Bell's British Theatre, Consisting of the Most Esteemed English Plays Volume 5

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1776 edition. Excerpt: ...Pines in a corner, and laments his fortune; That in the narrower bounds of private life He must consine his aims, those swelling virtues Which from his noble father he inherits. Sis. Perhaps, regardless, in the common bane Of youth he melts, in vanity and love. But if the feeds of virtue glow within him, I will awake a higher fense, a love That grasps the loves and happiness of millions. Tan. Why that surmise? Or should he love, Sisfredi, I doubt not, it is nobly, which will raise And And animate his virtues--Oh, permit me To plead the cause of youth--Their virtue oft, In pleasure's soft enchantment lull'd a while, Forgets itself; it sleeps and gayly dreams, Till great occasion rouse it; then, all flame, It walks abroad, with heighten'd foul and vigour, And by the change astonilnes the world. Even with a kind of sympathy, feel The joy that waits this prince; when all the powers, 'Th' expanding heart can wish, of doing good; 'Whatever swells ambition, or exalts The human foul into divine emotions, All crowd at once upon him. Sis. Ah, my Tancred, Nothing so easy as in speculation, And at a distance seen, the course of honour, 'A fair delightful champain strew'd with flowers. But when the practice comes; when our fond passions, 'Pleasure, and pride, and self-indulgence, throw Their magic dust around, the prospect roughens: 'Then dreadful pastes, craggy mountains rise, Cliffs to be seal d, and torrents to be stemm'd: Then toil ensues, and perseverance stern; And endless combats with our grosser sense, Oft lost, and oft renew'd; and generous pain For others fe