The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

SEAT OF THE MUSES
The Shepherd's Town Poet's address to his friends:

AT THE Muses' Seat I mean to fill:
My friends, you need not doubt my skill:
My verse is full of harmony,
Though I a rogue and rascal be.

My head is turn'd with various rhymes,
With pigs and thieves my poem chimes-
With yelling dogs and puppy's clatter,
With dirt and filth, I make a platter.

All other poets I defy--
Begone, ye sneaking curs! I cry,
For you I'll conquer, or I'll die.

Old R. our country's great support,
Wants pies, and dinners smoking hot-
And gen'rous wine, old age to cherish,
From France, or Spain, or rich Madeiras.

Wants cash to fill an empty fob--
For many wants oppress poor Bob.
To Philadelphia he must go,
On friends! O neighbours! say not NO.

He'll overturn the act Assumption,
For R***** is a man of gumption.
With parties vile he'll not agree,
But still defend your liberty:
From lordly tyrants and their chains,
From creditors, and all their claims,
He'll shield your purest, last remains.

From durance vile, and sheriff's oppression,
He'll disengage you the next session;
And hateful tax, for which you toil,
And labour on your native soil--
To feed a fat, oppressive junto,
Stock-jobbers, specs, your cash goes unto.-

These harpies he'll drive far away,
With all their schemes to the south sea--
Or Milton's limbo, far in air,
With cowls and caps, a share to share.
A region deem'd the abode of fools,
Of hooded Friars, and their tools,
From which great R. dispenses rules.

When county's large, or wants dividing,
He is the man, without deriding;
Whose active soul concerts the plan,
And marks the bounds where they should stand.

With Frederick, Berkeley, in his view,
He'd rub both worlds, the old and new.
In committee there's none his equal,
As you shall plainly see in th' sequel:
Virginia's constitution boast,
Her R********d in many a toast.

Like great La Mancha's knight, he's known
In lands which he himself does own.

Dear friends I pray you yield attention,
For R****r wants no courtly pension:
The public weal is all his care--
In all your grievances to share,
To rescue you from slavery's chain.
Has oft employ'd and rack'd his brain.

When Britain's armies, cloth'd with ire,
Alow'r our country scatter'd fire:
And proudly boasted, with their thunder,
To make Americans knock under:
Spread desolation through the land,
Then R*r**g nobly took his stand:
Perch'd on a stump, at county meeting,
His friends and neighbours gently greeting?

Dear liberty was all his theme,
Your souls they caught the sacred flame;
Rous'd them to arms and din of war,
Our legions pour'd from afar,
Expell'd the tyrants from our shore,
And peace establish'd as of yore.-tm.

But county member's pay was small,
And your Supplicant lost his all.
A seat in Congress now would suit,
And bring him once more in repute.
Six dollars per day and honour too,
Suits poor old servants apropos."

Who it deserves so well as Bob?
Who hath such wisdom in their nob?
Though dogs, and thieves, and dunces grumble,
The rogues and rascals I will humble.
Who dare dispute my claim to sense!
Or say my muse wants mood or tense-
Gods! how I'll froth, and fret, and grin,"
And canine like, show all my spleen.
With large effusions I'll o'erwhelm them-
With lofty poetry I'll kill 'em-.

I'll say, ye dunces write no more,
You're run adrift I'm very sure,
And poets such, I'll match a score.