University of Virginia Library

Scene 2.

—Washington in Council: deputies sitting round: some citizens grouped behind.
Washington.
Statesmen and brothers, we are met this day
Solemnly to proclaim our rights and wrongs,
Duteously in sober wisdom to decide,
And firmly with all promptitude to act
For peace or war, as Providence may will.
Our messenger from England, Benjamin Franklin,
Awaits your bidding, to make known to us
What the King chooses for us—and himself.

(Enter Franklin. They shout)

Welcome, good brother! welcome, Benjamin Franklin!

Franklin.
Worshipful President, and worthy Statesmen,
When, as the thirteen colonies resolved,
I stood your delegate and deputy
To plead our rights before King George in council,
I had small hope—it scarce was worth a fear,—
That minister or King would favour us.
Lord North was proud and cold and reticent,
The King—to speak out plainly—obstinate,
Grenville, and Grafton too, seemed full of scorn
At parleying with (for so they called us) traitors;
And though great Chatham spoke up nobly for us
As injured and unhappy and traduced,
Stoutly protesting how we well deserved
For patient patriotism to that hour
To hold all right God giveth unto man
Self-government and natural liberties
Of conscience, speech, religion, trade, all free,
Glad that we stood for them; though Edmund Burke
Made the assembled council tremble and thrill
When from his fervid heart and eloquent tongue
Our wrongs were poured before them; and though Barré
Flashed Junius-fire from out his cunning eyes
Whilst he denounced and lashed with irony
The placemen and the pensioners, who dared
To play the tyrant over us,—all was vain,
Our cause, I saw it at once, had been prejudged;
The die was cast; they flung my pleas aside,
They scoffed at protestation, railed at us,
As runaway emigrants, adventurers,
Nay, some (they sneered) convicted criminals,
Deserters out of bounds, plantation serfs,
His Majesty's own property forsooth,
Born but for tribute and to render dues:
Thus did they taunt us:—but I answered them;
That we were now three million honest men
Freeborn, and claiming liberty as right;
We had grown strong in our Columbian home;
And would not tolerate prætorian guards
To keep us prisoners, ay, and feed on us;
I said we hated priest-craft, and would none
Of State religion, and its hierarchy,
We would have none of foreign laws or judges
Or taskmaster officials grinding us
By tyrannous taxation everywhere,—
I told them we denounced, renounced all these,
And claimed, though loyal still, self-government.
Yet all fell through; an utter chaos of failure
Seemed to crash round me, like a shattered world;
And then I felt much as that self-strong man,
Horace's, you remember,—who defies
As you, with me, defy the thunderbolt
Even of tyrannic Jove himself: alone,
In the calm majesty of self-respect,
I thus threw down your gage of Independence,
And, full free conduct granted, came away
Pledged, like yourselves, a rebel for the right!

(The Council cheer him)
Bravo, great Franklin,—bravely spoken, brother.

Washington.
Statesmen, we all approve and countersign
The noble words and acts of Benjamin Franklin;
Your votes by acclamation.

(They shout)

All, all, all!

Washington.