Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-01-23

= The Original Prologue
TO THE
.M1in Of MtHHol0MEtt:


lpoken ty MIR. WALTON. Of the Riehmo"d Iheatro as
bemefrtus, in ice FIJI costume ola Suttoe Chi Jor ne
6ensff oTMe .4utitor. .uonday The 2lst Jam 1878.
Slow sunk the into his brightest grave,
t., Where cuiS the breeze upon the .Fsean wave.
Aud from 'hs Dephiam steep da'k shadows S"N'
Even To the tide beneath Ccph'sas Drink
And silence roigned, deep, desoate anu cai'n'
. AS was the tomb beneath that hu'y p"iib
Where lay the rior's dust whose 'hShiy name
Is hallowe ed e'er by glory and by iaine!
,s.1bc fight DER, the victory was Won
And slausIi,cr's d,eadiul work aw bile was donei
..ysBenea all, the guarded wall tho Gieci"n lay,
ssAnd blessed the chance of that victorious day,
When meath the venseiul arm oi trtdo;n iei'
In cory heaps the mNi''erons Ini''s.
REhose deadly hate aud datk ..lsioh caii
To rae with earth the cisis;,au's hated wall.
From where Miue,vas f,nc in beauty stands
To where the eye can pierce the shaa"wy lands,
The Turkish hos, with many Arab crew
In lowering strength expands upon The view;
But undisma yeJ, " i;h stern unhanch'ns ofoW
And soul that scornsd to timd fears 10 bow,
The valiant Greek cen with that aidor bird
That oft his noble fathers breast inspired,
Beleld afar, beuea, tn the lit sky,
The whitening tents in bright perspective lie
Say, could he quail before that mighty host,
He whose proud heart of those brave ses could boast,
Who bold defiance had tn millions hurled,
When Persias c!itte,ing banners vide uuiuscd.
Waved er the countless host that rushing came
Like the GcTce Lava 3 desola ting fc me!
No! though like SPaytas self-devo'ed band
Each warriors couch shond be the blood d sand,
Though alone should sadly live to tell
The sword now drawn should eeI he shea,hd again,
Till bathetl in Turkish blood a noble Stain,
just rcQuital for oppressive power,
When freedom wakes and in avcnging hour,
Deals on his fellows scourgc aud virtues foe
With, .ful might a last destructive blow.
But every valiant brow she wreathcs
The living chapet where the laurel beeathes
Unninaed sweets! No! eff blends its bloom
With the pale garland on the warriors tomb.
While 'er the Grecan brow the glowing flush
OF conscious victory spreads its Frightening blush,
On would he rush in valours mig ht agau,
To burst another link of slavc,y's chain,
Till from tire hated bonds forever free,
His voice mil ht shout one burst of Liberty
Whose thunder peal from every rock should swell,
And ring i'll dme'ui un,e the tyrants knclI.
In vain brave chicf,ain! did thy summons lead
Ti.y mlityred band Ia dare noble decd,
a traitors coward tolls round thee laid,
A traitors tongue thy bold resolve betrayed.
Hark the loud din of war is heard again:
The ma rtial Glamour swelS along the pllin
Der the still air in dealcning concert float
The shouts of Allah! aud the trum,ct's untc,
Fierce is the struggle DER the blooming isle,
Where nature shehs the brightness If her sG:ile
Red carnage pours her warm and crimson streams,
And hathcd in blood the crescent ,miy CLEANS.
Oh! when that mar,yrea baud SO molly fell,
'Vhen the last shout of battle ceased to swell,
yhen hut the hero's faint and dying grnau,
Pale womans shrek and murder ed chdhood's moan
Came sadly waited on the burtIrn'd air,
With shouts Of Moslem pride-what deep despair
Sat on the patriots brow, how lhIobb'd his breast
With all patriots generous woe opprest!
Here in this world, whose unbroke
To tyIant sway, feel not the CALLING yoke,
A native sou pu,;gtrays IN mimic life
A partial glimpse Of that disastrous strife;
Nut rashly vain does da ring hope aspire
10 match the nober masters of the Lyre;
Rlt may the tale that tells of Grecian woes,
To tendur sympathy the heart uncosc;
His faults provoke critics tauting smile,
while fancy watts you 10 that distant Isle,
Where he has wa ndercd to the hero's grave
Wiinre springing flowers i'll wild uXuriancc wave,
Where murdered Beauty sumbers side by side
fit W I'M cnIIli Dt h,fp IT,
Aud mournful musings to his soul pour,Iaycd
slle visioned form oil MIssoLoNGHI.s NIA1n