 | Edward and Eleonora |  |
PROLOGUE. By a Friend.
In
former Times, when fierce religious Rage,
And priestly Sway deform'd each suffering Age,
All manly Wit, all useful Learning lay
In Darkness lost, nor hop'd returning Day.
Religion then was stain'd by cruel Deeds:
And free-born Reason stoop'd to Craft and Creeds.
But happier We!—And tho' to-night we show
What fatal Ills from blind Devotion flow,
'Tis not that we such Rage renew'd can fear,
Or dread the Hand of Persecution here—
Our Scene would wide Humanity impart;
Would breathe extensive Candour thro' the Heart;
Show true Religion even to Error kind,
And claim the perfect Freedom of the Mind.
And priestly Sway deform'd each suffering Age,
All manly Wit, all useful Learning lay
In Darkness lost, nor hop'd returning Day.
Religion then was stain'd by cruel Deeds:
And free-born Reason stoop'd to Craft and Creeds.
But happier We!—And tho' to-night we show
What fatal Ills from blind Devotion flow,
'Tis not that we such Rage renew'd can fear,
Or dread the Hand of Persecution here—
Our Scene would wide Humanity impart;
Would breathe extensive Candour thro' the Heart;
Show true Religion even to Error kind,
And claim the perfect Freedom of the Mind.
If too the Poet paints a noble Strife
'Twixt the fond Husband and the generous Wife;
If all the Father in his Voice complains,
And all the Mother in her tender Strains;
If these best Passions prompt the pleasing Woe,
Indulge it freely—Nature bids it flow:
Where Parent Nature leads, you cannot stray;
And what she wills, 'tis Virtue to obey.
'Twixt the fond Husband and the generous Wife;
If all the Father in his Voice complains,
And all the Mother in her tender Strains;
If these best Passions prompt the pleasing Woe,
Indulge it freely—Nature bids it flow:
Where Parent Nature leads, you cannot stray;
And what she wills, 'tis Virtue to obey.
Fond of Britannia's Fame, and just to You,
He bids old English Honour live anew,
And calls your great first Edward up to view.
But if his Line too weak, his Stroke too faint,
The graceful Figure, in full Light, to paint;
In candid part his honest Meaning take,
And spare the Poet for the Hero's sake.
He bids old English Honour live anew,
And calls your great first Edward up to view.
But if his Line too weak, his Stroke too faint,
The graceful Figure, in full Light, to paint;
In candid part his honest Meaning take,
And spare the Poet for the Hero's sake.
| Edward and Eleonora | |