A Prologue to be Spoken by Mr. Frankley
To shew the vile intentions of the mind To paint the real vices of mankind To drag out crimes conceal'd in shades of night To fetch the lurking mischief to the light To shew the effects of every baleful ill By black examples drawn with wondrous skill For this the Drama first adorned the stage Checking the progress of a vicious age Here see our crimes and follies all portray'd The road to virtue joy and bliss display'd This proves the wisdom of the heavenly plan That the perverseness in the heart of man But here our authur far exceeds the rest He dwelt unnotic'd in the villian's breast There saw how treason from the infernal seed Sprung forth increas'd and ripen'd for the deed While Satan pouring in the invenom'd gall Conducted guided and assisted all Far distant since before the world began Or ever being claim'd a kindred Man Within the blest abodes of heaven above The empyreal regions of eternal love Satan that first old vile arch traitor fell And drew with him his Myriads to rebel The great Supreme in vengeance quick prepar'd A fi'ry prison treason's just reward And thunders rolling from the Almighty's throne To hells dark center drove the traitors down So Judas too when he his Lord betray'd Was sent to his own place by justice made There join'd by kindred souls with similar guilt Fell weighty vengeance for the blood they've spilt Thus Heaven and Earth were freed the traitors now Were all imprison'd in the shades below No more to rove the realms of joy and peace With war sedition slaughter and distress But see and wonder that our happy Land Where freedom arms a patriotic band Where mild and equal Laws by wisdom giv'n Form a most fair epitome of Heaven Should be defac'd by treasons noxious breath Should in its bosom keep and cherish death Transgress the first great Law make nature groan And rob Newgate and Satan of their own Ye sons of freedom rouse avert your shame Pursue the glories of your dawning fame Distinguish well your friends from artful foes These you'll reject but honour pay to those Establish firm the Fabric you've begun To last and shine as long as yonder sun Nor sooner fall than when the King of Kings Brings to a final close all earthy things.
Royall Tyler’s other poems:
- Convivial Song for General Morris
- The Death Song of Alknomook
- Ode to Night Yalden’s Ode
- A Christmas Hymn Sung in the Episcopal Church at Claremont on the Anniversary of That Festival Decem
- The Widower
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