Comes she not, and come ye not, To judge, with solemn truth, life's ill-apportioned lot? Of what has been, the Hope of what will be? Wert thou disjoined from these, or they from thee: If thine or theirs were treasures to be bought By blood or tears, have not the wise and free Wept tears, and blood like tears? The solemn harmony XIX. Paused, and the spirit of that mighty singing When the bolt has pierced its brain; Drooped; o'er it closed the echoes far away Of the great voice which did its flight sustain, THE END [OF PROMETHEUS UNBOUND AND OTHER POEMS.] CANCELLED PASSAGE OF THE ODE TO LIBERTY. WITHIN a cavern of man's trackless spirit Is throned an Image, so intensely fair Till they become charged with the strength of flame. CEDIPUS TYRANNUS: OR, SWELLFOOT THE TYRANT. A TRAGEDY. IN TWO ACTS. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL DORIO. Choose Reform or civil-war, When thro' thy streets, instead of hare with dogs, ADVERTISEMENT. THIS TRAGEDY is one of a triad, or system of three Plays, (an arrangement according to which the Greeks were accustomed to connect their Dramatic representations,} elucidating the wonderful and appalling fortunes of the SWELLFOOT dynasty. It was evidently written by some. learned Theban, and, from its characteristic dullness, apparently before the duties on the importation of Attic salt had been repealed by the Bootarchs. The tenderness with which he treats the PIGS proves him to have been a sus Baotia; possibly Epicuri de grege porcus; for, as the poet observes, "A fellow feeling makes us wond'rous kind." No liberty has been taken with the translation of this remarkable piece of antiquity, except the suppressing a seditious and blasphemous Chorus of the Pigs and Bulls at the last act. The word Hoydipouse, (or more properly Edipus,) has been rendered literally SWELLFOOT, without its having been conceived necessary to determine whether a swelling of the hind or the fore feet of the Swinish Monarch is particularly indicated. Should the remaining portions of this Tragedy be found, entitled, "Swellfoot in Angaria," and "Charité," the Translator might be tempted to give them to the reading Public.. SCENE I-A magnificent Temple, built of thigh-bones and death's heads, and tiled with scalps. Over the Altar the statue of Famine, veiled; a number of boars, sous. and sucking pigs, crowned with thistle, shamrock, and oak, sitting on the steps, and clinging round the altar of the Temple. Enter SWELLFOOT, in his Royal robes, without perceiving the PIGS. SWELLFOOT. THOU Supreme Goddess! by whose power divine These graceful limbs are clothed in proud array (He contemplates himself with satisfaction.). Of gold and purple, and this kingly paunch (Nor with less toil were their foundations laid,1) THE SWINE. Eigh eigh! eigh! eigh! SWELLFOOT. Ha! what are ye, Who, crowned with leaves devoted to the Furies, SWINE. Aigh aigh aigh! SWELLFOOT. What! ye that are 20 The very beasts that offered at her altar With blood and groans, salt-cake, and fat, and inwards Ever propitiate her reluctant will When taxes are withheld? SWINE. Ugh! ugh ugh! SWELLFOOT. What! ye who grub With filthy snouts my red potatoes up In Allan's rushy bog? Who eat the oats 25 See Universal History for an account of the number of people who died, and the immense consumption of garlick by the wretched Egyptians, who made a sepulchre for the name as well as the bodies of their tyrants. Up, from my cavalry in the Hebrides? The same, alas! the same; If 'twere your kingly will Us wretched swine to kill, What should we yield to thee? Why skin and bones, and some few hairs for mortar. CHORUS OF SWINE I have heard your Laureate sing, That pity was a royal thing; Under your mighty ancestors, we pigs Were bless'd as nightingales on myrtle sprigs, The murrain and the mange, the scab and itch; My pigs, 'tis in vain to tug. SECOND SOW. I could almost eat my litter. FIRST PIG. I suck, but no milk will come from the dug. SECOND PIG. Our skin and our bones would be bitter. THE BOARS. We fight for this rag of greasy rug, Though a trough of wash would be fitter 30 85 40 30 |