Poetic license

It's fascinating how Henry Wadsworth Longfellow translated Paul Revere's "midnight ride" into poetry.

Longfellow wrote: "If the British march, By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch, Of the North Church tower as a signal light -- One if by land, and two if by sea ..."

Here's the account in Revere's own words: "The Sunday before, by desire of Dr. Warren, I had been to Lexington, to Mess. Hancock and Adams, who were at the Rev. Mr. Clark's. I returned at Night thro Charlestown; there I agreed with a Col. Conant, and some other Gentlemen, that if the British went out by Water, we would shew two Lanthorns in the North Church Steeple; and if by Land, one, as a Signal; for we were aprehensive it would be dificult to Cross the Charles River, or git over Boston neck."

Given the nearly poetic quality of New England speech in Revere's time ("if the British went out by Water, we would shew two Lanthorns ... and if by Land, one"), perhaps Longfellow's poetic license in terms of his language use is not such a stretch after all.