voltaire xxxviii
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E D I T I O N D E L A P A C I F I C A T I O N
T H E W O R K S O F
VOLTAIRE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION
W ITH NOTES BY TOBIAS SMOLLETT, R EVISED AND MODERNIZED
NEW TRANSLATIONS BY W ILLIAM F. FLEMING, AND AN
INTRODUCTION BY OLIVER H. G. LEIGH
A CRITIQUE AND BIOGRAPHY
BY
T H E R T . H O N . J O H N M O R L E Y
F O R T Y - T H R E E V O L U M E S
ONE HUNDRED ANS SIXTY-EIGHT DESIGNS, COMPRISINGS REPRODUCTIONS
OF RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS, STEEL PLATES, PHOTOGRAVURES,
AND CURIOUS FAC-SIMILES
VOLUME XXXVIII
AKRON, OHIO
THE WERNER COMPANY
1!"
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I am a heritage, because I
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brlr) you years of tboupbt
and the lore of time ^
I impart yet I can DO! 5peate
I have traveled amons tbe
peoples of tbe eartb -^ I
am a rover-^ dft-tlpes
I str^v fron? tbe ire side,
of tbe oi?e bo loves ard
cberlobes rpe-u"bo
rmc#oeo n?e u$bep I an?
^or?e^5bould you %nd
me va^rar^t please send
brothers ^on tbe
sbelves of
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he O(. of /O01I('
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0imited to one thousand sets
for 1merica and 4reat ritain6
7eteen to servants of 8umanity, ho appeared
eighteen hundred years apart, the re 9 a mysterious relation6
: : : 0et us "rv 7 ith a sentiment of
profound respect;
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7he 8enriade,7 the only +rench epic, as begun hen the
author as a prisoner in the astille6 he second 3anto,
describing the >assacre of .t6 artholome9s Day, came
to /oltaire in a dream, so he told his friend agniere,
adding that he retained the lines until he had the chance to
rite them and 7he never found anything to change in it67
he poem as ten years in the maNing6 It as ready for
printing in CLJB, hen he as in his thirtieth year6 8e
had received a number of subscriptions for it before he
realied that the tone of the Dedication and the poem
ould bring it under the ban of the censors6
he Dedication is uniue of its Nind6 he young Ning,
0ouis F/6, had "ust attained his ma"ority6
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7.i(' ; 'very orN in hich the great deeds of 8enry
I/6 are spoNen of, ought to be oPered to your ma"esty6
It is the blood of that hero hich Qos in your veins6 *ou
are Ning only because he as a great man, and +rance,
that ishes you as much virtue as he possessed, and more
happiness, Qatters itself that the life and the throne hich
you oe to him ill engage you to imitate him6
7+ortunate in having Nnon adversity, he felt for the
miseries of men, and softened the rigors of a rule from
hich he had suPered himself6 Other Nings have cour-
tiers$ he had friends6 8is heart as full of tenderness
for his true servants6
7hat Ning, ho truly loved his sub"ects, never regarded
their complaints as sedition, nor the remonstrance of
magistrates as encroachment upon the sovereign authority6
.hall I say it, sire ? *es $ truth commands me so to do6
It is a thing very shameful to Nings, this astonishment e
eRperience hen they sincerely love the happiness of their
people6 >ay you one day accustom us to regard that
virtue as something appertaining to your cron! It as
the true love of 8enry I/6 for +rance hich made him
adored by his sub"ects67
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5
Introduction6
he poem as a brilliant protest against intolerance by
the poers of 3hurch and .tate6 8o, then, could itself
be tolerated? he 7privilege7 of publication as denied6
y the help of friends it as secretly printed in (ouen
in CLJM6 It as smuggled into &aris and had an instant
success, as 7a onderful orN, a masterpiece of the mind,
as beautiful as /irgil67 It has had a lasting popularity in
seven languages6 he 'nglish edition appeared in CLJK as
7the %rst edition published ith the author9s sanction67
his time the author dedicated 7he 8enriade7 to Eueen
3aroline, hose husband had been one year Ning of 'ng-
land6 .he had been the friend of .ir Isaac 2eton hen
&rincess of ales6
o the Eueen ;
7>1D1> ; It as the lot of 8enry the +ourth to be
protected by an 'nglish ueen6 8e as assisted by the
great 'liabeth, ho as in her age the glory of her seR6
y hom can his memory be so ell protected as by her
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ho resembles so much 'liabeth in her personal virtues?
7*our ma"esty ill %nd in this booN bold, impartial
truths $ morality unstained ith superstition $ a spirit of
liberty, eually abhorrent of rebellion and of tyranny$ the
rights of Nings alays asserted and those of manNind never
laid aside6
7he same spirit in hich it as ritten gave me the
con%dence to oPer it to the virtuous consort of a Ning ho,
among so many croned heads, en"oys the almost ines-
timable honor of ruling a free nation ; a Ning ho maNes
his poer consist in being beloved, and his glory in being
"ust6
7Our Descartes, ho as the greatest philosopher in
'urope before .ir Isaac 2eton appeared, dedicated his
7&rinciples7 to the celebrated &rincess &alatine 'liabeth$
not, said he, because she as a princess Sfor true phi-
losophers respect princes, but never Qatter them) $ but
because of all his readers she understood him the best, and
loved truth the most6
7I beg leave, madam Sithout comparing myself to
Descartes), to dedicate 7he 8enriade7 to your ma"esty
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Introduction6 L
upon the liNe account, not only as the protectress of all
arts and sciences, but as the best "udge of them6
7I am, ith that profound respect hich is due to the
greatest virtue as ell as the highest ranN, may it please
your ma"esty, your ma"esty9s most humble, most dutiful
and most obliged servant, /O01I('6
he publication enriched its author, ho as presented
ith to thousand crons by the Ning and received other
honors6 7he 8enriade7 as at last 7privileged7 to be sold
in +rance, in CLBC6 +redericN of &russia rote a gloing
preface for a sumptuous edition he produced at lavish
eRpense, in hich he pronounced 7he 8enriade7 the great-
est of all epics, ancient or modern6
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8enry III6, "oined by 8enry de ourbon, ing of 2avarre,
against the 0eague, having blocNaded &aris, sends
8enry de ourbon privately into 'ngland, in hopes of
obtaining aid from Eueen 'liabeth6 1 violent storm
overtaNing him in his voyage, he is obliged to put into
an island, here an old hermit receives him, and fore-
tells his change of religion, and accession to the throne6
Description of 'ngland, and its government6
he chief renoned, C ho ruled in +rance, I sing6
y right of conuest and of birth, a Ning $
In various suPerings resolute and brave,
+action he uelled ; he conuered, and forgave6
.ubdued the dangerous 0eague, and factious
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>ayenne, J
1nd curbed the headstrong arrogance of .pain6
C 8enry I/6, of +rance, son of 1nthony, ing of 2avarre,
ho descended in a direct line from (obert, 3ount de 3ler-
mont, youngest son of 0ouis IF6, or .t6 0ouis of +rance6
he posterity of his eldest son, &hilip the old, failing in
8enry III6, three hundred years after the death of .t6 0ouis,
8enry de ourbon became heir to the cron, as descended
from the above-mentioned 3ount de 3lermont, ho married
eatriR, daughter of 1gnes de ourbon, heir of 1rehem-
band, 0ord of ourbon in the middle of the thirteenth
century6
J 3harles, DuNe of >ayenne, brother of 8enry, DuNe of
4uise, ho formed the 0eague, a faction in +rance $ ho,
under pretence of danger to the 3hurch, made head against
8enry III6 of +rance, and, after his death, against 8enry
de ourbon, ho gained great advantage over the
.paniards in confederacy ith the 0eague6
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IO he 8enriade6
8e taught those realms he conuered to obey,
1nd made his sub"ects happy by his say6
O heaven-born truth, descend, celestial muse,
hy poer, thy brightness in my verse infuse6
>ay Nings attentive hear thy voice divine,
o teach the monarchs of manNind is thine6
9is thine to ar-enNindling realms to sho
hat dire ePects from cursed divisions Qo6
(elate the troubles of preceding times$
he people9s suPerings, and the princes9 crimes6
1nd O ! if fable may her succors lend,
1nd ith thy voice her softer accents blend $
If on thy light her shades seet graces shed,
If her fair hand e9er decNed thy sacred head,
0et her ith me through all thy limits rove,
2ot to conceal thy beauties, but improve6
/alois C then governed the distracted land,
0oose Qoed the reins of empire in his hand ;
(ights ere confounded, las neglected bore
2o force, alas ! for /alois reigned no more6
2o more the prince for deeds of ar renoned,
hom as her son victorious conuest oned $
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hose arms through 'urope spread disordered fear,
hose loyal sub"ects shed the pious tear,
hen the bleaN 2orth proclaimed him truly great,
1nd laid her crons and sceptres at his feet6
hose rays of glory, erst in battle on,
.anN into night, and vanished from the throne6
here sat the monarch in the lap of ease,
(eclining fondly in the arms of peace $
C 8enry III6, ing of +rance, one of the principal heroes
of this poem, is alays called /alois, the name of the royal
branch to hich he belonged6
he 8enriade6 II
oo eaN to bear in each lethargic hour,
he regal diadem, and eight of poer6
/oluptuous youths usurped the sole command,
1nd reigned, in truth, the sovereigns of the land6
&leased in their soft luRurious prince to %nd
3orrupted morals, and a female mind6
>eantime the 4uises rose at fortune9s call $
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1nd built their schemes of greatness on his fall6
hence sprang the 0eague, hich proved the fatal
source
Of numerous ills, and baTed all his force6
he servile crod, ith vain chimeras fed,
oo blindly folloed here the tyrants led6
2o from the 0ouvre see the monarch Qy,
2o faithful friend, no Nind protection nigh $
1ll had been lost, but arliNe ourbon C came,
hose generous soul as fraught ith virtue9s
Qame6
9as his the royal sacri%ce to save,
1nd teach once more the monarch to be brave6
he Nings to &aris ith their troops advance,
he eyes of 'urope all are %Red on +rance6
(ome taNes the alarm, her fears the .paniards share,
1nd ait ith dread the issue of the ar6
8igh on the alls inhuman Discord stood,
'ager for slaughter, and athirst for blood $
hrough all the city raged, nor raged in vain,
ut drove to arms the hostile 0eague, and >ayenne ;
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hrough 3hurch and .tate, the deadly poison
spread,
C 8enry I/6 is called indiPerently throughout the poem
either ourbon, or 8enry6 8e as born at &au in eam,
December CB, C55B6
CJ he 8enriade6 6
1nd called the proud Iberia to her aid6
his savage monster scenes of horror loves,
1nd plagues the votaries hom her soul approves6
.he racNs and galls the slaves her chains con%ned,
1nd riots in the torments of manNind6
estard of &aris, here the inding .eine
1dorns each meado ith eternal green,
here oft the 4races and the >uses play,
he troops of /alois shone in dread array6
here, hom religion sayed by diPerent las
(evenge united in their sovereign9s cause6
1 thousand chiefs stood forth at ourbon9s ord,
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0ove "oined their hearts, and valor dre the sord6
ith "oy they folloed the bright paths of fame,
ut one their leader, and their 3hurch the same6
Immortal 0ouis C eyed him from above
ith all the fondness of parental love ;
/irtues he sa hich 4allia9s Ning might grace,
1nd future glories orthy of his race6
3harmed ith his courage, yet he grieved to %nd
.uch eaN discernment in so brave a mind ;
ould gladly guide him to the throne of truth,
1nd ished to checN the errors of his youth6
ut valiant 8enry gained the regal cron,
1nd rose by measures to himself unNnon6
0ouis as present from his blest abode
o lead the youthful hero in his road6
+ull oft unseen the Nind assistance came,
hat toils and dangers might augment his fame6
Oft had our alls beheld ith martial rage
C .t6 0ouis, the ninth of that name, ing of +rance, from
hom the ourbon branch as descended6
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(ich is the harvest of Iberia9s gains,
ho pours her legions on my desert plains6
&erchance, the succors of a foreign force
>ay stop the impending danger in its course6
ritannia9s ueen may lend the friendly aid,
1nd mutual terror may our foes invade6
hat, though eternal "ealousy and pride
Oppose our interest, and our hearts divide,
hen life9s severest ills have been endured,
>y glory blasted, and my fame obscured,
hen vile aPronts have made my honor poor,
>y sub"ects, and my country are no more,
CM he 8enriade6
ho comes these proud insulters to control
Is most my friend, and dearest to my soul6
2o common, listless agent ill I trust,
e thou my envoy in a cause so "ust6
On thee my fortune in the ar depends,
hy merit only can procure me friends67
hus /alois spoNe, and ourbon heard ith grief
he ne designs, and counsels of the chief6
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8is great and generous mind disdained to yield
hus to divide the glory of the %eld6
here as a time hen conuest met his arm,
1nd all those honors hich the brave can charm ;
hen strong in poer, unaided by intrigue,
8imself, ith 3onde, C uelled the trembling 0eague6
*et, in obedience to the Ning9s command,
8e left his laurels, and ithdre his hand6
he troops, amaed, ith restless ardor burn,
heir fate, their fortune ait on his return6
he absent hero still preserved his fame,
he guilty city shuddered at his name ;
'ach moment thought the mighty arrior near,
ith death and desolation in his rear6
8e through the plains of 2eustria bends his ay,
1ttended only by his friend >ornay, J
>ornay, too good to Qatter, or deceive,
he cause of error too averse to leave6
y eal and prudence studious to advance
C 8enry, &rince of 3onde6 8e as the hope of the
&rotestant party; and died at .aint-ornay $ the bravest, and most virtuous per-
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son belonging to the &rotestant party6 hen 8enry I/6
changed his religion, >ornay reproached him in the severest
manner, and retired from court6 8e as called the pope
of the 8uguenots6
he 8enriade6 C5
1liNe the interest of his 3hurch and +rance,
he courtier9s censor, but at court beloved,
(ome9s greatest foe, and yet by (ome approved6
eteen to rocNs, hich hoary ocean laves
1nd beats ith all the fury of his aves,
he port of Dieppe meets the hero9s eyes,
1nd crods of eager mariners supplies6
heir hands prepare the vessels for the main,
hose sovereign rulers of the aure plain6
he stormy oreas, fast-enchained in air,
0eaves the smooth sea to softer ephyr9s care6
heir anchor eighed, they siftly uit the strand,
1nd soon descry ritannia9s happy land6
hen lo ! the day9s bright star is hid in clouds,
1nd gathering hirlinds histle through the
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1t hose high ill all empires fall, or rise,
ho gave this orld its fair and beauteous form,
ho calms the ocean, and directs the storm,
On 4allia9s hero looNed ith pity don
+rom the bright radiance of 8is sapphire throne6
he aves, obedient to 8is dread command,
3onveyed the vessel to the neighboring land6
4uided by heaven, secure the hero stood
here
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C K he 8enriade6
+irst sprung from man, and founded in caprice6
+rail, liNe ourselves, all human orNs decay $
4od seeps their glory and their pride aay6
.afe and secure 8is holy city stands $
2or dreads the malice of our mortal hands6
In vain the fabric hell and time invade,
8is on right arm the strong foundation laid6
On thee, great ourbon, ill 8e pour 8is light,
1nd chase the mists of error from thy sight6
On /alois9 throne, ith &rovidence thy shield,
right ilt thou shine, and all thy foes shall yield6
hrough paths of glory conuest leads thy sord $
9is heaven9s decree $ the 8ighest gave 8is ord6
*et hope not rashly, in the pride of youth,
o enter &aris, uninformed by truth6
ut most of love9s beitching draught beare,
he bravest hearts are conuered by the fair6
+rom that seet poison guard thy manly soul $
hough passion calls, and pleasure crons the bol6
1nd hen, at length, this sage advice pursued,
he factious 0eaguers, and thyself subdued,
In horrid siege thy bounteous hand shall give
0ife to a nation, and its strength revive $
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hen all thy realms shall taste the seets of peace,
1ll strife shall vanish, and all discord cease6
hen raise thine eyes to that almighty 0ord
hom erst our fathers honored and adored6
ho most preserves 8is image, most shall %nd
hat virtue pleases, and that heaven is Nind67
hus spoNe the seer, each ord ne armth be-
stoed,
1nd 8enry9s soul ith secret raptures gloed6
hose happy days ere present to his eyes,
he 8enriade6 CG
hen 4od to man descended from the sNies$
hen virtue opened all her sacred springs,
&ronounced her oracles, and governed Nings6
ith tears he clasped the hermit to his breast,
1nd parting sighs his honest grief eRpressed6
+ar distant scenes creative fancy dre,
1nd rising glories daned upon his vie6
>arNs of surprise ere stamped on >ornay9s face,
ut heaven from him ithheld her gifts of grace6
he orld in vain bestos the name of ise,
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here virtue beams, but error9s clouds arise6
hile thus the sage, enlightened from above,
.poNe to the heart, and tried the prince to move,
3harmed ith his voice the listening inds subside,
&hoebus breaNs forth, and ocean smooths the tide6
y him conducted, ourbon reached the shore,
1nd prosperous gales the chief to 1lbion bore6
.oon as he sa the sea-encircled isle,
Its change of fortune made the hero smile6
here once the public evils oed their cause
o long abuses of the isest las,
here many a arrior fell of high renon,
1nd Nings descended from the tottering throne,
1 virgin ueen the regal sceptre sayed,
1nd fate itself her sovereign poer obeyed6
he ise 'lia, hose directing hand
8ad the great scale of 'urope at command $
1nd ruled a people that aliNe disdain
Or freedom9s ease, or slavery9s iron chain6
Of every loss her reign oblivion bred $
here, QocNs unnumbered grae each Qoery mead6
ritannia9s vessels rule the aure seas,
3orn %lls her plains, and fruitage loads her trees6
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JO he 8enriade6
+rom pole to pole her gallant navies seep
he aters of the tributary deep6
On hames9s banNs each Qoer of genius thrives,
here sports the >use, and >ars his thunder gives6
hree diPerent poers at estminster appear,
1nd all admire the ties hich "oin them there6
hom interest parts, the las together bring,
he people9s deputies, the peers, and Ning6
One hole they form, hose terror ide eRtends
o neighboring nations, and their rights defends6
hrice happy times, hen grateful sub"ects sho
hat loyal, arm aPection hich is due !
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ut happier still, hen freedom9s blessings spring
+rom the ise conduct of a prudent Ning6
7O hen,7 cried ourbon, ravished at the sight,
7In +rance shall peace and glory thus unite?7
1 female hand has closed the gates of ar,
0ooN on, ye monarchs, and adopt her care6
*our nations Discord9s horrid tide o9erhelms,
.he lives, the blessing of adoring realms6
2o at that spacious city he arrives,
here nursed by heaven-born freedom plenty lives6
2o, mighty illiam9s toer before him stood,
2o, fair 'lia9s more august abode6
hither he speeds, attended by >ornay,
8is friend and sole associate in the ay6
rue heroes that love pageantry and state,
hose glittering honors captivate the great6
+or +rance he supplicates ith humble prayers,
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1nd native dignity each accent bears6
+rom honest franNness all his periods Qo,
he only elouence that soldiers Nno6
7Does /alois send you to the banNs of hame ?7
he 8enriade6 JC
'lia cries, surprised at /alois9s name6
71re all your dire contentions at an end !
1nd you, that bitterest enemy, his friend!
+ame spread your discords, and that fame as true,
+rom north, to south, from 4anges, to &eru6
1nd does that arm, so dreaded in the %ght,
&rotect his honor, and maintain his right !7
7Distress,7 replied the chief, 7our friendship
gave,
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he chains are broNe, and /alois ill be brave6
+ar happier days he once as doomed to see,
8ad all his con%dence been placed in me6
ut fears unmanly in his breast arose,
9as art and coardice that made us foes6
8enceforth, the vanuished shall my aid receive,
8is rongs I punish, and his faults forgive6
his ar so "ust may raise ritannia9s fame,
9is thine, great ueen, to signalie her name6
0et royal mercy spread her dony ings,
1nd cron thy virtues by defending Nings67
he ueen, impatient, asNs him to relate
hat ruthless evils harassed 4allia9s state6
hat springs of action had produced a change
1t once so ne, so onderful, and strange6
7+ull oft of bloody broils,7 'lia said,
7hrough ritain9s isle has fame the rumor spread6
ut ho for certainty on fame depends,
hich light ith darNness, truth ith falsehood
blends ?
+rom you or /alois9 friend, or conuering foe,
hose long dissensions I could ish to Nno6
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*ourself as itness, and can best impart
hat mystic ties have changed so brave a heart6
CC he 8enriade6
Display your martial deeds, your griefs declare,
2o life more orthy of a royal ear67
71nd must I then,7 returned the chief ith sighs,
7(ecall those scenes of horror to my eyes?
ould to heaven, oblivion9s endless night
ith thicNest shades might veil them from my
sight !
>ust ourbon tell of Nindred princes9 crimes,
1nd the fell madness of preceding times ?
C shudder at the thought, but your command,
(espect of poer forbids me to ithstand6
Others, no doubt, ould use re%ned address,
Disguise the truth, and maNe their errors less ;
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ut I re"ect an arti%ce so eaN,
1nd liNe a soldier, not an envoy ? speaN67
312O II6
8' 1(4=>'26
8enry the 4reat relates to Eueen 'liabeth the history of
the civil ars of +rance6 8e traces them from their
origin, and enters into a detail of the massacres per-
petrated on .t6 artholome9s Day6
In +rance, great sovereign, to increase the curse,
Our ills are risen from a sacred source6
(eligion, raging ith inhuman eal,
1rms every hand, and points the fatal steel6
o me hoever it ill least belong
o prove the (omans, or 4eneva rong6 C
hatever names divine the parties claim,
In mad imposture they are both the same6
If in the strifes, hich 'urope9s sons divide,
>urder and treason marN the erring side $
.ince both aliNe in blood their hands imbrue,
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heir crimes are eual, and their blindness, too6
+or me, hose business is to guard the state,
I leave to heaven their vengeance and their fate6
>y hand ne9er trespassed on the rights divine$
Or e9er profaned the incense of the shrine6
&erish each statesman cruel and unNind,
ho reigns despotic o9er the human mind$
C .everal historians have described 8enry I/6 as aver-
ing beteen the to religions $ here he is described as he
as, a man of honor, seriously endeavoring to inform him-
self, the friend of truth, the enemy of persecution, and
detesting guilt heresoever it appeared6
JB
JM he 8enriade6
ho stains ith blood religion9s sacred ord,
1nd Nills, or gains ne converts by his sord $
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&resuming rashly that a gracious 4od
1pproves the sacri%ce of human blood6
Oh, ould that 4od, hose las I ish to Nno,
On /alois9 court such sentiments besto !
he 4uises C falsely plead religion9s cause,
2o scruple checNs them, and no conscience aes6
1t me those leaders, insolent and proud,
Direct their fury, and ensnare the crod6
hese eyes have seen our citiens engage
In mutual murders, ith a ealous rage ;
+or vain disputes have seen their pious care
Deal all around the horrid Qames of ar6
*ou Nno the madness of those vulgar minds
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hich faction arms, and superstition blinds$
hen, proudly arming in a cause divine,
2o poer their headstrong passion can con%ne6
'rst in these happy realms yourself beheld
he rising evil, and its danger uelled ;
he troubled scene assumed a milder form $
*our virtuous cares subdued the gathering storm6
2o reign more pleasing could I ish to see,
*our las are Qourishing, your city free6
+ar other paths did >edici pursue,
+ar less beloved, less merciful than you6
>oved by these tales of misery, and oe,
>ore of her conduct should you seeN to Nno,
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C +rancis, DuNe of 4uise, commonly at that time called
the 4reat DuNe of 4uise, as the father of alafre6 It as
he, ho ith the cardinal, his brother, laid the foundations
of the 0eague6 8e had several great ualities, hich, ho-
ever, e must taNe care not to dignify ith the name of
virtues6
he 8enriade6 J5
>yself her real character ill tell,
2or aught eRaggerate, nor aught conceal6
>any have tried, but fe could e9er impart
he secret counsels of so deep a heart6
+ull tenty years ithin the palace bred,
>uch to my cost, I sa the tempest spread6
he Ning eRpiring in the bloom of life
0eft a free course to his ambitious ife6
+ormed by her cares to empire, either son
1liNe she hated hen he reigned alone6 C
8er hands, the source from hence confusion
Qoed,
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he seeds of "ealousy and discord soed6
8er deep designs, no ild ePect of chance,
o 3onde 4uise opposed, and +rance to +rance6 J
y turns defending enemies and friends,
1nd rivals aiding for her private ends,
+alse to her sect, and superstition9s slave,:
.he sought each pleasure hich ambition gave6
.carce did one virtuous grace adorn her mind,
Deformed ith all the vices of her Nind6
+orgive the freedom of an honest heart$
*ou reign a stranger to your seR9s art6
C 3atherine de >edici uarrelled ith her son, 3harles
IF6, toard the latter part of his life, and afterard ith
8enry III6 .he had so openly eRpressed her disliNe of the
government of +rancis II6 that she as suspected, though
un"ustly, of having hastened the death of that Ning6
J In the memoirs of the 0eague is contained a letter from
3atherine de >edici to the &rince of 3onde, in hich she
returns him her thanNs for having taNen arms against the
court6
K hen she believed that the battle of DreuR as lost,
and the &rotestants had gained the victory, 7ell, then,7
she cried, 7e ill say our prayers in +rench67 .he as
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also so eaN as to believe in magic$ itness the talismans
hich ere found upon her after her death6
J he 8enriade6
1ugust 'lia, blessed ith every charm
hat thought can fancy, or that heaven can form,
o in aPection, or to guard a state,
0ives a bright pattern to the good and great6
ith love and onder all your deeds are seen,
1nd 'urope ranNs you ith her greatest men6
+rancis the .econd, in youth9s early pride,
y fate untimely "oined his sire, and died6
4uise he adored, no more his years had shon,
2or vice, nor virtue marNed him for their on6
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3harles, younger still, the regal name obtained,
ut fear evinced, 9tas >edici that reigned6
.he sought by artful policy to bring
'ternal childhood on the rising Ning6
1 hundred battles spoNe her ne command,
1nd discord9s Qames ere Nindled by her hand6
o rival parties she ith rage inspired,
heir arms directed, and their bosoms %red6
DreuR C %rst beheld their banners ave in air,
Ill-fated theatre of horrid ar !
Old >ontmorency J near the royal tomb
>et from a arrior9s arm a arrior9s doom6
1t Orleans 4uise B resigned his latest breath,
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C he battle of DreuR as the %rst pitched battle beteen
the 3atholic and &rotestant parties6 It occurred in C5J6
B 1nne de >ontmorency, a man remarNable for his obstin-
acy, and the most unfortunate general of his time, as taNen
prisoner at &avia and at DreuR, beaten at .t6 Euentin by
&hilip II6, and as at length mortally ounded at the battle
of .t6 Denis by an 'nglishman named .tuart, the person
ho had taNen him prisoner at DreuR6
C his is the same +rancis de 4uise mentioned afterard,
famous for the defence of >et against 3harles /6 8e as
besieging the &rotestants in Orleans in C5B, hen &oltrot
de >ere shot him in the bacN ith a pistol loaded ith
three poisoned balls6 8e as forty-four years old hen
he died6
he 8enriade6 JL
1 stern assassin gave the stroNe of death6
>y father still unilling slave at court, C
as fortune9s bubble, and the ueen9s support$
rought his on fate, in battle %rmly stood,
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1nd died for those ho thirsted for his blood6
3onde J vouchsafed a parent9s aid to lend,
>y surest guardian, and my truest friend6
2ursed in his camp, beneath the laurel9s shade,
1midst surrounding heroes as I bred6
0iNe him disdaining indolence and sloth,
1rms ere the toys and playthings of my youth6
plains of
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certainty to hat party or hat religion he belonged6 8e
as Nilled at the siege of (ouen, here he assisted the
4uises, ho ere his oppressors, against the &rotestants
hom he loved6 8e died in C5J, at the same age as +rancis
de 4uise6
C he &rince of 3onde ho is here meant as a
brother of the ing of 2avarre and uncle of 8enry I/6 8e
as for a long time chief of the &rotestants, and a great
enemy of the 4uises6 8e as slain after the battle of ontesuieu, captain of the guard to the DuNe of 1n"ou,
afterard 8enry III6 he 3ount of .oissons, son of the
deceased, sought diligently after >ontesuieu and his rela-
tions, that he might sacri%ce them to his vengeance6
JK he 8enriade6
2eRt my good cause 3oligny9s C arm sustained ;
3oligny, gracious ueen! if 'urope see
1 virtue orthy her regard in me,
If (ome herself confess my youthful days
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2ot unrenoned, 3oligny9s be the praise6
'arly I learned beneath his eye to bear
1 soldier9s hardships in the school of ar $
8is great eRample my ambition %red,
8is counsel formed me, and his deeds inspired6
I sa him gray in arms, yet undismayed,
he general cause reclining on his aid $
Dear to his friends, respected by the foe,
+irm in all states, ma"estic though in oe $
'Rpert aliNe in battle and retreat,
>ore glorious, even more aful in defeat,
han 4aston or Dunois in all the pride
Of ar, ith +rance and fortune at their side6
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en years elapsed of battles lost and on,
.till on the %eld our ell-armed legions shone $
ith grief the ueen her barren trophies vieed,
Our hardy troops, though vanuished, unsubdued,
1nd at one stroNe, one fatal stroNe ordained
o seep the civil fury from the land6
.udden ne counsels in her court prevailed,
1nd peace as oPered, hen the sord had failed6
&eace ! be thou itness, heaven9s avenging poer !
hat treacherous olive ho it blushed ith gore $
4ods ! is it then so hard a tasN to stray,
1nd shall their monarchs teach manNind the ay ?
@@ : 4aspard de 3oligny, admiral of +rance, the son of
4aspard de 3oligny, marshal of +rance, and of 0ouisa de
>ontmorency, sister of the constable, born at 3hatillon,
+ebruary C, C5C6
he 8enriade6 JG
rue to his sovereign still, devoutly true
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hough he opposed her, to his country, too,
3oligny seied the happy hour to heal
8er bleeding interests, ith a patriot9s eal6
=ndaunted through surrounding foes he pressed,
S.uspicion seldom haunts a hero9s breast)
2or stayed, till in her on august abode,
+ull in the midst before the ueen e stood6
ith circling arms and Qoing tears she strove
o lavish o9er me even a mother9s love $
3oligny9s friendship as her dearest choice,
.till to be ruled by his unerring voice $
ealth, poer, and honor at his feet she laid,
8er son9s indulgence to our hopes displayed,
/ain Qattering hopes alas ! and uicNly Qed6
1ll ere not blinded by this specious sho
Of cordial grace and bounty from the foe6
ut 3harles, still anRious to insure success,
>ore bounteous seemed, as they believed him less6
rained up in falsehood from his earliest youth,
8e held eternal enmity ith truth $
+rom infant years had treasured in his heart
he poisonous precepts of his mother9s art $
1nd %erce by nature, merciless and proud,
ith ease as ripened to the orN of blood6
>ore deeply still to veil the darN design,
y nuptial bands he made his sister mine6 C
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Oh, bands accursed, and 8ymen9s rites profaned,
y heaven in anger for our curse ordained,
hose baleful torch, dire omen of our doom,
laed but to lead me to a mother9s tomb6
C >argaret of /alois, sister of 3harles IF6, as married
to 8enry I/6 in C5LJ, a fe days before the massacre6
BH he 8enriade6
hough I have suPered let me still be "ust,
2or blame thee, >edici, but here I must,
.uspicions, though on reason %rmly built,
I scorn, nor need them to enhance thy guilt6
ut 1lbret R died forgive these tears I shed,
Due to the fond remembrance of the dead6
>eanhile the dreadful hour in sift career,
ig ith the ueen9s vindictive rath, dre near6
2ight9s gloomy mantle thron o9er earth and
heaven,
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.ilent and still the appointed sign as given6
he moon, pale regent, faltered on her ay, J
1nd sicNening seemed to uench her feeble ray6
3oligny slept, and largely o9er his head
he drosy poer had all his inQuence shed6
.udden unnumbered shrieNs dispelled the charm,
8is rallying senses felt the dread alarm $
8e aNed, looNed forth, and sa the assassin throng
ith murderous strides march hastily along ;
.a on their arms the uivering torch-light play,
8is palace %red, a nation in dismay,
8is bleeding household stiQed in the Qames,
hile all the savage host around eRclaims,
70et not compassion checN your righteous hands,
9is 4od, 9tis >edici, 9tis 3harles commands67
2o his on name shrill echoing rends the sNies,
C
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as eRecuted6
he 8enriade6 BC
1nd no far oP eligny C he descries,
eligny, famed for every virtuous grace,
hose truth had earned his daughter9s chaste em-
brace,
8ope of his cause, and honor of his race6
he bleeding youth by ruUans9 force conveyed,
ith outstretched arms demands his instant aid6
8elpless, unarmed, he sa his fate decreed,
.a that his blood must unavenged be shed $
*et bravely anRious for renon achieved,
ished but to die the hero he had lived6
1lready the tumultuous band eRplore
8is on recess, and thunder at the door6
Instant he Qings it ide, and meets the foe
ith eye untroubled, and ma"estic bro,
.uch as in battle ith deliberate breast,
.erene, he urged the slaughter, or repressed6
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1ful and sage he stood, his gracious form
Euelled the loud tumult, and controlled the storm6
7+inish, my friends, your fatal tasN,7 he said,
7athe in my freeing blood this hoary head,
hese locNs, hich yet full many a boisterous year
'9en the rough chance of ar has deigned to spare6
.triNe, and striNe deep$ be satis%ed and Nno
ith my last breath I can forgive the blo,
he mean desire of life my soul ab"ures,
*et happier ! might I die, defending yours67
he savage band gron human at his ords,
3lasping his Nnees let fall their idle sords $
C he 3ount de eligny, ten months before, had married
the daughter of the admiral6 8e had so much seetness in
his countenance, that they ho came %rst to Nill him relented
at the sight, but others more barbarous did the business6
BJ he 8enriade6
&rone on the ground his pardoning grace implore,
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1nd at his feet repentant sorros pour $
8e in the midst, liNe some loved monarch rose,
heme of his sub"ects9 praise, and idol of their vos6
hen esme, C impatient for his destined prey,
(ushed headlong in, enraged at their delay $
+urious he sa the deed un%nished yet,
1nd each assassin trembling at his feet6
2o change in him this scene of sorro rought,
8ard and unfeeling still, the caitiP thought,
hoe9er relented at 3oligny9s fate,
as the ueen9s foe, a rebel to the .tate6
1thart the crod he breaNs impetuous ay,
+irm stands the chief, unconscious of dismay,
Deep in his side the %erce barbarian strucN
he fatal steel, but ith averted looN,
0est at a glance that eye9s resistless charm
.hould freee his purpose and unnerve his arm6
.uch as the brave 3oligny9s mournful end $
1Pront and outrage e9en his death attend, J
he ravening haN and vulture hover round
8is mangled limbs, still festering on the ground6
1t the ueen9s feet his sacred head is thron,
1 conuest orthy both herself and son6
ith bro unaltered and serene she sate,
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C esme as a 4erman, a domestic of the house of 4uise6
his retch being afterard taNen by the &rotestants, the
(ochellers oPered a price for him that they might tear him
to pieces in the great suare, but he as Nilled by a person
named retanville6
J hey suspended the admiral by the feet ith an iron
chain to the gibbet of >ontfaucon6 3harles IF6 ent, to-
gether ith his court, to en"oy this horrid spectacle6 One
of his courtiers saying that the body of 3oligny had an ill
smell, the Ning ansered liNe /itellius ; 7he body of an
enemy slain smells alays ell67
he 8enriade6 BB
2or seemed t9en"oy the victim of her hate$
o veil her secret thoughts so ell she Nne,
.uch presents seemed familiar to her vie6
/ain ere the tasN and endless to recite
'ach horrid scene of that disastrous night $
3oligny9s death served only to presage
Our future oes, an earnest of their rage6
0egions of bigots, Qushed ith %ery eal
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1nd frantic ardor, shaNe the murdering steel $
&roudly they march here heaps of slaughter rise,
=nsated vengeance sparNling in their eyes6
4uise C in the van full many a victim paid
Indignant, to his father9s in"ured shade$
heir leaders animate the troops aloud,
1nd chafe to madness the deluded crod$
0ong registers of death9s foredoomed display,
1nd guide the poniard to its destined prey6
he tumult I omit, the deafening screams,
he blood that Qoated in promiscuous streams $
8o on his father9s corpse strucN rudely don,
3onvulsed ith anguish fell the eRpiring son$
8o hen the Qames had split the mouldering all,
It crushed the cradled infant in its fall ;
'vents liNe these e vie ith less surprise,
+or still they marN the tracN here human freny
Qies6
ut stranger far, hat fe ill e9er believe
In future ages, or yourself conceive,
he barbarous rout, hose hearts ith added %re,
hose holy savages, their priests, inspire$
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C his as 8enry, DuNe of 4uise, surnamed alafre, ho
as slain at lois6 8e as the brother of DuNe +rancis,
ho as assassinated by &oltrot6
/ol6 BK-B
BM he 8enriade6
'ven from the carnage call upon the 0ord,
1nd aving high in air the reeNing sord,
OPer aloud to 4od the sacri%ce abhorred6
hat numerous heroes in that havoc died!
(enel C and brave &ardaillan by his side,
4uerchy J and ise 0avardin, orthy ell
1 longer life and gentler fortune, fell,
1mong the retches, hom that night of oe
&lunged in the gloom of endless night belo,
>arsillac B and .oubise, M marNed don for death,
Defended stoutly their devoted breath,
9ill all ith labor earied and foredone,
3lose to the 0ouvre9s gate pushed roughly on,
hile to their Ning ith suppliant voice they cry,
Deaf to their prayers, he hears not, and they die6
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8igh on the roof the royal fury stood,
1t leisure feasting on the scenes of blood,
8er cruel minions atch the gloomy host,
1nd marN the spot here slaughter rages most $
C 1nthony of 3lermont-(enel, as he as shaving himself
in his shirt, as massacred by the son of the aron des
1drets, and by his on cousin, ussy d91mboise6 he
>aruis of &ardaillan as slain at his side6
B 4uerchy defended himself a long time in the street, and
sle many of the assassins till he as overpoered by num-
bers $ but the >aruis of 0avardin had not time to dra his
sord6
9>arsillac as a favorite of 3harles IF6, and had spent
part of the night ith him6 he Ning had some inclination
to save him, and had himself commanded him to sleep in
the 0ouvre; but at length he let him depart, saying; 7I
s,ee plainly it is 4od9s ill that he should perish67
C .oubise as so called because he had married the heiress
of that family6 8is on name as Dupont-Euellence6 8e
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defended himself a long time, and fell covered ith ounds
under the ueen9s indo6 he ladies QocNed thither to see
his body, naNed and bloody as it as, ith a savage curi-
osity, orthy of that abominable court6
he 8enriade6 BV
rave chiefs ! triumphant only in their shame,
hey sa their country blae, and gloried in the
Qame6
Oh, scandal to the name of Ning revered ! C
8imself, the monarch, "oins the felon herd$
8imself the trembling fugitives pursues,
1nd even his sacred hands in blood imbrues6
his /alois, too, hose cause I no support,
ho comes by me, a suppliant to your court,
.hared in his brother9s guilt an impious part,
1nd roused the Qames of vengeance in his heart $
2or yet is /alois %erce, of savage mood,
Or prone by nature to delight in blood$
ut on his youth those dire eRamples rought,
1nd eaNness, more than malice, as his fault6
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1 fe there ere hom vengeance sought in vain,
ho escaped unhurt among the thousands slain6
3aumont ! J thy fortune, thy auspicious fate,
1ges unborn ith onder shall relate6
he hoary sire beteen his sons reposed,
8is aged eyes in needful slumber closed,
One bed suUced them all $ hen rushing in
he fell destroyers marred the peaceful scene,
ith hasty stroNes their poniards plunging round,
hey deal a random death at every ound6
ut 8e, hose mercies o9er our fate preside,
3an aft ith ease the threatening hour aside$
C C have heard the last >arshal of +esse assert, that in his
youth he Nne an old man ninety years of age, ho had
been page to 3harles IF6, and ho had often told him, that
he himself loaded the carbine ith hich the Ning %red
upon his &rotestant sub"ects, the night of .t6 artholome6
B De 3aumont, ho escaped the massacre, as the famous
>arshal de la +orce, ho afterard gained such great repu-
tation, and lived to the age of fourscore and four years6
B he 8enriade6
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hrough very eal to slay, they spare the son,
1nd not a trace of mischief reached 3aumont6
1 hand unseen as stretched in his defence,
1nd screened from harm his infant innocence $
&ierced ith a thousand murders, to their force
8is father still opposed his bleeding corse,
1nd a hole nation9s ardor to destroy
'luding, tice gave being to his boy6
>e to seet sleep resigned, and balmy rest,
2o fear alarmed, no "ealousy possessed$
Deep in the 0ouvre at that dreadful hour,
+ar from the din of arms I slept secure ;
ut oh ! hat scenes my aNing eyes surveyed,
4rim death in all its horrid pomp arrayed,
&orches and porticoes ere deluged o9er,
ith crimson streams, and stood in pools of gore$
>y friends still bleeding, my domestics slain,
he truest, best, and dearest of my train6
1lready at my bed the villains stand
&repared, already lift the murdering hand $
>y life hangs avering on a point, I ait
he %nal stroNe, and yield me to my fate6
ut hether reverence of their ancient lords,
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he blood of ourbon, checNed their daring sords $
hether ingenious to torment, the ueen
8eld 8enry9s life a sacri%ce too mean $
Or isely spared it, to secure alone
In future storms, a shelter for her on $
Instead of death, at once to set me free,
3hains and a dungeon ere her stern decree6
+ar happier as the fate 3oligny shared,
8is life alone her treacherous arts ensnared,
he hero9s freedom still, and glory unimpaired6
he 8enriade6 BL
I see 'lia shares in the distress,
hough half the sad recital I suppress6
It seemed as from the ueen9s malignant eye
1ll +rance had caught the signal to destroy $
.ift from the capital on every side
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Death o9er the Ningdom stretched his banners ide6
ings in their vengeance are too ell obeyed $
hole armies blindly lend their impious aid $
+rance Qoats in blood, and all her rivers seep
=pon their purple tides, the carnage to the deep6
312O III6
8' 1(4=>'26
he hero continues the history of the civil ars of +rance6
he unfortunate death of 3harles IF6 (eign of 8enry
III6 8is character6 hat of the famous DuNe of
4uise, Nnon by the name of alafre6 attle of
3outras6 >urder of the DuNe of 4uise6 'Rtremities
to hich 8enry III6 is reduced6 >ayenne at the head
of the 0eague6 D91umale the hero of it6 (econcilia-
tion of 8enry III6, and 8enry, ing of 2avarre6
Eueen 'liabeth9s anser to 8enry de ourbon6
hen many a day Sfor thus the fates ordained)
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ith blacNest deeds of murder had been stained $
hen each assassin cruel, and abhorred,
+atigued ith crimes, had sheathed his glutted
sord $
hose crimes at length the factious crod alarmed
hom eal had blinded and their sovereign armed6
1s rage subsided, melting pity moved
'ach friend to virtue ho his country loved $
8er plaintive voice aaNened softer cares,
1nd 3harles himself relented at her tears6
hat early culture, by ill fate designed
o blast the fairer blossoms of his mind,
3onscience subdued her hispering voice alone
3an shaNe ith terror the securest throne6
2ot all his mother9s principles could frame
1 heart liNe hers, insensible of shame6
.evere remorse his anRious soul dismayed,
CV
he 8enriade6 BG
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8is strength as asted, and his youth decayed6
8eaven marNed him out in vengeance for his crimes,
1 dread eRample to succeeding times6
>yself as present at his latest breath,
1nd still I shudder at that scene of death,
hen, in return for tides of 4allic blood,
'ach bursting vein poured forth the crimson Qood6 C
hus fell lamented in his early prime
1 youthful monarch bred to every crime,
+rom hose repentance e had hoped to gain
he balmy blessings of a milder reign6
.oon as he died, ith speed advancing forth
+rom the bleaN bosom of the intry 2orth
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4reat /alois came, liNe some bright Orient star,
o claim his birthright in these realms of ar6
On him &olonia had bestoed her throne, J
Deemed by each province orthy of the cron6
4reat are the dangers of too bright a name,
'9en /alois sanN beneath the eight of fame ;
hough in his cause each danger I defy,
3ould toil forever, and ith transport die,
*et, heaven-born truth, this tongue thy accents
loves,
1nd praises only hat the heart approves6
.oon as the race of all his greatness run $
1s morning vapors Qy before the sun6
Oft have I marNed these changes, often seen,
C 8e never en"oyed his health after the aPair of .t6 ar-
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tholome, and died about to years afterard, >ay BH,
C5LM, covered ith his on blood, hich gushed out from
every pore6
C he reputation he had acuired at ontcon-
tour, supported by +rench coin, had gained him the election
as ing of &oland in C5LB6 8e succeeded .igismund II6, the
last prince of the race of the
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DranN of each "oy hich luRury supplies,
1nd scorned to listen to a nation9s cries6
=nmoved beheld aTicted +rance lament
8er strength eRhausted, and her treasures spent6
eneath their yoNe hilst /alois tamely boed,
1nd ne oppressions from ne taRes Qoed,
0o 4uise C appears ! ambition spurs him on,
1ll eyes are %Red upon this rising sun6
8is deeds of ar, the glory of his race,
8is manly beauty, and attractive grace$
ut more than all, that happy, pleasing art,
hich ins our love, and steals upon the heart,
.ubdued e9en those hom virtue faintly arms,
1nd gained their ishes by resistless charms6
2one e9er liNe him could lead the mind astray,
Or rule the passions ith more sovereign say6
C 8enry de 4uise $ surnamed alafre ; born in C55H, of
+rancis de 4uise and 1nne d9'ste6 8e eRecuted the grand
pro"ect of the 0eague formed by his uncle, the 3ardinal of
0orraine, and begun by +rancis, his father6
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he 8enriade6 MC
2one e9er concealed from busy, curious eyes,
heir darN intentions in so fair disguise6
hough proud ambition Nindled in his soul,
8is cooler "udgment could that pride control6
o gain the crod, and in deserved esteem,
Detested levies ere his daily theme6
Oft have they heard his Qattering tongue declare
he public sorros ere his only care6
On modest orth he lavished all his store,
Or clothed the naNed, or enriched the poor6
Oft ould his alms prevent the starting tear,
1nd tell that 4uise and charity ere near6
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1ll arts ere tried hich cunning might aPord,
o court the nobles hom his soul abhorred6
1liNe to virtue, as to vice inclined6
Or love, or endless hatred ruled his mind6
8e braved all dangers hich on arms aait,
2o chief more bold, none more oppressed the .tate6
hen time at length had made his inQuence strong,
1nd %Red the passions of the giddy throng $
.tripped of disguise unmasNed the traitor shone,
De%ed his sovereign, and attacNed the throne6
ithin our alls the fatal 0eague began,
1nd neRt through +rance the dire contagion ran6
2ursed by all ranNs the hideous monster stood,
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®nant ith oes, and rioting in blood6
o monarchs ruled o9er 4allia9s hapless land ;
his shared alone the shado of command $
hat ide diPused %erce ar9s destructive Qame,
>aster of all things save the royal name6
/alois aaNed the threatening danger sees,
1nd uits the slumbers of lethargic ease6
ut still to ease, and indolence a prey,
MJ he 8enriade6
8is eyes are daled by the blae of day6
hough o9er his head the stormy thunders roll,
2or storms, nor thunders rouse his sluggish soul6
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.eet to his taste the streams of pleasure Qo,
1nd sleep conceals the precipice belo6
>yself remained, the neRt succeeding heir,
o save the monarch, or his ruin share ;
'ager I Qe his eaNness to supply $
+irmly resolved to conuer, or to die6
ut 4uise, alas ! that sly, dissembling %end,
y craft deprived him of his truest friend6
hat old pretence through all revolving time,
Divine religion, veiled the horrid crime6
he busy crod %ctitious virtue armed,
ith eal inspired them, and ith fury armed6
efore their eyes in lively tints he dre
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hat ancient orship hich their fathers Nne6
+rom ne-born sects declared hat ills had Qoed,
1nd painted ourbon as a foe to 4od6
7hrough all your climes, forbid it heaven !7 he said,
78is tenets Qourish, and his errors spread6
*on alls, that cast a sacred horror round,
ill soon be sunN, and levelled ith the ground6
.oon ill you see unhalloed temples rise,
1nd point their airy summits to the sNies6
.o loved by ourbon, so adored has been
he cursed eRample of ritannia9s ueen67
.carce had he spoNe hen lo ! the public fear
as siftly afted to the royal ear6
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2ay, more, the 0eaguers issue (ome9s decree,
1nd curse the monarch that unites ith me6
2o as this arm prepared to striNe the blo,
&our forth its strength, and thunder on the foe$
he 8enriade6 MB
hen /alois, on by subtle, darN intrigue,
+iRed on my ruin, and obeyed the 0eague6
=nnumbered soldiers armed in dread array
+illed every plain, and spoNe the Ning9s dismay6
ith grief I sa such "ealousy disclosed,
eailed his eaNness, and his poer opposed6
1 thousand states ere lavish of supplies,
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'ach passing hour beheld ne armies rise,
0ed on by %erce
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.uch themes are orthy of 'lia9s ear ;
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MM he 8enriade6
In noble eRploits had his virtue shone,
1nd 4uise9s greatness not eRcelled his on6
ut vice o9er virtue gained superior force,
3ourt as his cradle, luRury his nurse;
*et dared the amorous chieftain to oppose
=nsNilful valor to eRperienced foes6
+rom pleasure9s dony lap the courtiers came
o guard his person, and to share his fame6
In gay attire each gallant youth as dressed $
.ome cipher glittered on each martial vest,
.ome dear distinction, such as lovers ear,
o tell the fondness of the yielding fair6
he costly sapphire, or the diamond9s rays,
O9er their rich armor shed the vivid blae6
hus decNed by folly, thus elate and vain,
hese troops of /enus issued to the plain6
.ift marched their ranNs, as tumult led the ay,
=nisely brave, and impotently gay6
In ourbon9s camp, disdaining empty sho,
+ar other scenes ere opened to the vie ;
1n army, silent as the dead of night,
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Displayed its forces ell inured to %ght $
>en gray in arms, and disciplined to blood,
ho bravely suPered for their country9s good6
he only graces, that employed their care,
ere sords ell pointed, and the dress of ar6
0iNe them arrayed, and steady to my trust,
I led the suadrons covered o9er ith dust6
0iNe them ten thousand deaths I dared to face,
Distinguished only by my ranN and place6
hese eyes beheld the brilliant foe o9erthron,
'Rpiring legions, and the %eld our on6
Deep in their breasts I plunged the fatal spear,
he 8enriade6 M5
1nd ished some .panish bosom had been there6
.till shall my tongue their honest praises tell $
+irm at his post each youthful courtier fell,
1nd bravely struggled to his latest breath
1midst the terrors of surrounding death6
Our silNen sons of pleasure and of ease
&reserve their valor in the midst of peace6
3alled forth to ar, they bravely scorn to yield,
.ervile at court, but heroes in the %eld6
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M he 8enriade6
*ield to his poer, defeated by surprise6
hrough &aris9 streets he marched ith haughty air,
1rrayed in laurels, and the pride of ar6
'9en /alois tamely to his insults boed,
1nd served this idol of the gaing crod6
.hame ill at length the coolest courage arm,
1nd give ne vigor to the eaNest arm6
.uch vile aPronts made /alois less incline
o oPer incense at so mean a shrine6
oo late he tried his greatness to restore,
1nd reign the monarch he had lived before6
2o deemed a tyrant by the factious cre,
2or loyal fear nor love his sub"ects Nne6
1ll &aris arms, sedition spreads the Qame,
1nd headstrong mutiny asserts her claim6
'ncircling troops raise high the hostile mound,
esiege his palace, and his guards surround6
4uise undisturbed, amidst the raging storm,
4ave it a milder, or severer form ;
(uled the mad tumult of rebellious spleen,
1nd guided, as he pleased, the great machine6
1ll had been lost $ and /alois doomed to die
y one command, one glance of 4uise9s eye $
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ut hen each arm as ready for the blo,
3ompassion soothed the %erceness of the foe $
'nough ere deemed the terrors of the %ght,
1nd meeN-eyed pity gave the poer of Qight6
4uise greatly erred, such sub"ects all things dare,
heir Ning must perish, or themselves despair6
his day con%rmed, and strengthened in his
schemes,
8e sa that all as fatal but eRtremes ;
8imself must mount the scaPold, or the throne,
he 8enriade6 ML
he lord of all things, or the lord of none6
hrough 4allia9s realms adored, from conuest vain,
1ided by (ome, and seconded by .pain $
®nant ith hope, and absolute in poer,
8e thought those iron ages to restore,
hen erst our Nings in mouldering cloisters lived,
In early infancy of crons deprived6
In halloed shades they ept the hours aay,
hilst tyrants governed ith oppressive say6
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/alois, indignant at so high a crime,
Delayed his vengeance to some better time6
Our states at lois ere summoned to appear,
1nd fame, no doubt, has told you hat they ere6
In barren streams from oratory9s tongue
.mooth Qoed the tide of elouence along $
0as ere proposed hose poer none e9er per-
ceived,
1nd ills lamented hich none e9er relieved6
4uise in the midst, ith high imperious pride,
as vainly seated by his sovereign9s side6
.ure of success, he sa around the throne,
Or thought he sa, no sub"ects but his on6
hese sons of infamy, this venal band
as ready to besto the dear command,
hen /alois9s poer as destined to appear,
1nd burst the chains of mercy and of fear6
'ach day his rival studied to attain
he mean, the odious triumphs of disdain$
2or deemed that ever such a prince could sho
hose stern resolves hich striNe the assassin9s blo6
+ate o9er his eyes ith envious hand had spread
8er thicNest veil9s impenetrable shade6
he hour arrived hen 4uise as doomed to bear
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MK he 8enriade6
hat lot of nature hich all mortals share6
Disgraced ith ounds before the royal eye
he mighty victim as condemned to die6
1ll pale, and covered by the crimson tide,
his sun descended in his native pride6
he parting soul, by thirst of glory %red,
In life9s last moments to the throne aspired6
hus fell the poerful chief, C assemblage rare
Of foulest vices, and perfections fair6
ith other conduct than to Nings belongs,
Did /alois suPer, and avenge his rongs6
.oon did the dire report through &aris spread,
hat heaven as in"ured, and that 4uise as dead6
he young, the old, ith unavailing sighs
Displayed their grief, and "oined their plaintive
cries6
he softer seR invoNed the poers above,
1nd clasped his statues in the arms of love6
1ll &aris thought her father and her 4od
3alled loud for vengeance, and inspired to blood6
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1midst the rest, the brave and valiant >ayenne
.ought not their ealous fury to restrain ;
ut more by interest than resentment moved,
he Qame augmented, and their eal approved6
>ayenne, under 4uise inured to ar9s alarms,
as nursed in battle, and trained up to arms ;
8is brother9s eual in each darN intrigue,
1nd no the lord and glory of the 0eague6
hus highly raised, thus eminently great$
8e grieved no longer for his brother9s fate ;
ut better pleased to govern, than obey,
C 8e as assassinated in the Ning9s antechamber at lois,
on +riday, Dec6 JB, C5KK6
he 8enriade6 MG
+orgot the loss, and iped his tears aay6
>ayenne, ith a soul to generous deeds inclined,
1 statesman9s cunning, and a hero9s mind,
y subtle arts unnumbered folloers dras
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o yield him homage, and to serve his las6
.Nilful e9en good from evil to produce,
+ull ell he Nnos their talents and their use6
hough brighter splendors daled all our eyes,
2ot greater dangers ever rose from 4uise6
o young 1umale, and this more prudent guide,
he 0eaguers oe their courage and their pride6
1umale, the great invincible by name,
Is high eRalted in the lists of fame6
hrough all their ranNs he spreads ambition9s %res,
&resumptuous valor, and his on desires6
=nshaNen in their cause the 0eague protects,
1nd bravely eRecutes hat >ayenne directs6
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>eantime, the Ning, hose poer the 4ermans
dread,
o deeds inhuman from his cradle bred$
hat tyrant 3atholic, that artful foe,
Incensed at ourbon, and 'lia too ;
1mbitious &hilip sends his arliNe train
o aid our rivals, and the cause of >ayenne6
(ome, best employed in maNing ars to cease,
0ights Discord9s torch, and bids her %res increase6
he same %erce vies the 3hristian father ons,
&oints the Neen blade, and animates his sons6
+rom 'urope9s either end the torrent falls ;
=niting sorros burst upon our alls6
eaN, and defenceless in this evil hour
/alois relented, and implored my poer6
8umane benevolence my soul approves,
/ol6 BKM
p he 8enriade6
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he state commiserates, and /alois loves6
Impending dangers banish all my ire,
1 brother9s safety is my sole desire6
ith honest eal I labor for his good ;
is duty calls me, and the ties of blood6
I Nno the royal dignity my on,
1nd vindicate the honors of the cron6
2or treaty made, nor hostage asNed I came,
1nd told him, courage as his guide to fame6
On &aris9 ramparts bid him cast his eye,
1nd there resolve to conuer, or to die6
hese friendly ords, thus happily applied,
hrough all his soul diPused a generous pride6
>anners thus changed, thus resolutely brave,
he sense of shame, and not eRample gave6
he serious lessons, hich misfortune brings,
1re needful often, and of use to Nings6
hus 8enry spoNe ith honesty of heart,
1nd begged for succors on 'lia9s part6
2o from the toers here rebel Discord stood,
3onuest recalls him to her scenes of blood6
he Qoer of 'ngland follos to the plain,
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1nd cleaves the bosom of the aure main6
'sseR commands the proud Iberian Nnos
hat 'sseR conuers e9en the isest foes$
+ull little deeming that in"urious fate
.hould blast his laurels ith her Neenest hate6
o +rance brave 8enry hastens to repair,
'ager to grace the theatre of ar6
74o,7 said the ueen, 7thyself, and virtue please $
>y troops attend thee o9er the aure seas6
+or thee, not /alois, they endure the %ght $
hy cares must guard them, and defend their right6
he 8enriade6 5C
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+rom thy eRample ill they scorn to serve$
1nd rather seem to imitate, than serve6
ho no the sord for valiant ourbon dras
ill learn to triumph in ritannia9s cause6
Oh! may thy poer the factious 0eaguers uell,
1nd >ayenne9s allies thy gallant conuests feel!
.pain is too eaN thy rebel foes to save,
1nd (oman thunders never ae the brave6
4o, free manNind, and breaN the iron chains
here .iRtus governs, or here &hilip reigns6
he cruel &hilip, artful as his sire
In all that vies of interest may reuire,
hough less renoned in ar, less great and brave,
Division spreads in order to enslave$
+orms in his palace each ambitious scheme,
1nd boundless triumph is his darling theme6
70o! .iRtus raised from nothing to the throne, C
Designs more haughty blushes not to on6
>ontalto9s shepherd monarchs ould o9ercome,
1nd dictate las in &aris, as at (ome;
.afe in the honors hich adorn his bro,
o &hilip, and to all manNind a foe ;
1s serves his cause, or insolent, or meeN,
(ival of Nings, and tyrant o9er the eaN6
hrough every clime, ith faction at their head,
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'9en to our court his darN intrigues have spread6
hese mighty rulers fear not to defy$
hey both have dared 'lia9s poer to try ;
itness, ye seas ! ho &hilip fought in vain
94ainst 'nglish valor, and the stormy main6
hese shores beheld the proud 1rmada lost$
C &ope .iRtus /6, ho from having been a shepherd9s boy
rose to the &apal throne6
5J he 8cnriade6
*on purple billos bore the Qoating host6
(ome9s pontiP still in uiet silence bears
he loss of conuest, and our greatness fears6
7Display thy banners in the martial %eld $
hen >ayenne is conuered, (ome herself ill
yield6
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hough proud hen fortune smiles, her on defeat
0ays her submissive at the victor9s feet6
&rompt to condemn, and eager to absolve,
8er Qames and thunders ait on thy resolve67
312O I/6
8' 1(4=>'26
D91umale is on the point of being master of the camp of
8enry III6, hen the hero, returning from 'ngland,
engages the 0eaguers and changes the fortune of the
day6
Discord comforts >ayenne, and Qies to (ome for aid6 De-
scription of (ome6 Discord meets ith &olicy6 .he
returns ith her to &aris, causes an insurrection of
the orbonne$ animates the .iRteen against the parlia-
ment, and arms the monNs6 roubles and confusion
in &aris6
hile thus seuestered from the train of .tate,
heir glorious interests sagely they debate,
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1t leisure o9er the princely science stray,
3ombat and conuest and imperial say,
he .eine ith terror sa the chiefs combined
.pread on his banNs their banners to the ind6
1nRious the Ning, from 8enry distant far,
eailed the uncertain destiny of ar $
8is cheering aid irresolute he needs,
+or victory follos still here ourbon leads6
ith triumph the confederate bands beheld
8is eaN dismay, and eager sought the %eld$
3hilled every dreadful hour ith fresh alarms,
8e sa the o9erhelming torrent of their arms,
1nd prone to change, and hasty to repent,
(egrets his absence hom himself had sent6
90ong ith these traitors to their laful lord,
.B
5M he 8enriade6
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&referred, as hen inclined his avering soul,
One hour the helmet, and the neRt the col6
8e left the scenes of penitence and tears,
o barN sedition in the 0eaguers9 ears,
1nd bathed remorseless in his country9s blood,
he hand "ust then devoted to his 4od6
Of all the chiefs for valor most renoned,
hose proess shed despair and horror round,
hose puissant arms the boldest might appall,
he %rst in feats of glory as d91umale6 J
.prung from the far-famed heroes of 0orraine,
ing, las, and peace aliNe ere his disdain$
he noblest youths his daring steps pursue,
ith them incessant to the %eld he Qe,
2o in still march, no shouting from afar,
C 8enry, 3ount of ouchage, younger brother of the DuNe
of ayenne made him governor of 0anguedoc, duNe and peer
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and marshal of +rance6 1t length he came to an accom-
modation ith the Ning; but as he as one day standing
ith his ma"esty in a balcony, under hich a great multitude
ere assembled, the Ning said to him $ 73ousin, these people
seem delighted ith seeing an apostate and a renegade to-
gether67 his speech of 8enry9s sent him again to his
convent, here he died6
C he 3hevalier d91umale, brother of the DuNe d91umale,
of the house of 0orraine, a young man of impetuous spirit,
ith many shining ualities $ he headed all the sallies dur-
ing the siege of &aris, and inspired the inhabitants ith his
on courage and con%dence6
he 8enriade6 55
y day, by night, he urged the varying ar,
1ssailed the unguarded foe on every side,
1nd ith their blood the dusty champaign dyed6
.o from proud 1thos or Imaus9 height,
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here earth, sea, air lie stretched before the sight,
ith headlong speed the rapid eagle Qies,
1nd vultures dart along the gloomy sNies $
ith hungry beaNs the feathered spoil they rend,
(esistless on the bleating QocNs descend,
1nd soaring to their airy cliPs convey
ith screams of cruel "oy, the living prey6
+ired on a time and frantic ith the thirst
Of glory, to the royal tent he pierced $
DarN as the night and sudden the surprise,
1round the camp a panic horror Qies $
he torrent of his arms o9erlooNs the mound,
1nd the big deluge threatens all around6
ut hen the day-star raised his glimmering urn,
3ame >ornay to announce his lord9s return $
ith "oyful speed the impatient chief dre near,
hen the rough din smote loudly on his ear,
1maed he Qies, sees terror and distress
In the Ning9s troops, nor even in ourbon9s less,
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71nd are you vanuished, and is this,7 he cried,
7Is this the glorious elcome you provide
+or 8enry, for your 8enry?7 1t that name
heir hearts ere Qushed again ith valor9s gloing
Qame6
.o hen the .abine arms drove trembling home
'ven to the capital, the bands of (ome,
8is guardian god their mighty founder hailed,
1nd in the name of .tator
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D91umale enraged tries every art in vain
o rally their disordered %les again$
8is voice a hile their timorous Qight ithheld,
ut 8enry9s drove them headlong o9er the %eld $
8is aful front striNes terror through the foe,
heir chief unites them, and their fears o9erthro ;
9ill even d91umale reluctant borne along
Obeys the o9erhelming torrent of the throng6
Incumbered thus ith many a inter9s sno,
.ome rocN forsaNes the mountain9s lofty bro,
1nd rapt in sheets of ice, rolls o9er the vale belo6
8e shos to the besieging poers around
8is front so long ith matchless glory croned,
ursts through the multitude, and loathing life,
.eeNs in despair once more the mortal strife $
(estrains a hile the victor9s rapid course,
ill eaN, and baTed by superior force,
'ach moment he eRpects the fatal meed,
Death, the "ust ages of his hardy deed6
ut Discord, for her darling chief afraid,
+lies sift to save him, for she needs his aid,
eteen her champion and the foe, she held
8er massy, broad, impenetrable shield,
hose sight, or rage, or terror can convey,
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he 8enriade6 5L
Omen of death, and meteor of dismay6
OPspring of 8ell ! from her infernal cave
hen %rst she came, to succor and to save,
hen %rst her hand, dire instrument of death,
(edeemed from instant fate a hero9s breath6
+orth from the %eld, her minion, covered o9er
ith ounds unfelt amid his toi", she bore,
8is anguish ith a lenient hand allayed,
1nd staunched the blood that in her cause as shed6
ut hile her labors to his limbs impart
heir onted health, her venom taints his heart6
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hus tyrants oft, ith treacherous pity, stay
he retched doom, and spare but to betray $
1ct by his arm the purpose of their hate
1nd darN revenge, then yield him to his fate6
old to achieve, nor fraught ith isdom less
o catch the auspicious moment of success,
/ictorious 8enry urged the important blo,
1nd ith ne fury pressed the astonished foe6
3lose in their alls their dire disgrace they mourn,
1nd dread the assault, and tremble in their turn6
'ven /alois no, to martial deeds inspired
he troops, himself by 8enry9s actions %red $
0aughs at all pain, despises all alarms,
1nd ons even toil and danger have their charms6
2o secret feuds the "arring chiefs confound,
heir brave attempts ere all ith glory croned $
8orror, here9er they march, their ay prepares66
he ramparts tremble, and the foe despairs6
here no shall >ayenne deep sorroing seeN re-
dress,
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8is troops, a people groaning in distress!
he eeping orphan here her sire demands,
^K he 8enriade6
here brethren claim their brother at his hands $
'ach mourns the present, dreads the future most,
1nd disaPection rends the murmuring host6
.ome counsel Qight, surrender some prefer,
ut all renounce unanimous the ar $
.o light the feeble vulgar, and so near
heir headstrong rashness is allied to fear6
heir ruin he beheld already rought,
1 thousand plans perpleR his laboring thought $
hen Discord by her snaNy locNs confessed,
.tood forth revealed and thus the chief addressed ;
71ugust descendant of an aful line,
hose vengeful cause unites thee %rm to mine $
+ormed by my counsel, nursed beneath my care,
no thy protectress, and her voice revere6
.hall retches base as these thy fears eRcite,
ho freee ith horror at a loss so slight?
.laves of my poer, and vassals of my ill,
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'ven no our great designs they shall ful%l $
0et but my breath their dastard bosoms %re,
hey court the combat, and ith "oy eRpire67
.he spoNe, and rapid as the lightning9s Qight,
4lanced through the clouds, and vanished from his
sight6
1round the +rench she sa confusion loer,
1nd hailed the sight, and blessed the elcome hour $
he teeming earth gre barren as she passed,
1nd the bright blossoms ithered at the blast $
+lat in the furro lies the blighted ear,
&ale and half uenched the sicNening stars appear $
eneath her bursts the thunder9s sullen sound,
1nd death-liNe horror seied the nations round6
DarN scoling o9er the Qoery vales belo,
he 8enriade6 5G
1 hirlind snatched her to the banNs of &o6
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oard (ome at length her baleful eye she rolled,
(ome, the orld9s dread, and Discord9s fane of old,
Imperial (ome, by destiny designed,
In peace, in ar, the mistress of manNind6
y conuest %rst she stretched her ide domain,
1nd all earth9s monarchs ore her galling chain $
On arms alone her solid empire gre,
1nd the orld crouched here9er her eagle Qe6
>ore peaceful art her modern rule supports,
2o even her conuerors tremble in her courts$
Deep rooted in their hearts her poer she sees,
1nd needs no thunder but her on decrees6
8igh on that gorgeous recN of ancient ar,
here >ars for ages drove his rattling car,
1 pontiP no maintains his priestly state,
1nd %lls the throne here once the 3aesars sate6
here andering heedless of the mighty dead,
>onastic feet on 3ato9s ashes tread,
On 4od9s on altar there the throne they raise,
1nd one despotic hand the cross and sceptre says6
here %rst 8is infant 3hurch the 1lmighty
placed,
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y turns ith eal re"ected, or embraced $
here heaven9s high ill 8is %rst apostle taught,
In native truth and singleness of thought6
.carce meaner praise his successors acuired,
1nd they ere honored most, ho least aspired $
2o foppery then their modest bro adorned,
1ll praise but virtue, and all ealth they scorned,
1nd Qe ith rapture from their lo abode,
o die triumphant in the cause of 4od6
Depraved at length they scorned their humble state,
H he 8enriade6
1nd heaven, for man9s oPences, made them great$
1mbition then profaned the sacred shrine
1nd human poer as grafted on divine $
he lurNing dagger and the poisoning bol
ere the darN basis of their ne control6
/icegerents of the 0ord, 8is holy place
ith brutal lust they blushed not to disgrace,
ill (ome, oppressed beneath their hateful reign,
.ighed for her idol gods and pagan rites again6
1 iser race more modern times beheld,
ho crimes liNe these or rought not or concealed ;
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hen Nings appealed to (ome9s decisive poer,
1nd chose their umpire, hom they feared before $
8umility once more and meeNness shone
(eneed, beneath the proud ponti%c cron6
ut pious fraud and priestcraft in these days
1re (ome9s chief virtue, and her orthiest praise6
2o in the pomp of apostolic state
.upreme, and croned ith empire, .iRtus C sate$
If fraud and churlish insolence might claim
(enon, no monarch bore a fairer name6
0ong time he sNulNed beneath the driveller9s part
Disguised, and oed his greatness to his art$
0ong seemed unorthy hat he sighed to gain,
1nd shunned it long the surer to obtain6
Deep in his palace, secret and unseen,
Delt darN-veiled &olicy, mysterious ueen$
=nsocial interest and ambition "oined
Of yore, to span this pelt of humanNind6
: .iRtus /6, hen he as cardinal of >ontalto, counter-
feited the idiot so artfully for %fteen years that he as com-
monly called the 1ss of 1ncona6 It is ell Nnon by hat
contrivances he obtained the papacy, and ith hat haughti-
ness he governed6
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he 8enriade6 C
8er smiles a free, untroubled soul eRpressed,
hough cares unnumbered sarmed ithin her
breast $
een ere her haggard eyes, nor Nne to close
heir aNeful lids, nor ould admit repose $
hicN oven %lms o9er 'urope9s sight she spreads,
3onfounds her counsels, and her Nings misleads $
3alls truth itself to testify a fraud,
1nd stamps imposture ith the seal of 4od6
hen %rst the phantom Discord met her vie,
ith instant rapture to her arms she Qe$
hen smiled a ghastly grin, but sighing soon,
1