University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Scene a Grotto, Henry asleep, a Cloud descends, in it two Angels suppos'd to be the Guardian Spirits of the British Kings in War and in Peace.
1 Ang.
Behold th'unhappy Monarch there,
That claims our Tutelary Care!

2 Ang.
In Fields of Death around his Head
A Shield of Adamant I spread.

1 Ang.
In Hours of Peace unseen, unknown,
I hover o'er the British Throne.

2 Ang.
When Hosts of Foes with Foes engage
And round th'anointed Heroe rage,
The cleaving Fauchion I misguide
And turn the feather'd Shaft aside.

1 Ang.
When dark fermenting Factions swell,
And prompt th'Ambitious to rebel,
A thousand Terrors I impart,
And damp the furious Traitor's Heart.

Both.
But O what Influence can remove
The Pangs of Grief, and Rage of Love!

2. Ang.
I'll fire his Soul with mighty Themes
'Till Love before Ambition fly.

1 Ang.
I'll sooth his Cares in pleasing Dreams
'Till Grief in joyfull Raptures die.

2 Ang.
Whatever glorious and renown'd
In British Annals can be found;
Whatever Actions shall adorn
Britannia's Heroes yet unborn
In dreadful Visions shall succeed;
On fancy'd Fields the Gaul shall bleed,
Cressy shall stand before his Eyes,
And Agincourt and Blenheim rise.

1 Ang.
See, see, he smiles amidst his Trance,
And shakes a visionary Lance,
His Brain is fill'd with loud Alarms,
Shouting Armies, clashing Arms,
The softer Prints of Love deface;
And Trumpets sound in ev'ry Trace.

Both.
Glory strives.
The Field is won,
Fame revives
And Love is gone.

1 Ang.
To calm thy Grief and lull thy Cares,
Look up and see
What, after long revolving Years,
Thy Bow'r shall be!
When Time its Beauties shall deface,
And only with its Ruins grace
The future Prospect of the Place.
Behold the glorious Pile ascending!
Scene changes to the Plan of Blenhelm Castle.
Columns swelling, Arches bending,
Domes in awful Pomp arising,
Art in curious Strokes surprizing,
Foes in figur'd Fights contending,
Behold the glorious Pile ascending!

2 Ang.
He sees, he sees the great Reward
For Anna's mighty Chief prepar'd:
His growing Joys no Measure keep,
Too vehement and fierce for Sleep.

1 Ang.
Let Grief and Love at once engage,
His Heart is Proof to all their Pain;
Love may plead—

2 Ang.
—And Grief may rage—

Both.
But both shall plead and rage in vain.

[The Angels ascend, and the Vision disappears.
Henry
starting from the Couch.
Where have my ravish'd Senses been!
What Joys, what Wonders have I seen!
The Scene yet stands before my Eye:
A thousand glorious Deeds that lye
In deep Futurity obscure,
Fights and Triumphs Immature,
Heroes immers'd in Time's dark Womb,
Ripening for mighty Years to come,
Break forth, and to the Day display'd,
My soft inglorious Hours upbraid.
Transported with so bright a Scheme
My Waking Life appears a Dream.
O Rosamond! O rising Woe!
Why do my weeping Eyes o'erflow?
O Rosamond! O fair distress'd!
How shall my Heart, with Grief oppress'd,
Its unrelenting Purpose tell;
And take the long, the last Farewel!

[Exit.