The New Hampshire Gazette

LONDON, March.

PROLOGUE to the new Tragedy of AGIS.
Spoken by Mr. Garrick.

O, in these Days of Luxury and Ease,
A Tale from Sparta's rigid State can please;
If Patriot Plans a British Heart can warm;
If Kings asserting Liberty, can charm;
If Virtue still a grateful Aspect wear;
Check not at Agis' Fall, the gen'rous Tear.
He view'd his Subjects with a Parent's Love,
With Zeal, to save a sinking People, strove;
Strove their chang'd Hearts with Glory to inflame,
To mend their Morals, and restore their Fame;
Till Faction rose, with Murder at her Side;
Then mourn'd his Country,—persever'd,—and dy'd.
That Country once by Virtue was rever'd,
Admir'd by Greece, by haughty Asia fear'd;
Then Citizens and Soldiers were the same;
And Soldiers Heroes—for their Wealth was Fame.
Then for the Brave the Fair reserv'd her Charms,
And scorn'd to clasp a Coward in her Arms:
The Trumpet call'd; she seiz'd the Sword & Shield,
Array'd in Haste her Husband for the Field;
And sighing, whisper'd in a fond Embrace,
"Remember,—Death is better than Disgrace."
The widow'd Mother shew'd her parting Son,
The Race of Glory which his Sire had run:
"My Son, thy Flight alone I shall deplore;
Return victorious!—or return no more;"
While Beauty thus with patriot Zeal combin'd,
And round the Laurel'd Head her Myrtle twin'd;
Whilst all confess'd the Virtuous were the Great;
Fame, Valour, Conquest grac'd the Spartan State:
Her Pow'r congenial with her Virtue grew,
And Freedom's Banner o'er her Phalanx flew;
But soon as Virtue dropt her sick'ning Head,
Fame, Valour, Conquest, Pow'r, and Freedom fled.
May this sad Scene improve each Briton's Heart!
Rouse him with Warmth to act a Briton's Part!
Prompt him with Sparta's noblest Sons to vie!
To live in Glory; and in Freedom die!