Miss Nancy's Gown

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   A treasure fair and fine,— Miss Nancy’s gown from London town,   The latest Court design! The plaited waist from neck to belt   Scarce measured half a span; 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   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, 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   Miss Nancy reigned a Queen, Nor one disloyal heart rebelled   In all her wide demesne: The noble House of Burgesses   Forgot its fierce debate 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   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! 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   The rose and violet Are blooming bright as on the night   She danced the minuet!