_Amb._ Be it so. But let us leave the great event to fate, Who soon or late will bring to light its purpose; Our duty to our country must be done, And in so doing we its freedom hasten. But, friends, why stay we here? By yonder stars That still revolving point toward the pole, I find it must be midnight. _Vin._ I do expect a score of peasants here, A set of hardy, bold, and faithful fellows, Whom I can trust in all emergencies. In different parties I shall these despatch Toward the hostile lines, for I suspect That intercourse too often doth subsist Between our disaffected and the foe. _Amb._ And are these peasants armed? _Vin._ Armed with a musquet and a bayonet; A true and desperate soldier wants no more. _As._ And thirty cartridges to every man, With three days' victuals in their knapsacks stored. _Amb._ It is enough. I hope they will not tarry. SCENE III.--_A number of armed peasants in an outhouse._ _1st P._ Do you know what we are sent for, brother Harry? _2nd P._ To go on some secret expedition, I suppose. _1st P._ And which way shall we bend, think ye? _2nd P._ God bless you. Why do you ask such a question? It is not for us to know where we are going. We shall know bye and bye, I warrant you, after we have marched two or three score of miles. _1st P._ And where are our officers? _2nd P._ They are in the adjoining house. They will be with us presently. _3rd P._ And how shall we pass the time till they come? _2nd P._ O, merrily enough. We can dance and sing. _1st P._ Harry, you can sing. Give us a song. _2nd P._ [_Sings_ Ours not to sleep in shady bowers,[38] When frosts are chilling all the plain, And nights are cold and long the hours To check the ardor of the swain, Who parting from his cheerful fire All comforts doth forego, And here and there And everywhere Pursues the prowling foe. _2nd P._ How like you that? _3rd P._ O, very well. I love to hear anything that touches upon the hardships of a soldier's life. _4th P._ Give us the rest; give us the rest. I love that song, Harry. _2nd P._ But we must sleep in frost and snows, No season shuts up our campaign; Hard as the oaks, we dare oppose The autumn's or the winter's reign. Alike to us the winds that blow In summer's season gay, Or those that rave On Hudson's wave And drift his ice away. For Liberty, celestial maid, With joy all hardships we endure. In her blest smiles we are repaid, In her protection are secure. Then rise superior to the foe, Ye freeborn souls of fire; Respect these arms, 'Tis freedom warms, To noble deeds aspire.