THE ROYAL ADVENTURER

Prince William of the Brunswick race,

To witness George's sad disgrace

The Royal Lad came over

Rebels to kill by Right Divine —

Deriv'd from that illustrious line

The beggars of Hanover.

So many chiefs got broken pates

In vanquishing the rebel States,

So many nobles fell,

That George the Third in passion cry'd,

“Our royal blood must now be try'd;

“‘ Tis that must break the spell:

“To you ( the fat pot-valiant Swine

To Digby said ) dear friend of mine,

“To you I trust my boy.

“The rebel tribes shall quake with fears,

“Rebellion die when he appears;

“My Tories leap with joy.”

So said, so done — the boy was sent,

But never reach'd the continent,

An Island held him fast —

Yet there his friends danc'd rigadoons,

The Hessians sung in High Dutch tunes,

“Prince William's come at last.”

“Prince William comes!” — the Briton cry'd —

“The glory of our empire wide

“Shall now be soon restor'd —

“Our monarch is in William seen,

“He is the image of our queen,

“Let William be ador'd!”

The Tories came with long address,

With poems groan'd the Royal press,

And all in William's praise —

The boy astonish'd look'd about

To find their vast dominions out,

Then answer'd in amaze,

“Where all your empire wide can be,

“Friends, for my soul I cannot see:

“‘ Tis but an empty name;

“Three wasted islands and a town

“In rubbish bury'd — half burnt down,

“Is all that we can claim:

“I am of royal birth,‘ tis true,

“But what, alas! can princes do,

“No armies to command?

“Cornwallis conquer'd and distrest,

“Sir Henry Clinton grown a jest,

“I curse and leave the land.”