[F] They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. _Ancient History.--Freneau"s note._
[59] Freneau mentions in this poem that it was printed in New York in September, 1775. I can find no trace of it, either as a separate publication or a contribution to a newspaper. As far as I can find, the poem is unique in the edition of 1809.
Mr. William Nelson of Paterson, N. J., Secretary of the New Jersey Historical Society, believes that the local allusions in the poem cannot be verified. He writes:
"There were but two taverns at the Pa.s.saic Falls at that time; one kept by Abraham G.o.dwin, the other by James Leslie. G.o.dwin and three of his sons went in the American Army at the beginning of the Revolution, and he died in the service. His widow survived him and carried on the tavern for a number of years. She had an intolerant hatred of all Tories. In 1776 Leslie was keeping a tavern at the present Pa.s.saic, a few miles below the Pa.s.saic Falls, and he continued there during the greater part of the Revolution, I think.
"The character of the tavern-keeper"s wife, "Scalpella," is either purely fict.i.tious or based on the character of some other person.
Moreover, I do not think Pa.s.saic Falls was ever a summer resort of the character depicted in this poem. Travellers merely went there to see the Falls, occasionally staying over night, but I cannot think it possible that there could have been such a party a.s.sembled there at one time as indicated in the poem. I do not think the two taverns together could have accommodated so many people. The place was never called "Pa.s.saic Village," as stated in the note, but was known as Totown Bridge until 1792, when Paterson was founded. Pa.s.saic Village was the name given about forty years ago to the present city of Pa.s.saic.
"The only allusions in the poem which have some semblance of reality are the references to "Miss Kitty," by whom is perhaps meant the daughter of Lord Stirling; and "Liberty Hall," the residence of her uncle, Gov.
Livingstone, near Elizabethtown. There was no such person as "Gubbins."
I should think that the scene of the poem, if it has any foundation whatever in fact, was more probably laid somewhere near Philadelphia."
PART II
THE FIRST POETIC PERIOD
1775--1781
THE FIRST POETIC PERIOD
1775-1781[A]
[A] In August, 1775, Freneau emerges from the obscurity which has concealed him since the year of his graduation at Princeton, and enters upon an era of marvelous productiveness. For four months, poetry must have been his one thought, his one occupation. It was during this period of his life that he did his most spontaneous and original work.
A POLITICAL LITANY[60]
_Libera Nos, Domine._--Deliver us, O Lord, not only from British dependence, but also
From a junto that labour with absolute power, Whose schemes disappointed have made them look sour, From the lords of the council, who fight against freedom, Who still follow on where delusion[61] shall lead them.
From the group at St. James"s, who slight our pet.i.tions, And fools that are waiting for further submissions-- From a nation whose manners are rough and severe, From scoundrels and rascals,--do keep us all clear.[62]
From pirates sent out by command of the king To murder and plunder, but never to swing.
From Wallace and Greaves, and Vipers and Roses,[A]
Whom, if heaven pleases, we"ll give b.l.o.o.d.y noses.
From the valiant Dunmore, with his crew of banditti, Who plunder Virginians at Williamsburg city,[63]
From hot-headed Montague, mighty to swear, The little fat man with his pretty white hair.[64]
From bishops in Britain, who butchers are grown, From slaves that would die for a smile from the throne, From a.s.semblies that vote against Congress proceedings, (Who now see the fruit of their stupid misleadings.)
From Tryon[65] the mighty, who flies from our city, And swelled with importance disdains the committee: (But since he is pleased to proclaim us his foes, What the devil care we where the devil he goes.)
From the caitiff,[66] lord North, who would bind us in chains, From a royal king Log, with his tooth-full of brains, Who dreams, and is certain (when taking a nap) He has conquered our lands, as they lay on his map.[67]
From a kingdom that bullies, and hectors, and swears, We send up to heaven our wishes and prayers That we, disunited, may freemen be still, And Britain go on--to be d.a.m.ned if she will.
[A] Captains and ships in the British navy, then employed on the American coast.--_Freneau"s note._ During the summer of 1775, Capt. Wallace and his vessel, the _Rose_, kept the American coast cities in a state of constant terror. The colonial newspapers show how widespread and real was this terror.
[60] The earliest trace I can find of this poem is in the 1786 edition of Freneau, where it is dated "New York, Sept. 26, 1775." In this edition, and in that of 1795, it had the t.i.tle "Libera Nos, Domine." In the edition of 1809, which I have followed, it is dated "_New-York, June, 1775._" The earlier date is probably the date of publication.
[61] "The devil."--_Ed. 1786._
[62] "Whom gold can corrupt."--_Ed. 1786._
[63] Lord Dunmore was the last Royal Governor of Virginia. In April, 1775, he had removed the public stores from Williamsburg, and with the aid of the navy and what forces he could raise, was waging open war on the colonies.
[64] George Montagu, admiral of the British fleet during the early part of the war, did much to exasperate the colonists. "He stopped and searched vessels without adequate pretext, and fired at the market boats as they entered Newport harbor. He treated the farmers on the islands much as the Saracens in the Middle Ages treated the coast population of Italy." He was mild in appearance, but testy and arbitrary to an extraordinary degree. He covered the British retreat from Boston, aided Lord Dunmore to escape from Virginia, and took part in the capture of New York City.
[65] William Tryon, the last Royal Governor of New York, informed of a resolution of the Continental Congress: "That it be recommended to the several provincial a.s.semblies, in conventions and councils or committees of safety, to arrest and secure every person in their respective colonies whose going at large may, in their opinion, endanger the safety of the colony or the liberties of America," discerning the signs of the times, took refuge on board the Halifax packet in the harbour, and left the city in the middle of October, 1775.--_Duyckinck._
[66] Scoundrel.--_Ed. 1786._
[67]
"From a dunce of a king who was born without brains, The utmost extent of whose sense is to see That reigning and making of b.u.t.tons agree."--_Ed. 1786._
AMERICAN LIBERTY, A POEM[68]
ARGUMENT
Present Situation of Affairs in North-America.--Address to the Deity.--Unhappy Situation of New-England, in particular.--The first Emigrations of the Colonists from Europe.--Cruelties of the Indian Natives.--All our Hopes of future Safety depend secondarily on our present Resolution and Activity.--Impossible for British Soldiers to join heartily for the purpose of enslaving us.--Present happy Unanimity among the Colonies.--The Baseness of pensioned Writers against their native Country.--General Gage"s late Proclamation.--The Odium consequent upon his Undertaking his present Office.--Character of a weak Monarch.--Popery established in Canada.--General Washington.--The Honourable Continental Congress.--Hanc.o.c.k.--Adams.--Invitation to Foreigners to retire hither from their respective Slavish Regions.--Bravery of the New-England Forces in the late Engagements.--The determined Resolution of the Colonies to be free.--The future Happiness of America if she surmounts the present Difficulties.
Once more Bellona, forc"d upon the stage, Inspires new fury, and awakes her rage, From North to South her thun"dring trumpet spreads Tumults, and war and death, and daring deeds.
What breast but kindles at the martial sound?
What heart but bleeds to feel its country"s wound?
For thee, blest freedom, to protect thy sway, We rush undaunted to the b.l.o.o.d.y fray; For thee, each province arms its vig"rous host, Content to die, e"er freedom shall be lost.
Kind watchful power, on whose supreme command The fate of monarchs, empires, worlds depend, Grant, in a cause thy wisdom must approve, Undaunted valour kindled from above, Let not our souls descend to dastard fear, Be valour, prudence both united here, Now as of old thy mighty arm display; Relieve the opprest, and saving power convey.