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OTTOKESA [to the Officer].

Did you not say my child was dead?—I thank
Yea, kindly thank you ;-

I was just struggling on the fatal brink,
And this last sentence ends me.

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
I've left me on my journey ;-soon as we've paid
Sepulchral honours to their injur'd shades,
Deck'd their cold tombs with tributary tears,
Which I will plenteous shed,-live then, my Queen;
'Tis your's alone to reign, and bless my people.

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,
Yet in the bright career of boundless fame
I leave an envied track;-my setting sun
Eclips'd with guilt, almost beyond atonement,
Shall end in clouds with Me; but rise again
With renovated strength, new-kindled fires,
To show my Catharine to a gazing world.

EPILOGUE.

IN THE CHARACTER OF CATHARINE.

>

WELL-I've said all I can-but 'tis the vogue,
And, Ladies, I must speak some Epilogue;
Must yield to custom's all controuling sway,
And turn to jest some Heroine of the Play;
Must" pluck bright Honour" from its throne and
state,

And sink Queen Catherine down to vulgar Kate.
Yet say, ye fair, have Titles then no charms?
The very question female hearts alarms;
Titles, for which we barter real sway,
And deck December with the gifts of May;
Titles, for which, each earthly bliss resign'd,
We yield a willing empire o'er the mind.

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,
Fraught with experience of full fourscore years;
The Peer, 'tis true, has somewhat passed his prime,
But Bath repairs the ravages of time:
Relations then are summon'd, writings made,
In all the unmeaning round of law-parade;
The Title only Miss's doubts removes,
Papa still hesitates-Mamma approves :
At length vast Settlements secure her pow'r,
And Special License crowns the midnight hour.
My Lord, whom youthful beauty still inspires,
"For in his ashes live their wonted fires,"
In whose enraptur'd breast the embers glow,
Like Ætna glimmering through a field of snow,
Unable to repress the ardent flame,

Using each soft, each sympathizing name,
In extacy supreme, while Wits deride,
Tottering and boastful, dares essay the Bride.
Their happiness complete is then the boast,

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.

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