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Poem
September 22, 1792
National Gazette
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
A light-hearted extempore song submitted to the National Gazette by Simplicitas, recounting a newlywed man's naive attempt to help a supposedly injured robin redbreast, only to be amused by his wife Molly who recognizes the bird's normal hopping, exposing his ignorance.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
For the National Gazette.
Mr. Freneau,
Please to publish the following little production, and oblige, yours, &c. Simplicitas.
A SONG.—Extempore.
The Robin Redbreast; or, the Ignorance of a Citizen discovered.
Pleas'd with the soothing strains I heard
I knew not whence they came,
When lo! I saw a pretty bird
Come hopping, as if lame.
Molly, whom late I made my bride,
Whose sympathy I knew,
Was just then seated by my side
And pity'd Robin too.
Eager I sprang, the bird to seize,
To gratify a whim,
To learn if fostering care could ease
The little mangled limb.
Alas! cry'd I, what cruel man
Could hurt so sweet a bird—
But Molly smil'd, and, as I ran,
Could aught be more absurd?
The warbler prov'd he was not lamed,
Then soar'd the hill's high top,—
This cheat, a robin redbreast nam'd,
Only appear'd to hop.
Sept. 20.
Mr. Freneau,
Please to publish the following little production, and oblige, yours, &c. Simplicitas.
A SONG.—Extempore.
The Robin Redbreast; or, the Ignorance of a Citizen discovered.
Pleas'd with the soothing strains I heard
I knew not whence they came,
When lo! I saw a pretty bird
Come hopping, as if lame.
Molly, whom late I made my bride,
Whose sympathy I knew,
Was just then seated by my side
And pity'd Robin too.
Eager I sprang, the bird to seize,
To gratify a whim,
To learn if fostering care could ease
The little mangled limb.
Alas! cry'd I, what cruel man
Could hurt so sweet a bird—
But Molly smil'd, and, as I ran,
Could aught be more absurd?
The warbler prov'd he was not lamed,
Then soar'd the hill's high top,—
This cheat, a robin redbreast nam'd,
Only appear'd to hop.
Sept. 20.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Robin Redbreast
Ignorance Citizen
Extempore Song
Newlywed Humor
National Gazette
What entities or persons were involved?
Simplicitas
Poem Details
Title
The Robin Redbreast; Or, The Ignorance Of A Citizen Discovered.
Author
Simplicitas
Subject
Extempore
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Eager I Sprang, The Bird To Seize,
To Gratify A Whim,
To Learn If Fostering Care Could Ease
The Little Mangled Limb.
But Molly Smil'd, And, As I Ran,
Could Aught Be More Absurd?