The Conflict; or, Love, Honour, and Pride: A Heroic Comedy

to my darling Child! This smiling morn
Rises auspicious to behold my joy;
This is the birth-day of thy regal power:
And my child mounts this Day her Father's Throne.
Revolted Arragon now courts thy sway,
And with repentant heart, wrenching thy sceptre
From Garcia's grasp, repairs its long rebellion.
The Deputies ere noon will here arrive,
From exile to recall thee, and restore,
With signal honours, thy long ravish'd Kingdom:
To swear allegiance, and to hail thee Queen.
Oh! may that Crown, which Heaven, this Day, restores me,
Add to my Mother's bliss, as to her power;
Though Queen, I still her subject shall remain.
Her prudent counsels, and her wise resolves,
Will sway and safely guide my youthful mind.
This is indeed a Day of high import;
Alike distinguish'd by eventful fate,
To fix for Arragon, and rich Castile,
A future Monarch on their envy'd Thrones.
This Day the beauteous Isabella names
The Husband of her choice, and crowns him King.
O my Elvira! wouldst thou fix thy choice,
And now select a partner of thy Throne;
From anxious care my mind would be reliev'd.
Troubles, from long misrule, will rise in Arragon;
And I am all thy counsel, or defence:
And can I on that Throne protect my Child,
Which all her Father's valour fail'd to guard?
A valiant Husband's arm would prop thy state;
Disperse the mutinous, and quell rebellion.
Let prudence plead the cause of love, Elvira!
Reward the godlike passion of Alvarez,
Who sought thy hand, whilst hopeless of a Crown.
Now emulate the worth thy soul esteems;
And generous in thy turn, be grateful too:
Let thy first act, as Queen, be nobly just,
Ascend thy Throne, and name Alvarez King.