Six thousand heroes disembark—
Each left at night his floating ark
And Washington was made their mark.
That few would fight them—few or none—
Was by their leaders clearly shown—
And "down," they said, "with Madison!"
How close they crept along the shore!
As closely as if Rodgers saw her—
A frigate to a seventy-four.
A veteran host, by veterans led,
With Ross and Cockburn at their head—
They came—they saw—they burnt—and fled.
But not unpunish'd they retired;
They something paid, for all they fired,
In soldiers kill'd, and chiefs expired.
Five hundred veterans bit the dust,
Who came, inflamed with lucre's lust—
And so they waste—and so they must.
They left our congress naked walls—
Farewell to towers and capitols!
To lofty roofs and splendid halls!
To courtly domes and glittering things,
To folly, that too near us clings,
To courtiers who—tis well—had wings.
Farewell to all but glorious war,
Which yet shall guard Potomac's shore,
And honor lost, and fame restore.
To conquer armies in the field
Was, once, the surest method held
To make a hostile country yield.