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Poem
March 20, 1777
The Newport Gazette
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A loyalist poem written by a gentleman imprisoned in Philadelphia Gaol during the American Revolution. It hails confinement for loyalty to King, country, and laws, criticizes colonial rebellion as anarchy akin to Cromwell's era, and accepts suffering for Britain's cause.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Royal American Gazette.
The following was wrote by a Gentleman confined in Philadelphia Gaol.
CONFINEMENT, hail! in Honour's justest cause,
True to our King, our Country, and our Laws:
Opposing anarchy, sedition, Arise
And ev'ry other bane of social life.
These Colonies, of British freedom tir'd,
Are by the phrenzy of distraction fir'd ;
Surrounding nations with amazement view,
The strange infatuation they pursue.
Virtue, in tears, deplores their cause in vain,
And Satan smiles, to see disorder reign.
Rushing to arms, they madly urge their fate,
And levy war against the parent state.
The days of Cromwell's puritanick rage,
Return'd to curse our more unhappy age :
We friends to freedom, government, and laws,
Are inimical deem'd unto their cause :
In vaults, with iron doors and gates confin'd,
They hold our persons, but can't rule the mind.
Ah! now, we cannot, else we freely wou'd,
But calmly suffer for our country's good :
Success on earth to ill is sometimes giv'n,
To brave misfortune is the gift of Heav'n.
The following was wrote by a Gentleman confined in Philadelphia Gaol.
CONFINEMENT, hail! in Honour's justest cause,
True to our King, our Country, and our Laws:
Opposing anarchy, sedition, Arise
And ev'ry other bane of social life.
These Colonies, of British freedom tir'd,
Are by the phrenzy of distraction fir'd ;
Surrounding nations with amazement view,
The strange infatuation they pursue.
Virtue, in tears, deplores their cause in vain,
And Satan smiles, to see disorder reign.
Rushing to arms, they madly urge their fate,
And levy war against the parent state.
The days of Cromwell's puritanick rage,
Return'd to curse our more unhappy age :
We friends to freedom, government, and laws,
Are inimical deem'd unto their cause :
In vaults, with iron doors and gates confin'd,
They hold our persons, but can't rule the mind.
Ah! now, we cannot, else we freely wou'd,
But calmly suffer for our country's good :
Success on earth to ill is sometimes giv'n,
To brave misfortune is the gift of Heav'n.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Political
War Military
Liberty Independence
What keywords are associated?
Loyalist Confinement
Philadelphia Gaol
Colonial Rebellion
British Loyalty
Cromwell Rage
American Revolution
What entities or persons were involved?
A Gentleman Confined In Philadelphia Gaol
Poem Details
Author
A Gentleman Confined In Philadelphia Gaol
Subject
Confinement For Loyalty During Colonial Rebellion
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Confinement, Hail! In Honour's Justest Cause,
These Colonies, Of British Freedom Tir'd,
The Days Of Cromwell's Puritanick Rage,
In Vaults, With Iron Doors And Gates Confin'd,
To Brave Misfortune Is The Gift Of Heav'n.