2. Julian the Apostate, a dramatic Poem

Sir Aubrey de Vere published "Julian the Apostate" in 1822.

"Julian the Apostate" found an admiring and enthusiastic audience and received unstinted praise from the critics. One wrote, "Lord Byron has produced nothing equal to it," and another, "Scott has nothing so intellectual or so elevated among his exquisite sketches."

(C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917)

Julian the Apostate, a dramatic Poem (London: Warren, 1822) is a play by any other name. The following excerpt illustrates the work's narrative style.

The setting is the interior of the Temple of Mars. Emperor Julian, standing on the steps of the altar, speaks to the Roman populace. He is attended by Maximus the Chief Priest, who stands before the altar, by lesser priests and by military officers.

The people shout:

Long live the Emperor!
Long live our General! Julian lead to conquest.

JULIAN comes forward slowly.

The people shout:

Kind master, generous friend! God save thee, Julian!

JULIAN

My friends, I thank you: yes, my friends ye are,
To you I owe my throne—you have preserved it.
Nor have I been ungrateful: bear me witness,
When all our barriers, guarded by faint hearts,
Were broken—and advantaged by the times
The wild barbarian came like a flood upon ye,
Whose standard then was foremost to the rescue?
Whose red right hand redeemed your wasted fields—
Your smoking homes? Who struck from savage grasp
The uplifted sword, even at your children's throat?
Tore from his arms the unviolated wife,
And daughter still a virgin? Yes, they fled
Our banners, as the vapour flies the sun-beam.
And, oh! when gentle peace came like a bird,
And spread her fond wings over us, my sway
Fell on you lightly, as the wholesome dew—
Where'er the yoke lay sore, old imposts pressed,
I smote them with reforming zeal, and poured
Oil on your wounds, and cherished you to health.
Now once again does harsh necessity
Clothe us in sullen armour. Gods approve
Our enterprise. The mighty oracles
Have spoken with the voice of destiny!
You too, my people, by this acclamation
Fiat our purpose, and invest your prince
With more than regal terrors. Is't not so?

(People shout)

Draw then your swords, bold youth—to arms, to arms—
As ye do trust to clasp unravished brides,
As ye do hope to see connubial pledges,
As ye would still inherit from your sires
Sweet homes, untrodden by tumultuous war,
I call ye forth to arms.

The people shout:

Lead on, lead on
To victory!—Julian and victory!

(Julian the Apostate, pp. 116-18)
Supplement to Lenore: Answers To Some Questions On The Raven