As wishing to avoid me. Stung To all others She look'd an elegance of ease, and spoke In terms as free as air-to me, her speech, Unfrequent, was abrupt and cautious. With scorpion jealousy, I, to my soul, Thus spoke indignant- What have these to boast, These favour'd rivals, o'er rejected Hugon? Does their pre-eminence consist in shape, Or feature?-eyes, that are not Eliphene's, Will answer, no. And, as to feats of prowess, Compar'd with me, they 're nameless!-O shame, shame, Shame on this weakness, this degrading passion! Henceforth, I will wage war on my own heartAnd conquer it, or perish!' "At the time, The tidings of your dread invasion reach'd us. [call'd, First take thy last adieu of Eliphene !' As a self-murderer, desperate of his state, "I lay encamp'd, my legions tented round me, 66 6 hated The light fram'd mail of my belov'd companion, I laid her down, and, to the pitying Moon, [broke, "Meantime, Elphenor, pendent o'er the corse, Still plied his tender offices. At length, The beauteous form began to move-each heart Bounded with expectation-when her eyes Open'd their faint refulgence to the light, Look'd wild around her with a sickly gleam, And clos'd their orbs for ever! Then Elphenor: By Death's cold hand this rose of beauty cropp'd, Fades, and shall bloom no more-except in Hea ven !' "Meantime, astonish'd, o'er the lifeless corse The hero speechless stood then, all at once, As some high cliff, far jutting o'er its base, Disparts and dashes on the sea-beat shore, Bereft of sense he fell-bless'd pause of being! But O, how fearfully to be succeeded By anguishes unutterable! Long, Long lay he tranc'd. I thought, I wish'd him dead. For what had life, midst all its stores of bliss, For him, save misery extreme? At length, He wak'd to all the pangs of mental feeling! "Five days, and five soul-tort'ring nights, he lay By th' embalm'd remains-in all which time, Nor food, nor word of utterance, pass'd his lips; Nor word of consolation to his ear Obtain'd admission. By his side fast laid, I press'd his hand in mine, and on it dropp'd The tear of sad condolence! Through the camp Sudden I heard the shout of joint lament. I rose, and issu'd forth." [tender, BOAZ. Should trace her Hugon into death and dangers! To hold him rearward. Still I turn'd, and turn'd, By her lov'd fawn, to see if he was near But yet, alas, in fear of losing fame, I led my friend too deeply into dangers! Your host prevail'd! Indignant I oppos'd, RUTH: AN ORATORIO. PERSONS. RUTH. RECITATIVE.-NAOMI. Behold, my lovely child, behold, Yon portion fair of Moab's earth, How Bethlehem's streets at our approach pour The glory of the grove, of every tree the king! forth their young and old! SCENE II. NAOMI, RUTH, BOAZ, ISRAELITES. Naomi-lost and found again, O welcome to thy native plain! Raise all your voices, brethren, raise, And hail your sister's glad return with gratulating lays. RECITATIVE.-NAOMI. Say, brethren, who is he that leads the throng, And like a hero moves majestical along? RECITATIVE.-FIRST ISRAELITE. 'Tis Boaz, Bethlehem's prince, your near alliedYour first of kindred by your husband's side! AIR, DUET.-ISRAELITE. His step is at a distance from thousands discern'd! When he speaks in the gate, elders hear and grow learn'd! His couches are spread for the stranger's repose; For the naked he shears, for the hungry he sows! He stands like a tree in the midst of his ground, With the widow and orphan rejoicing around! RECITATIVE.-BOAZ. Hail, mother of thy people!-this embrace Bids thee thrice welcome to thy native place. Oft have those arms my infant years caress'd, And clasp'd thy little kinsman to thy breast! RECITATIVE.-NAOMI. Hail, son-May Heaven in bounty heap on thee Tenfold the blessings it has rent from me! RECITATIVE. BOAZ. In this our present happy lot, But where is she, our new allied- AIR. NAOMI. Lo, there! like a mist on the morning, her veil It betrays what it means to conceal, RECITATIVE.-BOAZ. Thee, fairest Ruth, by Israel's law I claim, A glad succeeder to thy husband's name! Thrice have the visions of the night Brought to my view thy semblance fair, that fill'd my tent with light! RECITATIVE.-RUTII. If so your laws ordain, Your handmaid will not of her lot complain. RECITATIVE.-HIGH PRIEST. Hear, men of Bethlehem, and rejoice! The LORD informs his servant's voice CHORUS OF PRIESTS. To the centre, shall reach the vast depth of his root! To the stars, the vast height of his summit shall shoot! Through the world, the vast length of his boughs shall extend ! For their food, on his fruit, shall all nations depend! GRAND CHORUS. Hail, mother of approaching grace! Far distant I see him!-The young and the old Lightly leap from the ground; The deaf run to hear, and the blind to beholdAnd the dead rise triumphant around! PROLOGUES AND EPILOGUES. PROLOGUE TO GUSTAVUS VASA. BRITONS! this night presents a state distress'd: Though brave, yet vanquish'd; and though great, oppress'd. Vice, rav'ning vulture, on her vitals prey'd; Then, greatly rising in his country's right, Great Nature's law, the law within the breast; Our bard, exalted in a freeborn flame, PROLOGUE TO THE EARL OF ESSEX, A TRAGEDY. THIS night, to your free censure, are expos'd Deep is the spring, whose stream this night we draw; Its source is truth-'tis liberty made law: If aught is honest, noble, kind, or great, Is there, who claims, who feels, who prizes aught, For which the hero bled, the patriot wrought?Elizabeth, as one inspiring soul, Reform'd, connected, and affirm'd the whole; And sent the blessings down, through ev'ry reign, For you to clasp, to cherish, and retain ! Like Cynthia, peerless queen, supremely crown'd, Her guardian constellations blaz'd aroundSelected chiefs, for council, as for fight; Her men of wisdom, and her men of might; Whose acts, illustrating our annals, stand The grace, the good, the glory of the land! For then no courtly faction stood confess'dWho serv'd his country, serv'd his queen the best! If yet, among those godlike men of old, Some taint of earth lay mingled with the mould; On human frailty if misfortune grew, And sufferings, such as all who read must rueThrough time descending let the sorrow flow, And you who share the virtue, share the woe! ANOTHER PROLOGUE TO THE EARL OF ESSEX. SPOKEN BY MR. SHERIDAN. WHENE'ER the brave, the gen'rous, and the just, Nor thus content she opens death's cold womb, And bursts the cearments of the awful tomb To cast him up again-to bid him live, Nor deem it much, that we retrace to night If there soft pity pours her plenteous store, Who still inherit all the rights of man- PROLOGUE TO THE EARL OF WESTMORLAND, A TRAGEDY. [you! CHARM'D to this spot, concurring to this night, ANOTHER PROLOGUE TO THE EARL OF WESTMORLAND. THERE was a time, these polish'd times preceding, |