(Published soon after the surrender of Cornwallis.)
Cornwallisled a country dance,The like was never seen, sir,Much retrograde and much advance,And all with General Greene, sir.They rambled up and rambled down,Joined hands, then off they run, sir,Our General Greene to Charlestown,The earl to Wilmington, sir.Greene in the South then danced a set,And got a mighty name, sir,Cornwallis jigged with young Fayette,But suffered in his fame, sir.Then down he figured to the shore,Most like a lordly dancer,And on his courtly honor sworeHe would no more advance, sir.Quoth he, my guards are weary grownWith footing country dances,They never at St. James's shone,At capers, kicks or prances.Though men so gallant ne'er were seen,While sauntering on parade, sir,Or wriggling o'er the park's smooth green,Or at a masquerade, sir.Yet are red heels and long-laced skirts,For stumps and briars meet, sir?Or stand they chance with hunting-shirts,Or hardy veteran feet, sir?Now housed in York, he challenged all,At minuet or all 'amande,And lessons for a courtly ballHis guards by day and night conned.This challenge known, full soon there came,A set who had the bon ton,De Grasse and Rochambeau, whose fameFut brillant pour un long tems.And Washington, Columbia's son,Whom easy nature taught, sir,That grace which can't by pains be won,Or Plutus's gold be bought, sir.Now hand in hand they circle roundThis ever-dancing peer, sir;Their gentle movements soon confoundThe earl as they draw near, sir.His music soon forgets to play—His feet can move no more,[1]sir,And all his bands now curse the dayThey jiggèd to our shore, sir.Now Tories all, what can ye say?Come—is not this a griper,That while your hopes are danced away,'Tis you must pay the piper?
Cornwallisled a country dance,The like was never seen, sir,Much retrograde and much advance,And all with General Greene, sir.
They rambled up and rambled down,Joined hands, then off they run, sir,Our General Greene to Charlestown,The earl to Wilmington, sir.
Greene in the South then danced a set,And got a mighty name, sir,Cornwallis jigged with young Fayette,But suffered in his fame, sir.
Then down he figured to the shore,Most like a lordly dancer,And on his courtly honor sworeHe would no more advance, sir.
Quoth he, my guards are weary grownWith footing country dances,They never at St. James's shone,At capers, kicks or prances.
Though men so gallant ne'er were seen,While sauntering on parade, sir,Or wriggling o'er the park's smooth green,Or at a masquerade, sir.
Yet are red heels and long-laced skirts,For stumps and briars meet, sir?Or stand they chance with hunting-shirts,Or hardy veteran feet, sir?
Now housed in York, he challenged all,At minuet or all 'amande,And lessons for a courtly ballHis guards by day and night conned.
This challenge known, full soon there came,A set who had the bon ton,De Grasse and Rochambeau, whose fameFut brillant pour un long tems.
And Washington, Columbia's son,Whom easy nature taught, sir,That grace which can't by pains be won,Or Plutus's gold be bought, sir.
Now hand in hand they circle roundThis ever-dancing peer, sir;Their gentle movements soon confoundThe earl as they draw near, sir.
His music soon forgets to play—His feet can move no more,[1]sir,And all his bands now curse the dayThey jiggèd to our shore, sir.
Now Tories all, what can ye say?Come—is not this a griper,That while your hopes are danced away,'Tis you must pay the piper?
1781.
[1]In all the versions of this poem examined by the editor this line reads "His feet can no more move, sir"; but the reading is so clearly wrong that it seems proper to amend it so that the obviously intended rhyme between "more, sir" and "shore, sir" shall appear. There is the greater justification for the taking of this liberty of correction because the poem originally appeared in carelessly edited contemporary prints.—Editor.
[1]In all the versions of this poem examined by the editor this line reads "His feet can no more move, sir"; but the reading is so clearly wrong that it seems proper to amend it so that the obviously intended rhyme between "more, sir" and "shore, sir" shall appear. There is the greater justification for the taking of this liberty of correction because the poem originally appeared in carelessly edited contemporary prints.—Editor.