Liberty and Peace by Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
Boston: Warden and Russell, 1784.
By Phillis Peters.
Boston: Printed by WARDEN and RUSSELL,
At Their Office in Marlborough-Street, M,DCC,LXXXIV.
| LO! Freedom comes. Th' prescient Muse foretold, |
| All Eyes th' accomplish'd Prophecy behold: |
| Her Port describ'd, "She moves divinely fair, |
| "Olive and Laurel bind her golden Hair." |
| She, the bright Progeny of Heaven, descends, |
| And every Grace her sovereign Step attends; |
| For now kind Heaven, indulgent to our Prayer, |
| In smiling Peace resolves the Din of War. |
| Fix'd in Columbia her illustrious Line, |
| And bids in thee her future Councils shine. |
| To every Realm her Portals open'd wide, |
| Receives from each the full commercial Tide. |
| Each Art and Science now with rising Charms |
| Th' expanding Heart with Emulation warms. |
| E'en great Britannia sees with dread Surprize, |
| And from the dazzling Splendor turns her Eyes! |
| Britain, whose Navies swept th' Atlantic o'er, |
| And Thunder sent to every distant Shore; |
| E'en thou, in Manners cruel as thou art, |
| The Sword resign'd, resume the friendly Part! |
| For Galia's Power espous'd Columbia's Cause, |
| And new-born Rome shall give Britannia Law, |
| Nor unremember'd in the grateful Strain, |
| Shall princely Louis' friendly Deeds remain; |
| The generous Prince th' impending Vengeance eye's, |
| Sees the fierce Wrong, and to the rescue flies. |
| Perish that Thirst of boundless Power, that drew |
| On Albion's Head the Curse to Tyrants due. |
| But thou appeas'd submit to Heaven's decree, |
| That bids this Realm of Freedom rival thee! |
| Now sheathe the Sword that bade the Brave attone |
| With guiltless Blood for Madness not their own. |
| Sent from th' Enjoyment of their native Shore |
| Ill-fated – never to behold her more! |
| From every Kingdom on Europa's Coast |
| Throng'd various Troops, their Glory, Strength and Boast. |
| With heart-felt pity fair Hibernia saw |
| Columbia menac'd by the Tyrant's Law: |
| On hostile Fields fraternal Arms engage, |
| And mutual Deaths, all dealt with mutual Rage: |
| The Muse's Ear hears mother Earth deplore |
| Her ample Surface smoak with kindred Gore: |
| The hostile Field destroys the social Ties, |
| And every-lasting Slumber seals their Eyes. |
| Columbia mourns, the haughty Foes deride, |
| Her Treasures plunder'd, and her Towns destroy'd: |
| Witness how Charlestown's curling Smoaks arise, |
| In sable Columns to the clouded Skies! |
| The ample Dome, high-wrought with curious Toil, |
| In one sad Hour the savage Troops despoil. |
| Descending Peace and Power of War confounds; |
| From every Tongue celestial Peace resounds: |
| As for the East th' illustrious King of Day, |
| With rising Radiance drives the Shades away, |
| So Freedom comes array'd with Charms divine, |
| And in her Train Commerce and Plenty shine. |
| Britannia owns her Independent Reign, |
| Hibernia, Scotia, and the Realms of Spain; |
| And great Germania's ample Coast admires |
| The generous Spirit that Columbia fires. |
| Auspicious Heaven shall fill with fav'ring Gales, |
| Where e'er Columbia spreads her swelling Sails: |
| To every Realm shall Peace her Charms display, |
| And Heavenly Freedom spread her golden Ray. |
| THE END |
