Gazette Of The United States

FROM THE NATIONAL GAZETTE

Mr. Freneau,

THE State of Kentucky having increased the number of the emblematic stars, and afforded an opportunity of arranging them in a new form—I send you the following trifle on the subject. The National Motto, which I wish to include, will be a sufficient apology for writing in Latin.

Yours &c. A. B.

Philad. Dec. 10.

"Barbara Pyramidum sileat miracula Memphis."

Heu male servili marmora structa manu!

Libera jam, ruptis, Atlantica ora catenis.

Jactat opus Phario marmore nobilius.

Namque Columbiae facti monumenta parantes

Vulgarem spernunt fumere materiam:

Magnanimi caelum scandunt; perituraque saxa

Quod vincat, caela de Jovis arce petunt.

Audax inde cohors stellis E Pluribus Unum

Ardua Pyramidos tollit ad astra caput.

Ergo, Tempus edax, quamvis durissima aevo

Saxa domas, morum nil ibi juris habes.

Dumque polo solitis cognata nitoribus ardent,

Sidera, tuel'bit Pyramis illa tuis.

TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE.

NO more let barbarous Memphis boast

Base structures rear'd by slavish hands—

A nation on the Atlantic coast

(Fetter'd no more in foreign bands)

A nobler PYRAMID displays

Than Egypt's marble e'er could raise.

Columbia's sons, to extend a proof

Of their bold deeds to future years,

Disdain to use such vulgar stuff:

But, soaring to the starry spheres,

Materials seek in Jove's blue sky

T'endure when brass and marble die.

Arriv'd among the shining host,

Fearless, the proud invaders spoil

From count'less gems, in aether lost,

Some stars, to crown their mighty toil:

To heaven a pyramid they rear,

And point the fabric with a star.

Old wasteful TIME! though still you gain

Dominion o'er the brazen tower,

On THIS your teeth shall gnaw in vain,

Finding its strength beyond their power—

While kindred stars in heaven shall glow,

THIS PYRAMID Will shine below!