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Poems, chiefly dramatic and lyric

by the Revd. H. Boyd ... containing the following dramatic poems: The Helots, a tragedy, The Temple of Vesta, The Rivals, The Royal Message. Prize Poems, &c. &c
Boyd, Henry
  
[epigraph]

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[section]
  
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COUNTESS OF MOIRA, BARONESS HASTINGS, &c. &c
  
TO THE REV. EDWARD BERWICK,
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THE HELOTS. A TRAGEDY.
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THE HELOTS. A TRAGEDY.
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ACT I.
 I. 
SCENE I
 II. 
SCENE II.
 II. 
ACT II.
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ACT III.
 I. 
[Scene I.]
 II. 
SCENE II.
 IV. 
ACT IV.
 V. 
ACT V.
  
INTRODUCTION,
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THE TEMPLE OF VESTA, A DRAMATIC POEM.
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THE TEMPLE OF VESTA.
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ACT I.
 I. 
[Scene I.]
 II. 
SCENE II.
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ACT II.
 I. 
[Scene I.]
 II. 
SCENE II.
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ACT III.
 I. 
Scene First
 IV. 
ACT IV.
 V. 
ACT V.
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THE RIVALS,
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THE RIVALS,
 I. 
[ACT I.]
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ACT II.
 I. 
[Scene I.]
 II. 
SCENE II.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
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ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
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THE ROYAL MESSAGE,
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THE ROYAL MESSAGE.
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ACT I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV
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ACT II.
 I. 
SCENE I.
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ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
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ACT IV.
 I. 
[Scene I.]
 III. 
SCENE III.
 V. 
ACT V.
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PRIZE, POEMS, ODES, ELEGIES, &c. &c.
  
HYMN TO SILENCE,
  
THE GENIUS OF THE WHITE ROSE,
  
WOODSTOCK.
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THE WANDERER,
 1. 
ODE THE FIRST. THE SHEPHERD'S DREAM.
 2. 
ODE THE SECOND. THE SHEPHERD'S NUPTIALS.
 3. 
ODE THE THIRD. THE SHEPHERD'S VOYAGE.
 4. 
ODE THE FOURTH. THE SHEPHERD'S RETURN.
  
ON THE BIRTH DAY OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF MOIRA, BARONESS HASTINGS, &c. &c.
  
ON THE BIRTH DAY OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COUNTESS OF MOIRA, BARONESS HASTINGS, &c. &c.
  
ON THE BIRTH DAY OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF MOIRA, BARONESS HASTINGS, &c. &c.
  
TO CHARLES WILLIAM BURY, ESQ. ON HIS RETURN FROM ITALY, 1789.
  
VERSES, LEFT AT THE REV. PETER TURPIN'S,
  
TO JOSEPH COOPER WALKER, ESQ. M. R. I. A.
  
TO JOSEPH COOPER WALKER, ESQ. M. R. I. A. &c. &c.
  
TO WILLIAM PRESTON, ESQ. ON HIS TRAGEDY, ENTITLED DEMOCRATIC RAGE.
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ELEGIES.
  
TO THE REV. JOHN SMYTH, ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG FRIEND, 1779.
  
HENRIETTA,
  
ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. THOMAS STEWART,
  
TO THE REV. DR. LESLIE,
  
ON THE DEATH OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JOHN RAWDON, LATE EARL OF MOIRA,
  
SPECIMEN OF THE CAPTIVES,
  
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CHARLEMONT, &c.
  
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THOMAS PERCY, LORD BISHOP OF DROMORE,

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[Scene I.]

Scene.—Another part of the Camp near the Tabernacle.
Enter PHANUEL.
Phanuel
Oh that I were some God, to form anew
Those sons of earth, and in their lifeless frames
Some spirit to infuse! those new come guards
That sled before the feeble sons of Ai
Fled, tho' they thought that some supernal power
Marshall'd their troops to battle, now refuse
To leave their post, tho' mild persuasion sooth'd
Their souls, and more persuasive gold allur'd!—
264

What recent charm has fix'd the cowards feet
So nimble in the flight, but now, when fast
They fled before Perizzim's scythed cars!—
It cannot be religious dread, for that:
Had fixt their phalanx, firmer than the walls
Of Jericho against the tide of war:
Whate'er it be, I leave them to their fate
Till earth to earth they grow, or turn'd to stone
Stand like the monumental matron, chang'd
To rock, by sad Gomorrah's fumy lake
As fable tells! Altho' in distant hints
Of dubious import I explor'd their souls
(To keep from danger clear, lest any dar'd
Accuse me) still, I found them cold, quite cold!—
Be they accurst! but Achan must be steel'd
To suit my purpose, lest he also swerve,
Yet I have nearly from his bosom chac'd
The pious leaven, from his nurse imbib'd
And by the crafty Levite fed.—He now
Is the sole anchor of my sinking hopes
By love and strong ambition sway'd by turns
He plies with easy bend to either breeze—
Yet he and Zalmon are alike my foes
Hated alike, alike they thwart my views
Zalmon may fall in fight! if he returns
Achan and he are seeming friends. But soon
The brittle bond of amity shall melt
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Before Suspicion's breath! that task be mine—
But see the lover comes! what says my friend?

Phan.
to Ach.
Hast thou prevail'd?

Ach.
I durst not press my suit,
But with due caution, and with solemn oaths
Enjoining secrecy: some to my views
Gave prompt admittance, some are doubtful still—
The bond of blood among their families
Gave easy entrance, but I dreaded yet
To try their Chief, altho' by blood ally'd
He's a fanatic, full of holy zeal!—

Phan.
We can subsist without him, could we gain
But half his band to second our attempt
And bear your double treasure, where the name
Of Israel ne'er was heard!

Ach.
This day's defeat
Would fix a party ours, nor need we doubt
But flush'd with victory, the Canaanite
Will follow his first blow, and heap the field
With larger slaughter, Zalmon too may fall!—

Phan.
If not, I have a charm for this hot youth
That soon will come like winter's frory breath
And lay his blooming honours low: But see
Where young Amaziah comes with looks of dread.

Ach.
O my presaging soul! my friends are fall'n!

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