FROM ACT II. SCENE II Ponteach's Cabbin. Ponteach, Philip, Chekitan, and Tenesco. Ponteach. My Sons, and trusty Counsellor Tenesco, As the sweet-smelling Rose when yet a Bud Lies close conceal'd till Time and the Sun's Warmth Hath swell'd, matur'd, and brought it forth to View, Are to be kept with You, on pain of Death, Tenesco. The Life of great Designs is Secrecy, And in Affairs of State 't is Honour's Guard: For Wisdom cannot form a Scheme so well Philip. What may your great and secret Purpose be, Ponteach. To raise the Hatchet from its short Repose, 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 And execute whatever I command. Chekitan. When we refuse Obedience to your Will We are not worthy to be call'd your Sons. Philip. If we inherit not our Father's Valour, We never can deserve to share his Empire. 30 Tenesco. Spoke like yourselves, the Sons of Ponteach. Strength, Courage, and Obedience form the Soldier, And the firm Base of all true Greatness lay. Ponteach. Our Empire now is large, our Forces strong, Our Chiefs are wise, our Warriors valiant Men; 35 We all are furnish'd with the best of Arms And all things requisite to curb a Foe; And now 's our Time, if ever, to secure Our Country, Kindred, Empire, all that's dear, The Strength and growing Numbers of the French; 40 45 50 Studied our Tongue and Manners, wore our Dress, Married our Daughters and our Sons their Maids, 55 Used no One ill, and treated with Respect Our Kings, our Captains, and our aged Men, Call'd us their Friends, nay, what is more, their Children, And seem'd like Fathers anxious for our Welfare. Whom see we now? their haughty Conquerors 60 Possess'd of every Fort and Lake and Pass, Big with their Victories so often gain'd; On us they look with deep Contempt and Scorn, Nay, think us conquered and our Country theirs, 65 With Pleasure I wou'd call their King my Friend, And leave these distant Lakes and Streams to us; 70 But thus to lose my Country and my Empire, To be a Vassal to his low Commanders, Treated with Disrespect and public Scorn 75 By Knaves, by Miscreants, Creatures of his Power Can this become a King like Ponteach, Whose Empire 's measured only by the Sun? No; I'll assert my Right, the Hatchet raise, PHILLIS WHEATLEY AN HYMN TO THE EVENING Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main, 1766. 8c Soft purl the streams; the birds renew their notes, 5 And through the air their mingled music floats. Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are spread! So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow, The living temples of our God below. ΙΟ Fill'd with the praise of him who gives the light And draws the sable curtains of the night, Let placid slumbers sooth each weary mind At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd; 15 More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin. 1773. POEMS OF THE REVOLUTION THE LIBERTY SONG (BY JOHN DICKINSON) Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all, In freedom we 're born and in freedom we 'll live; Steady, Friends, steady, Not as slaves but as freemen our money we'll give. Our worthy forefathers-let's give them a cheer— Their generous bosoms all dangers despis'd, The Tree their own hands had to Liberty rear'd How sweet are the labors that freemen endure, Swarms of placemen and pensioners soon will appear, Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all; 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 30 All ages shall speak with amaze and applause 35 This bumper I crown for our sovereign's health, That wealth and that glory immortal may be, In freedom we 're born, &c. 1768. A NEW SONG As near beauteous Boston lying, Just as glorious Sol was setting, On the wharf a numerous crew, Armed with hammers, axe, and chisels, O'er their heads aloft in mid-sky Three bright angel forms were seen: With fair Liberty between. "Soon," they cried, "your foes you 'll banish, Scarce shall setting Phoebus vanish Ere the deathless deed be done." Quick as thought the ships were boarded, Axes, hammers help afforded; What a glorious crash they made! Squash into the deep descended Cursed weed of China's coast: Thus at once our fears were ended British rights shall ne'er be lost. |