Who now shall sneer?

Who dare again to say we trace
Our lines to a plebeian race?

Roundhead and Cavalier!

Dumb are those names, erewhile in battle loud;
Dream-footed, as the shadow of a cloud,

They flit across the ear;

That is best blood that hath most iron in 't

To edge resolve with, pouring without stint
For what makes manhood dear.

Tell us not of Plantagenets,

Hapsburgs, and Guelphs, whose thin bloods crawl
Down from some victor in a border brawl!
How poor their outworn coronets,

Matched with one leaf of that plain civic wreath
Our brave for honor's blazon shall bequeath,
Through whose desert a rescued Nation sets
Her heel on treason, and the trumpet hears
Shout victory, tingling Europe's sullen ears

With vain resentments and more vain regrets!

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

4

PREFATORY NOTE.

An attempt has been made in the present collection to gather together the patriotic poems of America, those which depict feelings as well as those which describe actions, since these latter are as indicative of the temper of the time. It is a collection, for the most part, of old favorites, for Americans have been quick to take to heart a stirring telling of a daring and noble deed; but these may be found to have gained freshness by a grouping in order. The arrangement is chronological so far as it might be, that the history of America as told by her poets should be set forth. Here and there occur breaks in the story, chiefly because there are fit incidents for song which no poet has fitly sung as yet.

The poems have been printed scrupulously from the best accessible text, and they have not been tinkered in any way, though some few have been curtailed slightly for the sake of space. In a In a few cases, where the

whole poem has not fallen within the scope of this volume, only a fragment is here given. When this has been done, it is pointed out. Brief notes have been prefixed to many of the poems, making plain the occasion of their origin, and removing any chance obscurity of allusion.

The editor takes pleasure in expressing his thanks to the friends who have aided him, and especially to Mr. Henry Gallup Paine, who has given invaluable help in research and in the correction of the text. He desires also to acknowledge his indebtedness to the authors who have kindly answered his appeals, and to the publishers who have given permission to make use of copyright matter. To Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in particular are his obligations heavy, since his task would have been hopeless had they denied him the privilege of borrowing from the works of the many American poets for whom they publish. J. B. M.

New-York, November, 1882.