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Poem
June 7, 1783
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Elegy mourning the death of patriot James Otis, crediting him with igniting resistance to British tyranny, promoting independence, and suffering for the people's rights. Written in Boston, May 7, 1783, with notes on taxation and his injuries.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
From the CONTINENTAL JOURNAL
On the DEATH of the
Honorable JAMES OTIS, Esq;
WHEN flush'd with conquest and elate with
pride,
A British despot all the world defied.
And, bent on blood, to lust of rule inclin'd.
With odious shackles vex'd the free-born mind
On these young shores let up unjust command,
And spread the slaves of office round the land
Then OTIS, first in patriot fame,
To list'ning crowds resistance dare proclaim,
From soul to soul the great idea ran,
The fire of freedom flew from man to man,
His pen, like Sydney's made his doctrine known
His tongue like Tully's shook a tyrant's throne.
The world grew bold, and in the public eye,
The right divine of monarch's dare to try:
Light shone on all, despotic darkness fled,
And for a testament a captain bled.
From men like OTIS Independence grew.
From such beginnings empire rose to view:
Born for the universe. his mighty mind.
Scann'd the wide politics of human kind.
Bless'd with a native strength and height of thought,
With Greek and Roman learning richly fraught
Up to the fountain's head he push'd his view,
And from first principles his maxims drew.
Spite of the times, this truth he blaz'd abroad--
The people's safety is the law of God.
For this he suffer'd : Hireling slaves combin'd,
To dress in shades the brightest of mankind. *
And see they come, a dark designing band.
With Murder's heart. and Executor's hand.
Hold villians ! Those polluted arms restrain,
Nor that exalted head with blows profane:
A nobler end awaits the patriot hand :
In other sort he'll join their illustrious band !
Yes when the glorious work which he began,
Shall stand, the most complete beneath the sun
When peace shall come to crown the great design
His heirs shall live to see the work divine
The Heavens shall then his mighty spirit claim.
In storms as loud as his immortal fame.
Hark ! The deep thunders echo sound the skies !
On wings of fury the eternal errand flies!
One chosen charitable bolt is sped :
And OTIS- mingles with the god-like dead!
Boston-May 7, 1783. -
Touching on the right of taxation.
"Salus populi suprema lex esto" was the motto of one of Mr. Otis's pamphlets.
Alluding to the well known consequences of the
blows which he received,
On the DEATH of the
Honorable JAMES OTIS, Esq;
WHEN flush'd with conquest and elate with
pride,
A British despot all the world defied.
And, bent on blood, to lust of rule inclin'd.
With odious shackles vex'd the free-born mind
On these young shores let up unjust command,
And spread the slaves of office round the land
Then OTIS, first in patriot fame,
To list'ning crowds resistance dare proclaim,
From soul to soul the great idea ran,
The fire of freedom flew from man to man,
His pen, like Sydney's made his doctrine known
His tongue like Tully's shook a tyrant's throne.
The world grew bold, and in the public eye,
The right divine of monarch's dare to try:
Light shone on all, despotic darkness fled,
And for a testament a captain bled.
From men like OTIS Independence grew.
From such beginnings empire rose to view:
Born for the universe. his mighty mind.
Scann'd the wide politics of human kind.
Bless'd with a native strength and height of thought,
With Greek and Roman learning richly fraught
Up to the fountain's head he push'd his view,
And from first principles his maxims drew.
Spite of the times, this truth he blaz'd abroad--
The people's safety is the law of God.
For this he suffer'd : Hireling slaves combin'd,
To dress in shades the brightest of mankind. *
And see they come, a dark designing band.
With Murder's heart. and Executor's hand.
Hold villians ! Those polluted arms restrain,
Nor that exalted head with blows profane:
A nobler end awaits the patriot hand :
In other sort he'll join their illustrious band !
Yes when the glorious work which he began,
Shall stand, the most complete beneath the sun
When peace shall come to crown the great design
His heirs shall live to see the work divine
The Heavens shall then his mighty spirit claim.
In storms as loud as his immortal fame.
Hark ! The deep thunders echo sound the skies !
On wings of fury the eternal errand flies!
One chosen charitable bolt is sped :
And OTIS- mingles with the god-like dead!
Boston-May 7, 1783. -
Touching on the right of taxation.
"Salus populi suprema lex esto" was the motto of one of Mr. Otis's pamphlets.
Alluding to the well known consequences of the
blows which he received,
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Liberty Independence
Political
What keywords are associated?
James Otis
Death
Patriot
Independence
British Tyranny
Taxation
Freedom
Poem Details
Title
On The Death Of The Honorable James Otis, Esq;
Subject
Death Of James Otis
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Then Otis, First In Patriot Fame,
To List'ning Crowds Resistance Dare Proclaim,
The People's Safety Is The Law Of God.
And Otis Mingles With The God Like Dead!