Stanzas To An Alien[166]

Who after a Series of Persecutions emigrated to the Southwestern Country.--1799

Remote, beneath a sultry star, Where Mississippi flows afar, I see you rambling, God knows where.

Sometimes, beneath a cypress bough, When met in dreams, with spirits low, I long to tell you what I know.

How matters go, in this our day, When monarchy renews her sway, And royalty begins her play.

I thought you wrong to come so far Till you had seen our western star Above the mists ascended clear.

I thought you right, to speed your sails If you were fond of loathsome jails, And justice with uneven scales.

And so you came and spoke too free And soon they made you bend the knee, And lodged you under lock and key.

Discharged at last, you made your peace With all you had, and left the place With empty purse and meagre face.--

You sped your way to other climes And left me here to teaze with rhymes The worst of men in worst of times.

Where you are gone the soil is free And freedom sings from every tree, "Come quit the crowd and live with me!"

Where I must stay, no joys are found; Excisemen haunt the hateful ground, And chains are forged for all around.

The scheming men, with brazen throat, Would set a murdering tribe afloat To hang you for the lines you wrote.

If you are safe beyond their rage Thank heaven, and not our ruling sage, Who shops us up in jail and cage.

Perdition seize that odious race Who, aiming at distinguish'd place, Would life and liberty efface;

With iron rod would rule the ball And, at their shrine, debase us all, Bid devils rise and angels fall.

Oh wish them ill, and wish them long To be as usual in the wrong In scheming for a chain too strong.

So will the happy time arrive When coming home, if then alive, You'll see them to the devil drive.

From the 1815 edition.