The Virginia Gazette

To Mr. Parks.

SIR,

I Desire you to insert the following POEM in your next GAZETTE; and if Trifles of this Nature shall be thought to contribute any Thing to the Entertainment of the Publick, or the Support and Encouragement of your Press, I shall, perhaps, from Time to Time, transmit you some other small Pieces.

I am, Sir,

Your constant Reader, and Subscriber,

MUSEPHILUS.
A TALE: Extracted from SHAKESPEAR.

When Talbot ravag'd all the Plains of France,
And e'en to Paris made his bold Advance;
Griev'd at her Country's Woes, a Patriot Dame,
Wily and beautiful, Auvergne her Name,
With courteous Speech and Message, sends a Page
To bid the foremost Hero of the Age.

"Too fierce the War for her to stir; nor can
She in the Field behold the godlike Man.
She therefore humbly begs him to accept,
Within her Castle-Walls, a homely Treat:
That there She might with Safety feast her Sight;
And boast, that She had seen the glorious Knight.

The Hero comes, obedient to her Call,
And waits below within the Castle-Hall.
The Dame descends; and with a scornful Air,
Does thus her treach'rous Purposes declare:

"Is this great Talbot! this the mighty He,
"Whom England boasts, France fears, and I have long'd to see
He differs not from Common Men: Slaves, seize
"This boasted Author of our Miseries.
He parts not hence, before a Ransom paid,
And France from English Tyranny is freed.

Mistake not, Madam, says the Chief, you see
Only a Part, a little Part of me.

"This here is only warlike Talbot's Head,
"That orders and disposes all:" Thus said,
He winds his Horn, and strait rush'd in an Host
Of armed Men. "See, Madam, England's Boast;
"See Talbot whole; these partly cause your Woe;
These are my Hands and Arms that strike the Blow.

Surpriz'd, the Dame confess'd, that she had seen
A wondrous Knight, the Prodigy of Men;
But now the sated Sense abhors the Sight
Which erst it view'd with Wonder and Delight
The Hero bow'd, and with a Smile retir'd;
And left this Truth, to future Times admir'd:
Without his Troops, e'en Marlborough's self was Man
With them, the Hero glitt'ring o'er the Plain.