AMYNTAS.
53
But may the beating rains, and the rough winds,
And all the jarring elements of heaven,
With vengeful storm unherse the bones, and tear them
From earth's asylum; may the stranger's foot,
Flocks, and unwieldly herds, trample the rubbish.
Thou, base venality, the ugliest monster
Of all that land, or ocean e'er produced,
Didst first degrade the dignity of love;
That noble passion, which can only flourish
Enlivened by the smile of liberty.
It cannot bear the supercilious brow
Of stern restraint; whene'er the tyrant enters,
It flies indignant from the grim intruder.
But why these empty words?—befits it me
Thus to lament my unsuccessful passion?
Each being for it's use exerts the arms
Which nature gave; the stag avails himself
Of his swift feet; the lion with his paw,
Terror and death unsheathing, gripes his prey,
And all the jarring elements of heaven,
With vengeful storm unherse the bones, and tear them
From earth's asylum; may the stranger's foot,
Flocks, and unwieldly herds, trample the rubbish.
Thou, base venality, the ugliest monster
Of all that land, or ocean e'er produced,
Didst first degrade the dignity of love;
That noble passion, which can only flourish
Enlivened by the smile of liberty.
It cannot bear the supercilious brow
Of stern restraint; whene'er the tyrant enters,
It flies indignant from the grim intruder.
But why these empty words?—befits it me
Thus to lament my unsuccessful passion?
Each being for it's use exerts the arms
Which nature gave; the stag avails himself
Of his swift feet; the lion with his paw,
Terror and death unsheathing, gripes his prey,
And
