Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
July 23, 1808
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
An ode by the late Mr. Blauvelt commemorating the 1805 deaths of Lt. Somers, Wadsworth, and Israel of the U.S. Navy, who perished in a heroic explosion aboard the ketch Intrepid against Tripoli, under Commodore Preble's orders. Structured as recitatives and airs praising their valor.
Clipping
OCR Quality
75%
Good
Full Text
FROM THE PASTIME.
AN ODE,
Commemorative of the death of Lieutenant Somers, of the American Navy, and his brave companions before Tripoli, in the summer of 1805.
BY THE LATE MR. BLAUVELT.
Commodore Preble, with a view as much as possible to harass the enemy, ordered the ketch Intrepid to be filled with materials for a destructive explosion, and gave the conduct of her to Lieutenants Somers, Wadsworth, Israel, and a few others --Their orders were to approach, under cover of the night, as near as they could to the town and batteries, and after firing a train, provided for that purpose, to make their escape in boats A premature discovery of their by the enemy, rendered it impossible for them, either to reach the station which they contemplated, or to make their escape; and these brave men, with an intrepidity almost beyond parallel, preferring death to an ignominious servitude, set fire to the train, and were blown with their enemies into the air. This catastrophe is made the subject of the following Ode.
Recitative.
Dark is the night, and deep and low
Hang its shadow o'er the main
On the billow awful tow'ring;
Yonder glide the warrior train
Not a star betrays their motion :
Hush'd unseen, they hold their way
Sullen as the calm of ocean,
At the lurid close of day:
Lo! the fleet with valor steering
Dimly skirts the western sky;
Hope and doubt alternate beaming
From the war instructed eye.
Preble there serene presiding.
Distant marks the floating death,
Toward the castle darkly gliding,
Aided by the breeze's breath.
Air.
Chief of daring ! thine is glory
Far beyond the reach of fate ;
Slain-immortalized in story,
Living valorous and great !
Thine the calm heroic spirit,
Firm to act, and bold to dare ;
Or to mark the meed of merit,
Or the Hero's grave to share !
Recitative.
Now the bark in distance fading,
Clooms beneath the turret steep,
Not a sound the ear invading
Save the murmur of the deep.
Surely she has gained her station,
Lost in distance and in gloom
'Tis the pause of expectation
'Tis the silence of the tomb
Warriors rue the gale that bore them
Rue the gloom that wrapt the skies!
Never shall the sun restore them,
To your valor-weeping eyes!
Shield them: Heav'n, and th' explosion
Quickly waft them from the shore
Who can bear the swift concussion ?
Who can list the sudden roar?
Recitative.
See the flash one moment shining :
Ocean, earth and Heav'n illume!
Now again tis lost! resigning
Heav'n and earth and sea to gloom.
Horror all, and wild commotion--
Shrieks of millions from the shore
Gleaming on the sulphurous ocean.
Cannons burst with rapid roar.
Atlas trembling hears the thunder
Bellow thro' his shores below :
Sees his tawny sons of plunder
Frighted fly, without a foe.
Air (by the Turks.)
Allah! whence this dire undoing
Rushing thro' the troubled air ?
Save, oh save thy race from ruin,
Shield the faithful from despair !
Recitative.
O'er the scene, at length, reposing
Wrapt in desolation's reign ;
Morn reluctantly disclosing:
Faintly glides the eastern plain.
Chorus (by the crews.)
Rise in haste oh God of splendor !
Valor bids the swiftly rise ;
Triumph to the deeds we'll render
Veil'd by midnight from our eyes.
Hail the wave that to our wishes,
Proudly wafts the daring few !
Hail the dawn that bears propitious
Fame and Somers to his crew.
Recitative.
Morning breaks--but ah, to languish !
Lurid was the light it shed.
O'er the inquiring eye of anguish,
For the warriors-train is fled.
Air 1st.
Gallant Warrior ! well attended
Rush'd your valor to its grave :
Many a foe convulsive rended,
Grimly sank beneath the wave.
Well aveng'd ere long you'll number,
Victims welt'ring, pale and low ;
Many a Turk, in icy slumbers,
Soon shall knit the savage brow.
Gen'rous Youths ! your story telling,
Tho' a sigh suspend the breath ;
Ev'ry nerve to frenzy swelling
Claims a victory from death.
Air 2d.
Heralds of our country's glory
Dawning on the path of time
Age shall kindle at your story.
Cherish'd oft in future rhyme
For the Bard on Fame attending,
Shall enraptured by thy tale
O'er his harp of legend bending
Give your glories to the gale,
Beauty, too, a wreath bestowing,
Bids it flourish round your bier ;
Ever in remembrance glowing,
Ever water'd by her tear.
Air 3d.
Often shall the Arab wander
From his hills of sunny sand,
On your deeds of fame to ponder,
Circled by his list'ning band--
" Perished here," he'll say, " the stranger,
When the star of night was high;
Like thee, Christian, braving danger
Fit mine like thee to die!!"
AN ODE,
Commemorative of the death of Lieutenant Somers, of the American Navy, and his brave companions before Tripoli, in the summer of 1805.
BY THE LATE MR. BLAUVELT.
Commodore Preble, with a view as much as possible to harass the enemy, ordered the ketch Intrepid to be filled with materials for a destructive explosion, and gave the conduct of her to Lieutenants Somers, Wadsworth, Israel, and a few others --Their orders were to approach, under cover of the night, as near as they could to the town and batteries, and after firing a train, provided for that purpose, to make their escape in boats A premature discovery of their by the enemy, rendered it impossible for them, either to reach the station which they contemplated, or to make their escape; and these brave men, with an intrepidity almost beyond parallel, preferring death to an ignominious servitude, set fire to the train, and were blown with their enemies into the air. This catastrophe is made the subject of the following Ode.
Recitative.
Dark is the night, and deep and low
Hang its shadow o'er the main
On the billow awful tow'ring;
Yonder glide the warrior train
Not a star betrays their motion :
Hush'd unseen, they hold their way
Sullen as the calm of ocean,
At the lurid close of day:
Lo! the fleet with valor steering
Dimly skirts the western sky;
Hope and doubt alternate beaming
From the war instructed eye.
Preble there serene presiding.
Distant marks the floating death,
Toward the castle darkly gliding,
Aided by the breeze's breath.
Air.
Chief of daring ! thine is glory
Far beyond the reach of fate ;
Slain-immortalized in story,
Living valorous and great !
Thine the calm heroic spirit,
Firm to act, and bold to dare ;
Or to mark the meed of merit,
Or the Hero's grave to share !
Recitative.
Now the bark in distance fading,
Clooms beneath the turret steep,
Not a sound the ear invading
Save the murmur of the deep.
Surely she has gained her station,
Lost in distance and in gloom
'Tis the pause of expectation
'Tis the silence of the tomb
Warriors rue the gale that bore them
Rue the gloom that wrapt the skies!
Never shall the sun restore them,
To your valor-weeping eyes!
Shield them: Heav'n, and th' explosion
Quickly waft them from the shore
Who can bear the swift concussion ?
Who can list the sudden roar?
Recitative.
See the flash one moment shining :
Ocean, earth and Heav'n illume!
Now again tis lost! resigning
Heav'n and earth and sea to gloom.
Horror all, and wild commotion--
Shrieks of millions from the shore
Gleaming on the sulphurous ocean.
Cannons burst with rapid roar.
Atlas trembling hears the thunder
Bellow thro' his shores below :
Sees his tawny sons of plunder
Frighted fly, without a foe.
Air (by the Turks.)
Allah! whence this dire undoing
Rushing thro' the troubled air ?
Save, oh save thy race from ruin,
Shield the faithful from despair !
Recitative.
O'er the scene, at length, reposing
Wrapt in desolation's reign ;
Morn reluctantly disclosing:
Faintly glides the eastern plain.
Chorus (by the crews.)
Rise in haste oh God of splendor !
Valor bids the swiftly rise ;
Triumph to the deeds we'll render
Veil'd by midnight from our eyes.
Hail the wave that to our wishes,
Proudly wafts the daring few !
Hail the dawn that bears propitious
Fame and Somers to his crew.
Recitative.
Morning breaks--but ah, to languish !
Lurid was the light it shed.
O'er the inquiring eye of anguish,
For the warriors-train is fled.
Air 1st.
Gallant Warrior ! well attended
Rush'd your valor to its grave :
Many a foe convulsive rended,
Grimly sank beneath the wave.
Well aveng'd ere long you'll number,
Victims welt'ring, pale and low ;
Many a Turk, in icy slumbers,
Soon shall knit the savage brow.
Gen'rous Youths ! your story telling,
Tho' a sigh suspend the breath ;
Ev'ry nerve to frenzy swelling
Claims a victory from death.
Air 2d.
Heralds of our country's glory
Dawning on the path of time
Age shall kindle at your story.
Cherish'd oft in future rhyme
For the Bard on Fame attending,
Shall enraptured by thy tale
O'er his harp of legend bending
Give your glories to the gale,
Beauty, too, a wreath bestowing,
Bids it flourish round your bier ;
Ever in remembrance glowing,
Ever water'd by her tear.
Air 3d.
Often shall the Arab wander
From his hills of sunny sand,
On your deeds of fame to ponder,
Circled by his list'ning band--
" Perished here," he'll say, " the stranger,
When the star of night was high;
Like thee, Christian, braving danger
Fit mine like thee to die!!"
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
War Peace
Patriotism
What keywords are associated?
Ode
Somers
Tripoli
Intrepid
Preble
Naval Heroism
Explosion
1805
What entities or persons were involved?
By The Late Mr. Blauvelt.
Literary Details
Title
An Ode, Commemorative Of The Death Of Lieutenant Somers, Of The American Navy, And His Brave Companions Before Tripoli, In The Summer Of 1805.
Author
By The Late Mr. Blauvelt.
Subject
Commemorative Of The Death Of Lieutenant Somers, Of The American Navy, And His Brave Companions Before Tripoli, In The Summer Of 1805.
Form / Style
Ode Structured With Recitatives And Airs
Key Lines
Dark Is The Night, And Deep And Low
Hang Its Shadow O'er The Main
On The Billow Awful Tow'ring;
Yonder Glide The Warrior Train
Chief Of Daring ! Thine Is Glory
Far Beyond The Reach Of Fate ;
Slain Immortalized In Story,
Living Valorous And Great !
See The Flash One Moment Shining :
Ocean, Earth And Heav'n Illume!
Now Again Tis Lost! Resigning
Heav'n And Earth And Sea To Gloom.
Heralds Of Our Country's Glory
Dawning On The Path Of Time
Age Shall Kindle At Your Story.
Cherish'd Oft In Future Rhyme
Often Shall The Arab Wander
From His Hills Of Sunny Sand,
On Your Deeds Of Fame To Ponder,
Circled By His List'ning Band