STANZAS, AT THE DECEASE OF THOMAS PAINE

by Philip Freneau (1752-1832)

STANZAS, AT THE DECEASE OF THOMAS PAINE

Princes and kings decay and die

And, instant rise again:

But this is not the case, trust me

With men like THOMAS PAINE.

To tyrants and the tyrant crew,

Indeed, he was the bane:

He writ, and gave them all their due,

And signed it - THOMAS PAINE.

Oh! how we loved to see him write

And curb the race of Cain!

They hope and wish that Thomas P--

May never rise again.

What idle hopes!-yes--such a man

May yet appear again.-

When they are dead, they die for aye:

Not so with THOMAS PAINE.

-Philip Freneau

[Philip Freneau, a ship’s captain, Revolutionary War soldier (he was captured and spent six weeks imprisonment), roommate of James Madison at Princeton University, and later, with the support of Jefferson and Madision, publisher/editor of the Philadelphia National Gazette. Freneau was and is known as the Poet of the American Revolution]

History, people: know it.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/philip-freneau