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Poem
May 6, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poem attributed to Dr. Franklin extolling the freedom of the press as a vital source of virtue, learning, arts, and liberty, while condemning censorship and those who suppress it.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POET'S CORNER.
On the FREEDOM of the PRESS.
(Said to be written by Dr. FRANKLIN.)
WHILE free from force the Press
Virtue and freedom cheer our plains,
And learning largesses bestows,
And keeps unlicens'd open house.
We to the nation's public mart,
Our works of wit, and schemes of art.
And philosophic goods, this way,
Like water carriage, cheap convey.
This tree which knowledge so affords.
Inquisitors with flaming swords
From lay-approach with zeal defend,
Lest their own paradise should end,
The Press from her fecundant womb,
Brought forth the arts of Greece and Rome
Her offspring, skill'd in logic war,
Truth's banner wav'd in open air:
And lawless pow'r, the long kept field,
By reason quell'd, was forc'd to yield.
This Nurse of Arts, and Freedom's fence,
To chain, is treason against sense;
And liberty, thy thousand tongues
None silence who design no wrongs;
For those that use the gag's restraint,
First rob, before they stop complaint.
On the FREEDOM of the PRESS.
(Said to be written by Dr. FRANKLIN.)
WHILE free from force the Press
Virtue and freedom cheer our plains,
And learning largesses bestows,
And keeps unlicens'd open house.
We to the nation's public mart,
Our works of wit, and schemes of art.
And philosophic goods, this way,
Like water carriage, cheap convey.
This tree which knowledge so affords.
Inquisitors with flaming swords
From lay-approach with zeal defend,
Lest their own paradise should end,
The Press from her fecundant womb,
Brought forth the arts of Greece and Rome
Her offspring, skill'd in logic war,
Truth's banner wav'd in open air:
And lawless pow'r, the long kept field,
By reason quell'd, was forc'd to yield.
This Nurse of Arts, and Freedom's fence,
To chain, is treason against sense;
And liberty, thy thousand tongues
None silence who design no wrongs;
For those that use the gag's restraint,
First rob, before they stop complaint.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Independence
Political
What keywords are associated?
Freedom Press
Censorship
Liberty
Benjamin Franklin
Knowledge Arts
What entities or persons were involved?
Said To Be Written By Dr. Franklin.
Poem Details
Title
On The Freedom Of The Press.
Author
Said To Be Written By Dr. Franklin.
Subject
Freedom Of The Press
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
This Nurse Of Arts, And Freedom's Fence,
To Chain, Is Treason Against Sense;
And Liberty, Thy Thousand Tongues
None Silence Who Design No Wrongs;