Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ROYAL ADVENTURER, by PHILIP FRENEAU



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THE ROYAL ADVENTURER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Prince william, of the brunswick race
Last Line: "I curse -- and quit the land."
Subject(s): American Revolution; William Iv, King Of England (1765-1837)


PRINCE WILLIAM, of the Brunswick race,
To witness George's sad disgrace
The royal lad came over,
Rebels to kill, by right divine --
Derived from that illustrious line,
The beggars of Hanover.

So many chiefs got broken pates
In vanquishing the rebel states,
So many nobles fell,
That George the Third in passion cried:
"Our royal blood must now be tried;
'T is that must break the spell;

"To you [the fat pot-valiant swain
To Digby said], dear friend of mine,
To you I trust my boy;
The rebel tribes shall quake with fears,
Rebellion die when he appears,
My Tories leap with joy."

So said, so done -- the lad was sent,
But never reached the continent,
An island held him fast --
Yet there his friends danced rigadoons,
The Hessians sung in high Dutch tunes,
"Prince William's come at last!"

"Prince William 's come!" -- the Briton cried --
"Our labors now will be repaid --
Dominion be restored --
Our monarch is in William seen,
He is the image of our queen,
Let William be adored!"

The Tories came with long address,
With poems groaned the royal press,
And all in William's praise --
The youth, astonished, looked about
To find their vast dominions out,
Then answered in amaze:

"Where all your vast domain can be,
Friends, for my soul I cannot see;
'T is but an empty name;
Three wasted islands and a town
In rubbish buried -- half burnt down,
Is all that we can claim;

"I am of royal birth, 't is true.
But what, my sons, can princes do,
No armies to command?
Cornwallis conquered and distrest --
Sir Henry Chnton grown a jest --
I curse -- and quit the land."





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