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ODE

On the Frigate Constitution

"And in those days men settled themselves on the waters, and lived there, not because land was wanting, but that they wished not to be slaves to such as were great and mighty on the land."-Modern History.

Thus launch'd at length upon the main
And soon prepar'd the seas to roam,
In your capacious breast ere long

Will many an idler find a home
That sells his freedom for a song,
Quits fields and trees
For boisterous seas,

T. tread his native soil no more,
And see-but not possess-the shore.

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Dick Brothers said, "The time will come

When war no more shall prowl the sea,
Nor men for pride or plunder roam,
And my millenium brings them home,
Howe'er dispers'd through each de-
gree."

If Richard proves a prophet true,
Why may not we be quiet, too,

And turn our bulldogs into lambs,
Saw off the horns of battering rams 30
As well as Europe's sons?
Ye Quakers! see with pure delight,
The times approach when men of might,
And squadrons roving round the ball,
Shall fight each other not at all,
Or fight with wooden guns.

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1797

THE POLITICAL WEATHER-COCK

'Tis strange that things upon the ground
Are commonly most steady found
While those in station proud
Are turned and twirled, or twist about,
Now here and there, now in or out,
Mere playthings to a cloud.

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Long before your spirit fled,
Who can tell but nature said,
Live again, my Caty-did!

Live, and chatter Caty-did.

Tell me, what did Caty do?
Did she mean to trouble you?-
Why was Caty not forbid
To trouble little Caty-did?-
Wrong, indeed, at you to fling,
Hurting no one while you sing
Caty-did! Caty-did! Caty-did!

Why continue to complain?
Caty tells me, she again
Will not give you plague or pain:-
Caty says you may be hid
Caty will not go to bed
While you sing us Caty-did.
Caty-did! Caty-did! Caty-did!

But, while singing, you forgot To tell us what did Caty not: Caty-did not think of cold, Flocks retiring to the fold, Winter, with his wrinkles old, Winter, that yourself foretold When you gave us Caty-did.

Stay securely in your nest; Caty now will do her best, All she can, to make you blest; But, you want no human aidNature, when she form'd you, said, "Independent you are made, My dear little Caty-did: Soon yourself must disappear With the verdure of the year," And to go, we know not where, With your song of Caty-did.

In "Poems," 1815.

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TIMOTHY DWIGHT

From GREENFIELD HILL

PART IV-THE

(1752-1817)

DESTRUCTION OF

THE PEQUODS1

(The text is taken from the original
edition of 1794.)

This selection begins with the 13th stanza,

In yon small field, that dimly steals from sight,

(From yon small field these meditations grow)

Turning the sluggish soil, from morn to night,

The plodding hind, laborious, drives his plough,

Nor dreams, a nation sleeps, his foot below.

There, undisturbed by the roaring wave, Releas'd from war, and far from deadly foe,

Lies down, in endless rest, a nation brave,

1 The Pequods inhabited the branches of the Thames, which empties itself into the Sound, at New London. This nation, from the first settlement of the English Colonists, regarded them with jealousy; and attempted to engage the neighboring tribes in a combination against them. Several of those tribes were, however, more jealous of the Pequods, than of the English, and rejected their solicitations. Not discouraged by these disappointments, they resolved to attempt the destruction of the English, with the strength of their own tribes only; and cruelly assassinated Captains Stone, Norton, and Old. ham, as they were trading peaceably in their neighborhood. The English demanded the murderers; but were answered with disdain, and insult. Upon this, Captain Mason was dispatched into their country with a body of troops; and attacking one of their principal forts, destroyed it, together with a large number of their warriors. The rest of the nation fled. A large body of them came to a swamp; three miles westward of Fairfield. One of their number loitering behind the rest, was discovered by the English troops, then commanded by Captain Stoughton, of the Massachusetts; and was compelled to disclose their retreat. One hundred of them, it is said, surrendered. The rest, bravely resolving to live and die together, were attacked, and chiefly destroyed. On this piece of History, the following part of the Poem is founded. It is introduced by reflections on the changes, wrought in the world by time. Ancient Empires. Great Britain. America. Story related, with reflections on the savages. Conclusion. (The "Argument" as supplied by the Author.)

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Ascending castles foreign flags display; Mysterious art new scenes of life devise; And steeds insult the plains, and cannon rend the skies."

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And frequent heav'd, around the hollow tomb;

Scalps hung in rows, and whitening bones were strew'd;

Where, round the broiling babe, fresh from the womb,

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With howls the Powaw fill'd the dark abode,

And screams, and midnight prayers, invok'd the Evil god."

"There too, with awful rites, the hoary priest,

Without, beside the moss-grown altar, stood,

His sable form in magic cincture dress'd, And heap'd the mingled offering to his god,

What time, with golden light, calm evening glow'd.

The mystic dust, the flower of silver bloom,

And spicy herb, his hand in order strew'd; Bright rose the curling flame; and rich perfume

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On smoky wings upflew, or settled round the tomb."

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