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Poem
March 28, 1777
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A poem contrasting the beauty of spring in Virginia with the horrors of ongoing war, depicting battles, personal losses, and mourning families, concluding with a prayer to the gods for enduring peace. Dated Port Royal, March 16, 1773.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
For the Virginia Gazette.
Hang pendant from the snowy mantled eaves;
All nature now looks smiling as before,
The pouting buds are rip'ning into leaves,
The tuneful birds proclaim the rising year,
While sportive lambkins skip along the green;
Bedeck'd with flowers the verdant fields appear,
And spring in all her lustre now is seen.
Yet what avail the pleasing scenes around,
Since cruel war its crimson flag displays,
Amidst our fields, where the shrill clarions sound,
And war alarming drums their voices raise?
Where late the peaceful hind was wont to dwell,
In martial form th' embattled legions stand!
A friend, perhaps, by his own friend here fell,
And here a brother by a brother's hand;
The mother, quite disconsolate, does mourn,
Her son (perhaps an only child) is slain;
The bride impatient waits her lord's return,
Who now, alas! will ne'er return again.
Propitious to our prayers, ye gods ordain,
That all-consuming discord soon may cease;
Endow our lands with happiness again,
And I, and all the world with ENDLESS PEACE.
PORT ROYAL, March 16, 1773.
Hang pendant from the snowy mantled eaves;
All nature now looks smiling as before,
The pouting buds are rip'ning into leaves,
The tuneful birds proclaim the rising year,
While sportive lambkins skip along the green;
Bedeck'd with flowers the verdant fields appear,
And spring in all her lustre now is seen.
Yet what avail the pleasing scenes around,
Since cruel war its crimson flag displays,
Amidst our fields, where the shrill clarions sound,
And war alarming drums their voices raise?
Where late the peaceful hind was wont to dwell,
In martial form th' embattled legions stand!
A friend, perhaps, by his own friend here fell,
And here a brother by a brother's hand;
The mother, quite disconsolate, does mourn,
Her son (perhaps an only child) is slain;
The bride impatient waits her lord's return,
Who now, alas! will ne'er return again.
Propitious to our prayers, ye gods ordain,
That all-consuming discord soon may cease;
Endow our lands with happiness again,
And I, and all the world with ENDLESS PEACE.
PORT ROYAL, March 16, 1773.
What sub-type of article is it?
Pastoral
Elegy
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
War Military
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Spring Renewal
Cruel War
Family Mourning
Prayer Peace
Virginia 1773
Port Royal
Poem Details
Subject
Contrast Between Spring's Renewal And War's Destruction, With Prayer For Peace
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains In Iambic Tetrameter
Key Lines
Yet What Avail The Pleasing Scenes Around,
Since Cruel War Its Crimson Flag Displays,
Amidst Our Fields, Where The Shrill Clarions Sound,
And War Alarming Drums Their Voices Raise?
The Mother, Quite Disconsolate, Does Mourn,
Her Son (Perhaps An Only Child) Is Slain;
The Bride Impatient Waits Her Lord's Return,
Who Now, Alas! Will Ne'er Return Again.
Propitious To Our Prayers, Ye Gods Ordain,
That All Consuming Discord Soon May Cease;
Endow Our Lands With Happiness Again,
And I, And All The World With Endless Peace.