ronize the Swedes, and in semblance of a blear-eyed trull
paraded the battlements of Fort Christina, accompanied by Diana, as a
sergeant's widow, of cracked reputation. The noted bully Mars stuck two
horse-pistols into his belt, shouldered a rusty firelock, and gallantly
swaggered at their elbow as a drunken corporal, while Apollo trudged in
their rear as a bandy-legged fifer, playing most villainously out of tune.

On the other side the ox-eyed Juno, who had gained a pair of black eyes
over night, in one of her curtain lectures with old Jupiter, displayed her
haughty beauties on a baggage wagon; Minerva, as a brawny gin-suttler,
tacked up her skirts, brandished her fists, and swore most heroically, in
exceeding bad Dutch, (having but lately studied the language), by way of
keeping up the spirits of the soldiers; while Vulcan halted as a
club-footed blacksmith, lately promoted to be a captain of militia. All
was silent awe or bustling preparation, war reared his horrid front,
gnashed loud his iron fangs, and shook his direful crest of bristling
bayonets.

And now the mighty chieftains marshaled out their hosts. Here stood stout
Risingh, firm as a thousand rocks, incrusted with stockades and in
trenched to the chin in mud batteries. His valiant soldiery lined the
breastwork in grim array, each having his mustachios fiercely greased, and
his hair pomatumed back, and queued so stiffly, that he grinned above the
ramparts like a grisly death's head.

There came on the intrepid Peter, his brows knit, his teeth set, his fists
clenched, almost breathing forth volumes of smoke, so fierce was the fire
that raged within his bosom. His faithful squire Van Corlear trudged
valiantly at his heels, with his trumpet gorgeously bedecked with red and
yellow ribands, the remembrances of his fair mistresses at the Manhattoes.
Then came waddling on the sturdy chivalry of the Hudson. There were the
Van Wycks, and the Van Dycks, and the Ten Eycks; the Van Nesses, the Van
Tassels, the Van Grolls; the Van Hoesens, the Van Giesons, and the Van
Blarcoms; the Van Warts, the Van Winkles, the Van Dams; the Van Pelts, the
Van Rippers, and the Van Brunts. There were the Van Hornes, the Van Hooks,
the Van Bunschotens; the Van Gelders, the Van Arsdales, and the Van
Bummels; the Vander Belts, the Vander Hoofs, the Vander Voorts, the Vander
Lyns, the Vander Pools, and the Vander Spiegles; there came the Hoffmans,
the Hooglands, the Hoppers, the Cloppers,