Scene,
A beautiful and spacious green
With shepherd's hamlets here and there,
And tufts of trees dispers'd between
Loaded with bounties of the year.
Here shady elms and apple groves,
With burnish'd fruit hang bending down;
While a fine view the scene improves,
Of a neat pleasant country town.
This spot enclos'd by verdant meads,
Thro' which there runs a murmuring stream,
Whose winding current thro' the reeds,
Dances to Cynthia's silver beam.
Argument. The news arrives of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis
and his army to General Washington. A shepherdess who tends
her sheep in a more retired part, hearing some demonstrations of
joy, comes hastily to her friend and enquires the reason; which
leads them into a conversation on the several events that had
occurred since the begining of the war. —
Aminta.
Why is the village fill'd with general joy?
Why are the hamlets deck'd with wreaths of flowers?
Unusual pleasure gladdens every eye,
And social mirth resounds from all the bowers.
Deep in the shade of yon sequester'd dale,
I feed my flock, beside the purling rill,
Nor hear what tidings o'er our land prevail,
To cause our shepherds so much glee to feel.
Lucinda.
Nor to the shepherds is the joy confin'd,
Our maids and matrons keep this holiday.
Such glorious news! Cornwallis has resign'd
The british host to our great leader's sway.
Aminta.
'Tis glorious news indeed! Now play my lambs,
And frisk in sportive gambols o'er the green;
While we my friend beneath these spreading elms,
Will sit and talk of this surprizing scene.
Lucinda.
What time the sun in many an annual round,
Had brought the distant period to it's birth,
That empire travelling westward, sudden found
The clime to end his destiny on earth.
Then discord enter'd in the british court,
And threw a mist of error o'er the state,
The senate sworn it's freedom to support,
Stupid and blind urg'd on the nation's fate.
Aminta
But first they try'd beneath our western sky,
To fix their tyrant monarch's galling chain;
Our shepherds spurn'd the yoke, to arms did fly,
And stain'd with hostile blood the virgin plain.
But ah! the painful conflict they endur'd,
Between the love of liberty and life,
And dread of ev'ry evil which assur'd
Must be their lot in such unequal strife.
Lucinda.
And drove by cruel treatment to despair,
They found resistance was their only plan,
Reverted back to Nature's pristine year,
When first society was form'd by man;
That taught them from themselves redress to find,
And choose protectors for their injur'd laws,
They meet in crouds the sacred compact bind,
And bending low to heav'n refer their cause.
Aminta.
There goes a legend on these rural plains,
That when the chiefs in solemn congress met,
To ponder on their wrongs and find the means
To free their country from impending fate.
A lucid cloud broke in and fill'd the place,
When lo, a radiant form conspicuous stood,
Array'd in female majesty and grace,
And shone confess'd the genius of this wood.
My sons, she said, the awful die is thrown,
The scale of empire trembles on the beam;
To you 'tis given to cast the ballance down,
And deck your Country with immortal fame.
But one of you devoted now by fate,
(Within this circle stands) to bear a load
Which my prophetick tongue dreads to relate
Nor could he stand unless upheld by GOD.
But power supreme shall guard this heroes head,
And steel his heart with fortitude divine —
Shall form him fit your mixed bands to lead,
And from confusion bring forth discipline.
His manners gentle and his mind serene —
His soul with martial ardor early fired;
While native dignity shines thro' his mien,
Lov'd by his friends and by his foes admir'd.
This said, the chiefs with pleasing wonder struck,
Look'd round the room to find this favor'd son,
When from the shining mist the Genius broke,
And to the fathers led her Washington.
Lucinda.
And then began the most amazing scene,
That e'er tradition to our grandsires told:
Oh! for the pipe of that renowned swain,
Who sung on mantuan plains of heroes bold.
Then would we sing by turns such deeds atchiev'd
At Boston, Bunker's hill and Hudson's side,
Which when we heard, our shepherds scarce believ'd,
For foes internal ev'ry fact denied
But Washington o'er every foe prevail'd
To gain each point which he so hard essay'd
While they with vet'ran armies quit the field,
And he encountering every hardship staid.
Their ships convey them round to Hudson's stream,
Where he by painful marches soon arrives —
Renders abortive every sanguine scheme,
And takes the forfeit of a thousand lives.
Aminta
But now the tempest blackens o'er his head,
Sore beats the storm against our hero's breast,
His troops discharg'd, from every quarter fled,
And all his bulwarks by the foe possess'd.
So I have seen a venerable oak,
Resist the efforts of each howling blast;
Tho' o'er it's root the angry surges broke;
It brav'd their fury to the very last.
Lucinda.
Oh! I remember well that gloomy day,
When on these fields our flying camp appear'd;
Despair and hunger usher'd in their way,
And pale distress in every aspect star'd.
Then came our guardian with a chosen few,
Collected in himself he calmly stood, —
Bear up, he said, the contest we'll renew.
And make misfortune terminate in good.
The night came on, the battle sword was drawn
In close array, the glimmering lights around;
The soldiers anxious for the early dawn,
Loaded with arms lay watching on the ground.
When lo their general starts a deep design
To seize the Hessian camp without delay,
Which lock'd in riot's arms then lay supine,
Nor dream'd of danger on a festal day.
His plan succeeds; the trembling captives cry
For mercy at his hand; nor cry in vain:
The gentlest treatment follow'd victory;
The bravest spirits always most humane.
Tho winters stern attilery pourd forth hail
And delaware was foaming to the sky
They stemd the torrent met the boisterous gale
And turn'd the morning sorrow into Joy
Aminta.
What next surpris'd us was the fam'd retreat,
Round Dervent's stream to Princeton's verdant height:
While at the distance of that shady seat,
Four times our number lay prepar'd for fight. —
Deceiv'd by fires which did our camp surround,
'Till hearing cannon thunder from afar,
Amazement dire their counsels all confound,
And add new terrors to the din of war.
Lucinda.
But our triumphant leader gain'd the hills
On Raritan's meandering silver stream;
Secures his camp and each attack repels,
Till vict'ry, doubtful long, declares for him.
Tho' often now a low'ring cloud will rise,
Like Brandewine and Germantown's defeat,
To keep our ardent minds in equal poize;
Yet Burgoine's fate we never can forget,
Wild as a roaring torrent from the north
Replete with arrogance and proud disdain,
He sends his cruel, savage allies forth,
With proclamations foolish as prophane.
But he that universal nature sways,
And views the nations from his holy throne,
The vaunter stop'd, and hedg'd about his ways,
And made the vengeance threaten'd as his own.
Aminta.
When good Maecenas in those peaceful shades
Was wont in rural elegance to dwell;
How he'd have sung of these heroic deeds,
Which we in homely phrase can only tell!
But ah! such themes for us are far too high;
To feed the flocks and keep the hamlet neat,
To spread the web beneath a show'ry sky
The line of life to us prefix'd by fate.
Lucinda.
And well, my friend, wise nature has assign'd
To us such different lots, tis very plain
Tho not the sex of men, the same in mind
We all are links of the great mystic chain.
And sure, to view with reason's mental eye,
The harvest rich, of freedom's glorious reign,
Must make our bosoms beat with rapturous joy,
Since 'tis by us it must descend to men.
But hark Aminta! now the songs begin
The ruddy Nymphs as sparkling as the sun,
In rosy chaplets deck'd responsive sing
The deeds of their beloved Washington.
Then join the dance, nor be the joy confin'd
And with the shepherds keep this holiday,
Such glorious news! Cornwallis has resign'd
The british host to our great leader's sway,
Song by the shepherdesses.
Bring now ye Muses from th'Aonian grove,
The wreath of vict'ry which the sisters wove,
Wove and laid up in Mars' most awful fane
To crown our hero, on Virginia's plain.
See from Castalia's sacred font they haste —
And now already on his brow 'tis plac'd —
The trump of fame aloud proclaims the joy —
And Washington is crown'd reechoes to the sky.
Illustrious name, thy valour now has broke
Oppression's galling chain, and took the yoke
From off thy bleeding country — set her free,
And every heart with transport beats for thee.
— For thee, Rochambeau, Gallia's vet'ran chief
Sent by fair freedom's friend to her relief.
An arch triumphal shall the muse decree,
And Heroes yet unborn shall copy thee.
Our lisping infants shall pronounce thy name
In songs our virgins shall repeat thy fame,
And taught by thee the art of war, our swains
Shall dye with british blood Columbia's plains.
Viominells heroic brothers too
Join'd in the lists of fame with Chateleau
Unfading garlands now await for you.
And all the noble youth who in your train,
In search of glory cross'd th'atlantic main.
Blest with sweet peace in sylvan shades retir'd,
Our future bards by your great deeds inspir'd,
In tuneful verse shall hand this Æra down,
And your lov'd names with grateful honours crown.
A beautiful and spacious green
With shepherd's hamlets here and there,
And tufts of trees dispers'd between
Loaded with bounties of the year.
Here shady elms and apple groves,
With burnish'd fruit hang bending down;
While a fine view the scene improves,
Of a neat pleasant country town.
This spot enclos'd by verdant meads,
Thro' which there runs a murmuring stream,
Whose winding current thro' the reeds,
Dances to Cynthia's silver beam.
Argument. The news arrives of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis
and his army to General Washington. A shepherdess who tends
her sheep in a more retired part, hearing some demonstrations of
joy, comes hastily to her friend and enquires the reason; which
leads them into a conversation on the several events that had
occurred since the begining of the war. —
Aminta.
Why is the village fill'd with general joy?
Why are the hamlets deck'd with wreaths of flowers?
Unusual pleasure gladdens every eye,
And social mirth resounds from all the bowers.
Deep in the shade of yon sequester'd dale,
I feed my flock, beside the purling rill,
Nor hear what tidings o'er our land prevail,
To cause our shepherds so much glee to feel.
Lucinda.
Nor to the shepherds is the joy confin'd,
Our maids and matrons keep this holiday.
Such glorious news! Cornwallis has resign'd
The british host to our great leader's sway.
Aminta.
'Tis glorious news indeed! Now play my lambs,
And frisk in sportive gambols o'er the green;
While we my friend beneath these spreading elms,
Will sit and talk of this surprizing scene.
Lucinda.
What time the sun in many an annual round,
Had brought the distant period to it's birth,
That empire travelling westward, sudden found
The clime to end his destiny on earth.
Then discord enter'd in the british court,
And threw a mist of error o'er the state,
The senate sworn it's freedom to support,
Stupid and blind urg'd on the nation's fate.
Aminta
But first they try'd beneath our western sky,
To fix their tyrant monarch's galling chain;
Our shepherds spurn'd the yoke, to arms did fly,
And stain'd with hostile blood the virgin plain.
But ah! the painful conflict they endur'd,
Between the love of liberty and life,
And dread of ev'ry evil which assur'd
Must be their lot in such unequal strife.
Lucinda.
And drove by cruel treatment to despair,
They found resistance was their only plan,
Reverted back to Nature's pristine year,
When first society was form'd by man;
That taught them from themselves redress to find,
And choose protectors for their injur'd laws,
They meet in crouds the sacred compact bind,
And bending low to heav'n refer their cause.
Aminta.
There goes a legend on these rural plains,
That when the chiefs in solemn congress met,
To ponder on their wrongs and find the means
To free their country from impending fate.
A lucid cloud broke in and fill'd the place,
When lo, a radiant form conspicuous stood,
Array'd in female majesty and grace,
And shone confess'd the genius of this wood.
My sons, she said, the awful die is thrown,
The scale of empire trembles on the beam;
To you 'tis given to cast the ballance down,
And deck your Country with immortal fame.
But one of you devoted now by fate,
(Within this circle stands) to bear a load
Which my prophetick tongue dreads to relate
Nor could he stand unless upheld by GOD.
But power supreme shall guard this heroes head,
And steel his heart with fortitude divine —
Shall form him fit your mixed bands to lead,
And from confusion bring forth discipline.
His manners gentle and his mind serene —
His soul with martial ardor early fired;
While native dignity shines thro' his mien,
Lov'd by his friends and by his foes admir'd.
This said, the chiefs with pleasing wonder struck,
Look'd round the room to find this favor'd son,
When from the shining mist the Genius broke,
And to the fathers led her Washington.
Lucinda.
And then began the most amazing scene,
That e'er tradition to our grandsires told:
Oh! for the pipe of that renowned swain,
Who sung on mantuan plains of heroes bold.
Then would we sing by turns such deeds atchiev'd
At Boston, Bunker's hill and Hudson's side,
Which when we heard, our shepherds scarce believ'd,
For foes internal ev'ry fact denied
But Washington o'er every foe prevail'd
To gain each point which he so hard essay'd
While they with vet'ran armies quit the field,
And he encountering every hardship staid.
Their ships convey them round to Hudson's stream,
Where he by painful marches soon arrives —
Renders abortive every sanguine scheme,
And takes the forfeit of a thousand lives.
Aminta
But now the tempest blackens o'er his head,
Sore beats the storm against our hero's breast,
His troops discharg'd, from every quarter fled,
And all his bulwarks by the foe possess'd.
So I have seen a venerable oak,
Resist the efforts of each howling blast;
Tho' o'er it's root the angry surges broke;
It brav'd their fury to the very last.
Lucinda.
Oh! I remember well that gloomy day,
When on these fields our flying camp appear'd;
Despair and hunger usher'd in their way,
And pale distress in every aspect star'd.
Then came our guardian with a chosen few,
Collected in himself he calmly stood, —
Bear up, he said, the contest we'll renew.
And make misfortune terminate in good.
The night came on, the battle sword was drawn
In close array, the glimmering lights around;
The soldiers anxious for the early dawn,
Loaded with arms lay watching on the ground.
When lo their general starts a deep design
To seize the Hessian camp without delay,
Which lock'd in riot's arms then lay supine,
Nor dream'd of danger on a festal day.
His plan succeeds; the trembling captives cry
For mercy at his hand; nor cry in vain:
The gentlest treatment follow'd victory;
The bravest spirits always most humane.
Tho winters stern attilery pourd forth hail
And delaware was foaming to the sky
They stemd the torrent met the boisterous gale
And turn'd the morning sorrow into Joy
Aminta.
What next surpris'd us was the fam'd retreat,
Round Dervent's stream to Princeton's verdant height:
While at the distance of that shady seat,
Four times our number lay prepar'd for fight. —
Deceiv'd by fires which did our camp surround,
'Till hearing cannon thunder from afar,
Amazement dire their counsels all confound,
And add new terrors to the din of war.
Lucinda.
But our triumphant leader gain'd the hills
On Raritan's meandering silver stream;
Secures his camp and each attack repels,
Till vict'ry, doubtful long, declares for him.
Tho' often now a low'ring cloud will rise,
Like Brandewine and Germantown's defeat,
To keep our ardent minds in equal poize;
Yet Burgoine's fate we never can forget,
Wild as a roaring torrent from the north
Replete with arrogance and proud disdain,
He sends his cruel, savage allies forth,
With proclamations foolish as prophane.
But he that universal nature sways,
And views the nations from his holy throne,
The vaunter stop'd, and hedg'd about his ways,
And made the vengeance threaten'd as his own.
Aminta.
When good Maecenas in those peaceful shades
Was wont in rural elegance to dwell;
How he'd have sung of these heroic deeds,
Which we in homely phrase can only tell!
But ah! such themes for us are far too high;
To feed the flocks and keep the hamlet neat,
To spread the web beneath a show'ry sky
The line of life to us prefix'd by fate.
Lucinda.
And well, my friend, wise nature has assign'd
To us such different lots, tis very plain
Tho not the sex of men, the same in mind
We all are links of the great mystic chain.
And sure, to view with reason's mental eye,
The harvest rich, of freedom's glorious reign,
Must make our bosoms beat with rapturous joy,
Since 'tis by us it must descend to men.
But hark Aminta! now the songs begin
The ruddy Nymphs as sparkling as the sun,
In rosy chaplets deck'd responsive sing
The deeds of their beloved Washington.
Then join the dance, nor be the joy confin'd
And with the shepherds keep this holiday,
Such glorious news! Cornwallis has resign'd
The british host to our great leader's sway,
Song by the shepherdesses.
Bring now ye Muses from th'Aonian grove,
The wreath of vict'ry which the sisters wove,
Wove and laid up in Mars' most awful fane
To crown our hero, on Virginia's plain.
See from Castalia's sacred font they haste —
And now already on his brow 'tis plac'd —
The trump of fame aloud proclaims the joy —
And Washington is crown'd reechoes to the sky.
Illustrious name, thy valour now has broke
Oppression's galling chain, and took the yoke
From off thy bleeding country — set her free,
And every heart with transport beats for thee.
— For thee, Rochambeau, Gallia's vet'ran chief
Sent by fair freedom's friend to her relief.
An arch triumphal shall the muse decree,
And Heroes yet unborn shall copy thee.
Our lisping infants shall pronounce thy name
In songs our virgins shall repeat thy fame,
And taught by thee the art of war, our swains
Shall dye with british blood Columbia's plains.
Viominells heroic brothers too
Join'd in the lists of fame with Chateleau
Unfading garlands now await for you.
And all the noble youth who in your train,
In search of glory cross'd th'atlantic main.
Blest with sweet peace in sylvan shades retir'd,
Our future bards by your great deeds inspir'd,
In tuneful verse shall hand this Æra down,
And your lov'd names with grateful honours crown.
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