To the Proprietors, &c. GENTLEMEN: The honour of becoming a father has made me desirous of ushering the following _Ode_ into the world, which is my own true, honest, and lawfully begotten birth. I, therefore know of no better method than to commit it to the care of gentlemen of your abilities and public character; for if it remains with me it must live and die in obscurity. Philadelphia, February 25th. PHILANDREIA. ON THE COMPLEAT VICTORY GAIN'D BY HIS PRUSSIAN MAJESTY OVER THE FRENCH AND IMPERIAL ARMY, THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER, 1757. A _Pindaric_ Ode. 'Tis he! 'tis he! I hear him from afar, Thundering like the God of War; To Rosbach's plains, in dread array, The god-like hero bends his way! Hark! the rattling rumbling noise of drums! He comes, he comes! See, _Prussia's_ awful king's at hand! He speaks, he speaks! attentive stand! His well known voice, the gallant warriours hear, And bend their wide-extended wings both front and rear, Which half enclose him round. Stern as the face of war, and yet serene, } With grace attractive, and majestic mein, } Was the mighty monarch seen. } With martial rage each bosom glow'd, While from his lips those moving accents flow'd-- 'My valiant troops, my dear and trusty friends, 'The hour at last is come, in which depends 'What ever is, or should to us be dear, 'Upon the sword-unsheath'd, and glitt'ring spear. 'For PROTESTANTS-_unborn_ you fight: Your cause is good, 'Which you have yet maintain'd, thro' seas of richest blood. 'And, bear me witness, that your Prince thus far, 'Hath shar'd each danger in this glorious war; 'Nor shall it e'er by envious[35] tongue be told 'Your leader shrunk from watching, hunger, cold, 'And left the burden to his vet'rans bold 'Oh! no; my faithful bands! 'With you your FRED'RICK stands, 'For _Freedom_ ready to impart 'Those crimson drops that roll around his heart'-- He spoke: And acclamations loud, Like thunder bursting from a cloud, Struck th' approaching foe with awe; And the madly-floating sound Fill'd the wide extended plains around, With the wild _Huzza_. Each warrior, big with rage, Stands panting to engage; And now the voice of furious Joy Again bursts forth into the vaulted sky; And the rude rocks rebound The warlike trumpet's solemn sound-- "Destroy! destroy! destroy!" As water roaring from a mountain's side Tears down whole rocks with its impetuous tide; And rolling through the plains with furious sweep, } Bears off the shepherd's cottage, and his sheep, } Into the surging of th' astonish'd deep; } So each band, Sword in hand,