William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
On the New American Frigate Alliance—1778Philip Freneau (1752–1832)
A
That own’d, so late, proud Britain’s reign,
A floating pile approach’d his car,
The scene of terror and of war.
(Her starry flag display’d to view,)
He ask’d a Triton of his train,
“What flag was this that rode the main?
This many a day I have not seen,
To no mean power can she belong,
So swift, so warlike, stout, and strong.
Where other ships would find a grave;
Majestic, awful, and serene,
She sails the ocean like its queen.”
Whose trident awes the waves to sleep,”
(Replied a Triton of his train,)
“This ship that stems the western main,
Who, in resentment of their wrongs,
Oppose proud Britain’s tyrant sway,
And combat her by land and sea;
From their strict union takes her name.
For them she cleaves the briny tide,
While terror marches by her side.
Undaunted by the fiercest gales,
In dreadful pomp she ploughs the main,
While adverse tempests rage in vain.
The boldest foes congeal with fear,
And, owning her superior might,
Seek their best safety in their flight.
And thunder from her cannon plays,
The bursting flash that wings the ball
Compels those foes to strike or fall.
Might to their fate all foes pursue;
Yet, faithful to the land that bore,
She stays to guard her native shore.
That sail within the torrid zone,
She kindly lends a nearer aid,
Annoys them here, and guards the trade.
She greets the shores of France and Spain;
Her gallant flag, display’d to view,
Invites the old world to the new.
To seas congeal’d with ice and snow,
To either tropic, and the line,
Where suns with endless fervour shine.
Such hearts of brass as here abound;
They for their golden fleece did fly,
These sail—to vanquish tyranny.”