University of California Berkeley 
 
i 
 
POEMS, 
 
 DRAMATIC AND MISCELLANEOUS* 
 
 BY MRS. M. WARREN, 
 
 -'Tis a ftranger fues, 
 
 A virgin tragedy, an orphan mufe. POPK. 
 
 
 PRINTED AT BOSTON, 
 BY I. THOMAS AND E. T. ANDREWS, 
 
 At FAUST'S STATUE, No. 45, NEWBURT STRUT* 
 
 MDCCXC, 
 
T O 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON, 
 PRESIDENT 
 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA., 
 
 SIR, 
 
 AMBITIOUS to avoid both the 
 fiyle and the fentiment of common dedica 
 tion, more frequently the incenfe of adu- 
 
 lation, than the refult of truth, I only a fie 
 
 / 
 the ilUiurious Wafhington to permit a lady 
 
 
 
 of his acquaintance to introduce to the 
 public, under his patronage, a final! volume, 
 written as the amufement of folitude, at a 
 period when every aftive member of fociety 
 was engaged, either in the field, or the cab 
 inet, to refi.fi the ftrong hand of foreign 
 
 dominatiors. 
 
 THE 
 
IV DEDICATION". 
 
 THE approbation of one who has united 
 all hearts in the field of conquefl, in the lap 
 of peace, and at the head of the government 
 of the United States, mud, for a time, give 
 countenance to a writer, who, claiming the 
 honour of private friendfhip, hopes for this 
 indulgence : But it mufl be a bold adven 
 turer in the paths of literature, who dreams 
 of fame, in any degree commenfurate with 
 the duration of laurels reaped by an hero, 
 who has led the armies of America to glory, 
 victory and i dence. 
 
 THIS may, perhaps^be an improper place 
 to make many obfervations on^ re^y 
 that may eventually fhake the prc 
 terns of European defpotifm j yet yoi 
 (who have borne fuch a diftinguifhed 
 honourable part in the great conflio 
 
 the 
 
DEDICATION. V 
 
 the nations, wearied with (laughter, gave 
 truce to the miferies of man) will permit 
 me to obferve, that, connected by confan- 
 guinity, or friendlhip, with many of the 
 principal characters who afferted and de 
 fended the rights of an injured country, the 
 mind has been naturally led to contemplate 
 the magnitude, both of the caufes and the 
 
 O ' ' 
 
 confequences, of a convulfion that has been 
 felt from the eaflern borders of the Atlantic, 
 to the weftern wilds. 
 
 FEELING much for the diflreflfes of 
 America,, in the dark days of her affliction, ' 
 a faithful record has been kept, of the moil 
 material tranfa&ions, through a period that 
 has engaged the attention, both of the phi- 
 lofopher and the politician ; and, if life is 
 fpared, a juft trait of the moft diflinguiihed 
 A 2 characters,. 
 
 I 
 
VI DEDICATION,, 
 
 chara6lers > either for valour, virtue, or pat*, 
 riotifm ; for perfidy, intrigue, inconfiftency, 
 or ingratitude > ,fhall be faithfully tranfmitted 
 to pofterity, by one, who unites in the gen 
 eral wiih x that you,, fir, may continue to 
 prefide in the midil of your brethren, until 
 nature afks the aid of retirement and re- 
 pofe, to tranquilize the laft ftages of hu 
 man life. 
 
 With every fentiment of efteem and 
 friendfhipj I am, refpe&ed Sir, 
 The Prefident's 
 Moil obedient, 
 
 And very humble fervant r 
 M. WARREN, 
 
 Plymouth, Majjachufetts, "\ 
 March ao ; 1790. J 
 
 TABLE 
 
TABLE of CONTENTS. 
 
 7"* Pa s e 
 
 I. -L HE Sack of Rome, a-Tragedy. 13. 
 
 II. The Ladies of Cqfltle, a Tragedy. gj;< 
 
 III. To Mrs. Montague^ Author of " Obfer- 
 
 vations on the Genius and Writings 
 
 of Shake/pear e." I&I 
 
 IV. An Eplftle- H Torrifmond. 183 
 V. A Political Reverie. r88 
 
 VI. To Mr. . , alluding to a Con 
 
 verfation which favoured the Opinion 
 cf FatalJfm. 
 
 VII. On a Survey of the Heavens. 
 
 VIII. On the Death of Mrs. S - 5 who 
 
 died a few Days after her Marriage. 200 
 
 I X, The Squabble of the Sea Nymphs ; or the 
 
 Sacrifice of the Tiifcararoe's. 202 
 
 X. To- a Young Lady, on Jhew':ng an excel 
 lent Piece of Painting^ much faded. 206 
 
 XL To the Hon. John Wmthrop, Efq. 208 
 
 XII. To Fidelia, long abfent on public Bvfinefs. 213 
 XIII. To Honorta, on her Journey to Dover. 216 
 
 XIV.- 
 
viii> CONTENTS. 
 
 \ 
 
 Pag 
 
 XIV. Lines j written after a Tempefl. 219 
 
 XV. To a Young Gentleman, refuting in 
 
 France. 221 
 
 XVI. A Poem on primitive Simplicity, 228 
 
 XVII. On the Death of the Hon. John Win- 
 
 throp, Ejq. 235 
 
 XVIII. Lines^ written on the dmvverfary of the 
 
 Death of Mr. C IV . 240 
 
 XIX. To a Friend^ mourning the Death of a 
 
 Father. 242 
 
 XX. The Genius of America weeping the 
 abjurd Follies of tin Day. Oftoler 
 10, 1778. 246 
 
TO THE P U B L-I C. 
 
 -ALMOST every page if the ftory of Rome, exhibits a 
 tragedy, 'without the exaggeration of poetic fiction ; yet there 
 are few of its interejling fcenef, that have not furnijbed the 
 machinery for fame dramatic tuork. But, amldjl the innumer^ 
 abh writers, that almofl every age has prothxcd, the author 
 tf a piece, fiotu offered the public, does net recollect to barve 
 fesn the r wea^nefs and cntelty vf Valentinian the characler 
 cf Petronius Maximus the rcfetitment, mdifcretkn and re* 
 tfnge of Edoxia (the more immediate caufes of the m<vajton 
 tf the imperial dfy, by t-he Vandals )~clsQfen for thefubjetf &j" 
 ibeaitical inftmflion. 
 
 The fuller/Ion of the ivejlern empire ', and the Sack of the 
 
 dty of Rome, by Genferic, form an era in the re e volution cf 
 
 1 of airs, that ftrikes the mind <wtih peculiar fokmmty ; 
 
 .-, at i 'la / period, the chara&cr of man was funk to the 
 
 ft age of cit Debilitated by the babits of every 
 
 of luxury, a fattgferies of tragical events, and the <on- 
 
 ilnual apprcbwfwt of profcrtpti&nj or death , the pcivers ef 
 
 the 
 
the mind were, at the fame time, ebfcured ly thefuperftittsnt 
 6f<weak, uninformed chriftiani, blended nvith the barb anfw- 
 and ignorance of the darker ages, 
 
 Thus an Impenetrable cloud *wa$ tbrsivn ever the religious 
 and political injlitutions, both of the Roman and the Gothic 
 <ivorld; which hafaned on the deJlrucJian of the former, with- 
 tut exhibiting any thing more honourable to the genius and vir 
 tue of mankind ', in the eftabUJbrnent of the latter ; nor have 
 more enlightened and polffled age's been taugbl, by their ex 
 amples ', to jjjun the luxurious ^viceSj or the abfurd fyftems of 
 policy, *wbicb bai<e frequently corrupted, dijirafted, and ru 
 ined the befl ccnfituted republic ; as ivell as divided and 
 overturned the Jlrong fabric of monarchi 
 
 In tracing tic rife, the cbaratfer, the rewJurions, and i j ae 
 fall of tie moft politic and brave, tie mojl infoleni and felfjk 
 people -, 'tie world e<ver exhibited, the hero and the moraliji may 
 find the mcft fublime examples of valour and virtue ; and tbt 
 pbihfopber the moft humiliating lejjbns to the pride of man, in 
 ihe turpitude tffome of their capital characJers : While the 
 dominions of that .once celebrated nation } their baugh* 
 
 &: 
 
iy ufurpations and fplendid crimes, have for ages furnijhed 
 the hijlorian and the poet with a field of /peculation, adapted 
 to bis own peculiar talents. But if the 'writer of the Sack of 
 Rome has niijlaken her s. Jit wtll, doubtlefs, be forgiven, as 
 there have been inftances^of men of the bejl abilities who have 
 fallen into the fame error. 
 
 There is but little mixture of fable in the narration, and, I 
 hope, a juft purity of jlile has been obferved, "while the writer 
 has aimed at moral improvement, by an exhibition of the tu 
 mult and mifery into which mankind are often plunged by an 
 unwarrantable indulgence of the difcordant pajjions of the hum 
 man mind. 
 
 V 
 
 Theatrical amufements may,fometimes, have been profthuted 
 to the purpofes of <vice j yet, in an age oftafle and refinement^ 
 leffbns of morality, and the conferences of deviation, may per 
 haps, be as fuccefsfully enforced from theftage, as by modes of 
 injlrucliort', left cenfured by the fevere ', while, at the fame 
 time, the exhibition of great hiftorical events, opens a field cf 
 contemplation tit tks refafting and pbilofophic mind. 
 
 Iff 
 
My firjl ivi/h is to tbroTjaamitetntolbefcaleof e vii'lue+ 
 *nd my highejl ambition to meet the approbation of the judi~ 
 tious and ivorthy : In the one, I am gratified from the re- 
 Jleflions of my o'wn heart ; for the other t I wait ivitb dijfi- 
 dftice the dete rminattcns oj the candid public. 
 
 M. W. 
 
 ERRATA. The reader is-requefled to notice the following rf7- 
 terations and errors cftbefrefs, viz. 
 Page 39, line 4 from top, tor fiff>trts t read fpeflres* 
 
 46 ....... -5 from bottom, for Hermannic, read JJermannc. 
 
 56 7 from bottom, for gbcft, read Jbade, 
 
 67 P 4 from top, for bm tube (bunders in tke Jkits t real 
 
 ail the deities of Rome* 
 96 ' *3 from top, for an, read a* 
 
 no ..... 3 from bottom, forjignet, 
 1 57 . i - 6 from bottom, for amour , read armour. 
 loi 15 from top, fov for probity y read *#y probity* 
 203 7 from top, for Titans, read Titans. 
 aia - 13 from top, for tiroiv t read throws* 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 SACK of ROME, 
 
 TRAGEDY, 
 
 I V E ACTS. 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 MEN. 
 
 VALENTINIAN Emperor of Rome. 
 HERACLIUS -favourite Eunuch to Valentinian. 
 PETRONIUS MAXIMUS--* noble. Citizen. 
 ./ETIUS Commander of the Roman Troops. 
 GAUDENTIUS Son to JEtlus> betrothed to Eudocia. 
 Biflop of Rome. 
 
 .-GENSERJC King of the Vandah y rt:giing in Carthage, 
 -HUNNERIC Sw to Genferic. 
 TRAULISTA a barbarian Prince. 
 
 W O M E N. 
 
 . EDOXI A Emprefs of Rome. 
 
 EUDOCIA T 
 
 > Daughters of Valentiman, 
 PLACIDIA / 
 
 SENATORS, SOLDIERS, SERVANTS, -&Ci &c. ; 
 
THE 
 
 S A C K of R O M E. 
 
 ACT 
 
 ^G E- N 
 
 A Camp near 
 
 I, 
 
 and GAUDENTIUS; 
 
 A 
 
 SOLEMN ftillnefs reigns throughout the camp j 
 The hoftile found of martial mufick's hufh'd j 
 A truce agreed, the proud Attila gives, 
 Perhaps, aihort liv'd peace to bleeding Rome j 
 But nations pouring from their frozen dens,- 
 Rough, naked boors, from every northern wild, 
 Untutor'd, or by nature, or by art, 
 With fcarce a trait that fpeaks the fpecies man, 
 Except the femblance of the human form, 
 Muft be the chofen fcourge, by heaven de/lgn'd, 
 To chaften Rome for that tyrannick fway 
 Ufurp'd and ftretch'd o'er all her wide domain, 
 And proudly held by her reinorfdefs fword >, 
 
 Her 
 
jrf THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Her Infolence,, her fhibbornnefs of foul, 
 That trod down nations, trampled on the necks. 
 Of mighty kings, and taught her weaker foes 
 To fear alike her fenators and gods. 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Though from each quarter of the peopled glebe 
 Some hoflile foe, or new invader rife, 
 Imperial Rome muft ever awe the world. 
 
 With hideous mouts the northern hords retired 
 O'er the bleak mounts to Sogdiana's wilds ; 
 But fierce Attila look'd indignant back 
 On weakened Rome, by luxury undone ; 
 Flufh'd with fuccefs, by vulgar kings ador^J, 
 Who watch his nod and tremble at his frown, 
 The Scythian favage left the Latian more, 
 Like fome wild beaft jufl gorg'd with human blood> 
 Full glutted with his prey, to breathe awhile 
 Jn his ferocious den to whet his tafte 
 For new refreshing hecatombs of blood. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Extreme difirefs unites the firm and brave ; 
 True virtue mie;ht each obftacle furmount ; 
 Rome, like a phenix, from her fmoking towns, 
 DifTolving columns, cities wrapt in flames, 
 Might yet emerge and more illuftrious fhine, 
 If party rage and luxury mould ceafe, 
 And peace give time to make a juft reform 
 Through each corrupted channel of the law j 
 Or if fimplicity again returns, 
 And government more energy afTumes, 
 Her ancient codes reftor'd on equal terms, 
 She yet might reign from Danube to the Po. 
 
 There's 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 17 
 
 JEnus. 
 
 There's little hope from fuch a noble fource ; 
 So chang'd her manners, fo debas'd the mind 
 By faction', pride, intemperance and luft. 
 Loft in inglorious eafe, all valour melts 
 Beneath incrufted roofs, embofs'd with gold, 
 Egyptian pearls and emeralds of the Eaf.; 
 The fvvord alone is all that Rome can boaft 
 That bears affinity to former fame ;, 
 Yet fee the foiis of Romulus difmay'd, . 
 The trembling. youth of Italy alarm'd 
 Whene'er the trumpet fummons to the field. 
 Before the vernal equinox returns 
 To cheer the Hetrurian plains, war wakes anew j 
 I faw the tyger gnafn his hungry teeth 
 When fair Honoria's ample dower was nam'd, 
 On wlwch the iavage ftipulated peace ; 
 This brings him back to claim his royal bride.- 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 But while tranfported with the youthful charms 
 Of beauteous Elda taken to his bed ; 
 Amidft barbarick pomp he may forget 
 Both enmity and gold and his Honoria, 
 Till Rome's ppepar'd to meet him in the field. [Exeunt. 
 
 S C E N E II. 
 
 JETIUS LEO GAUDENTIUS, 
 
 LEO, 
 
 I 
 
 COME my lord with tidings on my tongue, 
 
 .&LTIUS, 
 what new foe has Rome ? I am prepared, 
 
 Lio* 
 
iS THE SACK OF ROME". 
 
 LEO. 
 
 I come to hall the valiant friend of Rome, 
 Whofe arm and prowefs are her beft fupport,, 
 With the glad news of fierce Attila's death. 
 
 JErivs. 
 How did the monfter fall ? 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Hot from the riot of a barbarous feaft ; 
 Sent fvviftly down to Pluto's gloomy fhade, 
 By lewd debauch and great excefs of joy 
 That his rough arm had humbled haughty Rome* 
 
 Humbled indeed ! the world's proud miftrefs 
 Trembles at th' approach of Suevick valour ; 
 The harden'd lance dip'd in the Wolga's ftream ; 
 Hurl'd in the face of her degenerate Ions j 
 They dart appall 'd e'en at a diftant foe ; 
 The next invader feals Rome's heavy doom. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Though weakened Rome by furious factions torn, 
 ImbitterM by decline, finks deep in vice 
 Yet, was the empire held in bolder hands 
 The fierce barbarick rage might ftill be check'd ; 
 Within Liguria all would be fecure, 
 And fav'd from pillage all the Latian dates ; 
 Then let the world beyond the towering Alps 
 Be f^ill poffefTd by Goth, or Vandal tribes, 
 Ravag'd by wolves, or yet more favage Huns. 
 
 Where is the emperor ? Does he not awake 
 "From his foft Numbering lethargy of foul ? 
 
 LEO 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Supfhety funk in dreams of wanton blifs, 
 Ignoble pleafures of a fplendid court, 
 Or peace, or war, or truce, the fame to him. 
 JE-rius. 
 
 Yet, when he heard of the barbarian's death, 
 Did he not roufe, nor dread the ill omen'd birds 
 That late have brooded o'er the capitol, 
 And augur* d evils round the city walls, 
 That the twelve centuries were near complete^ 
 Since Romulus the founder of the ftate 
 Had prophefied the meafure of her guilt 
 Would tempt the deftinies in wrath to rife 
 And make the empire from its ancient bafe ? 
 LEO. 
 
 The fair Ardelia fills the monarch's heart i 
 He fecret fighs for Maximus's wife. 
 
 Ardelia ! the good the chalk Ardelia 
 The firft and faireft matron left in Rome ! 
 
 LEO. 
 
 To triumph over her fuperiour charms, 
 He cog'd the dye at Maximus's coft : 
 Long praftis'd in the tercerarian art, 
 Petronius is play'd a double game ; 
 The die was thrown while fortune turn'd the wheel 
 That makes him.wretched as he has been bkfs'd. 
 
 "Mongft the long lift of celebrated names, 
 Matrons of ancient or of modern fame, ^ 
 None boafts a fairer claim to virtue's palm 
 Than the difcreet, the excellent Ardelia j 
 Nor can /he forfeit by a fhameful fall 
 
* THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 That modefty, and grace, and decent pride, 
 That dignifies, nor lefs adorns, the fex; 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Yet heavenly virtue, or angelicfc worth* 
 May fall the victim of a wanton wifli, 
 When power lends its iron hand to guilt. 
 
 M-TIUS. 
 Petronius ador'd Ardelia's charms. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 As well he ought though innocent as fair, 
 Pity's too weak her anguifli to exprefs 
 Language too poor to fpeak one half her griefs : 
 But Maximus returns Ah, haplefs man ! 
 I would not fee him till he knows his fate, 
 And time lias calm'd the tumults of his foul. 
 
 [Exfunf. 
 
 H 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 I U S M A X I M U S, 
 
 JETIUS'.. 
 
 .AH ! Maximus 
 Art thou the laft to hail thy friend's fuccefs ? 
 Or has long abfence blotted friend/hip out ? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 Forgive me, ^Etius 
 I efteem thy virtues nor envy thee 
 The laurels thou haft won : Abfence, nor time,. 
 Can e'er obliterate that love, that friend/hip, 
 Merit makes thy own, and worth commands : 
 
 Give 
 
THE SACK OF ROIftE; zs 
 
 Give rae thy hand thou know 'ft my heart is thine, 
 Nor can I more until \ve meet again. 
 
 JEnus. 
 What means this hafte ? Why that difhirbed brow ? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Return'd this moment from the Aquilean camp 
 Where I've been fent with fuch impetuous fpeed, 
 So much unlike the flownefs of the emperor, 
 I fcarce believe that he could mean me fair. 
 
 What caufe is there for doubt ? or why fufpefl ? 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 I think fome latent mifchief lies concealed 
 Beneath the vizard of a fair pretence ; 
 My heart ill brook'd the errand of the day, 
 Yet I obey'd though aftrange horror feiz'd 
 My gloomy mind and (hook my frame 
 As if the moment murder'd all my joys. 
 
 .'..._ JE.T1US. 
 
 But what excites diftruft ? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Not like a child am I about to weave 
 In piteous accents a fad tale of woe : 
 But if I'm bubbled by a mean device, 
 No lingering vengeance mall repair my wrongs, 
 
 What mean thefe fears ? this agony of doubt ? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Thou art a gen'rous and a valiant friend : 
 I'll not conceal the anguifh of my foul, 
 Nor yet the fecret worm that gnaws my heart, 
 Myfelf forgot in an ignoble vice, 
 
 A vico 
 
s* THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 A vice below the dignity of man, 
 Without temptation but in avarice,, 
 A blacker paftion ftill fate threw the die, 
 Or by fuperiour fkill the emperor won 
 My beauteous grottos my paternal groves 
 My pleafant villas and, meandering ftreams 
 The fvveet cafcades that gurgled o'er the dales 
 The nob?e bufts that inark'd th* Anician name 
 My poplar walks and my Ardelia's bovver 
 (Thofe foft retreats of innocence and love) 
 And thus for once made Maximns a flave. 
 But ah f he gave a treacherous releafe'^ 
 He only afk'd the fignet from my hand 
 To feal a promife that I'd reach the camp 
 Where Accimer commands before the eve ; 
 4 But 'twas a poor, a frivolous pretence ; 
 Yet did J not fufpect a bafe defign, 
 Till I received, without a fignature, , 
 In characters familiar to my^eycy. 
 A fentence like a thunderbolt from Jove. 
 I kifs'd the hand in raptures broke the feal 
 " Read tremble and defpair adieu, Petronius!' r 
 Was all the page the folemn page, contain'd j 
 And now I hafte to find my lov'd Ardelia j 
 If /he's not wrong'd, Petronius Maximus 
 May ftill be blefs'd. 
 
 Though Valentinian doats on beauty's charms, 
 Ardelia muft be fafe : True virtue checks 
 A bold licentious wifh, and guards the fair j 
 He durft not drag an angel to his bed. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 As truth and virtue dignifi'd my blifs, 
 The gods alone who judge of fpotkfs worthy 
 
 Muft 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 23 
 
 Muft clear her fame, and vindicate my own-; 
 Or let their vengeance pour in dreadful peais 
 Their heated bolts till chofen curfes fall, 
 In blafts diftinguifh'd, on the emperor's head. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 ^ETIUS GAUDENTIU.S HERACLIUS. 
 
 .ERA.CLIUS ! Say, \vhat has brought thee 
 hither ? 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 The emperor's command he, on the tide 
 Of pleafure and fuccefs, congratulates, 
 Both on the peace, and on Attila's death, 
 The brave G-audentius, and his noble fire ; 
 He greets with thanks, his hardy, veteran friends, 
 For valour, faith, and every great exploit 
 Their arms atchiev'd in tjie rough field of Mars 
 When jflitius finds it fafe to leave the camp, 
 It is his will ye both repair to Rome, 
 To reft awhile from toilfome fcenes of war, 
 And tafte the pleafures of the imperial court. 
 
 JEnus. 
 
 We (hall obey and ere tomorrow's dawn, 
 I reach the city and falute my prince. 
 But whence that figh, my fon ? Art thou afraid (to Gaud.) 
 To venture on the threshold of a court, 
 
 it melt down thy valour or thy fame ? 
 
 Or 
 
34 THE SACK OF ROML. 
 
 Or does foft hope prefent th' hymenial torch, 
 Rekindle in thy breaft a lover's flame, \ 
 
 And bring the fair Eudocia to thine eye ? 
 Thy valour claims her from the emperor's hand, 
 Nor will he longer now protract his vow. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Nor fhali he Eudocia is my wife 
 A foldier's honour refts upon his fword, 
 And mine fhall claim its right. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 He gives Eudocia to thy longing arms, 
 And bids thee hafle to folemnize thy love, 
 In feflal joys and holy nuptial rites. 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Thou art the harbinger of blifs indeed ; 
 Command my gratitude, it mall be thine : 
 I'll haften on, and meet tliee in the forum ; 
 If yet thou haft one wiih ungratified, 
 Command my aid it fhall enfure fuccefs, 
 Complete thy fortune, and fill up thy hopes. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 The princefs waits impatiently to hear 
 The happy moment of her lord's return. 
 
 [Exit HERACLIUSc 
 
 /ETIUS. 
 
 There's not a prince in Valentinian's court 
 Has ferv'd with more fidelity and zea! ; 
 Nor does he flight the fervices of ^Etius, 
 But as a prince he bounteoufly rewards. 
 My fon ! the braveft, moft deferving youth 
 That e'er paternal love clafp'd to his breaft. 
 He crowns thy valour with the choiccft gift 
 A lover ever wifh'd. or hero claimed. 
 
 Yet 
 
THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 Yet while my heart anticipates thy blifs, 
 Thou muft remember that thou liv'ft for Rome: 
 Let not ambition, avarice, or love, 
 Contaminate thy patriotick worth : 
 And as my fvvord has fov'd the commonwealth 
 Drove back her foes, and given peace to Rome, 
 Let thine example teach her to be free. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Infpir'd by thee, by glory, and by fame. 
 No deed of mine fhall ever ftain thy name. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 C ACT 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 ACT II. 
 SCENE I. 
 
 'Palace C/VA-LENTINIAN. 
 Enter VALENTINIAN and HERACLIUS. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 H 
 
 .AST thou feen Maximus ? Is he return 'd ? 
 *Tis vvhifper'd that he's now about the court : 
 1 order'd Ricemar to urge his fhiy 
 To try his valour in the feats of war, 
 Till I found means to footh Ardelia's grief, 
 Or reconcil'd her to my ardent love : 
 Yet I fufpecl: my will is difobey'd. 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 I, through the Campus Martius, faw him paf^ 
 Sullen and fierce as is the baited bull, 
 Whetted for blood and roaring for his prey, 
 When rufliing on the viftim of his rage. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 He furely meditates fome great revenge. 
 lie has a bold, affuming, haughty foul 
 A daring pride that fpurns the lead affront 
 I fear him more than /Etius. 
 
 HEXACLIUS. 
 
 But j^Etius is the idol of the army, 
 And at his beck the young barbarian princes. 
 Haughty and brave, he brooks not thy delay ; 
 Impatient for the promife made Gaudentius, 
 Sighs for a union with the fair Eudocia. 
 
 A fon 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 A fon fo near a fceptre in his eye, 
 May empire give to his afpiring father. 
 
 VALENTIN i AN/ 
 
 Go lead him hither with his favour'd fon, 
 My hand mall rid me from all fear from them : 
 Once in the palace, and the work is done : 
 I'll fave my daughter for a nobler union. 
 But find out Maximus 'tis him I dread j 
 A man thus injur'd never can forgive. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 He lov'd Ardelia with the pureft flame j 
 Indeed ihe was, for innocence and truth, 
 For elegance, true dignity, and grace, 
 The faireft fample of that ancient worth 
 Th' illuftrious matrons boafted to the world 
 When Rome was fam'd for every glorious deed. 
 But fhe's no more ! 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Hah ! flave, forbear 
 
 Mean 'it thou to try my love, or wake my fears > 
 Say thou at once- fufpenfe T ne'er could bear. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 Defpair, refentment, agonizing grief, 
 This morn have clos'd the period of a life 
 Too pure and fpotlefs for. the Roman world. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Then I'm undone forever double the guards ; 
 Go find Petronius out fuffer not him, 
 Nor /Etius, to fee another fun : 
 To make the work complete, bring ^Etius hither ; 
 My fword is ready for a traitor's blood, 
 Nor dare another arm attempt his dearh. 
 
 [Exit HERACLIUS. 
 Down 
 
*$ THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Down coward confcience, nor difturb a prince* 
 My recent crime haunts all my fleeplefs nights ;. 
 Yet, (hall I fill the meafure of my guilt 
 And turn aflTafrm ? Am I fo loft, as thus 
 To (tain my hand with the Patrician blood 
 Pollute my court difgrace the Roman name ? 
 No, that can't be her infamy's complete, 
 And no new crime is wanting in the lift 
 To ftigmatize, and blaft her ancient fame- 
 In this apartment, now my gloomy cell, 
 Where I have feen Ardelia drown 'd in tears, 
 And almoft dying with indignant grief, 
 All other crimes are light let ^)tius die. 
 Enter EDOXIA. 
 
 But hah ! here comes my torment 
 My other confcienee to kill me with a look 
 The fair the excellent the wrong'd Edoxia j 
 Her prefence freezes all my powers of fpeech ; 
 ( dare not lift my eye to meet her frown 
 1 Yn all confufion guilt perdition death. 
 
 [Retiring hafiilj* 
 1 EDOXIA. 
 
 Oh ! fly me not, my fovereign 
 I only come to warn my much lov'd lord, 
 A lowering ftorm may burft upon his head. 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 I fear no ftorms but from an injur'd wife ; 
 The (harp inveftives of neglected beauty. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 My wrongs I here forgive thy fafety now 
 Is all I have to wifh my foul is all alarm. 
 VALFNTINIAN. 
 
 What idle terror has afTail'd thy brain ; 
 
 Or 
 
1 
 
 THE SACK OF ROME. 29 
 
 Or what new rupture threatens empire next ? 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 No foreign foe awakes my anxious thought j 
 The faithful ^tius commands the legions, 
 And guards the ports from Tyber to the Rhine, 
 From bold inroads and fierce barbarick foes. 
 VALSNTINIAN. 
 
 A woman, weaken'd by a fenfe of wrongs^ 
 With a creative fancy, fpreads contagion, 
 If flie names her fears yet tell the caufe, 
 If any caufe thou haft, thus to alarm 
 And agitate my mind. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Petronius Maximus. 
 
 VALENTINIAN, 
 
 What of Petronius ? 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 'Tis him I fear : As from the Circus> 
 Late this morn I came, he enter'd 
 Rage in his eye unheeding what he faw j 
 Loft in deep thought, and wrap'd in dark intrigue, 
 He onward mov'd, with flow and folemn fteps 
 A dark, fix'd brow, and gefture of defpair 
 He walk'd,and ftop'd, and trod, and ftamp'd the ground, 
 And gnam'd his teeth, and clench'd his nervous palm, 
 Then fpread it on his breaft and prefs'd it hard, 
 As if afraid his heart would bnrft its bounds- 
 Then fob'd a lowly figh alas ! Ardelia ! 
 
 And, as the fhadow moves befide the man ? 
 His (teps were meafur'd by an Alan prince ; 
 But neither heeded all the fports of Rome. 
 Forgive my lord, my foft officious care 
 To guard thy peace from each domejftick foe. 
 
 C 2. . VALENTINJAN, 
 
5 o THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Thou beft of women ! how fhall I atone 
 For half the wrongs my faithlefs heart has done 
 To beauty blended with fuperiour worth ? 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Ill boding dreams and gloomy apparitions- 
 Frefli bleeding ghufts, and fhades of darkeft hue, 
 Haunt all my fl umbers fome deep deflgn, 
 Of terrible import, in Maximus I faw ; 
 Wafte not a moment oh ! fecure thyfelf, 
 And when we meet again, we'll talk of love. [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 VALENTINIAN and HERACLIUS. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 r S attends thy will, as does his fon 
 With them Beotius, prefect of the city. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Let only ^Etius enter tell him 
 The bufinefs is of fuch import 
 No other ear muft witnefs thou wilt thyfelf 
 Take care of both Beotius and Gaudentius. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 I will my lord he and his noble friend 
 May fight Attila in the fhades below, 
 If that fierce warrior dill remembers Rome. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 No vulgar fouls we'll fend the gods this day ; 
 Petroniu-s next, and ihen defy the world. 
 
 [*// HB&A.C LOTS. 
 My 
 
THE SACK OF ROMS. 
 
 My arm be ftrong away with confcious qualms 
 Hi a is a life worthy of Cellar's fword : : 
 'Tis true I but fufpeft his cover'd treafon ; 
 Yet, ^Etius muft die as (hall Gaudentius. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 EUHOCI A and PL AC I D I A, 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 o, 
 
 H ! my Placid i a, 
 The good, the generous .^Etins is dead, 
 And murder'd by the hand of Valentinian'. 
 
 PLACIDIA. 
 Impoflible ! 'tis but the tale of malice, whifper'd 
 
 round, 
 By fonie vile foe to Valentinian's houfe, 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 'Tis done, 
 
 And hell itfelf records the dreadful deed- 
 
 PLACIDIA. 
 
 My father ne'er could (lain the imperial throne. 
 By fuch a crime as this ! 
 
 What ! like the madraan of old. Philip's race. 
 Plunge his drawn dagger in the faithful breaft 
 Of fuch a friend as ^Etius ? 
 
 EUDOCIA 
 He hasj 
 
 And my Gandentius juft efcap'd the blow 
 Heraclius defign'd, by fpeedy flight, 
 And in his (lead Beotius was flain. 
 
 PLACIDIA, 
 
3* THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 PLACIDIA, 
 
 Where is the virtuous youth ? and where his friends 
 
 ElJDOCIA. 
 
 He pafs'd the guards, Traulifta by his fide, 
 And, through the weftern gate, they, fwift as lightning-, 
 Hafted to Liguria though much he lov'd, 
 He'll ne'er forgive the murd'rer of his fire j 
 He has a filial heart and valiant arm, 
 And nature's inftinft wakes a tender ftrife- 
 The genuine virtues of his youthful heart, 
 Cherifh'd by reafon ripen 'd to fublmie, 
 Nurs'd up by honour, gratitude and worth, 
 Call loud for vengeance o'er his father's tomb. 
 PLACIDIA. 
 
 Alas ! the gath'ring ftorm what chofen blafts, 
 Heaven's vengeance next pours down, is with the gods, 
 
 EuDOClA. 
 
 The death of ^Etius augurs ill to Rome ; 
 His foul, too firm to fear, or Goths, or Huns j 
 Too great to be corrupted, or deceiv'd, 
 Sooth'd their rough paflions, balanc'd their ambition ; 
 They lov'd, they fear'd, and will avenge his death. 
 
 PLACIDIA. 
 
 When jealoufy's at war with wild ambition, 
 And reafon quits the helm amid the ftorm, 
 The furious hurricane of paflion fwells 
 Till ev'ry fail hurls on to fure perdition. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Ah ! my Gaudentius could Eudocia's blood 
 Wafh <-if the guilt contracted by her (ire, 
 Thefe veins I'd ope, and warm libations pour 
 Down at thy feet, to make his daughter 
 
 Worthy 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Worthy of thy love^ love did I fay ? no- 
 He muft forever hate defpife deteft 
 And curfe the name of Caefar's blafted race, 
 And fly the fight of his too wretched daughter;, 
 PLACIDIA. 
 
 Alas ! I fear I know not what I fear 
 Imagination's fliort of what I dread 
 From complicated guilt, which ftalks abroad, 
 Oh 1 Heaven ayert the deftiny of Rome 1 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 I'm fick of life of pageantry and pomp 
 Of thrones and fceptres flain'd by human blood ; 
 Cojjpe let us wander down the facred walks, 
 The filent grots, where virtue once reclin'd. 
 
 The verdant forefts bend their lofty tops 
 To make a covert for the weary head ; 
 There tranquiliz'd beneath pale Cynthia's /hade, 
 We'll breathe and whifper difappointed love * r 
 And weep our country, family and friends, 
 J Till bright Aurora ftreaks the eaftern fkies 
 And lights us buck among the bufy throng. 
 
 {Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 VALENTINIAN and HERACLIUS. 
 
 VALENTINIAN*. 
 
 JL HE gilded morn in tranfports hails the day. 
 And the fhrill trumpet founds to martial fports j 
 But yet a certain heavinefs hangs o'er me, 
 As Chough a tempeft burft from midnight clouds. 
 
 Were 
 
 r-f-^ 
 
34 THE^SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Were I afraid of either gods or men, 
 I'd fwear this day is like tile ides of March, 
 Big with portentous omens : Calphnrnia's dreams, 
 And my Edoxia's fears, bear fiich a femblance 
 That through the ni^ht, (even if a cricket moves) 
 I flart I cry r my evil genius ! fay, 
 Doft come with yEtius' or Petronius" fvvord ? 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 No fuperftitious dread fhould ere pervade 
 The royal bofom of a Roman prince ; 
 Encircled deep by faithful veteran bands 
 Who wait hi? fiat, and obferve his nod, 
 To feed his pleafures, or to blaft his foes ; 
 To light the capitol, or guard the ftate, 
 Or make the empire tremble at his frown. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 The noble -flitius, of princely birth, 
 Poflefs'd a foul by Roman valour warm'd, 
 That won the plaudits both of friends and foes ; 
 The legions lov'd the citizens ador'd, 
 And all will murmur at his fudden fail ; 
 Yet more I fear Petronius's rage, 
 Than all the city, fenators, or troops, 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 Thou haft done well to cut a traitof down 
 Ere he ufurp'd androb'd thee of a throne ; 
 And if plebeian, or patrician tongues, 
 Should utter menace, or a plaintive word, 
 Teach them the fate of Rome hangs on thy will. 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 But where is Maximus ? 
 
 Though he's in friendfhip, gen Von s and fincere, 
 Yet injur'd once, implacably he hates : 
 
 'Twcu'd 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. $ 
 
 'Twou'd beggar language to defcribe his pride, 
 His ftrength of paffion whenarous'd to rage ; 
 Inexorable vengeance tears his foul : 
 Conftant and noble, as a god he loves, 
 But as a furious fiend, rewards his foes ; 
 Nought but their death can cool his pailions down. 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 Petronius Maximus returns no more 
 To interrupt the pleafures of the court : 
 Ardelia dead the funeral pile burnt down 
 Her afhes gathered in a golden urn ; 
 He in defpair has left the imperial city. 
 Befide the margin of the Tufcan fhore, 
 'In a fmall villa of the Anician name, 
 He's gone to weep his folly and his fate. 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Where are his friends ? his num'rous train of clients? 
 Where the admiring crowds fed by his hand, 
 And balking in his wealth ? 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 Juft as the world in ev'ry age have done, 
 Paying their court where better fortune fmiles ; 
 'Tis not the fun, when muffled up in clouds 
 And plunging down the weftern brirly main 
 Mankind adore. 
 
 The eaftern monarch juft from Thetis' bed, 
 With rofy blu flies on his morning beams, 
 Majeftick rifing o'er the burnifli'd world. 
 Beholds his homagers on ev'ry fide ; 
 As in the field of Mars amid the fports, 
 The fon of Theodotius, is a god. 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Yet anguiih tears, and love inflames my bread ; 
 
 Oh I 
 
1$ THE 'SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Oh ! would -oblivion wrap a fable veil 
 'O'er my remorfe, and o'er Ardelia's grief, 
 O'er her bright form, and her untimely death, 
 I might defy the vengeance of her lord : 
 Methinks I fee her lovely tearful eye 
 With fcornful glances fir'd till grief and fear, 
 And confirmation numb my torpid frame. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 Why fhould an- emperor fear ? 
 
 VALENTINIAN, 
 Say, where, *s Gaudentius ? 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 He, fwift of foot as an Herulian archer, 
 Efcap'd my fword, and fhehers in the camp ; 
 But after him with thy-exprefs command 
 A trufty meflenger I have difpatch'd : 
 This night his fire may meet him in the mades. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Where is Traulifta prince of the Oftrogoths, 
 Pauntlefs and brave his firft his chofen friend ? 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 Gone to Liguria with the fon of .^Etius j 
 He lov'd him much. 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 Then let him (hare his fate. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 
 Leave them to me, and chafe thy cares away j 
 The fports are ready guarded every poft, 
 And while the victims in the Circus bleed, 
 Smile that thy foes on the fame moment fall. 
 
 VALENTJNIAN. 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 3 ; 
 
 VALENTINIAN. 
 
 Hafte to the field of Mars there I'll forget, 
 A pang e'er touch'd my heart. 
 
 HERACLIUS. 
 There learn all Rome 
 That if they brave the mandates of thy lip, 
 A fov 'reign's arm mail puriifti as it ought. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS folus In difguifejuft returned to the city > 
 where he e wasJJje c wn the murdered body of JEtius 
 
 A S this the dowry of the fair Eudocia> 
 The mangled body of my much lov'd fire 
 Prefented by her father's guilty hand ? 
 Juft gods avenge the trait'rous deed avenge ! 
 What is the faith or what the gratitude, 
 Or what the facred promife of an emperor ! 
 As cruelty portrays an abjeft mind, 
 Servility precedes the fall of ftates : 
 In this declenfion of the Roman world, 
 While tyrants dip the fcymitar in blood, 
 And fport on human mifery at large, 
 Shall I fit down with folded arms and fee 
 A monfter gorging on a parent's blood j 
 Or unaveng'd behold a father die 
 By Valentinian's bafe ungrateful hand ! 
 Yet he, alas ! is my Eudocia's fire : 
 But glory, fame, ambition and revenge 
 Bid me erafe this paflion from my heart, 
 
 D And 
 
3 -S THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 And boldly ftem the madnefs of the times, 
 Recover Rome and reinftate her power, 
 And bring her back to glory, wealth and fame. 
 But hah ! Eudocia, penfive and alone ; 
 
 [Seeing EUDOCIA at adiftance. 
 Shall I advance, or banifh her forever ? 
 
 \Wh\le be btftates, EUDOCIA/OTC/J; cro/es the Jlage without 
 
 observing him.'] 
 
 .One tear diflTolves the firmnefs of my foul, 
 Unmans the mind, and melts the warrior down ; 
 Dafhes his hope, and weakens his refolve ; 
 'Tis ruin to retire death to fpeak. 
 Chafie as Diana in each graceful move, 
 While Venus lights the features of her face 
 And gives her fon the torch to fire my foul ; 
 Yet honour, confcience, virtue and the world 
 Forbid a union with his bloody houfe ; 
 My father's murderer the gods forbid ! 
 Yet file's all innocence and virtue's foul 
 Shines forth confpicuous in her heavenly form : 
 I hafte from her as from the hand of death. 
 
 \&xfunt different 
 
 ACT 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 39 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 MAXIM us folusy in the Anlcian Palace, thefunjujl 
 
 jL HE bird of death that nightly pecks the roof, 
 Or fhrieks befide the caverns of the dead j 
 Or paler fceptres that infeft the tombs 
 Of guilt and darknefs, horror or defpair, 
 Are far more welcome to a wretch like me 
 Than yon bright rays that deck the opening morn j 
 That fofdy gliding o'er the dewy field 
 Give life to nature cheer the daified lawn, 
 Where my Ardelia trod the dappled mead, 
 And breath'd frefh fweetnefs through the blooming dale, 
 What is the fun to Maximus ! 
 Its noon tide ray fhews him the fport of fools ; 
 The fimple pander of a lecher's guilt. 
 Ye gods ! was reafon lofl, that, fpiritlefs, 
 My weak, my daftard hand held back this fword 
 From ftriking inftant at the tyrant's heart, 
 When on a frivolous pretence he urg'd, 
 Before another day, I'd fee the camp ? 
 
 But by the powers that fhake the ^Etnean vaults, 
 By all the deities of Rome I fwear ; 
 And ftill more folemnly I bind my foul, 
 By the great God to whom Ardelia bow'd, 
 My vengeance (hall not fleep. 
 
 Enter T R A U L I S T A. 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 What caufe is there for Maximus's grief? 
 Why is thy bofom tortur'd with defpair > 
 
 Unfold 
 
: 
 
 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Unfold the tale, command TraulinVs fword j 
 Wake up full vengeance, or forbear to grieve. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Tortures may feize, and furies tear my heart, 
 But words can't utter what my foul endures ; 
 Confufion darkens all my powers of fpeech, 
 And blufhes blaft the wretch that facrific'd 
 His fame his peace his honour and his wife 
 To glut a tyrant's luft. My brain grows hot 
 It kindles to diftractron yet Valentinian lives. 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 What, did the monfter, in thine abfence, dare 
 Profane the facred threshold of thy peace ? 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 She, ever duteous to her lord's command, 
 Was, by the darkeft plot of hell, deceiv'd j 
 This ring, fo often by her hufband fent 
 In times too dangerous for other mefTage, 
 To her prefented, by the bafe Heraclius, 
 Reluctantly, me haften'd to the palace 
 Though terror feiz'd and chil'd her frighted foul : 
 She through each hollow, vacant room was drag'd,. 
 Till in the filent deep abode of guilt, 
 As a dark fiend, the emperor alone 
 Waited the victim of his madden'd flame : 
 He feiz'd his prey nor cries, nor tears avail'd ; 
 She Heaven implor'd to pitying Angels pray'd, 
 And in defpair me call'd on her Petronius, 
 Yet thought his fanclion back'd the vile defign, 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 And hates thee for fufpefted perfidy. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 'Twaspaft the midnight watch when I return M j 
 
 With 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 4* 
 
 With anxious dread and deep fufpenfe I flew 
 To her abode of rnifery and grief. 
 In fables drefs'd a taper juft burnt down 
 That darkly glimmer'd gloom from fide to fide- 
 Indignant fcorn glanc'd from her languid eye ; 
 While tears bedew'd her bright angelick face, 
 As if a cherub wept, the radiant beams 
 Of ftars obfcur'd, or of extingiiifh'd funs : 
 Difmav'd fhe held a dagger in her hand 
 As half refolv'd to plunge it in her bread, 
 Yet trembled at the purpofe of her foul ; 
 I caught her hand, and drew the weapon thence, 
 Ere (he perceiv'd her wretched hufband nigh. 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Sure (he's too good to let refentment burn. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Poor Maximus ! (hecry'd fpite of thy guilt* 
 My foul frill pities thee receive this pledge 
 To cheat fome other foft, believing fool : 
 Blot from thy thought that e'er Ardelia liv'd: 
 To be the fport of riot and debauch." 
 Then fix'd the fatal fignet on my hand, 
 This curfed fignet that has feal'd my doom, 
 
 [Shrws thejignef* 
 
 And branded me with infamy forever. 
 She breath'd a fob as if a feraph %h'd, 
 Drop'd a kind tear, and fmii'd a laft adieu 
 
 THAULISTA. 
 Hah ! dead ! fay'ft thou Ardelia's dead > ^ 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 All the big paflions of a noble foul 
 ThriU'd through her heart, and (iiffen'd all her frame j 
 J>a The 
 
42 THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 The mining angel left this blufted world, 
 And now methinks, ineffably ferene, 
 On yon bright azure golden fldrted cloud, 
 Ardelia gently chides this tardy hand 
 That lingers thus while unaveng'd her death, 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 I bind me by this fword, a foldier's oath* 
 To vindicate in blood her wounded fame. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Her foul unftain'd, immaculate and pure, 
 Not meagre malice dare impeach her mind ; 
 Nor e'en Megara's tongue, though- it were dip'd 
 In all the poifonsof her curling fnakes, 
 Till the gall ganger'd every name but hers, 
 Durft whifper aught to wound Ardelia's fame : 
 But yet her wrongs may urge thy dauntlefs arm, 
 And give full vigour to a bold defign, 
 To finite a fcepter'd brow yes that is all 
 The man himfelf 's a poltroon 
 Yet he's an emperor. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 This makes him worthy of TraulinVs fwonL. 
 My arm mail aid till juftice holds the fcale 
 To foften grief, or injury repair. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Go, find thy friends, and ere the work begins, 
 I afk a moment to indulge my grief ; 
 4 The luxury of'tears' is not for me 
 My foul's too big for fuch a foft relief j 
 Yet I may rave and riot o'er my woes. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE 
 
THE SACK OF ROME,. 43 
 
 SCENE IL 
 
 MAXIMUS.*^GAUDENTIUS> 
 
 MAXIMUM. 
 
 T. 
 HAT dignity the gods themfelves infpir'd, 
 
 When Rome inflam'd with patriotick zeal, 
 Long taught the world to tremble and admire,. 
 Lies faint and languid in the wane of fame, 
 And mud expire in luxury's lew'd lap 
 If not fupported by fome vigorous arm ; 
 Th' Armorici 'tis faid have pafs'd the Rhine, 
 And ruder tribes, both Goth and Vandal hofts, 
 May foon be thundering at the gates of Rome ; 
 While here, a treacherous, bloody minded prince 
 Stains the imperial court witlvflaughter'cl friends, 
 And riots in the zenith of his pride. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 And are there none in this diffracted ftate 
 Whofe courage, zeal, and energy of mind, 
 May ftem the tide, and break the tyrant's yoke ? 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 The Roman. people, ficken'dby his floth^ 
 Detefl a weak, a lecherous, daftard prince 
 Who yet cuts down the braveft men Rome boafts ; 
 And mocks tjie mod heroick of her fons : 
 Abufed virgins rave in wild defpair ; 
 Affronted matrons weep, and beauty fighs, 
 While groans reecho from the tomb of grief, 
 And cry for vengeance on the emperor's head ; 
 For innocence betray 'd, and virtue fold. 
 
4* THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Difmay'd by blood, the fenators deteft 
 A fovereign, cruel, impotent and bafe, 
 And all the army's ripen 'd for revolt. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 "Tis time to dafh him from th* imperial throne 5 
 Name his fuccelTor, and the work is done. 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 The crown, the fceptre, the regalia wait, 
 Petronius's will to guide the realm, 
 And bid the miftrefs of the world revive. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Th' imperial crown has not a charm for me ; 
 Hung on a foldier's fpear, expos'd to fale, 
 Stain'd with the blood of a long line of Casfars, 
 From Julius down to Valentinian's reign, 
 *Tis fall'n too low to wake ambition up. 
 
 The palace groans with guilt too dark to name ; 
 *Tis but the fplendid theatre of woe, 
 From age to age the fhambles of mankind, 
 On which to facrifice the richeft blood 
 The Roman annals boatf the crimfon ftream 
 Has ras'd the memory that a virtue liv'd, 
 Or that a noble deed from virtue f prang 
 In the proud boafts of ancient Roman fame. 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Ambition, in a noble, virtuous mind, 
 Is the firft paflion that the gods implant, 
 And foars to glory till it meets the fkjes : 
 If it has place in Maximus's breaft r 
 Fortune, who fports with diadems and crowns 
 This day may hail him emperor of the weft. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS, 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 4.5. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS paufes a moment, retires thoughtfully a fe*v* 
 fteps, fmotberi an exclamation , and only articulates 
 
 Oh ! my Eudocia. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 "Pis juft revenge that animates my arm ;, 
 But did ambition urge' my purpofe on ? 
 Yet, my young penfive friend, if Valentinian 
 Wraps his mantle o'er his trembling head 
 Like Julius Caefar crys " Brutus my fon," 
 Will not Eudocia unnerve thy arm ? 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Ah ! my Eudocia ! would he were not thy fire $ 
 But from my heart I tear thee for a moment, 
 'Till ^itius's saanes are appeas'd, 
 And fair Ardelia's wrongs are all aveng'd. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 But art thou fure thou canft this teft fuftain ? 
 This teft fevere, of friendship, honour, love, 
 Will try thy foul, and probe thee to the heart. 
 Will not thy purpofe fhake, when her foft image 
 Dances in thine eye, and pity pleads ? 
 But yet thou haft a ft niggle more fevere ; 
 Thou may'ft as well avenge thy bleeding friends, 
 And draw thy fword in injured virtue's caufe : 
 'Tis whifper'd through the court the Suevick chief* 
 The valiant Ricemar, has purchas'd peace 
 With Genferic the terror of the weft ; 
 And that the heirefs of the imperial throne 
 Is the rich price that Hunneric his fon 
 Is on his way to wed the fair Eudocia. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Petronius, thou haft fix'd my wav'ring will ; 
 Let me lead, on my fword alone, 
 
 Without 
 
46 THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 Without another's aid, mall find its way 
 To Valentinian's heart. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 The hour draws nigh the exercife begins 
 Arm thy brave heart, and bid adieu to love. 
 
 [Exit MAXIMUS* 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 How would my eyeballs from their fockets ftart 
 To fee Eudocia in that monfter's arms ? 
 Can her fair foul mix with the horrid brood, 
 Begot and nurtured in the Qmtdian lakes ! 
 
 Beneath the vaulted, black Carpathian mount,. 
 Amidtt the darknefs of Cimmerian damps, 
 As nature (ported with infernal fiends 
 She gender'd there this ill form'd fqualid birth, 
 And mid'fi the jargon of difeordant founds 
 She call'd the beardlefs, uncouth monfter, Hunneric : 
 And mall this favage violate her charms ? 
 Save her, ye gods ! oh ! fave the Roman name 
 From fuch a ftain, indelible and dark. 
 
 [*//. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 MAXIMUS*^TRAULISTA. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 JtXAIL, mighty prince of great Hermannic's line ! 
 Is thy fword whetted to avenge thy friends ? 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 No eagle darting down the flaughterM field 
 Of human carnage ftrew'd with mangled limbs, 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 47 
 
 More fwiftly bends its talons to the prey, 
 Than fhall my fword deal thunderbolts around^ 
 Whene'er Petronius wifiies for its aid. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 But art thou fure that not one traitor lurks, 
 'Nor coward heart in thy felecled band ? 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 There's not a man but what would bay the lion ? 
 Or meet the tyger growling from his den, 
 By hunger urg'd to prowl for human prey. 
 
 When Casfar's dial marks meridian day, 
 They'll fpring to a 61 ion at the trump of war ; 
 As the train'd fteed who (huffs the northern. air 
 Leaps through the crowd, and leaves the winds behind, 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Have they ne'er trembled at an emperor's frown, 
 Nor felt the fervile homage of a (lave ? 
 Will not the valiant arm grow ftck and flag, 
 And the drawn dagger droop e'en in thy hand 
 As it approaches Valentinian's bread ? 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Have I not fworn by Mars's fiery (word, 
 The redden'd fymbol of the Scythian faith. 
 To aid thee to avenge thine injur'd love ? 
 Not Cafca's arm e'er gave a furer blow 
 Than (hall TraulUla's. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 The great Triumvirs of the world liave fall'n 
 By weaker hands than thine thou art my Caflius . 
 But I fear Gaudentius he's of a fofter mould 
 Humane and tender though a valiant prince j 
 Ha feels the fofteft paflion for Eudotia. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
4* THE<SACK OF ROME. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 He feels no pang but for Eudocia's fake ; 
 Yet jealoufy has wak'd a war within ; 
 Refentment, love, and rage, by turns diftracl, 
 And make his foul a chaos of defpair. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Will he overcome this painful ftruggle 
 In a noble bread ? Can he renounce her charms ? 
 When filial tears are leagu'd with juft revenge, 
 When duty, fame, and glory combat love, 
 Will the fond lover a6l the hero's part, 
 And fnatch the princefs from a rival's arms, 
 Mid'ft blood and /laughter, and the frefh grown yews 
 Hk fword may drew around her father's tomb ? 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Strike, now's the time, before his paflions cool. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 Will Valentinian venture to the fports ? N 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 The emperor comes with more than ufual pomp, 
 A chofen cohort added to the guards. 
 
 MAXIMUS. ' 
 
 Though guilt makes cowards, juflice finds them<Jut 
 Not all the legions of the weftern world 
 Shall fcreen him from my fword, my juft revenge. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE 
 

 THE SACK OF ROME. 49 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 E U D O C I A and P L A C I D I A. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 
 A: 
 
 .LAS ! my fears my throbbing heart lie ilill, 
 Nor ftartle thus, .e'en at a quiv'ring leaf : 
 The downy pillow gives me no repofe, 
 And flumbers fly from the foft filken couch ; 
 111 boding terrors make the gilded roof; 
 
 Methinks I hear a diftant din of arms 
 
 alarms and fhouts [Shouts without, 
 
 As though from heaven's battlements were burft 
 Some dreadful ruin, that may empire make. 
 
 PLACIDIA. 
 
 Another fliout I fear fome fignal blow : 
 This early morn, as fleep forfook my lids, 
 I from my window faw Traulifta hafte ; 
 Two chiefs befide led on a chofen band, 
 So like Thuringian blood hounds in their geftures, 
 I trembled at tlie fight ; yet as they pafs'd 
 I caught a fignal meant to be conceal'd, 
 A hoarfe, low, hollow voice growl'd from the midfl, 
 ** Hade to the Campus Martius." 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Ah ! what new fhcck ? tlie tumult bends this way 
 Oh ! Valentinian ! [The ncife draivs near, 
 
 PLACIDIA. 
 
 The furious multitude rufh towards the palace ; 
 I hear the legions fhout long live the Emperor 
 Petronius Maximus. 
 
 E EUDOCIA, 
 
50 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 EuDOCIA. 
 
 Undone undone forever ! 
 
 Where is our father ? Oh ! where the good Edoxia i 
 And midft the group of mifery and woe 
 Would heav'n permit ah ! where is my Gaudentius ? 
 [GA.UDENTIUS rufbes fuddenfy into the Palace Soldiers and 
 Guards in tumult without.'] 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 He's here, my princefs lie guards the fair Eudocia 
 Protects her life trom every ruffian hand, 
 Nor fate again fliall fnatch her from mine arms. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 Oh ! leave a wretch abandon'd to her fears. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 What ! leave Eudocia. midft this furious dorm 1 
 Name it no more death (talks abroad, 
 And vengeance lifts his arm but Heaven forbid 
 That innocence fhould feel the dread effects 
 Of cruelty and guilt. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 If e'er thou lov'd if pity touch thy foul 
 Fly hence to fuccour Rome, and fave my father* 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Thy father ! he had a friend whofe arm- 
 Yes, /Etius was his friend Oh ! .^Etius. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Barbarous man ! can'fl thou reproach Eudocia, 
 And chill her with the terror of a 'name 
 1 hat, rives her inmoft foul with guilt and horror ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Forgive me, princefs. 
 
 EUDOCIA* 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 51 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Oh ! Gaudentius 
 
 Could my poor life atone my clay cold corfe 
 I'd lay on ^Stius*. tomb fprinkle his urn 
 Refrefli his memory with the Lift purple drop 
 That warms to love, the heart of thy Eudocia. 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Pardon the tranfports of my. filial breaft, 
 That pours its forrows o'er a father's tomb j 
 Great ^Etius's virtues juftly claim 
 A tributary tear from half the world. 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Had'ft thou a marble heart, or ftoick foul,- 
 Unmov'd at aught the deflinies decree, 
 Though death cut down the hero, father, friend, 
 I'd fpurn a wretch that mock'd thefe tender names 
 Back from my foul to ravage the wild woods. 
 But fay, what tale hangs on thy tongue 
 Thou durft not name ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 If fate commands, and wraps both in a fhroud, 
 We mud forget that e'er our fathers liv'd. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 Hah ! parricide ! 
 
 Haft thou the death of ./Etius aveng'd ? 
 What ! durft thou lift thy facrilegious hand, 
 And hurl a blow that fevers me forever 
 From thine arms ? then come with this bold front 
 And fubtle tongue, to lay thy fword 
 Wet with her father's blood, at his Eudocia's feet ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Not all th^wrongs I fufter'd from thy fire, 
 Nor yet the vengeance that my own demand, 
 
 Could 
 
5* THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Could urge my arm to aim an impious blow 
 That might a moment interrupt thy peace \ 
 But Maximus 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 What of the traitor Maximus ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Ought never to forgive Ardelia's wrongs. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Tell me the worft am I the only wretch 
 Of all my houfe, that lives to weep ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Like the thrice heated bolt from heav'ns high arch, 
 Through the dark gloom of dreary night and horror, 
 That falls and blafts the cedar's lofty top, 
 The lightening fell on Valentinian's head. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 From heaven ? no, 'twas hell that belch'd the flame j 
 By jarring fiends the pointed fvvord was whet, 
 And them waft witnefs to the horrid deed. 
 Let us, Placidia, hade with trembling fteps, 
 "(Ere earth fhall fink beneath his guilty feet,) 
 Like the twin fifters of misfortune lead, 
 If yet the emprefs lives, to her apartment. 
 F The Pnnccjfcs in an agony cf grief retire. Exit GAUDEN 
 TIUS.] 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 The Palace E D O X I A, fo/a. 
 
 WCo'er, 
 HEN will thefe dark and lowering clouds pals 
 And brighter afpecl:s tinge the weilern fkies ? 
 
 This 
 
THE SACK OF ROME, $3, 
 
 This day is big with omens of defpair, 
 And fome wild tumult rages loud abroad ; 
 Each face is pale, and every eye's afkance, 
 As wrapt in dark myfterious intrigue : 
 That Maximus muft meditate revenge 
 There's not a doubt ; and when he ftrikes 
 'Twill be a deadly blow his arm difdains 
 A mean or vulgar ftroke and his bold fpirit 
 Shakes at no refolve yet 'tis too foon 
 To execute the deed his dreaded rage, 
 Oh ! Heaven ! juft Heaven reftrain ! 
 Hah ! who art thou that ent'reft thus abrupt ? 
 
 [LEO enters haftily in difgulfe* 
 Difguis'd, as if beneath a vizard, lurk'd 
 Mifchief and treafon murder guilt and death I 
 
 LEO. 
 
 There is no time for leave of audience now ; 
 Hafte hence my emprefs fly the palace gates 
 Ere all the avenues are feiz'd by Maximos. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Is then the emperor fiain ? 
 Am I the flave of Maximus ? 
 Forbid it all ye powers cf heaven and earth ! 
 
 LEO. 
 Thy perfon may be fafe, if not a moment's loft, 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 What ! like a timid fugitive to fly, 
 And rove a friendlefs world from court to court ? 
 Though royalty is tois'd from gale to gale 
 On fortune's fickle wing, the fportive bubble, 
 The plaything of her moft capricious hour j 
 Yet know, Edoxia dares to hold a throne, 
 And lias a foul to fcourge a traitor's guilt. 
 
 E z Name 
 
54 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Name thou the firft who ftruck the hn pious blow 
 That makes the glory of the imperial crown, 
 He'll feel what vengeance 'tis my anninflicls* 
 LEO. 
 
 Petronius led the band the cohorts join'd 
 Traulifta waited at the Campus Martins, 
 '"Till Valentinian enter'd. 
 The fierce barbarian ftruck his helmet off, 
 And, fwift as lightening, fell an hundred blows ; 
 His trembling foul efcap'd without a groan ; 
 The army and the Gothic princes cry'd 
 Long live the emperor, Petronias Maximus. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Forfook betray 'd and widow M in an hour ! 
 Alas ! iny daughters ! where are the lovely maids ? 
 Are my Eudocia and Placidia fafe, 
 Or are the charms of innocence and worth, 
 Of virgin beauty, piety, and truth, 
 The fport of Gothic flaves I [Enter 
 
 , -- Ah ! my Placidia ! 
 This tender woe becomes thy filial eye : 
 Alas, Eudocia ! lovely in thy grief ; 
 I can no more than fighs and tears be flow,. 
 'Tisall I have to lend my haplefs children. 
 EUDOCIA 
 
 Lend not a figh to me I am too wretched 
 But fpare thy tears for thofe who may be bleft.. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 My tears for thee can never ceafe to flow ; 
 Yet tears are but unfeeaily gifts indeed, 
 And ill become the fbft hymenial hour. 
 
 This was the' day, by folemn promife made 
 His noble fire Gaudeluius might have claim M 
 
 His 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Ills 16vely bride, and fcal'd his nuptials 
 Witli tlie fair Ewdocia. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 .Name liim no more 
 Let me forget that e'er I was belov'd, 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Thefe tears indulge, to bathe his facred urn, 
 And while they trickle o'er thy blooming cheek, 
 Water the willows round thy father's tomb, 
 Till the "brave veteran yEtius (hall chace 
 The bold Petronius from the imperial throne, 
 
 Ah ! ^Etius ! Oh ! happy Rome, if .Etius had liv'eh 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Had yEtius liv'd ! Juft gods ! what means Eudocia ? 
 Has the monfter flain the noble -2Etius, 
 And rais'd fo high tlie mounds of death around, 
 That juftice cannot reach a traitor's heart ? 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Great .^Etius is dead fpare me tlie reft, 
 Nor from my bleeding bread the-ftopy wring. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 I'm loft and wilder'd in this mazy path ; 
 What furious fiend prefides this awful day ! 
 On every fide forne fpeclre ghaftly grins, 
 Through floods of reeking gore, and beckons clown 
 To Hades' dark, benighted, difmal fhcre. 
 
 ACT 
 
5$. THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 S C E N E I. 
 
 M A X I M U S, folus. 
 
 N 
 
 OW what am I ? an emperor 
 
 a fplendid wretch 
 
 Perch'd on the blood ftain'd fummit of the world. 
 Search through each horrid wild of dreary woe, 
 From Tyber's ft ream to Danube's frozen banks, 
 From fair Hetruria to the Hyrcanian wood, 
 Or blacker forefts of Carpathian gloom, 
 There's not a culprit fo completely curs'd 
 Tortur'd in pomp in tenfold mifery plung'd, 
 And torn with guilty greatnefs, as myfelf. 
 Happy Damocles only envy'd king, 
 Whofe reign began and ended in a day ! 
 
 My vengeance now's complete ; but where's my peace ? 
 Oh ! could I leave the world of Roman ftaves, 
 Exil'd to Italy's moft diftant bounds, - 
 Refume that life of innocence and eafe 
 Which blefs'd the noontide of my happier days, 
 When my Ardelia's fmile crown'd all my blifs \ 
 
 But ah ! her name 
 
 Wakes all the baleful paffions of my foul. 
 
 If Valentinian's grim and ghaflly ghoft 
 Still wanders here, and can be more accursed, 
 Let mad Alefto's furious fitters join 
 To make his woes complete and doubly damn'd,. 
 Let him look through the dank and difmal Shades, 
 Of night and death in anguifii let him fee 
 His rival riot in Edoxia's arms. 
 
 Enter 
 
THE SACK OF ROMS. ,5 
 
 Enter LEO. 
 
 My friend my faithful Leo. 
 LEO. 
 
 I am the friend of Rome, and of Pctronius 
 Of law of juftice and the rights of man 
 The fenators of Rome and of Edoxia* 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Is the imperial family fee u re ? 
 Let not the fmalleft difreipect be mewn 
 Or to the emprefs, or her royal houfe.' 
 LEO. 
 
 Edoxia fits like fome majeftlck oak, 
 Or fairer cedar, that o'ertops the hills, 
 Strip'd of its leafy robes fhook to the roof, 
 By the rude tempeft, or autumnal blafts ; 
 The ftorm fubfides, the naked branches hufh'd, 
 Silent and ftill, demand a pitying tear 
 From ev'ry way worn traveller's weeping eye, 
 Who us'd to reft beneath its friendly (hade. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 The wheel of fortune,- rapid in its flight, 
 Lags not for man, when on its f\*ift routine ; 
 Nor does the goddefs ponder unrefolv'd : 
 She wafts at once, and on her lofty car, 
 Lifts up her puppet mounts him to the fkies, 
 Or from the pinnacle, hurls headlong down, 
 The deep abyfs of difappointed hope. 
 
 Thus the firft ftroke fuccefsful 
 A beardlefs Goth huzza'd, " Petronius reigns !" 
 The factious legions caught the feeble found ; 
 And the fame moment faw the imperial robes 
 Torn from one emperor, and another made, 
 Without a murmur from the fervile throng : 
 
 Bornq 
 
55 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Borne through trie crowd till to the palace brought,. 
 I've not yet heard Heraclius's fate. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 The faithful minion caught a thoufand wounds, 
 Aim'd at his mailer by Traulifta's band ; 
 He curs'd alternate, heaven, hirafelf and thee, 
 And di'd an hero, though he'd liv'd a (lave. 
 
 MAXJMUS. 
 
 Then bid a truce to (laughter ; * 
 
 Let not a drop of Roman blood be fpilt : 
 And now, I have another game to play ; 
 Edoxia muftbe mine her hand I'll feize 
 Her heart I leave till time may do its work*. 
 By a long line of anceftry, a queen, 
 Her regal title to the imperial crown 
 Mufl bind it fad on Maximus's brow.. 
 
 LEO, 
 
 She ftands fuperiour to life's roughen'd ftorms j 
 Looks calmly down,. and bids the waves roll on 
 Till the laft furge ingulphs her weary head. 
 Yet this new fcene may ihake her firm refolve, 
 And raife a tempeftin her tranquil bre?.ft. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Repair to her if poffible perfuade - 
 Yet fix'd as fate is Maximus's will ; 
 Though keen refentment agitates her breaft, 
 Or her indignant foul ftiould burft with rage, 
 Yet ere tomorrow's fun defcends the vale, 
 And hides behind yon weflern burnifh'd hill, 
 Our hands are join 'd by wedlock's facred tie ; 
 It mull be fo, or I'm but half aveng'd. [Exit LEO, 
 
 'Tis done the envy'd mailer of the world conceals 
 
 A thoufand 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 A thoufand pangs beneath a purple robe ; 
 Yet furies lurk, and vipers gnaw within, 
 And give the lie to fplendid pomp without. 
 
 [Exh, 
 
 w, 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 E D O X I A, folia. 
 
 HERE (hall I fly ? to what fequefter'd (hade 
 Where the world's diftant din no more alarms, 
 Or warring paflions burft through nature's tie 
 And make mankind creation's fouled (tain. 
 Horror and guilt (tare wild in every eye ; 
 Freedom extinguifh'd in the fumes of luft 
 Bleeds frefh befide Rome's long expiring fame $ 
 Virtue's become the rude barbarian's jeft, 
 Barter'd for gold, and floating down the tide 
 Of foreign vice, ftain'd with domeftick guilt:: 
 Oh ! could I hide in fome dark hermitage, 
 Beneath fome hollow, difmal, broken cliff, 
 I'd weep forlorn the miferies of Rome, 
 Till time's laft billow broke, and left me quiet 
 On the naked ftrand. [Enter LEO.] Ah ! Lea r 
 Durft thou be (till the friend of fad Edoxia ? 
 Haft thou the courage yet to vifit grief, 
 And footh a wretch by fympatheticK tears ; 
 And reconcile me tp the name of man ? 
 Can'ft (hew me one lefs cruel than the tyger 
 Nurs'd in the wilds, and feafting on the flefti 
 Of all but his own fpecies ? 
 This predilection's left to man alone, 
 To drink and riot on his brother's blood, 
 
 LEO. 
 
60 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Fate has orda'm'd 'tis thou mufi give us peace j 
 Thy lenient hand alone. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Mock not my woe. 
 
 'LEO. 
 
 'Tis thou my emprefs, who muft ftop the tide 
 That threats the Deluge of the Roman world ; 
 The jarring factions that tear up the (late 
 Thyfelf muft quell, and reconcile 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 Infult not my diftrefs. 
 
 LEO. 
 The emperor Maxur.us 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 Whofe name ftrikes daggers through my fiiivering foul ! 
 
 LEO. 
 Demands an. audience. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 Speak not a word my foul difdains to hear, 
 
 LEO. 
 The Roman people . 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Ah ! what is Rome to me ? 
 LEO. 
 
 All wifli a union in the royal pair ; 
 And Maximus adores Edoxia's virtues. * 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 What is the 'fanction that emboldens thee, 
 Thus to affront thy queen ? 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Oh ! pity Rome the empire and thy country 
 Save thy noble houfc. EDOXIA. 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 61 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 I have no country. 
 What's life, or empire, or the world to me ? 
 
 LEO. 
 Yet hear oh ! hear for Maximus refolves. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 And art thou come to fue for Maximus, 
 Whofe blacken 'd foul, blown np by fierce ambition, 
 AfTumes the reins, and drives the courfer on, 
 With furious paffion and unbridled luft ? 
 
 LEO. 
 The emperor admits of no delay, 
 
 When once rcfolv'd. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 Remember, Leo, 
 
 The blood that flow'd from Poplicola's veins, 
 From breaft to bread through the Horatian line, 
 And thence to me convey'd a gen'rous ftrcam 
 That animates and warms Edoxia's heart, 
 Shall ne'er be tainted by a bafe fubmiflion. 
 
 LEO. 
 Impatiently, he waits thy laft reply. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Tell him I'm not the coward fool he thinks ; 
 That guilty greatnefs has no charms for grief ; 
 I fcorn his impious paflion deteft his name. 
 
 4ft 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Yet fave thyfelf thus on my bended knee, [Kneels. 
 Let me befeech from thee a mild reply. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Tell him, a traitor's heart, though fwell'd 
 By adulation's bafe perfume, has not a hand 
 To wield the imperial fceptre. 
 
 F LEO. 
 
6z THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 And therefore needs thy aid, 
 Both to {'ecu re and dignify the throne. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 This infolence from thee ! the pious Leo 
 Tvly former friend the guardian of my youth ; 
 I thought thy foul call in a purer mould 
 Above the fervile line not thus to court 
 And meanly grovel, for a tyrant's fmile. 
 Leave me, bafe wretch go fawn on thy new matter.; 
 Tell him at once, Edoxia dares to die. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Forgive this boldnefs ! Alas ! could I but fave, 
 Or ferve thy noble houfe, there's not a tafk 
 Edoxia could impofe, this aged arm 
 Unnerv'd by time and grief, would not attempt. 
 
 Yet might as well the breath of wifdom flrive 
 To reafon down the tempeftof the north, 
 Or lull the: maddening hurricane to reft, 
 As to perfuade when Maximus refolves. 
 .Oh! would kind Heaven, which fav'd thee from die 
 
 fword, 
 Still find feme way to blefs and make thee happy. 
 
 [f&eps. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Thy venerable grief, rny aged friend, 
 .Softens refcntment, which thy zeal inflam'd : 
 In that kind tear the foul of Leo fhines ; 
 Yet fay, is Rome fo poor and abjeft grown 
 So far debas'd, that when a ruffian dares 
 To ftab his prince, and boldly challenge 
 To his impious bed, the wife of his 
 .Aifufimated lord none dare oppofe ? 
 
 Has 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 63 
 
 Has Rome for this fo often fought and conquer'd'? 
 
 Has the bell blood the Roman name can boafr, 
 
 Redden'd the Tyber with its purple dreams, 
 
 To purchafe freedom by the fwift perdition 
 
 Of every bold invader, from Tarquin's reign, 
 
 To the more fatal day, when guilty Maximus 
 
 AfTiim'd the purple ? May thunders roll, 
 
 And ftreams irruptive, blaft a wretch like him 
 
 Or fheets of livid flame enwrap Edoxia 
 
 From his hated fight. 
 
 Go on and bear this anfwer to thy lord. [Exit LEO. 
 
 Thou- great firft caufe, who bids the tempeft rage, 
 And rends* with mighty peals, the darkened air, 
 Light up the fkies and blaze from north to fouth, 
 Thy vengeance pour on complicated guilt. [Exit. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 MAXIMUS and LEO moving to the Apartment of the 
 Emprcfs. 
 
 H 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 AH ! does the emprefs haughtily reject 
 My proffer 'd vows, and Tpurn me from her arms ? 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Loft in the tender agonies of woe, 
 She wept, regardlefs of thy ardent prayer ; 
 'Till grown outrageous by my urgent luit, 
 She ftarted wild, as if defpair awcke, 
 And rav'd, and fob'd, and imprecated death : 
 At laft, collected in majeftick pride,. 
 
 She 
 
*4 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 She drew a poignard from beneath her robe, 
 And folemn fwore, in moft indignant ftrains, 
 If you prefum'd to fpeak to her of love, 
 Its point transfix'd mould fend her to the grave, 
 More welcome far than thy abhor'd embrace. 
 
 [Scene opens aqd difcovers EDOXIAt 
 
 Enter MAXIMUS and LEO.- 
 
 MAXIMUS, 
 
 I afk thy hand, and claim thee as my queen- 
 jointly to govern and reform the ftate. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 And muft an emprefs bear this bold outrage 
 Thefe ftings of infult ? Shall a villain's hand 
 Dlag to the altar facrifice my fame, 
 To each black paffion that deforms the foul ? 
 Oh ! Heaven look down his bold ambition curfe 
 Deftruclion fend on him and all his race. 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Did luft of empire, or of fame alone, 
 Thus bid me urge the fair Edoxia's hand 
 Ambition, that proud fource of human woe, 
 Thou might'ft fufpeft had pufh'd my purpofe on ; 
 But though the luftre of a crown allures, 
 And fanclion gives to deeds of boldeft hue, 
 Juftice alone, and love of virtue warms, 
 My ardent heart, and animates my arm. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Durft thou profane the facred name of virtue ? 
 A facrilegious murdVer talk of virtue ! 
 Thou know 'ft not what it means an heart like thine 
 Ne'er felt its facred warmth not an idea 
 Of the heavenly flame could e'er exift 
 ID thy corrupted brain blown up by luft 
 
 Revenge 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 65 
 
 Revenge ambition death 
 Thy dagger reeking with thy fovereign's blood, 
 Thou ftill would'rt heighten thy detailed crime 
 And make his wife a partner in thy guilt. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Thou wrong'ft me much to plead my caufe 
 Would wound fo chufte an ear ; falfe to his vo\rs, 
 And faithlefs to thy bed, he wrong'd at once 
 The emprefs and myfelf. 
 
 EDOXIA-. 
 Him, I forgive 
 
 But not the afTaffin of my injur'd lord ; 
 
 Oh ! let me fly from thee, and from perdition; 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 My deftinyimpeird againft my will, 
 My evil genius and my fate combin'd ; 
 Nor will I now recede and yield a throne. 
 Thy wifdom, grace, and dignity of foul, 
 Command refpecl, and bend me to thy charms ; 
 I afk thy aid to extirpate from Rome 
 Injuftice vice with anarchy and crimes* 
 My gracious princefs, fovereign, queen and wife, 
 Reign dill in Rome, and grace the imperial throne. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Thy perfidy thou think'ft is made fecure 
 By plunging ^Etius in the general wreck ; 
 His valorous hand would from thine impious grafp 
 Have pluck'd the fceptre, ftained by thy touch :, 
 Yes, if through Rome there was a Roman left 
 As brave as ^Stius, the diadem 
 Would of itfelf drop off, 
 From thine imperious brow. ^ 
 
 F s, MAXIMUM 
 
6(5 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Does not the emprefs know who murder'd ^Etius ? - 
 
 [To LEQ> 
 And that Petronius would avenge his death ? 
 
 LEO. 
 
 The bloody deed had not yet reach 'd her ear, 
 When Valentinian fell. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 It is enough, fhe knows the mifcreant 
 The proud ufurper of the vacant throne, 
 Who dares afpire to Valentinian's bed ; 
 But witnefs, all ye powers of earth and heaven, 
 Ere my foul bends to fan&ify the deed, 
 Or yields a victim to this bold offence, 
 The horrid void beneath the Tarpeian rock 
 Shall firfl be fed by all the Anician race. 
 
 MAXIMUS. 
 
 Prepare the rites Edoxiamuft be mine [To LEO* 
 Before the wood lark hails the morning dawn, 
 Or early matins call the virgins forth 
 To chant their lays the emprefs is my bride- 
 Then time and love fhall foften by degrees, 
 ? Till Lethe lends forgetfulnefs to grief. 
 
 [Exit MAXIMUS and LE*. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Ye gods ! where am I ? 
 Shall I be aw'd by Maximus's frown 
 To ftain the glory of the Horatian name ? 
 Alas ! ye patriots of ancient fame 
 Where are the youth, whofe glorious fathers di'4 
 To fave the commonwealth ? 
 Arife ! ye ancient, venerable fhades, 
 
 Who 
 
THE SACK QF ROME. 67 
 
 Who bravely fought for liberty and Rome : 
 Afllft my powers my fingle arm fhall dares 
 Some dreadful deed of horrid defperation. 
 
 I fwear by him who thunders in the fkie, 
 By him who thunders in the vaulted fides, 
 And downward points the artillery of Heaven, 
 'Till worlds diflblve beneath his dreaded frown, 
 The moft diftinguifh'd vengeance fhall befall 
 The Roman world, for Maximus's fake. [Exit-. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS ^EUDOCI A. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 HOUGH nature frowns, and monfters howl 
 
 around 
 
 And threat the bands.of each domeftick joy, 
 Yet innocence and truth fnould ceafe to weep ; 
 "lis guilt alone fhould tremble in the ftorm. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 My native land diftain'd with Roman blood 
 Warm from the veins of patriots and kings 
 A father flain a mother's tender woe 
 Her virgin daughters weeping by her fide, 
 Add ftings to pain, and poignancy to grief. 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Let Angels guard and calm thy ruffled breaft f 
 Let love and virtue cheer thy drooping foul ; 
 And let thy peace reanimate again 
 A prince that lives but in Eudocia's fmile. 
 
68 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Talk not of peace to the imperial houfe ; 
 The hand, the dark aflafTinating hand, 
 That pierc'd th' unguarded heart of Valentinian, 
 Has murder'd all his race hah ! Gavidentius ! 
 
 [GAUDENTIUS trembles, and turns pale. 
 Why trembles thus Gaudentius, at Valentinian 's name ? 
 A name he once rever'd, and call'd his friend- 
 Is ft a probe that touch'd a fecret wound'? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 My love my grief my fears 
 A fudden illnefs that will foon fubfide. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 T*hy fears why mould Gaudentius fear? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 For all my foul holds dear beneath the ftars 
 Thy peace thy health thy happinefs and lovs, 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Is there a latent canfe, this moment wak'd, 
 To doubt Eudocia's love ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Thy deep dejection thy too curious eye 
 A brow o'eucaft with fomething like a frown, 
 Ne'er feen before, where fweetnefs fits enthron'd, 
 And foft complacence has been us'"d to fmile, 
 Amidft the grief that wrung the aching heart. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Does thine own confcience frnile, and whifper peace 5 
 And art thou fure that all's fecure within ? 
 I much fufpecl, thy friend, Traulifla, 
 Is a fecret foe and that his hoflile hand, 
 Oft fteep'd in blood fierce as the vulture's fang, 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Was not inactive on that fatal day, 
 
 When the remorfelefs fword mow'd down as grafs 
 
 The faithful friends to Valentinian's houfe. 
 
 But Heaven forbid, that e'er the bitave Gaudentius> 
 
 A good, a generous, noble minded prince, 
 
 Should join a murderous band impoflible I 
 
 I will not wrong thee thus yet fome firange horror 
 
 Seizes all my frame as if my father's ghoft 
 
 Stood bleeding by, and chid this parley 
 
 With a parricide. 
 
 [EUDOCIA turns abruptly to l wit}jdra t vj t 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Oh ! leave me not, my princefs, thus fufpecled, 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 If thou art guilty, own thy crime at once ; 
 A poor defence will make thee doubly fo.. 
 If the leaft guilt contaminates thy foul, 
 My own would fhare by hearing thy excufe ; 
 I fee thee not till time reflore thy fame ; 
 And yet I fear Oh ! death to name I fear, 
 Thy infamy is fix'd forever fix'd, 
 Beyond redemption's call. [EupociA e 
 
 SCENE V. 
 TRAULISTA and GAUDENTIUS, 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 HY does my friend wear that foft April eye 
 What is it poifons thy heroick foul, 
 And damps the vigour of thy martial arm ? 
 
 Brace 
 
70 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Brace up thy nervesy and fence about thy breaft> 
 And fcorn the boon of pity from a girl 
 A haughty ftubborn folemn Roman maid. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 A heart like thine infenfible to love 
 Dead to the foft fenfations of the foul 
 Only to fierce Bellona's voice awake 
 Though all the fex were offer'd to thy choice, 
 Knows not the joy, nor feels the tender pang, 
 Fear may excite, or expectation raife. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 What haft thou got by all thy love fick dreams ? 
 Go fhew the mighty Goths thy baby face, 
 And fee if one would know it was Gaudentius, 
 "Who fought and conquer'd on the Danube's banks ; 
 Tell them you've whin'd for more than twenty moons- 
 Creft fallen, figh'd before a puling chit, 
 The daughter of thy moft inveterate foe 
 The murderer of thy fire. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 But he's aveng'd 
 
 And, like the frighted hare, fhe fled my fight, 
 Sufpecls me an accomplice, charg'd me home, 
 With treafon, murder, perfidy and blood. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Come, be thyfclf again ; nor longer b:vfls 
 Upon the filken, downy lap of hope ; 
 Leave her to figh, and whifper to the winds 
 Elfe fnatch by force, and bear her o'er the wilds, 
 Through growling forefts hideous, broken cliffs, 
 And frozen feas to Scythia's icy banks, 
 Where rugged winds pour from the brindled north 
 
 A down 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 7 
 
 Adown the mountain's brow a blaft may cool 
 The tranfports of thy love. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Heaven blaft a wretch, whofe fierce barbarick heart 
 Would violate in thought fo chafte a fame 
 A puVity allied to heaven itfelf. 
 Alas ! the charmsthat have fubdii'd my heart 
 Have fomething more than human in their birth. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Then why profanely figh for charms divine ? 
 Think thee of Bleda's hospitable dames, 
 Won without wooing thine without a figh ; 
 But if ye choofe to wanton in the weft, 
 And hang upon the dimpled fmile of love, 
 A day, perhape, or lefs, 'brings on the fcencs 
 That level all the bars round birth and beauty, 
 Or innocence and elevated worth. 
 
 Thou may 'ft be fafe e'en in the imperial court 
 'Till forfeited with thofe Italian fmiles : 
 The blue ey'd mountain maids of Caucafus, 
 (Who, once allur'd by native, artlefs charms,) 
 Call back thy fighs to nature's utmoft bounds, 
 The bolder beauties of the northern world. 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Forbear, Trauliila nor fport thus with my pain. 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Come then, erect the fcymitar of Mars, 
 And twang the bow ftring at the trumpet's found. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Go, clear my wounded fame allure the princefs 
 That I did not ftrike that her fair image, 
 Hovering round his head, held back my hand 
 
 Repell'd 
 
7 z THE SACK OF ROML. 
 
 Repell y d the pointed fword for aught I did, 
 Her father might have liv'd. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 I know ye a6ted as a coward would 
 But half refolv'd, and trembling at thyfelf : 
 Yes, I will fee Eudocia is inform'd, 
 She's made a poltroon of a noble prince. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Hah ! rthis from thee ? yet know he has a fword, 
 That will not fail to reach a villain's heart, 
 And let the venom out that rankles there. 
 
 [Lays his band on his fword, 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 For this I love thee come on and try its mettle 
 I fear'd thou had'ft forgot who was 4hy fire, 
 And that the luftre of his'burnifh'd blade, 
 Wielded by him in many a hardy field, 
 Had hurt the opticks of the gentler foil 
 Of noble -flitius. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Draw and defend thyfelf. (Draws} 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 What mall I tell Eudocia, when (he chides, 
 If I ftiould fcratch, or let oat Roman blood ? (Infuhlngly) 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 The emprefs comes forbear I, on the morrow, 
 Meet thee in the Circus. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 Come on, my boy 
 
 The morrow may have other work to do ; 
 This day fliall tilt thee fwiftly out of time, 
 If thou art weary of thy filkeii chain. 
 
 [Exit TRAULISTA* 
 Enter 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. j s 
 
 Enter E D O X I A. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 My fon my friend my injur'd friend Gaudentius> 
 Canft thou forgive the noble ^Etius' death ? 
 Thou lov'ft Eudocia with the pureft flame : 
 Remember Valentinian was her fire, 
 Then vindicate the honour of her.houfe. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 While life glows warm in this my faithful bre&ft, 
 Eudocia holds my fortune and my fate. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 I know thou'rt noble, generous and juft, 
 And not lefs brave than ^tius thy fire ; 
 He wore a fword, he dar'd to draw 
 In injur'd virtue's caufe nor fear'd the frowns 
 Of tyrants or of kings it is thy birthright, 
 Durft thou grafp it hard, and boldly venture, 
 For Eudocia's fake, to extricate 
 Her mother from the arms the hated bed 
 Of an ufurper of her father's throne ? 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 There's nought, true courage prompts the brave to do, 
 Or virtue juftifies, or honour calls, 
 But what I dare attempt. 
 But if it mars the peace of Rome 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 The peace of Rome is an ideal thing j 
 Loft in the tide of every (hameful vice, 
 Rapine and blood ; and violence and lufl 
 But mock the ftory of her ancient fame. 
 Canft thou a moment balance in the fcale 
 The tranquil fcenes of harmony and peace, 
 
 G With 
 
74 THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 With all the lullre that adorns a crcnvn ? 
 Jiudocia gives an empire with her hand. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 My fword niy fervices my life are thine- 
 Ambition burns, and love and glory join 
 'Yet name no ta& that more diftracls my country. 
 
 EDCXIA. 
 
 Then thou canfl fee the emprefs bfeth'd in tear, 
 Drag'd by Petronius to the facred altar 
 .Compell'd to be his bride the fair Eudocia, 
 But a moment lent, to dry the filial tear, 
 .Ere flic's compeil'd to wed his worthlefs heir ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Not all the powers of earth, or hell combin'd, 
 iShall rob me of my wife, my lov'd Eudo-cia. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 Wilt thou apply to Genferic my friend ? 
 
 .GAUDE-NTIUS. 
 
 A dangerous expedient indeed 
 A taithlefs friend a treacherous ally. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 The time forbids evafion, orexcufe 
 Admits of no delay my purpofe is 
 Irrevocably fix'd. Say, wilt thou, 
 At the port of Oftia, meet Genferic 
 Bear him my fignet-^-bring him on to Rome ^ 
 
 GAUDE-NTITJS. 
 
 .Kot for the golden treafures of the eaft, 
 Or all the wealth the tempting world beftows ; 
 No, though Eudccia were the bright reward, 
 Could I betray the capitol of Rome, 
 And fell my country to the Vandal -king ? 
 
 EDOXIA 
 
THE SACK OF ROME, 75 
 
 F/DOXIA. 
 
 Wilt thou betray the mother of Eudocla, 
 And blaft my hopes of moft f'evere revenge ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Though great thy wrongs, much greater mtift thou fear> 
 If Genferic's rapacious brutal hofts 
 Should enter Italy my fovereign forbear, 
 And like the gods, benignantly forgive j 
 Nor let re&ntfnent kindle up anew 
 The flames of war ; nor introduce in Rome^ 
 Thofe favage, hoftile guefts to riot there, 
 To fubjngate the ftate fubvert thy houfe, 
 To extirpate thy name, and rtitkly reign 
 And triumph o'er the Weft. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 'Tis done I fear'd thy tardy fpirit 
 The laft remains of patriotick virtue, 
 So like a glow worm in a ftormy night, 
 It twinkles but to fh&w the fable hue 
 By nature worn through all the midnight gloom. 
 
 A trufty meflenger, i tlierefore fent 
 The winds have fped, and brought him back to Rome j 
 And ere Petronius dreams of danger nigh, 
 Genferic's thunder (hakes the capital. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Thou haft (truck deep a fure and deadly blow.. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 The tangled lion can't eicape the toils* 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Nor thou nor Rome nor all thy houfe, perdition. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 Secure thyfelf, and leave the reft to me. 
 
 [Trumpet- 
 
7* THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Hark ! the flirill trump ! Genferic's herald 
 Cannot yet be nigh. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 . Like a brave friend, he inftantly prepared 
 To plant his banners round the towers of Rome. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 The fenate people all the royal houfe", 
 For (laughter ripe, in its mod dreadful form 
 Proud Rome the feat of arms, and arts, and fame, 
 Stands tottering on the verge of mighty ruin. 
 A foldier's duty calls ; I hafte away ; 
 Fate may do much before we meet again j 
 She has a bufy hand, and fwiftly rides 
 On revolution's wheel- Rome may be fack'd, 
 And crowns and fceptres tofs'd from fliore to more, 
 Tjanfplanted, or defpoii'd. 
 
 ACT 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 7? 
 
 A C T V. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 The SENATE a/embled in tie Palace. Enter an HERALD* 
 HERALD. 
 
 JL HE Vandal king, now at the gates of Rome, 
 Sends on an Herald to the magiftrates, 
 The confuls, and the prefect of the city, 
 The army, fenate, and the Roman people, 
 Demand an audience in Edoxia's name, 
 And offers terms, on which- fam'd Rome may yield 
 To Genferic, and his all conquering fword. 
 
 He comes to refcue from the ufurper's arm, 
 The remnant of the Theodofian line ; 
 Chafe from the throne the traitor Maximus, 
 And fave the daughter of his great ally ; 
 Give Italy a king of more reknown, 
 Or change the feat of empire from old Rome. 
 SENATOR. 
 
 Tell mighty Genferic, Petronius yields, 
 Appall'd and frighten'd at his potent name. 
 He left the city, fick of life and empire ; 
 No more ambitious of ihe world's applaufe, 
 He wifh'd to hide beyond; the rapid Rhine ; 
 But fate forbad a bold Burgundian chief, 
 Arrefted his career, and cleft him down,. 
 Amidft the cries of citizens and friends, 
 Of foes to Rome, and of Edoxia's flaves. 
 His body, mangled by a thoufand wounds, - 
 Was thrown contemptuously from Tyber's bank. 1 
 
 [Exeunt* 
 
 G* S.C.E.N.E 
 
75 THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Opens and difco<vcrs the ChJzens in great Confufton LEO at 
 the Head of a ProceJJion of Prlefts, Senators and Nobles^ 
 meet GENSZRIC infuppliant poflures 9 without the Palace, 
 
 ED< 
 
 LEO. 
 
 )OXIA fends all health to Genferic,. 
 Her friend her royal brother, and demands 
 Protection for the imperial houfe : 
 That no rough foot approach the palace gate,. 
 Or hoftile arm to plunder, or invade, 
 The royal daughters, or the wife of Csefar. 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Tell her that Genferic himfelf will hafte,. 
 To guard the princefles and Cacfar's wife. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 She begs repofe after the furious ftorm ;. 
 And thy permifiion to be left retir'd, 
 To weep awhile the deftiny of Rome ; ' 
 To pour the balm of pity on the breaft 
 Of virgin forrow to lift the drooping head 
 Of undifTembled grief hung like the lily 
 O'er the wafted vale when the rough furgeV 
 Roaring deluge fweeps down all around, 
 Except the naked bloom proplefs and weak, 
 And quivering on the marge of the next tide 
 Whofe wat'ry wave may wafh the broken fragment 
 From its natal foil. 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Hymenial longs mult cheer thefe drooping maids 
 They each (hall choofe a Goth or Vandal lord, 
 
 And 
 
THE SACK OF ROME.- 
 
 And rale the lineage of the Roman name 
 In the warm grots of Afdruhal and Hanno, 
 For which their anceftors in Carthage bled, 
 And armies perifh'd in the Lybiaa lands. 
 
 LEO. 
 
 Now thou art mafter of the Roman world^ 
 Let clemency befpeak thee more a king," 
 Than all thy triumphs o'er fubjecled Rome. 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 The multitude difarm'd I leave their lives ;.; 
 Plebeian flaves may tremble and retire ; 
 But all of noble or patrician blood,. 
 Of ev'ry age and fex, my prifoners^are. 
 
 Go thou, and tell the emprefs to prepare, 
 Firft, to receive her fovereign in the palace 
 Then with her daughters, follow him to Carthage. 
 
 [Exeurtfo 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 D O X I A and LEO in the Imperial Palace* 
 
 LEO. 
 
 X 1 ORTUNE ingulphs thy family and throne^ 
 Beneath her ihifting tide they're floating down, 
 And for thine houfe my foul in anguilh bleeds j 
 The capitol thy crown and freedom loft 
 Thy daughters feiz'd, Placidia borne away, 
 And made the miftrefs of a Gothic lord, 
 And Genferic himfelf is near the palace, 
 With hefts- of Vandals crowding in the rear. 
 
 EDOXIA-, 
 
f * THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 No more death to my eyes the tyrant comes 
 The chains prepar'd I hear the (hackles clank. 
 Arife ye furies, from Tartarus' gulf, 
 And drag him peace meal, to the infernal (hades. 
 Enter GENS ERIC. 
 
 Hah ! traitor, is it thus thou meet^ft Edoxia ? 
 Rob'd of her crown a homager to thee 
 Strip'd of her robes her diadem and wealth, 
 And rudely bid to* quit my native clime,- 
 Still more to fwell thy fierce and favage pomp : 
 The princefTes infulted and enflav'd - 
 By vulgar hands drag'd to the Vandal tent. 
 
 Oh ! burft my heart and let my eye firings breakj 
 Let furious billows fwallow up his fleet, 
 And darknefs cover nature in the wreck, 
 Ere I obey, and fee my houfehould train, 
 Lag at the feet of his triumphal car. 
 
 GENS ERIC. 
 
 A milder tone becomes a captive queen, 
 At whofe requeft 'invaded and filbdu'd, 
 Rome proftrate lies beneath her conquering lord. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Ah 1 ! what a contrail: to the fplendid tale 
 Of Roman greatnefs her illuflrious fame. 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Empire decays when virtue's not the bafe, 
 And doom'd to periih when the parts corrupt. 
 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 My foul's as hot with rage, remorfe, revenge, , 
 As are the Lybian fands when Sirius reigns, 
 Or the thrice heated fummer folflice burns. 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 8 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Then, to confole and mitigate thy rage, 
 I'll hafte to Tunis with the illuftrious throng, 
 Where Hunneric, my fon, fliall wed Eudocia. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Oh ! dreadful threat feverer far than death. 
 Where are the facred, celebrated fhades, 
 Who wafh'd the ftains from chafte Lucretia's fame 
 In red libations from a tyrant's heart 
 Oh ! (Lield Eudocia fnatch her from defpair. 
 Refcue a haplefs, chafie, and friendlefs maid 
 From bafe, abandon'd, proftituted flaves ! 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Fix'd as the fates that roll th' etherial orbs, 
 I now forbid a murmur, or a figh. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Thou may 'ft forbid the morning fnn to rife j 
 Bid ocean ceafe to lave the pebbled more, 
 Or Roman fouls to mix with Vandal flaves, 
 And be obey'd ere fighs are hufh'd, 
 
 Or execrations ceafe. 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Each chief has feiz'd a princely Roman dame, 
 The booty's fafe, and profperous gales invite j 
 And now my guards efcort the emprefs on. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 What ! thus commanded in imperious ftrains, 
 To hade from Rome to Africk's fcorching realms, 
 Where Tophet gapes and flaughter'd infants cry, 
 By thoufands offer'd their infernal gods : 
 Jehovah ! why do all thy thunders deep 
 While each black crime the demons perpetrate, 
 
 Is afted o'er by this infernal race. 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
3* THE SACK OF ROf 
 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Slaves, haften on, and feize your royal charge, 
 And guard her fafe to Carthagena's coaft. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Down on my head th' avenging gods have pour'V. 
 Each curfe the houfe of Hannibal could frame, 
 Or vanquinYd Carthage utter in defpair, 
 For all the wrongs, oppreflion, and difgrace, 
 By haughty Rome^ inflicted on her fens. 
 
 Now ye ftern fouls, ye venerated Shades, 
 Heroes who fell on Zama's routed plains 
 Look down and triumph, vengeance is compleat. 
 Behold the laft of the Horatian line, 
 Sent to the margin of the burning plains, 
 The tawny front of Afric's blacken'd tribes, 
 To ftarid an exil'd flave to rave and weep 
 The lofs of empire and the fall of Rome, 
 Amidft Numidia's fa-nds and footy fons. 
 
 But thanks to Heav'n, the emprefs of the weft 
 Kas yet the means, and will an emprefs die. 
 
 [Dratuf a conceal* d pQignard, and attends to jlab bevfelf. 
 GENSERIC. 
 
 Slaves, feize her hand me mufl not die 
 'Twill half defeat the triumph of the day. 
 EDOXIA. 
 
 Enough of life and all life's idle pomp 
 Nor by a tyrant's fiat will I live 
 I leave the bufy, vain, ambitious world 
 To cheat itfelf anew^ and o'er and o'er 
 Tread the fame ground their anceftors have troo y 
 In chace of thrones, of fceptres, or of crowns, 
 'Till all thefe bubbles break in empty air, 
 Nor leave a trace of happinefs behind. 
 
 is I ft/ off in golden ck 
 GENSLRIC 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 *VjENSERIC,/rc/H the Palace Gates, gives Orders to the Van 
 
 dal Tsoops. 
 
 Down with the Roman eagles, ftatues, temples, 
 Monuments of fame their trophies tear : 
 
 "Strip all the veftments from their ancient gods 
 Their pageant heroes level with the duft, 
 And rafe their names from memory and time 
 The golden (brines and faintly relicks feize ; 
 Both gilded butts and roofs of bronze deftroy.j 
 The branches, tables, candleilicks of gpld, 
 In oftentation (hewn by Jewiih priefts, 
 And in triumphal pomp transfer'd to Rome, 
 With all the treafures of Zenobia's houfe, 
 
 TalmyraVwealtb, and Afia's fpoils, fecure 
 And teach the naked capital to weep, 
 Her long arrearages to all mankind, 
 For plunder'd nations, eities, kingdoms, climes* 
 What has this mighty Roman name to boaft ? 
 *Tis time to rafe her from the lift of nations, 
 And blaft..the world no more by Roman crimes- 
 Then plead prefcription, as 'twas done by Rome. 
 Break up their fountains, poifon all their baths, 
 Ere they contaminate the Vandal troops 
 With foft, effeminate, luxurious (loth ? 
 Ranfack each church, and pillage all the city, 
 Nor leave a drachma round the feven hills. 
 
 [Extant, 
 
 SCENE 
 
THS SACK OF ROME. 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 H U N N E R I C and T R A U L I S T A. 
 
 I 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 .F or ambition, wealth, or airy fame, 
 VCould footh to reft, my foul would be at eafe ; 
 But yet fome fecret heavinefs I feel, 
 Ne'er felt before, that rankles at the heart, 
 .And blafts the joys of victory and conqueft. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 The world, and all its treafures at command j 
 And beauty, emulous to win thy love 
 What can difturb thy peace ? 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 Eudocia the lovely, weeping, tender, fair Eudocia - 
 She is my prize my prifoner my wife 
 Yet every motion of her eye appals ; 
 And when (he fpeaks, I like a ftatue flare, 
 Unable to reply, or to withdraw. 
 
 TRAITLISTA. 
 
 Thefe Roman maids have fome enchanting arts, 
 That bend the boldeft warrior to their fmiles j 
 Yet they are not fo cold as they may feem. 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 She holds me by fome fafcinating tie, 
 Spite of my prowefs, or fuperiour ftrength : 
 Did the celeftial deities combine 
 To form her thus ? Her image makes me hate 
 The wanton beauties of our amorous clime* 
 In her majeftick prefence, I'm as tame, 
 
 As 
 
THE SACK OK ROME. 85 
 
 As the young lambkin in the fliepherd's cot ; 
 I fcarcely move .me, left I fliould offend ; 
 It may be*love I fear it is 
 Yet fpurn it from my thought yes, I adore, 
 My worfhip is profound my veneration fuch 
 I'm tenfold more a Have than is the princefs. 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Perhaps, fome darling favourite indulg'd, 
 May find Eudocia foft as yielding air, 
 Though frozen to the blandifliments of love 
 Cold as the Scythian mows to thine embrace ; 
 Yet I could let a fatal fecret out, 
 Would give a clue to wake her paffions up. 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 Ah ! fay Tratilifta ; 
 Half my booty mall be thy reward ; 
 And fifty captives of the faireft dames 
 Shall fwell thy haram to the eaflern ftilc. 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Know, all the fex I equally defpife ; 
 And did fome bufy demon wake a wifl> 
 To toy and trifle with fome matchlefs fair, 
 I'd puff it off; if I could blufh, the thought 
 Would burn my cheek. Give me a Roman province, 
 Or give an army to patrole the empire, 
 To rid the world of their patrician pride, 
 Or yet more turbulent plebeian blood, 
 That has, for more than thirteen hundred years, 
 Plagu'd ail mankind with their ambitious fires, 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 Not lefs than thee, I hate the Roman name : 
 Command thy terms though they're to govern Rome, 
 To wear a crown to reign in Gaul or Spain : 
 
 H Both 
 
SC THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Both by the crofs, and by the ancient gods, 
 iiere is my fignet claim thine own reward. 
 
 TRAULISTA.. 
 
 What if within this garden lies conceal'd 
 The rival of thy love ? 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 The game more eafy more fecure the prey : 
 By all the blood Genferic's arm has fpilt, 
 The traitor dies before the morning dawns. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Belov'd and favour'd by the fair Eudocia, 
 The brave Gaudentius waits to bear her off. 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 Hah ! the fon of ./Etius ? thy valiant friend ? 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 He once prefum'd to call his friend a traitor, 
 And thinks that mine is fuch a milky foul 
 .As to forgive 'tis not a foldier's trade : 
 .My fword, my arm, aveng'd his bleeding fire, 
 Nor (hall the fon ungratefully defy 
 That fword that prowefs that decided ftrenglh 
 Rome's legions fear, and trembling armies fly. 
 But yet I bid refentment fleep awhile, 
 'Till all was ripe an empire to fubvert 
 I fcorn to play at alefs noble game. 
 I rais'd Petronius to the imperial throne ; 
 But he, ungrateful, indolent and weak, 
 At once forgot Hermannie's noble fon ; 
 With vulgar princes rank'd him as a Have : 
 'The emprefs faw, and wanted fuch an arm, 
 To back the rage that rankled in her bread, 
 And rid her of Gaudentius, who'd refus'd 
 
THE SACK OF 'ROMS', 
 
 To be her friend and confident to thee. 
 He, raging mad with patriotick pride, 
 Refign'd his love at freedom's f acred foot, 
 Dtfgufted nrg'd agalnft her fix'd defign, 
 And. arm'd at once againft the Vandal king. 
 
 She bade me hope, as my reward, her daughter-;-*- 
 But I've no wifli the princefs to pofTefs ; 
 Yet my ambition burns to reign in Horns. 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 Nail this Gaudentius to fome graffy plot 
 And thou fhall triumph in the capitol. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 This night is friendly to revenge and death : 
 Between the gloom of midnjght and the dawn, 
 Tuft light enough beneath the cypiefs made 
 To track the heedlefs lover on his way : 
 Yet could'ft thou in Eudocia's prefence draw, 
 And lay her lover bleeding at her feet ? 
 When fhe to heaven ere6ts her lily hand, 
 In all the beauteous agony of grief, 
 Heaves up her fnowy bread, and fights GAUDENTILTS ! 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 'Tv/ould fweeter, my revenge, and (teal my heart, 
 To drag her infiant to my flighted bed. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Then on and feafl thre vith the lufcious fight ; 
 A triumph worthy of a Vandal prince, 
 
 \Exeunt, 
 
 S C E N K 
 
Si THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 A Grotto in the Garden cftke Palace -EUDOCIA folus . 
 GAUDENTIUS approaching. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 JL HESE are the grots, the fucred filent walks, 
 Where my Eudocia wanders from the world. 
 
 Methinks I "hear, within yon rofeate bower, 
 Some plaintive angel's foft harmonious voice : 
 Perhaps, her guardian goddefs down defcends, 
 From yontler filvern cloud capt mountain's brow, 
 To watch her beauteous charge. (Lifiens.) 
 
 EUDOCIA ivhhin, hi a foft , plaintive, agonizing voice, 
 
 Oh ! feme kind feraph fnatch my foul away, 
 And fhroud my griefs beneath the peaceful tomb ; 
 Or mud a dagger ope a paflage hence, 
 To Jet me free from Hunneric's embrace > 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 'Tis fiie herfelf 'tis her fymphonious voice : 
 The murmuring maid in broken accents fighs j 
 'Tis my Eudocia whifpcring to her God. 
 
 \_Entsrs the Grofft. 
 
 Let not thofe fighs tear up an angel's bread ; 
 Nor let the wreck of empire ftrike too deep. 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Hah ! who art thou that boldly dares intrude 
 On the lafl hour of this my ftiil retreat ? 
 Some fpy of Hunneric's, to watch my fteps, 
 Left one (hort moment of repofe I find, 
 This laft lad night, ers I'm completely curs'd. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. 89 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 May all the powers who guard the good and juft 
 
 Protect my princefs ! 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Hah ! my belov'cl Gaudentius !- 
 Doft thou yet live, through all the perils 
 Of a barbarous fiege, to fee Eudocia 
 Snatch'd from thy lov'd arms ? Alas ! my fate, 
 To what a hated rival am I doom'd ! 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 I had not liv'd but for Eudocia's fake. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Yet fave a life much dearer than my own ; 
 Nor linger here, 'tis on the verge of death : 
 Leave me to perifh in my country's fall. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Not all the clangor, or the din of arms, 
 Or roughen'd tempefts, whofe impetuous blafts, 
 In fiery bolts, may rive the mountains up, 
 Again ihali tear me from my lov'd Eudocia. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 My lips can't utter, nor my tongue exprefs, 
 The anguifh that my tortur'd foul endures : 
 'Twas early duty nurs'd my infant love, 
 And ftricleft virtue fanftifi'd the flame, 
 'Till Valentinian fell alas ! no more ; 
 Nature religion reafon filial love, 
 Forbid a union with the fon of ./Etius. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 My brain grows hot it kindles to diffraction 
 This night fecures my blifs or certain death. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Oh ! live Gaudentius live for Rome's defence 5 
 Nor rob thy country of fo brave an arm. 
 
 H 2 Net 
 
<>o THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 Not crowns, or fceptres, or the world befides, 
 Has aught to balance with my love for thee ; 
 Yet urge no more fly hence and fuve thyfelf 
 One parting figh one folemn, laft adieu 
 Then, for thy country's fake, forget Eudocia. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Not till the pulfe of life forgets to play, 
 And death's cold dews pervade my quivering lip,. 
 Within this garden will I find a grave, 
 Unlefs my princefs dares an enterprife, 
 Which loft this night, may never more return j 
 I muft attempt thy refcue ere the morn. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 In what new horror would this fcene involve ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Aroufe thy noble fortitude of mind 
 *Tis the decifive hour the next fubjecls 
 To Hunneric's embrace. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Not all that nature fliudders at in death, 
 Has half the terrors that his name conveys ; 
 Oh ! fave, if poflible prevent my fate. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Then fly with me from mifery fupreme. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 The port of Offia's Hint and all the feas 
 Fill'd with Genferic's fierce piratic flaves : 
 Where can the wretched fly ? 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Fly any where from Hunneric and death. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 Alas ! my heart my weak, my wavering heart \ 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. $ , 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Come, let us move to yonder fmall alcove ; 
 The brave Traulifla, whom Genferic trufts, 
 Mod fortunately heads the nightly watch, 
 Patroles the ports until the morning dawns ; 
 The moment that the midnight bell refounds, 
 He brings a Vandal garb for my Eudocia, 
 And aids our flight to the Tarentine fea. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Traulifta ! I like not this Traulifta 
 Traulifta has a rough, a favage foul, 
 Wrought up. to treaibns of the darkeft hu?. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 His life he owes to .lEtius and myfelf. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 But gratitude can never bind the bafe 5 
 An infidel to God there is no tie 
 No principle to bind a worthlefs heart. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Hs is my friend - r come, diffipate diftrufL 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 A thcufand fpeclres ftare on, every fide. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS, 
 Let's lofe no time, nor let thy fears retard ; 
 
 [He offers to lead her out of the BoTt'tr* 
 The hazy moon enwraps her tranquil face, 
 And hides behind a thin tranfparent cloud, 
 Left Ihe betray, by her refplendent beam 
 Thy trembling flep the terror in thy eye. 
 
 [M&ving fortbty on, 
 EUDOCIA. 
 Methinks I hear feme fpeedy foot advance. 
 
 [She Jlarts back, 
 GAUDENTIUS, 
 
$* THE SACK OF ROME. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 My generous friend anticipates the hour. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 Lie ftill, my heart 
 
 Nor burft the brittle cafement of my br^afh 
 Enter SERVANT. 
 
 SERVANT. 
 
 Away, my lord fly to the thickeft fliadt% 
 Or, ere thou can : ft efcape, thou art undone. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS.. 
 Hah ! betray 'd ! 
 
 SERVANT. 
 
 Two ruffians arm'd, crawl round th'e citron walk 
 They nam'd Gaudentius I ftay'd to hear no more 
 But rufh'd and mot acrofs4he darken 'd grove, 
 To ferve the princefs and to-fave my lord. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Alas ! my faithful Cafiio thou'rt too late, 
 Yet as a foldier will I fell my life. 
 
 Enter HUNNERIC and TRAULTSTA. 
 [GAUDENTIUS makes a furious pafs and mortally 
 TRAULISTA.] 
 TRAULISTA. 
 Death to my hopes damnation to his hand ! 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Oh ! heavens ! Traulifta art thou the villain- 
 Traitor daftard Have lurking in fecret, 
 To betray thy friends ? 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 Coward, come on > 
 
 To brave in words thou may 'ft a dying man j 
 Yet know I've life enough to dafh to hell, 
 And fend thy puny foul to Pluto's fhades, 
 For daring once to threat Traulifla's life. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS 
 
THE SACK OF ROME. ^ 
 
 GAUDENTITJS. 
 
 High heaven has levell'd at thy treacherous heart 
 The fatal ftroke that juftice'' hand demands. 
 
 TRAULISTA. 
 
 Now are there deities or devils ghoft's or gods, 
 I'd thank them all had he have dy'd before me. 
 My eye balls fink my ftifFen'd fibres fail ! 
 Hafte, Charon with thy boat and fet me o'er 
 The Stygian pool blot out this being 
 'Tis a curfe to man yet if thefe Romans live 
 In other worlds, I would exifl again, 
 To chafe them from Elyfium, as from Rome. [Difs* 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 Seize this young furious prince, and on the rack [To &:$ 
 Extend each limb with heated pincers tare, Guards. 
 'Till I have time to find new tortures out. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 
 Not thee, nor death, nor tortures do I fear, 
 Would angel guards and ministers of fate 
 Firft {'catch Eudocia from thy loath'd embrace 
 Yet know, Gaudentius dies not as a flave. 
 
 [He ruJheP forward and engages HUNNERIC, ivh 
 mortally iniounds him. EUDOCIA runs betiusen 
 tkeirfwordS) and offers her breaft to HuNNERIC,] 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Strike here, moil noble Hunneric end my pain- 
 Now if thy foul can do one generous deed 
 Emancipate thy prifoner enhance the gift 
 Nor like a niggard do thy work by halves ; 
 Eut let me die with him, my life, my lord, 
 My hufband, my Gaudeatius. 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 No, my Eudocia, live thou art my queen. 
 
 EUDOCIA, 
 
4,4 THE SACK OF ROME, 
 
 F-UDOCIA. 
 
 If IieH's dark empire had a charm for me, 
 Then I might wifli to be the Vandal queen. 
 
 GAUDENTIUS. 
 Adieu, my fair adieu, my lov'd Eudocia 
 
 Adieu to glory, empire and renown ! [Falk. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Oh f flay Gaudentius let me afiuage. thy wounds* . 
 Support thy drooping head one moment more 
 Then I accompany my much lov'd lord. [She fafati*. 
 
 HUNNERIC. 
 
 Slaves, bear her off thefe are the fex's tricks 
 While her fond eyes hang on her paramour 
 She'll play them o'er, and weep, and figh, and rave> 
 And faint again yet cannot die with grief 
 But in mine arms (he'll fink an eafy bride. 
 
 EUDOCIA. 
 
 Heaven blot from time that curs'd, that blafled hour f 
 [ The guards attempt to force her from the forffe of 
 
 GAUDENTIUS.] 
 
 Off murderers nor tear me from his corpfe 
 Let me come near if flill he breathes, 
 And ftp the laft foft breath. Ah ; he is dead \ 
 In his lad fob the lad of Romans died 
 Jiift Heaven is kind I yet fhall die with him, 
 My throbbing heart almoft forgets to beat 
 The flow pulfation lags I fink I fall- 
 Time fhakes the glafs to fift out my laft fands 
 Virtue, fublim'd by piety and truth, 
 Now beckons to the fkies the curtain falls, 
 And opes eternity* I've nought to afk 
 Of this diftracled world but juft to fhrowd 
 In the fame peaceful tomb, with my Gaudentius. [Z>/>5 
 
 EPILOGUE 
 
EPILOGUE. 
 
 JTOETS and heroes travelling from b^me > 
 for perfect models, oft repair to Rome ; 
 Tet realproivefs, or true fterling tuif, 
 Or genius there, they do not always hit. 
 
 They had their bullies, fycophants andfools^, 
 And learned dunces in Apcllo' s fcheols ; 
 Their poetajiers pretty playful things, 
 If ho, patronized by ladies, or by kings, 
 By rules logijlick, reafon'd truth away, 
 And form' d new fyfiems fit for each new d&r ; 
 Zealots, or bigots to their fathers' creed, 
 As infidels, or fajbion gave the the lead i 
 A -proud republick, or a. fertile throng, 
 Aw'd by a frown, or by a Nero's fong ; 
 A celebrated, brave, leroick race, 
 They'd fave, or fell their country, for a place. 
 For liberty a poor untneaning name, 
 They /hook the globe, and fet the world in flatrif : 
 But, factious, fickle, impious and bold t 
 Enervated by luxury and gold, 
 Te'<vefeen extinguijh 'd great Apollo's fire, 
 Untun'd his harp, and broke his facred lyre* 
 
 But in this age of literary claim, 
 When tajle and genius <vie 'with Roman fame* 
 Like them ye' I I read, and candidly excuje 
 A piece dejign d for pleafure erf or ufe ; 
 Though both the unities of place and time 
 May'nt always tally <witb the true fublinle,. 
 Nor bufkin merit meet the mid dayjky, 
 A female bard ftill aftsyeur candid eye^ 
 
 Sure 
 
9 EPILOGUE 
 
 Sure the politenefs of an infant nation 
 Wont damn the play, and hifs it out of fajjjion ; 
 .At the frft reading on an winter's e*ve 
 fray cry encore a fecond may retrieve, 
 And fa<ve her fame from entry critick's rage 
 70 tread fecurely on Columbia's ft age. 
 
 No cenfuring bards, or little wits foe fears, 
 If ye are pleas' dy-and Peter Pindar fpares. 
 . The author ajks but this fmall boon of you, 
 Pray let it pafs at leajl a night or two j 
 And if the moral in this, pious age 
 Should let it live a week upon the Jlage ; 
 Some gambling fools fy Maximus's fate 
 Might learn their follies ere it 'was too late. 
 Might flay at home and fave their pretty fpoufcs, 
 And horns prevent by lodging at their houfes. 
 Others^ by thinking, might be .taught .the odds, 
 *Tivixt him *uuho fears and him who blafts the gods 
 Jtfight choofe to live and die a man of merit, 
 Ere he'd be damnd an infidel of fpirit ; 
 \But, like Trau lifta's, let their follies end, 
 \Wbo bajely ba*vc betray' d or fold a friend. 
 
 

 THE 
 
 LADIES of CASTILE. 
 
 A 
 
 TRAGEDY, 
 
 I N 
 
 FIVE ACTS. 
 
To a YOUNG GENTLEMAN in E u R o p E, at 
 zvhofe Requeft a regular DRAMATIC^ 
 WORK -was firjl attempted. 
 
 MY DEAR- SIR,, 
 
 Y OU have often requefted fome- 
 thing in the ilile of the drama, from the 
 hand of one ever fond of gratifying her 
 friends ; though not certain whether this 
 requeft arofe from a love of literary pro- 
 du&ions ; from a curiofity that has affec 
 tion for its bafis ; or the ftrong attachment 
 of friendship ; yet I have no doubt you will 
 be pleafed with the compliance. 
 
 I AM fenfible the writing an unexcep 
 tionable Tragedy, requires judgement, ge 
 nius, and tafte ; and have felt fuch a diffi 
 dence in the attempt, as nothing would 
 have overcome but the repeated requeft of 
 a very dear friend. 
 
 THOUGH the piece now put into your 
 hand may not afford equal entertainment 
 with the compofitions of a Gorneille, a 
 Racine, or a Crebillon, yet I dare fay, 
 from your partiality, you will find pleafure 
 in your clofet, though it fhould not be en* 
 cored on the ftage. 
 
 YOU 
 
IOO 
 
 You have never named me a fubjeft, 
 though you prohibited an American, and 
 feetned to have no predilection in favour of 
 Britiih incident ; therefore, .notwithstanding 
 events in the weflern world have outran 
 imagination ; notwithstanding the magni 
 tude of profpecl: a rifmg empire difplays, 
 and the many tragical fcenes exhibited on 
 an ifland whence it derived its origin, I have 
 recurred to an ancient flory in the annals 
 of Spain, in her laft flruggles for liberty, 
 previous to the complete eftablimment of 
 -defpetifm by the family of Ferdinand. 
 
 THE hi (lory of Charles the fifth, the ty 
 ranny of his fucceffors, and the exertions of 
 the Spanifh Cortes, will ever be interening 
 to an American ear, fo long as they triumph 
 in their independence, pride themfelves in 
 the principles that inftigated their patriots, 
 and glory in the characters of their heroes, 
 \vhofe valour completed a revolution that 
 will be the wonder of ages. 
 
 WHAT a field for genius ! What a did 
 play of capacity, both in fcience, in bufi- 
 pefs, and in politics, does this revolution ex 
 hibit ! Certainly, enough to fire the ambi 
 tion, and light up every noble fpark in the 
 bofom of thofe who are in the morning of 
 life. 
 
 THE 
 
lot 
 
 THE nations have now refheathed the 
 iword ; the European world is hu fried in 
 peace ; America Hands alone : May fhefll 
 long (land, independent of every foreign 
 power ; fuperiour to the fpirit of intrigue, 
 or the corrupt principles of usurpation that 
 may fpring from the fuccefsful exertions of 
 her own fons : May their conduct never 
 contradict the profeffions of the patriots 
 who have afTerted the rights of human na 
 ture ; nor caufe a bluili to pervade the cheek 
 of the children of the martyrs who have 
 fallen in defence of the liberties of their 
 country 
 
 PERHAPS the fubjecl; I have chofen for 
 the machinery of a tragedy, may be more 
 proper for an epic, than a dramatic poem ; 
 yet I hope it will be acceptable in its pref. 
 ent garb, and that the candor of the public 
 will be ^xercifed, not fo much for the fake 
 of the fex, as the defign of the writer, who 
 wifhes only to cultivate the fentiments of 
 public and private virtue in whatfoever 
 falls from her pen. 
 
 I AM mofl affectionately, Yours, 
 
 M. W. 
 
 February 20, 1784. 
 
 DRAMATIS 
 
 I 2 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 M E N. 
 DON VELASCO Regent of Spam in tt'e abfence of 
 
 Charles fifth. 
 CONDE HARO Son to Velafco, Commander of the royal 
 
 Army. 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA- Commander of the Troops 
 
 raifed by the States of Spain. 
 DON FRANCIS Friend to Padilla, Brother of Donna 
 
 Maria, in love 'with Lour] a. 
 DON PEDRO GHIRON a young Nobleman in love 
 
 with Louifa. 
 
 Z AMOR A Bijbop of Toledo. 
 SOCI-A confidential Servant to Don Juan de Padilla, 
 
 WOMEN. 
 DONNA MARIA Wife of Don Juan de Padilla, Sifav. 
 
 to Don Francis. 
 DONNA LOUISA -Daughter of Don Vdafco. 
 
THE 
 
 L ADlES of CASTILE. 
 
 ACT 
 
 I. 
 
 SCENE 
 
 Near Toledo. 
 
 I. 
 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA and DON FRANCIS. 
 
 DON FRANCIS. 
 
 HE furious courfer lifts his dauntlefs head, 
 Fierce fnaps the bit, and rolls his eye abroad, 
 Sees death and carnage mark th' empurpled field, 
 Neighs for his pitey, and tramples o'er the dead. 
 
 The happy deed may bite the blood ftain'd ground^ 
 Untaught by reafon, fympathy or love 
 Unconfcious of the pains the ten fold pangs, 
 That check the warrior in his bold career. 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA. 
 Methinks fome languor hangs about thy fteps, 
 Too like defpair, though not alli'd to fear ; 
 
 When 
 
134' , TI-1E LADIES- OF CASTILE. 
 
 When virtue arms, and liberty's the prize, 
 
 No cloud fliould fet on brave Don Francis' browv 
 
 he love of glory, victory and fame, 
 A noble fenfe of dignity and worth, 
 Is-the beft -birth right of Caftilia's fons : 
 Inur'd to glory, and the feats of war, 
 Our fathers held their freedom, from the gods. 
 A jealoufy for freedom kept alive 
 Precludes the fofter paflions of the mind.: 
 DON FRANCIS. 
 
 Nurs'd in the fierce and hoftile field of war, 
 I, from long anceftry, may boldly claim 
 That innate force and vigour of the mind 
 Which mocks the.fcnfe of danger or of death , 
 But yet Louifa wakes my foul to love. 
 De Haro's filter has ten thoufand charms f 
 But ah ! the daughter of Velafco chills, 
 And horror opes the gates of wild'defpair, 
 As if the fates forbad a diftant hope. 
 
 DON JUAN DTJ PADILLA.- 
 
 Spurn thefe foft fetters fly the fond difguifc, 
 Ere it unnerves the vigour of thine arm 
 Let freedom be the miftrefs of .thy heart : 
 She calls to arms, and bids us draw the fword : 
 Gome, clear thy brow, and whet the pointed fteel, 
 To crufii the foes of liberty and Spain. 
 DON FRANCIS. 
 
 I would fufpend, but ne'er exterminate 
 The nobleft paifion of the human foul ; 
 That foftens the ferocious bread of man, 
 And checks the ruder billows of the mind. 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA. 
 
 Not like the lover, but the hero talk 
 The fword mud rcfcue, or the nation fink. 
 
 And 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 105 
 
 And felf degraded, wear the badge of flaves. 
 We boaft a caufe of glory and renown ; 
 We arm to purchafe tjie fublimeft gift 
 The mind of man is capable to tafte. 
 'Tis not a factious, or a fickle rout, 
 That calls their kindred out to private war, 
 
 With hearts envenom'd by a thirft of blood 
 
 * 
 
 Nor burns ambition, rancour, or revenge, 
 As in the bo Co in of fome lordly chief 
 Who throws his gauntlet at his fov'reign's foot, 
 And bids defiance in his wanton rage : 
 Tis freedom's genitis, nurs'd from age to age, 
 Matured in fchools of liberty and law, 
 On virtue's page from fire to fon conveyed, 
 E'er fince the favage, fierce, barbarian hords, 
 Pour'd in, and chas'd beyond Narvafia's mount, 
 The hardy chiefs who govern'd ancient Spain. 
 Our independent anceftors difdain'd 
 All fervile homage to defpotick lords. 
 
 DON FRANCIS. 
 
 I own my weaknefs yet forgive my love j 
 My life and honour facredly I plight, 
 To aid a brave and veteran band of chiefs, 
 Whofe fathers fearlefs, dip'd the glittering fword, 
 Whet with revenge, in tides of Moorifh blood, 
 To lave their fons from fervitude and chains. 
 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA. 
 But we have not a moment's time to lofe. 
 The pageant mounted on his gilded car, 
 Sweeps all the fickle multitude along : 
 Inaction or delay will ruin all, 
 And place the fav'rite nurs'd in fortune's lap, 
 Beyond the reach of aught but heaven itfelf, 
 
 To 
 
T05 THE LADIES OF CASTILE". 
 
 To teach him what from man to man is due. 
 A battle ere tomorrow's fun retires 
 Shall fhew the world our pedigree and fame ; 
 The Celtiberian race mall ne'er be fiaves, 
 
 Nor blufh to own Don Juan for their fon. 
 
 [Ex cunt* 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Palace of VE L A s c o . . 
 Enter DON VELASCO and CONDE HARD, 
 
 DON VELASCO. 
 
 JL HE brighten'd dawn lifts up its cheerful face ; 
 The fun beams play to lighten thee to fame ; 
 The hill tops fmile, and each propitious gale, 
 Wafts victory onward, with expanded wing, 
 To crown the glory of Velafco's houfe. 
 
 CONDE HARO, 
 
 Unhappy Spain, by civil factions torn, 
 Affaulting friends, while foreigners invade. 
 Her burning cities, and her reeking fons, 
 Are drench 'd in blood, our valour mould protect j- 
 While fierce difdnion fcowls on every brow, 
 And rancour whets the fword againft ourfelves, 
 The Turkiftvbanners fpread the German plains*. 
 And France, refolv'd to humble Charles's pride,. 
 Unites the crefcent with the facred crofs. 
 
 DON VELASCO. 
 
 Francis indeed may triumph at our gates, 
 Unlefs Don Jdan, and the reftlefs Cortes, 
 
 AVe 
 
TilS LADIES OF CASTILE. 107 
 
 Are foon fubdu'd, and peace reftor'd to Spain. 
 One glorious conflict, one fuccefsful day, 
 Will mew the world the heir of Ferdinand 
 For empire born, in fpite of all his foes. 
 
 CONDE HARO. 
 
 The fword is drawn, and down the giilph of time, 
 Perhaps, its ufelefs fcabbard may be tofs'd, 
 'Till years roll on, and revolution's wheel 
 Whirls nations down, and empire fweeps away, 
 Ere peace benignant fmiles on haplefs Spain. 
 
 DON VELASCO. 
 Then lofe no time to crufh this rebel race. 
 
 CONDE HARO. 
 
 The noblefl blood that ancient Spain can boaft, 
 Thrills through their veins, and warms their gallant 
 With great ideas of liberty and law. [chiefs 
 
 They claim the rights their ancient fires pofTefs'd, 
 When, ere allegiance fworn, or fealty paid, 
 They bade the fov 'reign recollect the claim, 
 That each, as good by nature as himfelf, 
 Were, when united, arm'd with power replete, 
 To fmite the brow, and daft the fcepter'd hand 
 That dare invade the meaneft fubject's right. 
 
 DON VELASCO. 
 
 'Tis but a faflion 'of cabal and ftrife, 
 Bound by no ties of dignity or worth ; 
 Devoid of honour, difcipline, or faith ; 
 JDifcord will wafte, and jealoufy divide, 
 And drive them backward from the routed field, 
 Jifpers'd by thee, as dud before the wind. 
 
 CONDE HARO. 
 
 Inur'd to arms, my foul's eftrang'd to fear.; 
 Yet I lament my fate j my fire and prince, 
 
 Point 
 
I 
 
 jog THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 Point me to glory, combating my will, 
 And make my duty lead to deeds I hate. 
 
 This conteft is no democratic rage, 
 No lewd tumultuous fury juft let loofe 
 Dauntlefs and bold as fam'd Numantia's fons, 
 They wield the lance and bear the target high, 
 And boaft their ancient independent race ; 
 Unfold their pedigree, in freedom's line, 
 E'er fince for liberty, the haughty Celts 
 In blood contefted with the furious Goths. 
 
 DON VELASCO. 
 
 Methinks fome latent caufe beclouds thy zeal 
 And checks the vigour of thy val'rous arm, 
 Retards thy glory, and may blaft thy fame. 
 
 CONDE HARO. 
 
 Not lefs refolv'd, or fearlefs than thyfelf, 
 No tongue fhall e'er reproach thy houfe or name 
 With glory tarnifh'd, by De Haro's fall 
 From valour, virtue, dignity, or fame, 
 DON VELASCO. 
 
 Then hafte, and chafe thefe mifcreants from the land- 
 Cut down their line, and blaft their idle hopes, 
 And extirpate the bold feditious race. 
 Their houfes wrap in one devouring flame 
 The fword fhall quell all factions in the land. 
 
 CONDE HARO. 
 
 When virtue's vanquinYd, juftice bids us fpare, 
 And lend compadion to an haplefs foe. 
 I ne'er will tinge the field with human blood, 
 If milder means can bloodlefs viclory win. 
 
 DON VELASCO. 
 Adieu, my fon my foul is all on fire. 
 
 Proud 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 109 
 
 Proud glory waits to make thy name immortal, 
 By promis'd triumphs ere the morrow clofe. 
 
 DE HARD. 
 
 Urg'd on by thee, by glory and renown, 
 I'll ferve my fov 'reign as a foldier ought, 
 And take the field againft my former friends, 
 But in the hero ne'er forget the man. \Exeunt* 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA and DON PEJ>RO. | 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 L HE 
 
 kingdoms of great Ferdinand are left, 
 To hunt for crowns in Germany and France, 
 While here Velafco plunders all the ftates. 
 Our delegates have yefterday returned, 
 Without an audience at the fov 'reign's court ; 
 Stop'd on the way forbid on pain of death, 
 With their complaints their idle tales of wrong 
 T' invade the regal dignity of thrones, 
 Or whifper murmurs in a monarch's ear. 
 Refent merit, and a noble third of fame, 
 Muft roufe the bold, reanimate the brave, 
 And brace tfye arm with vigour to repel 
 Thefe bolcl invafions on great nature's rights. 
 
 PEDRO. 
 
 Has then the band of Dutch and Flemifh race, 
 Who hover round, clos'd up the monarch's ear, 
 And fteel'd his heart againft the cries of Spain ? 
 
 K Ambition 
 
1*0 THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 Ambition low 'ring on a lordly brow 
 May yet fubdue the citizens of Spain. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Valencia arm'd, and Arragon arous'd, 
 Hold their's and Caftile's righteous caufe the fame. 
 The trump of war is echo'd through the land, 
 Wrought up to tempefts by the cruel arm 
 Of bafe oppreffion, breaking o'er the mounds 
 Of law of juftice equity and truth. 
 Is thy mind firm irrevocably fix'd, 
 Or, to fecure the facred rights of Spain, 
 Or die a martyr in her glorious caufe. 
 PEDRO. 
 
 The florm beats high yet, will I hazard all, 
 My honour, fortune, freedom and. my fame : 
 I, by thy fide, all danger will defy. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Then reconnoitre round De Haro's pofls 4 
 The noble houfe of Albert's overcome, 
 Navarre's fubdu'd difmantled all her towns 
 Peafants and nobles, citizens and Haves, 
 Promifcuoufly enroll'd in Charles's pay, 
 Sullen and fierce, difdain th' ignoble fervice : 
 Ripe for revolt, they, at my fignet join, 
 And lift.themfelves in a more noble caufe : 
 P-repare their leaders for tomorrow's work. 
 
 '[Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. n* 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLAW DON FRANCIS. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 H 
 
 .AST thou yet feen th* unhappy queen of Spain ? 
 The vulgar ear, forever caught by found, 
 AllurM by pomp, by pageantry and (how, 
 Revere her perfOn and adore her name ; 
 Her ftandard planted on the field of war, 
 Would fan&ion give to every bold defign. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 I have beheld the ruins of a queen, 
 A fight too piteous for a foldier's eye 
 Whofe heart, unfteel'd by fcenes of human woe, 
 Has yet a tender corner left for grief. 
 
 Rob'd of her crown, authority and peace 
 Dethroned, immur'd, neglected by her fon, 
 Shut up in widow 'd folitude to weep 
 Ungrateful Philip, who defpis'd her charms, 
 She's but the weeping image of defpair. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Does (he yet know the miferies of Spain ? 
 The indignant wrongs and injuries we feel, 
 Beneath the reign of her oppredive fon ? 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 She, all attentive, liften'd to the tale ; 
 And rous'd at once as from lethargic dreams, 
 And ftarting, cry'd is Ferdinand no more !- 
 Is that great monarch fl umber ing in the tomb, 
 While I, a wretched prifoner of ftate, 
 Stand the fad monument of human ills ? 
 
 She 
 
in THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 She wept and figh'd, till firong refentment rofe, 
 And kindled in her breaft a noble flame. 
 
 With all the powers of eloquence and truth, 
 I ftrove to footh her wandering mind to reft. 
 Jn juftice* facred name I urg'd her aid 
 To counteract the cruelties of Charles, 
 To reaflTume her rights, and reign again, 
 To extricate her fubjedls from defpair ;- 
 She gave a fie nt with dignity and eafe, 
 And, fpite of nature, feeni'd to be a queen. 
 I nam'd Calabria's injur'd noble prince, 
 The heir of Arragon, long fmce deprived 
 Of his paternal crown, and princely rights, 
 Which Ferdinand, by violence, had feiz'd, 
 And juftice bade his daughter to reftore ; 
 I urg'd her marriage with fo brave a prince, 
 Entitled, both by virtue and by blood, 
 To wield the fceptre that his fathers won, 
 And fhield her perfon from all future wrongs j 
 But naming love, her dormant pafiions wak'd, 
 And kindled up her former flame for Philip j 
 She funk defpondent, and refus'd to aid, 
 To aft in council, or to guide the realm. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 " Unhappy queen ! thus to her people loft. 
 In melancholy's cell, let her remain, 
 While her fon raves at large about the world, 
 Not lefs a madman than the Macedon, 
 Who kindled up the Grecian world in flame, 
 And rear'd a pile o'er all his murder'd friends. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 She, refcu'd from her guards, my prifoner is, 
 And, if we need, her fignet is obtain'd. 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 113 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 But malice whifpers murmurs through the c?.mp, 
 And half our foldiers clamour for their pay 
 At leaft a part, before they take the field. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Hafte to Maria, whofe undaunted foul 
 Reflects a luftre on her feeble fex ; 
 By ftratagem, (he's gain'd an ample fum 
 To quiet mutiny, and pay the troops. 
 But ere the folemn midnight clock fhall flrike, 
 Return, and meet me at the gate of Toro. [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 DON FRANCIS and DONNA MARIA, 
 
 MARIA-. 
 
 JL O make atonement for the guilt of men, 
 Altars Are drefs'd, and faintly relics mine : 
 Inftead of real fanclity of heart 
 They churches decorate with coftly gifts : - 
 But reafon, burfting from a fable cloud, 
 On a bright throne erecls her regal ftand, 
 And gives new fanclions from the voice of God, 
 To free the mind from fuperftition's reign. 
 
 No fables, legends, dreams, or monkifli tales, 
 Shake my firm purpofe> or difarm my mind, 
 When duty calls to make my country free. 
 
 The churches' treafures were our laft reforr, 
 And, join'd by all the matrons of my train, 
 In weeds of woe, and fable garments drefs'd, 
 
 K 2. I kneel'd: 
 
ii4 THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 I kneel'd before the confecrated flirines, 
 And afk'd a blefling on my country's caufe ; 
 But 'twas to him whofe fanction feals the claim, 
 Of peace and freedom to the human race, 
 I bow'd my foul, and rais'd my fuppliant prayer, 
 That when a fpark from chaos' womb had burft, 
 And light diffus'd o'er all the vveftern world, 
 It might not be to gild a tyrant's car, 
 And make mankind the pageants of his will j 
 I then difmantied all the facred mrines. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Hah ! durft thou venture on fo bold a deed ! 
 Leap prieftly bounds invade the churches' rights 
 Difrobe the faints, and rifque the public hate ! 
 MARIA. 
 
 Neceffity muft fanftify the deed. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Thy foul was form'd to animate the arm 
 Of fome illuftrious, bold, heroic chief, 
 And not to wafte its glorious fire away, 
 Beneath the weaknefs of a female form. 
 MARIA. 
 
 Men rail at weaknefTes themfelves create, 
 And boldly ftigmatize the female mind, 
 As though kind nature's juft impartial hand 
 Had form'd its features in a bafer" mould : 
 But nice diftinclions in the human foul, 
 Adopted follies, sr inherent vice, 
 May be diicufs'd in calmer times than thefe : 
 "We'll reafon then-^-ii* poflible regain 
 Vvhau*??r nan.jre, or its author gave. 
 But J^yn wjits, and fortune's on the wing : 
 The fickle goddefs waves her gloffy plume, 
 
 And 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 115 
 
 And holds an era in the life of man, 
 When all is hung fufpended on his choice ; 
 Election made, judicioufly he (hinds 
 On the proud fummit of all human fame ; 
 But judgment once erroneoufly forni'd 
 Oft fixes his ill fate through life's career ; 
 While a ftrong current bears him down the tide^. 
 And wrecks his peace on every ripling ftream. 
 
 The morn may {mile propitious on our caufe 
 May make us free, or more completely flaves : 
 Unrive the manacles, or drive the bolts, 
 And clank the fhackles round the Spanifh world. 
 Canft thou forget the foft Louifa's tears, 
 And chafe her brother through the field of blood ? 
 Thou, like a lion leaping on his prey, 
 Muft aim thy javelin at De Haro's heart. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Name not Louifa I would forget flie lives f "%?. 
 Or that fhe is the fifter of my foe. 
 Miftaken man ! he deprecates this war 
 That lights his country in a wafting flame j 
 But thinks the era other freedom loft, 
 Since firft Ximenes' artful fubtile wiles, 
 Threw fuch a weight in the defpotic fcale ; 
 A ftandbg army at the fov 'reign's nod, 
 Which makes the monarch matter of the la\vs ; 
 And gives at will both liberty and life. 
 Yet Conde Haro has a noble foul, 
 INor is leis virtuous than truly brave. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Virtue muft fpring from the maternal, line 
 If it adorns the Conde Haro's" bread. 
 
 DON 
 
n5 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Tomorrow proves him what the world reports,. 
 And weaves a garland to adorn his brow, 
 Or leaves his trunk a headlefs facrifice, 
 To ftamp frelh glory on Don Juan's name. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Go, haften on, and not a moment lofe ; 
 Remind the foldiers of Segovia's rights 
 Review, the battles fought on Ebro's banks 
 Affure them all is fafe, if they're but brave. 
 The fword maintains what their forefathers won. 
 
 [Excurn 
 
 ACT 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. IT; 
 
 A C .T II. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 An Ale we In an artificial Wllderncfs. DONNA LOUISA, 
 fola. 
 
 HE burnffli'd hills overlook the verdant dales, 
 And nature's deck'd in all her bright array. 
 The whifpering breeze plays o'er the dappled mead, 
 And fans the foliage on the flowery bank : 
 The towering, wood lark trills her tender note, 
 And foft refponfive mufic cheers the lawn j 
 Yet here I wander wilder'd and alone, 
 Like fome poor banifh'd fugitive who feeks 
 The meagre comfort of a mofs grown cave. 
 
 Enter DONNA MARIA. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Awake fond maid nor thus fupinely wafte 
 Thy youth thy bloom. Thy matchlefs beauty fades 
 Mid'ft forrow, fighs, and unavailing tears. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Thought feeds my woes, nor can my reafon aid 
 To calm the paffions of my grief torn breafr, 
 'Till concord weaves again her palmy wreath, 
 To deck the face of this diffracted land. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Though weak companion finks the female mind, 
 And ouf frail fex diflblve in pity's tears ; 
 Yet juftice' fword can never be refheath'd, 
 'Till Charles is tahghyp know we will be free ; 
 And learns the duty that a monarch owes, 
 To heaven the people and the rights of man. 
 
 Let 
 
*ig THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 Let him reftore the liberties of Spain 
 Difmifs the -robbers that arreft his ear 
 Thofe penfion'd plunderers that rudely feize 
 What nature gave, and what our fathers won. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 I retrofpeft, and weep Spain's happier days 
 Survey the pleafures once we call'd our own, 
 When harmony dilplay'd her gentle wand, 
 And every peafant fmil'd beneath his vine 
 'Till nature fickens at the fad reverfe, 
 And my fwoln bofom heaves with fmother'd %hs, 
 Too big to be reprefs'd. I yield to grief 
 'Till floods of tears relieve my tortur'd foul. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Maria has a bolder part to acl 
 I fcorn to live upon ignoble terms 
 A fupple courtier fawning at the feet 
 Of proud defpotic nobles, or of kings. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Had I thy firmnefs, yet my heart would bleed 
 To fee my country torn by eivil feuds. 
 Each hero hurls a javelin at the bread 
 His heart reveres, and friendship's foul recoils 
 W 7 hen the bold veteran urges home the blow, 
 To pierce the man he venerates and loves ; 
 While the brave patriot parries back the fhaft 
 Againft a life that virtue's felf would fave. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 This fad neceflity this painful ftrife, 
 Should reunite the citizens of Spain ; 
 And roufe each languid arm with tenfold zeal 
 To point the thunder at a tyrant's head, 
 
 Ere 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. up 
 
 Ere yet the lingering mind indignant finks, 
 Debas'd and trembling at a defpot's frown. 
 
 Rather let cities that-fupport his reign, 
 Like Torbolatan yefterday reduc'd, 
 Be ftorm'd and fack'd before tomorrow's dawn j 
 And thus be taught the weaknefs of the mind 
 That dare a moment balance in the fcale, 
 A crown for kings with liberty to man. 
 LOUISA. 
 
 But ah, Maria Ithis little felf obtrudes f 
 I cannot boaft difinterefted grief ; 
 Louifa's tears can never ceafe to flow. 
 If brave Don Juan wins a glorious day, 
 My father friends and family are loft j 
 If viclory for loyalty declares 
 Or if Don Francis noble Francis, falls 
 Is there a name from Caftile to the Rhone, 
 So wretched as thy friend thy lov'd Louifa ? 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Thou fliould'ft have liv'd in mild and gentler times, 
 And breath 'd, and flumber'd in the lap of peace, 
 As innocent and foft as infant love, 
 When lull'd to reft by .a fond mother's fong ; 
 The fmiling babe, wak'd by the wind's rude breath, 
 The pearly dew drop trickles from its eye, 
 'Till footh'd to quiet by its favourite toy ; 
 But for myfelf though famine, chains, and death 
 Should all combine--nay, fhould Don Juan fall 
 Which Heav'n forbid I ne'er will yield, 
 Nor own myfelf a (lave. But fee thy lover, 
 Penfive, walks this way. Adieu, my friend, 
 I muft be gone the bufy moments call 
 My mind is fraught with cares of high import. [Exit. 
 
 SCENE 
 
*20 THE LADIES OF CASTILE.' 
 
 S C E iPfe II. 
 Enter DON FRANCIS and DONNA LOUISA. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 JLrfET hope return and fpread her filken wing, 
 And fmile beneath the canopy of love ; 
 The heav'n born mind, where virtue fits enthron'd, 
 Should be fcrene, nor wafte itlelf in fighs. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Talk not of love, while fympathetic pain, 
 And keeneft forrows, rive the boldeft heart ; 
 While thoufands fall at freedom's facred flirine, 
 And bathe her pedeftal with the rich blood 
 Of the beft foldiers that the world can boaft ; 
 While the fond wife droops o'er her dying lord, 
 And orphan'd babes, and widow 'd matrons weep, 
 Thrown heLplefs, on a cold, ungrateful world, 
 As pitilefs as winter's frozen hand. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 For human woes my heart has often bled 
 Yet dry thy tears, and calm thy ruffled mind- 
 Anticipate my blifs, and bid me live : 
 Oh ! give thy hand, and plight thy facred vow, 
 Ere war's hoarfe clarion fummons to the field, 
 That nought but death fliall tear thee from my arms. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Why wilt thou urge and importune my vows 
 While all my foul is agony and grief ? 
 Name love no more, till peace fhall biefs the land ; 
 When reduen'd wrath no longer lifts the fword, 
 Dip'd to the hilt in rancour's baneful dream- 
 That 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, J2 t 
 
 That the fteel'd heart may deeper plunge the blade, 
 Without a figh when from the gaping wound, 
 Outru/1/..s, flaring, the aftonifh'd foul 
 Of his lov'd friend, or of a brother fiain. 
 Ah ! whither do I rove let me retire, 
 Left I betray the weaknefs of my heart. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 O might I claim that tender trickling tear, 
 And call thofe fighs my own they'd waft me on 
 Towards the field of fame, with frefli blown hope, 
 That ere tomorrow's fun engulphs his brow!, 
 And cools his fteeds beyond the weftern main, 
 I might return victorious to thine arms, 
 And lay my trophies at Louifa's feet. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 And what thefe trophies but a brother's fpoils ) 
 Who is the victim thy fuccefs would doom 
 To infamy difgrace defpair and death ? 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Ah ! there's the pain the fharpeft pang I feel 
 To lift the fword, and tread the hoftile ground. 
 'The Conde Haro is a virtuous foe. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 The Conde Haro is Louifa's brother 
 The only heir of Don Velafco's houfe 
 And if he falls fate fevers us forever. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 Forever ! revoke the fentence ere it reaches heaven. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 Forever. Remember this, and fpare De Haro's blood, 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 But, if in battle he fliould bravely fall 
 
 L LOUISA, 
 
tas THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 A ftern, enrag'd, inexorable (ire, 
 Might hold Louifa guilty of his death. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Juft Heaven forbid ! Could he arraign a mind 
 As pure and fpotlefs as the infant morn ? 
 
 . LOUISA. 
 
 Velafco is to royalty alii'd, 
 A feudal lord, of ancient pedigree ; 
 In rank, in wealth, in fame, the firft in Spain ; 
 His high fwoln pride burfts forth in peals of rage, 
 Whene'er he talks or names the rebel chiefs ; 
 Forbids his fon to fpare a fmgle life, 
 If fortune makes him mailer of the field : 
 Think then what agonies pervade my breaft. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 When honour calls, and juftice wields the f word, 
 True virtue fpares, and clemency forgives ; 
 But when a fierce, tyrannic luft of fway, 
 Deforms the foul, and blots out nature's (lamp, 
 The wolf, or tyger, prowling for his prey, 
 Is lefs a favage than the monfter man. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 No more, my lord I fink beneath the (form .; 
 The jarring pafiions tear my feeble frame 
 My filial duties make the firft demand ; 
 Yet, fpite of thefe, a group of pafiions rife, 
 Love friendmip fear companion and defpair, 
 Alternate rend, in fpite of reafon's fway. 
 
 Amidd the ftorm, the kind De Haro comes, 
 And with a fmile, ineffably ferene, 
 With all the foftnefs of fraternal love, 
 U~ cries forbear to think of me again, 
 
 Or 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 123, 
 
 Or that thy brother hazards fame or life, 
 Aoainft the valour of a dearer naine. 
 
 3 
 
 ALis ! how weak my trembling heart's become* 
 Oh ! what has my unguarded tongue difclos'd ! 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 What makes me blefs'd beyond the power of fate, 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Deception oft beneath a flimfy veil, 
 Hides human hearts, nor lets man know himfelf. 
 Should fortune fnatch the viclory from thee 
 Thyfelf thy friends and freedom loft at once 
 Perhaps you'll curfe, in agonies of grief, 
 Louifa's houfe her venerated fire 
 Her noble brother and yet more I dread 
 Yes my lip trembles at the riling thought 
 The haplefs daughter of thy cruel foe. 
 Is thy love proof againft this- teft fevere ? 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Defcription would but beggar love like mine j 
 Meafure the earth and mount beyond the ftars, 
 There's nought below can bound its full extent j 
 Not death itlelf can blot thee from my heart. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Then am I thine ! witnefs ye heavenly powers ! 
 This is the fignet of thy wedded wife ; [Gives him a ring, 
 In the luft exigence weigh well its worth, 
 And claim thy life from Don Velafco's hand. 
 This was the pledge of his Zelinda's faith : 
 Knowing the fallies of his haughty foul 
 In a fond moment of paternal love, 
 He kifs'd my cheek, and caught my trembling hand, 
 Ifix'd on my finger this invalu'd gem, 
 
 Ami 
 
1*4 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 And by a folemn oath he bound his foul, 
 To grant each prayer when this mould plead its claim, 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Language fs poor, and time itfelf would fail 
 To fpeak the raptures of my grateful heart. 
 LOUISA. 
 
 What have I done my filial love, 
 And the connubial ties at variance fet 
 A brother's life againft a huftand's fiak'd 
 My country's weal, with loyalty at war 
 Confufion tumult- death and flaughter reign j, 
 As if the demons leap'd Tartarus' bounds 
 To fport with mifery and grin at pain. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Heaven has the means to extricate from woe, 
 Though veil'd from man if patience waits his will : 
 When fortitude, h,r fifter virtue joins'* 
 They both triumphant, meet a juft reward. 
 Adieu, my love my duty bids me hafte ; 
 
 [Trumpets ivitbou 
 
 Soon I return, victorious from the field, 
 And clafp an angel to my faithful breaft. [Exit. 
 
 LOUISA, Jb'us. 
 
 He's gone ! 
 
 I feel the parting firoke fevere indeed 
 As if his lips pronounc'd a lad adieu. 
 
 Now all ye powers fupreme, fupport my foul } 
 Teach me to brave the conflicts of the world 
 In this extreme difrrefs nor let me fwerve 
 From honour's path, or virtue's ftricleft rule ; 
 Nor let my confcience once upbraid my flaps. [*/*. 
 
 SCENE 
 i 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. i* 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 eONDE HARO, folus. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 ' V E L A S C O 's will, back'd by the king's com 
 mand,. 
 
 Tmuft obey, or blaft my rifing fame, . 
 And hazard all in the precarious caufe, 
 Of freedom, ilak'd againft the power of kings ; 
 Yet warring paflions tear my tortur'd foul ; 
 Difcordant hopes make me a wretch indeed, 
 I love Maria I revere her lord 
 And almoft wifli the vicl'ry may be his j 
 Yet if he falls he falls as Brutus fell, 
 In the lad llruggle for his country's weal ; 
 While my fuccefs will rivet faft her clminsj, 
 Erafe each veftige of her ancient rights, 
 And make me odious in Maria's eye. 
 And (hall I fofler this inglorious Same ? 
 A hopelefs paflion gnawing on my peace, 
 And cankering my foul againft the man 
 I once efteem'd my friend though now a foe, 
 He's virtue's friend where'er he meets her name. 
 
 The moral fenfe, that checks the wayward will, 
 Now witnefs bear I'm mafter of myfelf : 
 I'll meet him in the field on equal terms j 
 No bafe defire, or any lawlefs wifn, 
 Shall more obtrude to interrupt my peace :- 
 But honour, juftice, duty to my king, 
 Shall wield my fword, and lead to fpotlefs fame. [*7/ 
 
 1,2 SCENE 
 
2 5 THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA and DONNA-MARIA. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 IRST of thy fex thou miflr.efs of my heart- 
 Not all Hefperia can boafl a fair 
 So amiably foft, difcreet and wife ; 
 With fuch a firm, heroic, noble foul,. 
 Why mould a tear bedew thy lovely cheek ? 
 MARIA. 
 
 I fee diftrefs on every ilde I turn j 
 Some fad dejection marks the foldiers brow ; 
 Though veterans in arms, they fear the king, 
 And tremble at the frown of majefty : 
 The nobles all, though emulous of fame, 
 Are jealous, proud are turbulent and ram 
 The people fierce, yet ever prone to change. 
 Today the cap of liberty's tofs'd up 
 Tomorrow torn and given to the winds, 
 And all their leaders, by the fickle throng 
 Are faerific'd by violence, or fraud. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 So far above the weaknefs of thy fex, 
 Let me befeech thee never to defpair j 
 Support thy courage, arm thy noble mind 
 Sure never more did thy Padilla need 
 Thy wifdom, counfel, fortitude and zeal, 
 To animate amidft ten thoufand cares. 
 But my firm purpofe never can be mook ; 
 While life glows warm within my beating breaff, 
 I will defend, agairift the proudeft foe, 
 The liberties of Spain, my country's rights. 
 
 MARIA, 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 127 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 So dangerous a foe has Spain ne'er feerr 
 Since from the brindled North, the favage hords 
 Pour'd from their frozen hives, where gendering ftorms ' 
 Have rulli'd, a-nd fwell'd fair Ebro's banks with blood. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 We have been free e'er (nice the mighty Goths, 
 In barb'rous fwarras, compelFd the peaceful fwain 
 To bare his breaft, and meet the Granger's fvvord j 
 The raw and hardy peafants of the field, 
 Train J d up to arms, inur'd to feats of war, 
 Op'd tfreir full veins, and wafh'd in native gore 
 The field, the village, and their 'father's tombs, 
 Ere they eftablift'd Hbertyand peace. 
 Their ancient victories (hall be recall 'd 
 By the warm fluid from Don Juan's heart, 
 Ere he'll fubmit to drag about this fheli 
 Through nature's fyftem, as an ufelefs drone, 
 Or live the fiave of any lawlefs power. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 O Heaven forbid ! nor dafh my country's hopes*) 
 Or premature, cut down before the noon 
 A life of glory and heroic worth, 
 And blaft iuccefs^ while virtue lifts the fwonL 
 
 DON JtfAN. 
 
 Sure life protracted is a vulgar wifh,. 
 Unlefs fome noble end blows up the flame 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Spite of myfelf, I have betray'd a tear ; 
 But feel my courage brighten by thy fide f 
 Nor fhall the weaknefs of my fex again, 
 Create a fear that may difturb thy peace, 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 DON 
 
 Hafte back, my love, left feme mifliap befal , 
 The good Zemora guards Toledo's gates 
 With vigilance and faith ; there thou art faff. 
 Protect my fon, and guard his infant years ; 
 In his young bofom nurture every truth, 
 'Till ripen'd worth and manly virtue glow, 
 And mark him thine and thy Padilla's fon. 
 The ha fly moments fly I muft away 
 I rifque a battle on the morning dawn. 
 
 MARIA. 
 O may we meet again with brighter hopes ! 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 We meet again with glory and renown 
 Or, meet no more. - 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 - Or meet no more ! 
 
 The dread idea ftiffens every ner^ve. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Let no ill omen'd word efcape thy lip. 
 Fair freedom (lands, and waves her laurel high j 
 She, on the acme of her burnlfli'd throne, 
 Shall hail the morrow with applauding fhouts, 
 And greet Maria, as the guardian queen 
 Of union, peace, and liberty to Spain. 
 
 \Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 129 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 DON JUAN DS PADILLA and DON PEDRO; 
 PEDRO. 
 
 JL QLEDO's banners reach the pendant fktes^ 
 And kifs the winds, and hail the work begun : 
 I ficken for the fignal to the field, 
 When a decifive conflict muft enfue ; 
 I burn, I languish, till the tyrant falls, 
 With all the flatt'rers that furround his throne, 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Be temperate in words, but bold in deeds ; 
 Mod men are brave till courage has been try'd, 
 And boaft of virtue till their price is known :- 
 Brit thirft of gold the curfed thirft of gold, 
 Which plundered Mexico of all its wealth, 
 And broil'dher valiant fons in queft of more, 
 Is a feverer tyrant of the mind, 
 Than coarfer vice that mark'd our fimpler ftate,. 
 Ere cruel Spain explor'd that diftant world. 
 Then golden bribes corrupted not the mind ; 
 No fon of CafHle, or of Arragon, 
 E'er fold his honour, or relinquifh'd fame, 
 For foft refinements that flow in with wealth, 
 Nor floop'd to- wear the liv'ry of a flave. 
 
 PEDRO. 
 
 Let not a coward, or a knave be fpar'd, 
 Who fhrouds his head from danger or from death, 
 When freedom's caufe Hands trembling on the fwordo 
 
 Don 
 
130 THE LADIES OF CASTILE.. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Tomorrow gives a glorious teft of worth j 
 Courage will fhlne confpicuoufly bright, 
 Or guilt may fliake and dafh the nervelefs arm,. 
 That draws a fword to maffacre the brave. 
 
 PEDRO. 
 
 Virtue's fair image then will fhield thy head, 
 And animate the man who dare be free. 
 
 \F\ourifo of trum?t s> and alarm 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 The hofllle clarion fummons to the field. 
 
 [PEDRO greatly agitated* 
 
 Hah ! pale and trembling at the trumpet's found ! 
 Pedro, hafte on, and take thy deftin'd pod, 
 'Twill lead to glory, conqueft, and to fame ; 
 To fure renown, if valour guides thy armj 
 But certain infamy, difgrace arid death, 
 If treafon lurks beneath the guife of seal. 
 
 [Exit DON JVAN> 
 DON PEDRO, folus. 
 
 Curfe on Don Juan's penetrating eye 
 He's prob'd my foul fufpecls I am a villain : 
 'Tis true that envy of his fame at fir ft, 
 Bound the bright helmet on Don Pedro's brow. 
 And not the bubble freedom empty name ! 
 'Tis all a puff a vifionary dream 
 That kindles up this patriotic flame j 
 *Tis rank felf love, conceal'd beneath a mafk 
 Of public good. The hero's brain inflates 
 He cheats himfelf by the falfe medium, 
 Held in virtue's guife, till he believes it jufl i 
 But the vile rabble the plebeian race, 
 Made for the yoke, bend like the fervile mule, 
 And own mankind were made for flaves to power. 
 
 A waxen 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 A waxen pillar in the central point 
 Of fol's meridian beams, melts not fo faft, 
 As will their army wafte by court intrigues, 
 JBy fraud, by bribes, by flattery and fear : 
 A flow campaign enfures fuccefs to Charles 
 A weak, plebeian, difcontented band, 
 Will foon grow v/eary, and defert their chiefs. 
 I will retard, embarrafs, and delay ; 
 Sow difcord round, while they inactive lie : 
 Then fly fecure to Don Urano's roof. 
 My fire detefts this noify factious rout, 
 And opes his arms to welcome my return ; 
 And Don Velafco pays a noble .price 
 His price would bribe a prince to quit his crown. 
 
 Let nations fink poftcrity be thrall'd 
 Vice reign triumphant liberty expire 
 May I but humble haughty Juan's pride, 
 And gain Louifa as the blefs'd reward. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 ACT 
 
333 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 A C T III. 
 SCENE I. 
 
 CONDE HARO and LOUISA. (DE HARD arm d and 
 
 . equlpt for battle.) 
 
 A, 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 .LAS my brother I 
 Already arm'd the burnifh'd helmet on ! 
 The hoftile trump awakes from broken fleep 
 Before the bird of morn has hail'd the day. 
 
 Falfe glory throbs within thy beating bread 
 Thy lifted fword displays its whetted point, 
 Not to difpel the fierce, barbarian Moor, 
 Or chafe the alien from thefe blighted (bores : 
 It wounds the fons the citizens of Spain. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Upbraid me not nor fharpen thus the pangs 
 That rankle here, and wound thy brother's breafh 
 Words cannot paint nor can Louifa feel, 
 The agonizing pains that pierce my heart. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 What can diflurb the hero arra'd for fame ? 
 The prince's favour, and his father's love, 
 Anticipate the glory he purfues. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 The fecret dies within De Haro's bread, 
 Unlefs fome ftrange, fortuitous event, 
 Should heal my heart, and reinilate my peace. 
 
 LOUISA, 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. i 3 > 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 might I weep my weary life away, 
 And clofe mine eyes on mifery at large ! 
 Yet I could bear my griefs tenfold enhanc'd, 
 If this might heal, or mitigate thy pain, 
 
 Or footh the anguifh of a brother's heart. 
 
 DE HARD. 
 
 Bear up thyfelf againft the ftorms of life 
 The fharpen'd pangs of difappointed love. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Canfl thou forgive th* involuntary figh, 
 The darting tear that, as an April morn, 
 Pours down in torrents and obfcures the fun ? 
 DE HARO. 
 
 1 know the fecret thorn that wounds thy peace. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 I would conceal the weaknefs of my heart ; 
 Yet not from thee but from a flerner eye. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Bltifh not, Louifa 'tis a noble flame, 
 And Francis' virtues merit all thy love. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Yet he's thy foe -the brother and the friend 
 Of noble Juan and can this lead thy hand 
 This gentle hand bath'd in a fitter's tears, 
 To plunge thy dagger in a hero's breaft, 
 From whence may rufh a moft exalted foul, 
 Adorn'd with every grace that wins the heart, 
 
 Or dignifies the man ? 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Great fouls form'd in the fame etherial mould, 
 Are ne'er at war they, different paths 
 
 M Of 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 Of glory may purfue, with equal zeal j 
 Yet not a cruel, or malignant thought, 
 Or rancorous defign, deform the mind. 
 I much efteern Don Juan and his friends, 
 But numerous ties engag'd my fword to Charles, 
 And .gratitude had bound the buckler on, 
 Ere I was nam'd the champion in his caufe : 
 Yet if fuccefe my loyal purpofe crowns, 
 Mercy mall fpare, where juftice don't condemn ; 
 Believe Louifa, not Don Francis' life 
 Is more thy care than it fhall be my own. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 The indifcriminating arrow flies, 
 
 And often wounds where friendfhip's arm would fave ; 
 .-.Should w,ar's uncertain chance make him thy captive 
 
 DE HARD. 
 The monarch and the laws mud then decide. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 My bleeding heart anticipates my fate : 
 "Oh * what a bubble 'tis, ye glory call - 
 Miftaken name a phantom of the brain. 
 That leads the hero on to leap the bounds 
 Of every ibcial tie till blood till death, 
 Spreads horror over nature's frighted face : 
 Ambition rears his fierce and furious fang 
 In gnzly treffes jealoufy attends 
 'Till difcord reigns, and civil fury burns, 
 , Ahd arms the fon again (I a father's life, 
 Or plants a poignard in a dearer heart. 
 Oh ! how fevcrely mark'd my hapleTs'fate ; 
 The bed of brothers whets the dagger's point 
 The fondeft hufband wields the fliarpen'd lance, 
 And both are amTd.at Tad Louifk's bread. 
 
 DE 
 
THE LADIES OF CASfTlLEi 
 
 DE HARD. 
 
 Thy hufband ! hah rafh maid 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Yes by each facred tie. 
 
 Thus incoherent my diftrafted prayer, 
 Prophanes the altar when to God I bow ; 
 I. ftart I tremble left kind heaven grant 
 The boon I afk. Affrighted at myfelf, 
 I call it back, and quick revoke my wifh, 
 Left it involve me in fupreme diftrefs. 
 
 [Trumpets and martial mufic 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 A day decides the trumpet founds to arms ; 
 Tomorrow will difclofe new fcenes of woe, 
 Or ope the gates to happinefs and peace. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 My heart's too full it bends me to the grave : 
 My anger'd fire fufpefts he folemn moves, 
 Majefticaliy grave with awful brow, # 
 
 And chides fevere whene'er I meet his eye ; 
 Oh -I could I hide forever from his frown ! 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 
 
13* THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 SCENE II. 
 DON VELASCO and DONNA LOUISA. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 JL OND foolifii maid what fecret guilt's conceal**!* 
 That thus in tears all penfive and alone, 
 Thou feek'ft to hide, e'en from a father's eye ? 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Alas ! I weep for human woes at large : * 
 I weep my country and my haplefs friends. 
 IVIan, the vile fport of reftlefs pafTion, roves 
 Through fad inquietudes and painful cares, 
 'Till his ambition fets the world on fire. 
 
 'Mongft all the ills that hover o'er mankind* 
 Unfeign'd, or fabled, in the poet's page, 
 The blackeft fcrawl the fitter furies hold, 
 For rd ey'd wrath, or malice to fill up, 
 Is incomplete to fum up human woe ; 
 'Till civil difcord, ftill a darker fiend, 
 Stalks forth unmafk'd from his infernal den, 
 With mad Alecto's torch in his right hand 
 To light the flame, and rend the foul of nature, 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 But inoft of all, a daughter is a curfe, 
 Whene'er me lets her wanton thoughts run loofe, 
 Weak maid retire in thy apartment hide, 
 Nor dare to fhew thy weeping face abroad, 
 'Till war mall ceafe, and bufinefs gives me time 
 To crown thy nuptials with a noble lord, 
 To whom thou art betroth'd who claims thy hand j 
 
 Thou 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 137 
 
 Thou (halt be his when from the field are chas'd 
 Thefe bold confpirators I've pledg'd my faith. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 Let thy Louifa wake compafiion up. 
 
 [Falls on her knee, 
 Revoke thy vow, and let me live a maid. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Both by the hoft, and by St. Peter's key, 
 I've fworn, nor will revoke my plighted faith ; 
 Prepare thyfelf for wedlock's facred vows ; 
 One week completes the matrimonial tie. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 O let me live in fome dark hermitage, 
 Or in fome gloomy cell I'll cloifter'd die, 
 But can't this once obey my father's will. 
 
 [LouiSA trembling andfziintVLLA5C9f 
 enraged, leads her off. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 DN JUAN DE PADILLA and DON FRANCIS, 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 A 
 
 .LAS! my lord, an unexpected blow 1 
 But thou'rt prepar'd for all that fate can do, 
 Too great to fear too good to be difmay'd, . 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 So well I know the fhifting tide of life, 
 I'm not appall'd whene'er its ebb runs oiF, 
 And leaves man fhallow'd on the oozy ftrand. 
 
 M 2 FRANCIS, 
 
j 3 S THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Tordefilas is feiz'd the queen betray 'd 
 Don Pedro fied, and join'd the emperor's troops. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 No genuine faith, or patriotic worth, 
 Had ere a place in his corrupted bread. 
 
 While juftice holds the golden (bales aloft, 
 And weighs our glorious caufe with equal hand,. 
 And bids each valiant chief fupport her claim, 
 Needlefs the aid of Pedro's daftard arm. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 High heav'n in wrath fupports the royal caufe,. 
 And gives fuccefs o'er Charles's foreign foes ; 
 E'en Solyman the great, fatigu'd with war, 
 Of Muftapha afraid, fighs to return 
 To Roxalana's captivating charms, 
 Agrees a truce, and leaves th' Hungarian plains. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Refentful, brave, and nurs'd in valour's fchool, 
 Francis ftili waits him at the Pavian gate. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 The king of France, whofe evil ftars combine 
 To give his rival empire o'er the world, 
 Has loft a battle at the Pavian gate, 
 And langulihes a prifoner to Charles. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Hah ! is Francis made the fickle fport of fortune ? 
 A ruder game the wanton never play'd, 
 To ftrip the wreaths, and blaft a monarch's fame, 
 Aluft Gallia's generous, brave and valiant king, 
 Do homage for his crown at Charles's feet ? 
 
 If victory declares on freedom's fide, 
 My arm (hull aid in all his juft demands. 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. i 39 
 
 Ere Ferdinand had feiz'd the neighbouring crowns, 
 He form'd a fyftem to enflave mankind : 
 But Charles improves on his def'potic plan ; 
 Yet one campaign, one fignal victory gain'd, 
 May fluke the tyrant from his triple throne, 
 And once again, o'er the European world, 
 Relight the torch by tyranny obfcur'd. 
 
 But if his cruel fword at laft prevails, 
 Europe will bleed from Tagus to the Scheld^ 
 Beneath his barb'rous perfecuting race. 
 We then muft flrike one bold decisive blow ; 
 The rights of man were refcu'd by the fword, 
 From Nimrod down to Caefar or to Charles 
 Hafte on this moment and rejoia the troops. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 At freedom's pedeftal I've laid my hopes, 
 The brighteft boon of life my promis'd bride 
 My lov'd Louifa's charms ; to be her lord, 
 I would not riot in her arms a flave. [Exit FRANCIS 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 DON JUAN DE PAD ILL A, fobs. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 JL HIS day decides, and gives the world to Charles/ 
 And plunges Spain in darknefs and defpair ; 
 Enwraps the mind in fuperftition's veil, ' 
 While freedom dies on his all conquering fword ; 
 Or fprcads victorious her expanded wing, 
 And fhrouds the rights which reafon lends to man. 
 
 I give 
 
*4* THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 I give my life a cheerful facrifice j 
 
 *Tis a juft debt my country may demand. 
 
 And if I fall in fuch a gforious caufe, 
 
 I'll boaft my lot ; let future pens record 
 
 Don Juan's arm once fliook a tyrant's throne. 
 
 'Twas on the fpot, where now Toledo ftands 
 Our anceftors defeated Pompey's troops ; 
 And in the height of Rome's exalted fame, 
 Numantia's plains have fmok'd with Roman blood 
 E'en in the zenith of republic pride, 
 The virtuous Scipio found it no mean tafk, 
 To fubjugate Numantia's warlike ions ; 
 Nor does our blood fo cold and languid run, 
 That we have not the courage to be free. 
 The loan of life I only hold a boon, 
 When freedom lights to glory and to, fame ; 
 But when fhe fits beneath a naked fhrine, 
 With mofs grown treiles o'er her furrow 'd brow, 
 And lays her laurels at a tyrant's feet r 
 Let vulgar fouls embrace the fervile chains, 
 And adulation bafk in courtly fmiles, 
 'Till liberty herfelf expires in tears. 
 
 My fpirit's unfubdu'd I'll ne'er fubmit : 
 I yet muff: play a noble, glorious game, 
 That fhukes the fceptre, or fecures a grave, 
 
 [Tumuli , andnoifc of 'battle \ witbouf, 
 [Exit. 
 
 SCENE 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 141 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Shouts ofviflory, hurry and confufion. DONNA MARIA^ 
 fola. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 JL HE clarion roars and fcatter'd parties fly, 
 Confufion, tumult, hurry and difmay, 
 O'erfpread eacli guilty face. 
 
 What mean the rumours that aflTail my ear ? 
 Throw down their arms as cowards fly the field I 
 Could the brave Cortes thus forfake their lorxl ? . 
 My throbbing heart augurs a thoufand ills, 
 That fhake my frame and terrify my foul, 
 As if I faw their new flown ghofts advance, 
 Jufl reek inn; from the carnage of the field j 
 Yet feel within a manly force of mind 
 Urging to deeds heroic and fublime, 
 Which but to name, one half my timid fex, 
 Would fall the victims of their own defpair. 
 
 I fcorn the feeble foul that cannot brave, 
 With magnanimity, the dorms of life. 
 Then why difturb'd with thefe ill omen'd fears ? 
 Yet what am I, if my Padilla falls ? 
 Ah ! if the dallard citizens have fled 
 Juft anger'd heaven furely has decreed 
 That on the point of Charles's conquering fword, 
 Each vefiige of their ancient rights fhould die. 
 
 I'll wander down to yonder darkfome grove, 
 (And proftrate fall before th 3 etherial kin^, 
 Who holds his empire o'er a jarring world, 
 Makes peace and freedom fmile at his command, 
 Or the fell tyrant's fuffer'd to fucceed, 
 
 To 
 
S4* THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 To chain the will, or manacle the mind ;) 
 There will I calm my agitated breaft, 
 Pry off thofe tears which, ftarting, have betray 'd 
 The foften'd weaknefs of a female mind. 
 
 Enter S O C I A. 
 
 SOCIA. 
 
 Fly, deareft lady fave thyfclf and fon - 
 And let the faithful Socia guard thy fteps. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Is all then loft and is Don Juan flain ? 
 Tell the whole tale, and fet my foul on fire, 
 Sre yet it freeze with agony and doubt. 
 
 SOCIA. 
 
 Hafte, my dear miflrefs fly thefe cruel fcenes 
 Of murder, rapine, perfidy and blood. 
 The routed troops, with hafty frighted fteps, 
 All backward tread*, nor could Don Juan's zeal, 
 His valour, virtue, fortitude or fame, 
 Subdue their fears and rally them again, 
 Nor damp the ardour of the hot purfuit. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 And does he live to glut their barb'rous rage ? 
 Or didTome feraph catch the hero's breath, 
 His lateft figh to fee his country free, 
 And gently waft his kindred foul away ? 
 
 SOCIA. 
 
 Our foes may boaft that viclory was theirs j 
 But royal ranks lie weltering on the plain 
 Where Juan's blood has mark'd the glorious fpot. 
 Yet lofe no time, for hither hades a guard 
 To feize and drag to Conde Haro's tent 
 The wife and infant of my much lov'd lord. 
 
 MARIA, 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 143 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Alas ! my -child my fon my darling boy 1 
 The faired virtues beam in his young eye ; 
 Each dawning grace fits blooming on his cheek, 
 And fpeaks him heir of all his father's fame. 
 Ghall he, an orphan .on the world be tofs'd, 
 And lofe his name among a group of flaves ? 
 Forbid it, heaven ! a mother's fears 
 
 Shall not difarm my heart. 
 
 SOCIA. 
 
 I thought the flrength of thy fuperiour mind 
 Could nobly brave the worft that fate could do. 
 
 MARIA. 
 It fhall come, lead me on 
 
 To my Padilla's tomb 
 
 His clay cold corpfe I'll bathe in dreams of blood, 
 Drawn from his foes, and fprinkled o'er his grave. 
 The cyprefs gloom, in dark lix'd fliades mall bow, 
 And weeping willows drop a filent tear, 
 'Till rolling years fee the laft fonds ran out, 
 When wither'd Time throws dawn his ufelefs glafs, 
 And fhrouds beneath eternity's big orb. 
 
 SOCIA. 
 
 If thou would'ft be more wretched than thy lord. 
 Then weep and linger thoughtlefs of thy fon. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Go, bring him hither rob'd in funeral pomp- 
 Attended by my retinue and guards ; 
 I will not fly Toledo yet is ftrong : 
 Maria ne'er will drag a wretched life, 
 To wail Don Juan's fate in vulgar grief : 
 Nor yet in flavery meet a lingering deatfc, 
 Beneath a tyrant's foot. 
 
 I will 
 
344 THE LADIES OP CASTILE, 
 
 J will avenge my lord 
 
 Though the rough furges in loud tempers roar, 
 'Till the rude billows meet the lowering clouds- 
 I never will defpair, till my foul flies 
 And mixes with the bold exalted (hades, 
 The ftern brow'd fpirits of the feudal lords 
 Who now bend down, and frowning from the fkies, 
 Chide back their daftard fons to take the field, 
 Bravely to fight to conquer or to die. 
 So CIA. 
 
 My heart mifgives I fear thy rafh refolve, 
 
 Yet I obey. [Exit So CIA, 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Ye powers who fit in judgment o'er the world, 
 Or ye malignant fiends who blaft our hopes, 
 Grant Charles's reftlefs foul may be condemn *d 
 With Sifyphus to roll in endlefs pain, 
 Up the Tartarean hill the load of empire 
 That envy'd bauble which mankind adore j 
 Then drag him down, fuccefslefsly to weep, 
 This fiiadow hunted long in human blood, 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 ACT 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 145 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 S C E N E I. 
 
 DON JUAN and DON FRANCIS In Chains, led by tbc 
 Guards acrofs the Stage. Pafs off. 
 
 DON VELASCO and CONDE HARO. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 JL O fee my country bleed, diftra&s my foul ; 
 But fuffering virtue moves the gods themfelves. 
 I muft implore my father's lenient hand 
 To hold fufpended yet the prifoner's fate, 
 Until the emperor himfelf arrives : 
 His clemency may fix his royal power, 
 And make him worthy of the crown he wears, 
 A pardon granted to the good and brave 
 Will bind their faith by gratitude and grace. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 The laws have fix'd their fignet on their fate ; 
 Nor will I paufe, or hefitate between, 
 The wide extremes of pity and revenge. 
 Did confcience melt, and bid me fpare their lives, 
 I'd fpurn her back bid the rude phantom fly, 
 And ceafe to check me in my fix'd defign j 
 They die tomorrow ere the fun retires. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 I plight my fword, rny honour, faith and life, 
 Thofe facred fan6lions that bind men of worth, 
 That Francis' pardon, or Don Juan's life, 
 
 N Shall 
 
*+6 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 Shall not impede the glory of the king, 
 
 JSor caufe new ruptures, or difturb the realm. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 The block's prepared by juftice' hand they die. 
 
 DE HARD. 
 
 Let pity touch thy bread let innocence 
 Let infant tears let virgin forrow plead 
 And let the matron's grief torn bolbm urge 
 A hufband's caufe : O fpare PadillaViife 1 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 And does my (on the glory of his houfe, 
 Stand half diflblv'd-by pity's foftening tear ? 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 There is a fecret caufe I dare not name, 
 That yet might- Ibften a fond father's heart. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 This curfed caufe alas ! too long conceal'd, 
 'Unbends thy purpofe, and unmans thy arm. 
 Louifa knov.-s her fecret guilt's betray 'd ; 
 Her trembling fteps too weak to bear her there, 
 I yeflerday confin'd her to her room ; 
 Bade her paepare to pay her nuptial vows 
 To one I'd chofen for her rightful lord, 
 To fave her honour from a wanton love. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Do not precipitate the lovely maid, 
 J5ut gently lead with a paternal hand ; 
 And let time heal her agitated breath 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Stay not to prattle here for pardoning gr<ve. 
 Though weeping maids, or aged fires combin'cj, 
 Or lifping infants join the matron's tears 
 
 Tt 
 
T'H'E LADIES OF CASTIL2, 
 
 To plead their caufe, my refolution's fix'd : 
 Thefe outcafts of the world mall be cut off, 
 As nature's (hreds, and blotted out of time, 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Then I repair to vifit and confole 
 Afflicted worth in its extreme diftrefs. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Go, take thy leave falute thy treacherous friends, 
 Ere my right hand mall fend them to the fhades. 
 
 [Exeunt* 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA, fobs. In 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 r 
 
 LUE dignity may acquiefe in ills, 
 None can forefee, nor value can repel ; 
 Meeknefs becomes the Chriftian and the man ? 
 Nor lefs the hero, when his God decrees 
 The palm of victory to a ftronger hand. 
 
 Here mimic juftice rears his fcaffbld high * 
 I feel the knife already at my throat ; 
 Death is the certain doom of all mankind 
 To learn to die is an heroic work : 
 But thus to die an ignominious death 
 Without a trial, or the forms of law, 
 Pronounc'd a traitor hurry 'd from the flage 
 Torn from exiftence as an ufelefs worm, 
 By a bafe, vile, aflaffinating hand, 
 Fires all my foul -witMury and revenge. 
 
 Had 
 
148 THE LADIES OF CAST1IE, 
 
 Had I have met my fate at Villabar, 
 And as a foldier fell, and mix'd my blood 
 With the rich ftream that yefterday pour'd off, 
 (While freedom's genius ftoop'd and drop'd a tear, 
 And held a golden urn in her right hand, 
 To catch the fluid from each gaping wound, 
 And rear'd her altar on the field of fame ;) 
 I'd died content, and fpurn'd this nether world, 
 And glori'd in the deathlefs name I left : 
 But, though tomorrow fevers me from time, 
 My foul is firm : I view this little globe 
 Hung on a fingte, half extingnifh'd point : 
 That's not the (ling which barbs the hand of death., 
 But my Maria ray lov'd, my virtuous wife : 
 Oh ! could oblivion wrap her from my thoughts 
 Until we meet where fouls are free indeed. 
 
 Enter CONDE HARD. 
 
 Hah ! who bends this way ? the Conde Haro- 
 Rank cowardice in guilt's gigantic garb ! 
 Has victory eras'd the noble flame 
 Of fympathy in thine heroic bread, 
 That thcu can'ft wifli, mid'ft glory and applaufej 
 To tafte the triumph of infernal minds, 
 And thus infult e'en in the pangs of death ? 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Far other thoughts pervade my friendly bread. 
 Though in the field, the king commands my fword, 
 My heart I give to virtue in diftrefs. 
 Though warmly urg'd thy pardon or reprieve, 
 Velafco's will, inexorably flern, 
 Has fix'd the moment that completes thy date. 
 W T hat can I more to footh thy wounded mind ? 
 Say doft thou wifh to fee thy lov'd -Maria ? 
 
 Or 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 145 
 
 Or pour a blefling on the infant head 
 
 Of thy young fon, and bid a laft adieu ? - 
 
 But if this tender fcene's too big with grief, 
 Then write whatever conjugal love infpires, 
 Or the paternal heart would wifh to fay : 
 De Haro's honour is the pledge of truth j 
 I'll facredly tranfmit the precious charge, 
 Nor fliall a mortal eye profane the feals. 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Too generous De Haro ! my full heart, 
 In tears of blood, ftiall mark my gratitude ; 
 And my lad breath its benedidlion pour 
 On worth on glory dignify'd as thine, 
 With all that's noble in a human foul. 
 But ah ! too flattering to fuch a wretch,- 
 To fee Maria once, is fancy 'd blifs 
 The Deity has plac'd beyond my reach. 
 DE HARO, 
 
 A faithful friend mall lead thee fafely on, 
 My fvvord my veft my helmet, thy defence j 
 If any curious prying eye purfues, 
 Or afks thy errand, or demands thy name, 
 Paufe not, nor fpeak, but fhew De Haro's feal. 
 
 But on the moment that the midnight bell 
 Strikes its laft note, and grates thy wounded ear r 
 With the fevereft pang thou yet haft felt, 
 Thou muft return and when we meet again, 
 
 Then fay my friend 
 
 If one bafe thought has e'er deform'd my foul. 
 
 [Hurries off DON JUAN in bh OTO ballt. 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 N'a- SCENE 
 
i 5 o THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 SCENE III. 
 DON VELASCO and DONNA LOUISA. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 JL RESUMPTUOUS maid how durft thou difo- 
 
 bey, 
 
 And rufh abroad, amid tumultuous fcenes, 
 And rifque the wrath of an offended fire ? 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Excufe, my lord, this hafty, bold intrufion ; 
 The boon I afk admits of no delay. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 What means this daring importuning girl > 
 What brought thee to the thremold of a jail ? 
 Thy trembling geftures and thy frighted mein^ 
 Are fad preiages that relieve thy tongue 
 Ere it betrays lome bold accurs'd requert. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 All gracious fire, whofe goodnefs I adore, 
 Thus on my bended knee, my bleeding heart,, 
 Sweli'd with its gratitude, as if 'twould burfiv 
 Intreats thee once to hear Don Francis fpeak, 
 Ere thy lip dooms to death the braveft man. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 What int'reft haft thou in a rebel life,. 
 That thus in tears in agonies of grief 
 In weeds of woe, thou pleadeft for Don Francis ? 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 The firft impreflion of my early youth, 
 Thine own injunction, and my infaat heart, 
 
 Tsud.t 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, i S 
 
 Taught me to love whate'er Maria lov'd 
 Her brother. 
 
 VELASCO, 
 
 dies, as her hufband fliall ; 
 
 Nor will thy tears retard the blow 
 Due to a traitor's crimes. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Oh ! grant an audience ere his fate is feal'd, 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Think not I am deceiv'd, audacious maid ! 
 'Tis not a childifli fondnefs for Maria 
 Wakes up a zeal that mifbecomes thy fex 
 'Tis bafer paflions fofter'd in thy foul ; 
 Don Francis is the object of thy love : 
 Thy quick blood flows, and loofe defires now play 
 About thy heart, and wanton in thy eye ; 
 Yet fenfe of fhame, Hill burns thy redden'd cheek, 
 And cinders the fmooth blufh of innocence ; 
 But I've the means to cool thy hotbrainM flame^ 
 And from difgrace my family retrieve. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 Oh ! fpare Louifa fave thy haplefs child ! 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Think not to melt my rigid purpofe down j 
 Forbear to praclife hackney'd female arts. 
 Thy fex's tears have ruin'd half mankind. 
 
 My heart near burfls whene'er I bend my eye 
 On fuch a worthlefs fragment of my houfe : 
 But for Zelinda's image on thy brow 
 I'd fpurn at once from my indignant foul 
 The lying femblaftce of io fair a form. 
 
 LOUISA* 
 
, 5 > THE LADIES OF CASTILE: 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 By the dear mem'ry of that fainted name 
 Forgive her daughter's agony of foul. 
 Zelinda, oh ! corapaflionate my woes- 
 Look down, blefs'd faint, from thy divine abode, 
 And teach my fire to pity thy Louifa. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 While guilt hangs on thy bafe degen'rate lip, 
 Durft thou appeal to purity itfelf -. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 This keen reproach diftrafts my tortur'd foul 
 A thought unworthy of Zelinda's felf," 
 Ne'er found a place in this my fpotlefs heart. 
 Enter DON PEDRO. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Then will I now beftow thee cafte and pure, . 
 And blefs the noble Pedro with thy hand ; 
 Thou art his bride bound by my folemn oath, 
 A juft reward for loyal ty % and faith. . 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Now all ye powers of earth and heaven, fave 
 From this laft ftroke this worfl of human ills ! 
 
 PEDRO. 
 I am too blefs'd, by fuch an heavenly gift. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Revoke thy fentence fnatch me from perdition-* 
 Or let me die with him my heart adores. 
 
 f Sinks on her knee before her father, jwdfainftt 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 I've gone too far yet there's fome curs'd defign, 
 Some myftery conceal'd that neither (he, 
 Nor yet De Haro's bold and dauntlefs tongue, 
 
 Dare 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 153 
 
 Dare ope before an injur'd father's eye. 
 Poor lifelefs maid fure fhe's not dead ; 
 
 [Lays his hand on her forehead*. 
 
 She almoft wakes companion in my breaft : 
 But let my ear be deaf my heart be fear'd 
 To every foft fenfation of the foul, 
 'Till infamy is wip'd from off my houfe. 
 
 PEDRO. 
 
 Spare her awhile, and let the ftorm fubfide j 
 The mind that's foften'd thus by love and grief, 
 Muft, like the babe of innocence, be lull'd 
 And gently footh'd, and fondled into peace. 
 
 and holds LOUISA in his arms* 
 
 See, fhe revives fpeak foft and kindly 
 To the charming maid. - 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 The tardy hand of death ftill lengthens cut 
 A life of woe - Hah ! where am I 
 
 [Opens her eyes and finds herfelfin PEDRO' 
 armsJbrieks, and /arts from him. 
 
 On earth the grave in hades cr in hell ? 
 Art thou the fiend cliain'd to my frighted foul, 
 To add new tortures to the fhades below ? 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Be calm, thou frantic girl [Stops, and holds Jjet\ 
 Nor thus enrag'd fly from thy hhfbarid's arms. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Was I the price, for which at Villabar, 
 That perjur'd wight, betray'd and fold his friends ? 
 Go, minion ! traitor \ hide thy guilty head, 
 Thy country bluflies that flie gave thee birth. 
 
 VELASCO, 
 
JJA THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 VELASCO. 
 Refpecl becomes thy lip he is thy lord. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 As much as does my foul abhor his name, 
 If poffible, I more defpife than hate, 
 The infamous the cowardly Don Pedro. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Pedro, retire I'll bend her to thy will- 
 She fhall be thine thou art my fon 
 By all the faints and angels I adore, 
 This eve (hall folemnize the nuptial rights ; 
 Ere Francis dies let consummation crown 
 I}on Pedro's wifh, and wake full vengeance up. 
 
 [Exit FEDRO* 
 LOUISA. 
 
 AkiS ! my fire Oh ! let religion plead :-*- 
 Forgive thy child, and blefs me ere I die. 
 Pardon the purpofe of my daring foul : 
 But ere I yield, I'll bare my filial breaft, 
 Meet the drawn dagger's point, and kifs the poignard 
 In my father's hand uplift in wrath, 
 Its edge to bury in this fpotlefs bread 
 A breaft replete with duty and refpecl 
 With every fentiment that heaven requires,- 
 Or to paternal or conjugal love 
 From thy fond daughter, or Don Francis* wife. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 Don Francis' wife ! Heaven blaft my ears ! 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 His wife 'his wedded wife 
 Nor let the grave, the facred tie diflolve : 
 By the fame fanclion let us perifii both, 
 Or both be blefs'd, and by thy pardon live. 
 
 VELASCG. 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 155 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Could my Louifa proftitute her fame ; 
 In a mad fit of wanton love, entail 
 Difgrace eternal, on the illuftrious name 
 Of Don Velafco ! abandon'd girl ! 
 Then take rny fword, and ufe it as ye lift ; 
 Thy paramour this moment meets the death 
 Thy perfidy extorts and his deferves. [Exit VELASCQ, 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 before DON JUAN'S Houfe. 
 DON JUAN DE PADILLA and DON FRANCIS. 
 
 -DoN JUAN. 
 
 JL RIEND of my early youth my brave DOR 
 
 Francis 
 
 Unlike the world a friend in fortune's wane ; 
 Thou haft a foul that dares to mix wilrh grief, 
 And kindly feek'ft thy wretched fifter out 
 To footh the anguifh of extreme diftrefs. 
 But how did'ft thou efcape thy gloomy cell ? 
 Or by what means elude the watchful guard ?- 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 In fables clad, my face bedew 'd with tears, 
 The guards fuppos'd I was thy noble fire, 
 Who had pennifTion to embrace his fon, 
 Ere death had feal'd an heiflefs father's woe= 
 But on parole, I have De Haro's leave 
 To fly to Charles, and in Velafco 's name.j 
 
 To 
 
*5* THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 To fue for pardon from the emperor's hand, 
 And claim my bride by his Zelinda's ring : 
 He gave me both his fignet and command, 
 And bade me on the moment hade away ; 
 The next he faid perhaps betray'd to death. 
 I caught the letters with a rapturous hand, 
 And kifs'd the feals, and dropt a grateful tear ; 
 I've waited but to bid my friend adieu, 
 But not to fee thy wife till I return. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Ah ! if thou can'ft retrieve fo brave a life, 
 Protect Maria, and her infant fon ; 
 Let them not languifh in a fervile land, 
 To watch the nod of fome imperious lord. 
 Then tell the gazing citizens, who o'er 
 My breathlefs corpfe, before the morrow clofe, 
 Will weep, and figh, and curfe my haplefs fate, 
 .That they have cherifh'd many valiant fons, 
 Who amply may avenge my early death, 
 And teach the world that fortune ne'er ftands ftill : 
 In the routine of her uncertain wheel, 
 She loon may jilt her fondled, favour'd fons. 
 The fycophant and prince may both Ipe taught, 
 A fceptre's but the plaything of a day. 
 Then let my father, noble Lopez, know 
 Don yuan died, as Lopez' fon mould die, 
 A dauntlefs martyr in his country's caufe, 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Thy orders fliall be punctually obey'd. 
 I with my blood will feal the facred charge ; 
 Though I could willing leave fo bafe a world, 
 And mare with thee, the glory of thy death j 
 Yet, for Louifa's fake, I wift to live, 
 
 DON 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 157 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Thou mart away 'tis death to linger here 
 *Tis raflmefs in extreme thou can't efcape 
 The prying eyes that lurk for human blood : 
 Thy niein and afpect cannot be conceal 'd 
 Thy ioul fhines through, and virtue's here a crime. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 DON JUAN's Hottfe DONNA MARIA hotting pen- 
 fvvfly into a Garden from her Apartment Thunder and 
 Lightning. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 OSE folemn groves thofe fpacious (haded 
 
 walks, 
 
 Whofe lofty tops falute the fkirted clouds, 
 And fpeak the grandeur of their ancient lords, 
 Bend down their heads, refponfive, to the flues, 
 Which murmur thunders o'er Hefperiafo fall. 
 Sure nature joins to bend my fpirits down, 
 And rive the bolts through my diftra&ed foul, " 
 That diftant thunders make the trembling dome, 
 And dorms irruptive tear the fhatter'd Ikies. 
 
 Enter JUAN in the Amour and Habit of a royal Officer* 
 
 MARIA Jiarting, accojls him, 
 
 Hah ! dar'ft thou come alone, thou mifcreant flave ! 
 Think'ft thou that mine is fuch a daftard foul 
 To yield at fight of one of Charles's band ? 
 My fmgle arm ill-all be a match for thine. 
 
 O DON 
 
13? THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 This interview this moment is my own 
 
 [Approaching. 
 MARIA. 
 
 Off, ruffian, off! or by the powers above, 
 The next (hall fix a dagger in thy heart. 
 
 [Dra<ws a po'fgnard from under her robe, 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 On this laft night that thy Padilla lives, 
 Oh ! let me clafp thee to my faithful breaft. 
 
 [Throws off bis dlfguiff. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Immortal powers ! Say, do my eyes behold 
 The injur'd ghoft of my deceafed lord ? 
 Or docs my hufband my Don Juan live ? 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 fie lives indeed this one fhort hour he lives. 
 When through the fliarpeft dorms of life he fees 
 Thee firmly /land by fortitude fecur'd, 
 *Tis worth a world to fold thee to my heart. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Did not my lord my lov'd Padilla fall, 
 Amidft the .carnage of the noon tide rout ? . 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 The faithful Sccia reported thus, 
 Left thou fbould'ft perifh in fome rafh attempt 
 To fee thy Juan, and neglect thy fon. 
 But a feverer doom awaits my fate ; 
 I, -on the morrow, as a traitor die. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Jehovah floop, and lend thy potent arm, 
 To (hatch the virtuous from fo vile a fate ; 
 
 Or 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. ij 
 
 Or let thefe curling fires, which, from the North, 
 Emblazon nature's face from pole to pole, 
 f In mantling frames, in one devouring wreck, 
 Sweep down the ftars and crufli this nether worlds 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 The Deity enwraps his dark decrees 
 Beyond the ken of man's prefumptuous eye : 
 Yet fouls fublime, ferenely look abroad^ 
 And bid the howling tempefts rage in vain. 
 Though livid lightnings blaze from north to fouthj 
 The tempers of this laft tremendous night 
 Are as the breeze that wafts the gentle bark 
 Down the ftill tide, when every gale is hufli'd 
 If my Maria's mind fupports its poife, 
 And fmiles, fuperiour to the mocks of fate, 
 They cannot reach the foul that fpurns the world- 
 Its tinfel'd toys its titles, and its wealth. 
 The tribute of a life, I hold but finall, 
 Could it repurchafe liberty to Spain : 
 Yet he is free and he alone is free 
 Who conquers paffion, and fubjefls his will^ 
 When his misfortunes thicken in the*&Ies. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 No more, my lord the teft is too fevere 
 I feel my boafted fortitude will fail. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Oh ! fpare my hea-rt 
 
 The plaintive accents of thy voice reftrain, 
 Nor lharpen, by thy tears, the pangs of death.- 
 My heart I leave nought elfe can I beftow,. 
 And once ye thought the world could give no moret 
 
 MARIA, 
 
i6o THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Ah t every tender pang that woe can paint, 
 Or for my country or my much lov-'d lord, 
 Diftracls and wounds my agitated breaft. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Forbear to pain my tortur'd foul afrefh ; 
 Exert thyfelf magnanimoufly ftand, 
 And fave thy fon- the city, and thyfelf. 
 Protect and guard the lovely fmiling boy, 
 The only pledge of our unfpotted loves, 
 'Till he, enraptur'd, hangs upon thy lip ; 
 While his bright eyeballs fwim in filial tears, 
 To hear the accents of his dying fire, 
 Tenfold enhanc'd by thy defcriptive tongue. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Maternal foftnefs weakens my refolve, 
 And wakes new fears thou deareft, beft of men, 
 Torn from thy fide, Fin levelled with my fex. 
 The wife the mother make me lefs than woman. 
 [MARIA opens an adjacent apartment, an 
 the jjifant in the arms of his nurfe. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Let angel innocence lie foft and (till, 
 Nor call the dew drops to the infant eye 
 By fympathetic, fond, parental tears. 
 
 Tell him, the laft bequert his father gave, 
 The only legacy that heaven has lent, 
 Was this ftria: charge, breath'd in his lateft figh, 
 Be good, and juft, as thou art nobly born, 
 Nor yield thy liberty but with thy life. 
 
 [JuAN 'wipes off a tear, and attempts t9 
 withdraw in filence. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 1 
 
 MARIA. 
 Oh ? leave me not, thus wretched and forlorn ! ~ 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 How like a thief has time flol'n on my wifh ! 
 
 \Cl9ck ftrikes one. 
 
 Muft I away hah ! this is death 
 The bitternefs of death. 
 MARIA. 
 
 Wilt thou return, and on the fcaffbld bare 
 Thy yielding neek, and as a traitor die ? 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Though tottering on the margin of the grave-, 
 For Charles's fortune balanc'd in the fcale, 
 Or all the gold in Montezuma's- realm> 
 I'd not exchange for probity of foul, 
 Unfulli'd honour, and unblafted fame. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Is fentence paff irrevocably part 
 Then try the courage of a female heart, 
 And let me die with thee the treafons I avow- 
 The crime is mine : I can as bravely die, 
 As e'er a Grecian, or a Roman dame 
 And fmile at Portia's celebrated feat, 
 Who drew her blood to worm a fecref out : 
 I'll kifs the glittering ax and hug the fhroud 
 That wraps me ever from a fervile world. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 Retard me not but bid me hafte away, 
 Thy virtue's rais'd fo far above thy fex, 
 Come plight thy vow, thy facred, faithful vow, 
 That fortune's rougheft blafts, blight not- thy fame, 
 This moment, by appointment, is my friend's, 
 It is the laft that time has lent to love ; 
 My honour calls her voice I muft obey, [Going, 
 
 O a 
 
i62 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Oh flay ! Oh flay ! 'twas not the midnight toll 
 One hour more let envious time beftow. 
 
 DON JUAN. 
 
 My throbbing heart from guiie was ever free : 
 No breach of faith {hall mark me for a knave. 
 Thou doft not wifh not ev'n to purchafe' life, 
 To fluin my honour by a fraudful deed : 
 No when I'm fhrouded in my peaceful tomb, 
 No impious, fervile tongue mall e'er reproach 
 My name my memory my life, or fame. 
 Adieu ! my love Adieu ! to life and time 
 One laft embrace, and I am gone forever. 
 
 {Embraces^ and retires 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Oh I harfh and cruel found adieu ! forever 
 He's gone - 
 
 And heav'n's broad eye beholds the fatal flroke, 
 And thunders vengeance from the louring Ikies. 
 i' - . ..... ~~ - <-[A folemn 
 
 When his great foul afcends the broad expanfe, 
 Let angels guard him through the widen'd dome. 
 
 But (hall Maria fhroud herfelf in grief, 
 And fink beneath life's difappointed hopes, 
 A feeble vi6lim to her own defpair ? 
 
 A foul, infpir'd by freedom's genial warmth, 
 Expands grows firm and by refiftance, ftrong : 
 The moft fuccefsful prince that offers life, 
 And bids me live upon ignoble terms, 
 Shall learn from me that virtue feldom fears. 
 Death kindly opes a thoufand friendly gates, 
 And freedom waits to guard her votaries through. 
 
 [Exit. 
 ACT 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 163 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 MARIA, ivlth her young Son clad in mourning a Standard 
 borne before him, on ivbich is represented his Father's 
 Death accompanied by ZAMORA and a Procejfion of 
 Friends foe addrejfes the Citizens } Soldiers, fife. &c. &c. 
 
 JLJEHOLD, ye virtuous citizens of Spain, 
 The remnant of Don Juan's noble houfe ; 
 See here the fon of your late murder'd lord ; 
 Behold his infant innocence that weeps 
 A father's fall, ere yet he'd learn'd to liip 
 That facred name, which cruelty dififolv'd. 
 
 If heaven and earth decree the world to Charles 
 If Spain's prepar'd to wear the badge of flaves, 
 And degradation marks the bleeding realm 
 Then, in the front of this refpeled band, 
 Grant me one boon that yet fome gen'rous arn^ 
 Unftain'd by vice, or dip'd in guiltlefs blood, 
 Would finite the bread of this his infant fon, 
 And lay him gently in his father's tomb, 
 As the lafl heir of Spain's expiring worth 
 That freedom's genius offers to the gods : 
 She fioop'd, and dip'd her target in the gore 
 That copious rufh'd from noble Juan's wounds. 
 Tis the cement, fhe cry'd, in ftronger league 
 To bind the liberal and unite the brave. 
 
 'Tis in thine option, wifely did ye judge, 
 To flourifh long beneath her lenient reign ; 
 
 But if, ungratefully, ye fpurn the gift, 
 
 And 
 
1 54 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 And fly the field, and yield the proffer'd prizs 
 Bend thy weak necks, and fervilely fubmit, 
 Affronted virtue leaves fuch daftard flaves 
 To faint and tremble at a defpot's nod. 
 
 I, for myfelf, a bolder part defign ; 
 And here, before the foldiers and the Cortes, 
 In prefence of the eternal King, I Avear, 
 Moft folemnly I bind my free born foul, 
 Ere I will live a (lave, and kifs the hand 
 That o'er my country clanks a fervile chain, 
 I'll light the towers, and perifh in the flames, 
 And fmfle and triumph in the general wreck. 
 
 Come, (hew one fample of heroic worth, 
 Ere ancient Spain, the glory of the weft, 
 Bends abjeft down by all the nations fcorn'd : 
 Secure the city barricade the gates, 
 And meet me ami'd with all the faithful bands : 
 I'll head the troops, and mount the prancing fteed ; 
 The courier guide, and vengeance pour along 
 Axnidfl the ranks, and teach the flaves of Charles 
 Not Semiramis* or Zenobia's fame 
 Outftrips the glory of Maria's name. 
 
 [Exit, 
 [The people fioutj andfy. tc arms. 
 
 SCENE 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 165 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 f- 
 
 A Battle wltbauttke City taken by CONDE HARO Dotu 
 NA MARIA fled to the Citadel the little Son of DoJI 
 JUAN afleep on a Sofa MARIA weeping over him. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 A HOUGH all is loft, and fubjugated Spain 
 Lies bleeding at the footftool of a king, 
 I yet would live, for this young cherub's fake : 
 Yet what mfitres his mind unftain'd and pure ? 
 Nurtured in venal, fycophantic fchools 
 Eras'd each fterling virtue of the foul 
 Debas'd new coin'd in flattery's fervile mint, 
 He may become a pander to a prince. 
 Ah ! thus to fee Don Juan's fon enflav'd, 
 Shocks more than death in its moft frightful form. 
 O guard him, angels guard him, powers fupreme, 
 From the contagion of each vulgar vice, 
 Or the more fplendid guilt that (talks in courts ! 
 
 Enter CONDE HARO. 
 Why this frefh infolence, thou barbarous man I 
 Thus to obtrude and doubly wound my foul, 
 And blaft my eyes by fuch a hated fight, 
 The blood fUin'd murd'rer of my injur'd lord. 
 
 DEHARO. 
 O hear me once, and then pronounce my doom. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Thy every word accumulates thy guilt, 
 And barbs the pointed dagger in my breaft. 
 
166 THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 DE HARD. 
 
 Fain would I footh and mitigate thy grief. 
 
 [Advancing* 
 MARIA. 
 
 O death relieve, and fhroud from mortal eye 
 Give my indignant foul a larger field 
 It burns it beats it burfts oh ! give it Way> 
 Ere it in atoms tears thy trembling frame 
 This fhatter'd cafement opes [Lays her hand on her lire aft, 
 
 Traitor, ftand off 
 
 Or, like a furious fpeclre, bath'd in blood, 
 Arm'd with the fangs of horror and defpair, 
 It haftens on, and drags thee down to hell. 
 
 [Runs Mildly acrofs the ft age. 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Though nature works this ftorm of paflfion up, 
 Reafon muft calm, and juftice hear my plea. 
 
 [Follows, and detains her* 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 By force detain'd a prifoner a fiave - 
 Oh ! heavens and earth, and gods and men relieve 
 Revenge this outrage on my feeble fex ! 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Not difrefpecl 'tis veneration holds ; 
 The Conde Haro's not the guilty thing, 
 Thy fufferings, fate, and fortune reprefent. 
 I fought Don Juan as my duty urg'd, 
 Yet my heart bled when brave Padilla fell j 
 Now once permit I'll lay a bofom ope, 
 And bare a breaft that heaven itfelf may read. 
 The pureft paflion had fubdu'd my heart, 
 Before ill fortune made me Juan's foe j 
 O ! heav'n forgive I lov'd his virtuous wife, 
 
 And 
 , 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 167 
 
 Anc^fecret bore the'heart corroding pangs. 
 I lov'd in filence fmother'd all my flame 
 While honour juftice every facred tie, 
 Had made its utterance the blacked crime. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 And doft thou think to mitigate thy guilt, 
 Thus to torment the brave Don Juan's wife ? 
 To add to wretchednefs to fill up woe 
 Force her to hear thy black adulterous tongue ? 
 Alas ! the difmal croak the voice of love 
 From hell's dark gloom, would lefs diiinay than thine. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 I wept the pangs that thy great foul muft feel 
 When thy Padilla was my prifoner made. 
 Juft heaven can witnefs what my foul endur'd 
 When martial law announc'd his forfeit, life 
 A debt his fovereign and the ftate might claim. 
 My ear reluctant, heard the fentence pafs'd, 
 And inftant death decreed to worth like hi;:, 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Forbear thy falfe difiimulating (trains ; 
 Thy tongue pronounc'd the vile inglorious doom, 
 That wrap'd in death the hero and the faint > 
 And now complet'ft the meafure of thy guilt, 
 Thus by compulfion, to detain his wife, 
 To hear a moment -thy detefted love. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 What furious pafllons play in that fair bread ! 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Old time fhall tell, and every age record, 
 Don Juan's worth, contrafted with thy guilt,* 
 When curious eyes (hall feek the mouldering tomb j 
 Where freedom wades in tears befide the turf, 
 
 And 
 
 i 
 
*68 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 And points the ftranger to the facred fpot, 
 Where death enrols her laft diftinguifli'd fan, 
 Urg'd to his fate by probity and zeal, 
 To fave his country from a fervile yoke. 
 DE HARO. 
 
 I, the firft witnefs of his merit (land 
 A generous with to fave and blefs mankind, 
 Urg'd him to glory in a devious path ; 
 No man can tread, but on perdition's brink, 
 While (landing armies fwell the monarch's train, 
 And kingdoms bend, and empires own the claim, 
 Of mighty Charles, to keep the world in awe. 
 MARIA. 
 
 Away, thou coward ! cringing, daftard tfave ! 
 <3o fawn on kings, and boaft thy prowefs there ; 
 Tell that the brave, who ne'er could meanly bend, 
 By cowardice were hurry 'd to the block : 
 *Twas coward fear that haften'd Juan's death : 
 As fortune play'd him once a lofing game, 
 Thou durft not let him live another day. 
 Led his oocl genius might have lent the means 
 To extricate his country and himfelf, 
 Thou'ft added murder to thy lift of crimes. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Reproach like this from any tongue but thine, 
 Should on itfelf recoil, and blad the lip 
 That wounds my honour ne'er before impeach'd. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 Refent it as thou ought I'm not afraid 
 Of Conde Haro's fword (Irike here, aflalTin ! 
 
 [Lays her hand on her breaft, 
 And complete thy work dar'ft thou not (Irike, 
 
 Who haft beheld Don Juan on a fcaffold, 
 
 Breathlefs 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 1* 
 
 "Breathlefs and pale, and as a felon die? 
 Give me a fword, I'll meafure it with thine, 
 For by the -powers above, to thee I fvvear, 
 Maria lives but to avenge his death. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 What lionefs has nurs'd thy tender years ? 
 Or can'fl thou feel for every pain but mine ? 
 
 MARIA. 
 Then let me hafle, and fly thy light forever, 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Pardon me, madam, while I urge my fuit ; 
 I have feme merit fo thy Juan thought 
 "When grateful tears ran down his. manly cheek* 
 I have one plea that may reftore my fame. 
 A fhort adieu permitted by Velafco, 
 J left my tent, and haften'd to Don Juan, 
 To (both the forrows of his noble foul, 
 And make the tenders of a generous friend. 
 'Twas his laft wifti the lateft boon of life, 
 To fee thee once, before the fatal ftroke, 
 Sever'd forever from the world's ben: gift : 
 I, in a foldier's habit, fent him on, 
 As with a meflage from De Haro's hand, 
 Myfelf a prifoner till he fhould return ; 
 As well I knew, not wealth, or crowns, or life, 
 Nor thy fuperiour charms, would tempt abufe 
 Of confidence thus .plac'd in honour's breaft. 
 
 MAB.IA. 
 
 Immortal powers ! am I a debtor made 
 For the lad blifsful moment of my life, 
 To him my foul, of all mankind, abhors ? 
 
 DE HARO. 
 The debt was canceli'd when he call'd me, friend, 
 
 P And 
 
i 7 o THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 And bade me, with a tender, gentle hand, 
 Wipe off Maria's tears, and fave her fon, 
 And guard them both from peril and difgrace ; 
 Not honour's felf, or gratitude, or love, 
 Can plead a claim his merit don't erafe. 
 The godlike pleafure of conferring good 
 On hearts fo worthy, leaves me in arrears : 
 I ftand indebted to thy noble -lord. 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 To what extremes is human nature wrought ! 
 Can dignity and real greatnefs dwell, 
 Thus mix'd and blended, in a fervile foul ? 
 Or haft thou feen thy error, and renounc'd 
 The bloody ftandard of the tyrant Charles ? 
 To make atonement to theinjur'd dead, 
 -Come, wield thy fword in a more glorious caufe, 
 And lend thine arm to make thy country free. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 Tempt not my loyalty, nor wound my fame.- 
 
 MARIA. 
 
 If there is aught of truth or love in thee 
 Haft thou a wiili to fee Maria more 
 . Thefe are the terms from which (he'll ne'er recede* 
 But fee thy vengeful (ire bends this way ; 
 Where fhall I find an afylum for woe ? 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Live as a queen in Don Emanuel's court, 
 A trufty friend efcorts thy fon and thee 
 To Portugal's more hofpitable (hore, 
 Beyond the reach of Don Velafco's rage, 
 *Ti!l time reftore thy peace, and make thee mine. 
 
 [MARIA aW her fon burned off the Jlage by 
 DE H A R o ' s friends and guards. 
 
 [Exit, 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 DON VELASCO and CONDE HARO, 
 
 Wi 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 RETCH that thou art !thou hafl debaa-M 
 
 the houfe, 
 
 The noble name the blood of Don Velafco. 
 DE HARO. 
 
 None but thyfelf, fbould, with impunity, 
 Upbraid a man, whofe honour ne'er was ftain'd 
 By one bafe aft whofe foul difdains a thought 
 But what ennobles both thy fan and thee. 
 VELASCO. 
 
 My fon no, I renounce the claim, 
 And rafe thy memory from thy blafted line j 
 A mean foul, proftrate at a woman's foot- 
 A traitorefs, both to her God and king, 
 Was ne'er ally'd to the Velafcan blood. 
 DE HARO. 
 
 If virtue ftands at variance with worth, 
 Or if true greatnefs can abufe the wretched, 
 Then may iny father's much revered lip, 
 With cruel infult, wound the faireft fame. 
 Thou knoweft not the luftre that adorns 
 Maria's foul, and lifts her o'er her fex 
 The virtues that combine to make her great i 
 Her angel form commands profound refpecT: ; 
 Her beauty, grace, her conftancy and truth 
 Her noble mind and energy of thought, 
 
 Would dignify the moft illufirious name. 
 
 VELASCO* 
 
j 7 ? THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Thy love tales whine in her difdainful ear. 
 This idle, rapturous pageantry of words, 
 This play of fancy, fann'd by luftful gales,. 
 Thefe loofe, mad ravings of a hot brain'd youtli f 
 Have made me fick of life. Oh ! how debas'd 
 
 Is honour duty gratitude and fame ! 
 
 How are thy laurels ftain'd, and meanly laid 
 
 Beneath the pedeftal of wanton love ; 
 
 A tranfient beam, fhot from a forc'refs' eye, 
 
 Whom mercy yet lias fpar'd to rave and weep 
 
 Hrr hufband's fall her difappointed pride.* 
 
 But by the eternal thunderer above, 
 
 She fhall not triumph thus 
 
 Mine aged arm, inur'd to war and blood, 
 Is not fo worn by time, nor yet fo weak, 
 But it can fend her murmuring foul to hell ; 
 Kay, harder ftill, has ftrength to grafp the hilt, 
 And plunge this vet'ran fword in thy bafe bread, 
 To let out that falfe blood that taints thy foul 
 And poifons all my peace. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 What means my fire ? 
 
 VELASCO. 
 To make thee worthy of thy noble name.-* 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 If death alone entitles to the claim, 
 I fear it not in any form but this. 
 
 [Retires backward \ and bows reftecifulfy as going 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Fly not my vengeance daftard villain flave ! 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Hah ! daftwd villain fiave Oh ! heavens ! 
 
 Caii 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE *73 
 
 Gan the great God command I fhould fubmit 
 To fuch reproach ev'n from a father's lip ? 
 
 [Suddenly lays bis hand on his fix on!, 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Come, try its point agaiuft my wounded bread, 
 Or hoary head, grown grey, in honour's path 
 That bends and bows -and" blumes for his fon. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 Not the rich fands of Chili or Pern, 
 Nor all the wealth Potofi has in (lore, 
 Shall bribe me from my duty and refpeft. 
 My filial love and reverence for thee. [Bends on bis knee, 
 VELASCO. 
 
 I do not wifh-to make thee more a coward. - 
 
 DE HARO. 
 A coward traitor villain and a flave ! 
 
 My honour ftain'd by epithets fo vile. 
 
 None but thylelf within this ample round, 
 Should dare unite a bafe, opprobrious term 
 With Conde Haro's name but thou'rt my fire- 
 Then take a life I wifh not to preferve. 
 
 [Throws his fword from him, and bares his breajt* 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Take up thy dagger plunge it in my breaft,. 
 Or give thy foolifh paflion to the winds. 
 DE HARO. 
 
 No neither; 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Bring back the fugitive to juftice' arm > 
 Renounce thy love. 
 
 DE HARO. 
 P a-- 
 
174 THE LADIE OF CASTILE. 
 
 VELA sco. 
 
 Never! 
 
 DE HARD. 
 
 Not if Maria hears my faithful vows 
 "lis honour, weakh and empire to my foul. 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Fly from my vengeful hand thou'rt not my fon 
 I've been deceiv'd alas ! too long deceiv'd. 
 Thou art fome low fome vile importer palm'd 
 Upon my houfe and nature feels no pang, 
 To fend thy foul to wander with the dead. 
 
 {Makes a furious pafe at DE HARD, but h f 
 enraged he trembles and drops bis fwot'd* 
 
 DE HARO. 
 
 When nature mail cut off thy thread of life, 
 I'll meet thee there, by thy Zelinda's fide 
 That angel form that gave a fon to thee, 
 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Hah ! my Zelinda her facred name f 
 
 Has wak'd the father up, and checks my rage ;- 
 Oh ! had this rafli, this guilty hand fent down 
 The mangled ghoft of her belov'd De Haro- 
 Her darling fon flain by a lather's hand 
 In Hades to accufe his barbarous heart 
 For fuch an outrage on fo brave a fon ; 
 Both wandering fpirits, and the faints above> 
 Alike would curfe his cruelty and crime ; 
 But as thy fword thy valiant conquering arm 
 Has quell'd rebellion, arid cut off their chiefs, 
 
 Let me in treat 
 
 [Enter- DON FRANCIS a bloody fooord 
 extenik'd in bis hand. 
 
 Hah ! what do I fee ? 
 
 Heav'n blad my eyes ! Say, can Con Francis live ? 
 
THE LADIES OF CASTILE. 175 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 Thou fee'ft thy duteoits foil 
 
 The wedded hufband of thy lov > d Louifa 
 Thou fee'ft his fword wet with the blood of Pedro, 
 Who would have robb'd me of my lovely bride ; 
 His coward ghoft now murmurs in the (hades, 
 And groans repentance for his faithlefs deeds. \ 
 VELASCO. 
 
 Thy rebel infolence my hand fhall crufli 
 When thou haft told by what infernal fiend, 
 Or hellifh arts, thy life's protracted thus, 
 To plunge my houfe in infamy and guilt. 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Thy generous fon has fav'd rne from the grave j 
 That noble friend, when, on the verge of death, 
 Set ope the prifon gates, and bade me fly 
 To mighty Charles, ami boldly fue for grace. 
 Know 'ft thou thy lov'd Zelinda's bridal ring ? 
 
 \Prefenis it }o VEL 
 
 This precious pledge made thy Louifa mine, 
 And, often feen upon Velafco's hand, 
 Procur'd and feal'd a pardon from the emperor, 
 VELASCO. 
 
 That guardian angel of my happier days, 
 Sure hovers here, and guides my fangnine fteps ; 
 Protects her cliildren from their father's rage, 
 And fmooths my paflions down the vale of life. 
 Go, Francis, fee if yet Louifa lives, 
 And heaven forgive my cruelty to her !-r 
 Each paffion dies but love to my Louifa, 
 And fcrong affection to the beft of fons. 
 
 SCENE 
 
ITS'- THE LADIES OF CASTILE, 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 LOUISA, fola y on her knees, looting up to Heaven in 
 with her Father's S-ivord in her band, pointed to her breajl. 
 
 JLjET this bright canopy fpread o'er ry head,, 
 And all the -wonders of the vaft concave 
 Each radiant flame that moots its friendly beam 
 O'er nature's empire, and proclaims a god, 
 Lend me their aid to foiemnize my foul ; 
 To hufh the tumult of life's various cares,- 
 That rage without, or reign within rny breaft. 
 *Tis heav'n bids ifie leave this mazy world, 
 To its own guilt, ambition, pride and blood. 
 
 Hah ! does my purpofe flag 
 
 [Trembles, and drops thefworJ. 
 I feel my courage firm yet fear my God 
 Will he forgive a fuffering wretclr, 
 Weary of life yet not afraid to die 
 Who quits her poft, ere nature makes demand- 
 Unbidden rufhes to his awful throne 
 
 A ghaftly* grim a difcontented foul,. 
 Bath'd in the blood of fuicide ! 
 My trembling frame fhrinks at the dread idea- 
 Yet what ah ! what can fad Louifa do ? 
 
 [Recovers the fwvrd, 
 I cannot live to fee Don Francis die 
 Yet worfe to live, and be Don Pedro's wife 
 
 I muft not live my father bills me die. 
 
 [Stats berfelf.DoN FRANCIS and 
 
 DE HARO enter at the moment. 
 FRANCIS. 
 Oh ! my Louifa my love my bride ! 
 
 My 
 
THE LADIES OP CASTILE. 177 
 
 My wife my foul's whole treafure (lay 
 Thy dreadful purpofe hold ! 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 Ah ! my dear lord permitted thus to live 
 But to receive and aid on its efcape 
 My foul juft rufhing from my bleeding bread* [Fainting? 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Thou mufl not die Oh ! lovely maid, revive 
 Thy father's blefling beckons thee to life. 
 
 LOUISA. 
 
 It was my father's will impell'd to death 
 His rigorous command I have obey'd 
 My filial defign may God forgive, 
 Nor rank me with the hateful filicide, 
 Who nifties on his fate from paflTion ftorms, 
 And dies the martyr of his guilty hand. 
 
 Retard me not now on the marge of death 
 My confcious foul, unftain'd by one bafe aft, 
 Looks back ferene on life's tempeftuous forge* 
 Nor feels a pang, but for my Francis* fake j- 
 Yet blifs is crown'd by dying in his arms. [#/// 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 I'll catch in ether that laft balmy breath, 
 And meet her gentle. fpi.rit in the ikies. 
 
 [Falls on his fawni* 
 
 Ha ! Francis, hold nor cowardly revolt 
 From nature's poft, aflign'd by nature's lord. 
 
 Heaven has decreed the juft, the brave, fiiould diCj 
 But ; tis a daftard foul that fears to live. 
 
 FRANCIS. 
 
 Life loft all worth in her expiring figh 
 Adieu, my friend, for time has loft its charms. 
 
 The 
 
178 THE LADIES OF CASTILE. / 
 
 The free born mind mounts upwards with the gods. 
 And foars and fpurns a bafe, ignoble world. [>< 
 
 DE HARD. 
 
 Alas ! the horrors of this awful hour 
 What mifery's entail'd on all mankind 
 But thofe who rife and view life from the ftars ! 
 
 Oh 1 thou whofe word directs the pointed flamc^ 
 When the blue lightnings curl about the clouds* 
 And thunders roll acrofs the ragged vault, 
 Let down thy benediction from the flues I 
 To virtue bend tPie wayward mind of man- 
 Let not the father blaft his children's peace 
 By rancour pride and curfed party rage j 
 Let civil feuds no more diftracl the foul 
 Blaii the dark fiends who wake mankind to war,, 
 And make the world a counterpart to hell. 
 
 [Exeunt Omnes* 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 To Mrs. MONTAGUE, Author of " OB- 
 
 SERVATIONS OH the G.ENIUS dud WRIT 
 INGS of SHAKESPEARE," 
 
 V V ILL Montague, whofe critic pen adds praifc, 
 Ev'n to a Shakefpeare's bold exalted lays ; 
 Who points the faults in fweet Corneille'spage, 
 Sees all the errors of the Gallic ftage 
 Corrects Voltaire with a fuperior hand, 
 Or traces genius in each diftant land ? 
 Will fhe acrofs the Atlantic firetch her eye, 
 Look o'er the main, and view the weftern Iky ; 
 And there Columbia's infant drama fee 
 Reflect that Britain taught us to be free ; 
 Survey with candour what fhe can't approve j 
 Let local fondnefs yield to gen'rous love ; 
 And, if fair truth forbids her to commend, 
 Then let the critic foften to the friend. 
 
 The bard of Avon juftly bears the meed 
 Of fond applaiife, from Tyber to the Tweed j 
 
 Q Each 
 
i8i MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Each humbler mufe at diftahce may admire, 
 But none to Shakelpeare's fame ere dare aipire. 
 And if your ifle, where he fo long has charm'd, 
 If Britain's fons, when by his mantle warm'd, 
 Have foar'd in vain to reach his lofty quill, 
 Nature to paint with true Shakcfpearean {kill 
 A filter's hand may wreft a female pen, 
 
 From the bold outrage of imperious men. 
 
 . ^Hf 
 
 If gentle Montague ray chaplet raife, 
 Critics may frown, or mild good nature praife , 
 Secure I'll walk, and placid move along, 
 And heed alike their cenfure or their fong ; 
 I'll take my ftand by fam'd ParnafTus' fide,, 
 And for a moment feel a poet's pride. 
 
 Plymouth i July 10, 1790, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 183 
 
 To TORRI SMOND. 
 
 A young Gentleman educated in Euro/is, recommended to ths 
 Author's acquaintance, by a Friend of dijtmclkn* 
 
 My foul is ficken'4 when I fee the youth, 
 That fyorcs and trifles with eternal truth. 
 
 w, 
 
 HEN ancient Britain pip'd the ruftic lays, 
 And tun'd to woden notes of vocal praife, 
 The difmal dirges caught the lifte ning throng, 
 And ruder geftures join'd the antique fong. 
 
 Then the grey druid's grave, majeftic air, 
 The frantic prieftefs, with difheveli'd hair 
 And flaming torch, fpoke fuperftition's reign j 
 While elfin damfels dancing o'er the plain, 
 Allur'd the vulgar by the myftic fcene, 
 To keep long vigils on the facred green. 
 
 Then Gothic bards might drefs the magic tale, 
 And monkifh legends over truth prevail ; 
 As weak credulity, with hood wink'd eyes, 
 Had never peep'd behind the thin difguife 
 The party colour'd veil, at once inwove 
 With ignorance, and fome faint fears of Jove ; 
 Wrought up to madnefs by the crafty prieft, 
 While artful politicians faw the jeft, 
 And laugh 'd at virtue as a ftate machine, 
 And engine fit the multitude to rein ; 
 With more facility to rule mankind, 
 They lent their efforts to obfture the mind. 
 Folly and fraud the manly powers debas'd, 
 And from the foul th' etherial fpark eras'd* 
 
 Pfting'd 
 
j*4- MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 
 
 Plung'd in the depth of black and dreary nighty 
 No eye could trace one avenue to light. 
 
 But from the dark impenetrable fliaclc, 
 Reafon appear'd, a bright, a heav'n born maid j 
 The moral iyftem, nature's early code, 
 Improv'd by reafon, and the voice of God, 
 DJfpell'd the mifts of error's tenfold maze, 
 And truth triumphant, held a crown of bays. 
 
 Celeftial reafon, thus again reftor'd, 
 Her gentle wand through all the world ador'd, 
 She reign'd refplendent o'er the human mind, 
 With brow worn fcience, hand in hand combin'd, 
 To prove the powers of the aclive foul, 
 That mounts from earth to nature's farthest pole ; 
 'Till Anglia boafts the birth of Locke and Boyle, 
 And Newton's name adorn'd Britannia's ifle ; 
 O'er the learn 'd world, this heavenly genius (hone, 
 And light diffus'd as the meridian fun, 
 Through the vaft folar fyftem late defin'd, 
 By vaft exertions of his godlike mind j 
 And while invefugating nature's laws> 
 He flill defended virtue's facred caufe : 
 At once lie taught philofophy to mine, 
 Own'd and rever'd the oracles divine ; 
 'I hat pens infpir'd had op'd a brighter day, 
 That revelation lent its heavenly ray 
 To lift, e$alr, and elevate the foul, 
 To fcale the (tars, and foar from pole to pole. 
 
 But as the, cleared hemifphere difplays 
 The wandering ftar, amidft j,,he radiant blaze, 
 Of orb o'er orb, that aids the nightly dance, 
 Of planets rolling through the broad expanfc ; 
 
 Sora* 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 185 
 
 Some vifionary fouls have loft their way, 
 Eccentric wandering 'mid the noon tide ray. 
 
 Thus man, frail man, to wide extremes fo prone, 
 Truth's perfect path by him fo little known, 
 That when emerging from the difmal gloom, 
 Of night and fable, wrap'd in chaos' womb ; 
 Some danc'd and play'd around the boundlefs fhore, 
 The depths of erudition juft fkim'd o'er j 
 Nurs'd in refinements of a fceptic age, 
 They fpurn the precepts of the facred page ; 
 Hold revelation but the dream of pride, 
 The wifh of man to be to God ally'd : 
 Thus the vain reptile of a fleeting hour, 
 Prefumes he knows the plenitude of power. 
 
 Through nature's fyftem, through her grand dcfign> 
 He frrips the veil from Providence divine ; 
 Sees clearly through the vaft myfterious plan, 
 Can prove that Heaven forgot its creature, man : i 
 
 That when to rationals God firft gave birth, 
 And chain'd them down to this low diftant earth, 
 To gufde their path lent not one friendly beam, 
 No intimation of his will fupreme ; 
 But the weak reafoner's left to grope his way, 
 To Jove, Jehovah, or to Bacchus pray, 
 As he py chance, or caprice, may be led, 
 Born in Italia, or in Athens bred. 
 
 Loft in wild padion prattling much of fate^ 
 His higheft hope a non exiftig ftate ; 
 Yet fears alarm, or fecret dread of fhame j 
 His brutal wifhes, pride, or love of fame, 
 
 Q a Alternate 
 
i86 MISCELLANEOUS POE1VTS. 
 
 Alternate drag him with rnagneclic force, 
 
 'Till infidelity's his laft refource ; 
 
 By turns exploding grace, free will, and fate, 
 
 Still apprehenfive of fome future fiate, 
 
 Sufpenfe diftradts his ofcillating brain, 
 
 'Till allures him death lhall end his pain. 
 
 Ah ! Torrifmond ! poor trembling, doubting you th 
 Pale with thy fears, and yet affronting truth ; 
 Come, my young friend, forfake the fceptic road, 
 And tread the paths fuperiour genius trod ; 
 Leave all the modern metaphyfic fools, 
 To reafon on by falfe logiflic rules j 
 Leave all the quibblers of a mimic age, 
 By rote to cavil at th' infpired page f 
 Let learned trafli their arguments fuftain, 
 While common fenfe, ejected from their brairr, 
 They through each jarring incoherence run, 
 Until entangled in the web they've fpun, 
 They all things doubt but their fuperiour fenfe, 
 And live and die the dupes of dark fufpenfe. 
 
 Come, fpite of low born pleafures, nobly rife,. 
 And feek true happinefs beyond the fkies, 
 Ere this fhort whirl of fancy *d joys are o'er, 
 When time mail land tbee on fome unknown fliore ; 
 Where truth array 'd in filvern robes fhall (land, 
 With juftice' fword uplifted in her hand. 
 jj| 
 
 When thy foul quivers on the awful marge, 
 And death throws ope eternity's broad verge ; 
 When confcience whifpers, Ifhy probation's o'er, 
 Or her foft voice may loud as thunder roar j 
 
 With 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ,87 
 
 With what amaze you'll find the chriftian fcheme 
 Is not the product of a brain fick dream. 
 
 Then not the wits who grace the lifts of fame, 
 Sanftion'd by Hume, or by a Shaftfbury's name, 
 Or celebrated Voltaire's pointed pen, 
 Who cheats the weak, or charms ev'n wifer men 5 
 Nor all the train of infidels combined, 
 footh a moment thy immortal mind. 
 
 A POLITICAL 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS,* 
 
 A POLITICAL REVERIE. 
 
 As fairy forms, the elfin airy train, 
 And fylphs, fometimes moleft the learned brain> 
 Delufive dreams the matron's boiom fweU, 
 And, ancient maids, the fancied vifion, tell ; 
 So beaux and belles fee routs and balls in dreams* 
 And drowfy preachers chop polemic themes j 
 The ftatefman's dream, in theory creates, 
 New perfect forms, to govern broken flstes. 
 
 Logiftic fcribblers dream of fleeping fouls," 
 And dreaming bucks drown reafon o'er their bowls ; 
 The doubting deift dreams of Styx and fate, 
 Yet laughs at fables of a future Mate, 
 'Till Charon's boat mall land him on a more 
 Of which the dreamer never dreamt before : 
 As fportive dreams infeft al) ranks of men, 
 A dream, the vifionary world, may read again. 
 
 [This Reverie <was frft published, January , 1 77 4, previous 1 9 
 the breaking out of tie Civil V/ar, <vjhile America c uuas o/l 
 cillattng between a. Refinance by Arm 1 * and her ancient Lov* 
 and Loyalty to Britain. ~\ 
 
 iET Grec'an bards and Roman poets tell, 
 How Heftcr fought, and how old P^riarn fell j 
 Paint armies ravaging the 'Jlian co :. 
 Shew fields of blood and mighty battle's loft ; 
 Let mad CafTandra, with difheveU'd hair, 
 With dreaming eye, and frantic boforn bare, 
 Tell dark prefages, and ill boding dreams, 
 Of murder, rapine, and the folemn themes, 
 Of (laughter'd cities, and their finking fpires, 
 By Grecian rage wrap'd in avening fires j 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. tS< 
 
 To bolder pens- 1 leave the tragic tale, 
 While fome kind mufe from Tempe's gentle vale, 
 With fofter fymphony fhall touch the (tring, 
 And happier tidings from Parnaflus bring. 
 
 Not Casfar's name, nor Philip's bolder fon, 
 Who figh'd and wept, when he'd one world undone j 
 Who drop'd a tear, though not from pity's fource, 
 But grief, to find fome bound to brutal force, 
 Shall tune my harp, or touch the warbling firing ;_ 
 No bold defiroyers of mankind I fing ; 
 Thefe plunderers of men I'll greatly fcorn, 
 And dream of nations, empires yet unborn. 
 
 I look with rapture at the diftant dawn, 
 And view the glories, of the opening morn,. 
 When juftice holds his fceptre o'er the land, 
 And refcues freedom from a tyrant's hand ; 
 When patriot ftates in laurel crowns may rife, 
 And ancient kingdoms court them as allies ; 
 Glory and valour fliall be here difplay'd, 
 And virtue rear her long dejected head ; 
 Her ftandard plant beneath thefe gladden'd fldes, 
 Her fame extend, and arts and fcience rife ; 
 While empire's lofty fpreading fails unfurl'd, 
 Roll fwiftly on towards the weftern world. 
 
 Long fhe's forfook her Afiatic throne, 
 And leaving Afric's barb'rous burning zone,. 
 On the broad' ruins of Rome's haughty power 
 Ere6ted ramparts round fair Europe's fhore ; 
 But in thofe blafted climes no more prefides, 
 She, o'er the vaft Atlantic furges rides, 
 Vifits Columbia's diftant fertile plains, 
 Where liberty, a happy goddefs, reigns. 
 
 Kd 
 
* 9'o MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 No defpot here fhall rule with awful fway, 
 Nor orphan's fpoils become the minion's prey ; 
 No more the widow'd bleeding bofom mourns,. 
 Nor injur'd cities- weep their flaughter'd fans ; 
 For then each tyrant, by the hand of fate, 
 And (landing troops, the bane of every ftate,, 
 Forever fpurn'd, fhali be remov'd as far 
 As bright Hefperus from the polar ilar j 
 Freedom and virtue fiiall united reign, 
 And flretch their empire o'er the wide domain. 
 On a broad bafe the commonwealth fhall fland, 
 When lawlefs power withdraws its impious nand ; 
 When crowns and fceptres arc grown ufelefs things, 
 Nor petty pretors plunder here for kings. 
 
 Then blefs'd religion, in her purefl forms, 
 Beyond the reach of perfecuting florms, 
 In purefl azure, gracefully array'd, 
 In native majefly fhall ftand difplay'd, 
 'Till courts revere her ever facred fhrine. 
 And nobles feel her influence divine; 
 /Princes and peafants catch the glorious flame, 
 And lifping infants praife Jehovah's name. 
 
 But while methouglit this commonwealth would rife^ 
 And bright Milleniari profpecls ft ruck my eye?, 
 I wept Britannia, once Europa's pride, 
 To fame and virtue long ihe flood ally'd ; 
 This glorious queen, the miilrefs of the ifles, 
 Torn up by faftfon, and inteftine broils, 
 Became the prey of each rapacious arm, 
 Strip'd and difrob'd of every native charm. 
 
 Strong and ereft, like fome fair polifhM tower, 
 She long defy'd each neighb'ring hostile power, 
 
 And 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 191 
 
 And fent her brave and valiant fons in queft 
 Of foreign realms, who by no fear reprefs'd, 
 The finking cliffs of Europe's happy more, 
 They left behind, new climates to explore. 
 
 They quitted plenty, luxury and eafe, 
 Tempted the dangers of the frozen feas 
 While hope's foft breezes fann'd the fwelling fails, 
 And fame and glory fpurn'd the ruder gales, 
 And fmooth'd the {'urge that roll'd from more to more, 
 A race of heroes fafely wafted o'er. 
 Who pitch'd their tents beneath the difmal made, 
 Where wild woods roar'd, and favages betray 'd ; 
 -Cities they reared around barbarian coafts, 
 And planted vineyards o'er the barren waftes. 
 In Britain's lap the rich produce was pour'd, 
 (Which heaven, benignant, plentifully fliower'd,^ 
 'Till me, ungrateful, join'd an impious band, 
 And forging mackles with a guilty hand, 
 Broke the firm union whence her vigour grew, 
 DhTolv'd the bands, and cut the finews through* 
 
 Here, a bright form, with foft majeftic grace, 
 Beckon'd me on through vaft unmeafur'd fpace,; 
 Befide the margin of the vaft profound, 
 Wild echos play'd and cataracls rebound ; 
 Beyond the heights of nature's wide expanfe, 
 Where mov'd fuperb the planetary dance, 
 Light burfl on light, and funs o'er funs difplay'd 
 The fyftem perfecT:, nature's God had laid. 
 
 This fcale of altitude prefented whole, 
 The various movements of the human foul ; 
 Starting, I cry'd " Oh ! facred form forgive, 
 Or me from yonder nether world remove ; 
 
 Has 
 
192 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 
 
 Has freedom's genius left Britannia's fhore ? 
 And mufi. her fleeping patriots live no more-? 
 Arife, ye venerable fhades ! infplre, 
 Each languid foul with patriotic fire ; 
 'Till every bofom feels a noble flame, 
 And emulates a Locke, or Sydney's name." 
 
 The fer'aph frml'd ineffably ferene, 
 And mew 'd me truth, infcrib'd on her bright mien : 
 She.faid " The glow from breafl to bread is fpread, 
 From fire to fon the latent fpark's convey 'd ; 
 Let thofe blefs'd fhades reft in their facred urns", 
 Lie undifturb'd the glorious ardour burns, 
 Though far transferr'd from their lov'd native foil-. 
 Virtue turn'd pale, and freedom left the ifle, 
 When fhe uVetch'd out her avaricious hand, 
 And fliew'd her fons her hoftile bloody wand ; 
 United millions parried back the blow, 
 Britain recoil'd, and fadly learnt to know, 
 Cities with cities leagu'd, and town with town, 
 -She trembled at her fate when half undone." 
 
 Think not this ail a vifionary fcene, 
 For lie who wields the grand, the vaft machine ; 
 Who bids the mom from ea(K rn ocean rife, 
 And paler Cynthia cheer the midnight fkies ; 
 Who holds the balance who itretch'd out the line 
 O'er all creation forni'd the grand defign, 
 Ten thoufand worlds to fcatter o'er the plain, 
 And fpread new glories through his wide domain ; 
 Who rules the ftars, and taught the rolling fpheres 
 To meafure round the quick revolving years ; 
 At awful diftance from his radiant throne, 
 Sufpended, this terreftial ball hangs down .j j^% 
 
 Yet 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. i 9J 
 
 Yet (till prefides and watches o'er the fates, 
 Of all the kingdoms that his power creates, 
 
 Ere he winds up the clofing act of time, 
 And draws the veil from fyftems more fublime, 
 In fwift progreflion, westward throws the bowl, 
 'Till mighty empire crowns the fpacious whole. 
 
 Then this far diflant corner of the earth, 
 Shall boaft her Decii's and her Fabii's birth ; 
 When the young heroes, wondering, (hall be told, 
 That Britain barter'd worth for lurt of gold ; 
 How, loft in luxury, her filken fons, 
 Forgot her Edwards claim'd the Bourbon crowns \> 
 That tyrants trembled on their tott'ring throne, 
 And haughty monarchs fear'd Britannia's frown. 
 
 But ah ! how tarnifh'd her illuftrious name, 
 Defpoil'd of wealth, of grandeur, and of fame ! 
 Buried beneath her complicated crimes, 
 A fad memento to fucceeding times : 
 Difmay'd, (he yet may lift her fuppliant hand, 
 And afk protection from this injur'd land ; 
 Whole peaceful fons will draw oblivion o'er 
 Unnumber'd wrongs, and rafe the blacken'd fcore :* 
 Yet heave a figh, and drop the tender tear, 
 And weep Britannia's punishment fevere ; 
 When they refearching o'er fome future chart, 
 Scarce find the feat of mighty Brunfwick's court ; 
 For neighbouring ftates may feize the venal ifle, 
 And Gallic princes distribute the fpoil. 
 The lion, proftrate on the naked ftrand, 
 May fee the lilies waving o'er the land ; 
 May fee Columbia's embrio pendants play, 
 And infant navies cut the watry way j 
 
 R Fame's 
 
fc?4 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Fame's outftretch'd wing may on the eaflern gales 
 Leave rjie proud Thames, and fpread her whiten'd flu's. 
 
 While rifing empire rears her purple creft, 
 Triumphant commerce hails the gladden'd weft, 
 And fleers her courfe to Zembla's frozen pole, 
 Or lands in India, free from the control 
 Of bafe, monopolizing men, combin'd 
 To plunder millions, and enflave mankind. 
 From Florida to Nova Scotian fiiores 
 She pours' her treafures and unlades her (tores j 
 Round all the globe (he fails from fea to fea,. 
 And fmiles and profpers, only when fhe's free. 
 
 But here the fvveet enchanting vifion 'fled, 
 And darken'd clouds flafh'd lightnings o'er my head ; 
 The fcraph foleinn ftretch'd abroad her hand, 
 The fiars grew pale beneath her burnifh'd wand j 
 On her pale front difgtift and forrow hung, 
 . And awful accents trembled on her tongue. 
 
 Behold ! fhe (aid, before thefe great events, 
 Abforb'd in tears, America laments j 
 . Laments the ravage of her fruitful plains. 
 While crimfon dreams the peaceful villa (tains. 
 
 The weeping matron fighs in poignant pain 
 i O'er her laft hope,' in the rude battle flain : 
 
 The bleeding bofom of the aged fire, 
 Pierc'd by his fon, will in his arms expire ; 
 . For death promifcuous flies from ev'ry hand, 
 
 When faction's fword is brandim'd oVr the land j 
 
 When civil difcord c,uts the friendly tics, 
 
 And focial joy from everybofom flies ; 
 ,:But let the mufe forbear the folemn tale, 
 , Aadlend once mow:,, the " Grecian painter' $ iW/."* 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 To Mr. 
 
 Alluding to a Converfatlon 'which favoured tie Opinion of 
 Fatalifm \ that human A ft ion, ^whether good or eiMjfyrings 
 from the Principle offelf Love y void of any real Benevo 
 lence, luhen traced up to its Source, 
 
 X HOUGH fhort,farmort, my pen of the fublime^ 
 Fate urges on, and bids me write in rhyme j 
 I hope my friend the effort will excufe, 
 Nor blame the heart, but elude the niggard mufe, 
 
 Is it a wild enthufiaftic flame, 
 That fwells the bofom panting after fame ; 
 Dilates the mind, while every fail's unfurl 'd,' 
 To catch the plaudits of a gazing world ? 
 Is there no permanent, no fteady pole, 
 To point us on, and guide the wandering foul ? 
 Does prejudice and paflion rule mankind ? 
 Are there no fprings that aftuate the mind, 
 Whofe deep meanders have a. nobler fource, 
 Than vain felf love, to guide their winding courfe ? 
 
 The gen'rous ardour, ftil'd benevolence, 
 Is it all art, to gratify the fenfe ? 
 Or give imagination further fcope ? 
 That airy queen, who guides the helm of hope/, 
 Holds a falfe mirror to the dazzled fight ; 
 A dim perfpec~live, a delufive light, 
 That fwells the bubbles of life's fhorlen'd fpan, - 
 While wifdom laughs at the deluded man, 
 Wrap'd in ecftatics, by imagin'd fame, 
 
 When the<next -moment may blot out his nanve. 
 
 Can't 
 
29 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 
 
 Can't the wife precepts of a Plato's fchool, 
 Or a divine a ftill more perfect rule, 
 Aroule, exalt, and animate the foul 
 Self to renounce, and rife above control 
 Of narrow paflions, that the man debafe. 
 And from his breaft his maker's image rafe j 
 Or are the fetters that enflave the mind 
 Of fuch a ftrong and adamantine kind, 
 So firmly lock'd, and fo fecurely riv'd, 
 The more we ffrive, the more we're ftill deceiv'd j 
 Are truth and friendfhip no where to be found 
 And patriot virtue nothing but a found ? 
 Then may a Caefar equal honours claim, 
 With gen'rous Brutus' celebrated name : 
 For the poor tribute of a fhort applaufe, 
 One flabb'd a tyrant, trampling on the laws ; 
 While the proud defpot mark'd his baneful way,. 
 With virtue's tears, and triumph'd o'er his prey. 
 
 Caefar eriflav'd, and Brutus would have freed, 
 Self, the iole point in which they're both agreed. 
 
 Self love, that ftimulus to nobler aims, 
 Bade Nero light the capital in flames ; 
 Bade Borgia aft a moft infernal part, 
 Or Scipio to triumph o'er his heart ; 
 
 Bids betray his native land, 
 
 And his bafe brother lend his perjur'd hand, 
 While freedom weeps, and heav'n forbears to fliel 
 Its awful vengeance on the guilty head. 
 
 If fuch is life, and fancy throws the bowl, , 
 And appetite and caprice rule the whole j 
 If virtuous friendship has no folid bafe, 
 But falfe deception holds the facred place j 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Then from thy mew'ry rafe out every line, 
 Nor recollect a fentiment of mine, 
 But dark oblivion's fable veil draw o'er, 
 And I'll forbear to interrupt thee more. 
 
 For if vice boafts her origin the fame 
 With focial joy and patriotic flame, 
 Thn I muft wifh to bid the world fareweJ, 
 Turn* Anchoret, and choofe fome lonely cell, 
 Beneath Come peaceful hermitage reclin'd, 
 To weep the miiery of all mankind? 
 "Till days and years, till time fhall ceafe to roll. 
 And truth eternal ftdke the wondering foul, 
 
 R a .On 
 
J$$ MISCELLANEOUS POEMS* 
 
 On a SURVEY of the HEAVENS*. 
 
 JUoES there an infidel exift ? 
 Let him look up he can't refift, 
 The& proofs of Deity fo clear, 
 He muft the architect revere, 
 Whene'er to heaven he lifts his eyes, 
 And there furveys the fpangleA fkies ; 
 The glitt'ring ftars, the worlds that fhin*> 
 And fpeak their origin divine, 
 -Bjd him adore, and proftrate fall, 
 And own one Lord, lupreiuc o'f.r -?U. 
 
 One God this mighty fabrick guides,. 
 Th' etherial circles he divides ; 
 And meafures out the diftant bound, 
 Of each revolving planet's round ; 
 Prevents the univerfal jar, - 
 That might from one eccentric ftar, 
 Tofs'd in the wide extended fpace, 
 At once a thoufand worlds displace. 
 
 What elfe fupports the rolling fpheres j. 
 Nought but Almighty power appears, 
 The vaft unnumber'd orbs to place, 
 And fcatter o'er the boundlefs fpace, 
 Myriads of worlds of purer light, 
 Our adoration to excife, 
 And lead the wandering mind of man,, 
 To contemplate the glorious plan. 
 
 Not even Newton's godlike mind, 
 Nor all the fages of mankind, 
 
 Could 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Could e'er affign another caufe, 
 Though much they talk of nature's laws ; 
 Of gravity's attractive force, 
 They own the grand, eternal fource, 
 Who, from the depths of chaos* womb^ 
 Prepared the vaulted, fpacious dome j 
 He fpake a vaft foundation's laid, 
 And countlefs globes thereon difplay'd, 
 
 His aclrive power ftill fuftains 
 Their weight, amidft the heavenly plains 5. 
 Infinite goodnefs yet protects, 
 All perfeft wifdora ftill diretts 
 Their revolutions ; knows the hour, 
 When rapid time's refiftlefs pow'r, 
 In mighty ruin will involve, 
 And God this -grand machine diflblve, 
 
 Then time and death (hall both expire^ 
 And in the univerfal fire, 
 Thefe elements (hall melt away, 
 To ufher in eternal day. 
 
 Amazing thought ! Is it decreed, 
 'New earth and heavens, fhali tliefe fucceed 
 More glorious far dill more auguft \ 
 In his omnific arm we truft, 
 
 But liow this fyftem 'twill excel, 
 Nor Angel's voice, or tongue caa tell ; 
 Nor human thought fo high can foar ; 
 His works furvey, and God adore. 
 
 Oft 
 
too. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 On the DEA.TH of Mrs. S. 
 within a few Days after her MARRIAGE. 
 
 JL'HE grave with open month, defiroys^ 
 Life's choiceft.bleflfmgs, pureft joys. 
 
 The gay Orinda's pleaflng charms, 
 Allur'd young Selim to her arms ; 
 They tafted blifs one happy moon, 
 Nor thought their joys could end fo foon, 
 Or dreamt that fuch a gueft as Deatli 
 Would interrupt the bridal mirth ; 
 But lo \ his fable wings are fpread, 
 Orinda's number'd with the dead. 
 
 Thus have I feen the opening flower 
 That decorates the nuptial bow'r, 
 Its odours fhed, its bright array 
 Rival the luftre of the day ; 
 But ere the glorious morning fun 
 Had reach'd the central point of noon, 
 The violets fade, the rofes die, . 
 So funk the luflre of -her eye. 
 The valiant Selim quits the prize, 
 Reluftant yields the facrifice ; 
 Trys in the laurell'd field of fame, 
 To lofe the lov'd Orinda's name ; 
 But, not the warlike, hoflile fcene, 
 That purples o'er the native -green, 
 Nor the hoarfe trumpet, loud and fhrill, 
 The plaintive voice of grief could quell. 
 Selim ftill feels the keener fmart 
 That rankles in his bleeding heart ; 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, so* 
 
 He rufhes on amid the plain, 
 And courts the fword to end his pain : 
 He fell but fmil'd in Death's embrace, 
 And cry'd, here ends the idle chace , 
 Wealth, pleafure, honour, airy fame, 
 I've prov'd are but an empty name : 
 He kifs'd the reeking fleel, and faid,. 
 1 fly to feek Orindu's fhade. 
 
so* MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 The SQUABBLE of the SEA NYMPHS; 
 or the SACRIFICE of the TUSCARAROES. 
 
 %%e important political event of 1774, 'when federal cargoes 
 of teas were poured into the fea, has been replete with 
 mighty confequences, and wi/l newer be forgotten in the hif- 
 tory of American independence. But the author's o f wn 
 opinion of the equity or policy of this meafure is not to be col- 
 letted from a political fal!y y written at the requeft of a par 
 ticular friend^ now in one of the higheft grades of American 
 rank. 
 
 'RIGHT Phoebus drove his rapid car amain > . 
 And plung'd his fieeds beyond the weftern plain, 
 Behind a golden fkirted cloud to reft. 
 Ere ebon night had fpread her fable veft, 
 And drawn her curtain o'er the fragrant vale, . 
 Or Cynthia's fhadows drefs'dthe lonely dale, 
 The heroes of the Tufcararo tribe,* 
 Who fcorn'd alike a fetter or a bribe, 
 In order rang'd, and waited freedom's nod, , 
 To make an offering to the wat'ry god. 
 
 Grey Neptune rofe, and from his fea green bed, 
 He wav'd his trident o'er his oozy head ; 
 He ftretch'd, from fhore to fliore, his regal wand r 
 And bade tfee river deities attend : 
 Triton's hoarfe clarion fummon'd them by name, 
 And frcrn old ocean call'd each wat'iy dame. 
 
 In council met to regulate the ftate, 
 Among their godfhips rofe a warm debate, 
 
 What 
 
 * The cargoes were deftroyed by a number of people, difguiffcd 
 ifl the habit of the Aborigines. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEiMS. *o 3 
 
 "What Jufcious draught they next mould fubftitute, 
 That might the palates of celeftials fuit, 
 As Nectar's- ftreani no more meandering rolls, 
 The food ambrofial of their focial bowls 
 Profufely fpent ; nor, can Scamander's fhore, 
 Yield the fair fea nymphs one ftiort banquet more* 
 
 The Tilans all with one accord arous'd, 
 To travel round Columbia's coaft propos'd ; 
 To rob and plunder every neighb'ring vine, 
 (Regardlefs of Nemifis' facred mrine ;) 
 Nor leave untouch'd the peafant's little flore, 
 Or think of right, while demi gods have power. 
 
 But ere on a decided mode agreed, 
 They, nor great Neptune, farther dare proceed, 
 'Till every goddefs of the ftreams and lakes, 
 And lefier deities of fens and brakes 
 With all the nymphs that fwim around the iflc, 
 Deign 'd to give fanction by approving fmiles : 
 For females have their influence o'er kings, 
 Nor wives, nor miftrefles, were ufelefs things, 
 Ev'n to the gods of ancient Homer's page ; 
 Then lure, in this polite. and poliuYd age, 
 None will neglect the fex's fage advice, 
 When they engage in any point fo nice, 
 As to forbid the choice neclareus fip, 
 And offer bohea to the rofy lip. 
 
 Proud Amphytrite reje6ted in Gifdaio 9 
 Refus'd the gift, and left the wart'ry main, 
 With fervile Proteus lagging by her fide, 
 To take advantage of the fiiifting tide ; 
 To catch a fmile, or pick up golden fands, 
 .Either from PlutBS, or the naked ftrands ; 
 
 \Loog 
 
204 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Long pracVis'd eafy he amimes the fliape 
 Of fox, or panther, crocodile, or ape ; 
 When 'tis his int'reft, his ftep dame he'll aid, 
 One pebble more, and Amphytrite's betray M. 
 
 A flaming torch fhe took in either hand, 
 (And as fell difcord reign'd throughout the land, 
 Was well appriz'd the centaurs would confpire ;) 
 Refolv'd to fet the weftern world on fire, 
 By fcattering the weed of Indian fhores ; 
 Or worfe, to, lodge it in Pygmalion's (lores : 
 But if the artifice fiiould not fucceed, 
 Then, in revenge, attempt fome bolder deed ; 
 For while old ocean's mighty billows roar, 
 Or foaming furges lafh the diflant fhore, 
 Shall goddeffes regale like woodkmd dames ? 
 *Firft let Chinefan herbage feed the flames. 
 
 But all the Nereids whifper'd murmurs round, 
 And craggy cliffs reecho'd back the found j 
 'Till fair Salacia perch'd upon the rocks, 
 The rival gpddefs wav'd her yellow locks, 
 Proclaimed, hyfonia (hall affuage their grief, 
 With choice fouchong, and the imperial leaf. 
 
 The champions of the Tufcararan race, 
 (Who neither hold, nor even wifh a place, 
 While faction reigns, and tyranny prefides, 
 And bafe oppfreftion o^r the virtues rides ; 
 While venal meafures dance in filken fails, 
 And avarice o'er earth and fea prevails ; 
 While luxury creates fuch mighty feuds, 
 E'en in the bofoms of the demi gods ;) 
 Lent tneir ftrong arm in pity to the fair, 
 To aid the bright Salacia's generous care , 
 
 Pour'd 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ** 
 
 Pour'd a profufion of delicious teas, 
 Which, wafted by a foft favonian breeze, 
 Supply'd the wat'ry deities, in fpite 
 Of all the rage of jealous Amphytrite. 
 
 The fair Salacia, victory, victory, fings, 
 In fpite of heroes, demi gods, or kings ; 
 She bids defiance to the fervile train, 
 The pimps and fycophants of George's reign. 
 
 \ 
 
 The virtuous daughters of the neighb'ring mead, 
 In graceful fmiles approved the glorious deed ; 
 (And though the Syrens left their coral beds, 
 Juft o'er the furface lifted up their heads, 
 And fung foft peans to the brave and fair, 
 *Till almoft caught in the delufive fnare 
 To fink fecurely in a golden dream, 
 And tafte the fweet inebriating dream, 
 Which, though a repaft for the wat'ry maids, 
 Is baneful poifon to the mountain naiades ;) 
 They favv delighted from the inland rocks, 
 O'er the broad deep pour'd out Pandora's box ; 
 They join'd, and fair Salacia's triumph fung, 
 Wild echo, o'er the bounding ocean rung ; 
 The fea nymphs heard, and all the fpo^tive train, 
 In fhaggy treflfes danc'd around the main, 
 From fouthern lakes, down to the northern rills. 
 And fpread confufion round N hills. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 
 To a YOUNG LADY, 
 
 /hewing an excellent Piece of PA IN TING, much faded* 
 
 V-/OME, and attend, my charming maid ; 
 See how the gayeft colours fade ; 
 As beauteous paintings lofe their dye, 
 Age finks the luftre of your eye. 
 
 Then feize the minutes as they pafs ; 
 Behold ! how fwift runs down the glafs ; 
 The hafty fands that meafure time, 
 Point you to pleafures more fublime ; 
 And bid you flum the flow'ry path, 
 That cheats the millions into death. 
 
 Snatch every moment time fhall give, 
 And uniformly virtuous live ; 
 Let no vain cares retard thy foul, 
 But drive to reach the happy goal ; 
 When pale, when unrelenting Death, 
 Shall fay, refign life's vital breath ! 
 May you, fwift as the morning lark 
 That ftems her courfe to heav'n's high arch, 
 Leave every earthly care, and foar, 
 Where numerous feraphims adore ; 
 Thy pinions fpread and wafted high, 
 Beyond the blue etherial flcy, 
 May you there chant the glorious lays, 
 The carols of eternal praife, 
 To that exhau^lefs fource of light, 
 Who rules the fhadows of the night, 
 Who lends each orb its fplendid ray, 
 And points the glorious beams of day. 
 
 Tiine 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Time and eternity he holds j 
 Nor all eternity unfolds, 
 The glories of Jehovah's name ; 
 Nor higheft angels can proclaim, 
 The wonders of his boundlefs grace, 
 They bow r and veil before his face* 
 
 What then fhall mortals of an hour, 
 But bend fubmiffive to his power j 
 And learn at wifdom's happy Iore 7 
 Nature's great author to adore. 
 
ao8 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS* 
 
 To the Hon. J. WINTHROP, Efq. 
 
 Who, on the American Determination, in 1774, / fufpend all 
 Commerce 'with Britain, (except for the real Nece/aries of 
 life) requfjled a poetical Lift of the Articles the Ladies 
 might comprife under that Head. 
 
 JL REEDOM may weep, and tyranny prevail, 
 And fhibborn patriots either frown, or rail j 
 Let them of grave economy talk loud, 
 Prate prudent meafures to the lifl'ning crowd j 
 With all the rhetoric of ancient fchools, 
 Defpife the mode, and fafhion's modifh fools ; 
 Or mew fair liberty, who us'd to fmile, 
 The guardian goddefs of Britannia's ifle, 
 In fable weeds, anticipate the blow, 
 Aim'd at Columbia by her royal foe ; 
 And mark the period when inglorious kings 
 Deal round the curfes that a Churchill (ings* 
 
 But what's the anguifh of whole towns in tears, 
 Or trembling cities groaning out their fears ? 
 The ftate may totter on proud ruin's brink, 
 The fword be brandifh'd, or the bark may fink ; 
 Yet mail Clariffa check her wanton pride, 
 And lay her female ornaments afide ? 
 Quit all the mining pomp, the gay parade, 
 The coftly trappings that adorn the maid ? 
 What ! all the aid of foreign looms refufe I 
 (As beds of tulips ftrip'd of richeft hues, 
 Or the fweet bloom that's nip'd by fudden froft, 
 ClarifTa reigns no more a favorite toad. 
 For what is virtue, or the winning grace, 
 
 Of foft good humour, playing round the face j 
 
 O* 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 2 
 
 Or what thofe modeft antiquated charms, 
 That lur'd a Brutus to a Portia's arms ; 
 Or all the hidden beauties of the mind, 
 Compar'd with gauze, and taifels well combin'd t 
 
 This mighty theme produc'd a long debate, 
 On the beft plan to fave a finking ftate ; 
 The oratorial fair, as they inclin'd, 
 Freely difcufs'd, and frankly fpake their mind. 
 
 Lamira wifh'd that freedom might fucceed, 
 But to fuch'terms what female ere agreed > 
 To Britifh marts forbidden to repair, 
 (Where ev'ry lux'ry tempts the blooming fair,) 
 Equals the rigour of thofe ancient times 
 
 When Pharaoh, harden 'd as a G in crimes, 
 
 Plagu'd Ifrael's race r and tax'd them by a law, 
 Demanding brick, when destitute of draw ; 
 Miraculoufly led from Egypt's port, 
 They lov'd the*famions of the tyrant's court j 
 Sigh'd for the leeks, and waters of -the Nile, 
 As we for gewgaws from Britannia's ifle ; 
 That haughty ifle, Whofe mercenary hand, 
 Spreads wide confufron round this fertile land, 
 Deftrys>the concord, and breaks down the fhrine, 
 By- virtue rear'd, ta harmony divine* 
 
 Prudentia fig-h'd fliall all our. country mourn, 
 A powerful defpot's low 'ring, haughty frown, 
 Whofc hoftile mandates, fent from venal courts, 
 Rob the fair vintage, and blockade our ports ; 
 While troops, of guards are planted on each plain, 
 Whofe crimes contagious, youth and beauty (lain ? 
 Fierce rancour blazen'd on each bread's difplay'd, 
 And for a creft, a gorgon's fnaky head, 
 
 S a The 
 
2io MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 The good, the wife, the prudent, and the gay. 
 Mingle their tears, and fighs for fighs repay ; 
 Deep anxious thought each gen'rous bofora fU!s f 
 How to avert the dread approaching ills ; 
 Let us refolve on a fmall iacrifice, 
 And in the pride of Roman matrons rife ; 
 Good as Cornelia, or a Pompey's wife, 
 We'll quit the ufelefs vanities of life. 
 Aniidft loud diicord, fadnefs, and difmay, 
 Hope fpread her wing, and flit acrofs the away ; 
 Thanks to the (ex, by heavenly hand defign'd, 
 Either to blefs, or ruin all mankind. 
 
 A (harp debate enfu'd on wrong and right, 
 A little warm, 'tis true, yet all unite, 
 At once to end the great politic ftrife, 
 And yield up all but real wants of life. 
 
 But does Helvidius, vigilant and wife, 
 Call for a fchedule, that may all comprife ? ' 
 ""Fis fo contracted* that a Spartan fage, 
 Will fure applaud th' economizing age. 
 
 But if ye doubt, an inventory clear,. 
 Of ail flie needs, Laraira offers here ; 
 Nor does (he fear a rigid Cato's frown, 
 When (lie lays by the rich embroider'd gown, 
 And modeftly compounds for juft enough 
 Perhaps, fome dozens of more flighty fluff; 
 With lawns and luftrings blond, and mecklin laces 
 Fringes and je x vels, fans and tweezer cafes ; 
 Gay cloaks and hats, of every fhape and fize, 
 Scarfs, cardinals, and ribbons of all dyes ; 
 With ruffles ftamp'd, and aprons of tambour, 
 Tippets aad handkerchiefs, at lead, three fcore -, 
 
 With 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 With fineft muflins that fair India boafts, 
 And the choice herbage from Chinefan coafts ; 
 (But while the fragrant hyfon leaf regales, 
 Who'll wear the homefpun produce of the vales ? 
 For if 'twould fave the nation from the curfe 
 Of (landing troops ; or, name a plague ftill worfej. 
 Few can this choice delicious draught give up, 
 Though all Medea's poifons fill the cup.) 
 Add feathers, furs, rich fattins, and ducapes,. 
 And head drefles in pyramidlal fhapes ; 
 Side boards of plate, and porcelain profufe, 
 With fifty ditto's that the ladies ufe j 
 If my poor treach'rous memory has mifs'd, 
 Ingenious T < 1 (hall complete the lift. 
 So week Lamira, and her warrts fo few, 
 Who can refufe ? they're but the fex's due. 
 
 In youth, indeed, an antiquated page, 
 Taught us the threatenings of an Hebrew fage 
 'Gainft wimples, mantles, curls, and crifping pins, 
 But rank not thefe among our modern fins : 
 For when our manners are well underftood, 
 What in the fcale is ftomacher or hood ? 
 
 *Tis true, we love the courtly mein and air> 
 The pride of drefs, and all the debonair ; 
 Yet Clara quits the more drefs'd negligee, 
 And fubftitutes the carelefs polanee ; 
 Until fome fair one from Britannia's court, 
 Some jaunty drefs, or newer ta/te import ; 
 This fweet temptation could not be withftood, 
 Though for the purchafe's paid her father's blood 
 Though lofs of freedom were the coftly price, 
 Or flaming comets fweep the angry fides ; 
 
s^> MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Or earthquakes rattle, or volcanoes roar ; 
 Indulge this trifle, and flic afks no more ; 
 Can the ftern patriot Clara's fuit deny ? 
 'Tis beauty a(ks, and reafon muft comply. 
 
 But while the fex round folly's vortex play. 
 Say, if their lords are wifer far than they ; 
 Few manly Jaofoms feel a nobler flame, 
 Some cog the dye, and others win the game ; 
 Trace their meanders to their tainted fource, 
 What's the grand pole (tar that directs their courfe ? 
 Perhaps revenge, or fome lefs- -glaring vice, 
 Their bold ambition, or their avarice, 
 Or vanity unmeaning, throw-the bowl ; 
 'Till pride and palfion urge the narrow foul, 
 To claim the honours of-that heavenly fla-me, 
 That warms the breaft> and crowns the patriot's name. 
 
 But though your wives in fripperies are dfefs'd, 
 And public virtue is the minion's jeft, 
 America has many -a worthy name,. <. 
 Who (hall, hereafter, grace the rolls of fanve. 
 Her good Cornelias, and her Arrias fair, 
 Who, death, in its moft hideous forms, can dare, 
 Rather than live vain fickle fortune's fport, 
 Amidft the panders of a tyrant's court ; 
 With a long lift of gen'rous, -worthy men, 
 Who fpurn the yoke, and fervitude difda'm j 
 Who nobly ftruggle in a vicious age, 
 To (tern the torrent of defpotic rage ; 
 Who leagu'd, in folemn covenant unite^ 
 And by the manes of good Hampden plight^ 
 That while the ftirges lafh Britannia's (hore, 
 Or wild Ni'gara's cataracts fliall roar, 
 And Heaven looks down, and fanclifies the deed, 
 Tbe/11 fight for freedom, and for virtue bleed. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 To F I D E L I O, 
 
 Long abfent on the great public Caufe, which agitated all 
 America, in 1776. 
 
 JL HE hill tops fmile o'er all the blooming mead, 
 
 As I alone, on Clifford's fummit tread ; 
 
 Traverfe the rural walks, the gurgling rills, 
 
 Survey the beauties of th j adjacent hills ; 
 
 Tafle the delights of competence and health, 
 
 Each fober pleafure reafon lends to wealth : 
 
 Yet o'er the lawn a whifp'ring echo flghs, 
 
 Thy friend is abfent my fond heart replies 
 
 Say do not friendship's joys outweigh the whole ? 
 
 *Tis focial converfe, animates the foul. 
 
 Thought interchanged, the heavenly fpark improves, 
 
 And reafon brightens by the heart it loves ; 
 
 While folitude fits brooding o'er her cares, 
 
 She oft accelerates the ills me fears ; 
 
 And though fond hope with filken hand difplays, 
 
 The diftant images of halcyon days, 
 Her fable brow contra6ts a folemn air, 
 
 That treads too near the thref hold of defpair ; 
 'Till heav'n "benign the choiceft bleflings lend, 
 The balm of life, a kind and faithful friend : 
 This higheft gift, by heav'n indulg'd, I claim ; 
 Afk, what is happinefs ? My friend, I name : 
 Yet while the ftate, by fierce internal war, 
 Shook to the centre, afks his zealous care, 
 I mud fubmit, and fmile in folitude, 
 My fond affe&ion, my felf love fubdu'd : 
 The times demand exertions of the kind, 
 A patriot zeal muft warm the female mind. 
 
 Yet 
 
314 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Yet, gentle hope ! come, fpread thy filken wing* 
 And waft me forward to revolving fpring j 
 Or ere the vernal equinox returns, 
 At word, before the fummer folftice burns, 
 May peace again erect her cheerful fiand, 
 Difperfe the ills which hover o'er the land ; 
 May every virtuous noble minded pair, 
 Be far remov'd from the dread din of war ; 
 Then each warm breaft where gen'rous friendfijips glow* 
 Where all the virtues of the patriot flow, 
 Shall tafte each joy domeftic life can yield, 
 Nor enter more the martial bloody field. 
 
 But, hark ! alas ! the brave Montgomery dies, 
 Oh, heaven forbid that fuch a facrifice, 
 My country c-r my fex fhould yield again, 
 Or fuch rich blood pour o'er the purpled plain r 
 May guilty traitors fatiate the grave, 
 But let the fword forever fpare the brave ; 
 I weep his fall I weep the hero flain, 
 And mingle fighs with his Janetta's pain : 
 Yet while I weep, and lend the pitying figh, 
 I bow the knee, and lift my foul on high, 
 That virtue, ftruggling with afiiduous pains, 
 May free this country from defpotic chains.. 
 Long life I afk, and bleflings to defcend, 
 And crown the efforts of my conftant friend ; 
 My early wifh, and evening prayer the fame, 
 That virtue, health, and peace, and honeft fame, 
 May hover o'er thee, till time's lateft hour, 
 Commiflionate the dread refiftlefs power ; 
 Then gently lay thee by thy Marcia's clay, 
 'Till both mall rife, and on a tide of day, 
 
 Be 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Be wafted on, and fkim the ambient plains 
 Through lucid air, and fee the God who reigns. 
 
 Where cherubims in borrow 'd luftre fhine, 
 We'll hand in hand our grateful homage join ; 
 Beneath his throne, where lift'ning angels ftand, 
 With raptur'd feraphs wait his leaft command. 
 
 - Clifford Farm , 177^ 
 
3i6 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 To HONORIA, on her JOURNEY to DO 
 VER, 1777. 
 
 JL ANCY, for once, her airy wing (hall fpread, 
 And fir etch -her .pinions o'er the verdant mead ; 
 But not to fing of fierce, or hoftile ranks, 
 Or heroes conq'ring on the Ganges' bank-s ; 
 Nor frozen Danube, nor the Tyber's ftream, 
 But happy Dover, is my gentler theme. 
 
 With good Honoria would I trace the fcene, 
 The fiow'ry lawns, the grots of evergreen ; 
 The lofty elms, and all the blooming pride, 
 Where Dover's filv'ry winding waters glide ; 
 Pleas'd with the bounties that kind najtore pours 
 Profufely down from her e^liauftlefs ftores : 
 But yet I feel my feeble pinions droop, 
 Nor dare I truft the filken wing of hope ; 
 Left when exalted in my brittle car, 
 To fail aloft as phaeton in air, 
 I meet the fate of that prefumptuous youth, 
 Whofe mad ambition taught one folemn truth j 
 And bade dull genius tread his deftin'd fphere, 
 Nor fcorch his wings by venturing too near, 
 The facred mount, devoted to the mufe, 
 And thus difgufted, all the nine refufe, 
 To dictate numbers that may flow with eafe, 
 And moft I fail, when moft I wifli to pleafe. 
 
 Will the foft mantle of a gentle friend, 
 Then cover all that truth cannot commend ? 
 Yet this, perhaps, might fruftrate my defign, 
 She, in oblivion, might enwrap each line ; 
 
 For 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 217 
 
 For evry portrait that my pen can paint, 
 
 To her defcriptive eloquence is faint j 
 
 As white befide the winding ftrearn fhe roves, 
 
 And views the profpefts from the pleafmg groves, 
 
 She lifts her heart to celebrate the hand, 
 
 That fcatters bleflings o'er this happy land ; 
 
 This land of plenty, this delicious vine, 
 
 By heav'n mark'd out for fome augufl defign* 
 
 Truth's facred banners may^e here unfurl'^ 
 And genius fpread her graces o'er the world ; 
 Here other Boyles or Newtons yet may rife, 
 And trace the wonders of the weftern fkies ,; 
 
 More than one W p may adorn the feat, 
 
 Of bright Apollo's favorite retreat ; 
 
 When Harvard's fons may fpread the arts refin'd, 
 
 Diffufing knowledge o'er theliuman mind ; 
 
 While every ftar its kindly influence lends, 
 
 "Till Harvard's fame throughout the world extends. 
 
 Then fmiling Ceres, placid and ferene, 
 Shall unmolefted her ripe vintage glean ; 
 Sweet harmony ereft heir graceful head, 
 And happy peafants tread the cheerful glade. 
 
 Event roll o'er, and on the wing of time, 
 Difclofe new wonders fyftems more fublime f 
 Yet rapid thought anticipates the fcene, 
 Sees empire riflng with majeftic mein ; 
 When peace again fhall glad Columbia's fhore. 
 And conq'ring heroes freedom fliall reftore ; 
 When troops no more are canton'd round the plain, 
 Nor vicYries won, nor routed armies (lain j 
 When frefh blown laurels fpring from Warren's grave, 
 Freedom to drefs ; and decorate the brave, 
 
 T For 
 
siS MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 For whom kind fortune wreathes the crown of fame> 
 
 And ftamps th' initials of her fav'rite name ; 
 
 When Washington, confpicuous o'er the reft, 
 
 By heroes, patriots, and by foes carefs'd, 
 
 May quit the field, and court the rural fcene ; 
 
 There with his friend, the good and valiant Greeny 
 
 With confcious worth each victory review, 
 
 And ftill Columbia's happinefs purfue. 
 
 Yet both rmi ft weep the cold Canadian plain, 
 
 Where a Montgomery, and a Wolfe were flain. 
 
 How have I left fair Dover's rippling ftream, 
 "To gurgle on, and touched a bolder theme ! 
 Forgive my wand'ring from the beauteous groves, 
 Where warb'ling fongfters chant their vernal loves. 
 
 Vaft crowded fcenes, have rufli'd upon the mind, 
 And led me far from what I firft defign'd. 
 I'll check the fallies of my rambling mufe, 
 If candor thefe excurfions will excufe : 
 Or if my friend, the good Helvidius, deign, 
 To hark a moment to the pu'rile drain ; 
 If from the wonders of the vaft expanfe, 
 Where viewing long the planetary dance. 
 He fifflM^e ftarry region will defcend, 
 And ft chide the follies a friend ; 
 I'll ruarWfie cenfure as a proof fincere 
 Of gen'rous friendfhip, and the frown revere j- 
 Though it enjoins long filence on my pen, 
 The mandate I'll obey nor write again, 
 
 LINES, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 LINES, 
 
 Written after a 'very fever e TEMPEST, <u>bicb cleared up ex 
 tremcly pleafant. 
 
 W HEN rolling thunders fliake tlie fkies, 
 
 And lightnings fly from pole to pole j 
 When threatening whirlwinds rend the air, 
 What terrors feize th' affrighted foul ! 
 
 Aghaft and pale with thrilling fear, 
 He trembling (lands in wild amaze ; 
 
 Nor knows for fhelter where to hide, 
 To fcreen him from the livid blaze, 
 
 Happy the calm and tranquil breaft, 
 
 That with afkady equal mind, 
 Can view thofe flying fiiafts of death, 
 
 With heart and will at once refignM ! 
 
 e> 
 
 Oh ! thou Supreme Eternal King, 
 At whofe command the tempefts rage 8 
 
 With equal eafe can worlds deftroy, 
 Or with a word, the ftorm afluage. 
 
 And though impetuous tempefts roar, 
 
 And penetrating flames furround, 
 Thou bid'ft them ceafe -the thunder's hufh'd, > 
 
 And reft and filence reign profound. 
 
 Thus have we feen thy power and might, 
 
 Adoring, we thy works furvey ; 
 'Tis thou dire<5l'ft the pointed flame, 
 
 And thus thy goodnefs doft difplay^ -^ 
 
 " 
 
aao MISCELLANEOUS POEMS* 
 
 Thou haft composed the rapid winds, 
 And lull'd to reft the foaming wave ; 
 
 The clouds diipers'd, each twinkling ftar 
 Proclaims aloud thy power to favc. 
 
 The filver moon, the glorious orbs, 
 That fwim aloft in boundlefs 
 
 Their rays refplendent all unite, 
 T celebrate at once thy praife. 
 
 
MISCELLANEOUS FOEMS, aa* 
 
 To a YOUNG GENTLEM AM, refilling in 
 FRANCE. 
 
 X HE new year opes the early morning dawns* 
 Broad meets of filver drefs the whiten'd lawns ; 
 Bleak winter rifes from the brindled north, 
 The tempeft makes, and furious blafts pour forth. 
 
 From" nature's dawn, to nature's latefl hour, 
 Each fpangled leaf befpeaks creative pow'r ; 
 The vernal dew drops, or autumnal breath, 
 That wraps the folizge in the arms of death j 
 The yew-, the cyprefs, or the blooming rofe, 
 India's long fummer, or the Lapland fnows, 
 Alike proclaim, what fceptic fools deny, 
 The foul's fupport a providential eye. 
 
 This glorious truth my opening lids furvey'd, 
 My grateful heart its early homage paid ; 
 Then fwiftly wafts its warmeft wiflies o'er 
 To find * * * on the Gallic more. 
 
 13 (ULG11U, 
 
 riend^ 
 
 " Long health, long peace, long- happinefs attend," 
 The lovely youth, and bring me back my friei 
 Unhurt, unlhackled by the triple chains 
 Of folly, pride, or pleafure's guilty fcenes. 
 \Vheri he has travell'd o'er from ftage to ftage, 
 The diftant world, and read life's gaudy page, 
 Oh ! may he quit th'"illufive, airy chace, 
 And retrofpefl the happy path of peace. 
 True happinefs confilts in real worth> 
 And makes her exit when loft fight of truth ; 
 The heaven born prize is not the gift of gold, 
 
 Of princes, ftatefmen, or whole countries fold i 
 
 T a 'Tis 
 
22* MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 
 
 "Tis not the lap of luxury difplay'd 
 
 In all the fpoils of innocence betray 'd ; 
 
 Nor will the fmiles of witlings or of kings, 
 
 The laugh licentious of fuch motley things, 
 
 Give joy or peace to fterling worth or fenfe, 
 
 'Tis honeft probity, with competence, 
 
 That calms the mind, and fmooths the manly mein, 
 
 And (hews the world true happinefs within. 
 
 Search o'er the globe the circling ball traverfe 
 Let Britifh bards their Gothic tales rehearfe j 
 Let Grecian pens, or modern poets fing, 
 The feats of ancients, or of Bourbon's king ; 
 The fage, the bard, the fcepter'd hand, combin'd, 
 Have nought to barter for a virtuous mind. 
 
 The herald's page, emblazoning high birth, 
 The longed lift of ancefiry on earth, 
 Ennobles not, nor dignifies the fon, 
 'Till merit makes the deeds renown'd, his own, 
 
 Methinks I hear the youthful bofcm figb, 
 And nature whifper fancy's fond reply ; 
 " Thefe old ideas are quite out of date, 
 Can man be happy without pomp or ftate ? 
 He who can wealth and pageantry difclaim, 
 May mark the willows with his blighted name j 
 Hid in the caverns of fome dark retreat, 
 And wrap'd in canvas, the wild anchoret 
 May weep, or rave in filence or defpair, 
 And groans reecho with the whittling air." 
 
 Not fo, my fon, did Hercules demean, 
 When rival goddeflTes adorn'd the fcene j 
 The Cyprian queen a thoufand lurenients fpread, 
 
 A modeft glory crown'd Minerva's head ; 
 
 Pleafure's 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS". a 
 
 Pleasure's bright nymph new deck'd her charming face* 
 
 But virtue beckon'd with a milder grace ; 
 
 Love's little urchin, by his mother taught, 
 
 Ten thoufand joys in fancy's bofom wrought ; 
 
 Fond wifhes warm'd, the youthful hero figh'd, 
 
 'Till Virtue (hew'd him to the gods alli'd. 
 
 The fpark celeftial kindled in his breaft, 
 
 The man, the hero, and the god confefs'd ; 
 
 Pleafure turn'd pale, and drop'd her wither'd wand, 
 
 Triumphant Virtue lent her willing hand, 
 
 And led him on to every glorious deed 
 
 His anceftors atchiev'd, or heav'n decreed. 
 
 Thy native land is big with mighty fcenc.3, 
 And fate rolls rapid o'er her vivid greens ; 
 What time unfolds, the mufe muft yet conceal, 
 And leave a blank for bolder pens to fill ; 
 But ere me quits the dark prophetic lays, 
 Let her retrace, and recollect the days, 
 When, by the margin of the w'eilern tide, 
 Young empire fprung from proud oppreilion's fide j 
 The infant flourifh'd, nurs'd by freedom's hand, 
 Who fpread her banners o'er a bleeding land. 
 
 Economy, to virtue clofe alli'd, 
 A frugal pair, with wifdom by their fide, 
 And ruddy health, Aurora's offspring fmil'd, 
 And promis'd vigour to the new born child ; 
 The maid, carefs'd by potentates and kings, 
 Rais'd high her fame, and fpread her growing wings, 
 
 But, 'midft the profpeft fuddenly appear'd, 
 A hideous form whofe front by heaven was fear'd ; 
 From envy's gulph the phantom feem'd to rife, 
 
 His head he reaj'd, and roll'd his redden'd eyes j 
 
 * His 
 
a 14 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 His forky fang, and livid lip, reveai'd, 
 The crooked form, a gaudy veft conceal'd ^ 
 Large tablets mark'd the monger's gaily brear. 
 And AV'RICE flood confpicuous on his creft ; 
 His tainted breath infects- from (hore to fliore^ 
 And poifons all the generous fountains o'er. 
 True public fpirit floated down the tide, 
 While difllpation danc'd by folly's fide ; 
 Soft filken breezes fan'd her fluttering wing, 
 And golden fhowers hid her guilty fling ; 
 The molten calves fall pruftrate at her ftirine, 
 Sip the new joys, mifiaken for divine. 
 A fudden guft, in part, the mift difpell'd, 
 And fhew'd Columbia on a broken fhield : 
 She wept, and totter'd on the rapid flream, 
 'Till it rufh'd back, and broke the flattering dream . 
 Her trembling lip in quivering accents faiJ 1 , 
 Alas ! am I by half my friends betray f d ? 
 Though noble names from diftant realms repair, 
 And breathe new vigour in the- northern air ; 
 Yet dangers threat, and diflant thunders roar j 
 Convuliive ftorms may rage from fi^ore to more. 
 
 If Attic annals don't miflead the mufe, 
 And old Amphyclions had their private views> 
 Some latent fpark of wild, exotic growth, 
 Engender'd there, may flourifh in the fouth j* 
 Ambitious Philips live in modern times, 
 And hold improvements make on Grecian crimes. 
 
 Yet in the field exalted heroes Hand, 
 And, while he lives, may Wuftungton command ! 
 
 The 
 
 * This piece was written at a period when certain characters} 
 in fome of thv fouthern ftates, were fafpeed of defigns unfa* 
 vor&fcle to the liberties of America. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 125 
 
 The focial virtues claim him for their own, 
 An hero born, fair freedom's favorite fon ; , 
 Frefli myrtles fpring, and never fading bays, 
 Live where he fought,, and mark his glorious days J 
 While virtue's hand enrols La Fayette's name, 
 And ranks him high on the bright lift of fame. 
 
 Is thy young bofom warm'd with patriot zeal ? 
 An ardent glow to ferve the common weal ? 
 Or does ambition lead thee to the field, 
 In war to conflict, and the faulchion wield ? 
 From Hector's days to haughty Casfar's time, 
 When finking Rome, ingulph'd in every crime, 
 When ravag'd Gaul had fwell'd the tyrant's pride, 
 And crimfon torrents wafh'd the Danube's fide ; 
 Nor yet when Charles, ajid his more bloody fon, 
 On carnage fed, till Europe was undone ; 
 (The Rhine ran red, the low lands overflow'd, 
 And every city fmoak'd with patriot blood :) 
 Yet hiftory has never mark'd a page, 
 With feats more glorious than the prefent age ; 
 No fmitten plains, or reeking fields aftbrd, 
 A fairer caufe to draw an hero's fword, 
 Than does thy country, ravag'd and diftrefs'd, 
 While war's hoarfe clarion roars from eaft to weft, 
 
 Yet private virtue wants the youth's fupport j 
 Leave all the fopperies of a foreign court j 
 * * * come, with every virtue fraught, 
 By principle and precept, early taught, 
 A bright example fhine among the firfr, 
 Good as thy fire as Ariftides juft ; 
 Then may thy youth and manners both engage, 
 And fmile contempt en folly's pu'rile rage. 
 
 When 
 
* 2 6 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 When wintry blafts no more fhall tear the plain, 
 And thy fond wi flies bear thee o'er the main ; 
 "When loft Favonius fans the vernal breeze, 
 And Boreas' breath fhali ceafe to la(h the Teas ; 
 My foreft birds. fweet warbling notes (hall fing, 
 And hail thy welcome with returning fpring. 
 
 The long lov'd manfion that firfl gave thee birth. 
 The happy dome that nurs'd thy early youth, 
 Is left awhile to tafte the fylvan gale, 
 As life treads downwards thro' time's narrow vale ; 
 And if benignant heaven ftill protect, 
 And tow'rds thy natal foil thy fteps direct, 
 Hafte to the vrtlaon the fou them fide 
 Cf fweet Tremont, v.hofe wavy waters glide 
 Near the fair fummit of a lofty mount, 
 Where wild woods fhade a foft meandering fount, 
 That gentty rolls and forms a fmall cafcade, 
 By nature's hand irregularly made ; 
 The towering oaks and riftng hill tops vie 
 To fhade the radiance of the weftern fky ; 
 The floping lawns and Howery meads combine 
 To form the landfcape on a bold defign ; 
 The opening bay a winding river bounds, 
 And fcatter'd ifles erecl: their verdant mounds ; 
 The grey ey'd morn her ftreaked pinions fpreads, 
 And diftant mountains rear their blufhing heads j 
 The broad Atlantic*s rolling tide between, 
 Heightens the grandeur of th' enchanting fcene j, 
 The whiten 'd furges gently wafli the more, 
 While filver rills run foftly rippling o'er. 
 
 The fragrant banks, whofe native borders rife 
 In beauteous foliage of a thoufand dyes j 
 
 The 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 22} 
 
 The tufted flowers meet the cluttering vine, 
 
 That wildly rambles o'er the conic pine ; 
 
 The darkening cedars form the grotto's (hade, 
 
 And greener willows fan the fertile glade ; 
 
 A little alcove opes on either hand, 
 
 Where the tall larch and vivid limes afcend ; 
 
 The lengthened vifta widens through the dale, 
 
 Where fportive flocks play o'er the gloffy vale ; 
 
 From hence we view along the watery way, 
 
 Great Bourbon's flag and dreaming pendants play. 
 
 In this retreat refide thy happy friends, 
 Content and health benignant heaven lends ; 
 A focial board, with frugal plenty crown'd, 
 A generous welcome fmiles on all around ; 
 The day glides on, and when the eve returns, 
 Fraternal love in every bofom burns ; 
 Each virtue planted in the youthful brealf, 
 The parents finile, in future profpefts bleft. 
 
 Domeftic peace, a confcious upright mind, 
 Is honour, wealth, and every good combin'd : 
 Return, my fon, for nothing elfe we need, 
 To fee thee happy, would be blifs indeed, 
 
 Milton, January i, 17$ 2, 
 
as* MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 '?Te> -a patriotic Gentleman, 7x-/-o prefented afmall Book of Bark, 
 requeuing a POEM might be 'written therein^ on PRLM-- 
 1TIVE SIMPLICITY. 
 
 the fmooth papyrus of ancient times, 
 Nature's bright charms, I'd paint in fimple rhymes ; 
 The blifs fuperiour of thofe happy driys, 
 When on the bark the bard infcrib'd his lays ; 
 But, when imrners'd amidft ten thoufand cares, 
 Domeflic duties, and fome foreign fears; 
 When avocations of the focial kind, 
 Engrofs the heart, and fill the bufy mind, 
 Pegafus often does his aid refufe, 
 And fentiment will not affift the mufe. 
 
 Thus circumftanc'd, I'll not indulge the pride, 
 To pick one flower from Parnafius fide ; 
 Much lefs attempt its fummit to explore, 
 Though much I love Scamander's rippling fhore ; 
 I'll check my wifh, and drop my humble wing, 
 Pleas'd with the laurels that for others fpring : 
 Yet fnatch a moment, when my friends/command. 
 And point the period with a willing hand ; 
 And if the lagging numbers flovvly move, 
 I'll hope a pardon from the voice of love. 
 Critics may cenfure, but if candour frowns, 
 I'll quit the pen, and keep within the bounds, 
 The narrow bounds, prefcrib'd to female life, 
 The gentle miftrefs, and the prudent wife : 
 Maternal precepts, drawn from facred truth, 
 Shall warm the bofom of the lift'ning youth ; 
 While the kind mother afts her little part, 
 And (lamps the tablet on the infant heart, 
 
 Each 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 219 
 
 Each fervent wifli, I to my country lend, 
 
 And thus fubfcribe,the patriot's faithful friend. 
 
 SIMPLICITY. 
 
 DEEP in the bofom of old Time there flood, 
 Juft on the margin of the fea green flood, 
 A virgin form, in lucid robes array'd, 
 Whole ebon treflTes negligently play'd 
 In flowing ringlets, as the wavy main , 
 Felt the foft breeze that fann'd the verdant plain ; 
 While the young blufli of innocence befpoke 
 Her innate worth in every graceful look ; 
 Her meek ey'd afpe&, modeft and benign, 
 Evinc'd the fair one's origin divine ; 
 Virtue, at once her ornament and fhield, 
 And Truth the trident that the goddefs held. 
 
 Beneath her reign, behold a happy race, 
 Who ne'er contefied titles, gold, or place. 
 Ere commerce* whiten'd fails were wafted wide, 
 And every bofom caught the fwelling pride 
 Of boundlefs wealth, furcharg'd with endlefs fnares, 
 Exotic follies, and definitive cares ; 
 Ere arts, or elegance, or tafle refin'd, 
 And tempting luxury, afTail'd mankind ; 
 Their oaks and evergreens, and poplar fhades, 
 In native beauty, rear'd their conic heads } 
 The purple tinge with golden hues inwrought, 
 In dappled forms, as fportive nature taught ; 
 The lilken foliage open'd through the mead, 
 And the clear font in wild meanders play'd j 
 Befide whofe gentle murm'ring ftream there flood 
 The humble hamlet, by the peafant trod, 
 
 U Whofe 
 
sjo MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Wliofe heart, unblacken'd by fo mean a vice, 
 As luft of gold, or carking avarice ; ' 
 No guilty bribes his whiten 'd palm poifefs'd, 
 No dark fufpicion lurk'd within his breaft : 
 J.ove, concord, peace, and piety and truth, 
 Adorn'd grey hairs, and dignifi'd the youth ; 
 There ftinglefs pleafures crown'd the temp'rate feaft, 
 And ruddy health, a conftant welcome gueft, 
 Fill'd up the cup, and fmil'd at every board, 
 U he friend and handmaid of her generous 'lord. 
 
 The rofy finger'd morn, and noontide ray, 
 The ftreaked twilight, or the evening grey, 
 'Were pafs'd alike in innocence and mirth, 
 No riot gendering flow but certain death ; 
 Unclouded reafon guided all their way, 
 And virtue Vfclf fat innocently gay ; 
 The winged hours ferenely glided by, 
 'Till golden Phoebus deck'd the weftern fky ; 
 And when enwrap'd in evening's fable veft, 
 And midriight fhadows hufh'd ihe world to reft, 
 On the fam'd ladder, whofe extended bars, 
 From earth's low furface reach'd beyond the fta-rs, 
 From orb to orb, thought reach'd the airy void, 
 Through widen'd fpace the bufy mind employ'd, 
 While angel guards to watch his fate were given 
 Prelufive dreams antic'4\ated heaven. 
 
 But ere the bird of morn liad hail'd the day, 
 Or warbling fongfters chirp 'd their- early lay, 
 The grateful heart its joyful matins rais'd, 
 And nature's God in moroing anthems prais'd. 
 
 Thus happy that ideal golden age, 
 lives defensive in the pcet's page ; 
 
 But 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.. 2-3 
 
 Bnt now, alas ! in dark oblivion loft, 
 The fons of Adam know it to their coft ; 
 Since God forbad the mother of mankind 
 To tafle the fruit to which fhe moft inclin'd : 
 Her tafle fo delicate, refin'd and nice, 
 That the exuberance ev'n of Paradife, 
 The grafly banks belide the blue cafcade, 
 The winding dream from Pifjn's golden head, 
 The fpicy grov-es on Gihon's lengthen'd fide, 
 Hidekel's font, Affyria's blooming pride, 
 T,he fruits luxuriant on Euphrates' mores, 
 The rich profusion -that all Eden pours$ 
 *The fliady dome, the rofy vaulted bower, 
 And nature deck'd with every fruit and flower, 
 Were inefficient, rude, and incomplete, 
 For tafte ran wanton, and the fair muft eat. 
 
 Since which the garden's clofely lock'd by fate, 
 And flaming cherubs guard the eaftern gate ; 
 This globe is travers'd round from pole to pole, 
 And earth refearch'd to find fo rich a dole 
 As happinefs unmix'd ; the phantom flies, 
 No fon of Eve has ever won the prize. 
 
 But neareft thofe, who neareft nature live, 
 Defpifing all that wealth, or pow'r can give, 
 Or glitt'ring grandeur, whofe falfe optics place 
 Thzfummum bonum on the fraileft bafe \ 
 And if too near the threfhold of their door, 
 Pride blazes high, and clamours loud for more- 
 More mining pomp, more elegance and zeft, 
 In all. the wild variety of tafle ; 
 Peace and contentment are refin M away, 
 And worth, unblemim'd, is the villain's prey. 
 
 Eafy 
 
a** MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Eafy the toil, and fimple is the tafk, 
 That yields to man all nature bids him afk ; 
 And each improvement on the author's plan^ 
 Adds new inquietudes to reftlefs man. 
 As from fimplicity he deviates, 
 Fancy, prolific, endlefs wants creates ; 
 Creates new wifl)es, foreign to the foul, 
 Ten thoufand paffions all the mind control; 
 So faft they tread behind each other's heels 
 That feme new image on the fancy deals ; 
 Ere the young embrio half its form completes, 
 Some new vagary the old plan defeats ; 
 Down comes the Gothic or Corinthian pile, 
 And the rew vifta wears the Doric ftile. 
 The finer arts depopulate and wafte, 
 And nations fink by elegance and tafte : 
 Empires are from their lofty fummits rent, 
 And kingdoms down to fwift perdition fenr, 
 By foft, corrupt, refinements of the heart, 
 Wrought up to vice by each deceptive art. 
 
 Rome, the proud miftre/s of the world, difplays 
 A lading proof of what rny pen eflTays ; 
 High wrought refinement ufher'd in replete, 
 With all the ills that fink a virtuous ftate ; 
 Their fumptuary laws grown obfolete, 
 They, undifmay'd, the patriot's frown could meet j 
 Their fimple manners lofttheir cenfors dead, 
 Spruce petif maitres o*er the forum tread. 
 
 I weep thofe days when gentle Maro fung, 
 And fweeteft ftrains bedeck'd the ftatt'rer's tongue j 
 When fo corrupt and fo refin'd the times, 
 The mufe could ftop to gild a tyrant's crimes. 
 
 Then 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 23? 
 
 Then .paint and fcutpttire, elegance and fong, 
 Were the purfuits of all the bufy throng ; 
 When filken commerce held the golden fcalcs, 
 Empire was purchas'd at the public fales : 
 No longer liv'd the ancient Roman pride, 
 Her virtue ficken'd, and her glory di'd. 
 
 What blotted out the Carthaginian fame, 
 And left no traces but an empty name ? 
 Commerce ! the fource of every narrow vice, 
 And honour, .barter'd at a trivial price. 
 By court intrigues, the Commonwealth's difgrac'd, 
 Both fufFetes and fenators debas'd : 
 By foft refinement, and the love of gold, 
 Faction and ftrife grew emulous and bold,. 
 'Till reftlefs:Hanno urg'd his purpofe on,. 
 And Scipio's rival by his art's undone. 
 
 From age to age, iince Hannibal's hard fate, 
 From Caefar's annals to the modern date, 
 When Brunfwick's race fits on the Eritifh throne, 
 And George's folly (tains his grandlire's crown ; 
 When tafte's improv'd by luxury high wrought, 
 And fancy craves what nature never taught j 
 Affronted virtue mounts her native fides, 
 And freedom's genius lifts her bloated eyes ; 
 As late I faw, in fable veilments ftand, 
 The weeping fair, on Britain's naked ftrand. 
 
 The cloud capt hills, the echoing woods and dales, 
 (Where pious druids drefs'd the hallow'd vales j 
 And wrote their mifiels on the birchen rind, 
 And chanted dirges with the hollow wind,) 
 Breathe murmuring fighs o'er that ill fated ifle, 
 Wrapt in refinements both abfurd and vile. 
 
 U * Proud 
 
^34 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Proud Thames deferted her commercial ports 
 Seiz'd and potlefs'd by hated foreign courts ; 
 No more the lofty fhlps her marts fupply, 
 The Nereids flap their watry wings and die : 
 Grey Neptune rifes from his oozy bed, 
 And fliakes the fea weed from his fliaggy head ; 
 He bids adieu to fair Britannia's fliore, 
 The furge rebounds, and all the woodlands roar > 
 His courfe he bends towards the weftern main, 
 The frownmg Titans join the fvvelling train, 
 Meafure the deep, and lafli the foaming fea, 
 In hafte to hail the brave Columbia free : 
 Ocean rebounds, and earth reverberates, 
 And Heaven confirms the independent Rates ; 
 While time rolls on, and mighty kingdoms fail,, 
 They, peace and freedom on their heirs entail,, 
 'Till virtue finks, and in far diftant tunes, 
 Dies in the vortex of European crimes.. 
 
 Plymouth, October, 1779, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 235 
 
 On the DE AT;H oftbi Hon. JOHN W INTHROP, 
 Efq. L. L. D. HOLLISIANT PROFESSOR of 
 MATHEMATICKS and NATURAL PHILOSO 
 PHY, #/ HARVARD COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, 
 
 Addre/ed to b':s LADY, 
 
 A 
 
 SERAPH (hot acrofs the plain, 
 The lucid form difplay'd, 
 The (tarry round he here explor'd, 
 
 And cry'd " great Winthrop's dead," 
 
 Down through the planetary fields, 
 
 Where countlels fyftems roll, 
 A Newton's glorious kindred fhade, 
 
 Defcends to meet his foul. 
 
 They through .the tracklefs paths of light 
 
 Still wonder, and adore, 
 And mount towards the central fource, 
 
 Of all creative power. 
 
 But lo ! the fons of Harvard weep, 
 
 And fcience drops a tear, 
 Philofophy, her favorite mourns* 
 
 And ftoic fouls revere. 
 
 The wrangling difputant abafh'd, 
 
 Adores great nature's God, 
 And zealoufly explores the path 
 
 Th' illuftrious fage has trod. 
 
 As life forfook his dying lids, 
 Faith view'd the glorious prize, 
 
 Yel 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Yet nature dropt a friendly tear 
 Before he reach'd the fides. 
 
 Though death with "dewy fingers cold/' 
 
 Pervades the fainted bro\v, 
 Compafllon mov'd the quivering lip, , 
 
 And in a laft adieu- 
 He his laft fancYion to the truth, 
 
 To doubting fceptics leaves. 
 While- weeping friends deplore his lofs* . 
 
 And fad Honoria grieves ; : 
 
 He fighVl " the. ancient fages grop'd 
 " Through error's mazy round, 
 
 " Through earth and air, to hell's, abyfs^ 
 " They fought one caufe profound 
 
 " One Great Firft Caufe in every form, 
 
 " In every ftar they greet, 
 ' F roil* Woden's dark and dreary cave, 
 
 " To Jove's etherial -feat. 
 
 " They fnatch'd each feeble ray of light, 
 
 " And cherifh'd to a flame, 
 " As nature in ten thoufand forms 
 
 " Spake one eternal name. 
 
 " Kind Heaven beheld a wandering world, 
 
 ** With altais rear'd to fate, 
 " And condefcended to reveal 
 
 " A pure, immortal (late. 
 
 ** But clearer light in modern time 
 tl Our wifer youth has taught, 
 
 "Whatever Socrates might preach, 
 Or gloomy Plato thought, , 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 23? 
 
 ** Are but enthuilaflic dreams ; 
 
 *' And fuch, the perfect code, f 
 
 ft Seal'd by a meflfenger divine, 
 
 " Thefacred fon of God. 
 
 " By fancy's ebullitions fvvellM 
 
 " With philofophic fume, 
 " Both Mofes and Saint Paul renounce, 
 
 " For evangelic Hume. ' 
 
 Shall fuch intelligence and thought 
 
 " As actuates a mind, 
 " Like reas'ning Locke, or pious Boyle, 
 
 " To Hades be confign'd ? 
 
 '* No more to live no more to think, 
 
 " But perifh as the brute ; 
 " This for the Chriftian faith and hope, 
 
 < Ah ! what a fubftitute ! 
 
 " Witlings may fport at every truth 
 
 "The facred page contains, 
 " And academic fools difpute 
 
 " V/ith mazy, muddled brains ; 
 
 *' The word on Sinai's mount reveal'd 
 
 " Has demonftrative proof, 
 * Nor lefs the condefcending grace 
 
 " Of a redeemer's love." 
 
 An heavenly energy divine, 
 
 Retarded long his mind, 
 While Angels heard the dying trill 
 
 In aid to truth defign'd. 
 
 The-mufick of the fphe*res refounds, 
 
 And haften'd his delay, 
 
 A cherub 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 A cherub lower'd his golden wing 
 To waft him on his way. 
 
 He through a galaxy of light 
 
 By Newton's eye unfeeir, 
 Beyond the telefcopic view 
 
 Of weak ey'd mortal men r 
 
 Treads o'er the pavement of the flues, 
 
 And looking down furveys, 
 A thoufand tranfits gliding through 
 
 The vaft etherial fpace. 
 
 Venus may pafs the nether fun, 
 
 And worlds revolving roll j 
 The great aflronomer beholds 
 
 The author of the whole. 
 
 Huygens's little tubes thrown by, 
 
 And Gravefande's narrow fcale, 
 To view the magnitude of plan, 
 
 An Angel's opticks fail. 
 
 Kail ! bright, exalted, happy foul, 
 
 Difrob'd of earth born clay, 
 Thine agile wing moves o'er the orbs 
 
 Through feas of liquid day. 
 
 But, hah ! the literary world 
 
 Laments the recent blow, 
 Befide the yew grown cover'd tomb, 
 
 Long virtue's tears will flow. 
 
 His kind perfuaflve voice allur'd' 
 
 To learning's happy feat, 
 And truth and friendship both combin'd 
 
 To blefs the lov'd retreat, 
 
 fh* 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 339 
 
 The liftening youth hung on the lip 
 
 Where foft inftruclion flow'd, 
 In -every emulative breaft 
 
 The thiril of knowledge glow'd. 
 
 Some at Apollo's fhrine may bow, 
 
 And a'ik another name, 
 To fill the philofophic chair 
 
 And reach a Winthrop's fame ; 
 
 But, oh ! thou great all perfeft fourcc I 
 
 Of knowledge, light, and truth, 
 Send in the prophet's flaming car, 
 
 A guide to Harvard's youth. 
 
Z40 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 LINES, 
 
 Written on the anni--uerfary of the death of Mr. C W , 
 an amiable and accomplijfjed young gentleman, who died in 
 St. Lucar, 1785. His ref.gnation, fortitude ', and "piety, 
 tuitnej/ed the excellence of that religion which fuppqrted him 
 with dignity and calmnefs^ and through many months of Ian" 
 guid illnefsy reafon jujlrfied to him the hope of the Cbrijlian. 
 
 Oh ! lend a moment to a parent's grief, 
 As wounded nature afks this kind relief ! 
 
 have I trod o'er life's moft brilliant ftage, 
 Read its deceptive, vifionary page, 
 Its richeft hope in rapture lifted high, 
 I now furvey with retrofpective eye. 
 
 Its brighteft boon, oft my tranfported heart 
 In fancy hug'd but time's infidious dart 
 Check'd each fond wifh relentlefs fwept away 
 As tender foliage in a frofty day, 
 Youth, vigour, friendship ; and the ripening bloom. 
 Of early ge-nius, (hrouds in C - s's tomb. 
 
 A youth juft form'd, as if by heav'n defign'd 
 To fhew the virtues in a youthful mind ; 
 His manners gentle, and his heart fincere, 
 Mild his deportment but to vice fevere ; 
 He aim'd alone at life's fublimeft end, 
 Rofe to the faint, and foften'd to the friend. 
 With manly grace, and piety ferene, 
 Met the laft foe with an unclouded mein. 
 
 A burning heftic's fecret fire betray 'd, 
 'Till yielding nature buw'd his languid head ; 
 
 When 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POElvXS, 241 
 
 When Grangers' tears were fprinkled o'er liis grave, 
 From which no tears, nor virtue's felf could fave. 
 Kind foreign hands have drefs'd his facred urn, 
 While weeping friends in diftant climates moa-rn j 
 No brother's foot the folemn dirge attends, 
 Yet innate worth commanded many friends ; 
 "The father mourns with many a heartfelt figh, 
 While to the grave bends the maternal eye ; 
 Her bufy mind, too curious, would inquire, 
 Why was he lent or why fo foon expire B 
 
 Is it from life's beft joys my heart to wean ? 
 Or are feverer pangs behind the fcene ? 
 Let me not afk but humbly bow my will, 
 And own my God, the God of mercy ftill ; 
 Adore and tremble at Jehovah's name, 
 Whofe hand, omnific, flill fupports my frame ; 
 -Obey each precept of his laws divine, 
 Nor at the darkeft providence repine ; 
 Though itrip'd of all earth calls its choiceft ftore, 
 Yet if upheld by all fupporting power, 
 I'll calmly walk on to life's utmoft verge, 
 And, undifmay'd, approach the boundlefs marge, 
 Of that broad fpace where mighty fyfrems roll, 
 And radiant glories ftrike the wondering foul. 
 
 Then may the youth whofe foul benign on eartfi, 
 Breath'd truth and fweetnefs from his early birth, 
 Pefcend a moment from the realms above, 
 Deputed thence a meflenger of love, 
 To aid my faith, and catch the parting breath, 
 And waft my foul from the cold bed of death j 
 Lead the glad fpirit through th' etherial fea, 
 And ope the gates to an eternal day. 
 
 W Ta 
 
*4* MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, 
 
 To an amiable FRIEND, 
 Mourning the DEATH of an excellent FATHER. 
 
 i jET deep dejeflion hide her pallid face, 
 And from thy bread each painful image rafe ; 
 Forbid thy lip to utter one complaint, 
 But view the glories of the rifing faint, 
 Ripe for a crown, and waiting the reward 
 Of watching long the vineyard of his Lord,* 
 
 The generous purpofe of his zealous heart, 
 Truth to enforce, and knowledge to impart, 
 Infures his welcome on the unknown more 
 "Where choirs of faints, and angel forms adore : 
 A feraph met him on the tracklefs way, 
 .And fining his harp to join the heavenly lay. 
 
 Complain no more of Death's extenfive power, 
 Whofe fceptre wafts us to fomeblifsful more, 
 Where the rough billows that roll o'er the head, 
 That fliake the frame, and fill the mind with dread, 
 Are hufli'd in filence, and the foul fer.ene 
 .Looks back delighted on the clofmg fcene. 
 
 Happy, thrice happy, that exalted mind, 
 Who, leaving earth and all its cares behind, 
 Kas not, a wjfh to ruffle or control 
 The equal temper of his tranquil foul 
 Who, on a retrofpecl, is fafe within, 
 JNo private pafllon, nor a darling fin, 
 Can check his hope, when death's, infatiate power 
 Stands hovering on the laft. decjfive hour. 
 
 This 
 
 * The gentleman alluded to > was a clergyman of diftinguiihea 
 merit. 
 
. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 34 
 
 This dreaded tyrant throws his forky wand, 
 And mows down millions with rellftlefs hand j 
 From his refearch no fceptred prince can hide, 
 Though deck'd in all the luxury of pride. 
 
 Not all the fplendorof a Saladin,, 
 Not thofe who worfhip at Belona's fhrine, 
 Not Caefar's triumphs, or a Pompey's fame, 
 Nor all the heroes of Rome's boatted name, 
 Could once evade, though e'er fo wife or great, 
 The dreaded fentence of refiftlefs fate, 
 Which (trips the laurel from the good and brave^ 
 And ranks the monarch with the meaneft flave. 
 
 Cohorts of 'old,. and flaves of modern Rome, 
 Promifcuoufly meet one common doom, 
 And drop as leaves in the' autumnal blaft, 
 While adamantine pens record the paft ; 
 And every aftion ftands difclos'd on high,- 
 Infcrib'd on columns fix'd beyond the fky ; 
 Each virtuous deed, and every bafe purfuir, 
 That dignifies the man, or marks the brute. 
 
 Not feas of tears difarm the grizzly king, 
 And virtue only antidotes his fling j 
 The eaflern monarch, or the Grecian fage, 
 May bid defiance to death's wanton rage, 
 If inward peace infures the glorious prize, 
 That crowns the victor at the grand aflize j 
 When pearls, nor gold, nor India's wealth obtains 
 Applaufe from him who o'er creation reigns. 
 
 Then weep no more, my friend, but all refign'd r 
 Submit thy will to the eternal mind, 
 
 Who 
 
*44 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS,- 
 
 Who watches o'er the movements of the juft, 
 And will again reanimate the duft. 
 Thy fire commands fupprefs the rifing figh 
 He wipes the tear from thy too filial eye, 
 And bids thee contemplate afoul fet free, 
 Juft fafe efcap'd from life's terapefiuous fea. 
 
 Could my weak numbers, or my plaintive 
 Or fofteft fympathy, relieve thy pain, 
 My willing heart its ready aid mould lend 
 To footh the forrows of my weeping friend. 
 
 Let gratitude (beft feeling of the heart) 
 Whofe raptur'd fmiles the higheft joys impart, 
 Infpire thy foul, and look abroad ferene, 
 Survey all nature with a placid mein. 
 
 See early fpring its fwelling leaf expand, 
 Or ripening harvefts court the reaper's hand j 
 Autumnal clutters pour their juices forth, 
 Or frowning winter blacken all the north ; 
 Still let content and gratitude appear, 
 Through all the changes of the varying year ; 
 Let not a wayward thought thy peace moled, 
 Or the leaft murmur e'er efcape thy bread : 
 Look round, behold the brightened landfcape gay. 
 The wavy poplars fan the verdant May, 
 The oaken tops are with the elm combin'd, 
 To weave a covert for the weary mind. 
 
 On every fide the vary'd fweets- appear, 
 And fpeak the power that marks the rolling year ; 
 Pleas'd with the grot, extinguiih'd every care, 
 Expand thy heart, and breathe a grateful prayer, 
 
 That 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS; 245 
 
 That when time's rapid car its coiirfe has run 
 
 A few more circuits round the central fun, 
 
 Thy friends and mine from death's umbrageous wornb^ 
 
 May burft the manfions of the darkfome tomb, 
 
 With us unite in friendfhips more fublime, 
 
 And fmile on all the ductile fcenes of time, 
 
 FAITH, reach thy hand, and lead us o'er the deep, 
 Wliile fmiling Hope forbids we here fhould weep. 
 
 W 
 
34* MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 The GENIUS of AMERICA weeping the ab 
 furd FOLLIES of the DAY.' O&ober 10 
 1778. 
 
 " O TEMPORA ! O MORES !" 
 
 JD-SNEATH the lofty pine that fhades.the plain^ 
 Where the blue mount o'erlooks the wefrern main, 
 I faw Columbia's weeping Genius fiand, 
 A blacken'd fcroli hung waving in her hand. 
 
 The penfive fair, in broken accents faid, 
 Shall freedom's caufe by vice be thus betray'd ? 
 Behold the fchedule that unfolds the crimes 
 And marks the manners of thefe modern times, 
 She figh'd and wept the folly of the age, 
 The felfifli paffions, and the mad'ning rage 
 For pleafure's foft debilitating charms, 
 Running full riot in cold avarice* arms ; 
 Who grafps the dregs of bafe opprefTive gains,. 
 While luxury in high profufion reigns. 
 >ur country bleeds, and bleeds at every pore, 
 Yet gold's the deity whom all adore j 
 Except a few, whofe probity of ioul 
 No bribe could purchafe, nor no fears control, 
 A chofen few, who dar'd to ftem the tide 
 Of Britifh vengeance in the pomp of pride, 
 When George's fleets with every fail unfuri'd, 
 And by his hand the reeking dagger hurl'd, 
 The fliarpen'd fteel, the angry furies held,. 
 And Albion's offspring ftrew'd the purple field 
 With kindred blood, warm from his brother's veins ? 
 The crimfon flood each field and village ftuins 5 
 
 Yet 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 24 
 
 Yet back recoil'd the reeking bloody hilt, 
 
 And flaughter'd millions mark'd the tyrant's guilt, 
 
 But 'midfl the carnage the weak monarch made, 
 Stern bending down his awful grandfire's (hade,, 
 Befpoke the pupil of the Scotttlh thane, 
 Why fully thus the glories of my reign ? 
 ** The weftern world oft for my houfe has bled, 
 " And Brunfwick's- friends lie mingled with the dead 1 
 " In yon fair fields- of glory and renown, 
 " Now independent of thy trembling crown ; 
 " The Inftre of thy diadem is fled, 
 " The brighteft jewel that adorn'd thy head;, 
 w America no more fupports thy reign, 
 ** Nor freedom will forgive her martyrs flain. 
 
 " As I fliot downacrofs th f empurpled plains* 
 "Whole cities burn'd, and Vulcan forg'd new chains* 
 Ci Yet dying patriots clafp'd the darling fon, 
 ** And bid him gird the warlike helmet on. 
 " The cold lip quiver'd on the blood frain'd ground, 
 *' The fpirit rifing from the ghaftly wound, 
 '< The hero fob'd the glorious work complete, 
 *' And Britain's barbarous policy defeat ; 
 " 'Tis lieav'n commands, and freedom is the prize,, 
 '* Adieu, my fon death fbals thy father's eyes." 
 
 The ftern majeftic form about to rife, 
 The guardian goddefs met him from the fkies ; 
 " J Tis juft, fhe cry'd I urg'd the battle on," 
 And, pointing down " fee, there the trophies wcn^, 
 ** While they believ'd heavVs uncontrol'd decree,, 
 u Tliat virtue only made them brave and free." 
 
 The 
 
3**"- MISCELLANEOUS P03MS.. 
 
 The trump of war from fhore to more refounds, 
 And the ih rill echo o'er the vate rebounds j 
 The diftant nations hear the dread alarm, 
 Enkindled Europe for the conflict arm ; 
 The Gallic powers, the weftein peafants join,- 
 And diflant legions form in freedom's line j 
 America is hail'd from fea to fe?., 
 Sits independent, glorious, and .free ; 
 Propitious heaven approv'd, and fmil'd benign,;, 
 And guards of angels aided her defign ; 
 While (till her fenate, vigilant and wife, 
 Spreads wide her fame, and lifts her to the fkies, 
 
 But he who holds the univerfal chain 
 Of all events, his fyftem will maintain ; 
 He through the whole creation has decreed, 
 Effecls muft follow as our actions lead ; 
 All nature (hews that heaven ne'er defign'd, 
 Spite of themfelves, to fave and blefs mankind. 
 The friendly genius lifted (low her veil, 
 And flill hid half the melancholy tale 
 When, io ! (he figh'd, the happy profpeft dies, 
 Guilt has provok'd the vengeance of the fkies ; 
 As wealth pour'd in from every diftant fhore, 
 The gaudy lap ot luxury ran o'er ; 
 Theblacken'd paflions all at once let loofe, 
 And rampant crimes fcarce afk'd for an excufe. 
 
 So diflfolute yet fo polite the town* 
 Like Hogarth's days, the world's turn'd upfide down ; , 
 Old Juvenal, who cenfur'd former crimes, 
 Or Churchill's pen, in more fatiric rhymes^ 
 Or crabbed Swift, in yet a rougher ftile r 
 Might laih the vices of a venal ifle j 
 
 ?f 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 If fermons, fatires, or the law of heaven, 
 (Though it again from Sinai's mount were given,} 
 Should all combine to cenfure modifh vice, 
 It can't be wrong, when fafhion fanclifces. 
 
 Hogarth might paint, and Churchill lafli the times, 
 Compar'd with moderns, modeft were their crimes 
 Not Swift hlmfelf could now defame the age, 
 Truth might be told in each farcaftic page ; 
 Whoe'er delights to mew mankind abfurd, 
 The life in vogue may ample room afford.* 
 
 The early creed of lifping girls and boys, 
 Is tafte, high life, and pleafure's guilty joys j 
 The modifh ftile theheedlefs parent taught, 
 And fins run rank, from levity of thought ; 
 Ere the big cloud that (hook the north retires, 
 Each generous movement of the foul expires j 
 All public faith, and private juftice dead, 
 And patriot zeal by patriots betray'd ; 
 While hot bed plants of yefterday (hoot up, 
 Ere<5l their heads, and reach the cedar's top. 
 
 Thanklefs to heaven, and to the men ingrate, 
 Who ventured all to fave a finking ftate ; 
 Who kept the fhatter'd bark, and flood the deck, 
 When timid helmfmen left her as a wreck. 
 Thofe godlike men, thofe lovers of mankind, 
 Have nought to retrofpecT: that pains the mind ; 
 
 Placid 
 
 * This piece was written when a moft remarkable depravity of 
 manners pervaded the cities of the United States, in conference of 
 a ftate of war j a relaxation of government j the fudden acquifition 
 of fortune j a depreciating currency \ and a new interccuxfe 
 with foreign uaticas* 
 
*5 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Flacid they move amidft an heedlefs band, 
 And %h in filence o'er a guilty land. 
 
 But when old Time is fo decrepid grown, 
 His worn out car no more will bear him on, 
 When Fame throws by her faithlefs tinkling tube- 
 That carol'd falfehoods round the lift'ning globe> 
 The evergreens on yonder ether plains, 
 Eternal flouriili to reward their pains. 
 
 Thus truth exhibits virtue in an age, 
 When vice, unblufhing, ftalk*d acrofs the flage, 
 And ftar'd around with hideous prowling eyesy 
 To catch the heedlefs witling as he flies ; 
 The difputant, who enters on the lift, 
 To foil a Newton, or to win at whift. 
 He lives a fceptic, if you take his word, 
 Thinks 'tis heroic to deny his God, 
 Or to difpute his providential care, 
 Deride his precepts, or to feoff at prayer. 
 His coat, his creed, his faith and genius too, 
 Are modernized as fafhion forms the cue ; 
 Prompt and alert, with erudition fraught, 
 Than Locke, or Boyle, in ethics better taught ;. 
 He fwears the tafte the ban ton of the times, 
 By moralifts can ne'er be conftru'd crimes ; 
 Moft modern writers are much better bred, 
 Voltaire and Hoyle, the authors he has read, 
 Difcard fuch antique, odd ideas of truth, 
 Such mufty rules for regulating youth. 
 
 Lord Bolingbroke, among the wits a toaft, 
 And Mandeville, the fceptic's empty boaft, 
 Keafon fo clear, that e'en their pigmy race 
 Who {warm and clutter in each public place, 
 
 Wltli; 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 V/ith fcientific brow can demonftrate, 
 Whate'er the pious fage or prieit may prate, 
 Virtue is an enthufiaftic dream, 
 Reveal'd religion, a long worn out theme. 
 
 At bacchanalian feafts, it is the mode 
 To pour libations to the red ey'd God, 
 'Till penetration fo out runs his fenfe, 
 That the arcana of omnipotence, 
 Brought to the reas'ner's fuperfkial teft, 
 The Chriflian code becomes his wanton jeft* 
 Scarce any decent principles remain,, 
 A fool's cap, perch 'd on folly's feather'd 
 Is the learn'd fignal for the warm debate 
 On Voltaire's creed or the decrees of fate ; 
 'Till graceful * * fo improves the plan, 
 The deift bluflies at his bolder ftrain ; 
 His flowing ftile, and eafy periods fuch. 
 His influence links, becaufe he doubts too mucJt, 
 This fmooth romantic bard, from eaft to weft, 
 Has conjur'd up each fceptical proteft 
 'Gainfl alk religion ev'n th^e moft -fublime, 
 Oz~al or wrote of late or modern time. 
 All hope renounced of an immortal ftatc^ 
 By rote his pupils fyllogifms prate-^- 
 Annibilation difllpates all fear, 
 We can but fuffer and enjoy while here. 
 
 As~ ignis fafuus floats from lake to bog, 
 The vapor plays in pefliientiaifog, 
 Sparkles and finks in the dark marfliy tomb, 
 As modern wits in metaphyfic fume. 
 
 Yet they afflrme a felf important aifj 
 Or to confound, or profelyte the fair, 
 
53 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Who no ideas have of other heaven, 
 If drefj>, parade, and a gallant is given j 
 Who rail aloud 'gainfl puritanic rules, 
 -And learn their morals in deiftic fchools ; 
 Who prattle nonfenfe with the half fiedg'd beau* 
 Can cog the die, and raffle high or low ; 
 In folly's lap, by chlldifh paflions tofs'd. 
 On vanity's delufive fhallo\v coaft ; 
 The rippling furface hides the deep abyfs, 
 That gapes deftru&ion, while the hydra's hifs, 
 ^Unheard as pleafure's fafcinating fong, 
 In gales perfum'd, the trifiers hurl along. 
 While wide fpread ruin ftalks from door to door ? 
 Famine and fword Mill threat'ning to devour^ 
 How many dance on diflipation's wing, 
 .No pen can paint, nor can the poet Hng. 
 
 Profoundly learn'd, investigating truth, 
 And thus thrown off the fliackles of his youth, 
 He's wifeft fure who makes the moft of life, 
 Prefers a miftrefs to a fober wife ; 
 The coxcomb laughs, and revels life away, 
 While gaming high's the bufinefs of the day $ 
 Pleafure ftiall dance in every feftive bowl, 
 The Brute' f fecure the Man has not a foul.