University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE.

Well Sirs! You have seen Virginia die! Ye Powers
The mighty difference between her Time and ours.
Virginius, an old Captain was of Rome,
Who absent with his City Bands from home;
Heard a Hot Courtier would his Girl engage;
When posting back to Rome in mighty Rage
This Son of Hector, like a surly Bully,
Kills his poor Child to disappoint her Gully.
That 'tis far otherwise with us is plain,
While City Captain here makes short Campaign,
In Bunhill-Fields subduing France and Spain.
How oft has Courtier maul'd both Wife and Daughter?
Yet no such bloody Business follow'd after.
There's something in Virginia stranger still,
Whom at her own request her Sire did kill,
For fear she should be pleas'd against her Will,
When will a Damsel of our City strain
Resolve to die e'er Ease her Lover's Pain?
But now to finish all in a more serious vein.
Virginia's Death did Liberty restore,
As from Lucretia's Tomb it rose before,
When Cæsar afterwards enslav'd the State,
Porcia rous'd Brutus to great Cæsar's Fate.
Tho' Rome in Heroes always did abound,
Still from her Women she lost Freedom found.
So fair Britannia o'er the World is fam'd
For Men of dauntless Spirits and untam'd;
But yet when by her Folly or her Fate,
Her Liberty was in a dangerous State.
The Blessing ne'er cou'd be secur'd by Man,
But Heav'n reserv'd th'immortal Fame for Anne.