Thus in the east—once Asia's queen—
Palmyra's tottering towers are seen;
While through her streets the serpent feeds,
Thus she puts on her mourning weeds!
Lo! Skinner there for Scotia hails
The sweepings of Cesarean jails:[245]
While, to receive the odious[246] freight,
A thousand sable transports wait.
Had he been born in days of old
When men with gods their 'squires[247] enrolled,
Hermes had claimed his aid above,
Arch-quibbler in the courts of Jove.[248]
O chief, that wrangled at the bar—
Grown old in less successful war;
What crowds of miscreants round you stand,
What vagrants bow to your command!
[241] In the edition of 1786 entitled "New-York, September, 1783."
[242] "A motley crew."—Ed. 1786.
[243] "Through thy streets."—Ib.
[244] "I stood."—Ed. 1786.
"Lo! Skinner there collects a crew,
(Their temples brushed with Stygian dew)"—Ib.