The Earl of Essex: A Tragedy, in Five Acts
Have ever been my guiding stars through life,

My sure direction still.—To these I now

Appeal;—from these, no doubt, this lord's misconduct

Hath widely stray'd; and reason, not reviling,

Must now befriend his cause.

South. How ill had Providence

Disposed the suffering world's oppressed affairs,

Had sacred right's eternal rule been left

To crafty politicians' partial sway!

Then power and pride would stretch the enormous grasp,

And call their arbitrary portion, justice:

Ambition's arm, by avarice urged, would pluck

The core of honesty from virtue's heart,

And plant deceit and rancour in its stead:

Falsehood would trample then on truth and honour,

And envy poison sweet benevolence.

Oh, 'tis a goodly group of attributes,

And well befits some statesman's righteous rule!

Out, out upon such bloody doings!

The term of being is not worth the sin;


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