"That to continue, was its utmost pow'r,
"And make the future like the present hour.
"Now call a ruffian; bid his cruel fword
"Lay wide the bofom of thy worthless lord;

Transfix his heart (fince you its love disclaim),
"And stain his honour with a Traitor's name.
"This might perhaps be borne without remorse;
"But fure a father's pangs will have their force!
"Shall his good age, so near its journey's end,

Through cruel torment to the grave descend? "His fhallow blood all iffue at a wound,

"Wash a flave's feet, and fmoak upon the ground? "But he to you has ever been severe;

"Then take your vengeance"-SUFFOLK now drew near ; Bending beneath the burden of his care;

His robes neglected, and his head was bare;

Decrepid winter, in the yearly ring,

Thus flowly creeps, to meet the blooming spring:

Downward he caft a melancholy look;

Thrice turn'd, to hide his grief; then faintly spoke,
"Now deep in years, and forward in decay,
"That ax can only rob me of a day;

"For thee, my foul's defire! I can't refrain;

*And shall my tears, my last tears, flow in vain? "When fhall know a mother's tender name,

you

My heart's distress no longer will

you blame."
At this, afar his bursting groans were heard;
The tears ran trickling down his filver beard:
He fnatch'd her hand, which to his lips he preft,
And bid her plant a dagger in his breast;
Then, finking, call'd her piety unjust,
And foil'd his hoary temples in the dust.
Hard-hearted men! will you no mercy know!
Has the Queen brib'd you to distress her foe?

O weak

O weak deferters to misfortune's part,
By false affection thus to pierce her heart!
When she had foar'd, to let your arrows fly,
And fetch her bleeding from the middle sky!
And can her virtue, fpringing from the ground,
Her flight recover, and disdain the wound,
When cleaving love, and human intereft, bind
The broken force of her aspiring mind;
As round the gen'rous eagle, which in vain
Exerts her ftrength, the serpent wreaths his train,
Her ftruggling wings entangles, curling plies
His pois'nous tail, and ftings her as the flies!

While yet the blow's firft dreadful weight the feels,
And with its force her refolution reels;

Large doors, unfolding with a mournful found,
To view discover welt'ring on the ground,

Three headless trunks, of those whose arms maintain’d,
And in her wars immortal glory gain'd:
The lifted ax affur'd her ready doom,
And filent mourners fadden'd all the room.
Shall I proceed; or here break off my tale;
Nor truths, to ftagger human faith, reveal?

She met this utmoft malice of her fate
With Chriftian dignity, and pious state:
The beating storm's propitious rage fhe bleft,
And all the martyr triumph'd in her breast:
Her lord and father, for a moment's space,
She strictly folded in her soft embrace !
Then thus she spoke, while angels heard on high,
And fudden gladness fmil'd along the sky:

"Your over-fondness has not mov'd my hate;

"I am well pleas'd you make my death fo great; "I joy I cannot fave you; and have giv'n

"Two lives, much dearer than my own, to heav'n,

" If

"If fo the

queen

decrees * :- -But I have caufe

"To hope my blood will fatisfy the laws;
"And there is mercy ftill, for you, in ftore:
"With me the bitterness of death is o'er.
"He shot his fting in that farewell-embrace;
« And all, that is to come, is joy and peace.
"Then let mistaken forrow be fuppreft,
" Nor feem to envy my approaching reft."
Then, turning to the minifters of fate,
She, fmiling, fays, "My victory complete :
"And tell your Queen, I thank her for the blow,
"And grieve my gratitude I cannot show :
"A poor return I leave in England's crown,
"For everlasting pleasure, and renown:
"Her guilt alone allays this happy hour;
"Her guilt, the only vengeance in her pow'r."

Not Rome, untouch'd with sorrow, heard her fate; And fierce MARIA pity'd her too late.

Here the embraces them.