But turn'd the Tube upon his Faults to look; Paths open to Deceit; and track'd with Blood. With Smiles I could betray, with Temper kill: In vain for Life He to the Altar fled: Ambition and Revenge have certain Speed. Ev'n there, My Soul, ev'n there He should have fell; But that my Intereft did my Rage conceal. Doubling my Crime, I promise, and deceive; Purpose to flay, whilft fwearing to forgive. Treaties, Perfwafions, Sighs, and Tears are vain: In folemn State to Parricide I rife; And, as GOD lives, this Day my Brother dies. Be Quæ tamen hinc lacrymæ, quantus dolor! Ut libet atrum Delere ex animo fcelus! Ut prætexere vellem Alteriufque onerare immani crimine famam! Corde adeo trepidante, parum facunda, neque artem Oftentans, noftrum veraci carmine Mufa Opprobrium explicuit, fidâque ingrata tabellâ Quàm fpes vana hominum, quàm vanæ pectora curæ Ad metam,quàm nigrum iter eft,quàmq; undiq;acerbum! Tan Be Witness to my Tears, Celestial Muse! In vain I would forget, in vain excuse Fraternal Blood by my Direction spilt; In vain on JOA B's Head transfer the Guilt: O The Deed was acted by the Subject's Hand; The Sword was pointed by the King's Commandɔ797-d Mine was the Murder: it was Mine alone; 50 Years of Contrition must the Crime attone: Nor can my guilty Soul expect Relief, But from a long Sincerity of Grief. With an imperfect Hand, and trembling Heart, The mournful Figures of my Action paft: Tir'd in the Field of Life, I hope Retreat i In the ftill Shades of Death: for Dread and Pain, Tangunt tela Virum placidâ jam pace fepulchri Cur trepidas, Ratio? quidnam eft Mors ifta? nihilne Præter torpentem concreti fanguinis æstum, Interclufa animæ fpiracula, membra vigore Orbata, & pofita anguftæ spatia ultima vitæ? Fumus ut accenfo glomerari vifus ab igne Se furfum rapit, & tenues vanefcit in auras; Ut celerem per inane fugam volitantia carpunt Nubila, præcipitique abeunt disperdita vento: Sic Hominum fubito pede lubrica labitur ætas; Vitæ fic vapor emicat, in vacuumque recedit Aera; fic fpatiis inftans propioribus ortum Occafus juxta infequitur, cunafque fepulchrum. Que Timidi horrorem, quæ vota medetur Avari, Mors finem adducit, quem non procul abfore cuncti Novimus: hinc animo fatalia tempora forti Profpiciens, lethum contemne, nec infcia flecti Naturæ jura incufes; quin munera vitæ, Non aliâ data lege, hilaris lætufque reponas. His Sapiens dictis, fecum diverfa volutans, Refpon And their Points broke, retorted from the Head, Yet tell Me, frighted Reafon! what is Death? And End of Motion which with Life began? Cure of the Mifer's Wish, and Coward's Fear, Death only fhews Us, what We knew was near, With Courage therefore view the pointed Hour; Dread not Death's Anger; but expect his Pow'r; Nor Nature's Law with fruitless Sorrow mourn; But dye, O Mortal Man! for Thou waft born. Cautious thro' Doubt; by Want of Courage, Wise, |