The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume I Part 21

"Embark, embark--Columbus leads the way-- "Why, friends, existence is alike to me "Dear and desireable with other men; "What good could I devise in seeking ruin?

"Embark, I say; and he that sails with me "Shall reap a harvest of immortal honour: "Wealthier he shall return than they that now "Lounge in the lap of princ.i.p.alities, "h.o.a.rding the gorgeous treasures of the east."-- Alas, alas! they turn their backs upon me, And rather choose to wallow in the mire Of want, and torpid inactivity, Than by one bold and masterly exertion Themselves enn.o.ble, and enrich their country!

PICTURE IX.

A Sailor's Hut, near the Sh.o.r.e

Thomas and Susan

_Thomas_

I wish I was over the water again!

'Tis a pity we cannot agree; When I try to be merry 'tis labour in vain, You always are scolding at me; Then what shall I do With this termagant Sue; Tho' I hug her and squeeze her I never can please her-- Was there ever a devil like you!

_Susan_

If I was a maid as I now am a wife With a sot and a brat to maintain, I think it should be the first care of my life, To shun such a drunkard again: Not one of the crew Is so hated by Sue; Though they always are bawling, And pulling and hauling-- Not one is a puppy like you.[54]

_Thomas_

Dear Susan, I'm sorry that you should complain: There is nothing indeed to be done; If a war should break out, not a sailor in Spain Would sooner be found at his gun: Arriving from sea I would kneel on one knee, And the plunder presenting To Susan relenting-- Who then would be honour'd like me!

_Susan_

To-day as I came by the sign of the s.h.i.+p, A mighty fine captain was there, He was asking for sailors to take a small trip, But I cannot remember well where: He was hearty and free, And if you can agree To leave me, dear honey, To bring me some money!-- How happy--indeed--I shall be!

_Thomas_

The man that you saw not a sailor can get, 'Tis a captain Columbus, they say; To fit out a s.h.i.+p he is running in debt, And our wages he never will pay: Yes, yes, it is he, And, Sue, do ye see, On a wild undertaking His heart he is breaking-- The devil may take him for me!

PICTURE X.

Bernardo, a Spanish Friar, in his canonicals

Did not our holy book most clearly say This earth is built upon a pillar'd base; And did not Reason add convincing proofs That this huge world is one continued plain Extending onward to immensity, Bounding with oceans these abodes of men, I should suppose this dreamer had some hopes, Some prospects built on probability.

What says our lord the pope--he cannot err-- He says, our world is not orbicular, And has rewarded some with chains and death Who dar'd defend such wicked heresies.

But we are turning heretics indeed!-- A foreigner, an idiot, an impostor, An infidel (since he dares contradict What our most holy order holds for truth) Is pouring poison in the royal ear; Telling him tales of islands in the moon, Leading the nation into dangerous errors, Slighting instruction from our brotherhood!-- O Jesu! Jesu! what an age is this!

PICTURE XI.

Orosio, a Mathematician, with his scales and compa.s.ses

This persevering man succeeds at last!

The last gazette has publish'd to the world That Ferdinand and Isabella grant Three well rigg'd s.h.i.+ps to Christopher Columbus; And have bestow'd the n.o.ble t.i.tles too Of Admiral and Vice-Roy--great indeed!-- Who will not now project, and scrawl on paper-- Pretenders now shall be advanc'd to honour; And every pedant that can frame a problem, And every lad that can draw parallels Or measure the subtension of an angle, Shall now have s.h.i.+ps to make discoveries.

This simple man would sail he knows not where; Building on fables, schemes of certainty;-- Visions of Plato, mix'd with idle tales Of later date, intoxicate his brain: Let him advance beyond a certain point In his fantastic voyage, and I foretell He never can return: ay, let him go!-- There is a line towards the setting sun Drawn on an ocean of tremendous depth, (Where nature plac'd the limits of the day) Haunted by dragons, fond of solitude, Red serpents, fiery forms, and yelling hags, Fit company for mad adventurers.-- There, when the sun descends, 'tis horror all; His angry globe through vast abysses gliding Burns in the briny bosom of the deep Making a havoc so detestable, And causing such a wasteful ebullition That never island green, or continent Could find foundation, there to grow upon.

PICTURE XII.

Columbus and a Pilot

_Columbus_

To take on board the sweepings of a jail Is inexpedient in a voyage like mine, That will require most patient fort.i.tude, Strict vigilance and staid sobriety, Contempt of death on cool reflection founded, A sense of honour, motives of ambition, And every sentiment that sways the brave.-- Princes should join me now!--not those I mean Who lurk in courts, or revel in the shade Of painted ceilings:--those I mean, more worthy, Whose daring aims and persevering souls, Soaring beyond the sordid views of fortune, Bespeak the lineage of true royalty.

_Pilot_

A fleet arrived last month at Carthagene From Smyrna, Cyprus, and the neighbouring isles: Their crews, releas'd from long fatigues at sea, Have spent their earnings in festivity, And hunger tells them they must out again.

Yet nothing instantly presents itself Except your new and n.o.ble expedition: The fleet must undergo immense repairs, And numbers will be unemploy'd awhile: I'll take them in the hour of dissipation (Before reflection has made cowards of them, Suggesting questions of impertinence) When desperate plans are most acceptable, Impossibilities are possible, And all the spring and vigour of the mind Is strain'd to madness and audacity: If you approve my scheme, our ninety men (The number you p.r.o.nounce to be sufficient) Shall all be enter'd in a week, at most.

_Columbus_

Go, pilot, go--and every motive urge That may put life into this expedition.

Early in August we must weigh our anchors.

Time wears apace---bring none but willing men, So shall our orders be the better borne, The people less inclin'd to mutiny.

PICTURE XIII.

Discontents at Sea

_Antonio_

Dreadful is death in his most gentle forms!

More horrid still on this mad element, So far remote from land--from friends remote!

So many thousand leagues already sail'd In quest of visions!--what remains to us But peris.h.i.+ng in these moist solitudes; Where many a day our corpses on the sea Shall float unwept, unpitied, unentomb'd!

O fate most terrible!--undone Antonio!

Why didst thou listen to a madman's dreams, Pregnant with mischief--why not, comrades, rise!-- See, Nature's self prepares to leave us here; The needle, once so faithful to the pole, Now quits his object and bewilders us; Steering at random, just as chance directs-- O fate most terrible!--undone Antonio!--

_Hernando_

Borne to creation's utmost verge, I saw New stars ascending, never view'd before!

Low sinks the bear!--O land, my native land, Clear springs and shady groves! why did I change Your aspect fair for these infernal wastes, Peopled by monsters of another kind; Ah me! design'd not for the view of man!

_Columbus_

Cease, dastards, cease; and be inform'd that man Is nature's lord, and wields her to his will; If her most n.o.ble works obey our aims, How much more so ought worthless sc.u.m, like you, Whose whole existence is a morning dream, Whose life is suns.h.i.+ne on a wintry day, Who shake at shadows, struck with palsied fear: Measuring the limit of your lives by distance.

_Antonio_

Columbus, hear! when with the land we parted You thirty days agreed to plough the main, Directing westward.--Thirty have elaps'd, And thirty more have now begun their round, No land appearing yet, nor trace of land, But distant fogs that mimic lofty isles, Painting gay landscapes on the vapourish air, Inhabited by fiends that mean our ruin-- You persevere, and have no mercy on us-- Then perish by yourself--we must return-- And know, our firm resolve is fix'd for Spain; In this resolve we are unanimous.

Juan de Villa-Real to Columbus

(A Billet)

"I heard them over night a plot contriving "Of fatal purpose--have a care, Columbus!-- "They have resolv'd, as on the deck you stand, "Aiding the vigils of the midnight hour, "To plunge you headlong in the roaring deep, "And slaughter such as favour your design "Still to pursue this western continent."