Note 159 — THE FIRST POETIC PERIOD (continued 2)
Reading edition
Text from the edition of 1786. The poem was first published in the February (1779) issue of the United States Magazine, as a part of an extended article, with the title, "Account of the Island of Santa Cruz: Containing an original Poem on the Beauties of that Island. In a letter to A. P. Esq." The poem is introduced as follows: "I believe the best thing I can do with the rest of this paper is to transcribe a few dull heavy lines which I composed near two years ago on the spot." The poem consisted of fifty-two stanzas, corresponding to the following above: 1-4, 6-10, 14-16, 18-23, 31-34, 39, 40, 48-51, 53, 54, 56, 58-63, 70, 79-82, 85, 88, 96, 98, 100, 101, 104, 106-108. Freneau revised it with a careful hand for his edition of 1786. Some of the lines changed most notably are as follows:
Stanza 1."Less rigorous climes, and a more friendly sky."
6."So some dull minds, in spite of age and care, Are grown so wedded to this globe below."
39."Sweet spungy plumbs on trees wide spreading hang, The happy flavour'd pine grows crested from the ground."
51."Where once the Indian dames inchanted slept."
56."Cassada shrubs abound, whose poison root, Supplies the want of snow-white Northern flour; This grated fine, and steep'd in water fair, Forsakes each particle of noxious power."
70."On yonder peaked hill fresh harvests rise, Where wretched he—the Ethiopian swain."
79."He pants a land of freedom and repose, Where cruel slavery never sought to reign, O quit thee them, my muse, and tell me why."
88."But now the winds are past, the storm subsides, All nature smiles again serenely gay, The beauteous groves renew'd—how shall I leave My green retreat at Butler's verdant bay."
96."Fain would I view my native climes again, But murder marks the cruel Briton there— Contented here I rest, in spite of pain, And quaff the enlivening juice in spite of care."
100."The misty night sits heavy on the sea, Yon lagging sail drags slowly o'er the main, Night and its kindred glooms are nought to me."
104."Then shepherd haste, and leave behind thee far The bloody plains and iron glooms above, Quit thy cold northern star, and here enjoy, Beneath the smiling skies this land of love."
Each of the later editions passed under the revising pen of Freneau, but the variations consisted largely of verbal changes. As a sample of his revision, note the following:
Stanza 3, 1779, "Two weeks, with prosperous gales"; 1786, "Twice seven days prosperous gales"; 1809, "Twice ten days prosperous gales"; 26, 1779, "And tho' fierce Sol his beams directly shed"; 1786, "And though the noon-sun all his radiance shed"; 1795, "The noon sun his fierce radiance shed"; 30, 1779, "fruits that over-top the wood"; 1786, "fruits, the richest of the wood"; 1795, "fruits the noblest of the wood"; 38, 1779, "peaked hill"; 1786, "steepy hill"; 1795, "blue-brow'd hill"; 41, 1779, "lovely green"; 1786, "lively green"; 1795, "liveliest green." Freneau added three stanzas to the later versions. After stanza 16 above, be added the following:
"The native here, in golden plenty blest, Bids from the soil the verdant harvests spring; Feasts in the abundant dome, the joyous guest; Time short,—life easy,—pleasure on the wing."
Following this he added stanza 43 of "The Jamaica Funeral." Stanza 49 of "The House of Night" was interpolated between 90 and 91. Stanzas 35-38 were omitted from the 1786 version, and in connection with stanzas 39-43 of "The House of Night," became the "Elegiac Lines" of the later editions. The text of the 1795 version was almost unrevised for the 1809 edition.