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Poems, dramatic and miscellaneous

Warren, Mercy Otis (1728-1814)

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[section]
  
[dedication]
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THE SACK of ROME.
  
TO THE PUBLIC.
  
[castlist]
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ACT I.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
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ACT II.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
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ACT III.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
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ACT IV.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
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ACT V.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
  
EPILOGUE.
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THE LADIES of CASTILE.
  
To a Young Gentleman in Europe, at whose Request a regular Dramatick Work was first attempted.
  
[poem]
collapse section1. 
ACT I.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
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ACT II.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
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ACT III.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
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ACT IV.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
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ACT V.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
  
To Mrs. MONTAGUE, Author of “Observations on the Genius and Writings of Shakespeare.”
  
To TORRISMOND.
  
A POLITICAL REVERIE.
  
To Mr. ---.
  
On a Survey of the Heavens.
  
On the Death of Mrs. S. ---, who died within a few Days after her Marriage.
  
The SQUABBLE of the SEA NYMPHS;
  
To a Young Lady,
  
To the Hon. J. WINTHROP, Esq.
  
To FIDELIO,
  
To Honoria, on her Journey to Dover, 1777.
  
LINES,
  
To a Young Gentleman, residing in France.
  
To a patriotic Gentleman, who presented a small Book of Bark, requesting a POEM might be written therein, on PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY.
  
SIMPLICITY.
  
On the Death of the Hon. JOHN WINTHROP, Esq. L. L. D. Hollisian Professor of Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy, at Harvard College, Cambridge.
  
LINES,
  
To an amiable Friend,
  
The Genius of America weeping the absurd Follies of the Day.—October 10, 1778.

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228

To a patriotic Gentleman, who presented a small Book of Bark, requesting a POEM might be written therein, on PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY.

On the smooth papyrus of ancient times,
Nature's bright charms, I'd paint in simple rhymes;
The bliss superiour of those happy days,
When on the bark the bard inscrib'd his lays;
But, when immers'd amidst ten thousand cares,
Domestic duties, and some foreign fears;
When avocations of the social kind,
Engross the heart, and fill the busy mind,
Pegasus often does his aid refuse,
And sentiment will not assist the muse.
Thus circumstanc'd, I'll not indulge the pride,
To pick one flower from Parnassus side;
Much less attempt its summit to explore,
Though much I love Scamander's rippling shore;
I'll check my wish, and drop my humble wing,
Pleas'd with the laurels that for others spring:
Yet snatch a moment, when my friends command,
And point the period with a willing hand;
And if the lagging numbers slowly move,
I'll hope a pardon from the voice of love.
Critics may censure, but if candour frowns,
I'll quit the pen, and keep within the bounds,
The narrow bounds, prescrib'd to female life,
The gentle mistress, and the prudent wife:
Maternal precepts, drawn from sacred truth,
Shall warm the bosom of the list'ning youth;
While the kind mother acts her little part,
And stamps the tablet on the infant heart,
229

Each fervent wish, I to my country lend,
And thus subscribe, the patriot's faithful friend.
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