English

A Tragedy.

ACT I.

Scene I. — Gloucester Castle Garden.

Enter Emma and B IRTHA .

EMMA.

H ERE distant from the cruel rage of war,
Securely placed in peaceful solitude,
We know but little of the gen'ral sorrow.
Yon venerable grove of spreading oaks
Kindly immures this antiquated castle
From proud Ambition's eye. It seems to court
Neglected worth and ruin'd majesty,
To sly for shelter here.

Song III

1

Whil'st we are here on Earth
We're dying every day:
Each day brings some new woe or grief
Whilst we are cloth'd with Clay.
We dwell in midst of Deaths
And Death amidst us dwells,
As too too well appeareth by
These daily doleful Knells

2

Now one dear Friend departs,

Song II

1

This then is Life in Death,
That Death will set us free
From Sin, which is our spiritual Death,
And greatest miserie.
We shall no more be griev'd
With minds that are so vain.
Of Pride, or Sloth, or Worldiness,
We shall no more complain

2

Our Ignorance shall cease

Song I

1

This World's Wilderness.
To God's afflicted Saints:
A place of Dangers, Fears, and Foes;
A place of Woes and Wants.
This Life's a very Death,
At least a dying life:
For this is Death in Life, to find
Sin in our Hearts so rife.

2

That we not only are

What Mystery is this
To seek for Life in Death,
The great Destroyer of the Sons
Of Adam and of Soth?
Can Death beget sweet Life?
Can such an Honey-comb,
So sweet and precious, come forth
Of Death's devouring Womb?

Yes: Christ hath broke the Teeth
And ta'ne away the Sting
Of Cruel Death, that Death is now

Fir'd with Resentment thus the Fair one pray'd,
And ample Curses for her Grief repay'd,
Just Jove above with Pity saw her Ill,
And bowing ratify'd her cruel Will;
At which Convulsions seiz'd the trembling Ground,
And all the Frame of Nature shook around.

Now Theseus homeward as he wings his Way,
Forgets those fatal Orders to obey,
Which when he first from Athens did depart,
Were vainly treasur'd in his faithless Heart:
Nor once bethought his anxious Sire to greet

" Why did you take me from my Father's Hand
" To leave me, Theseus , in a Foreign Land?
" Could you so soon my plighted Faith despise,
" And, perjur'd, dare the Anger of the Skies?
" Did nothing in your Breast persuasive prove,
" No soft Compassion melt your Soul to Love?
" Ah me! far other Promises you made,
" Far other Prospects to my View you laid;
" The Nuptial Joys I hop'd and Bridal Day,
" But envious Winds have born my Hopes away.
" Let now no Woman trust in Man again!

Where the rude Waves on Dia 's Harbour play,
The fair forsaken Ariadne lay:
Here first the wretched Maid was taught to prove
The bitter Pangs of ill rewarded Love;
Here saw, just freed from a fallacious Sleep,
Her Theseus flying o'er the distant Deep:
Wistful she look'd, nor what she saw believ'd,
Hop'd some Mistake, and wish'd to be deceiv'd.
While the false Youth his Way securely made,
His Faith forgotten, and his Vows unpay'd.
At length she found her partial Fears too true,
The well-known Vessel less'ning to her View;

Song III

A Dialogue between the Flesh and Spirit.

Flesh

1

Lord any Cross but this
I'le be content to bear
But oh I cannot part with one
Whom I esteem so dear. Sp .
Shall mortal man presume
His Maker to instruct?
Or teach Jehovah in what Paths
He shall his Soul conduct?

2

Song II

1

And now for such as are
Of dearest Friends bereft,
That in a Solitary state
Most desolate are left
Oh might I speak a word
That might allay your grief,
Instruct you how to bear your Cross,
Or lend you some relief.

2

Suppose a Friend had lent thee,