University of Virginia Library

Prologue to the Musick-meeting in York-buildings.

Where Musick, and more pow'rful Beauties reign,
Who can support the Pleasure, and the Pain?
Here their soft Magick those two Sirens try,
And if we listen, or but look, we die.
Why should we then the wondrous Tales admire
Of Orpheus' Numbers, or of Amphion's Lyre?
Behold this Scene of Beauty, and confess
The Wonder greater, and the Fiction less.
Like Human Victims here we are decreed
To worship those bright Altars where we bleed.
Who braves his Fate in Fields, must tremble here:
Triumphant Love more Vassals makes than Fear.
No Faction Homage to the Fair denies,
The Right Divine's apparent in their Eyes.
That Empire's fix'd, that's founded in Desire;
Those Fires the Vestals guard, can ne'er expire.