The Fall of British Tyranny; Or, American Liberty TriumphantLeacock, John
History
The Fall of British Tyranny; Or, American Liberty Triumphant
Leacock, John
American drama; Tragicomedy; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Drama
LORD WISDOM. Much to be wished for; but alas! I fear it's now too late;
I foresee the tendency and consequence of those diabolical measures that
have been pursued with unrelenting fury. Britain will ruin her trade,
waste her wealth, her strength, her credit and her importance in the
scale of Europe. When a British king proves ungrateful and haughty, and
strives to be independent of his people (who are his sole support), the
people will in their turn likewise strive to be independent of him and
his myrmidons, and will be free; they will erect the anfractuous
standard of independency, and thousands and tens of thousands will flock
to it, and solace themselves under its shade.--They has often been told
of this, but affected to despise it; they know not America's strength,
they are ignorant of it; fed by the flatt'ry of every sycophant tale,
imagine themselves almighty, and able to subdue the whole world. America
will be lost to Britain forever, and will prove her downfall. America is
wise, and will shake off the galling yoke before it be rivetted on them;
they will be drove to it, and who can blame them? Who can blame a
galley-slave for making his escape?--Britain will miscarry in her vile
projects, her knight errant, her Don Quixote schemes in America: America
will resist; they are not easily to be subdued (nay, 'tis impossible);
Britain will find it a harder task than to conquer France and Spain
united, and will cost 'em more blood and treasure than a twice Seven
Years' War with those European powers; they will stand out till Britons
are tired. Britain will invite her with kind promises and open arms;
America will reject them; America will triumph, rejoice and flourish,
and become the glory of the earth; Britain will languidly hold down her
head, and become first a prey to a vile Pretender, and then be subject
to the ravagers of Europe. I love the Americans, because they love
liberty. Liberty flourishes in the wilds of America. I honour the plant,
I revere the tree, and would cherish its branches. Let us, my friends,
join hands with them, follow their example, and endeavour to support
expiring liberty in Britain; whilst I have a tongue to speak, I will
support her wherever found; while I have crutches to crawl with, I will
try to find her out, and with the voice of an archangel will demand for
a sacrifice to the nation those miscreants who have wickedly and
wantonly been the ruin of their country. O Liberty! O my Country!
LORD RELIGION. O Religion! O Virtue! whither art thou fleeing? O thou
Defender of the Faith? O ye mighty Lords and Commons! O ye deluded
Bishops, ye learned props of our unerring church, who preach up
vengeance, force and fire, instead of peace! be wise in time, lest the
Americans be driven to work out their own salvation without fear or
trembling.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE II.
LORD PATRIOT, BOLD IRISHMAN, COLONEL.
BOLD IRISHMAN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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