%images;]>C14-1An ode for the 4th of July 1788.: a machine-readable transcription.Collection: Documents of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention, ca. 1774-1790; American Memory, Library of Congress.Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, 1994.

Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.

This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.

For more information about this text and this American Memory collection, refer to accompanying matter.

90-898122Constitutional Convention broadsides; Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.Copyright status not determined.0001

AN ODE FOR THE 4th OF JULY 1788.,

OH for a muse of fire! to mount the skies And to a list'ning world proclaim---Behold! behold! an empire rise! An Æra new, as he flies,Hath enter'd in the book of fame.On Alleghany's tow'ring headEcho shall stand---the tidings spread,And o'er the lakes, and misty floods around,AN ÆRA NEW resound.

See! where Columbia sits alone,And from her star-bespangled throne,Beholds the gay procession move along,And hears the trumpet, and the choral song---She hears her sons rejoice---Looks into future times, and seesThe num'rous blessings Heav'n decrees,And with HER plaudit joins the gen'ral voice.

"Tis done! tis done! my Sons," she cries,"In War are valiant, and in Council wise;"Wisdom and Valour shall my rights defend,And o'er my vast domain those rights extend."Science shall flourish--- Genius stretch her wing,In native Strains Columbian Muses sing; "Wealth crown the Arts, and Justice clean her scales, "Commerce her pond'rous anchor weigh,"Wide spread her sails,And in far distant seas her flag display.

"My Sons for Freedom fought, nor fought in vain;"But found a naked goddess was their gain:Good government alone, can shew the Maid,"In robes of SOCIAL HAPPINESS array'd."

Hail to this festival! all hail the day!Columbia's standard on HER ROOF display:And let the PEOPLE'S Motto ever be,"UNITED THUS, and THUS UNITED--- FREE."

Printed by M. Carey.