No courtiers now their friends deceive For what they made 'em once believe Our nobles-Heaven defend us all! I'll nothing say about 'em; Our gentry are a virtuous race, Fond of true honor's noble chase, The ladies dress so plain indeed, No tradesman now forsakes his shop, Or takes his dealer at a hop No soaking sot forsakes his spouse Our frugal taste the State secures, For luxury's turned out of doors, From hence proceeds the abundant flow No pleasure-chaises fill the streets, Nor crowd the roads on Sunday; So horses, ambling through the week, Obtain a respite one day. All gaming, tricking, swearing, lying, For modern youth's so self-denying Happy the nation thus endowed! So void of wants and crimes; Your characters (with wondering stare I think they're all a lie, sir. Ha! think you so, my honest clown? Just turn the picture upside down, THE DANCE. [Published in 1781, after the Surrender of Cornwallis.] Yet are red heels and long-laced skirts, Now housed in York he challenged all, At minuet or all 'amande, And lessons for a courtly ball His guards by day and night conned. This challenge known, full soon there came, De Grasse and Rochambeau, whose fame And Washington, Columbia's son, Now hand in hand they circle round Their gentle movements soon confound His music soon forgets to play— Now Tories all, what can ye say? Come-is not this a griper, That while your hopes are danced away, 'Tis you must pay the piper? THE CONGRESS. [Tory Song, to the tune of " Nancy Dawson." Printed in Towne's Evening Post. 1776.] When Jove resolved to send a curse, Not plague, not famine, but much worse,- Then peace forsook this hapless shore; Imperial Rome from scoundrels rose; So sprung the mighty Congress. When insects vile emerge to light They take their short inglorious flight, With freemen's rights they wanton play; With poverty and dire distress, Whole troops to Pluto swiftly press, Time-serving priests to zealots preach, At the command of Congress. The world's amazed to see the pest And tries the strength of Congress. O goddess, hear our hearty prayers! See, see, our hope begins to dawn; Dejected is the Congress. Clinton, Burgoyne, and gallant Howe, See noble Dunmore keeps his post; That hair-brain tool of Congress. There's Washington and all his men— Prepare, prepare, my friends prepare, And curse the haughty Congress. Huzza! Huzza! we thrice huzza! BOLD HAWTHORNE. [The Surgeon's record of the Cruise of the "Fair American," Captain Daniel Haw thorne, Commander. 1777.] |