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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON MR. RIVINGTON'S NEW ENGRAVED KINGS ARMS .. ROYAL GAZETTE by PHILIP FRENEAU

Poet Analysis

First Line: FROM THE REGIONS OF NIGHT, WITH HIS HEAD IN A SACK
Last Line: "THE INVENTOR, AS WELL AS THE PRINTER OF LIES."
Subject(s): AMERICAN REVOLUTION; NEWSPAPERS; RIVINGTON, JAMES (1724-1803); JOURNALISM; JOURNALISTS;

FROM the regions of night, with his head in a sack,
Ascended a person accoutred in black,
And upward directing his circular eye whites;
(Like the Jure-divino political Levites)
And leaning his elbow on Rivington's shelf,
While the printer was busy, thus mused with himself:
"My mandates are fully complied with at last,
"New ARMS are engrav d, and new letters are cast;
"I therefore determine and freely accord,
"This servant of mine shall receive his reward."
Then turning about, to the printer he said,
"Who late was my servant shall now be my Aid;
"Since under my banners so bravely you fight,
"Kneel down! -- for your merits I dubb you a KNIGHT,
"From a passive subaltern I bid you to rise
"The INVENTOR, as well as the PRINTER OF LIES."




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