m 



HARMLESS VENOM. 1 89 



ington sat with the curtains drawn, commun- 

 ing with his own thoughts, and wishing from 

 his inmost soul that the bitter cup might 

 have passed from the unfortunate victim. 

 And yet it was a woman, who only lacked the 

 claws and the fangs of a tigress, who assailed 

 him thus : 



" Oh, Washington ! I thought thee great and good, 

 Nor knew thy Nero thirst of guiltless blood ! 

 Severe to use the power that Fortune gave, 

 Thou cool determined murderer of the brave I 

 Lost to each fairer virtue that inspires 

 The genuine fervor of the patriot fires ! 

 And you, the base abettors of the doom 

 That sunk his blooming honors in the tomb, 

 The opprobrious tomb your hardened hearts decreed, 

 "While all he asked was as the brave to bleed 1 

 Nor other boon the glorious youth implored 

 Save the cold mercy of the warrior sword ! 

 O dark and pitiless ! Your impious hate 

 O'erwhelmed the hero in the ruffian's fate I 

 Stopt with the felon cord the rosy breath. 

 And venomed with disgrace the darts of death ! 

 Remorseless Washington ! the day shall come 

 Of deep repentance for this barbarous doom ! 

 When injured Andre's memory shall inspire 

 A kmdling army with resistless fire. 

 Each falchion sharpens that the Britons wield, 

 And lead their fiercest lion to the field ! 

 Then, when each hope of thine shall set in night, 

 When dubious dread and unavailing flight 



