 | Poems of Freneau |  |
To the DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY EDITORS.
On a Charge of Bribery
You, Journalists, are bribed—that's clear,
And paid French millions by the year;
We see it in the coats you wear;
And paid French millions by the year;
We see it in the coats you wear;
Such damning, such convincing proof
Of such a charge, is strong enough—
Your suits are made of costly stuff.
Of such a charge, is strong enough—
Your suits are made of costly stuff.
Dear boys! you lodge in mansions grand—
In time you'll own six feet of land,
Where now the sexton has command.
In time you'll own six feet of land,
Where now the sexton has command.
Your lodging is in garret high;
But where your best possessions lie,
Yourselves know best—and HIM on high.
But where your best possessions lie,
Yourselves know best—and HIM on high.
And have you had a foreign bribe?—
Then, why so lean?—shall we describe
The leanness of your honest tribe?
Then, why so lean?—shall we describe
The leanness of your honest tribe?
151
Why did you not with Tories join
To hold the British king divine—
And all his mandates very fine?
To hold the British king divine—
And all his mandates very fine?
Then had your faces shined with fat—
Then had you worn the gold-laced hat—
And—said your lessons—very pat.—
Then had you worn the gold-laced hat—
And—said your lessons—very pat.—
Your lives are, now, continual trial,
Existence, constant self-denial,
To keep down some, who would be royal.
Existence, constant self-denial,
To keep down some, who would be royal.
For public good you wear out types,
For public good you get dry wipes—
For public good you may get—stripes.
For public good you get dry wipes—
For public good you may get—stripes.
One half your time in Federal court,
On libel charge—you're made a sport—
You pay your fees—nor dare retort.—
On libel charge—you're made a sport—
You pay your fees—nor dare retort.—
All pleasure you are sworn to shun;
Are always cloistered, like a nun,
And glad to hide from Ragman's dun.—
Are always cloistered, like a nun,
And glad to hide from Ragman's dun.—
All night you sit by glare of lamp,
Like Will o' Wisp in vapoury swamp,
To write of armies and the camp.—
Like Will o' Wisp in vapoury swamp,
To write of armies and the camp.—
You write—compile—compile and write,
'Till you have nearly lost your sight—
Then off to jail; and so, good night.
'Till you have nearly lost your sight—
Then off to jail; and so, good night.
Turned out as poor as Christ-church rat,
Once more the trade you would be at
Which never yet made lean man fat.
Once more the trade you would be at
Which never yet made lean man fat.
You send your journals far and wide,
And though undone, and though belied;
You choose to take the patriot side.
And though undone, and though belied;
You choose to take the patriot side.
152
Your works are in Kentucky found;
And there your politics go round—
And there your trust them many a pound.—
And there your politics go round—
And there your trust them many a pound.—
At home, to folks residing near,
You grant a credit, half a year;
And pine, mean while, on cakes and beer.
You grant a credit, half a year;
And pine, mean while, on cakes and beer.
The time elapsed when friends should pay,
You urge your dun from day to day;
And so you must—and so you may.
You urge your dun from day to day;
And so you must—and so you may.
One customer begins to fret,
And tells the dunner in a pet,
“Plague take the Printer and his debt:
And tells the dunner in a pet,
“Plague take the Printer and his debt:
“Ungrateful man—go hang—go burn—
“I read his paper night and morn,
“And now experience this return!
“I read his paper night and morn,
“And now experience this return!
“Sir! was I not among the first
“Who did my name on paper trust,
“To help this Journalist accursed?
“Who did my name on paper trust,
“To help this Journalist accursed?
“Thus am I used for having signed:
“But I have spirit, he shall find—
“Ah me! the baseness of mankind!”
“But I have spirit, he shall find—
“Ah me! the baseness of mankind!”
Thus, on you strive with constant pain,
The kindest tell you, call again!—
And you their humble dupe remain.
The kindest tell you, call again!—
And you their humble dupe remain.
Who aims to prosper—should be sold—
If bribes are offered, take the gold,
Nor live to be forever fooled.
If bribes are offered, take the gold,
Nor live to be forever fooled.
SALEM 1809
| Poems of Freneau | |