When the full organ joins the tuneful quire, And Angels lean from heaven to hear. 130 TWO CHORUSES TO THE TRAGEDY OF BRUTUS.1 CHORUS OF ATHENIANS. STROPHE I. YE shades, where sacred truth is sought; In vain your guiltless laurels stood War, horrid war, your thoughtful walks invades, And steel now glitters in the Muses' shades. ANTISTROPHE I. Oh heaven-born sisters! source of art! Who charm the sense or mend the heart; Moral truth, and mystic song! To what new clime, what distant sky, Say, will ye bless the bleak Atlantic shore? STROPHE II. When Athens sinks by fates unjust, Shall cease to blush with strangers' gore; Till some new tyrant lifts his purple hand, 5 10 15 20 1 Altered from Shakspeare by the Duke of Buckingham, at whose desire these two Choruses were composed, to supply as many wanting in his play. They were set many years afterwards by the famous Bononcini, and performed at Buckingham House. ANTISTROPHE II. Ye gods! what justice rules the ball? In every age, in every state! Still, when the lust of tyrant power succeeds, CHORUS OF YOUTHS AND VIRGINS. SEMICHORUS. H, tyrant Love! hast thou possess'd The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous breast? Wisdom and wit in vain reclaim, And arts but soften us to feel thy flame. 5 Why, Nature, dost thou soonest fire Why, Virtue, dost thou blame desire, 10 CHORUS. Love's purer flames the gods approve; And sterner Cassius melts at Junia's eyes. Spent in a sudden storm of lust, A vapour fed from wild desire, Chaste as cold Cynthia's virgin light, SEMICHORUS. Oh source of every social tie, What tender passions take their turns, His heart now melts, now leaps, now burns, CHORUS. Hence, guilty joys, distastes, surmises, Hence, false tears, deceits, disguises, Dangers, doubts, delays, surprises! Fires that scorch, yet dare not shine: Purest love's unwasting treasure, |