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Poem
October 7, 1789
Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Extract from a July 4, 1789, oration by Return J. Meigs in Marietta, Ohio, poetically praising the shift from savage wilderness to civilized prosperity, with fertile lands, commerce on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and ideals of justice, religion, and harmony.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
EXTRACT FROM AN ORATION,
Pronounced at Marietta on the 4th of July, 1789, by Return J. Meigs, Esq. Attorney at Law.
ENOUGH of tributary praise is paid.
To virtue living, or to merit dead.
To happier themes, the rural Muse invites.
To calmest pleasures, and serene delights;
To us, glad fancy, brightest prospects shows,
Rejoicing nature, all around you glows;
Here late the Savage hid in ambush lay,
Or roam'd the uncultur'd vallies for his prey;
Here frown'd the forest with terrific shade,
No cultur'd fields expos'd the opening glade
How chang'd the scene! See nature cloth'd in smiles
With joy repays the lab'ror for his toils.
Her hardy gifts, rough industry extends,
The groves bow down, the lofty forest bends:
On every side, the cleaving axes sound,
The oak, and tall beach thunder to the ground.
And see the spires of Marietta rise,
And domes, and temples swell into the skies:
Here Justice reign, and foul dissention cease,
Her walks be pleasant—and her paths be peace.
Here swift Mufkingum rolls his rapid waves;
There surmenous vallies, fair Ohio laves;
On its smooth surface, gentle zephyrs play,
The sun beams tremble with a placid ray;
What future harvefts on his bosom glide,
And loads of Commerce swell the downward tide,
Where Miffifippi joins in length'ning sweep,
And rolls majestic to the atlantic deep.
Along our banks, see distant villas spread—
Here waves the corn—and there extends the mead—
Here sound the murmurs of the gurgling rills;
There bleat the flocks upon a thousand hills.
Fair opes the lawn—the fertile fields extend,
The kindly shower from smiling Heaven descends,
The skies drop fatness, on the blooming vale,
From spicy shrubs ambrosial sweets exhale,
Fresh fragrance rises from the flowrets bloom,
And ripening vineyards breathe a glad perfume.
Here swells the music of the warbling grove,
And all around is melody and love.
Here may religion fix her blest abode—
Bright emanation of creative God;
Here Charity extend her liberal hand,
And mild benevolence o'er-spread the land,
In harmony the social virtues blend—
Joy, without measure—rapture, without end.
Pronounced at Marietta on the 4th of July, 1789, by Return J. Meigs, Esq. Attorney at Law.
ENOUGH of tributary praise is paid.
To virtue living, or to merit dead.
To happier themes, the rural Muse invites.
To calmest pleasures, and serene delights;
To us, glad fancy, brightest prospects shows,
Rejoicing nature, all around you glows;
Here late the Savage hid in ambush lay,
Or roam'd the uncultur'd vallies for his prey;
Here frown'd the forest with terrific shade,
No cultur'd fields expos'd the opening glade
How chang'd the scene! See nature cloth'd in smiles
With joy repays the lab'ror for his toils.
Her hardy gifts, rough industry extends,
The groves bow down, the lofty forest bends:
On every side, the cleaving axes sound,
The oak, and tall beach thunder to the ground.
And see the spires of Marietta rise,
And domes, and temples swell into the skies:
Here Justice reign, and foul dissention cease,
Her walks be pleasant—and her paths be peace.
Here swift Mufkingum rolls his rapid waves;
There surmenous vallies, fair Ohio laves;
On its smooth surface, gentle zephyrs play,
The sun beams tremble with a placid ray;
What future harvefts on his bosom glide,
And loads of Commerce swell the downward tide,
Where Miffifippi joins in length'ning sweep,
And rolls majestic to the atlantic deep.
Along our banks, see distant villas spread—
Here waves the corn—and there extends the mead—
Here sound the murmurs of the gurgling rills;
There bleat the flocks upon a thousand hills.
Fair opes the lawn—the fertile fields extend,
The kindly shower from smiling Heaven descends,
The skies drop fatness, on the blooming vale,
From spicy shrubs ambrosial sweets exhale,
Fresh fragrance rises from the flowrets bloom,
And ripening vineyards breathe a glad perfume.
Here swells the music of the warbling grove,
And all around is melody and love.
Here may religion fix her blest abode—
Bright emanation of creative God;
Here Charity extend her liberal hand,
And mild benevolence o'er-spread the land,
In harmony the social virtues blend—
Joy, without measure—rapture, without end.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Pastoral
What themes does it cover?
Patriotism
Nature Seasons
Political
What keywords are associated?
Marietta
Fourth Of July
Ohio River
Settlement
Wilderness To Civilization
Commerce
Justice
Nature
Religion
What entities or persons were involved?
Return J. Meigs, Esq. Attorney At Law
Poem Details
Author
Return J. Meigs, Esq. Attorney At Law
Subject
Pronounced At Marietta On The 4th Of July, 1789
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Enough Of Tributary Praise Is Paid.
To Virtue Living, Or To Merit Dead.
How Chang'd The Scene! See Nature Cloth'd In Smiles
Here Justice Reign, And Foul Dissention Cease,
Joy, Without Measure—Rapture, Without End.