See Exodus XXIV, 29-35. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This brief poem by Longfellow functions as an epigraph — a passage taken from an actual petition that Acadian exiles sent to the British king following their forced removal from Nova Scotia in 1755.
The poem
V. 572-3. Parents were separated from children and husbands from wives, some of whom have not to this day met again; and we were so crowded in the transport vessels that we had not even room to lay down, and consequently were prevented from carrying with us proper necessaries, especially for the support and comfort of the aged and weak, many of whom quickly ended their lives. PETITION OF THE ACADIANS TO THE KING.
This brief poem by Longfellow functions as an epigraph — a passage taken from an actual petition that Acadian exiles sent to the British king following their forced removal from Nova Scotia in 1755. Longfellow connects it to the biblical tale of Moses, whose face radiated divine light after conversing with God, implying that the Acadians' suffering bears the same moral significance as scripture. The impact is subtle yet profound: the words of everyday people are elevated to sacred testimony.
Line-by-line
Parents were separated from children and husbands from wives, some of whom have not to this day met again;
and we were so crowded in the transport vessels that we had not even room to lay down,
and consequently were prevented from carrying with us proper necessaries, especially for the support and comfort of the aged and weak,
many of whom quickly ended their lives. PETITION OF THE ACADIANS TO THE KING.
Tone & mood
The tone is restrained and documentary — almost intentionally flat. There's no poetic embellishment because the source material is a legal petition, not a song. Beneath that flatness lies deep grief and a measured, dignified anger. Longfellow's decision to frame this as a poem, titled with a biblical reference, turns bureaucratic testimony into an elegy.
Symbols & metaphors
- The transport vessels — The ships aren't merely a historical detail; they represent the entire system of forced displacement. Being denied the space to lie down on them illustrates just how thoroughly the Acadians were stripped of their agency and dignity.
- The aged and weak — This group serves as a moral gauge for the cruelty of deportation. In many ethical and religious traditions, the way a society treats its most vulnerable members reflects its true character. Their deaths stand as a condemnation of the policy that led to them.
- The Petition itself — The act of petitioning the king—appealing to the authority behind their exile—represents the Acadians' powerlessness and their determination to be heard. It stands as a gesture of dignity against the backdrop of erasure.
- The biblical title (Exodus XXIV, 29-35) — The passage notes that Moses came down from Sinai with a face shining from his encounter with God, leading him to wear a veil. By linking this reference to the Acadian petition, Longfellow implies that this document holds a similarly sacred truth — a light that must be recognized.
Historical context
In 1755, British colonial authorities forcibly removed around 10,000 Acadian settlers from present-day Nova Scotia, Canada, scattering them across the Atlantic world in a tragic event called the Grand Dérangement. Families were torn apart, properties were confiscated, and many people died during the deportations. Longfellow's narrative poem *Evangeline*, published in 1847, revived this largely overlooked tragedy for a broad English-speaking audience. This passage, labeled section V, is one of several prose epigraphs from historical documents that Longfellow incorporated into the poem. The biblical reference in the title points to Exodus 34:29-35, where Moses's face shines after meeting God, suggesting that the Acadians' own testimony possesses a kind of sacred, undeniable brilliance. By allowing the petition to express itself, Longfellow contends that history is the strongest indictment of all.
FAQ
Longfellow includes a prose epigraph within the poetic framework of *Evangeline*. This excerpt is a direct quote from an actual petition that Acadian exiles submitted to the British Crown following their deportation in 1755. By adding a title, a biblical reference, and numbering the section, Longfellow encourages readers to view this historical testimony as poetry.
Exodus 34:29-35 describes Moses descending from Mount Sinai, his face shining so brightly from his encounter with God that the Israelites were too afraid to look at him. Longfellow draws on this imagery to imply that the Acadians' petition holds a similar kind of truth — a moral brilliance that is difficult to face directly yet undeniable.
The Acadians were French-speaking settlers who had called what is now Nova Scotia, Canada, home for generations. In 1755, British colonial authorities forcibly removed them from their land in an event known as the Grand Dérangement. This led to families being separated and survivors being scattered across the Atlantic. Thousands lost their lives. Longfellow's *Evangeline* was among the first significant literary works to share this history with a wide English-speaking audience.
Because the Acadians' own words carry more weight than anything a poet could create. By stepping back and allowing the petition to express itself, Longfellow highlights a truth about historical suffering: it doesn’t require embellishment. The straightforward, legal wording of the petition serves as the most compelling argument.
It means they died—the elderly and weak who couldn't withstand the overcrowded and poorly supplied conditions on the deportation ships. The wording is careful and formal, fitting for a petition to a king, but the message is clear: the deportation conditions were deadly.
*Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie* follows a young Acadian woman on her quest to find her fiancé after they are torn apart during the deportation. This epigraph anchors the fictional narrative in reality, reminding readers that the separation of Evangeline and Gabriel reflects the heartbreaking experiences of countless real families.
At its heart, this narrative focuses on exile and the shattering of family bonds. It also explores justice—or the lack thereof—and delves into sorrow that resonates on a collective level rather than just an individual one. The biblical context introduces an element of faith, implying that this suffering carries a moral and spiritual weight that calls for a response.
It clearly criticizes the policy responsible for the deportation, enacted by British colonial authorities. However, Longfellow chooses to let the facts convey the message instead of adding his commentary. The petition is directed to the king, indicating that the Acadians were seeking justice from British authority — the poem reflects that appeal rather than distancing itself from it.