crimson'd their swords in many a dubious scene—
The first, at Bunker, prov'd their blood in strife,
Pure as the balsam from the tree of life;
Green, like an Eagle on her summit, brave,
With instruments of death, dug deep their grave—
On Guilford's plain, he paraliz'd the throne,
And made the ranks of royalty to groan;
But at the Eutaw was his soul put forth,
And struck them backward, weltering to the earth.
Then Henry's eloquence like thunder burst
And shook oppression's Idol—Hancock then,
And Jefferson, the first of mortal men,
Stood forth with all their energy of soul,
To prop the weak and animate the whole.
Franklin the statesman, patriot, and the sage,
Rose like the sun to guild a bright'ning age.
And Madison appeared with wisdom calm—
Monroe for Liberty made bare his arm.
Warren the martyr glorified his name,
Then rose immortal on the wings of fame.
Montgomery follow'd in his bright career,
Pour'd his rich blood and clomb the eternal sphere:
Mercer and Nash, to sacred Freedom given,
Drain'd their full hearts, then join'd their souls in heaven.
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Nor shall the veteran Shelby be forgot,
Who wrapp'd the Mountain of the King in flames,
And bore his conquering banner to the Thames.
The hoary Putnam, Prescott, Pomeroy, Green,
Crimson'd their swords in many a dubious scene—
The first, at Bunker, prov'd their blood in strife,
Pure as the balsam from the tree of life;
Green, like an Eagle on her summit, brave,
With instruments of death, dug deep their grave—
On Guilford's plain, he paraliz'd the throne,
And made the ranks of royalty to groan;
But at the Eutaw was his soul put forth,
And struck them backward, weltering to the earth.
A tear of rapturous gratitude will wet
Columbia's cheek when nam'd the good Fayette:
While Olmutz, Monmouth, Brandywine, shall live,
Will he the homage of the heart receive.
Columbia's cheek when nam'd the good Fayette:
While Olmutz, Monmouth, Brandywine, shall live,
Will he the homage of the heart receive.
But who the numbers of their names can cast,
Spirits of heaven elect,—who, when the blast
Of Freedom's clarion sounded through the sky,
Perill'd their all for sake of Liberty?
No mortal utterance could the host recite,—
What tongue of dust can sum the stars of night,
Or count the dew-drop diamonds that display
The mimmick rainbows in the blush of day?
When these are number'd, then the Muse might deign
To sum the band that broke the Oppressor's chain.
Spirits of heaven elect,—who, when the blast
Of Freedom's clarion sounded through the sky,
Perill'd their all for sake of Liberty?
No mortal utterance could the host recite,—
What tongue of dust can sum the stars of night,
Or count the dew-drop diamonds that display
The mimmick rainbows in the blush of day?
When these are number'd, then the Muse might deign
To sum the band that broke the Oppressor's chain.
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Lo! one in solid grandeur is display'd,
For none his equal of the dust was made.
The richest elements of earth compos'd
His mortal fabrick, which sublime enclos'd
A spirit, bath'd in heaven's pure fount on high,
The hallow'd essence of the Deity—
Yea, Earth and Heaven seem'd melted into one,
To form the person of a WASHINGTON.
For none his equal of the dust was made.
The richest elements of earth compos'd
His mortal fabrick, which sublime enclos'd
A spirit, bath'd in heaven's pure fount on high,
The hallow'd essence of the Deity—
Yea, Earth and Heaven seem'd melted into one,
To form the person of a WASHINGTON.
Who can describe the sufferings of our sires
To give us freedom to our heart's desires?
Naked—expos'd to winter's freezing breath,
No homely morsel to redeem from death.
Their unshod feet, the snow with blood, distain,
While their crampt joints scarce bear them o'er the plain.
Their limbs hard chain'd, immur'd in dungeons damp,
Dripping cold dews, while faint their vital lamp
Flickers with life,—no tear is seen to flow,
Though steep'd their hearts in bitterness of wo;
Yes, in their eye, no passion of despair
Is seen to cast a dull reflection there—
But on their brows a something is display'd,
Which proves their souls are not with death dismay'd.
To give us freedom to our heart's desires?
Naked—expos'd to winter's freezing breath,
No homely morsel to redeem from death.
Their unshod feet, the snow with blood, distain,
While their crampt joints scarce bear them o'er the plain.
Their limbs hard chain'd, immur'd in dungeons damp,
Dripping cold dews, while faint their vital lamp
Flickers with life,—no tear is seen to flow,
Though steep'd their hearts in bitterness of wo;
Yes, in their eye, no passion of despair
Is seen to cast a dull reflection there—
But on their brows a something is display'd,
Which proves their souls are not with death dismay'd.
Their Country's freedom was the righteous cause
That gave them power to spurn at tyrant laws;
Their eyes were fix'd on this illustrious day,
To last till nature shall with age decay—
When we, their offspring, grateful would combine,
And strike their deeds with transport notes divine:
When virgins would select from freedom's bowers
With tender hand, the dew-enammell'd flowers,
And deck their snowy brows with garlands fair,
And chanting sing, what once their fathers were:
How they at Bunker's Height the strife withstood,
And bath'd the assailants in a bath of blood;
How they at Trenton, led by Washington,
Through wintry darkness the proud vict'ry won;
How they at Saratoga sunk the cross,
And sum'd whole armies to the royal loss;
How they at Monmouth brought the foe to foil,—
How Morgan met and ended Tarlton's spoil;
How Sumpter, at the Hanging Rock, defied
The Myrmadons, and bow'd their imperious pride;
How they at Guilford made Cornwallis pause,
And how at Eutaw they maintain'd the cause—
How they through fields of blood pursu'd the work,
And how they conquer'd at immortal York!
That gave them power to spurn at tyrant laws;
Their eyes were fix'd on this illustrious day,
To last till nature shall with age decay—
When we, their offspring, grateful would combine,
And strike their deeds with transport notes divine:
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With tender hand, the dew-enammell'd flowers,
And deck their snowy brows with garlands fair,
And chanting sing, what once their fathers were:
How they at Bunker's Height the strife withstood,
And bath'd the assailants in a bath of blood;
How they at Trenton, led by Washington,
Through wintry darkness the proud vict'ry won;
How they at Saratoga sunk the cross,
And sum'd whole armies to the royal loss;
How they at Monmouth brought the foe to foil,—
How Morgan met and ended Tarlton's spoil;
How Sumpter, at the Hanging Rock, defied
The Myrmadons, and bow'd their imperious pride;
How they at Guilford made Cornwallis pause,
And how at Eutaw they maintain'd the cause—
How they through fields of blood pursu'd the work,
And how they conquer'd at immortal York!
This is the song our virgins will recite,
Till yonder orb is quench'd in final night.
Till yonder orb is quench'd in final night.
And must we pause—here end the flowing song.
In venerative silence, lock the tongue?
No—a proud theme yet calls the Muse to dare
To launch her wings upon ethereal air,
And tune her voice to notes sublimely high,
To sing of recent deeds of chivalry—
To live, whilst valour shall the bosom warm,
Or earth retain the grandeur of its form.
In venerative silence, lock the tongue?
No—a proud theme yet calls the Muse to dare
To launch her wings upon ethereal air,
And tune her voice to notes sublimely high,
To sing of recent deeds of chivalry—
To live, whilst valour shall the bosom warm,
Or earth retain the grandeur of its form.
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This foe, the same our fathers bent in strife
Strove to enslave us—free at bud of life—
Pour'd out the insulting vial of their wrath,
On every star that deck'd the vessel's path—
Urg'd the hell-monsters of the savage race
To stab our infants, smiling in their face!
By bribes, endeavour'd artful to destroy
Our chain of Union with the base alloy.
Her spies essay'd to alienate the heart,
And stab our vitals with a secret dart.
Strove to enslave us—free at bud of life—
Pour'd out the insulting vial of their wrath,
On every star that deck'd the vessel's path—
Urg'd the hell-monsters of the savage race
To stab our infants, smiling in their face!
By bribes, endeavour'd artful to destroy
Our chain of Union with the base alloy.
Her spies essay'd to alienate the heart,
And stab our vitals with a secret dart.
Too long these crimes we suffer'd:—but at length
To seek redress, we girded on our strength!
To seek redress, we girded on our strength!
Hull first in glory on the ocean fought,
And soon to Dacres his submission taught;
Burrows, Decatur, Bainbridge, fearless met
The pirate,—humbled, brought him to their feet;
Jones, Porter, Biddle, Stewart, Warrington,
Will be remember'd while life's sand shall run:
Lawrence!
—Alas! his name dissolves the soul away!
Yes, he achieved the wonder of the sea—
But to behold him in his robes of gore,—
The Muse must pause—oppress'd her vital core.
And soon to Dacres his submission taught;
Burrows, Decatur, Bainbridge, fearless met
The pirate,—humbled, brought him to their feet;
Jones, Porter, Biddle, Stewart, Warrington,
Will be remember'd while life's sand shall run:
Lawrence!
—Alas! his name dissolves the soul away!
Yes, he achieved the wonder of the sea—
But to behold him in his robes of gore,—
The Muse must pause—oppress'd her vital core.
Lawrence! thy name, eternity receives,
And tears shall mourn thee whilst thy nation lives!
Hark! from the West, what pealing thunders break?
'Tis Perry battling glorious on the Lake!
He breaks their line—he wilts the royal powers,—
He's “met the enemy and they are ours!”
And tears shall mourn thee whilst thy nation lives!
Hark! from the West, what pealing thunders break?
'Tis Perry battling glorious on the Lake!
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He's “met the enemy and they are ours!”
Another battle sounding far remote,
Comes to our ears like heaven's artillery note—
Lo! 'tis Macdonnough in his youthful bloom,
Plunging the Britons in a watery tomb;
While Macomb hurls destruction at Prevost,
And drives him backward with his shattered host.
Comes to our ears like heaven's artillery note—
Lo! 'tis Macdonnough in his youthful bloom,
Plunging the Britons in a watery tomb;
While Macomb hurls destruction at Prevost,
And drives him backward with his shattered host.
Nor to the navy is our theme confin'd,—
A crowd of names to live upon the mind,
Press in full troops to hear their actions told,
And see the banners of their fame unfurl'd:
A crowd of names to live upon the mind,
Press in full troops to hear their actions told,
And see the banners of their fame unfurl'd:
Gaines, Miller, Ripley, Jessup, Jackson, Brown,
Circled with light, stand blazon'd in renown;
Smith, Stricker, Armistead, Leavenworth and Scott,
Names to endure till honor is forgot—
And that will happen, when the sun turns pale,
And all the stars that lighten heaven, shall fail!
Circled with light, stand blazon'd in renown;
Smith, Stricker, Armistead, Leavenworth and Scott,
Names to endure till honor is forgot—
And that will happen, when the sun turns pale,
And all the stars that lighten heaven, shall fail!
Pike was too pure for this corruptive earth,
And angels strove for his celestial birth;
But first the vict'ry to his arm was given,
And then, they bore him in bright flame to heaven.
And angels strove for his celestial birth;
But first the vict'ry to his arm was given,
And then, they bore him in bright flame to heaven.
What youthful bosoms no strange passions feel,
To hear the mention of the daring Neale?
While Craney Island on the sea shall rest,
His name will rouse the spirit of the breast.
To hear the mention of the daring Neale?
While Craney Island on the sea shall rest,
His name will rouse the spirit of the breast.
Nor him, alone, Kentucky's youngest born,
Whose fame the Poet's numbers will adorn;
Yea—while Sandusky stream shall wed the lake,
His proud achievement will the soul awake
To strains enraptur'd when his head turns gray,
His bosom press'd with monumental clay—
Yes, Croghan's name will dwell in future song,
When death's deep silence seals our every tongue.
Whose fame the Poet's numbers will adorn;
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His proud achievement will the soul awake
To strains enraptur'd when his head turns gray,
His bosom press'd with monumental clay—
Yes, Croghan's name will dwell in future song,
When death's deep silence seals our every tongue.
And there beside, shall age with hoary hair
Be heard upon the harp: Swift, Rensselear,
McCulloch, Whitley, Howard and Adair,
And Shelby, mighty in the days of old—
In vain their deeds of valour could be told
E'en with swift utterance, till the sun would set,
And stars effulgent shine on heaven's high parapet.
Be heard upon the harp: Swift, Rensselear,
McCulloch, Whitley, Howard and Adair,
And Shelby, mighty in the days of old—
In vain their deeds of valour could be told
E'en with swift utterance, till the sun would set,
And stars effulgent shine on heaven's high parapet.
And shall the Muse two other chiefs deny
To deck their brows with wreath of poesy?
Shall she, their prowess in her song, forget?
Pride of Kentucky—stars to never set—
The Johnsons—foremost in their country's cause,
The firm supporters of the people's laws;
Two brother Ajax in the field of fame—
The one the conqueror of the Albian name,—
The other, bleeding, struck the desperate blow,
Which laid the Monarch of the wild men low!
To deck their brows with wreath of poesy?
Shall she, their prowess in her song, forget?
Pride of Kentucky—stars to never set—
The Johnsons—foremost in their country's cause,
The firm supporters of the people's laws;
Two brother Ajax in the field of fame—
The one the conqueror of the Albian name,—
The other, bleeding, struck the desperate blow,
Which laid the Monarch of the wild men low!
The Muse must pause—should she her strain prolong,
Her theme would give no silence to her song;
Yon flaming chariot would descend the deep,
Revolve through night, and climb the orient steep,
And gild the earth with a returning day,
And yet unfinish'd her exalted lay!
Her theme would give no silence to her song;
Yon flaming chariot would descend the deep,
Revolve through night, and climb the orient steep,
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And yet unfinish'd her exalted lay!
How would she pour her voice on Queenston height?
Describe at Chippewa the slaughtering fight;
Publish at York, how Pike maintain'd the charge,
And tell how Boyd reduced the fort of George;
How Armistead at McHenry dauntless stood
Against the burning fury of the flood,
While Smith and Stricker met them on the shore,
And beat them of their hopes of Baltimore!
Describe at Chippewa the slaughtering fight;
Publish at York, how Pike maintain'd the charge,
And tell how Boyd reduced the fort of George;
How Armistead at McHenry dauntless stood
Against the burning fury of the flood,
While Smith and Stricker met them on the shore,
And beat them of their hopes of Baltimore!
Scarce can the Muse her ardent thoughts control
To sing Niagara with rising soul—
Where Scott and Jessup, Miller, Ripley, Brown,
Through solid fire, tore royal standards down!
To sing Niagara with rising soul—
Where Scott and Jessup, Miller, Ripley, Brown,
Through solid fire, tore royal standards down!
These would the Muse describe—and other names—
How Harrison immortaliz'd the Thames;
And to conclude the battles of the west,
How Jackson fought with thunder on his breast!
How Harrison immortaliz'd the Thames;
And to conclude the battles of the west,
How Jackson fought with thunder on his breast!
But time forbids: yet ere my numbers cease,
I feel t' invoke the bosoms made for peace:
I feel t' invoke the bosoms made for peace:
War is the element of man—but love
Descended pure on woman from above.
Your virtues bind our hearts in golden chains—
But O! the bondage gives delicious pains!
This earth would be but darkness without thee,
And savage wrath, our boasted liberty.
Our boisterous turbulence, your charms control,
And pour a sacred balsam on the soul:
Not charms, that wither like the morning flower,
Expos'd to sun-beams in the noontide hour;
Or clouds fast fading of their beauties given,
Or the frail tinctures of the bow of heaven—
But charms, that sweetly flourish from the mind,
These, these endure, and make the heart refin'd.
Descended pure on woman from above.
Your virtues bind our hearts in golden chains—
But O! the bondage gives delicious pains!
This earth would be but darkness without thee,
And savage wrath, our boasted liberty.
Our boisterous turbulence, your charms control,
And pour a sacred balsam on the soul:
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Expos'd to sun-beams in the noontide hour;
Or clouds fast fading of their beauties given,
Or the frail tinctures of the bow of heaven—
But charms, that sweetly flourish from the mind,
These, these endure, and make the heart refin'd.
O! to your children teach this glorious day,
That time may never wear it to decay;
And, at the altar, with a bended knee,
Make them to swear they ever will be FREE!
Then shall Columbia hail this day on high,
Till a new sun shall gild eternity!
That time may never wear it to decay;
And, at the altar, with a bended knee,
Make them to swear they ever will be FREE!
Then shall Columbia hail this day on high,
Till a new sun shall gild eternity!
| The national jubilee, and other miscellaneous poems | |