Mercy Otis Warren

“ As all our hope depends on brutal force on quick destruction, misery and death; soon may we see dark ruin stalk around, with murder, rapine, and inflicted pains, estates confiscate, slav'ry and despair, wrecks, halters, axes, gibbeting and chains, all the dread ills that wait on civil war;---how I could glut my vengeful eyes to see the weeping maid thrown helpless on the world. Her sire cut off.---Her orphan brothers stand while the big tear rools down the manly cheek. ”

“ As Sylla pass'd I mark'd his anxious brow; I fear his soul is with compassion mov'd for suff'ring virtue, wounded and betray'd; for freedom hunted down in this fair field, the only soil, in these degenerate days, in which the heavenly goddess can exist. Secretary
Humanity recoils---his heart reluctant to execute the black, the accurst design. ”

“ Though my paternal Acres are eat up, my patrimony spent, I've yet an house my lenient creditors let me improve, send up the Troops, 'twill serve them well for Barracks. I some how think 'twould bear a noble sound, to have my mansion guarded by the King. Sylla
Hast thou no sons or blooming daughters there, to call up all the feelings of a Father, least their young minds contaminate by vice, caught from such inmates, dangerous and vile, devoid of virtue, rectitude, or honour save what accords with military fame? Hast thou no wife who asks thy tender care, to guard her from Belona's hardy sons? ”

“ To quench the gen'rous spark, the innate love of glorious freedom, planted in the breast of ev'ry man who boasts a Briton's name, until some base born lust of foreign growth contaminate his soul, till false ambition, or the sordid hope of swelling coffers, poison the mind, and brutalize the man. ”

“ What! arm'd for virtue, and not point the pen, Brand the bold front of shameless guilty men, Dash the proud Gamester from his gilded car. Bare the mean heart which lurks beneath a star, [.....] [.....] Shall I not strip the gilding off a knave, Unplac'd, unpension'd, no man's heir or slave? I will or perish in the gen'rous cause; Hear this and tremble, ye who 'scape the laws; Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave, Shall walk the world in credit to his grave; To virtue only, and her friends, a friend, The world beside may murmur, or commend. ”

“ No all is o'er unless the sword decides, which cuts down Kings, and kingdoms oft divides. By that appeal I think we can't prevail, their valour's great, and justice holds the scale. They fight for freedom, while we stab the breast of every man, who is her friend profest. ”

“ Their discipline is equal to our own, their valour has been try'd,---and in a field they're not less brave than are a Fred'ricks troops, those members formidable pour along, while virtue's banners shroud each warrior's head stern Justice binds the helmet on his brow, and liberty sits perch'd on ev'ry shield. ”

“ They fight in virtue's ever sacred cause, while we tread on divine and human laws. Glory and victory, and lasting fame, will crown their arms and bless each Hero's name! Meagre
Away with all thy foolish, trifling cares; and to the winds give all thy empty fears; let us repair and urge brave Sylla on, I long to see the sweet revenge begun. As fortune is a fickle, sportive dame, she may for us the victory proclaim, and with success our busy ploddings crown, though injured justice stern and solemn frown. Then they shall smart for ev'ry bold offence, estates confiscated will pay th' expence ”

“ Could we erase these notions from their minds, then (paramount to these ideal whims, Utopian dreams, of patriotic virtue, which long has danc'd in their distemper'd brains) we'd smoothly glide on midst a race of slaves, nor heave one sigh tho' all the human race were plung'd in darkness, slavery and vice. If we could keep our foot-hold in the stirrup, and, like the noble Claudia of old, ride o'er the people, if they don't give way ”

“ What shifts, evasions, what delusive tales, what poor prevarication for rash oaths, what nightly watchings, and what daily cares to dress up falsehood in some fair disguise, or wrap the bantling of their midnight dreams in the soft vest of friendship, to betray, then send it forth in every fairy form, to stalk at noon tide, giddy with fond hope that some new gambols might deceive again men broad awake, who see through all the cheat. ”

“ I fear the brave, the injur'd multitude, repeated wrongs, arouse them to resent, and every patriot like old Brutus stands, the shining steal half drawn---its glitt'ring point scarce hid beneath the scabbard's friendly cell resolv'd to die, or see their country free. ”

“ Now let her sink---and all the dire alarms of war, confusion, pestilence and blood, and tenfold mis'ry be her future doom---let civil discord lift her sword on high, nay sheathe its hilt e'en in my brother's blood; it ne'er shall move the purpose of my soul; tho' once I trembled at a thought so bold; by Philalethes's arguments, convinc'd we may live Demons, as we die like brutes, I give my tears, and conscience to the winds. ”

“ No---tho' proud Britain wafts her wooden walls o're the broad waves---and plants them round these Coasts, shuts up their Ports, and robs them of their bread, they're not dismay'd---nor servilely comply to pay the hunters of the Nabob shores their high demand for India's pois'nous weed, long since a sacrifice to Thetis made, a rich regale---Now all the wat'ry dames may snuff Souchong, and sip in flowing bowls, the higher flavour'd choice Hysonian stream, and leave their Nectar to old Homer's Gods. ”

“ How various are the arts already try'd, what pains unwearied to write men to sleep, or rock them in the cradle of despair, to doze supinely, 'till they should believe they'd neither eyes, nor tongues, or strength to move but at the nod of some despotic lord! ”

“ Amidst the many scriblers of the age, can none be found to set their schemes afloat, to sow dissention---and distrust abroad, sap that cement that bears down all before it, and makes America a match for all the hostile powers that proud Europa boasts? ”

“ They're firm, united, bold, undaunted, brave, and every villa boasts their marshall'd ranks, the warlike Clarion sounds through ev'ry street; both vig'rous youth, and the grey headed sire bear the Fusee, in regimental garbs, repairing to defend invaded right, and if push'd hard, by manly force repel; and tho' Britannia sends her legions o er, to plant her daggers in her children's breast, it will rebound---New whetted, the keen point, will find a sheath in ev'ry tyrant's heart. ”

“ Not all the swarms of prostituted pens, nor hireling smatterers scribbling for gain, from the first pension'd on the nothern list to bigot Priests---who write from southern shores, with all their phantoms, bugbears, threats or smiles, will e'er persuade them to renounce their claim to freedom, purchas'd with their fathers blood. ”

“ Fond as I am of greatness and her charms elate with prospects of my rising name, push'd into place,---a place I ne'er expected, my bounding heart leapt in my feeble breast and extasies entranc'd my slender brain.---But yet, e're this I hop'd more solid gains, as my low purse demands a quick supply.---Poor Sylvia weeps,---and urges my return to rural peace and humble happiness, as my ambition beggars all her babes. ”

“ In spite of all the truths New England tells, and his cool reas'ning argumentive stile, or master strokes of his unrival'd pen, they will divide, and wav'ring will submit and take the word of Massachusettensis that men were born all ready bitted, curb'd, and on their backs the saddles prominent, for every upstart sycophant to mount. ”

“ Then let us haste, 'tis novel to be call'd, by Sylla's order, summon'd to attend, so close he keeps his counsels in his breast, nor trusts us with the manoeuvers of state, I fear he half despises us himself. And if he does, we cannot wonder much, we're made the jest of ev'ry idle boy: Most of us hunted from our rural seats, drove from our homes, a prey to guilty fears when---When dare we return! ”

“ But yet unless some speedy method's found to break the union, and dissolve the bonds that bind this mighty continent so firm, their Congresses, their Covenants, and leagues, with their Committees, working in each town with unremitting vigilance and care, to baffle ev'ry evil machination of all state rooks, who peck about the land, if not broke up, will ruin all at last. ”

“ Send out a few---and if they are cut off, what are a thousand souls, sent swiftly down to Pluto's gloomy shades,---to tell in anguish half their compeers shall sit pandimonic, e're we will suffer Liberty to reign, or see her sons triumphant win the day. ”

“ But who's apply'd, and ask'd the General's aid, or wish'd his peaceful Villa such a curse, as posting Troops beside the peasant's cot? Judge Meagre
None but the very dregs of all mankind. The Stains of nature,---The blots of human race, yet that's no matter, still they are our friends, 'twill help our projects if we give them aid. ”

“ I see some mighty victim must appease an injured nation, tott'ring on the verge of wide destruction, made the wanton sport of hungry Harpies, gaping for their prey; which if by misadventures they should miss, the disappointed vultures angry Fang, will siez the lesser gudgeons of the state, and sacrifice to mad Alecto's rage ”