Heaven speed this trusty weapon which I now hold between my
fingers) triumphantly to the end of this our stupendous undertaking.

But, hark! while we are thus talking, the city of New Amsterdam is in a
bustle. The host of warriors encamped in the Bowling Green are striking
their tents; the brazen trumpet of Antony Van Corlear makes the welkin to
resound with portentous clangour--the drums beat--the standards of the
Manhattoes, of Hell-gate, and of Michael Paw wave proudly in the air. And
now behold where the mariners are busily employed, hoisting the sails of
yon topsail schooner and those clump-built sloops which are to waft the
army of the Nederlanders to gather immortal honors on the Delaware!

The entire population of the city, man, woman, and child, turned out to
behold the chivalry of New Amsterdam, as it paraded the streets previous
to embarkation. Many a handkerchief was waved out of the windows, many a
fair nose was blown in melodious sorrow on the mournful occasion. The
grief of the fair dames and beauteous damsels of Grenada could not have
been more vociferous on the banishment of the gallant tribe of
Abencerrages than was that of the kind-hearted fair ones of New Amsterdam
on the departure of their intrepid warriors. Every love-sick maiden fondly
crammed the pockets of her hero with gingerbread and doughnuts; many a
copper ring was exchanged, and crooked sixpence broken, in pledge of
eternal constancy: and there remain extant to this day some love verses
written on that occasion, sufficiently crabbed and incomprehensible to
confound the whole universe.

But it was a moving sight to see the buxom lasses how they hung about the
doughty Antony Van Corlear; for he was a jolly, rosy-faced, lusty
bachelor, fond of his joke, and withall a desperate rogue among the women.
Fain would they have kept him to comfort them while the army was away, for
besides what I have said of him, it is no more than justice to add that he
was a kind-hearted soul, noted for his benevolent attentions in comforting
disconsolate wives during the absence of their husbands; and this made him
to be very much regarded by the honest burghers of the city. But nothing
could keep the valiant Antony from following the heels of the old
governor, whom he loved as he did his very soul: so embracing all the
young vrouws, and giving every one of them, that had good teeth and rosy
lips, a dozen hearty smacks, he departed, loaded with their kind wishes.