No; I'll assert my Right, the Hatchet raise,
And drive these Britons hence like frighted Deer,
Destroy their Forts, and make them rue the Day
That to our fertile Land they found the Way.

1766.

PHILLIS WHEATLEY

AN HYMN TO THE EVENING

Soon as the sun forsook the eastern main,
The pealing thunder shook the heav'nly plain:
Majestic grandeur! From the zephyr's wing
Exhales the incense of the blooming spring.

Soft purl the streams; the birds renew their notes,

And through the air their mingled music floats.

Through all the heav'ns what beauteous dies are spread!
But the west glories in the deepest red:

So may our breasts with ev'ry virtue glow,

The living temples of our God below.

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

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At morn to wake more heav'nly, more refin'd;
So shall the labours of the day begin

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More pure, more guarded from the snares of sin.
Night's leaden sceptre seals my drowsy eyes;
Then cease, my song, till fair Aurora rise.

1773.

POEMS OF THE REVOLUTION

THE LIBERTY SONG

(BY JOHN DICKINSON)

Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call;
No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim,
Or stain with dishonor America's name.

In freedom we 're born and in freedom we 'll live;
Our purses are ready,

Steady, Friends, steady,

Not as slaves but as freemen our money we'll give.

Our worthy forefathers-let 's give them a cheer-
To climates unknown did courageously steer;
Thro' oceans to deserts for freedom they came,
And dying bequeath'd us their freedom and fame.

Their generous bosoms all dangers despis'd,
So highly, so wisely, their birthrights, they priz'd:
We'll keep what they gave, we will piously keep,
Nor frustrate their toils on the land or the deep.

The Tree their own hands had to Liberty rear'd
They lived to behold growing strong and rever'd;
With transport then cried, "Now our wishes we gain,
For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain."

How sweet are the labors that freemen endure,
That they shall enjoy all the profit, secure:
No more such sweet labors Americans know,

IO

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If Britons shall reap what Americans sow.

Swarms of placemen and pensioners soon will appear,
Like locusts deforming the charms of the year:
Suns vainly will rise, showers vainly descend,
If we are to drudge for what others shall spend.

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Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all;
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall:
In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed,
For Heaven approves of each generous deed.

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All ages shall speak with amaze and applause
Of the courage we 'll show in support of our laws:
To die we can bear, but to serve we disdain,
For shame is to freemen more dreadful than pain.

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This bumper I crown for our sovereign's health,

And this for Britannia's glory and wealth.

That wealth and that glory immortal may be,

If she is but just, and we are but free.

In freedom we 're born, &c.

1768.

A NEW SONG

As near beauteous Boston lying,
On the gently swelling flood,
Without jack or pendant flying,
Three ill-fated tea-ships rode,

Just as glorious Sol was setting,

On the wharf a numerous crew,
Sons of freedom, fear forgetting,
Suddenly appeared in view.

Armed with hammers, axe, and chisels,
Weapons new for warlike deed,
Towards the herbage-freighted vessels

They approached with dreadful speed.

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O'er their heads aloft in mid-sky

Three bright angel forms were seen:

This was Hampden, that was Sidney,

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With fair Liberty between.

"Soon," they cried, "your foes you 'll banish,
Soon the triumph shall be won;

Scarce shall setting Phoebus vanish

Ere the deathless deed be done."

Quick as thought the ships were boarded,
Hatches burst and chests displayed;

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.

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Then rouse, my sons! from slavery free

Your suffering homes, from God's high wrath!

Gird on your steel: give liberty

To all who follow in our path!

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THE YANKEE'S RETURN FROM CAMP

Father and I went down to camp,

Along with Captain Gooding,
And there we see the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.

Chorus. Yankee Doodle, keep it up,

Yankee Doodle, dandy,

Mind the music and the step,

And with the girls be handy.

And there we see a thousand men

As rich as 'Squire David;
And what they wasted every day,
I wish it could be saved.

The 'lasses they eat every day

Would keep an house a winter;

They have as much that, I'll be bound,
They eat it when they 're a mind to.

And there we see a swamping gun,

Large as a log of maple,

Upon a deuced little cart,

A load for father's cattle.

And every time they shoot it off
It takes a horn of powder,

And makes a noise like father's gun,
Only a nation louder.

I went as nigh to one myself
As Siah's underpinning,

And father went as nigh again—

I thought the deuce was in him.

Cousin Simon grew so bold

I thought he would have cock'd it;
It scar'd me so I shrink'd it off,
And hung by father's pocket.

And Captain Davis had a gun;

He kind of clapt his hand on 't,

And stuck a crooked stabbing iron
Upon the little end on 't.