University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Arnold
, to his Division.
Heroes, and patriots, who with me have borne,
Cold, watching, famine, and a thousand soils,
O'er dreary mountain, river, bog, and lake,
To these fam'd heights, and that besieged town,
Where your oppressors, and fierce foes are lodg'd.
Fierce foes, in hate, but not in battle fierce,
Since we have waited, and long challeng'd them,
To equal combat, and fair chance in war;
But yet they come not forth, on this wide plain,
To meet our arms, as when the warlike Gaul,
Led by Montcalm, did face the British foe;
And tho' their fortune, gave them not the day,
Contended long, and bravely fought for it.
Yes, we have waited, but they come not forth,
On equal ground, to mix in gallant play,
Of fair hostility. 'Tis then resolv'd,
In storm, brave souls, to force the city gates,
And, with firm valour, from their dens drive out,
These cut-throat homicides. Shall we brave souls,
Lie on the cold ground, thus unsheltered
From rain, deep snow, and binding ice, and storm,
With but Heaven's canopy, while they possess
Yon noble buildings; chearful residence?
On then my countrymen, and drive them out,
To us, surrendering up the ample halls,
Aspiring domes, and structures of Quebec.