She talked of the parson, and spoke of the 'squire, She talked of her child that was singed in the fire-- The Tories, poor beings, were wishing to kiss her--oh-- If they had--all the stars would have fought against--Cicero.[F] She talked, and she talked--now angry, now civil, 'Till the Tories themselves wished her gone to the devil. How I tremble to think of her tongue and her stick,-- Tryphena, Tryphena! I've played the odd trick! Now the soldier re-entered--the ladies were struck: And "she that can win him will have the best luck!" "La! father (said Kitty) observe the bold man! I will peep at his phyz from behind my new fan! What a lace on his beaver!--his buttons all shine! In the cock of a hat there is something divine! Since the days of Goliah, I'll venture to lay There never was one that could stand in his way: What a nose!--what an eye!--what a gallant address! If he's not a hero, then call me Black Bess! What a gaite--what a strut--how noble and free! I'm ravished!--I'm ruined!---good father!--good me!" "Dear Kitty, (he answered) regard not his lace, The devil I see in the mould of his face: Cockades have been famous for crazing your sex Since Helen played truant, and left the poor Greeks; And while her good husband was sleeping, and snored, Eloped with Sir Knight from his bed, and his board.-- Three things are above me, yea, four, I maintain, Have puzzled the cunningest heads to explain! The way of a snake on a rock--very sly-- The way of an eagle, that travels the sky, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a soldier--with maidens like thee." At length, a dark fortnight of weather came on, And most of us thought it high time to be gone.-- The moon was eclipsed, and she looked like a fright; Indeed--and it was a disconsolate night! Our purses were empty--the landlord looked sour, I gave them leg-bail in a terrible shower:-- Scalpella!--her face was as black as the moon, Her voice, was the screech of a harpy, or loon,-- I quitted Passaick--that elegant place, While a hurricane hindered them giving me chace. [A] An English divine of considerable note, who died about a century ago.--_Freneau's note._ [B] William Smyth, Esq. Before the Revolution a celebrated lawyer in New York, author of the History of New Jersey, and other works. Afterwards, taking part with the British, he was made Chief Justice of Lower Canada--He is since dead.--_Freneau's note._ [C] Passaick Village is at present called Patterson, noted for its unfortunate manufacturing establishments.--_Freneau's note._ [D] William Franklin, Esq., then Governor of New Jersey.--_Freneau's note._ [E] These two lines were inserted since the first publication of this Poem in Sept., 1775.--_Freneau's note._