| Citation |
IL.781.084
31 Dec 1781:41 (4/189)
THE DANCE.
A ballad to the tune of "Yankey Doodle."
1.
Cornwallis led a country dance,
The like was never seen, sir,
Much retrograde, and much advance,
And all with General Greene, sir.
2.
They rambled up, and rambled down,
Join'd hands, then off they run, sir,
Our General Greene to Charlestown,
The earl to Wilmington, sir.
3.
Greene, in the South, then danc'd a set,
And got a mighty name, sir,
Cornwallis jigg'd with young Fayette,
But suffered in his fame, sir.
4.
Then down he figur'd to the shore,
Most like a lordly dancer,
And on his courtly honor swore
He would no more advance, sir.
5.
Quoth he--my guards are weary grown,
With footing country dances,
They never at St. James's shone,
At capers, kicks, or prances.
6.
Though men so gallant ne'er were seen,
While saunt'ring on parade, sir,
Or wriggling o'er the park's smooth green,
Or at a masquerade, sir.
7.
Yet are red heels and long lac'd skirts,
For stumps and briars meet, sir?
Or stand they chance with hunting shirts,
Or hardy veteran feet, sir?
8.
Now hous'd in York, he challeng'd all,
At minuet or all'mande,
And lessons for a courtly ball
His guards by day and night conn'd.
9.
This challenge known, full soon there came,
A set who had the bon ton,
De Grasse and Rochambeau, whose fame
Fut brilliant pour un long tems.
10.
And Washington, Columbia's son,
Whom easy nature taught, sir,
That grace which can't by pains be won,
Or Plutus' gold be bought, sir.
11.
Now hand in hand they circle round
This ever dancing peer, sir,
Their gentle movements soon confound
The earl as they draw near, sir.
12.
His music soon forgets to play--
His feet can move no more, sir,
And all his bands now curse the day,
They jigg'd it to our shore, sir.
13.
Now tories all, what can you say?
Come--Is not this a griper?
That while your hopes are danc'd away,
'Tis you must pay the piper.
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