We are going: do you fear that we shall bear The palace with us? Its old walls, ten times As old as I am, and I'm very old, 220 May the next duke be better than the Will now descend the stairs by which I To sovereignty - the Giants' Stairs, on whose Broad eminence I was invested duke. There five and thirty years ago was I Install'd, and traversed these same halls, from which I never thought to be divorced except A corse—a corse, it might be, fighting for them But not push'd hence by fellow-citizens. But come; my son and I will go together 250 He to his grave, and I to pray for mine. Here's my arm ! Doge. And here my staff: thus propp'd will I go forth. Chief of the Ten. It must not be people will perceive it. Doge. The people! you well know it, There's no people, Else you dare not deal thus by them or me. There is a populace, perhaps, whose looks May shame you; but they dare not groan nor curse you, 260 Save with their hearts and eyes. much 270 Bar. You shall not depart without An escort fitting past and present rank. We will accompany, with due respect, The Doge unto his private palace. Say! My brethren, will we not ? Different voices. Doge. Stir Ay!- Ay! You shall not in my train at least. I enter'd here As sovereign- I go out as citizen 627 ever Bar. I do beseech you, lean upon us pous Doge. N A sovereign should die standing. My po boy! Off with your arms! Mar. That bell! [The DoGE drops down and dies. My God! My God! Bar. (to Lor.). Behold, your work's com pleted! Chief of the Ten. Is there then No aid? Call in assistance ! 'Tis all over. Chief of the Ten. If it be so, at least his obsequies 310 Shall be such as befits his name and nation, He has not had Chief of the Ten. We are agreed, then ? All, except Lor., answer, Chief of the Ten. with him! Yes. Heaven's peace be Mar. Signors, your pardon: this is mock ery. Juggle no more with that poor remnant, AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE The following scenes are entitled 'A Mys tery,' in conformity with the ancient title annexed to dramas upon similar subjects, which were styled Mysteries, or Moralities. The author has by no means taken the same liberties with his subject which were common, formerly, as may be seen by any reader curious enough to refer to those very profane productions, whether in English, French, Italian, or Spanish. The author has endeavoured to preserve the language adapted to his characters; and where it is (and this is but rarely) taken from actual Scripture, he has made as little alteration, even of words, as the rhythm would permit. The reader will recollect that the book of Genesis does not state that Eve was tempted by a demon, but by 'the Serpent;' and that only because he was the most subtil of all the beasts of the field.' Whatever interpretation the Rabbins and the Fathers may have put upon this, I take the words as I find them, and reply, with Bishop Watson upon similar occasions, when the Fathers were quoted to him, as Moderator in the schools of Cambridge, Behold the Book!'-holding up the Scripture. It is to be recollected that my present subject has nothing to do with the New Testament, to which no reference can be' here made without anachronism. With the poems upon similar topics, I have not been recently familiar. Since I was twenty I have never read Milton; but I had read him so frequently before, that this may make little difference. Gesner's Death of Abel I have never read since I was eight years of age, at Aberdeen. The general impression of my recollection is delight; but of the contents I remember only that Cain's wife was called Mahala, and Abel's Thirza: in the following pages I have called them 'Adah' and 'Zillah,' the earliest female names which occur in Genesis; they were those of Lamech's wives: those of Cain and Abel are not called by their names. Whether, then, a coincidence of subject may have caused the same in expression, I know nothing, and care as little. The reader will please to bear in mind (what few choose to recollect), that there is no allusion to a future state in any of the books of Moses, nor indeed in the Old Testament. For a reason for this extraordinary omission he may consult Warburton's Divine Legation; whether satisfactory or not, no better has yet been assigned. I have therefore supposed it new to Cain, without, I hope, any perversion of Holy Writ. With regard to the language of Lucifer, it was difficult for me to make him talk like a clergyman upon the same subjects; but I have done what I could to restrain him within the bounds of spiritual politeness. If he disclaims having tempted Eve in the shape of the Serpent, it is only because the book of Genesis has not the most distant allusion to any thing of the kind, but merely to the Serpent in his serpentine capacity. Note. The reader will perceive that the author has partly adopted in this poem the notion of Cuvier, that the world had been destroyed several times before the creation of man. This speculation, derived from the different strata and the bones of enormous and unknown animals found in them, is not contrary to the Mosaic account, but rather confirms it; as no human bones have yet been discovered in those strata, although those of many known animals are found near the remains of the unknown. The assertion of Lucifer, that the preAdamite world was also peopled by rational beings much more intelligent than man, and proportionably powerful to the mammoth, etc., etc., is, of course, a poetical fiction to help him to make out his case. I ought to add, that there is a 'tramelo |