University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE, Spoken by Mr. Garrick.

When Philip's son led forth his warlike band,
To die, or conquer, in a distant land;
To fan the fire, a martial muse he chose;
From Homer's song a new Achilles rose!
When generous Athens her prime trophies won,
Vanquish'd Darius, and Darius' son,
The stage breath'd war—the soldiers bosom burn'd,
And fiercer to the field each chief return'd:
Now, when the world resounds with loud alarms,
When victory sits plan'd on Britain's arms,
Be war our theme: the hero's glorious toil,
And virtue springing from the iron soil!
Our scenes present a siege in story known;
Where magnanimity, and valour shone:
If nature guides us, if the hand of truth
Draws the just portrait of a Roman youth,
Who, with the best and noblest passions fir'd,
In the same moment, conquer'd and expir'd;
Perhaps your hearts may own the pictur'd woe,
And from a fonder source your sorrows flow:
Whilst warm remembrance aids the poet's strain,
And, England weeps for English heroes slain.