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ON
THE LAUNCHING OF THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION
The builders had the ship prepare,
And near her stood a triple guard,
For fear of secret foes.
Some, tiptoe stood to see her start,
And would have said, with all their
heart,
In raptures, there she goes!
The stubborn ship, do what they
could,
Convinced them, she was made of wood
Though plann'd with art supreme;
All art, all force the ship defy'd ‑‑
Nor brilliant day, nor top of tide
Could urge her to the stream.
Some, with their airs aristocratic,
And some with honors diplomatic,
Advanced to see the show;
In vain the builder to her call'd ‑‑
In vain the shipwrights pull'd and
haul'd ‑‑
She could not ‑‑ would
not go.
Each anti‑federal, with a smile
Observed the yet unfloating pile
As if he meant to say,
Builder, no doubt, you know your
trade,
A constitution you have made
But should her ways have better
laid.
Well now to heave the ship afloat,
To move from this unlucky spot,
Take our advice, and give them soon,
What should have long ago been done,
Amendments ‑‑ You Know
What.
‑‑
Philip Freneau
September 1797
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The Captain’s Clerk |