University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE TO Alexander the Great,

When acted at the Theatre in Dublin.

You've seen to Night the Glory of the East,
The Man, who all the then known World possest,
That Kings in Chains did Son of Ammon call,
And Kingdoms thought Divine, by Treason fall.
Him Fortune only favour'd for her Sport,
And when his Conduct wanted her Support,
His Empire, Courage, and his boasted Line,
Were all prov'd Mortal by a Slave's Design.
Great Charles, whose Birth has promis'd milder Sway,
Whose awful Nod all Nations must obey,
Secur'd by higher Pow'rs, exalted stands
Above the reach of Sacrilegious Hands;
Those Miracles that guard his Crowns, declare
That Heav'n has form'd a Monarch worth their Care;
Born to advance the Loyal, and depose
His own, his Brother's, and his Father's Foes.
Faction, that once made Diadems her Prey,
And stopt our Prince in his triumphant Way,
Fled like a Mist before this Radiant Day.
So when, in Heav'n, the mighty Rebels rose,
Proud, and resolv'd that Empire to depose,
Angels fought first, but unsuccessful prov'd,
God kept the Conquest for his best Belov'd:
At sight of such Omnipotence they fly,
Like Leaves before Autumnal Winds, and die.
All who before him did ascend the Throne
Labour'd to draw three restiff Nations on.
He boldly drives 'em forward without Pain,
They hear his Voice, and streight obey the Rein.
Such Terror speaks him destin'd to command;
We worship Jove with Thunder in his Hand;
But when his Mercy without Pow'r appears,
We slight his Altars, and neglect our Pray'rs.
How weak in Arms did Civil Discord shew!
Like Saul she struck with Fury at her Foe,
When an Immortal Hand did ward the Blow.
Her Off-spring, made the Royal Hero's Scorn,
Like Sons of Earth, all fell as soon as born:
Yet let us boast, for sure it is our Pride,
When with their Blood our Neighbour Lands were dy'd,
Ireland's untainted Loyalty remain'd,
Her People guiltless, and her Fields unstain'd.