The innocent ASPASIA's life, or death,
AMINTOR'S too, depends upon your breath.
Excefs of love was heretofore the cause;
Now if we die, 'twas want of your applause.

0000

EPILOGUE.

Defign'd upon the firft Alteration of the Play, when the king only was left alive.

A

SPASIA bleeding on the Stage does lye,

To shew you, fill 'tis the MAID'S TRAGEDY.
The fierce MELANTIUS was content you fee,
The KING should live : be not more fierce than be:
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,
Who to ambition facrific'd his love.
ASPASIA he has fpar'd: but, for her wound
(Neglected love!) there could no falve be found.
When next we act this tragedy again,
Unless you like the change, I must be slain.
Excefs of love was heretofore the caufe:
Now if I die, 'tis want of your applause.

ADVERTISEMENT.

MR.

R. WALLER, in his first thoughts of altering this Play, pitched 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 any but pure virgins among their Vestals, he chang'd his defign. Nevertheless, before he did fo, he had writ the following verfes :

EVADNE. A Veftal vow'd, with pity I look down On the KING'S love, and fierce MELANTIUS' frown. But here's the facred place, where we may have, Before we die, an honorable grave.

The dead, and that they live retired here,
Obtain like pardon from the most severe.

Enter Governess.

[Knocks at a door.

Gov. The great EVADNE vifiting our cell! Ev. 'Tis not to vifit you: but here to dwell. find room for one fo bad as I,

Can you

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! whose young thoughts fix'd above, While fhe is lovely, does to heav'n make love. I need not urge your promise, e'er you find An entrance here, to leave the world behind.

Ev. My guilty love devotion fhall fucceed;
Love fuch as mine was, tho' a dang'rous weed,
Shews the rich foil, (on which it grew fo high)
May yield as fair a crop of piety.

But, of all paffions, I ambition find
Hardeft to banish from a glorious mind.
Yet, heav'n our object made, ambition may
(As well as love) be turn'd a nobler way,
Still I afcend: it is a step above

A Prince's favor, to belong to Jove.

They go in, and the door fhuts.

Enter MELANTIUS with a Letter.

Among the Veftals' fhe'll corrupt them all;
And teach them from their facred vow to fall.

THE