"Now while I am busy in taking apart "This globe that is formed with such exquisite art, "Go, Hermes, to Libra, (you're one of her gallants) "And ask, in my name, for the loan of her balance." Away posted Hermes, as swift as the gales, And as swiftly returned with the ponderous scales, And hung them aloft to a beam in the air, So equally poised, they had turned with a hair. Now Jove to Columbia his shoulders applied, But aiming to lift her, his strength she defied-- Then, turning about to their godships, he says-- "A body so vast is not easy to raise; "But if you assist me, I still have a notion "Our forces, united, can put her in motion, "And swing her aloft, (though alone I might fail) "And place her, in spite of her bulk, in our scale; "If six years together the Congress have strove, "And more than divided the empire with Jove; "With a Jove like myself, who am nine times as great, "You can join, like their soldiers, to heave up this weight." So to it they went, with handspikes and levers, And upward she sprung, with her mountains and rivers! Rocks, cities, and islands, deep waters and shallows, Ships, armies, and forests, high heads and fine fellows: "Stick to it!" cries Jove, "now heave one and all! "At least we are lifting 'one-eighth of the ball!' "If backward she tumbles--then trouble begins, "And then have a care, my dear boys, of your shins!" When gods are determined what project can fail? So they gave a hard shove, and she mounted the scale; Suspended aloft, Jove viewed her with awe-- And the gods,[C] for their pay, had a hearty--huzza! [C] American soldiers.--_Freneau's note._ But Neptune bawled out--"Why Jove you're a noddy, "Is Britain sufficient to poise that vast body? "'Tis nonsense such castles to build in the air-- "As well might an oyster with Britain compare." "Away to your waters, you blustering bully," Said Jove, "or I'll make you repent of your folly, "Is Jupiter, Sir, to be tutored by you?-- "Get out of my sight, for I know what to do!" Then searching about with his fingers for Britain, Thought he, "this same island I cannot well hit on; "The devil take him who first called her the Great: "If she was--she is vastly diminished of late!" Like a man that is searching his thigh for a flea. He peeped and he fumbled, but nothing could see; At last he exclaimed--"I am surely upon it-- "I think I have hold of a Highlander's bonnet." But finding his error, he said with a sigh, "This bonnet is only the island of Skie!"[D] So away to his namesake the planet he goes, And borrowed two moons to hang on his nose. [D] An Island on the north-west of Scotland.--_Freneau's note._ Through these, as through glasses, he saw her quite clear, And in raptures cried out--"I have found her--she's here! "If this be not Britain, then call me an ass-- "She looks like a gem in an ocean of glass.