China and the West

Murphy, Arthur. The orphan of China : a tragedy [ID D19836].
William Whitehead schreibt im 'Prologue' :
Enough of Greece and Rome. The exhausted store,
Of either nation now can charm no more :
Even adventitious helps in vain we try,
Our triumphs languish in the public eye ;
And grave pocessions, musically slow,
Here pass unheeded - as a Lord Mayor's shew.
On eagle wings the poet of to-night,
Soars for fresh virtues to the source of light,
To China's eastern realm, and boldly bears
Confuicus' morals to Britannia's ears.
Accept th' imported boon, as echoing Greece
Received from wand'ring chiefs her golden fleece ;
Nor only richer by the spoils become,
But praise th'advent'rous youth who brings them home.
One dubious character, we own, he draws,
A patriot, zealous in a monarch's cause !
Vice in the task the varying hand to guide, and teach the blending colours to divide ;
Where, rainbow-like, th' encroaching tints intvade
Each other's bounds, and mingle light with shade.
If then, assiduous to obtain his end,
You find too far the subject's zeal extend :
If undistinguished loyalty prevails,
Where nature shrinks, and strong affection fails,
On China's tenets charge the fond mistake,
And spare his error for his virtue's sage.
From noble motives our allegiance springs,
For Britain knows no right divine in kings.
From Freedom's choice that boasted right arose,
And through each line from Freedom's choice it flows.
Justice, with mercy joined, the throne maintains ;
And in his people's hearts, our monarch reigns.