The fair sex felt the patriot flame
And to their country’s succor came;
And, careless of their own repose,
The part of the wise virgins chose.
The maiden bids her love, “good by,”
While the big tear drop dims her eye,
Which, yet, with haste she chides away,
Lest she some weakness might betray:
And, like the Spartan dame of yore,
When to her son the shield she bore,