The National Register.
London, England, 1816-05-12 00:00:00

WRITTEN DY THE HONOIRAIII,E GEORGE LAMB.-SPOKEN DV

MISS IiELLT.
Say. for our Author, whose proud hopes aspire
To sound the Tragic tard's neglected lyre.
Say, fur our novice, who at once the weight
Bears of her own and of the Poet a fate.
Oh say, what hope! mine with doubt and fear
In this dread hour to ask your judgment here;
Yet, for my sake, before your sentence, stay.,
And here me draw one moral from the play.
Enough for lvtor:cm the tears ye gave her,
I conic to say one word in BERTRAM'S favour.
BERTRAM! ye cry, a ruthlrss lolood-staiu'd rover!
He was—but also was the truest lover:
And, faith! like cases that we daily view,
All might have prosper'd, had the fair been true.
Man, while lie loves, is never quite depray'll;
And woman's triumph, is a lover sav'd.
The branded wretch, whose callous feelings court
Crime for his glory, awl disgrace for sport;
If in his breast love claims the smallest part,
If still he values one fond female heart,
From that one seed, diet ling'ring spark may grow,
Pride's noblest tlow'r, and virtue's purest glow :
Let but that heart —dear female—lead with care
To honour's path, and cheer his progress there :
And proud, though haply, sad regret occurs
At all his guilt, think all his virtue hers.
The fair not always view with fay's* eyes
The very virtuous or extremely wise •
But, odd it seems, will sometimes rather take
Want with the spendthrift, riot with the rake.
" None, howe'er vicious, hull all women froward,
" None—did I say!—none save the sot and coward."
The reason's plain, the good neeti nought to warm them,
And we must love the wicked to retbrin them.
" Yet we some wives, some sweetheart., may discover,
" Almost no better than the spouse or loser;
" Nought can to peace the busy female that in,
" And if she can't do good she must du harm—
" Can chill wane smith, yet fails to warm chill age,
4. Makes sages toois, hot latch- makes fools sage ,
" Some women, like all men, have taste fur evil,
A/111 SS bac they should be angels, play the don."

109

Still woman draws new power, new empire
Fre.m every blessing anal from every ill.
N'icr on her bosom lolls remorseful rare,
And virtue hopes coneenial virtue there.
Still she most hides the strength that most Subdues,
'Train each end, its opposite. pursues;
!Allies by tiezlert, aelviniees by &oily,
And gains eoinnuind by swearing to obey.
Women have power too, in these gallant days,
(So Authors think of ree.o 11111 l olden.; Plays.
Tile lirologite proses, ere the ploy is known,
Flogged and dull as the male speaker's tone ;
When the scene's done, and loony a fault provokes yal;
WOlll4ll and Epilog:le come forth to coax sou.
1 et dare I plead. who, iii this wondrous age,
Can only speak and walk upon the stare,
Who know not carte, nor tierce, our fencing odds,
Nor try a rope's assistance seek the gods.
Veit, I will dare; for if ye're plears'al
genuine The drama re-asserts its right.
Ilidericau in crime elate, of inurder proud,
Ruthless to man, to woman's accents bow'd ;
Be nova like him, your sterner thoughts resign
At woman, voice, and let that voice be untie.
Lines between the "inverted commas" are omitted in speaking.