University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE.

The scene of the Prologue is nothing but clouds and sky, the former lying in heaps of silvery snow for a ground, and the latter, which is of a deep blue, presenting an occasional planet in motion. A sudden light strikes over the place, and Liberty, with a cheerful step, issues out of it. She is in the bloom of youth, buskined up with an active dress like Diana, her large and airy curls enwreathed with laurel, and a light staff with a cap on it across her shoulder. As she advances she makes a stop, and casts her eyes downwards, as if looking into the distance afar off.
LIBERTY.
This is the point at which the rolling world
Opens upon me. There it is, broad gleaming!
O what a sight of loveliness art thou,
Earth, my dear care; and what would some of those,
Who spoil thee, think if they could see thine orb
As I do now, smoothing along the air
With full-turn'd face divine, and all the while
Serv'd with the beauty of the silver moon!
Now the wide waters heavingly come round,
Opaque and restless, with a lingering sweep;
Fair islands now, and there, my favourite soil,
Among them, upon which I first set foot
Whene'er I visit earth; and now at last,
The suffering land, which I must free to day.
With what a clinging darkness is it cover'd!
The Enchanter, foil'd in his attempt to force
His art beyond it's limits, and to work
His fiery magic in the northern snows,
Where the rude people, having Nature's help,
Scatter'd his wilder'd slaves, and smote him back,
Feels that the secret weakness has escap'd him
Of art compared with nature, wrong with right;
And now, though resolute to dare all chances,
Sits wrapp'd in double gloom, listening at times,
With half a fear, to catch the expected sound
Of numbers coming in their fresh revenge
To dash him from his height. This is the hour
I look'd for. Four of the most potent spirits,
That rule the nations, have I just advised,
Each in a morning vision, to combine
Their clouds, and following up his wasted strength,
Burst with a final thunderclap upon him,
At which the world shall startle. Then will I
Descend in lustre through the freshen'd air,
Met by the flowering Spring; and giving each
The laurel he has earn'd,—Liberty's crown,—
Summon the triumphs and the joys about me,
And lead a lovelier period for mankind.
Ye tricksome cherubs, ever at your play,
With smile-expanded cheeks and hovering limbs,—
Minions of air, born of it's basking leisure,—
Break off, my little spirits, some of ye,
And with a silver cloud wait on me down.

A set of cherubs rise from the back-ground, and Liberty seating herself on one of the clouds, they playfully bear her up with it, the whole going off at the side-scene with a descending motion.