The Paxtoniade - 4
And the life-mowing Sword, which was very much blooded,
Tir’d out with hard Labor, and hewing down men,
Was like to be put, in its Scabard again;
Some Lads, of whose Courage no Mortal can doubt,
Who’s Brav’ry and Valor admits not Dispute,
Having long liv’d in Paxton, and had many Swingings
From merciless, savage and barbarous Indians,
Straitway did resolve! ’fore the Land was at ease,
And all our affairs were in quiet and Peace,
To leave their houses, their wives, and Peas-porridge,
And give a remarkable proof of their Courage:
A proof, which without farther harshing or mincing,
Might be to the world most full and convincing.
Tho’ some, we confess, do most strongly suspect,
(And they’re men of good Sense and sound Intelect)
That their Revd. S-d-n set them to Work,
To promote the advantage and good of the K---------k;
Knowing wisely that if a thing’s well intended,
No matter by what evil means ’tis defended.
But as learn’d Commentators have not yet decided,
Whether K--------k OF their Valor in Council presided;
We leave it as many before us have done
And by your good leave, gentle Reader, Go on.
RESOLVING therefore as before I was saying,
Their Plan to perform without farther delaying;
In a num’rous Assembly they fix’d on and chose
Two well-gifted men, of their spiritual house;
Who, fill’d up to the Brim with internal Lights,
Might guide and direct them in dark foggy Nights;
Which Lights, for some reasons most obvious and plain,
Are apparent to none but their own Bretheren.
They chose these two men to direct in the work,
Who’d been Elders for thirty long Years of the K-----k;
