The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys Late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid |
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PROLOGUE TO THE WIDOW OF MALABAR:
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 | The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys |  |
PROLOGUE TO THE WIDOW OF MALABAR:
A TRAGEDY.
Spoken by Mr. Hallam, at the Theatre in Philadelphia, May 7, 1790.
The Gallic muse, this night, prepares our tale,
And shows what rites in other lands prevail;
Displays the widow'd fair a sacrifice,
And draws compassion's drops from melting eyes.
Oh! if your hearts have ever learn'd to feel,
Let sweet compassion o'er your bosoms steal;
Believe the plot, from Eastern story, true,
Believe the shores of Malabar ye view.
The haughty Bramin, with imperious smile,
Propels the fair one to the fun'ral pile:
There—see her mounting, with retorted eyes,
And hear, 'midst bursting flames, her dying cries.
And shows what rites in other lands prevail;
Displays the widow'd fair a sacrifice,
And draws compassion's drops from melting eyes.
Oh! if your hearts have ever learn'd to feel,
Let sweet compassion o'er your bosoms steal;
Believe the plot, from Eastern story, true,
Believe the shores of Malabar ye view.
The haughty Bramin, with imperious smile,
Propels the fair one to the fun'ral pile:
There—see her mounting, with retorted eyes,
And hear, 'midst bursting flames, her dying cries.
Such tragic strains the noblest charms dispense,
To purge the passions, and refine the sense:
Each virtuous tear confers a new-born grace,
And adds fresh beauty to the fairest face.—
To purge the passions, and refine the sense:
Each virtuous tear confers a new-born grace,
And adds fresh beauty to the fairest face.—
Oh! born to bless, and meliorate mankind,
With manners winning, and with taste refin'd,
What wrongs, ye fair! your gentle bosoms bore,
In each rude age—on ev'ry barb'rous shore!
Doom'd the mean vassals of unfeeling lords,
By western savages, and Tartar hords!
Through Asian climes, see custom reason braves,
And marks the fairest of their sex for slaves:
Hearts form'd for love, but doom'd in vain to glow
In prison'd pomp, and weep in splendid woe:—
Or see their fate in India more severe,
The sad companions of a husband's bier!—
With manners winning, and with taste refin'd,
What wrongs, ye fair! your gentle bosoms bore,
In each rude age—on ev'ry barb'rous shore!
Doom'd the mean vassals of unfeeling lords,
By western savages, and Tartar hords!
Through Asian climes, see custom reason braves,
And marks the fairest of their sex for slaves:
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In prison'd pomp, and weep in splendid woe:—
Or see their fate in India more severe,
The sad companions of a husband's bier!—
Not such their doom, where genial science shines,
And heav'n-born freedom human souls refines,
Where polish'd manners social life improve,
And teach us to respect the sex we love;
Confirm their claims in equal rights to share,
Friends in our bliss, and partners in our care:—
And hail, ye fair, of ev'ry charm possess'd—
Who grace this rising empire of the west;
With better fates, and nobler genius born,
Your sex to honour, and your land adorn;
In this blest age, to share our fond regard,
The friends of heroes, and their blest reward!—
And heav'n-born freedom human souls refines,
Where polish'd manners social life improve,
And teach us to respect the sex we love;
Confirm their claims in equal rights to share,
Friends in our bliss, and partners in our care:—
And hail, ye fair, of ev'ry charm possess'd—
Who grace this rising empire of the west;
With better fates, and nobler genius born,
Your sex to honour, and your land adorn;
In this blest age, to share our fond regard,
The friends of heroes, and their blest reward!—
Yet when o'er foreign woes ye shed a tear,
And find your bliss by contrast still more dear;
With humble joy adore th' Almighty hand,
Which fix'd your birth in this auspicious land!
And find your bliss by contrast still more dear;
With humble joy adore th' Almighty hand,
Which fix'd your birth in this auspicious land!
Ye gen'rous patrons who protect our stage,
Friends to the arts, and guardians of the age;
To tragic woes now lend the list'ning ear,
Attend with candour, with indulgence hear!
While we display, in pleading nature's cause,
Our best attempts to merit your applause!
Friends to the arts, and guardians of the age;
To tragic woes now lend the list'ning ear,
Attend with candour, with indulgence hear!
While we display, in pleading nature's cause,
Our best attempts to merit your applause!
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |