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ACT II.
SCENE I.
The environs of Boston.Enter Scotch Officers in conversation.
Captain M'Intyre.
I dinna know that I should like to marry ane o' these American ladies; they would breed savages and spoil and bluide o' the M'Intyres.
Captain M'Alpin.
I wad nae stop to marry twa or three o' them when their husbands are kill'd, as they will a' be shortly.
Captain Bunnalin.
It is a strange thing that we should come here to quell a rebellion, when we used to hae enough o' them at hame in our sin kintra.
Captain Jameson.
I dinna like a rebel; they should be a' hang'd, or put in the Talbooths.
Lieutenant Paterson.
Dinna walk sae far that way, Captain. Some o' their rifle men may take sight at ye, and shoot ye through the lug, frae the back o' ane o' these dikes. We had a gude many kill'd that way the day o' Lexinton.
Captain Pinkerton.
Dinna ye see Colonel Ryburn farther off the town than we are, and these about him? He seems to be stepping off the ground as he wad measure land for a bigging.
Colonel Ryburn.
I will hae a house here like the Duke o' Argyle's at Inverra. That nuke o' land there will make a calf pasture. When these rebels are a' han'gd, I'll settle mysel down here and send hame for a gardner, and twa or three masons. I sal hae a kuke frae France; a waiting man frae Swisserland, and a musician frae Italy.
I wad nae gi a tune o' the bag pipe for a' their orchestra. I dinna like the Italian scrapes.
Colonel.
There, will be a gude place for a park like Lord Haddington's. I shall hae it weel stock'd wi deer, and a pond in the laigh ground to keep fish in.
Captain.
Ye need na make a pond; ye hae the sea just by to gi ye fish.
Colonel.
Aye; but the sea fish are no fresh fish. The gentry in Scotland a'hae a pond.
SCENE II.
Boston.Enter Gage, Howe, and Burgoyne.
Burgoyne.
How long brave gen'rals, shall the rebel foe,
In vain arrangements, and mock siege, display,
Their haughty insolence?—Shall in this town,
So many thousands, of Britannia's troops,
With watch incessant, and with toil oppress'd,
Remain besieg'd? A vetr'an army pent,
In the inclosure, of so small a space,
By a disorder'd herd, untaught, unofficer'd.
Let not the mouth of a detracting fame,
With breath malignant, o'er the Atlantic wave,
Bear this to Europe's shores, or tell to France,
Or haughty Spain, of Lexington's retreat.
Who could have thought it, in the course of things
That British soldiers, in this latter age,
Beat back by peasants, and in flight disgrac'd,
Could tamely brook the base discomfiture;
Nor sallying out, with spirit reassum'd,
Redeem'd defeat and challenge victory?
Drive back the foe, to Alleghany hills,
In woody vallies or on mountain tops,
To mix with wolves and kindred savages.
This paradox will soon resolve itself.
Hear first, Burgoyne, the valour of these men.
Fir'd with the zeal, of fiercest liberty,
No fear of death, so terrible to all,
Can stop their rage. Grey-headed clergymen,
With holy bible, and continual prayer,
Bear up their fortitude—and talk of heav'n,
And tell them, that the soul, who dies in battle,
Shall walk, with spirits of the just. These words,
Add valour to their rage, and hurry them
Impetuous to war. Nor yet in arms
Unpractised. The day of Lexington,
A sad conviction gave our soldiery,
That these Americans, were not that herd,
And rabble rout, we represented them.
Howe.
Not strange to your maturer thought, Burgoyne,
This matter will appear. A people brave,
Who never yet, of luxury, or soft
Delights, effeminate, and false, have tasted.
But, through hate of chains, and slav'ry imagin'd,
Forsake their mountain tops, and rush to arms.
Oft have I heard their valour, published:
Their perseverance, and untameable
Fierce mind, when late they sought with us, and drove,
The French encroaching on their settlements,
Back to their frozen lakes. Or when with us
On Cape Breton, they stormed Louisburg.
With us in Canada, they took Quebec;
And at the Havannah, these New-England men,
Led on by Putman, acted gallantly.
I had a brother once, who in that war,
With fame commanded them, and when he fell,
Not unlamented; for these warriors,
So brave themselves, and sensible of merit,
Erected him a costly monument;
And much it grieves me that I draw my sword,
To chastise them. Would to Almighty God,
The task unnatural, had been assign'd,
Else where. But since by Heaven, determined,
Let's on, and wipe the day of Lexington,
Thus soil'd, quite from our soldiers memories.
This reinforcement, which with us have sail'd,
In many a transport, from Britannia's shores,
Will give new vigour to the Royal Arms,
And crush rebellion, in its infancy.
Let's on,and from this siege, calamitous,
Assert our liberty; nay rather die,
Transfix'd in battle, by their bayonets,
Than thus remain, the scoff, and ridicule
Of gibing wits, and paultry gazetteers,
On this, their madding continent, who cry,
Where is the British valour: that renown
Which spoke in thunder, to the Gallic shores?
That spirit is evaporate, that fire;
Which erst distinguish'd them, that flame;
And gen'rous energy of soul, which fill'd,
Their Henry's, Edwards, thunder-bolts of war;
Their Hampdens, Marlboroughs, & immortal Wolf
On the Abraham heights, victorious.
Britannia's genius, is unfortunate,
And flags say they, when Royal tyranny
Directs her arms. This let us then disprove,
In combat speedily, and take from them,
The wantonness of this fell pride, and boasting,
Gage.
Tho' much I dread the issue of the attempt,
So full of hazard, and advent'rous spirit;
Yet since your judgment, and high skill in arms,
From full experience, prompts,
I give my voice, and when one day hath pass'd,
In whose swift hours, may be wrought, up,
The resolution, of the soldiery,
With soothing words, and ample promises,
From the confiscate property throughout,
These rebel colonies, at length subdu'd;
Then march we forth, beat up their drowsy camp.
And with the sun, to this safe capitol,
Return, rich, with the triumphs of the war.
And be our plan, that which brave Haldiman,
E're yet recall'd, advis'd to us. Let first,
Brave Howe, and Clinton, on that western point,
Land with the transports, and mean time Burgoyne,
With the artillery, pour sharp cannonade,
Along the neck, and sweep that beachy plain,
Which lies to Roxborough, where yon western stream,
Flowing from Cambridge, mixes with the Bay.
Thus, these Americans, shall learn to dread,
The force o discipline, and skill in arms.
SCENE III.
American Camp.Militia man.
It was not the sum of the tax, but the principle that induced us to resist. The tax on tea was but an entering wedge. Grant this and all follows. It is the beginning of usurpation that must be resisted.
2nd Militia man.
The right to tax the Colonies in all cases whatsoever is the claim on the part of Great Britain.
1st Militia man.
The war is at least just, let the event be what it may.
2nd Militia man.
And I think it necessary, let the event be what it may.
1st Militia man.
Being both just and necessary, it must in the end be successful.
SCENE IV.
Enter Gardiner, with Seven Hundred Men.Gardiner.
This is the hill, brave countrymen, whose brow
We mean to fortify. A strong redoubt,
Be speedily thrown up. Let each himself,
Not underserving, of our choice approve,
For out of thousands, I have challeng'd you.
To this bold enterprize, as men of might,
And valour eminent, and such this day,
I trust, will honour you. Let each his spade,
And pick-axe, vig'rously, in this hard soil,
Where I have laid the line, exert
The orient star, bright Lucifer,
Peers on the firmament, and soon the day,
Flush'd with the golden sun, shall visit us.
Then gallant countrymen, should faithless Gage,
Pour forth his lean, and half starv'd myrmidons;
We'll make them taste our catridges, and know,
What rugged steel, our bayonets are made of;
Or if o'er charg'd, with numbers, bravely fall,
Like those three hundred at Thermopylæ,
And give our Country, credit in our deaths.
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