by your poem. would you do me the great honor of reading it? it would be my sincerest pleasure. proceed, great chief, with virtue on thy side. thy ev ry action let the goddess guide. a crown, a mansion, and a throne that shine, with gold unfading washington, be thine. however undeserving i may be of such encomium, the style and manner exhibit a striking proof of wheatley s great poetical talents. a royal proclamation is issued that those people who will not pledge loyalty to the crown