PROLOGUE TO SOPHONISBA. BY POPE AND MALLET1. WHEN learning, after the long Gothic night, The tragic Muse, returning, wept her woes. What foreign theatres with pride have shown, Britain, by juster title, makes her own. When freedom is the cause, 'tis hers to fight; And hers, when freedom is the theme, to write. For this a British author bids again The heroine rise, to grace the British scene. Here, as in life, she breathes her genuine flame: She asks, what bosom has not felt the same ? Asks of the British youth--Is silence there? She dares to ask it of the British fair. To-night our homespun author would be true, At once, to nature, history, and you. Well pleased to give our neighbours due applause, 1 I have been told by Savage, that of the Prologue to Sophonisba, the first part was written by Pope, who could not be persuaded to finish it; and that the concluding lines were written by Mallet.-Dr. Johnson. Nature! informer of the poet's art, Whose force alone can raise or melt the heart, ELEGY, ΤΟ The Memory of an unfortunate Lady. WHAT beckoning ghost along the moonlight shade Is it, in Heaven, a crime to love too well? Who bade ye else, ye powers! her soul aspire Like eastern kings a lazy state they keep, And separate from their kindred dregs below, But thou, false guardian of a charge too good, Thus shall your wives, and thus your children fall: What can atone (oh, ever-injured shade!) What though no friends in sable weeds appear, Grieve for an hour, perhaps, then mourn a year, And bear about the mockery of woe To midnight dances, and the public show? What though no weeping loves thy ashes grace, Nor polish'd marble emulate thy face? What though no sacred earth allow thee room, Nor hallow'd dirge be mutter'd o'er thy tomb? Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be dress'd, And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast; There shall the morn her earliest tears bestow, There the first roses of the year shall blow; While angels with their silver wings o'ershade The ground, now sacred by thy relics made. So peaceful rests, without a stone, a name, What once had beauty, titles, wealth, and fame. How loved, how honour'd once, avails thee not, To whom related, or by whom begot: A heap of dust alone remains of thee: 'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be! Poets themselves must fall like those they sung, Deaf the praised ear, and mute the tuneful tongue. Even he, whose soul now melts in mournful lays, Shall shortly want the generous tear he pays; Then from his closing eyes thy form shall part, And the last pang shall tear thée from his heart; Life's idle business at one gasp be o'er, The Muse forgot, and thou be loved no more! EPISTLES. ΤΟ ROBERT EARL OF OXFORD AND MORTIMER'. SUCH were the notes thy once-loved poet sung, Till death untimely stopp'd his tuneful tongue. Oh, just beheld and lost! admired and mourn'd! With softest manners, gentlest arts, adorn'd! Bless'd in each science! bless'd in every strain! Dear to the Muse! to Harley dear-in vain! For him thou oft hast bid the world attend, Fond to forget the statesman in the friend; For Swift and him despised the farce of state, The sober follies of the wise and great; Dexterous the craving, fawning crowd, to quit, And pleased to 'scape from flattery to wit. Absent or dead, still let a friend be dear, (A sigh the absent claims, the dead a tear) Recall those nights that closed thy toilsome days, Still hear thy Parnell in his living lays; Who, careless now of interest, fame, or fate, Perhaps forgets that Oxford e'er was great; Or deeming meanest what we greatest call, Beholds thee glorious only in thy fall. 1 Sent to the Earl of Oxford with Dr. Parnell's Poems, published by our author after the Earl's imprisonment in the Tower, and retreat into the country, in the year 1721. |