 | Junius Brutus |  |
14
THE PROLOGUE.
As it was writ Originally.
When
Infant Rome, for warlike Arts renown'd,
Began t'enlarge her Empire's narrow Bound,
A Prince arose who by no Laws confin'd,
Trampled on all the Rights of Humankind;
With unrelenting Rage enslav'd the Land;
The People groan'd beneath his cruel Hand:
The Patriot-Citizens essay'd in vain,
The Torrent of his Fury to restrain.
Began t'enlarge her Empire's narrow Bound,
A Prince arose who by no Laws confin'd,
Trampled on all the Rights of Humankind;
With unrelenting Rage enslav'd the Land;
The People groan'd beneath his cruel Hand:
The Patriot-Citizens essay'd in vain,
The Torrent of his Fury to restrain.
Then Brutus, rais'd by Heav'n for Public Good,
Himself descended from the Royal Blood,
Stood forth t'assert the suff'ring Romans Cause,
And vindicate their violated Laws.
Here, faintly sketch'd, the Warrior Prince you'll see,
Himself descended from the Royal Blood,
Stood forth t'assert the suff'ring Romans Cause,
And vindicate their violated Laws.
Who sav'd these Realms from double Tyranny.
When pure Religion, drooping, hung her head,
And frighted Justice from the Benches fled;
When ev'ry Sacred Tye was wildly broke,
And Britain bow'd beneath Oppression's Yoke;
15
The generous Heroe flew to her Relief,
Redress'd her crying Wrongs, dissolv'd her Fears,
And fixt her Liberties for Length of Years;
The Night of Superstition chas'd away,
And gave to View fair Truth's Meridian Ray!
To Him we owe th'Illustrious Royal Race,
Who with mild Sway the British Sceptre grace.
Justice and Equity our Rights maintain,
And, Uncontroul'd, with awful Splendor reign!
Britons, with grateful Hearts your Freedom prize,
And, as your Blessings, let your Joys arise!
[The following Lines were inserted last Year, when his Highness the Prince of Orange was in England.]
See! William's worthy Heir adorn our Isle,
Whose Reverend Genius greets him with a Smile;
Early he glows, in Arts and Arms to shine,
Gracing with Native Worth his Ancient Line,
While all the Muses their glad Aid impart,
With Anna's Charms to fire his generous Heart.
| Junius Brutus | |