 | The Parricide : Or, Innocence in Distress |  |
SCENE I.
SCENE, a Room in the Palace of Felix.ELIZA and ARIANA splendidly attired.
Eliza.
With Rapture let me hail the happy Day,
And Ariana, fairest of her kind,
Who crown the Wishes of our noble House,
Enriching hence our long-illustrious Blood.
Thro' all the verdant Vales of fertile Kent,
Thro' all the Bounds of conquer'd Britain, none
Have boasted Worth beyond my Ancestors,
Save that great Line which Ariana closes;
Whose brave Atchievements, all their blooming Honours,
She gives us, with the Charms of half her Sex.
Aria.
Alas, Eliza, what are all the Pomps
Of sculptur'd Marble, or recording Brass,
The glitt'ring Titles, or the blazon'd Shields,
Or, those false Soothings to the vain of Heart,
The noisy Pæans of the giddy Croud!
Unless the conscious Soul approves it self,
Nor takes Distinction but from inward worth.
Of sculptur'd Marble, or recording Brass,
The glitt'ring Titles, or the blazon'd Shields,
Or, those false Soothings to the vain of Heart,
The noisy Pæans of the giddy Croud!
Unless the conscious Soul approves it self,
2
How vain are all hereditary Honours,
Those poor Possessions from another's Deeds,
Unless our own just Virtues firm our Title,
And give a Sanction to the fond Assumptions.
Those poor Possessions from another's Deeds,
Unless our own just Virtues firm our Title,
And give a Sanction to the fond Assumptions.
If what to me seems worthier much of Praise,
An humble Nature, and a generous Will
To exercise the Duties of a Woman:
The prompt Forgiveness for the Starts of Passion,
The lenient Arts to tune discordant Souls,
And soften all the manly Cares of Life:
If such a Disposition carries ought
Of Virtue with it, then may Ariana,
From gentle Edmund and his Friends, perhaps,
In time deserve Esteem.
An humble Nature, and a generous Will
To exercise the Duties of a Woman:
The prompt Forgiveness for the Starts of Passion,
The lenient Arts to tune discordant Souls,
And soften all the manly Cares of Life:
If such a Disposition carries ought
Of Virtue with it, then may Ariana,
From gentle Edmund and his Friends, perhaps,
In time deserve Esteem.
Eliza.
O generous Maid!
That canst o'erlook those great Advantages
On which our Sex still place their highest Boasts!
But self-enobled, thou mayst well despise
The gaudy Pageant of reflected Glories,
Illustrious from thy own!—Yes, Ariana,
To merit thine, my Brother will exert
The Brightest Passion of the Soul! and still
Enjoy such Virtue with becoming Pride.
That canst o'erlook those great Advantages
On which our Sex still place their highest Boasts!
But self-enobled, thou mayst well despise
The gaudy Pageant of reflected Glories,
Illustrious from thy own!—Yes, Ariana,
To merit thine, my Brother will exert
The Brightest Passion of the Soul! and still
Enjoy such Virtue with becoming Pride.
But see thy noble Father bends his Steps
To greet you with his fond paternal Blessings,
And joyful lead you to the genial Bed:
From whence, his Hopes and my prophetick Soul
Foresee a Race ascend; whose branching Blood
Shall shoot abroad, and fill our Isle with Glory.
To greet you with his fond paternal Blessings,
And joyful lead you to the genial Bed:
From whence, his Hopes and my prophetick Soul
Foresee a Race ascend; whose branching Blood
Shall shoot abroad, and fill our Isle with Glory.
| The Parricide : Or, Innocence in Distress | |