Act 5 — THE EPILOGUE.

Since tyrants reign, and lust and lux'ry rule; Since kings turn Neroes—statesmen play the fool; Since parli'ment in cursed league combine, To sport with rights that's sacred and divine; Destroying towns with direful conflagration, And murder subjects without provocation! These are but part of evils we could name, Not to their glory, but eternal shame. Petitions—waste paper—great Pharaoh cries, Nor care a rush for your remonstrances. Each Jacobite, and ev'ry pimping Tory, Waits for your wealth, to raise his future glory: Or pensions sure, must ev'ry rascal have, Who strove his might, to make Freeman a slave. Since this the case, to whom for succour cry? To God, our swords, and sons of liberty! Cast off the idol god!—kings are but vain! Let justice rule, and independence reign. Are ye not men? Pray who made men, but God? Yet men make kings—to tremble at their nod! What nonsense this—let's wrong with right oppose, Since nought will do, but sound, impartial blows. Let's act in earnest, not with vain pretence, } Adopt the language of sound Common Sense, And with one voice proclaim Independence. Convince your foes you will defend your right, That blows and knocks is all they will get by 't. Let tyrants see that you are well prepar'd, By proclamations, sword, nor speeches scar'd; That liberty freeborn breathe in each soul! One god-like union animate the whole!