The Poems of Philip Freneau Volume I Part 50

ON AMANDA'S SINGING BIRD[165]

A native of the Canary Islands, confined in a small cage

Happy in my native grove, I from spray to spray did rove, Fond of music, full of love.

Dressed as fine as bird could be, Every thing that I did see, Every thing was mirth to me.

There had I been, happy still, With my mate to coo and bill In the vale, or on the hill.

But the cruel tyrant, man, (Tyrant since the world began) Soon abridged my little span.

How shall I the wrong forget!

Over me he threw a net; And I am his prisoner yet.

To this rough Bermudian sh.o.r.e Ocean I was hurried o'er, Ne'er to see my country more!

To a narrow cage confined, I, who once so gaily s.h.i.+ned, Sing to please the human kind.

Dear Amanda!--leave me free, And my notes will sweeter be; On your breast, or in the tree![166]

On your arm I would repose-- One--oh make me--of your beaus-- There I would relate my woes.

Now, all love, and full of play, I so innocently gay, Pine my little life away.

Thus to grieve and flutter here, Thus to pine from year to year; This is usage too severe.

From the chiefs who rule your isle, I will never court a smile; All, with them, is prison style.[167]

But from your superior mind Let me but my freedom find, And I will be all resigned.

Then your kiss will hold me fast-- If but once by you embraced, In your 'kerchief I will rest.

Gentle shepherds of the plain, Who so fondly hear my strain; Help me to be free again.

'Tis a blessing to be free:-- Fair Amanda![168]--pity me, Pity him who sings for thee.

But if, cruel, you deny That your captive bird should fly, Here detained so wrongfully,

Full of anguish, faint with woe, I must, with my music, go To the cypress groves below.

[165] Published in the _Freeman's Journal_, July 3, 1782, under the t.i.tle "On a Lady's Singing Bird, a native of the Canary Islands, confined in a very small cage. Written in Bermuda, 1778."

[166] This stanza and the next original in the edition of 1809.

[167] This stanza and the two following original in the edition of 1809.

[168] "Belinda."--_Ed. 1786._

ON THE NEW AMERICAN FRIGATE ALLIANCE[169]

As Neptune traced the azure main That owned, so late, proud Britain's reign, A floating pile approached his car, The scene of terror and of war.

As nearer still the monarch drew (Her starry flag displayed to view) He asked a Triton of his train "What flag was this that rode the main?

"A s.h.i.+p of such a gallant mien "This many a day I have not seen, "To no mean power can she belong, "So swift, so warlike, stout, and strong.

"See how she mounts the foaming wave-- "Where other s.h.i.+ps would find a grave, "Majestic, aweful, and serene, "She sails the ocean, like its queen."--

"Great monarch of the h.o.a.ry deep, "Whose trident awes the waves to sleep, (Replied a Triton of his train) "This s.h.i.+p, that stems the western main,

"To those new, rising States belongs, "Who, in resentment of their wrongs, "Oppose proud Britain's tyrant sway, "And combat her, by land and sea.

"This pile, of such superior fame, "From their strict union takes her name, "For them she cleaves the briny tide, "While terror marches by her side.

"When she unfurls her flowing sails, "Undaunted by the fiercest gales, "In dreadful pomp, she ploughs the main, "While adverse tempests rage in vain.

"When she displays her gloomy tier, "The boldest foes congeal with fear, "And, owning her superior might, "Seek their best safety in their flight.

"But when she pours the dreadful blaze, "And thunder from her cannon plays, "The bursting flash that wings the ball, "Compells those foes to strike, or fall.

"Though she, with her triumphant crew, "Might to their fate all foes pursue, "Yet, faithful to the land that bore, "She stays, to guard her native sh.o.r.e.

"Though she might make the cruisers groan "That sail within the torrid zone, "She kindly lends a nearer aid, "Annoys them here, and guards the trade.

"Now, traversing the eastern main, "She greets the sh.o.r.es of France and Spain; "Her gallant flag, displayed to view, "Invites the old world to the new.

"This task atchieved, behold her go "To seas congealed with ice and snow, "To either tropic, and the line, "Where suns with endless fervour s.h.i.+ne.

"Not, Argo, on thy decks were found "Such hearts of bra.s.s, as here abound; "They for their golden fleece did fly, "These sail--to vanquish tyranny."

[169] "Built up the River Merrimack at Salisbury, Ma.s.sachusetts, she was first sailed in the spring of 1778, soon after her being launched, and was then commanded by Capt. Landais, a Frenchman, who was preferred to the command as a compliment to his nation and the alliance made with us, a new people."

"As Philadelphians we are ent.i.tled to some preeminence for our connection with this peculiar frigate. After the close of the War of Independence, she was owned in our city and employed as a merchant s.h.i.+p.

When no longer seaworthy, she has been stretched upon the margin of Petty's Island to remain for a century to come, a spectacle to many river pa.s.sengers."--_Watson's Annals_, III, 338.

The _Alliance_ was the only one of our first navy, of the cla.s.s of frigates, which escaped capture or destruction during the war. She was during the Revolution what "Old Ironsides" became in later years, the idol of the American people. She was in many engagements and was always victorious.

Freneau's poem first appeared, as far as I can find, in the 1786 edition. It was probably written shortly after the launch of the frigate.