The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume I Part 33

What can all these visions mean!

Wintry groves and vacant halls, Coffins hid by sable palls, Monuments and funerals!

Forms terrific to the sight, Ghastly phantoms clad in white; Streams that ever seemed to freeze, Shaded o'er by willow trees,[129]

Ever drooping--hardly green-- What a vision have I seen!

One I saw of angel kind, From the dregs of life refined; On her visage such a smile,[130]

And she talk'd in such a style!

All was heaven upon her brow;-- Yes, I think I see her now!

All in beams of light arrayed; And these cheering words she said: Fair Lucinda, come to me; What has grief to do with thee?

O forsake your wretched sh.o.r.e, Crimsoned with its children's gore![131]

Could you but a moment stray In the meadows where I play, You would die to come away.

Come away, and speed your wing--[132]

Here we love, and here we sing!

_Thyrsis_

You will not yet forget your glooms, The heavy heart, the downcast eye, The cheek that scarce a smile a.s.sumes, The never-ending sigh![133]

_Lucinda_

Had you the secret cause to grieve-- That in this breast doth lie, Instead of wis.h.i.+ng to relieve You would be just as I.

_Thyrsis_

What secret cause have you to grieve?-- A lover gone astray?--[134]

If one was able to deceive, Perhaps another may.

_Lucinda_

My lover has not me deceived, An act he would disdain; Oh! he is gone--and I am grieved-- He'll never come again!

He'll never come again!

_Thyrsis_

The turtle on yon' withered bough Who lately moaned her murdered mate, Has found another partner now,-- Such changes all await.

Again her drooping plume is dress'd, Again she wishes to be bless'd, And takes a husband to her nest.

If nature has decreed it so With some above, and all below, Let us, Lucinda, banish woe,[135]

Nor be perplext with sorrow: If I should leave your arms this night, And die before the morning light, I would advise you--and you might Wed again to-morrow.

_Lucinda_

The turtle on yon' withered tree!-- That turtle never felt like me!

Her grief is but a moment's date, Another day, another mate: And true it is, the feathered race Hold many a partner no disgrace.

How would the world my fault display, What would censorious Sally[136] say?

Would say, while grinning malice sneers,--[137]

She made a conquest by her tears!

_Thyrsis_

My Polly!--once the pride of all, That shepherd lads their charmers call, Too early parted with her bloom, And sleeps in yonder sylvan tomb: Her death has set me free-- Fair as the day, and sweet as May, But what is that to me!

Since all must bow to fate's arrest,[138]

No love deceased shall rack my breast-- Come, then, Lucinda, and be blest.

_Lucinda_

My Damon! Oh, can I forget The hour you left these moistened eyes, O'er northern lakes to wander far To colder climes and dreary skies!

There, vengeful, in their wastes of snow The Britons guard the frozen sh.o.r.e, And Damon there is perished now, The swain that shall return no more!

_Thyrsis_

Weep, weep no more, my Jersey la.s.s,[139]

The pang is past that fixed his doom-- They, too, shall to destruction pa.s.s, Perhaps--and hardly find a tomb.

Refrain your tears--enough are shed-- They, too, shall have their share of woe: Fled is their fame, their honours fled; And Was.h.i.+ngton shall lay them low.

_Lucinda_

If you had but yon' sergeant's size, His mien and looks, so debonaire, You might seem lovely in my eyes, Nor should you quite despair.[140]

There's something in your looks, I find, Recalling Damon to my mind-- He is dead, and I must be resigned!

His lively step, his sun-burnt face, His nervous arm in you I trace-- Indeed,--I think you no disgrace.[141]

_Thyrsis_

On this dismal, cloudy day,[142]

In these fighting times, I say, Will you Yea, or will you Nay?

_Lucinda_

Oh! I will not tell you Nay, You have such a coaxing way!

_Thyrsis_

Call the music!--half is done That my heart could count upon-- From the grave I seize a prize!

Here she is, and where he lies, She or I but little care!

O, what animals we are!

For you!--I would forego all ease,[143]

And traverse sands or travel seas.

Of all they sent us from above, Nothing, nothing is like love!

Happiest pa.s.sion of the mind, Sent from heaven to bless mankind, Though at variance with your charms, Fate's eternal mandate stands; Hymen, come!--unite our hands, And give Lucinda to my arms!

[121] This poem seems first to have appeared in the edition of 1786, where it bore the t.i.tle, "Female Frailty. Written _November 1775_."

Freneau made use of the opening speeches of Damon and Lucinda in his drama, _The Spy_. He omitted the poem from the 1795 edition of his works, retaining, however, the opening lyric, which he ent.i.tled "The Northern Soldier." The poem was reprinted in the edition of 1809, the text of which I have used. The poet edited the earlier version with great care, making verbal variations in almost every line, and adding lines and even stanzas. I have marked only a few of the more notable changes.

[122] "And, say what you please, he will never return."--_Ed. 1786._

[123]

"With anguish and sorrow my bosom did burn, And I wept, being sure he would never return."--_Ib._

[124] "With his soldiers."--_Ib._