:f .m ■' "l-^.- 
 
 ^'^*f€^t^:i-^^- 
 
 ||!:v^JiW/'*s;vf Vm'*'^' ^= 
 
 ' -^ '.-.. 
 
 '^ I --^ I 
 
 Si. 
 
 Irwin 
 Bedukah
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 ViaUIB laiHdWVd
 
 B E D U K A H, 
 
 OR THE 
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 
 
 A N 
 
 INDIAN PASTORAL. 
 
 [ Price Two Shillings and Six Pence. ]
 
 B E D U K A H, 
 
 OR THE 
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 
 
 A N 
 
 INDIAN PASTORAL. 
 
 By THE AUTHOR of 
 SAINT THOMAS'S MOUNT. 
 
 OMNIA VINCIT AMOR. Ovid. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. D O D S L E Y, in Pali-Mall. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXVI.
 
 T O XS'^ 
 
 A LADY. 
 
 MADAM, 
 
 1M A Y appear but little verfed in the ways of man- 
 kind, by dedicating to a Lady a poem of this nature. 
 An eulogium on conjugal faith would rather provoke 
 laughter in a polite circle, than conduce to the praife of 
 the unfalliionable author. But as he has furmounted the 
 greateft difficulty, in having unburthened himielf of fuch 
 oblolete fentlments, he is not afhamed openly to avow 
 them : and, leaving the fair movers of the great world 
 to make a jcft of Morality, he confoles himfelf in having 
 found an exception to the prevailing fyftem ; and is 
 happy in promifing himfelf the finiles of a Lady, whoie 
 influence is only felt in the narrow iphere of virtue. 
 
 The {cene of the following Paftoral lies on the coaft 
 of Coromandel, where the Gcntoo religion generally prc- 
 
 \'ails. 
 
 85S585
 
 vi DEDICATION. 
 
 vails. That the cuftom of women burning themfelves 
 on the deceafe of their hufbands is pecuhar to the Gen- 
 toos, no one acquainted with the hlftory of India can be 
 a ftranger. The motives which can tempt the tender 
 fex to fb great and dreadful a lacrifice, are fully explained 
 in my Heroine's reply to her mother's .entreaties ; where, 
 over and above the dictates of Affeftion, the dictates of 
 Pride evidently appear to fupport her in the fiery trial. 
 Nor is this io much to be wondered at, when we confi- 
 der to what greater lengths our own countrywomen have 
 been hurried t-o maintain Precedence : how often their vir- 
 tue and reputation have been facrificed at the flirine of 
 Vanity : objefts which ought {urely to be more dear to 
 t-hem than life itlelf 1 
 
 I have but one thing. Madam, more to premife, which 
 a natural regard for my own labours will not allow me to 
 omit. The General who in the diipofition of his camp 
 leaves any part of it unfecured, muft talce the coniequence 
 of the attack which his own prefumption may encourage : 
 {o, fhould fome fufficient critic inveigh againft thefe ilieets 
 for beftowing Beauty and Grace on a poor Indian, they 
 might incur ridicule, did not the author previoufly vindi- 
 cate the deicrlption. Elegance of fhape and fymmetry of 
 
 feature
 
 DEDICATION. vli 
 
 feature are common to the Gentoo women, and among 
 the fuperior ranks their complexions do not yield to thofe 
 of the fbuthern nations in Europe. 
 
 To you, Madam, I fliall not attempt any apology.. 
 The homage due to Beauty will not give you leis plea- 
 lure, tho' paid to another. A work that is addrefled 
 chiefly to the heart, muft fucceed with one never deaf 
 to the voice of diftrefs : and the pen employed in the 
 caufe of Virtue cannot fail of poflefling your good 
 wifhes. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, with the highefl eftcem, 
 MADAM, 
 
 Your very obedient 
 
 and devoted Servant 
 
 Fort St. George, 
 3 ft January, 1775. 
 
 EYLES IRWIN.
 
 
 BEDUKAJI /<""> ///'■r./m^^r ei^(i/f' /' 
 
 ',>//in/.y^ (Volt/" '//.I ///• //^'^^<'«'' /i>r/ tnt-W /t 
 
 /tw t/itui/ /of\y(>{<- 1 
 
 CantiflT.lutfitA
 
 B E D U K A H, 
 
 OR THE 
 
 S E L F - D E V O T E D. 
 
 C A N T O I. 
 
 OF Eaftern Virtue and Religion's force, 
 That Ipur the tardy Pagan to the courfe 
 Where Fame's the prize— O Mufe prepare to fing, 
 Eflay thy ilrength, and fbar on eagle-wing. 
 
 But ere the Poet try the pathle(s way, ^ 
 
 Beneath whofe name appears his daring lay ? 
 On loftier genius wait the fav'rlng Nine — 
 Content he bends at his infplrer's fhrine. 
 
 B O finilc,
 
 lo B E D V K A H, Or the 
 
 O iinlle, Eliza ! for to thee is due 
 
 The verfe that brings the nuptial faith to view. lo 
 
 Had, like the Pagan's bread, thine learnt to prove 
 
 The lad extremes of Bigotry and Love ; 
 
 Had, like the victim of thefe mournful ftrains, 
 
 This road been taught thee to the Elyfian plains ; 
 
 Virtue on Death had made thee fearlefs fmile ; i c^ 
 
 The Poet melted o'er thy fun'ral pile ! 
 Now had the filver Regent of the night 
 
 Faded before Aurora's golden light ; 
 
 The darkling Screech- Owl's boding notes give way 
 To the Lark's fong, that uihers in the day ; 20 
 
 The flighted Lover breaks his fhort repofe, 
 From fancied blifs awakes to real woes ; 
 Not Co the Hunter, who now feeks the fields 
 Where Health refides, and Sloth to Vigor yields : 
 Unbent with cares that vex the bufy train, 25 
 
 Pieafure awaits him on the dewy plain. 
 Awhile fuipended fleeps his ardent flame — 
 The Hound fagacious opens on the Game j 
 
 8 The
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. n 
 
 The Pack attentive join the deep'ning cry, 
 
 While hills and vales and hollow woods reply ; 30 
 
 In the full tide his heart is borne along-. 
 
 And the ftung Courfer feels the founding thong. 
 
 Unfung, unpitied die the haplefs prey ; 
 
 A nobler vi£lim claims the plaintive lay : 
 
 One, who to Death a willing facrifice, 3 c 
 
 The altar views with unrelenting eyes ! 
 
 As near a rivulet's enamell'd fide, 
 Where many a flow'ret drank the gulhing tide ; 
 Where the tall Tam'rind lent his ample (hade, 
 The joyous Pack a bufy circle made ; 40 
 
 Lycon, a youth who lov'd the vig'rous chace. 
 The fignal waits, to urge his courfer's pace ; 
 Fir'd by the founds, the impulfe to obey, 
 Tho' torrents threat, and mountains bar his way. 
 Yet not fo rude, but Love had known his brcaft ; 45 
 Thou, Friend/hip, too wert there a welcome ^ueft : 
 Alive to Rapture which from Beauty fprings, . 
 In fecret oft' he touch'd the tuneful ftrino-s : 
 
 B 2 Humble
 
 12 B E D U K A H, (9r the 
 
 Humble hlmfelf, he fear'd no witling's frown, 
 
 No fmiies he coveted, no Bard's renown ; 50 
 
 Save when his Lucia— crown'd an angel long 1 
 
 Or thou, fair Delia ! liften'd to his fbng. 
 
 Juft when the doubling notes the game betray^ 
 
 And in full chorus break the hounds away, 
 
 A hollow murmur fills the troubled air, 5^^ 
 
 And calls his foul to penfivenefs and care ; 
 
 To fcenes more fitted fadnefs to infpire. 
 
 Than ever woke the animated lyre. 
 
 A grove there was of venerable pride, 
 From whofe dark bofbm fhot the rapid tide ; 6q 
 
 Thence winding as the ftream its maze purfues, 
 Lycon, detain'd, a long procefBon views.. 
 A troop of holy Bramins lead the way, 
 With blazing torches rivalling the day r 
 On they advance with folemn fl:eps and flow, dc 
 
 That fpcak devotion, and betoken woe. 
 Next them the Drum and Trumpet take the placCy 
 Sound the dead march, and regulate their pace.. 
 
 Preceded
 
 S E L F . D E V O T E D. 13 
 
 Preceded by a band of weeping friends, 
 Aloft her courfe a beauteous female bends ; 70 
 
 An high-bred fteed fupports her lovely weight, 
 Who bows his creft, as confcious of her fate : 
 No more he heeds the warlike notes, the throng- 
 But ftalks in fad folemnity along ! 
 
 Not thou, fam'd Dido ! canft a rival prove y.c^ 
 
 To her who death-devotes herfelf for love. 
 To perjur'd vows was (acrific'd thy life — 
 Here with her conftant Hufband burns the Wife ; 
 Thy tragic end was haften'd by defpair ; 
 But calm and fteady dies this widow'd Fair. 80 
 
 Ah 1 what fenfatlons in his bofbm riie, 
 As this bright form encounters Lycon's eyes : 
 His heart forebodes fome agonizing (cene, 
 But yet conceives not what theie v/ondcrs mean. 
 When to the right he views, yet undelcry'd, 85 
 
 A lofty pyramid's capacious fide : 
 Thither he goes — at once the truth appears ; 
 The cruel cuftom oft' had reach 'd his ears : 
 
 ^ A tear.
 
 14 BED U K A H, Or the 
 
 A tear he drops, to virtuous error due ! 
 
 And filent waits the melancholy view. po 
 
 As they approach, on either fide the train 
 Equal divide, and form a fplendid lane. 
 Next to the pyre the Bramins take the place, 
 The reft in order fill the length'ning ipace. 
 The mufic ftops — deep ftillnefs reigns around— pc 
 In mute attention every voice is bound. 
 The croud, as ftiffen'd by the hand of Death, 
 Motionlefs ftand;, and icarcely draw a breath. 
 On her each eye is fix'd with ardent gaze, 
 (On her who dearly purchales the praife) i oo 
 
 Who now in prolpe£l of the fatal goal, 
 Maintains her intrepidity of Ibul. 
 A vail as yet from view her face conceals, 
 But ev'ry motion majefty reveals. 
 
 And now (as cuftom wills) on either fide 105 
 
 She Icatters flow'rets, raviih'd in their pride : 
 Ravifli'd, like her, untimely from their bed, 
 At morn but blowing, and ere ev'ning dead ! 
 
 ^ Quick
 
 S E L F . D E V O T E D. 15 
 
 Quick at the fight, where'er Ihe moves along 
 
 Her gifts provoke contention in the throng : 1 1 a 
 
 For Superftltion deems them precious gains, 
 
 And happy he who but a ftalk retains. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST CANTO. 
 
 BEDUKAH,
 
 [ iS ] 
 
 B E D U K A H, 
 
 OR THE 
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 BRIGHT Phoebus now emerging from the main 
 Had fhot his luftre o'er the croudcd plain, 
 When young Bedukah (fuch the vidim's name 
 Which here the Mufe ambitious gives to fame) 
 Haplefs arriving at her journey's end, 5 
 
 Does calmly graceful from her fteed defcend : 
 Slow to the pile ihe walks with confcious pride. 
 Then gently turning cafts her vail afide. 
 
 O could
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 17 
 
 O could the Poet, like the Painter *, dare 
 
 Conceal the afped of his fuff'ring Fair, 10 
 
 As o'er Atrides' griefs a (hade was thrown, 
 
 Bedukah's beauties never had been known. 
 
 But Truth and Innocence his art command, 
 
 Infpire his fancy, and confirm his hand. 
 
 From foul to foul then (oft Amazement flew, 15 
 
 And gliften'd ev'ry cheek with Pity's dew. 
 
 AfFcdins: fio-ht ! for o'er her deftin'd head 
 
 Not fifteen years with downy wings had fled : 
 
 Not fifteen years her eyes had view'd the light ; 
 
 Thoie orbs now finking to eternal night ! 20 
 
 Her flender form was fraught with Beauty's powV ; 
 
 But Beauty waiting her meridian hour. 
 
 * Timanthes, a celebrated Grecian painter. By one of thofe Cud- 
 den thoughts which denote fuperior genius, he gained particular ap- 
 plaufe by his Sacrifice of Iphigenia : for, though the greateft mafler of 
 his art, lie attempted not to pourtray the features of Agamemnon ; 
 but, throwing a vail over what he did not think it pofTible to do juf- 
 tice to, left the fpedtator to imagine the diftradion of a father who 
 was eye-witnefs to the violent death of a darling daughter. 
 
 C In
 
 i8 B E D U K A H, (9/- the 
 
 In pureft white her faultlels limbs were dreft, 
 
 A filver girdle, and a niuflin veft : 
 
 One breaft was flightly hid, one half-diiplay'd, 25 
 
 Which, wild with youthful blood, luxuriant play'd. 
 
 Naked her arm, but where the bracelet fhone, 
 
 Where luftre darted from each orient ftone. 
 
 Her jetty locks with richefi: pearl were ftrung,. 
 
 And from her nofe a matchlefs diamond hung, 30- 
 
 Clear as the cryftal of her glofly eye, 
 
 And feeming with its brighteft beams to vie. 
 
 Juft to the knee her floating garment fell, 
 
 Which ill conceal'd the limb's harmonious fwell ; 
 
 And ftill the wind, affifted by her pace, 0^^ 
 
 Betray'd fome beauty, and fbme latent grace. 
 
 With fblemn gefture, and an afpeft kind, 
 
 Which ipoke a reiolute yet tender mind. 
 
 She paid obeifance to th' attentive croud, 
 
 Then lowly to her weeping mother bow'd : 40 
 
 The mother trembling by her darling's fide, 
 
 Flew to her bofbm, and thus fondly cry'd : 
 
 " Ah,
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 19 
 
 " Ah, lov'd Bedukah ! lov'd, alas, in vain ! 
 " If from affeaion this my promls'd gain ! 
 " This the reward of all my tender care, 45 
 
 " For Rapture, AngulHi ! and for Hope, Defpair ! 
 " Was it for this with confcious pride I glow'd, 
 "And bailiful bare about the pleafing load ? 
 " Was it for this that Hymen gaily iinil'd, 
 " His torch a meteor that deceiv'd my child ! 50 
 
 " Curft be the hour thy beauties knew the light, 
 « But doubly curs'd the matrimonial rite. 
 ^* Would I had Tcap'd a mother's thanklcfs pains, 
 " Or thou been deaf to Love's feducing flrains. 
 *' O vain repinings ! unavailing heat ! 55 
 
 " With motion fcarce my feeble pulfcs beat ; 
 ^* My aged knees can fcarce theie limbs fuftain, 
 " While forrows weigh me to the dufty plain. 
 *' Ah yet, Bedukah ! yet conlent to live, 
 ** And life and fpirit to thy parent give. ^"0 
 
 ** Canft thou behold her fmking to the grave, 
 ^* And not ftretch out thy pitying hand to fave ? 
 
 C 2 *' Canft
 
 u 
 
 il 
 
 20 B E D V K A B, Or the 
 
 ** Canft thou ? — recall the fentence ere too late ; 
 
 ** On thy relolve depends my dubious fate : 
 
 " Thy mother fwears her fate is in thy pow'r, 6^ 
 
 ^ Whether fhe live, or this her lateft hour : 
 
 The moment di*ead that gives thee to die flame. 
 
 Devotes to ruin her decrepit frame :: 
 " If this the legacy thy love- bequeath,, 
 ** With thee united fhe will welcome death. — 70? 
 
 *' O bleft event ! O change for ever dear ! 
 ** Good bodes that figh, and that repentant tear ; 
 " Bedukah's hand the trembling parent fhields, 
 " And all the Daughter to Affe£lion yields ! 
 " Yes, yes, my love, far hence we will retire, 7^ 
 
 ** Far from this country, and this rav'nous pyre ; 
 " Far from the place where this fell cuftom reigns, 
 " Where Innocence is doom'd to fiery pains. 
 *' To (bme lone defart. we will fhape our way, 
 *^ Leave men for (avages more mild than they. 80 
 
 ** Then come, my child— nor friend nor foe will dare 
 " To vent their malice, and purfue us there : 
 
 ^* No
 
 SELF^DEVOTED; 21 
 
 " No prieft iliall there to broach his mandates ftand, 
 
 " Nor Scandal hunt us tliro' the dreary land. 
 
 *' Thy * Father too, whom Heav'n propitious fend 8 c 
 
 *' Loaded with treafures to his journey's end, 
 
 "■ With heart-felt rapture fliall applaud the voice. 
 
 " Which footh'd thy fcruples, and made life thy choice. 
 
 " He, with his fortunes, eagerly fliall hafte,. 
 
 " And fnatch us from the horrors of the wafte;, 00 
 
 *' To fbme new clime our weary feet remove, 
 
 " And peace and joy in our endearments prove." 
 
 So faid the Mourner, and had further (aid,. ; 
 
 But now her tongue to utterance is dead : . 
 Contending paffions all her foul opprefs, n,c 
 
 And now flie hopes, and now Ihe doubts fuccefs ; 
 Till in delpair ihe cafts her eyes below, . 
 And groans, and looks a /pelade of woo. 
 
 Nor bare Bedukah a Icis trying part, 
 Her mother's words had deeply picrc'd her heart : 100 
 
 * The Gentoos arc great merchants, and travel to all parts of the 
 Eaft ; which may account for the abfence of our Heroine's Aithcr ut 
 
 fuch an intcrcfling time. 
 
 The
 
 22 B E D U K A H, C^r the 
 
 The dread refolve of one fhe held fo dear, 
 
 Woke the keen pang, and forc'd the tender tear. 
 
 But ilill, whate'er her fadden'd looks exprels, 
 
 She rofe fuperior as arofe diftrefs : 
 
 With (blemn grace her mother's hand fhe took, 105 
 
 And thus addrefs'd her with a fbften'd look : 
 
 " And lives the mother at whole breaft I hung, 
 " To uie in vain her liipplicating tongue ? 
 *' Am I {o cruel and rebellious grown, 
 ** To hear, unmov'd, her melancholy moan? iio 
 
 " To foothe her forrov/s v/ith a fruitlefc tear, 
 ** And in my purpole flill to perlevere ! 
 '* O ! fliake this weaknefs from thy tender breaft, 
 << Forget a wretch thy kindnefs fliould deteft. 
 *' Sooner the Tyger fliall with pity glow, \i^ 
 
 " Rude Rocks be foften'd at the plaint of woe ; 
 *' The Tcmpcft ceafe, when houlelefs vagrants plead, 
 '" Than fLubborn Virtue from her path recede. 
 " Tho' Terror, Peril, Ruin bar the way. 
 
 When Virtue calls, her votaries obey : 120 
 
 9 *' Obey 
 
 << \\n
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 25 
 
 o 
 
 ^' Obey with joy, as her decrees require, 
 '^ To Hymen's altar, or the fuii'ral pyre : 
 " To the dear youth eternal truth to fwear, 
 *' Or here to find a willi'd releaie from care ! — 
 " Yes, fondeft obje£t of my aching heart, 125 
 
 " Bedukah joins thee, ne'er again to part : 
 " Lo ! here llie ftands her plighted faith to prove, 
 *' Nor deems the (acrifice too great for Love. 
 " O ! yet v/ith-hold thy paffage to the fkies, 
 " My {bul in extacy with thine would riie : 130 
 
 *' One moment gives me to th' inlatiate flame, 
 ** In Death unites us, and unites in fame-— 
 ** And thou, dear author of my life, adieu ! 
 ** Thcfe ftreaming eyes muft take their parting view.: 
 *' On me no m.ore Ihall fmile that honour'd face, i ^^ 
 ** Thele looks our laft ! and this our laft embrace ! 
 " Tho' nature pleads, and human weakne(s feels, 
 " A voice divine my doom terrinc (eals. 
 " Say, with what woes futurity is fraught, 
 *' (Cruel to ipeak, and horrible to thought!) 140 
 
 " How
 
 24 B E D U K A H, (9/' the 
 
 ** Ho^y lofi: to hope ! how loft my honeft name 1 ' 
 
 " Should I confent to lead a life of lliame. 
 *' An hu (hand's fate Ihould I refufe to fhare, 
 ^* He to his bofbm takes a khider Fair : 
 " Falie to my love, he falfnood fliall requite, 141^ 
 
 ^* And fnun my fteps in regions of delight. 
 ** If dark and difinal then the profpecl there, 
 ** What here remains but horror and defpair ? 
 *' Caft from the icat my former title gave, 
 ^ The widow'd miftrels muft become the flave* 150 
 " The mere idea worfe than death appears — 
 ** To barter Honour for a Length of years 1 
 ** Efcap'd from Calumny's refiftlefs tide, 
 " Allow lome foreign clime my lliame might hide ; 
 *^ No folitude the fting of guilt difarms, 155 
 
 " Nor lenient time, nor e'en a mother's arms. 
 *' And thou, whoie love this abjecl ftep advis'd,. 
 *' Couldft thou carefs a coward fb deipis'd ? 
 ** Who could fo low thro' fear of death defcend, 
 *" And meanly live, to Hum a glorious end 1 1^0 
 
 u o !
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 25 
 
 ** O ! let me die while to thy bofom dear, 
 *' Nor meet a Father's brow and curfe (evere : 
 " While youth and love and fame unlpotted bloomy 
 ** Thro' tort'ring flames Bedukah (eeks the tomb." 
 
 END OF THE SECOND CANTO. 
 
 D BEDUKAH,
 
 [ v6 ] 
 
 B E D U K A H, 
 
 OR THE 
 
 SELF- DEVOTED. 
 
 CANTO III. 
 
 AS thro' the crowd her melting accents fteal. 
 And eyes betray what tender bofbms feel. 
 The honour'd ftem from which fhe life deriv'd. 
 Sinks to the ground, of every fenfe depriv'd. 
 Long nature ftruggled in the Parent's breaft. 
 Till fpent, fhe finds a momentary reft. 
 Thrice happy were this timely fleep to laft, 
 ^Kor ihe awake to memVy of the paft. 
 
 While
 
 B E D U K A H, ^c. 27 
 
 While now the priefts her fainting frame fuftain, 
 Bed UK AH pours this fbul-dlftra£l:ing ftrain : to 
 
 ** Ye facred Bramins ! pious, jaft, and fage, 
 To Heav'n devoted, and inform'd by age ; 
 Whole guihlefs lives no tongues profane impeach, 
 Who daily pra£life what your do£^rines teach ; 
 If e'er at tales ye melted of diftrefs, I c 
 
 Patient to hear, and eager to redrefs ; 
 If e'er compaiTion touch'd an human breaft, 
 Attend ye to an earneft, laft requeft. 
 To your decrees this cruel death I owe. — 
 From my obedience what diiafters flow ! 26 
 
 The deareft obje£l to thefe clofmg eyes, 
 Pale, fenlelefs, cold — a prey to forrow lies ! 
 For pity's iake, oh be it then your care 
 To fbothe her griefs, and fnatch her from dcfpair : 
 From this fad profpciSl her removal fpeed, 25 
 
 Ere madneis the return of life fucceed : 
 Ere fhe awake to fuch a killing fight 
 As might the Bramin teach to curie the light." 
 
 D 2 Here
 
 zS B E D \J K A U, Or the 
 
 Here as the priefts her filial charge obey, 
 The lovely iuppliant turns her head away. ^o 
 
 She turns — and lo ! amid the ftanders-by 
 The mournful Lycon draws her glancing eye. 
 His looks, that ipeak amazement and diftrefs, 
 Her thoughts eno-ao-c — but chief his foreign drej^ : 
 Thro' cuftom ftlU Inimur'd from public view, 35: 
 
 By name ihe only of Europeans knew.. 
 But now a new-born courage prompts her tongue^ 
 (Perhaps from pride a fudden impulfe Iprung) 
 With mien elate ihe graceful waves her hand, 
 As- if the youth's attention to command :. 4a 
 
 " And thou" (ilie cries) " whofe footfteps hither bend- 
 " To make thse witneis of Bedukah's end, 
 " Tho' chance mifled thee, ftranger, yet remain, 
 " And fee a woman unfubdued by pain* 
 ** Thy pity at my wayward fate I view ; 45 
 
 ** The choice was mine — no pity then is due. 
 *' Nor doubt nor fear Bedukah's fteps deters — 
 .** If right, (he triumphs— wrong, fhe greatly errs \ 
 
 ,0 Ol.if^
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 
 
 ^9 
 
 '-^ O ! If her virtue then has touch'd thy heart, 
 
 " Her virtue's praiie be worthy of thy art : 50- 
 
 " To Chriftian wives a Pagan's death relate,. 
 
 " And bid them envy, if not imitate. " 
 
 So laying, fhe diffus'd a parting iinile,, 
 And {udden mov'd towards the fatal pile: 
 The fatal pile with flow'ry wreaths was crown'd, ^c 
 
 That fragrance Hied, and beauty cafl: around. 
 (Such wily charms Egyptian meads bctra)',, 
 Where deadly alps and lurking vipers play.) 
 By eafy fteps the fated height llie gains, 
 
 Where reft In ftatc her hufband's lov'd remains : 6a 
 
 Around the cor pie Oic throws her eager arms,. 
 
 His clay-cold lips with ardent kifTcs v/arms. 
 
 But nor a fighrilic breathes, nor weak complaint;. 
 
 By Love inlplr'd, fhe emulates the Saint. 
 
 What deeds ! what miracles does Love infpire ! 6^ 
 
 For Love a tender female braves the fire, 
 
 Leaves the Philolbpher of Death to preach, 
 
 To pra£tife what no apathy could reach. 
 
 Nor long fhe waits a period to her woe5, 
 The tragic Iccne is haftening to a clofe : 70 
 
 The
 
 JO B E t> U K A U, Or tJhe 
 
 The fignal comes ! (methinks I feel it here, 
 
 Still (hake my foul, and viferate on my ear,) 
 
 At once a thoufand trumpets rend the air, 
 
 A thoufand voices loud accordance bear : 
 
 In Babel's tower not greater tumult rung, 75 
 
 When ftrange confufion jarr'd from tongue to tongue. 
 
 The fignal's giv'n ! — quick to the altar's fide 
 
 A thoufand torches are at once applied : 
 
 At once the pile appears a gen'ral blaze — 
 
 Black clouds of irnoke obfcure bright Phoebus' rays : 80 
 
 The priefts with fragrant oil ftill feed the flame, 
 
 Whofe darkfbme round conceals the martyr'd dame. 
 
 O ! of this curtain let the Mufe avail. 
 
 Nor paint the fequel of the horrid tale. 
 
 Enough of female faith is brought to light, 85 
 
 Eilieem, regard, and pity to excite. 
 
 The *Sage whofe death Athenian annals flains, 
 
 And t he whofe life warm-ifTued thro' his veins, 
 
 * Socrates, who being envied for his great talents, was accufed by 
 his countrymen of contennpt towards their Gods, and unjuftly con- 
 demned to die by poifon. 
 
 -|- Seneca, whofe veins were opened in a bath, by order of the ty- 
 rant Nero, when he found that the poifon he had adminiftered to the 
 inftruftor of his youth had fiiiled of its intended efFedl ! 
 
 Yield
 
 SELF-DEVOTED. 51 
 
 Yield her the pahn — tho' firmnefe mark'd their end, 
 What heroifm can with this contend ? 90 
 
 Now to their dwellings had diipers'd the throng — 
 While many a foot pac'd heavily along, 
 Each from the tragic fcene fbme moral drew — 
 The Mother warn'd her Daughter to be true ; 
 While the fond Bridegroom by his Charmer's fide 95 
 Wept but to think her courage might be tried ! 
 When Lycon waking from a thoughtful vein, 
 Defponding views the folitary plain. 
 Bedukah's words ftill trembling in his ear, 
 To the fad ipot he draws with rev'rence .ne^r, 100 
 
 Where late infpir'd (he pour'd her parting drain, 
 
 Where her dumb afhes only now remain. 
 
 « 
 
 He marks the relics with deje£led eyes, 
 And deeply fighing thus impaflion'd cries : 
 
 " Yes, brightcft pattern of connubial truth ! ic^ 
 
 ** Not unobferv'd was facrlfic'd thy youth ; 
 " Not ineffedual was thy fond rcqueft, 
 " Nor idly uttcr'd to a icnfcleis brcaft. 
 
 8 : " The
 
 32 B E D U K A H, ^c. 
 
 ^* The Mufe for thee her fbfreft lyre fhall firing, 
 
 ** Of thy hard fate in mournful numbers fmg. i lo 
 
 *' And tho' with fbme thy conftancy may fail, 
 
 *' Who wonder virtue can i^o far prevail ; 
 
 ■** Who deaf to the bewitching voice of fame, 
 
 ** Live for themleives, nor know an higher aim ; 
 
 " Yet to the Good thofe iuff 'rings fhall be dear, 1 15 
 
 *' Which their Eliza graces with a tear : 
 
 *' Yet with the Gende fhall thy merits plead, 
 
 *' Whicli thus to her proteftion are decreed ; 
 
 *^ If fhe approve, the fympathetic lay 
 
 *' Shall fboth the Serious, melt the thoughtlefs Gay; 120 
 
 *' That Death can lovely feem confirm the Brave, 
 
 ** When Honour crowns their wnion with the Grave." 
 
 FINIS.
 
 SOUTHPPiV«^t'^"y °' California
 
 iilllll 
 
 3 1158 01048 0696 
 
 000 001 050
 
 .> ■•,. V'v 
 
 
 Universitj 
 
 Southei 
 
 Librar