University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Opens with a procession of coaches, chariots, &c. Changes to the Chamber, where the Divan is opened with a speech by Hazlerod, highly pleasing to the creatures of arbitrary power, and equally disgusting to every man of virtue.
Enter Hazlerod.
Rapatio—hail! 'tis by thy faust'ring hand,
This happy day beholds me rob'd in honor.
Pow'r! 'tis a charm the gods can only know:
These, while they view this little globe of earth,
And trace the various movements of mankind,
With pleasure mark that soul, that dares aspire,
To catch this heavenly flame and coppy from them.
And sure Rapatio, if mortality
Could ever boast an elevated genius,
That scorns the dust, and tow'rs above the stars;
A soul that only grasps at high atchievements,
And drinks intoxicating draughts of power,
The claim is thine—while simple yet they station,
True greatness peer'd, and promis'd future glory.
Yea while an infant, hanging at the breast,
With life, you largely suck'd the lust of power.
In youth, in age, invariably the same.
Thy easy flow of passion, happy talent!
Which work'd on unsuspecting minds so strangly.
Push'd on the plan, and pav'd the road to honor.
With this in view, you'd imitate devotion,
Which like a mantle, cover'd great designs,
With virtue glow, and set among her sons:
While these with transport listned to the tale,
Gaz'd as they heard, and wonder'd how they lov'd.
To catch this prize, in what have you not toil'd.
When nature slept, thy busy mind awoke,
And por'd on future scenes, and plan'd thy fate.
Then, when the ties of virtue and thy country,
Unhappy check'd thy lust of pow'r—like Cæsar,
You nobly scorn'd them all, and on the ruins,
Of bleeding freedom, sounded all thy greatness.
And what a rich, a glorious compensation
For dangers past—gilded all o'er with pensions,
Here like a mighty deity you sit,
Enthron'd in state, nor envy Jove his thunder.
While aw'd by thee, the distant nations gaze
And thousands yield their tribute of amaze.
Mean while at humble distance I pursue,
And grow illustrious as I copy you.
Then when I've trampl'd on my country's fate,
And no one lives my actions to relate,
With my own ashes light the funeral fire,
Die as I liv'd, and in a flash expire.

[Exeunt.