Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/544

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512
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER III.
[Bk. III.
Like Hercules to purge the land, Their tyrants striving to kick down,
Intend to act in combination Who, by perverting law and reason,
With th' other forces of the nation, Allegiance construe into treason,
Displaying wide thro' every quarter Religion, too, is often made
What Britain's justice would be after. A stalking horse to drive the trade,
It is not difficult to show it, And warring churches dare implore,
And every mother's son must know it, Protection from th' Almighty power;
That what she meant at first to gain They fast and pray; in Providence
By requisitions and chicane, Profess to place their confidence;
She's now determin'd to acquire And vainly think the Lord of all
By kingly reason; sword and fire. Regards our squabbles on this ball;
I can appeal to all your senses, Which would appear as droll in Britain
Your judgments, feelings, tastes and fancies; As any whim that one could hit on;
Your ears and eyes have heard and seen, Men's consciences are set at naught,
How causeless this revolt has been; Nor reason valued at a great;
And what a dust your leaders kick up; And they that will not swear and fight,
In this rebellious civil hickup, Must sell their all, and say good night.
And how, upon this curs'd foundation, By such important views there pres't to
Was rear'd the system of vexation I issue this my manifesto.
Over a stubborn generation. I, the great knight of de la Mancha,
But now inspired with patriot love Without 'Squire Carleton, my Sancho,
I come, th' oppression to remove; Will tear you limb from limb assunder,
To free you from the heavy clog With cannon, blunderbuss and thunder;
Of every tyrant demagogue, And spoil your feathering and your tarring
Who for the most romantic story, And cagg you up for pickled herring.
Claps into limbo loyal Tory, In front of troops as spruce as beaux,
All hurly burly, hot and hasty, And ready to lay on their blows,
Without a writ to hold him fast by; I'll spread destruction far and near;
Nor suffers any living creature, And where I cannot kill, I 'll spare,
[Led by the dictates of his nature,] Inviting, by these presents, all,
To fight in green for Britain's cause, Both young and old, and great and small,
Or aid us to restore her laws; And rich and poor, and Whig and Tory,
In short, the vilest generation In cellar deep, or lofty story;
Which in vindictive indignation, Where'er my troops, at my command
Almighty vengeance ever hurl'd Shall swarm like locusts o'er the land.
From this to the infernal world. (And they shall march from the North Pole
A Tory cannot move his tongue, As far, at least, as Pensacole,)
But whip, in prison he is flung, So break off their communications,
His goods and chattels made a prey, That I can save their habitations;
By those vile mushrooms of a day, For finding that Sir William's plunders,
He's tortured, too, and scratch'd and bit, Prove in the event apparent blunders,
And plung'd into a dreary pit; It is my full determination,
Where he must suffer sharper doom, To check all kinds of depredation;
Than e'er was hatched by Church of Rome. But when I've got you in my pow'r,
These things are done by rogues, who dare Favor'd is he, I last devour.
Profess to breathe in Freedom's air. From him who loves a quiet life,
To petticoats alike and breeches And keeps at home to kiss his wife,
Their cruel domination stretches, And drinks success to king Pigmalion,
For the sole crime, or sole suspicion And calls all Congresses Rabscallion,
[What worse is done by th' inquisition?] With neutral stomach eats his supper,
Of still adhering to the crown, Nor deems the contest worth a cooper;