132 EJJi^y on Majfinger. 



refpefl, immediately on his appearance, by the 

 following fentiments j 



.... In all growing empires. 



E'en cruelty is ufeful ; fome muft fufFer, 



And be fet up examples, to ftrike terror 



In others, tho' far off; but when a ftate 



Is rais'd to her perfeftion, and her bafes 



Too firm to fhrink or yield, we may ufe mercy. 



And do't with fafety. Virgin Martyr, Aft I. 



Sforza is an elevated charafter, caft in a different 

 mould : brave, frank and generous, he is hur- 

 ried, by the unreftrained force of his paffions, 

 into fatal exceffes in love and friendfhip. He 

 appears with great dignity before the Emperor, 

 on whofe mercy he is thrown, by the defeat of his 

 allies, the French, at the battle of Pavia. After re- 

 counting his obligations to Francis, he proceeds, 



. If then, to be grateful 



For courtefies receiv'd, or not to leave 

 A friend in his necefllty, be a crime 



Amongft you Spaniards 



Sforza brings his head 



To pay the forfeit. Nor come I as a flave, 

 Pinion'd and fetter'd, in a fqualid weed. 

 Falling before thy feet, kneeling and howling 

 For a forellall'd remiffion : that were poor. 

 And would but fhame thy viftory ; for conquefl 

 Over bafe foes, is a captivity. 

 And not a triumph. I ne'er fear'd to die. 

 More than I wifli'd to live. When I had reach'd 

 My erds in being a Duke, I wore thefe robes. 

 This crown upon my head, and to my fide 

 This fword was girt: and witnefs truth, that now 



'Tis in another's power when I fliall part 



With 



