 | Philodamus |  |
EPILOGUE, by a Friend.
Spoken by Miss. Younge, in the Character of EUPHEMIA.
Oh
hard condition of our helpless stage,
And murd'rous poetry's remorseless rage!
Are there no laws to check the tragic mood,
No inquisition to be made for blood,
E'en when unmaster'd madness whets the knife,
And so unnatural the hate to life,
That for a husband's sake it kills a wife?
And murd'rous poetry's remorseless rage!
Are there no laws to check the tragic mood,
No inquisition to be made for blood,
E'en when unmaster'd madness whets the knife,
And so unnatural the hate to life,
That for a husband's sake it kills a wife?
Had but our author check'd his furious spite,
(As besides me he has slain three to-night)
What hinder'd, but more lovely from my woe,
And breathing joy in sorrow's sable shew,
(As dames of Ephesus and Britain know)
To a rich Roman nabob's arms I'd come,
And lady Rubrius borne the belle in Rome?
(As besides me he has slain three to-night)
What hinder'd, but more lovely from my woe,
And breathing joy in sorrow's sable shew,
(As dames of Ephesus and Britain know)
To a rich Roman nabob's arms I'd come,
And lady Rubrius borne the belle in Rome?
Of all blest wives, sure I had been the first,
—Blest—in proportion as my spouse was curs'd!
The wealth of Asia on my breast I'd worn,
And for my toilette sack'd the realms of morn;
Then sparkling perjuries had bound my hair,
And twinkling murders beam'd in either ear.
Pale famish'd provinces grown pearls, to deck,
Entwin'd with diamond treacheries, my neck;
A people's fetters had my wrists confin'd,
And realms been slaves my flowing zone to bind!
My radiant feet had held two prostrate kings,
And dwindled Rajas kiss'd my hands in rings!
—Blest—in proportion as my spouse was curs'd!
The wealth of Asia on my breast I'd worn,
And for my toilette sack'd the realms of morn;
Then sparkling perjuries had bound my hair,
And twinkling murders beam'd in either ear.
Pale famish'd provinces grown pearls, to deck,
Entwin'd with diamond treacheries, my neck;
A people's fetters had my wrists confin'd,
And realms been slaves my flowing zone to bind!
My radiant feet had held two prostrate kings,
And dwindled Rajas kiss'd my hands in rings!
More bright I'd shone than Jewish dames, of old,
In pilfer'd trinkets of Egyptian gold!
One trifling law the favour'd race transgress'd—
But me the broken Decalogue had dress'd!
In pilfer'd trinkets of Egyptian gold!
One trifling law the favour'd race transgress'd—
But me the broken Decalogue had dress'd!
All hearts and eyes had homage paid alike,
As wealth or beauty had the power to strike!
These thought, no charm that pious wife could lack
Who bore her husband's sins upon her back!
While these had miss'd, who trivial toys despise,
In me no beauty, as in him no vice,
Or lov'd the crimes of which I wore the prize!
And cried aloud, “No want of virtue sullies,
“With gold enough to bribe five hundred Tully's!”
As wealth or beauty had the power to strike!
These thought, no charm that pious wife could lack
Who bore her husband's sins upon her back!
While these had miss'd, who trivial toys despise,
In me no beauty, as in him no vice,
Or lov'd the crimes of which I wore the prize!
And cried aloud, “No want of virtue sullies,
“With gold enough to bribe five hundred Tully's!”
| Philodamus | |