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| IN days when George the Third was King | |
| And ruled the Old Dominion, | |
| And Law and Fashion owned the sway | |
| Of Parliament’s opinion, | |
| A good ship brought across the sea | 5 |
| A treasure fair and fine,— | |
| Miss Nancy’s gown from London town, | |
| The latest Court design! | |
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| The plaited waist from neck to belt | |
| Scarce measured half a span; | 10 |
| The sleeves, balloon-like, at the top | |
| Could hold her feather fan; | |
| The narrow skirt with bias gore | |
| Revealed an ankle neat, | |
| Whene’er she put her dainty foot | 15 |
| From carriage step to street! | |
| |
| By skilful hands this wondrous gown | |
| Of costliest stuff was made, | |
| Cocoons of France on Antwerp looms | |
| Wrought to embossed brocade, | 20 |
| Where roses red and violets | |
| In blooming beauty grew, | |
| As if young May were there alway, | |
| And June and April too! | |
| |
| And from this bower of delight | 25 |
| Miss Nancy reigned a Queen, | |
| Nor one disloyal heart rebelled | |
| In all her wide demesne: | |
| The noble House of Burgesses | |
| Forgot its fierce debate | 30 |
| O’er rights of Crown, when Nancy’s gown | |
| Appeared in Halls of State! | |
| |
| Through jocund reel, or measured tread | |
| Of stately minuet, | |
| Like fairy vision shone the bloom | 35 |
| Of rose and violet, | |
| As, hand in hand with Washington, | |
| The hero of the day, | |
| The smiling face and nymph-like grace | |
| Of Nancy led the way! | 40 |
| |
| A century, since that gay time | |
| The merry dance was trod, | |
| Has passed, and Nancy long has slept | |
| Beneath the churchyard sod; | |
| Yet on the brocade velvet gown | 45 |
| The rose and violet | |
| Are blooming bright as on the night | |
| She danced the minuet! | |
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