Antony and Cleopatra an historical Play |
To the right honourable, and worthy of all Titles, the Countess of ---.
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 | Antony and Cleopatra |  |
To the right honourable, and worthy of all Titles, the Countess of ---.
Why, from the throne where beauty sits supreme
and countless emanations deals below,
infus'd and fix'd in Woman's shining frame,
doth so large portion of his wonder flow?
why, but to rule the tread of human woe,
and point our erring feet where joys abide:
But (ah, the pity!) to a traitor flame,
weak, wavering, wild, the heav'n-born ray is ty'd,
and man, confiding man, from bliss estranged wide.
and countless emanations deals below,
infus'd and fix'd in Woman's shining frame,
doth so large portion of his wonder flow?
why, but to rule the tread of human woe,
and point our erring feet where joys abide:
But (ah, the pity!) to a traitor flame,
weak, wavering, wild, the heav'n-born ray is ty'd,
and man, confiding man, from bliss estranged wide.
Daughters of Britain, scorn the garish fire,
exile the meteor to it's Pharian grave;
sincerer flames from Virtue's heights aspire,
that brighten beauty, and from sorrow save:
High o'er the rest, see, what fair hand doth wave
a deathless torch; and calls you to the shrine,
where only beauty only bliss entire!
follow the branch of much-lov'd ---'s line,
and from those altars mend, with her, the ray divine.
exile the meteor to it's Pharian grave;
sincerer flames from Virtue's heights aspire,
that brighten beauty, and from sorrow save:
High o'er the rest, see, what fair hand doth wave
a deathless torch; and calls you to the shrine,
where only beauty only bliss entire!
follow the branch of much-lov'd ---'s line,
and from those altars mend, with her, the ray divine.
Oct. 3d 1757.
Ignoto.
| Antony and Cleopatra | |