PARODY

Americans! behold the fruits,

The end of all your vain pursuits,

Whole years in blood and warfare spent

To save this injur'd continent.—

How must it mortify your pride

To take once more the British side;

How will your eyes contain their tears

When all the sad effect appears!

This Treaty in one page confines

The sad result of base designs;

The wretched purchase here behold

Of traitors — who their country sold.

Here, in their proper shape and mien

Fraud, perjury, and guilt are seen.

And few, a chosen few, must know

The Mysteries that lurk below.

Go home, ye merchants, poor and lean,

And kiss the — hand — of Britain's queen.

I see you of your cargoes stript

Your vessels stolen, your seamen whipt,

I see them from their decks compell'd

To wander o'er the wat'ry field;—

In British ships, by force detain'd

I see the gallant sailor band

Engage the power that lent us aid

When Britain here her entry made —

I see them mix'd with George's sons,

I see them torn by gallic guns,

Disfigur'd, in the ocean cast

To find a resting place at last.

Philosophy! thou friend of man,

Teach me these strange events to scan;

Aid me to learn the secret cause

That alien seems from Nature's laws,

Why on this stage of human things

Man bows his neck to tyrant kings?

Say did the God, when life he gave,

Design his Image for a slave?—

Necessity, the tyrant's law,

All human race doth this way draw,

All prompted by the same desire

The vigorous youth, and aged sire —

Observe, the coward and the bold

Agree to have their freedom sold;

Physician, lawyer, and divine

All make oblation at this shrine.

Yet from this dismal state of things

In time a new creation springs;

From vile materials, fresh, shall rise

And fill the earth, and air, and skies;

In various forms appear again,

Popes, Presidents, and gentlemen:

So Jove pronounc'd among the Gods,

Olympus trembling as he nods!