When the news it came to Arnold,
It put him in a fret;
He walk'd the room in trouble,
Till tears his cheek did wet;
The story soon went through the camp,
And also through the fort;
And he callèd for the Vulture
And sailèd for New York.
Now Arnold to New York has gone,
A-fighting for his king,
And left poor Major André
On the gallows for to swing;
When he was executed,
He look'd both meek and mild;
He look'd upon the people,
And pleasantly he smil'd.
It mov'd each eye with pity,
Caus'd every heart to bleed,
And every one wished him releas'd
And Arnold in his stead.
He was a man of honor,
In Britain he was born;
To die upon the gallows
Most highly he did scorn.
A bumper to John Paulding!
Now let your voices sound,
Fill up your flowing glasses,
And drink his health around;
Also to those young gentlemen
Who bore him company;
Success to North America,
Ye sons of liberty!
Arnold learned of André's capture just in time to escape to a British ship in the river, and Washington, arriving soon after, prevented his treacherous disposition of the American forces from being taken advantage of by the enemy.
ARNOLD
THE VILE TRAITOR
[September 25, 1780]
Arnold! the name, as heretofore,
Shall now be Benedict no more:
Since, instigated by the devil,
Thy ways are turned from good to evil.
'Tis fit we brand thee with a name
To suit thy infamy and shame;
And, since of treason thou'rt convicted,
Thy name shall be maledicted.
Unless, by way of contradiction,
We style thee Britain's Benediction.
Such blessings she, with lavish hand,
Confers on this devoted land.