 | The Brothers |  |
AN HISTORICAL EPILOGUE. By the AUTHOR.
An
Epilogue, thro' Custom, is your Right,
But ne'er perhaps was needful till this night.
To-night the Virtuous falls, the Guilty flies,
Guilt's dreadful Close our narrow Scene denies.
In History's authentic Record read
What ample Vengeance gluts Demetrius' Shade:
Vengeance so great, that when his Tale is told,
With Pity some, even Perseus may behold.
But ne'er perhaps was needful till this night.
To-night the Virtuous falls, the Guilty flies,
Guilt's dreadful Close our narrow Scene denies.
In History's authentic Record read
What ample Vengeance gluts Demetrius' Shade:
Vengeance so great, that when his Tale is told,
With Pity some, even Perseus may behold.
Perseus surviv'd, indeed, and fill'd the Throne,
But ceaseless Cares in Conquest made him groan.
Nor reign'd he long; from Rome swift Thunder flew,
And headlong from his Throne the Tyrant threw:
Thrown headlong down, by Rome in Triumph led,
For this Night's Deed, his perjur'd Bosom bled.
His Brother's Ghost each Moment made him start,
And all his Father's Anguish rent his Heart.
When rob'd in black his Children round him hung,
But ceaseless Cares in Conquest made him groan.
Nor reign'd he long; from Rome swift Thunder flew,
And headlong from his Throne the Tyrant threw:
Thrown headlong down, by Rome in Triumph led,
For this Night's Deed, his perjur'd Bosom bled.
His Brother's Ghost each Moment made him start,
And all his Father's Anguish rent his Heart.
And their rais'd Arms in early Sorrow wrung;
The younger smil'd, unconscious of their Woe;
At which thy Tears, O Rome! began to flow,
So sad the Scene: What then must Perseus feel,
To see Jove's Race attend the Victor's Wheel:
To see the Slaves of his worst Foe encrease,
From such a Source!—An Emperor's Embrace.
He sicken'd soon to Death, and, what is worse,
He well deserv'd, and felt the Coward's Curse;
Unpity'd, scorn'd, insulted his last Hour,
Far, far from home, and in a Vassal's Power.
His pale Cheek rested on his shameful Chain,
No Friend to mourn, no Flatterer to feign.
| The Brothers | |