Let never man be bold enough to say,
Thus, and no farther, shall my passion stray:
The first crime, past, compels us into more,
And guilt grows fate, that was but choice, before."
Athelwold, a Tragedy, by Aaron Hill.
Act V. Scene: The Garden.
These lines were first quoted by Madan, in his translation of Juvenal, as a note on the words—
"Nemo repente fuit turpissimus."—Juv. Sat. ii. 83.
He prefaced the lines by confessing that he could not recollect where he had met with them; but Gifford, in his translation of Juvenal (3rd edition, 1817), assigns them to "Athelwold, a forgotten tragedy by Aaron Hill." I have referred to the play, for the sake of obtaining a correct copy of the quotation, and a reference to Act and Scene.
C. FORBES.
Temple.