 | Love the Cause and Cure of Grief, or The Innocent Murderer |  |
vi
THE PROLOGUE. Spoke by Mr. Delane.
Well
have the Greecian Bards adorn'd the Stage
With royal Sorrows, and heroic Rage:
Disdaining Earth, with elevated Eyes,
One drew the angry Ruler of the Skys:
Boldly he call'd from their divine Abodes
Ambitious, restless, and the bleeding, Gods:
Unheeded weep'd the injur'd lowly Maid,
To Death, or Ruin, by her Love betray'd:
Neglected sigh'd the fond despairing Swain,
And the proud Nymph triumphant was in vain:
The tragic Muse cast not her Eye so low,
Or view'd regardless Scenes of humble Woe:
Yet then Distress appear'd beneath the Shades,
And Virtue mourn'd in unfrequented Glades.
With royal Sorrows, and heroic Rage:
Disdaining Earth, with elevated Eyes,
One drew the angry Ruler of the Skys:
Boldly he call'd from their divine Abodes
Ambitious, restless, and the bleeding, Gods:
Unheeded weep'd the injur'd lowly Maid,
To Death, or Ruin, by her Love betray'd:
Neglected sigh'd the fond despairing Swain,
And the proud Nymph triumphant was in vain:
The tragic Muse cast not her Eye so low,
Or view'd regardless Scenes of humble Woe:
Yet then Distress appear'd beneath the Shades,
And Virtue mourn'd in unfrequented Glades.
These Scenes the Woes of no exalted State
Present, nor Satire to alarm the Great:
Here Love and Friendship share an equal Part,
To call soft Pity from the tender Heart:
The pious Tear here filial Duty sheds,
And weds a-while to Sorrow when she weds;
Her virtuous Griefs, by Love supported, flow,
And find Relief alone from Cupid's Bow.
Present, nor Satire to alarm the Great:
Here Love and Friendship share an equal Part,
To call soft Pity from the tender Heart:
vii
And weds a-while to Sorrow when she weds;
Her virtuous Griefs, by Love supported, flow,
And find Relief alone from Cupid's Bow.
| Love the Cause and Cure of Grief, or The Innocent Murderer | |