EPILOGUE

(Spoken by the Baron)

Of this adventure, children, the moral is quite clear: To elevate
the lowly above their proper sphere Involves no less a peril than
rashly tumbling down The great who rise to power by deeds of just
renown. Permit the base-born yokel untutored sway to urge, The
sceptre of dominion as soon becomes a scourge. Let once despotic
power drive justice from the realm, In every peaceful hamlet a Nero
grasps the helm. Could Phalaris or Caius in days of yore have been
More merciless a tyrant than him we here have seen? Before the seat
of justice had time his warmth to feel He threatened us with
torture, the gallows, and the wheel. Nay, never shall we tremble
beneath a boor's dictates Or set a plowman over us, as oft in
ancient states--For if we sought to pattern us on follies such as
those, Each history of dominion in tyranny would close.






THE POLITICAL TINKER

[DEN POLITISKE KANDESTOBER]

A COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS

1722-1731