1808

THE EMBARGO

by William Cullen Bryant

THE EMBARGO

[WRITTEN IN 1808] -

"When private faith and public trust are sold,

And traitors barter liberty for gold;

When fell corruption, dark, and deep, like fate,

Saps the foundation of a sinking state;

Then warmer numbers glow through satire's page,

And all her smiles are darken'd into rage;

Then keener indignation fires her eye,

Then flash her lightnings, and her thunders fly!"

ESSAY ON SATIRE -

________________ -

Look where we will, and in whatever land,

Europe's rich soil, or Afric's barren sand,

Where the wild savage hunts his wilder prey,

Or art and science pour their brightest day,

The monster Vice appears before our eyes,

In naked impudence, or gay disguise. -

But quit the meaner game indignant muse,

And to thy country turn thy nobler views;

Ill-fated clime! condemn'd to feel th' extremes,

Of a weak ruler's philosophic dreams;

Driven headlong on, to ruin's fateful brink,

When will thy country feel, when will she think! -

Satiric muse, shall injured Commerce weep

Her ravish'd rights, and will thy thunders sleep;

Dart thy keen glances, knit thy threat'ning brows,

call fire from heaven to blast thy country's foes.

Oh let a youth thine inspiration learn-

Oh give him "words that breathe and thoughts that burn"! -

Curse of our nation, source of countless woes,

From whose dark womb unreckon'd misery flows,

Th' Embargo rages, like a sweeping wind,

Fear lowers before, and famine stalks behind.

What words, O Muse! can paint the mournful scene,

The saddening street, the desolated green;

How hungry labourers leave their toil and sigh,

And sorrow droops in each desponding eye! -

See the bold Sailor from the Ocean torn,

His element, sink friendless and forlorn!

His suffering spouse the tear of anguish shed,

His starving children cry in vain for bread!

On the rough billows of misfortune tost,

Resources fail, and all his hopes are lost;

To foreign climes, for that relief he flies,

His native land ungratefully denies. -

In vain Mechanics ply their curious art,

And bootless mourn the interdicted mart;

While our sage Ruler's diplomatic skill,

Subjects our councils to his sovereign will;

His grand "restrictive energies" employs,

And wisely regulating trade- destroys. -

The Farmer, since supporting trade is fled,

Leaves the rude joke, and cheerless hangs his head;

Misfortunes fall, an unremitting shower,

Debts follow debts, on taxes, taxes pour,-

See in his stores his hoarded produce rot,

Or Sheriff sales his profits bring to naught;

Disheartening cares in thronging myriads flow,

Till down he sinks to poverty and woe!

Ye, who rely on Jeffersonian skill;

And say that fancy paints ideal ill;

Go, on the wings of observation fly,

Cast o'er the land a scrutinizing eye;

States, counties, towns, remark with keen review,

Let facts convince and own the picture true! -

Oh, ye bright pair! the blessing of mankind,

Whom time has sanction'd, and whom fate has join'd,

COMMERCE, that bears the trident of the main,

And AGRICULTURE, empress of the plain;

Who hand in hand, and heav'n-directed, go

Diffusing gladness through the world below;

Whoe'er the wretch, would hurl the flaming brand

Of dire disunion, palsied be his hand!

Like "Cromwell damn'd to everlasting fame,"

Let unborn ages execrate his name! -

How foul a blot Columbia's glory stains!

How dark the scene! infatuation reigns!

For French intrigue which wheedles to devour,

Threatens to fix us in Napoleon's power;

Anon within th' insatiate vortex whirl'd,

Whose wide periphery involves the world. -

Oh, heaven defend, as future seasons roll,

These western climes from Bonaparte's control;

Preserve our freedom, and our rights secure,

While truth subsists, and virtue shall endure!

Lo Austria crouches to the tyrant's stroke,

And bends proud Rome beneath his galling yoke;

Infuriate, reeking with the spoils of war,