Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 1.djvu/451

Rh To gaze when sable Hubert threats to sear

Young Arthur's eyes, can ours or Nature bear?

A haltered heroine Johnson sought to slay—

We saved Irene, but half damned the play,

And (Heaven be praised!) our tolerating times

Stint Metamorphoses to Pantomimes;

And Lewis' self, with all his sprites, would quake

To change Earl Osmond's negro to a snake!

Because, in scenes exciting joy or grief,

We loathe the action which exceeds belief:

And yet, God knows! what may not authors do,

Whose Postscripts prate of dyeing "heroines blue"?

Above all things, Dan Poet, if you can,

Eke out your acts, I pray, with mortal man,