In vain the Atlantic roar'd between;
And hosts of savages opposed;
They rush'd undaunted, Heaven decreed
Their sons should vindicate the deed.
'Twas Freedom led the veterans forth,
And manly fortitude to bear;
They toil'd, they vanquish'd! such high worth
Is always Heaven's peculiar care.
Their great example still inspires,
Nor dare we act beneath our sires.
"Tis ours undaunted to defend
The dear-bought, rich inheritance;
And spite of each invading hand,
We'll fight, bleed, die, in its defence!
Pursue our fathers' paths of fame,
And emulate their glorious flame.
As the proud oak inglorious stands,
Till storms and thunder root it fast,
So stood our new, unpractised bands,
Till Britain roar'd her stormy blast;
Then, see, they vanquish'd! fierce led on
By Freedom and great Washington.
BATTLE OF THE KEGS.
BY FRANCIS HOPKINSON, ESQ.
GALLANTS, attend, and hear a friend
Trill forth harmonious ditty:
Strange things I'll tell, which late befell
In Philadelphia city.
'Twas early day, as poets say,
Just when the sun was rising,
A soldier stood on log of wood,
And saw a sight surprising.
As, in amaze, he stood to gaze,
The truth can't be denied, sirs;
He spied a score of kegs, or more,
Come floating down the tide, sirs.
A sailor, too, in jerkin blue,
The strange appearance viewing,
First damn'd his eyes, in great surprise,
Then said, "Some mischief's brewing.
"These kegs now hold the rebels bold,
Pack'd up like pickled herring:
And they're come down to attack the town,
In this new way of ferrying.
The soldier flew, the sailor, too,
And scared almost to death, sirs; Wore out their shoes to spread the news, And ran till out of breath, sirs.
Now up and down, throughout the town,
Most frantic scenes were acted;
And some ran here, and some ran there,
Like men almost distracted.
Some fire cried, which some denied,
But said the earth had quaked;
And girls and boys, with hideous noise,
Ran through the town half-naked.
Sir William* he, snug as a flea,
Lay all this time a snoring,
Nor dream'd of harm, as he lay warm,
In bed with Mrs. Loring.
Now, in a fright, he starts upright,
Awaked by such a clatter:
He rubs both eyes, and boldly cries,
"For God's sake, what's the matter?"
At his bedside he then espied
Sir Erskinet at command, sirs,
Upon one foot he had one boot,
And t'other in his hand, sirs.
"Arise! arise!" Sir Erskine cries:
"The rebels-more's the pity-
Without a boat, are all on float,
And ranged before the city.
"The motley crew, in vessels new,
With Satan for their guide, sir;
Pack'd up in bags, or wooden kegs,
Come driving down the tide, sir.
"Therefore prepare for bloody war!
These kegs must all be routed;
Or surely we despised shall be,
And British courage doubted."
The royal band now ready stand,
All ranged in dread array, sirs;
With stomach stout to see it out,
And make a bloody day, sirs.
The cannons roar from shore to shore,
The small arms make a rattle;
Since wars began, I'm sure no man
E'er saw so strange a battle.
The rebel* vales, the rebel dales,
With rebel trees surrounded,
The distant woods, the hills and floods,
With rebel echoes sounded.
The fish below swam to and fro,
Attack'd from every quarter:
Why, sure, thought they, the devil's to pay
'Mongst folks above the water.
The kegs, 'tis said, though strongly made,
Of rebel staves and hoops, sirs,
Could not oppose their powerful foes,
The conquering British troops, sirs.
From morn to night these men of might
Display'd amazing courage;
And when the sun was fairly down,
Retired to sup their porridge.
A hundred men, with each a pen,
Or more upon my word, sirs,
It is most true-would be too few
Their valour to record, sirs.
Such feats did they perform that day
Upon these wicked kegs, sirs,
That years to come, if they get home,
They'll make their boasts and brags, sirs.
* The British officers were so fond of the word rebel, that they often applied it most absurdly.
Prepared for the Republican Festival, at the celebration of American Independence, at Boston, July 4th, 1803.
Tune-"He comes! he comes !"
BEHOLD! behold! with generous hand,
Luxuriant Plenty strews the land;
The laurel with the olive bends,
And Freedom's heavenly beam descends.
Freedom, ray divine!
Still unclouded shine,
Still, with power divine,
Bless Columbia's shore!
Firmly we proclaim,
We'll guard the sacred flame,
Safe from each insidious aim,
No despot here, with blasting power,
Tears from sweet Hope the budding flower;
Enrich'd by Commerce roll our tides,
And Wisdom's star our pilot guides.
Freedom, ray divine, &c.
While thus with pride our bosoms glow,
Remember whence the raptures flow:
"Twas Jefferson the charter framed,
Which man's and Nature's rights proclaim'd.
Freedom, ray divine, &c.
As round sweet Hybla's favour'd head,
Each charm, delighted, Nature spread,
So shall the richest wreath of Fame
Adorn this daring statesman's name.
Freedom, ray divine, &c.
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