1801. | 
hibiting the moft charafterittic fcene of this 
mafque, has been engraved at Leipzig. 
PALAZOPHRON anv NEOTERPE ; 
A MASQUE for the FESTIVAL of the 24th of 
O&ober, 1800.. 
SCENE—/4 Porci—On ac peren Altar— 
before it a Sanéuary, denoted by a low wall— 
Without the Sanfuary a Seat of Stone. 
(NEOTERPE with two Children mafked in 
Chara&er ) 
1 FIND a gallant company affembled here 
To celebrate ¢his happy day’s feftivity, 
And boldly onwards prefs, in hopes that they 
perchance 
May yield my little ones and me fecurity, 
Which much we need——When I approach in- 
deed to beg 
Your hofpitality, you alfo might demand 
My family and name: yet tis to anfwer this, 
Believe me, much more difficult than you 
fuppofe, 
How to behave I know—y et know I not my- 
felf ; 
But what fo many people fay’ of me I know 
Full well—by fome 1 am faluted Novelty, 
And often Genius of the Age—fuffice it 
then 
To fay that Iam fill the neweft ev ’ry where, 
Unwelcome ftill and welcome I purfue my 
way, 
And, were I not, then nothing would be 
ev’ry where. 
Yet, tho’ my prefence be as needful to man- - 
kind 
As *tis delightful, ftill an Elder follows me 
Behind, who would deftroy me, could his 
lingering 
And folemn fteps o’ertake me—yet he hunts 
me thus - 
From place to place, that, with my pretty 
‘ play-fellows, 
¥ can no more with unfufpeGting fympathy 
- Rejoice fo heartily in cheerful life’s“delights. 
Now hither have { fed, where I beheld you 
all 
Affembled to rejoice inthis glad feftival, 
And hope for fhelter here againft this cruel 
man, 
And Tattice, tho’ indeed he be the miglitier. 
For this, before the altar of the Gods, who 
guard 
This houfe, i throw myfelf a humble fup- 
pliant : 
Kneel alfo, lovely children, who, to me at- 
tached, 
May confidently hope to fhare my deftiny. 
Enter PAL ROPHRON, faninz on two old Men 
mafked in Ghiena Hee as ke enters he ad- 
dreffes them. 
Well have ye traced me out the fugitive, my 
bie friends, 
And not in vain our fteps dire@ we hither- 
wards; 
For lo! before this place the kneels a fup- 
pliant, 
- Monruiy Mac, No. 71, 
a 
. 
Original Poetry. 
a3 
Cd * 
And touches now the altar which we rever= © 
ence. 
But, tho’ it thelter her and her detefted brood, 
Yet will we here befiege her, that fhe fhall 
not dare 
To quit this refuge, if fhe would not inftantly 
Yield up herfelf a pris’ner to our cuftody- 
Then lead meto the feat, that oppofite to her 
I may confider how, if gentie means fhould 
fail, 
I may condué& her to her duty forcibly. 
(He fits down, and addreffes the {peElators.) 
And ye, who under your protection too per 
chance 
Have ta’en her, seh fhe looks fo lovelily,. is 
free 
And eafy, and appears to each as he defires,' 
Learn what a right I have to perfecute her 
thus— 
IT wili not fav the is my daughter, yet may Ly 
As uncle, o’er her furely claim a father’s 
rights 5 
And can maintain that the, defcended from my 
blood, 
Is mine before all hcg: och fhe belongs to me. 
I commonly am call’d Antiquity, Aho thofe 
Who with me very well will often title me 
The Golden Age 3 and each maintains I was 
"-* his friend, 
In days of yore, whenI like him in youth- 
ful prime 
And vig’rous was, “tis faid incomparably 
fain 
Befides, where’er I go, where’er I turn my 
ear, 
I only hear my own great praifes rapt’rous 
found ; 
Yet all men turn their backs on me, and 
greedily 
Dire& their eyes tow’rds Merely 4 that little 
chit, 
Who with pernicious flattery ruins ev’ty oney 
And prefies thro” the people thus with filly 
train. 
For this have I thus far,with thefe two trufty 
friends, 
Purfued her, and methinks have ftraiten’d, 
all her means ; 
I hope you will not be difpleafed, if I at lat 
Should ftop the growth of fuch irregularities. 
She-—-Gentle Lares of this dwelling, 
Whom the native,, whom the ftrangery 
Seeks alike with grateful offrings, 
Onthe pure, the fpotlefs altar ; 
Have ye ever giv’n protection 
To the banifh’d ? have ye ever 
Help’d the erring, and promoted 
Sportive youth’s innoxious joys? 
If at this aufpicious threfhold 
Ever meat was brought to hunger, 
Ever drink refrefh’d the thirfty, 
And benevolence and goodnefs 
Gladden’d mcre than richeft gifts ! 
Hear! O hear! then our petition ! 
déeth tender children’siorroy } 
And againft our foes protect us, 
Save us frem this favage man! 
Hh 
