Page:Oriental Sketches Dramatic Sketches and Tales.pdf/214

Than the arena where the Drama tries
"To catch the manners living as they rise?"
From each expressive glance the Actor draws
The gentle censure, or the sweet applause;
And as their various talents they unfold,
She cheers the timid or appals the bold:
Checks with a glance each free licentious speech,
And gives the lesson none save women teach—
Sanctions the good, directs the march of mind
To all that's great, and beauteous, and refined,
Displays the witchery of the soft, the chaste,
And shews examples of the purest taste.
We bend before you—grateful—for we know
How much to female patronage we owe,
And fearless—for to woman's generous breast
The modest suppliant never yet addrest
A prayer in vain——whatever our success,
The gentle smile of female loveliness,
Will soothe our failure, or our triumph bless