LOVERS’ VOWS.- ACT 2

<p>WRITTEN BY JOHN TAYLOR ESQ.</p><p>Spoken by Mr. MURRAY.</p><p>Poets have oft&rsquo; declared in doleful strain<br/>That o&rsquo;er dramatic tracks they beat in vain<br/>Hopeless that novelty will spring to sight;<br/>For life and nature are exhausted quite.<br/>Though plaints like these have rung from age to age<br/>Too kind are writers to desert the stage;<br/>And if they fruitless search for unknown prey<br/>At least they dress old game a novel way;<br/>But such lamentings should be heard no more<br/>For modern taste turns Nature out of door;<br/>Who ne&rsquo;er again her former sway will boast<br/>Till to complete her works she starts a ghost.<br/>&nbsp; &nbsp; If such the mode what can we hope to-night<br/>Who rashly dare approach without a sprite?<br/>No dreadful cavern no midnight scream<br/>No rosin flames nor e&rsquo;en one flitting gleam.<br/>Nought of the charms so potent to invite<br/>The monstrous charms of terrible delight.<br/>Our present theme the German Muse supplies<br/>But rather aims to soften than surprise.<br/>Yet with her woes she strives some smiles to blend<br/>Intent as well to cheer as to amend:<br/>On her own native soil she knows the art<br/>To charm the fancy and to touch the heart.<br/>If then she mirth and pathos can express<br/>Though less engaging in an English dress<br/>Let her from British hearts no peril fear<br/>But as a STRANGER* find a welcome here.</p><p>* Hamlet.</p><p></p>