OTTOKESA [to the Officer]. Did you not say my child was dead?—I thank I was just struggling on the fatal brink, you, [Dies. CZAR. Farewell, for ever ; There sunk a glorious fabrick ;—my child too!— What would I not revenge on this curs'd Artamon, But for my Catharine's love! CATHARINE. ; No more I'll see him On some lone beach I'll mourn my weary hours In penance for his guilt,—make reparation To Heaven's high throne for his unheard of crimes, If not fore-doom'd beyond the reach of mercy. CZAR. Never! thou perfect being, thou 'rt all the hold My cruel father! CATHARINE. CZAR. Shall be for life imprison'd; His conscience be his executioner! But oh! consent to rule the State I've rais'd, 'Tis now my only wish. Though blinded long, and by a villain lost, EPILOGUE. IN THE CHARACTER OF CATHARINE. > WELL-I've said all I can-but 'tis the vogue, And sink Queen Catherine down to vulgar Kate. For these, the Maid, such is the modern rule, Fraught with sage maxims from a boarding-shool, Is hawk'd about in Fashion's dull parade, From Church to Court, from Court to Masque rade: "Lord! how delicious! what a charming creature! "Such symmetry of limb, such grace, such fea ture, "E'en frozen age, such ripen'd charms must move, "To gaze, is here another phrase for Love." Straight to the wish some Mummy Lord appears, Using each soft, each sympathizing name, Till hints besiege each circulating post; 66 Pray have you heard? - the world does say it's so," Caught in her chamber,―nay I do not know," "PISTOL and THORAX*" then complete the blow. * See School for Scandal. Such is the scene that gilds their married life, A nauseous fondness, and a peevish strife, Ills heap'd on ills, and force repell'd by force, Till a third winter crowns the wish'd divorce; The brother Cuckolds the dead Lord deride, The living Fair one blooms again a Bride. Have Titles then no charms ?-Must the fair scorn them ? Titles add lustre, when the great adorn them. |