 | Phaeton : Or, The Fatal Divorce |  |
ACT I.
SCENE I.
The Curtain rises, and discovers a pleasant Grove, &c. the Prospect ending in a River running thro a Valley. Phaeton, Althea, and her Maids in the front of the Stage, and on each side Shepherds and Shepherdesses in Green.Phaeton and Althea come forward before the rest.
Alth.
'Twas on this day, that first I saw my Phaeton,
'Twas on this day, that first I lov'd my Phaeton:
For when I first beheld you, I first lov'd you.
Phaet.
I lov'd Althea too, when first I saw her;
Lov'd did I say? no, I ador'd her rather:
For as the Gods to Man, so she to me
Reveal'd herself in generous Benefits
Of Life, of Liberty!
Alth.
O! my dear Lord!
Permit me here in safety to review
The wondrous Rise of my unchanging Love:
Or I lose half the Triumphs of this day.
Phaet.
Oh! lose no joy that Phaeton can give.
Alth.
It was the solemn Festival of Juno,
The great Protectress of our Samian State,
When at the sacred Rites this wondrous Sight
Surprizd us all, but most affected me.
The Priest o'th' sudden started from the Victim,
And threw aloft his trembling hands to Heav'n:
His hair erected, stood upripht like bristles;
His glaring eyes about confusdly roll'd,
And his stretch'd nostrils breath'd a cloud of smoak:
When from his widen'd mouth an awful voice,
A Voice much more than mortal shook the Temple;
As thunder dreadful, and almost as loud,
And in a storm pronounc'd these fatal words;
Samos is lost, and Hierax is no more,
Unless we drive these Strangers from our shore.
He said, and full of sacred Fury led
The willing people to the neighb'ring Sea.
Phaet.
'Twas there he found us, just escap'd the Wreck;
The shatter'd Reliques of th'inclement Tempest;
Our Swords, and Virtue, all the Waves had left us.
With joy we spy'd the Ensigns of the Gods,
Secure of help, and hospitable rights,
Both from his age and office. But alas!
Our hopes all vanish'd e're they well were form'd;
For on the verge of the descending Strand,
With hostile threatnings he forbad our passage.
Th'ignoble Vulgar, with confirming shouts,
All seconded their Leader.
What coud we do? on ery hand beset:
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All sworn to our Ruin? Resolv'd on Death,
My small, but chosen Band, unsheath'd their Swords,
Appealing to the Gods, we rush'd upon 'em,
And drove th'inhumane herd into their street.
Alth.
Ay, there I first beheld my Godlike Lord,
Like Mars undaunted, but like Cupid Fair;
A charming terror filld his lovely face,
That did more execution than his Arm;
Tho that did Wonders scarce to be believ'd.
As from the Palace we survey'd the Fight
(For the first Tumult drove us from the Temple)
We all took Int'rest in your doubtful Fate;
And those that fear'd you, pray'd you might o'recome;
At least that swift Agreement might secure you.
Phaet.
The people now amazd at what we did,
Had soon agreed, had not Sesostris Sword
Cleft down their Mitred Chief. For tho he fell
Himself to expiate his Crime, their rage
Encreas'd still with their numbers; till unable
To wield our glutted Swords, we all were taken.
Alth.
Then, like the Sun obscur'd in noisome Fogs,
I lost my Phaeton in th'earthy Vulgar.—
A pow'rful Pity for thy youth and beauty
(I thought it Pity but I found it Love)
Compell'd my steps down to thy frightful Dungeon,
To set thee free from Chains, and hast'ning Death.
But oh! the Joy! the Transports of my Soul,
When you refus'd your liberty and life,
If those must rob you of your Benefactress:
Refus'd a flight, that bore you from Althea!
O! the soft melody that thro my ears
Dissolv'd my heart at your dear vows and oaths
Of boundless love, and of eternal truth!
Phae.
O! my false heart! thou hast too soon forgot 'em!
Aside.
Alth.
By the bright God, the Author of thy Being,
I cou'd not help the Fondness I betray'd.
The struggling Ecstacy too mighty grew
For my weak breast to hold! it bore down all
The artful coyness of our modest Sex:
The Tyes of Blood; the Fears of Womanhood;
Father, Mother, Country, and toilsom Dangers.
I fled with joy from all that men hold dear,
Alone ore Seas to Asia in a Boat,
My Pilot thou, and my protecting God.
Phae.
(Aside.)
Oh! why was glory, and this charming woman
Such mortal foes, as not to be united?
Why must I owe so much, and be so poor,
That I can pay so little? O Lybia!
Thy tyrant Beauties have usurp'd my heart,
And ravish'd me from all my vows and oaths.
Alth.
My Lord, you're thoughtful; nay you seem disturb'd,
As oft you do of late: does ought aggrieve you?
Phae.
Nothing, Althea, but the mournful Thought,
How much ill-fated love, alas! has cost thee,
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Tho Father, Mother, Country, all be lost,
Tho for my Unkles truth to Juno's trust,
For the Fidelity of Argus—
Egypts protecting Goddess hates ev'n me:
Yet in her Egypt, I have nothing lost,
While Phaeton is mine, and only mine.
Phae.
Gods! why d ye throw such Tenderness away,
On one so little meriting her Goodness!
Aside.
Alth.
Come, come, this day banish all anxious thoughts;
We'll drown in Music, and the sports prepar'd
To celebrate this Feast, all sad reflections.
Come sit with me, and please my wishing eyes,
While these delight our ears.
They seat themselves, and the Music comes forward, &c.
First Shepherd.
Come , come, all ye Shepherds, come come all away,
Forget all your Cares,
Your Fears, and Despairs,
For 'tis the Lovers Holiday.
[Repeat this in a Chorus.
Second Shepherd.
Let every Shepherd bring his Lass,
In mirthful sports the hours we'll pass;
And while we sing, to raise our pleasures,
Tread you the earth with graceful measures.
[Here repeat the Chorus, while the Shepherds, and Shepherdesses dance.
Third Shepherd.
Ye smiling Graces, come inspire
In every Breast a tender fire,
While wanton laughter adds to our desire.
Chorus and Dance again.
Boy and Girl come forward.
Boy.
Life is but a little span,
Let us pass it all in pleasure;
Id not lose this dawn of Man,
Since my day's so short a measure.
Girl.
Why so hasty? forward Boy:
Sure 'tis not so long you've fasted?
E're Im ripe, to crop the joy,
Is to eat me ere Im tasted.
Boy.
Why this coyness? why this courting
To the joys you long to prove?
Nature made you all for sporting,
Nature made you all for love.
She.
O fie! O fie!
He.
You must comply.
She.
I must deny.
He.
You will comply.
She.
No, no, not I.
He.
Good faith Ill try.
She.
No, no, not I.
He.
Indeed you lye.
First Shepherd and first Shepherdess.
He.
Come, gentle Phyllis, we'll softly retire,
And once more attempt to allay the dear fire,
My Wishes, thy Eyes and thy Arms inspire.
She.
No more—for I fear we ne'r shall attain
The end of our wishes, but burn still in vain.
He.
As oft as we burn, we'll repeat the soft joy.
She.
To repeat it too often the bliss will destroy.
He.
When the fire's abated, and the passion is done,
We shall both be as easie as e're it begun.
(The two last lines repeat together, and then repeat 'em in a Chorus.
4
Cruel Daphne do not fly me,
Hear me tho you still deny me.
Hear each piteous groan and sigh,
See, oh! see! your Strephon dye.
[Third Shepherd coming to him and pulling him back by the sleeve.
Fond Shepherd prithee cease to wooe her,
She flies the more, that you pursue her.
All your whining, and your pining
Will but make her proud, and vain.
Do but slight her, that will spight her,
And revenge on her your pain.
There's Lydia, there's Chloris, and Phyllis to please you,
They're fairer than Daphne, yet humble and easie,
When to sighing, and groans you pervert the brisk joy,
You sin against youth, and offend the soft Boy,
For the pleasures he offers, you fondly destroy.
The last three lines repeated in a Chorus.
Fourth Shepherd.
To passive years resign your pining,
Active youth no time can spare:
To unperforming Age leave whining,
Youth can better please the fair.
That sweetly should gain,
By the languishing pain,
And sigh more with joy, than despair.
While the last Chorus is here repeated he seems to leave her and she looks back kindly on him, and then sings,
Can you, can you, will you leave me?
Mind em not, for they deceive you.
Quick possessing,
Palls the blessing,
While resistance makes it lasting.
Easie love destroys desire,
Sighs, and wishes fan your sire.
You lose your Appetite by tasting,
Which you sharpen still by fasting:
'Tis resistance makes it lasting.
The three last lines repeated in a Chorus of Shepherdesses.
He.
Enough of delays, my passion to raise,
And now to Feast let's repair;
Ne're fear I shall prove a glutton in love,
My stomachs so keen by despair.
Chorus.
Resistance and yielding well temper'd, still prove
The best Sauce to the surfeiting Banquet of love.
They all go off Singing. Phaeton and Althea come forward.
Phae.
(aside.)
O Lybia! still thou sit'st too near my heart!
For Sports and Music to remove thee thence.
Music blows up the flame I shou'd extinguish.
Alth.
My Lord, why still thus sad amidst this Mirth?
You dash the pleasures, that you shou'd advance,
And with forbidding frowns, you check my rising Joy,
What secret sorrow thus o're-clouds your face?
On such a day as this too? Speak my Lord—
5
Phae.
Nothing—But that I'm weary of this sloath;
These weak enervate softnesses; this rest.
My active soul disdains this womans life.
I wou'd in youth hoard up for feeble age,
An awful Treasure of immortal Glory.
Alth.
Mistaken men invert the use of nature;
Age is most fit for Mischief, Youth for Love.
When years come on and Impotence of pleasure,
Provok'd by envy of the joys they want,
We may allow them to disturb the world.
Phaet.
You speak, but like a woman, as I live.
How shou'd I here exert the God within me?
In thrilling notes? in languishments? and kisses?
Alth.
How wou'd my Lord, my Love, exert the God,
But living like the Gods in peaceful joys?
Come, you're unkind to let an empty name,
Rival a love so generous as mine.
Phae.
I struggle to thee, spight of my ambition;
But yet my soul starts back to ambition;
For 'tis ambition is my nat'ral bent:
And tho I give you all of me I can,
You are unsatisfy'd you have no more.
[Turns away and walks from her
Alth.
Turn not away—I'm pleas'd with what you'll give.
Let me but have you all while you are here.
For toilsome thoughts, you will have too much, time
Give me unrivall'd this auspicious day.
Be soft, be tender now, look kindly on me,
For my soul languishes, and I am sick with love.
Looking wistfully on him.
Phae.
(Aside.)
I dare not let my guilty eyes meet hers,
She views me with such pointed searching looks,
As if she'd spy into my very heart,
And there discover all the fatal secret.
Alth.
You shun my Eyes as if they were disgustful.
What have I done? or how have I offended
My Lord! my Life?
Phae.
Offended! thou offended?
Alth.
I swear I love with my first Virgin fondness:
I live all in you, and I dye without you.
At your approach my heart beats fast within me,
A pleasing trembling thrills thro all my blood,
When e're you touch me with your melting hand.
But when you kiss! O 'tis not to be spoke!
Phae.
No, no, you have not—nay, you can't offend me
You're innocent—
Alth.
In Act, in Word, in Thought,
I call the Gods to attest my innocence.
If e're I wish'd, or hop'd, or thought of joy
But what you gave, but what was all in you,
May you be angry, may you be unkind;
Or in one curse to sum up all that's hateful,
May you soon love some other!
Phae.
Gods! Gods! can I hear this and yet be false.
Aside.
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So may the Lord of my desires be true,
As they all move, and center all in you.
Plae.
Alas! Althea I can't doubt thy truth,
And know thy love. But yet—
Alth.
But yet? but what?
[He walks up and down discomposedly and thoughtfully.
Unfold that fatal Yet—O tell me that!
Phae.
(Aside.)
Gods! why am I by double love made wretched?
Too much abundance 'tis that makes me poor.
Oh! had I ne're seen One, or seen but One,
I had been happy then: but seeing both,
I burn for both, and with an equal fire,
I love them both, and both I most desire!
Alth.
Oh why thus thoughtful? why that look cast down?
Those folded Arms! Oh why those sudden starts?
Some fatal Sorrow you conceal from me
That shakes your soul thus. Give, O! give my part.
O! do not rob me of my share of woe.
Not on these terms I gave my plighted faith,
To taste your joys, and not partake your grief.
Indeed, I cannot hear such cruel kindness,
Such partial woe, where I must have no share!
(Weeps.)
Phae.
(Aside.)
O wav'ring heart! do I deserve such love?
Treacherous, false, perfidious, as I am?
Yet she is excellent, divinely excellent!
(Looks earnestly at her.
Young as the Spring, and as the Graces fair;
Constant as Truth, as melting Pity tender;
As Want ingenious, and as Goodness kind!
Alth.
Speak, my dear Lord, these looks are kind indeed:
Come let your Tongue convey my bitter potion,
Which yet, to share with you, will be most sweet.
Pha.
(Aside.)
Lybia is fair—yet not so fair as her—
She must be proud too of the Crowns she brings,
If she wou'd bring 'em me: for tho I lov'd her,
Yet she perhaps wou'd never have lov'd me!
Or not so well, so fiercely, as Althea!
Alth.
Quite lost in Thought, he hears not what I say!
Pha.
Aside.]
Love and Ambition bear such equal sway,
And have such blended power o're my soul,
That 'tis with difficulty they're distinguish'd.—
It must be so, Ambition pleads for Lybia,
Aloud & turning to her.
But for Althea Love.—And Love prevails,
She must, she shall, she does possess me all,
Be gon Ambition, with thy noisy charms,
Thy tinsel glare—Haste, take me to thy arms,
Runs into her arms.
O fold me here most charming of thy kind!
Here, form me, mold me, shape me to thy mind,
Glory, Ambition, all you've driven away,
You ne're possess'd me all till this triumphant day!
Alth.
O racking joy! O most transporting Rapture!
O gift beyond return! what shall I say?
What shall I do to shew how I am ravish'd?
What can I give, I've given you all before,
I've given my self, and I can give no more.
But take that gift, I'll give it o're and o're.
Flies into his Arms and embraces him.
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O! gift like Heav'n, the same, yet always new!
Full of young pleasures, and unfading joys!
Unwasting fuel of Loves growing Fires!
Exhaustless source of ravishing desires!
I will forego the chace of false renown,
And my pursuit shall be thy Charms alone;
Of all things else unknowing and unknown.
Happy in thee I will sublimely move
Within the perfect circle of my love.
There blooming pleausures, will be always found.
And ever springing Raptures fill the glorious Round.
| Phaeton : Or, The Fatal Divorce | |