Page:The Maid's Tragedy Altered - Waller (1690).djvu/24

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The Maids Tragedy Alter'd.
Had not this Challenge stopt the impendent fate,We must have perisht with the ruin'd State.Forts, Soldiers, Citizens, of all bereft,There's nothing but our private Valour left:If he survive, I have not long to Reign;But he that's injur'd, should be fairly slain.The people for their Darling would repine;If he should fall by any hand, but mine.Less wise than valiant, the vain man is goneTo fight a Duel, when his work was done.Should I command my Guards to find him, whereHe meets my Brother, and destroy him there:All hope of Peace would be for ever lost;And the wild Rabble would adore his Ghost.Dead, than alive, he would do greater harm,And the whole Island, to revenge him, arm.So popular, so mighty have I madeThis fighting man, while I liv'd in the Shade.

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