Prince William of the Brunswick race, To witness George's sad disgrace The Royal Lad came over Rebels to kill by Right Divine —
Deriv'd from that illustrious line The beggars of Hanover. So many chiefs got broken pates In vanquishing the rebel States,
So many nobles fell, That George the Third in passion cry'd, “Our royal blood must now be try'd; “‘ Tis that must break the spell:
“To you ( the fat pot-valiant Swine To Digby said ) dear friend of mine, “To you I trust my boy. “The rebel tribes shall quake with fears,
“Rebellion die when he appears; “My Tories leap with joy.” So said, so done — the boy was sent, But never reach'd the continent,
An Island held him fast — Yet there his friends danc'd rigadoons, The Hessians sung in High Dutch tunes, “Prince William's come at last.”
“Prince William comes!” — the Briton cry'd — “The glory of our empire wide “Shall now be soon restor'd — “Our monarch is in William seen,
“He is the image of our queen, “Let William be ador'd!” The Tories came with long address, With poems groan'd the Royal press,
And all in William's praise — The boy astonish'd look'd about To find their vast dominions out, Then answer'd in amaze,
“Where all your empire wide can be, “Friends, for my soul I cannot see: “‘ Tis but an empty name; “Three wasted islands and a town
“In rubbish bury'd — half burnt down, “Is all that we can claim: “I am of royal birth,‘ tis true, “But what, alas! can princes do,
“No armies to command? “Cornwallis conquer'd and distrest, “Sir Henry Clinton grown a jest, “I curse and leave the land.”
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