 | American poems, selected and original |  |
129
An EPISTLE to DR. DWIGHT.
On board the Courier de l'Europe, July 30, 1784.
BY THE SAME.
From the wide watry waste, where nought but skies
And mingling waves salute the aching eyes;
Where the same moving circle bounds the view,
And paints with vap'ry tints the billows blue;
To thee, my early friend! to thee, dear Dwight:
Fond recollection turns, while thus I write;
While I reflect, no change of time or place,
The impressions of our friendship can efface;
Nor peace, nor war, tho' chang'd for us the scene,
Tho' mountains rise, or oceans roll between;
Too deep that sacred passion was imprest
On my young heart, too deep it mark'd your breast;
Your breast which asks the feelings of your friend,
What chance betides him, or what toils attend?
Then hear the muse, in sea-born numbers tell
In mind how cheerful, and in health how well;
And ev'n that muse will deign to let you know,
What things concur to make and keep him so.
And mingling waves salute the aching eyes;
Where the same moving circle bounds the view,
And paints with vap'ry tints the billows blue;
To thee, my early friend! to thee, dear Dwight:
Fond recollection turns, while thus I write;
While I reflect, no change of time or place,
The impressions of our friendship can efface;
Nor peace, nor war, tho' chang'd for us the scene,
Tho' mountains rise, or oceans roll between;
Too deep that sacred passion was imprest
On my young heart, too deep it mark'd your breast;
Your breast which asks the feelings of your friend,
What chance betides him, or what toils attend?
Then hear the muse, in sea-born numbers tell
In mind how cheerful, and in health how well;
And ev'n that muse will deign to let you know,
What things concur to make and keep him so.
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We go, protected by supernal care,
With cloudless skies, and suns serenely fair;
While o'er the unruffled main the gentle gale
Consenting breathes, and fills each swelling sail;
Conscious of safety in the self-same hand,
Which guides us on the ocean or the land.
With cloudless skies, and suns serenely fair;
While o'er the unruffled main the gentle gale
Consenting breathes, and fills each swelling sail;
Conscious of safety in the self-same hand,
Which guides us on the ocean or the land.
Of thee, fair bark! the muse prophetic sings,
“Europe's swift Messenger! expand thy wings,
“Rear thy tall masts, extend thine ample arms,
“Catch the light breeze, nor dread impending harms.
“Full oft shalt thou, if aught the muse avails,
“Wing the broad deep with such delightful gales;
“Full oft to either world announce glad news,
“Of allied realms promote the friendly views;
“So shall each distant age assert thy claim,
“And Europe's Messenger be known to fame!”
“Europe's swift Messenger! expand thy wings,
“Rear thy tall masts, extend thine ample arms,
“Catch the light breeze, nor dread impending harms.
“Full oft shalt thou, if aught the muse avails,
“Wing the broad deep with such delightful gales;
“Full oft to either world announce glad news,
“Of allied realms promote the friendly views;
“So shall each distant age assert thy claim,
“And Europe's Messenger be known to fame!”
What tho' this plain so uniform and vast,
Illimitably spreads its dreary waste;
What tho' no isles, nor vales, nor hills, nor groves,
Meet the tired eye that round the horizon roves;
Yet, still collected in a narrow bound,
Ten thousand little pleasures may be found.
Illimitably spreads its dreary waste;
What tho' no isles, nor vales, nor hills, nor groves,
Meet the tired eye that round the horizon roves;
Yet, still collected in a narrow bound,
Ten thousand little pleasures may be found.
Here we enjoy accommodations good,
With pleasant liquors, and well-flavor'd food,
Meats nicely fatten'd in Columbian fields,
And luscious wines, that Gallia's vintage yields,
On which you bards ('twas so in former days)
Might feast your wit, and lavish all your praise.
With pleasant liquors, and well-flavor'd food,
Meats nicely fatten'd in Columbian fields,
And luscious wines, that Gallia's vintage yields,
On which you bards ('twas so in former days)
Might feast your wit, and lavish all your praise.
Within our ship, well-furnish'd, roomy, clean,
Come see the uses of each different scene.
Far in the prow, for culinary use,
Fires, not poetic, much good cheer produce;
The ovens there our daily bread afford,
And thence the viands load our plenteous board.
Come see the uses of each different scene.
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Fires, not poetic, much good cheer produce;
The ovens there our daily bread afford,
And thence the viands load our plenteous board.
See various landscapes shade our dining hall,
Where mimic nature wantons round the wall,
There no vain pomp appears, there all is neat,
And there cool zephyrs fanning, as we eat,
Avert the fervors of the noon-tide ray,
And give the mildness of the vernal day.
Where mimic nature wantons round the wall,
There no vain pomp appears, there all is neat,
And there cool zephyrs fanning, as we eat,
Avert the fervors of the noon-tide ray,
And give the mildness of the vernal day.
See the great cabin nigh, its doors unfold,
Shew fleeting forms from mirrors fix'd in gold!
O'er painted ceilings brighter prospects rise,
And rural scenes again delight our eyes:
There oft from converse or from social sports,
We drink delight less dash'd than that of courts.
Shew fleeting forms from mirrors fix'd in gold!
O'er painted ceilings brighter prospects rise,
And rural scenes again delight our eyes:
There oft from converse or from social sports,
We drink delight less dash'd than that of courts.
But when more sober cares the hour requires,
Each to his cell of solitude retires;
His bed, his books, his paper, pen and ink,
Present the choice, to rest, to read, or think.
Each to his cell of solitude retires;
His bed, his books, his paper, pen and ink,
Present the choice, to rest, to read, or think.
Yet what would all avail to prompt the smile,
Cheer the sad breast, or the dull hour beguile:
If well-bred passengers, discreet and free,
Were not at hand to mix in social glee?
Such my companions,—such the muse shall tell,
Him first, whom once you knew in war so well,
Our Polish friend, whose name still sounds so hard,
To make it rhyme would puzzle any bard;
That youth, whom bays and laurels early crown'd,
For virtue, science, arts, and arms, renown'd.
Next him, behold, to grace our watry scene,
An honest German lifts his generous mien;
Him Carolina sends to Europe's shore,
Canals and inland waters to explore;
From thence return'd, she hopes to see her tide,
In commerce rich, thro' ampler channels glide.
Next comes the bleak Quebec's well-natured son;
And last our naval chief, the friend of fun;
Whose plain, frank manners, form'd on fickle seas,
Are cheerful still, and always aim to please:
Nor less the other chiefs their zeal display,
To make us happy as themselves are gay.
Cheer the sad breast, or the dull hour beguile:
If well-bred passengers, discreet and free,
Were not at hand to mix in social glee?
Such my companions,—such the muse shall tell,
Him first, whom once you knew in war so well,
Our Polish friend, whose name still sounds so hard,
To make it rhyme would puzzle any bard;
132
For virtue, science, arts, and arms, renown'd.
Next him, behold, to grace our watry scene,
An honest German lifts his generous mien;
Him Carolina sends to Europe's shore,
Canals and inland waters to explore;
From thence return'd, she hopes to see her tide,
In commerce rich, thro' ampler channels glide.
Next comes the bleak Quebec's well-natured son;
And last our naval chief, the friend of fun;
Whose plain, frank manners, form'd on fickle seas,
Are cheerful still, and always aim to please:
Nor less the other chiefs their zeal display,
To make us happy as themselves are gay.
Sever'd from all society but this,
Half way from either world we plough the abyss:
Save the small sea-bird and the fish that flies,
On yon blue waves no object meets my eyes.
Nor has the insidious hook, with lures, beguil'd
Of peopled ocean scarce a single child.
Yet luckless Dolphin, erst to Arion true,
Nought could avail thy beauteous, transient hue;
As o'er the deck, in dying pang you roll'd,
Wrapt in gay rain-bows and pellucid gold.
Half way from either world we plough the abyss:
Save the small sea-bird and the fish that flies,
On yon blue waves no object meets my eyes.
Nor has the insidious hook, with lures, beguil'd
Of peopled ocean scarce a single child.
Yet luckless Dolphin, erst to Arion true,
Nought could avail thy beauteous, transient hue;
As o'er the deck, in dying pang you roll'd,
Wrapt in gay rain-bows and pellucid gold.
Now see that wand'rer bird, fatigued with flight
O'er many a watry league, is forc'd to light
High on the mast,—the bird our seamen take,
Tho' fear'd, too tir'd its refuge to forsake:
Fear not sweet bird, nor judge our motives ill,
No barb'rous man, now means thy blood to spill,
Or hold thee cag'd; soon as we reach the shore,
Free shalt thou fly, and gaily sing and soar!
O'er many a watry league, is forc'd to light
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Tho' fear'd, too tir'd its refuge to forsake:
Fear not sweet bird, nor judge our motives ill,
No barb'rous man, now means thy blood to spill,
Or hold thee cag'd; soon as we reach the shore,
Free shalt thou fly, and gaily sing and soar!
Another grateful sight now cheers the eye,
At first a snow-white spot in yon clear sky;
Then thro' the optic tube a ship appears,
And now distinct athwart the billows veers:
Daughter of ocean, made to bless mankind!
Go, range wide waters on the wings of wind;
With friendly intercourse far climes explore,
Their produce barter, and increase their store;
Ne'er saw my eye so fair a pageant swim,
As thou appear'st, in all thy gallant trim!
At first a snow-white spot in yon clear sky;
Then thro' the optic tube a ship appears,
And now distinct athwart the billows veers:
Daughter of ocean, made to bless mankind!
Go, range wide waters on the wings of wind;
With friendly intercourse far climes explore,
Their produce barter, and increase their store;
Ne'er saw my eye so fair a pageant swim,
As thou appear'st, in all thy gallant trim!
Amus'd with trivial things, reclin'd at ease,
While the swift bark divides the summer seas;
Your bard (for past neglect to make amends)
Now writes to you, anon to other friends.
While the swift bark divides the summer seas;
Your bard (for past neglect to make amends)
Now writes to you, anon to other friends.
Anon the scene, in Europe's polish'd climes,
Will give new themes for philosophic rhymes,
Ope broader fields for reason to explore,
Improvements vast of scientific lore!
Will give new themes for philosophic rhymes,
Ope broader fields for reason to explore,
Improvements vast of scientific lore!
Thro' nations blest with peace, but strong in arms,
Refin'd in arts, and apt for social charms,
Your friend will stray, and strive, with studious care,
To mark whate'er is useful, great, or rare;
Search the small shades of manners in their lives,
What policy prevails, how commerce thrives;
How morals form of happiness the base,
How others differ from Columbia's race;
And, gleaning knowledge from the realms he rov'd,
Bring home a patriot heart, enlarg'd, improv'd.
Refin'd in arts, and apt for social charms,
Your friend will stray, and strive, with studious care,
To mark whate'er is useful, great, or rare;
134
What policy prevails, how commerce thrives;
How morals form of happiness the base,
How others differ from Columbia's race;
And, gleaning knowledge from the realms he rov'd,
Bring home a patriot heart, enlarg'd, improv'd.
| American poems, selected and original | |