Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON GENERAL ROBERTSON'S PROCLAMATION, by PHILIP FRENEAU


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON GENERAL ROBERTSON'S PROCLAMATION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Old judas the traitor (nor need we much wonder)
Last Line: "huzza for the congress! -- the devil take the king."
Subject(s): American Revolution


OLD Judas the traitor (nor need we much wonder)
Falling down from the gallows, his paunch split asunder,
Affording, 'tis likely, a horrible scent
Rather worse than the sulphur of hell, where he went.

So now this brave chieftain, who long has suspended
And kept out of view, what his master intended,
Bursts out all at once, and an inside discloses,
Disgusting the tories, who stop up their noses.

The short of the matter is this, as I take it --
New York of true Britons is plainly left naked,
And their conduct amounts to an honest confession,
They cannot depend on the run-a-way Hessian.

In such a dilemma, pray what should they do?
Hearts loyal, to whom should they look but to You? --
You know pretty well how to handle the spade,
To dig their canals, and to make a parade;

The city is left to your valiant defence,
And, of course, it will be but of little expence,
Since there is an old fellow that looks somewhat sooty
Who, gratis, will help you in doing your duty --

"In doing our duty! -- 'tis duty indeed
"(Says a Tory) if this be the way that we speed;
"We never loved fighting, the matter is clear --
"If we had, I am sure, we had never come here.

"George we owned for our king, as his true loyal sons,
"But why will he force us to manage his guns? --
"Who 'list in the army or cruise on the wave,
"Let them do as they will -- 'tis their trade to be brave.

"Guns, mortars, and bullets, we easily face,
"But when they're in motion -- it alters the case;
"To skirmish with HUDDIES is all our desire --
" For though we can murder, we cannot stand fire.

"To the standards of Britain we fled for protection,
"And here we are gathered, a goodly collection;
"And most of us think it is rather too hard
"For refusing to arm, to be put under guard;

"Who knows under guard what ills we may feel! --
"It is an expression that means a great deal --
"'Mongst the rebels they fine 'em who will not turn out,
"But here we are left in a sorrowful doubt --

"These Britons were always so sharp and so snifty --
"The rebels excuse you from serving, when fifty,
"But here we are counted such wonderful men
"We are kept in the ranks, 'till we're four score and ten.

"Kicked, cuffed, and ill-treated from morning 'till night --
"We have room to conjecture, that all is not right:
"For FREEDOM, we fled from our country's defence,
"And freedom we'll get -- when death sends us hence.

"If matters go thus, it is easy to see
"That as idiots we've been, so slaves we shall be;
"And what will become of that peaceable train
"Whose tenets enjoin them from war to abstain?

"Our city commandant must be an odd shaver,
"Not a single exception to make in their favour! --
"Come, let us turn round and rebelliously sing,
"Huzza for the CONGRESS! -- the devil take the king."






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