EPILOGUE.

To be spoken by the Actress who has performed the character of Julia.

TIMID and sad before you I appear,
And come to bless, not to dispel the tear,
Myself the victim of my mimic art,
And still the mourning daughter in my heart;
Still, still I weep-do you confirm the cheat,
And with your sighs prolong the dear deceit:
Yet for the daughter not alone I sue,

And more than grief is admiration due,

To the great cause which stung the mother's breast
And torturing sunk her in eternal rest:

Britons! that cause, which mighty Rome ador'd,
Which gave her freedom and again restor❜d!
For when Lucretia's wrongs were whelm'd in time,
And Appius shaded darker Tarquin's crime,
At lost Virginia's shriek slaves rais'd the head,
The judge grew righteous and the tyrant fled:
Is then the matron's honor but a name,
Nor the shield sacred o'er the virgin's fame?
Is there no bond of more than magic charm,
For spotless woman and the hero's arm?
Shall we reject the sentiment and sense,
That valour ever bind to innocence?
A common blessing does no power reveal
To those who bravely act and purely feel?

I

Dissolve this tie and every hope you yield,
Wretches at home and cowards in the field.
Should you object, I am too young to teach,
"Tis by the author's orders thus I preach:
"I use the poet's privilege," he cried,
And thus he said, and thus he prophecy'd.
When not alone fair virtue's strength shall fail,
But vice undaunted throw aside the veil,
When so far shall proceed the black'ning pest,
That female honor shall be deem'd a jest,
When the false friends in highest circles move,
Who tore the blushing rose from wedded love,
When the wrong'd husband decorates his life
With spoils obtain'd through his dishonor'd wife,
When the affections to all pride shall die,
To all their ancient shew and gallantry,
Then, oh my country! (be the omens far!)
Sunk is the glory of the western star,
Self-vanquish'd, self-debas'd, a pow'rless foe,
With mean submission you escape the blow,
Your golden harvests glad a foreign strand,
And shine as tribute through a hostile land.

THE

SCHOOL FOR FRIENDS.

A COMEDY.