"No other way to crown Ismena's love?

"Then must I ever mourn her cruel fate, “And in the midst of my triumphant joy,

"Ev'n in my hero's arms, confess some sorrow."
Thes. "O tender maid! forbear with ill-tim'd grief,
"To damp our blessings, and incense the gods;"
But let's away, and pay kind Heav'n our thanks
For all the wonders in our favour wrought;
That Heav'n, whose inercy rescu'd erring Theseus
From execrable crimes, and endless woes.
Then learn from me, ye kings, that rule the world:
With equal poize let steady justice sway,

And flagrant crimes with certain vengeance pay,
But till the proofs are clear, the stroke delay.

"Hip. The righteous gods, that innocence require, "Protect the goodness which themselves inspire; "Unguarded virtue human arts defies,

"Th' accus'd is happy, while th' accuser dies."

[Exeunt Omnes.

1

EPILOGUE.

BY MR. PRIOR.

LADIES, to-night your pity 1 implore
For one who never troubled you before:
An Oxford man, extremely read in Greek,
Who from Euripides makes Phaedra speak;
And comes to town to let us moderns know
How women lov'd two thousand years ago.
If that be all, said I, e'en burn your flay,
Egad, we know all that as well as they :
Shew us the youthful handsome charioteer,
Firm in his seat, and running his career;
Our souls would kindle with as gen'rous flames
As e'er inspir'd the ancient Grecian dames :
Ev'ry Ismena would resign her breast,
And ev'ry dear Hippolitus be blest.

But, as it is, six flouncing Flanders mares
Are e'en as good as any two of theirs;
And if Hippolitus can but contrive
To buy the gilded chariot, John can drive.
Now of the bustle you have seen to-day,
And Phaedra's morals in this scholar's play;
Something, at last, in justice, should be said,
But this Hippolitus so fills one's head.

Well! Phædra liv'd as chastely as she cou'd, For she was father Jove's own flesh and blood; Her aukward love, indeed, was oddly fated, She and her Poly were too near related;

And yet that scruple had been laid aside,
If bonest Theseus had but fairly dy'd:
But when he came, what needed he to know,
But that all matters stood in statu quo:

There was no harm, you see; or grant there were,
She might want conduct, but he wanted care.
'Twas in a husband little less than rude,
Upon his wife's retirement to intrude:
He should have sent a night or two before,
That he would come exact at such an hour;
Then he had turn'd all tragedy to jest,

Found ev'ry thing contribute to his rest;
The picquet friend dismiss'd, the coast all clear,
And spouse alone, impatient for her dear.

But if these gay reflections come too late

To keep the guilty Phaedra from her fate,
If your more serious judgment must condemn
The dire effects of her unhappy flame ;
Yet, ye chaste matrons, and ye tender fair,
Let love and innocence engage your care;
My spotless flames to your protection take,
And spare poor Phaedra for Ismena's sake.

THE END.