For now a prey to female charms,
His soul took more delight in
A lovely hamadryad's arms,
Than cow-driving or fighting.
A nymph the refugees had drove
Far from her native tree,
Just happen'd to be on the move,
When up came Wayne and Lee.
She, in Mad Anthony's fierce eye,
The hero saw portray'd,
And all in tears she took him by—
The bridle of his jade.
"Hear," said the nymph, "oh, great commander!
No human lamentations;
The trees you see them cutting yonder,
Are all my near relations.
"And I, forlorn! implore thine aid,
To free the sacred grove;
So shall thy prowess be repaid
With an immortal's love."
Now some, to prove she was a goddess,
Said this enchanting fair
Had late retirèd from the Bodies
In all the pomp of war.
The drums and merry fifes had play'd
To honor her retreat,
And Cunningham himself convey'd
The lady through the street.
Great Wayne, by soft compassion sway'd,
To no inquiry stoops,
But takes the fair afflicted maid
Right into Yan Van Poop's.
So Roman Anthony, they say,
Disgraced th' imperial banner,
And for a gypsy lost a day,
Like Anthony the tanner.
The hamadryad had but half
Receiv'd redress from Wayne,
When drums and colors, cow and calf,
Came down the road amain.