By the loud trumpet, which our courage aids, When next we Act this Tragedy again, EPILOGUE. Defign'd upon the first alteration of the Play, when the KING only was left alive. SPASIA bleeding on the Stage does lye, To fhew you, ftill 'tis the MAID'S TRAGEDY. The fierce MELANTIUS was content, you see, The KING should live: be not more fierce than he: Too long indulgent to fo rude a time, When love was held fo capital a crime, That a crown'd head could no compassion find, But dy'd because the killer had been kind! This better-natur'd Poet had repriev'd Gentle AMINTOR too, had he believ'd The fairer fex his pardon could approve, When When next we Act this Tragedy again, Unless you like the change, I must be flain. ADVERTISEMENT. Με R. WALLER, in his firft thoughts of altering this Play, pitch'd upon a defign of making EVADNE go among the Veftals. But, confidering that the perfons in this Play are fuppos'd to be heathens, who never admitted but pure virgins among their Veftals, he chang'd his defign. Nevertheless, before he did fo, he had writ the following verfes. any EVADNE A Vestal vow'd, with pity I look down On the KING's love, and fierce M E LANTIUS' frown. But here's the facred place, where we may have, Before we die, an honorable grave. The dead, and they that live retired here, Obtain like pardon from the most severe. [Knocks at a door. Enter Governess. Gov. The great EVADNE vifiting our cell! Ev. 'Tis not to vifit you; but here to dwell. Can you find room for one fo bad as I, That humbly begs she may among you die? Gov. You, that fo early can correct your thoughts, May hope for pardon for your greatest faults. Happy is fhe that from the world retires, And carries with her what the world admires! Thrice-happy fhe! whofe young thought fix'd above, Ev. My guilty love devotion fhall fucceed; But, of all paffions, I ambition find Yet, heav'n our object made, ambition may A Prince's favor, to belong to Jove. [They go in, and the door shuts. Enter MELANTIUS with a Letter. Among the Vestals! fhe'll corrupt them all; THE |