Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-08-30
PRIZE ADDR ESJ.

Written by william Lggett, Esq. and spoken by Mr..
Forrest at the opening Of the Bowery Theatre, Ne
York, on the Goth August, Is3s.
Behold the scene, where is.c, with cracking rage,
Wide sheets OF tire inwrapt the burning stage
Mbere cloud on cloud, revolving flames rose high,
In lickeging volumes, through the glowing sky;
And blazing fragments of the ruin driven,
Like mctoon, flashed along the vault Of heaven!
While startled thousands, gathered by the light
That mocked the day, and stayed the approaching nigh
Thronged round the spot IN pa!id silence gazed
On tle proud dome, where red destruction blazed,
Saw the bright havoc vide and wider swell,
And sighed as Siakspeare's classic structure fell.
II seems hut yesterday tho blackened wall
And scathed column, marked our temples fall;
Lone rel les left, IN ruined beauty stood,
While all around was waste and solitude.
Now-this fair shrine, more ssaley than the last,
Reared froin the mOulderlBg ashes OF the past,
(Like 1hesctIs' son, who from his early tomb
Sprung hack to life in renovated boDm)
In finished beauty meets th' astonislied glze,
And soars asproudIy n in former days;
While fashion, taste, gay youth and thoughtful age
In sinhmg circles, gather Iound tho stage!
The stago.-a mimic world, by fancy dressed
IN varied cinrms, that thrill the polished breast;
Wherc painting, poesy and music roll
Their blended influence DER the van,Iiished soul,
Aud bright eyed c!oqnence uplifs his voice,
To bl d The guilty quake, tie good rejoice
Here genius rcgns with Becrom1niic power,
Aud lends strange wiichery to the evening honr;
lie waves lIs wand-and glitering pllantons pas,
lake sceptrrd kings In Banq,io's prescieht glass;
IS"i, ~ W tlril, ifnTHtfsing on TIE heart
soi'e usoinI lesson, " ilh persuasive art.
Around bis throne the ibrOnging muses. stand,
And light winged fiction so,rs at its command;
Grave history bends with dust of ages spread,
And reads The secret Of the mUlldering dcld.
The dark browcd maid her cleaning dagger rears
Now iir's uIc sO,i' with Iagc-now mes u teais,
While gay rhala tries her sporyc wiles,
i'ulls care To rest, aud lights the cheek with sRiles
Since fna, in Athens, diwncd the drama, day,
All cliincs and ages have confessed ITS sway,
There arc, wlo s,ionded in Crimincrian night,
I'eri'ie tts lnver, and tnrn from them the light,
Whose bright hearts, too cold To- lec refuse
All moral beauty Ia the tragic muse;
And censure smiles that thor diinpled birth
To her bright sisters l,'ats of lrolic mirh;
I''h wsduin's SONS revere the scenic page,
Aud own It's influenre, pictured iom the stage;
Here learn. 10 hate drlu-ivc errors [are,
And sh,in the windings oi her deyUis race;
Feel as they gaze, what suffering virtue felt,
Glow NJ her triumplls, DER her sorrnws melt
TIL warmed aud cirisiened by the dramas fire,
They noby strive to be what they admire.
May thk proud fame, ants creative hand.
Reared from the dust, n by encliantneDl's wand,
SUI know the bounty that wont 10 cheer
Tho mimic hero IN his efforts here;
May radicnt w II assert the Cause OF truth,
Teach vicious age, and guide the steJs o( youth;
W; lie PLAYFUL satiie hlirls harmless dsn
Al fOly's pluniage--not AZ merits heart;
h's shall the drama please and mend the age,
Aud virtues voice applaud the moral stage.