University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

An Apartment in the Palace.
BRITANNIA sitting on a couch, leaning on her arm in a pensive posture.
Enter Lord WORTHY.
BRITANNIA.
[Raising herself, and advancing towards him.
My lord, your stay, tho' you are punctual,
Has somewhat tried our patience—Ah my good lord
Had not your counsels made such long delays
Redress had made more haste—

WORTHY.
Most gracious liege,
Past sufferings, like the deep shades in paintings,
Will give a brighter glow to ripening blessings:
Health leaving us awhile, quickens our joy,
When 'tis recover'd to it's cherub-bloom:
And wanton plenty meets a louder welcome
After cold barrenness has for a time
Lock'd up the womb of the earth,
And mock'd the labourer's toil—
But now the golden season's breaking out,
And the discouragement, that nipp'd the hands
Of Britain's genius with benumbing frost,
Begins to melt, and the rich tide of industry
Has leave to flow by the kind quick'ning warmth
Of royal favour—

BRITANNIA.
Indeed our state too long
Has groan'd beneath it's burden—but it's sufferings
Having now reach'd our ear—our princely love,
Like the sun's rays, should instantly be felt,
And chear our people's hopes—THAT LIGHT of heav'n
Is daily pointing in it's great example
Our path of duty—we shou'd SHINE to BLESS.

WORTHY.
What else is glory? till it takes these measures,
If possibly it catches vulgar eyes,
'Tis but a counterfeit, a tinsel lustre,
That's only priz'd by ignorance of worth;
A will-o-'wisp, that leads the mind to error,
But neither lights—nor warms—
Whereas true greatness, seeks to serve mankind,
Stoops to the earth—and beams on distant objects—
It's sphere is measur'd by the help it gives;
In it's effects still present, and refulgent
In ev'ry being, that's nourish'd by it's heat!

BRITANNIA.
And therefore, my good lord, with open heart
(The Bondsman of our tongue) when we assur'd you
At our last meeting, of our ready zeal
Instant to probe the wound, and seek the cure
Of our disorders—There's one general point,
We can't recede from—We'll have no transfer books
For grievances!—The scheme to gain our liking,
Must seek the good of all—There's none shall suffer,
But those who well deserve it—Widows, and orphans,
Debarr'd their right, would like a blast from heaven,
Cut off our budding hopes—Justice first answer'd,
Shall warrant our proceedings—it shan't concern us,
'Mongst men of narrow souls, if murmur's tongue
Treats us too freely—

[Lord Worthy upon his knee, offering the roll to Britannia, which she accepts of.
WORTHY.
The roll here given your highness—
Speaks your own thoughts—it seeks with tenderness
T'apply the salve, nor has it thoughts t'offend
Justice, or honour; nor seeks it to release
The tribute, due to maintenance of greatness.
'Tis not to lessen, but encrease dependents;
To make each member of the government,
In peace it's advocate, in war it's soldier—
'Tis to dismantle falshood, to shew truth
In it's pure spotless garment habited—
Distinguish loyalty, from venal services—
And spread a general joy, by placing worth
In honour's seat, that's grown almost a stranger
By being kept at distance, undermin'd
By pale-fac'd envy's sculking artifice,
Working like moles in th'earth, daubing the pasture
On which they feed with dirty eminencies—

BRITANNIA.
My lord, we're satisfy'd—and will peruse
The roll with close attention—in the mean time
We would have swift-wing'd hope dispatch'd, to promise
Some general blessing—to try how things will bear—
'Tis this should pave the way—for opposition
Now grown unpopular will fall it's crest,
When freedom's ray is rising—
And like a bird of darkness,
Will rather seek to sculk, and hide itself
From the fair light, that blinds it—

WORTHY.
This also was my care—an air serene
Now smooths the clouded brow—My appearance here
Has open'd wonder's eye, and given a tongue
To long-dejected hope, which smiling now
Is variously employ'd in drawing schemes
Of future greatness; yet with chaste distrust,
Checking it's high presumption, humbly leaves,
The plan, that calls our honour, from the darkness,
In which it long has slept, with fuller confidence,
To your own waking care, and watchful foresight,
Waiting with gay impatience it's success.

BRITANNIA.
Enough, my lord, from this your plan left with us
Of our New Building, trusting to your wisdom,
We shall with all dispatch, erect our state,
A rival, to the greatness it enjoy'd
In former ages—Our love shall not defer it;
We'll take it now t'our thoughts—but as reflection
Is best alone; we would be left awhile—
Should doubts arise we shall require your counsels.

WORTHY.
May heaven assist you.

[Exeunt.