No courtiers now their friends deceive Our nobles-Heaven defend us all! Our gentry are a virtuous race, 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 10 20 30 Our frugal taste the State secures, From hence proceeds the abundant flow No pleasure-chaises fill the streets, All gaming, tricking, swearing, lying, Happy the nation thus endowed! Your characters (with wondering stare Ha! think you so, my honest clown? 40 50 60 The Freeman's Journal or the New Hampshire Gazette, 1779. -Are these the triumphs of my Gallic friends? How will you ward this blow, my trusty fiends? What remedy for this unlucky job? What art shall raise the spirits of the mob? Fly swift, ye sure supporters of my realm, Ere this ill-news the rebels overwhelm. 30 Invent, say anything to make them mad; Tell them the King-No, Dev'ls are not so bad; The dogs of Congress at the king let loose; But ye, brave Dev'ls, avoid such mean abuse. Joy to great Congress, joy an hundred fold: The grand cajolers are themselves cajol'd! What thinks Sir Washington of this mischance; Blames he not those, who put their trust in France? 38 |