PROLOGUE.

OUR desp❜rate bard a bold excursion tries,

Tho' danger damp'd his wings, he dar'd to rise:
From hope, high rais'd, all glorious actions spring;
'Tis hence that heroes conquer, poets sing.
Even he may feel the soul-exalting fire,
Fame prompts the humblest bosom to aspire.

Without a guide this rash attempt he made,
Without a clue from art, or learning's aid.
He takes a theme where tend'rest passions glow,
A theme, your grandsires felt with pleasing woe.
Essex' sad tale he strives to clothe anew,
And hopes to place it in a stronger view.

Poets, like painters, may, by equal law, The labour'd piece from different masters draw; Perhaps improve the plan, add fire and grace, And strike th' impassion'd soul through all the face. How far our author has secur'd a claim To this exalted palm, this wish'd-for fame, Your generous sentiments will soon declare: Humanity is ever prone to spare.

'Twere baseness then your candour to distrust; A British audience, will at least, be just.

A flattering truth he fearful must confess, His sanguine friends made promise of success; But that, he fears, their ardent wishes wrought, Since partial favour seldom sees a fault." Then bear, like patient friends, this first essay, His next shall thank you in a nobler way.

THE

EARL OF ESSEX.

ACT 1. SCENE I.

An Antechamber in the Palace. Enter BURLEIGH and

RALEIGH.

Burleigh.

THE bill, at length, has pass'd opposing numbers, Whilst crowds seditious clamour'd round the senate, And headlong faction urg'd its force within.

Ral. It has, my lord.—The wish'd-for day is come, When this proud idol of the people's hearts Shall now no more be worshipp'd.—Essex falls. My lord, the minute's near that shall unravel The mystic schemes of this aspiring man. Now fortune, with officious hand, invites us To her, and opens wide the gates of greatness, The way to power. My heart exults; I see, I see, my lord, our utmost wish accomplish'd! I see great Cecil shine without a rival,

And England bless him as her guardian saint.
Such potent instruments I have prepar'd,
As shall, with speed, o'erturn this hated man,
And dash him down, by proof invincible.
Bur. His day of glory now is set in night,
And all my anxious hopes, at last, are crown'd.
Those proofs against him, Raleigh-

Ral. All arrived.

Bur. Arrived! how? when?

Ral. This very hour, my lord :

Nay more, a person comes, of high distinction,
To prove some secret treaties made by Essex,
With Scotland's monarch, and the proud Tyrone.
Bur. How say'st? to prove 'em?
Ral. Ay, my lord, and back'd

With circumstances of a stronger nature.
It now appears, his secretary Cuff,

With Blunt and Lee, were deep concern'd in this
Destructive scheme, contriv'd to raise this lord,
And ruin Cecil. O, it is a subtile,

A deep-laid mischief, by the earl contriv'd,
In hour malignant, to o'erturn the state,
And (horror to conceive!) "dethrone the queen.
Bur. These gladsome tidings fly beyond my hopes!
The queen will listen now, will now believe,
And trust the counsel of her faithful Burleigh.
"Let this most lucky circumstance be kept
"A secret still from public observation.-"
Dispose 'em well, till kind occasion calls
Their office forth, lest prying craft mean while