NOW o’er the vast waves of the northern Pacific,
Prepare for a speedy and prosperous sail;
And land on the coast of those islands prolific,
Where trees call’d the “bread-fruit” are known to prevail.
Enjoy for a season their produce and clime–
Make friends with the natives–their customs discern;
And when you have sojourn’d among them a time,
Let your dear native England invite your return.
But tho’ lovely the spot for the justly priz’d freedom,
Our ancestors bought, and their children retain,
Tho’ num’rous the blessings conferred on our kingdom,
Yet not even here would I have you remain,
At least I invite you to Scotland to wander,
And there seek the shores of a fine spreading lake,
And while tracing in peace its fair borders, to ponder
On Charles Stuart ‘s refuge, when life was at stake.
That royal advent’rer when wholly defeated
On Culloden’s plains, look’d disconsolate round;
And pursued by some horsemen with speed he retreated
To the caves and the rocks, which near this spot abound.
Here sheltered from imminent danger, he yielded
(Though weary and sad) to the soothing of sleep,
Till at length he became more effectually shielded,
When by Louis invited he again crossed the deep.
But resisting (as needful) the mournful emotion,
Excited by contemplations like these,
Once more you must traverse the boisterous ocean,
Now once more encounter the treacherous seas;
Then your course to the islands call’d “Sandwich” directing
With regret, (alas vain !) will your fond bosom swell,
While the largest among the rich cluster selecting,
You point to mankind where the gallant Cook fell.
And now do you ask, why thus wand’ring I’ve led you,
A track wide and devious, though specious and fair?
You’ll see, if a moment from earth I conduct you,
And turn your attention to regions of air.
For there, ‘mid a host of admir’d constellations,
All beaming from far with rich glory crown’d
There’s one, by th’ initials of the above stations,
(In the path of the zodiac,) at once will be found.
(Elizabeth Hitchener)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, Time Poems, War & Peace Poems, Fairness Poems, Sleep Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Emotions Poems, Danger & Risk Poems, Blessings PoemsBased on Keywords: retreated, resisting, stuart, priz, directing, culloden, contemplations, selecting, effectually, bread-fruit