 | Calypso |  |
7
SCENE II.
The Cave of Proteus, with a view of the sea. The storm continues with thunder, &c. Proteus, after a musical prelude comes out of his cave.RECITATIVE. PROTEUS.
Peace, peace! forbear to lash the deep,
What is this mighty coil you keep,
Ye brawling winds? Would you up-rend
The solid-seated rocks, and send
The dashing billows to the sky?
Up, father Neptune, hear my cry!
The scaly subjects of my peaceful reign,
Protect, great sire, and let me sleep again.
AIR.
Soft silent power, all-pleasing sleep,
Morpheus, allay the turbid deep;
All other sounds be far but those
Kind murmurs that invite repose.
And thou, sweet Phœbe, chace the light,
And bring up sable-suited Night,
O'er my clos'd eye-lids drop thy veil;
Pale queen of shadowy phantoms, hail!
Morpheus, allay the turbid deep;
All other sounds be far but those
Kind murmurs that invite repose.
And thou, sweet Phœbe, chace the light,
And bring up sable-suited Night,
O'er my clos'd eye-lids drop thy veil;
Pale queen of shadowy phantoms, hail!
Enter Antiope.
RECITATIVE. PROTEUS.
Mistress, how now! What foot prophane
Invades my solitary reign?
And is there in this island free,
No nook for silence and for me?
8
Sluggard, awake; 'tis I, your friend,
Antiope; and now attend—
By fair Calypso sent, of thee
I fain would know the fates' decree:
If false Ulysses e're shall reach
His native shore, diviner, teach.
RECITATIVE. PROTEUS.
Would'st thou of prophecies enquire,
Thou wanton imp of young desire?
Come, snow-drop, throw around my neck
Thy pearly arms, and I will speak.
AIR. ANTIOPE.
Embrace you! Oh, fie,
No Proteus, not I,
Nor cunning nor force shall prevail;
Rude monster, avaunt,
No favours I grant,
I cannot encounter a whale.
No Proteus, not I,
Nor cunning nor force shall prevail;
Rude monster, avaunt,
No favours I grant,
I cannot encounter a whale.
You a deity?—Pish!
Great king of the fish,
A prophet like you might foresee,
That dominion so mute,
No woman will suit,
Least of all an immortal like me.
Great king of the fish,
A prophet like you might foresee,
That dominion so mute,
No woman will suit,
Least of all an immortal like me.
RECITATIVE. PROTEUS.
Wilt thou be still perverse, thou star
Of dazzling beauty, still at war
9
Through all Calypso's desart ground,
Does mirth inhabit here? Come then with me,
And give another Venus to the sea.
AIR.
Come, lovely, but reluctant fair,
To Proteus' watery realm repair;
Swift in thine amber chariot sweep
The surface of the smiling deep.
To Proteus' watery realm repair;
Swift in thine amber chariot sweep
The surface of the smiling deep.
Come, and while sea nymphs sport around,
(Their locks with pearl and coral bound)
In chrystal palaces we'll dwell,
Where scaly Tritons wake the shell.
(Their locks with pearl and coral bound)
In chrystal palaces we'll dwell,
Where scaly Tritons wake the shell.
Sometimes in mossy caverns sleep
At bottom of the glassy deep;
There we'll live and there we'll love,
And feast on joys unknown above.
At bottom of the glassy deep;
There we'll live and there we'll love,
And feast on joys unknown above.
ANTIOPE.
Where are you, nymphs?
Now haste, and fetter this evasive god—
Ah, you're too late! he's gone, escap'd—And look,
He glares a lion—Stand, nor be amaz'd;
He has no power to harm you: yes, deceiver,
I know thee and thy arts; that brutal form
Suits thy base nature. Give the chains to me,
Yet, yet, I'll fetter him—Hah! what is this?
A flaming fire. He can take any form,
Each living thing, the elements themselves,
All nature is his own; yet wait awhile;
Too gross and sleepy for that active flame,
He soon will shift, and see, 'tis done. He falls
10
To thine own murmurs I bequeath thee, sluggard.
[All the changes described in the above speech, are effected by Proteus.
AIR.
Ah, fountain, what cunning is this,
So clear and inviting to seem?
And will you not boast of a kiss,
Should I cool but my lips in your stream?
So clear and inviting to seem?
And will you not boast of a kiss,
Should I cool but my lips in your stream?
How fain would I sit by your side,
Till your murmurs should lull to me to sleep;
If I thought that your bubbling tide,
Wouldn't whisper my dreams to the deep.
Till your murmurs should lull to me to sleep;
If I thought that your bubbling tide,
Wouldn't whisper my dreams to the deep.
[Exit with Nymphs.
SCENE returns to the first view of the Coast.
Telemachus and Mentor.
TELEMACHUS.
Was ever scene thus dreadful! Oh, ye powers,
Why am I spar'd to be the sad survivor
Of wreck so fatal? Ah, forgive me, Mentor!
Thy manly arm, thy ever-present mind
Snatch'd me from death; my friend himself is sav'd,
And I adore the gods.
MENTOR.
'Tis well, Telemachus;
For if I augur right, much need you'll find
In this new land of their providing care:
Now to the beach—perchance the full-gorg'd deep,
After its greedy meal, shall cast on shore
11
I will explore the isle—Why do you pause?
AIR. TELEMACHUS.
What do I see? Before my eyes
What mangled spectres glide?
Again I hear the tempest rise,
I meet the dashing tide.
What mangled spectres glide?
Again I hear the tempest rise,
I meet the dashing tide.
I see my sad companions' tears,
And hear their last adieu;
Mentor alone serene appears,
And brings a god in view.
And hear their last adieu;
Mentor alone serene appears,
And brings a god in view.
The wind blows right upon the land,
The sailors toil in vain,
The helm no more obeys command,
She drives, she drives amain.
The sailors toil in vain,
The helm no more obeys command,
She drives, she drives amain.
Protect us, Heav'n! the ship runs round,
Loud pealing thunders roar;
She strikes, she splits! Ah, dreadful sound?
She sinks to rise no more.
[Exit Telemachus.
Loud pealing thunders roar;
She strikes, she splits! Ah, dreadful sound?
She sinks to rise no more.
Calypso, with her Nymphs, enters to Mentor.
CALYPSO.
Whom have we here? Whence, and what art thou? Speak.
MENTOR.
A suitor to your pity; a poor voyager
Wreck'd on your isle, and lost (hard fate!)
If you withhold protection.
12
What's thy name
And nation?
MENTOR.
Goddess, for no less you seem,
I am a Greek; Mentor, my name, the friend
Of young Telemachus.
CALYPSO.
Where is Telemachus?
Lives he?
MENTOR.
He lives, and sends me to implore
The succours of your isle; and chief, to learn
Who governs in it.
CALYPSO.
That do I; Calypso.
I know thy charge, the son of great Ulysses:
Say, to Telemachus, that he is welcome;
Tell him he may approach; no danger waits him,
Nor fraud, nor force, that he should fear—Away!
[Exit Mentor.
Now, Nymphs and Graces, your best arts prepare,
String your neglected harps afresh, to love
Attune your voices, ye fair sylvan choir;
And in the quick'ning lustre of your eyes,
Let beams of pleasure dance. Hence, to your posts!
The potent charm begins;
And your weak natures cannot stand the spell,
Haste and avoid it.
[Exeunt Nymphs.
[Music.
13
Imps of service, hearken!
Zudore, where'er thou art, and thou, Melantho,
Thogar, and Zeripon, and Fosgar, hear me!
AIR.
Prepare, prepare, prepare,
Inhabitants of air,
Ye magic ministers, prepare!
[Thunder, &c.
So shall my potent spell
Earth, seas, and winds compel.
Flashing beams of Jove's own fires,
[Lightnings.
Ye forked shafts, retire;
[They cease.
Loud rattling thunders, cease;
And you, that from four quarters blow,
Winds, your mighty mistress know,
And let the tossing billows be at peace.
Enough; 'tis done!
Shine forth, resplendent sun.
[Lightning.
Grottoes, and founts, and flowery groves, advance,
As in Orphean dance;
Sportive nymphs, attend your queen,
And crown this soul-enchanting scene.
Inhabitants of air,
Ye magic ministers, prepare!
[Thunder, &c.
So shall my potent spell
Earth, seas, and winds compel.
Flashing beams of Jove's own fires,
[Lightnings.
Ye forked shafts, retire;
[They cease.
Loud rattling thunders, cease;
And you, that from four quarters blow,
Winds, your mighty mistress know,
And let the tossing billows be at peace.
Enough; 'tis done!
Shine forth, resplendent sun.
[Lightning.
Grottoes, and founts, and flowery groves, advance,
As in Orphean dance;
Sportive nymphs, attend your queen,
And crown this soul-enchanting scene.
[The rocks disappear, the stage is cloathed with woods and flowers, and the nymphs enter dancing to the air, which being concluded, they join in the following chorus.
CHORUS.
See, goddess, see, at thy command,
Pleasures attend this happy land.
CALYPSO.
Break off; he comes—
14
Hail to the prince of Ithaca! The fame
Of great Ulysses, your heroic father,
Has been the herald that bespeaks your welcome.
TELEMACHUS.
Is it Calypso speaks?
CALYPSO.
I am Calypso.
TELEMACHUS.
I have no words, Oh, miracle of beauty,
To give my wonder utterance; I am lost;
A scene so fair, such forms divine surround me—
Speak, Mentor, if thou canst; thou too art silent.
MENTOR.
Yes, but it is with indignation, prince,
To see thee so possest.
TELEMACHUS.
If thy stern virtue
Can look upon that face unmov'd, Oh, Mentor,
Thou must be more or less than man—Behold.
AIR.
Forbear, Oh, friend severe!
Whom no allurements move,
When these bright forms appear,
To warn me against love.
Whom no allurements move,
When these bright forms appear,
To warn me against love.
Not on the rocky strand,
'Gainst which my bark was tost,
But on this charming land,
'Tis here that I am lost.
'Gainst which my bark was tost,
But on this charming land,
'Tis here that I am lost.
15
Telemachus, what ails thy sullen friend?
Old man, what wouldst thou?
MENTOR.
I would quit your island;
These scenes accord not with a life of glory.
CALYPSO.
Yet here Ulysses liv'd; seven times the sun,
Circling his yearly zone, still found him here:
And sure Ulysses led a life of glory.
MENTOR.
Not in Calypso's arms.
CALYPSO.
Away, thou churl!
Thou art some moral railer; and I know
Thou hast a heart, a wishing heart, dissembler,
That akes for pleasures which it cannot reach.
But come, Telemachus, the bower expects thee—
Give me thy hand; Calypso is thy guide:
Nay, dost thou waver? Come—
MENTOR.
Resist, or perish.
TELEMACHUS.
It is in vain; I am not more than man,
And she is sure a goddess.
16
Fatal fall from towering height,
Forfeit of immortal fame;
Virtue from temptation's weight,
Lab'ring droops and sinks to shame.
CALYPSO
By all my hopes, he sways his wavering mind
With more than human power. May furies strike him!
I hate, yet fear him; something awes my nature—
'Tis my last effort—Nymphs, disclose the bower!
[The back scene opens and discloses the bower of Calypso luxuriantly disposed with groupes of nymphs in various attitudes.
RECITATIVE. ACCOMPANIED.
Look back, Telemachus;
And ere you part, behold what joys
You sacrifice to mad ambition. See!
FINALE.
(Chorus of Nymphs.)
Hither, mortal, hither stray;
Here are joys without decay,
Love and laughter all the day,
Happy mortal, come away.
AIR. CALYPSO.
To sport on beds of roses,
Where no rude thorn opposes,
And laugh at wrinkled care;
Soft raptures without cloying,
If these be worth enjoying,
Approach and enter there.
17
Ah, Mentor, protect me! Ah, where shall I turn?
MENTOR.
To honour, to glory.
TELEMACHUS.
I languish, I burn;
See what beauties surround me.
MENTOR.
Escape from the sight;
When 'tis madness to struggle, there's valour in flight.
CALYPSO.
Ah! fly not; hear not!
MENTOR.
Cannot Mentor move?
CALYPSO.
What man would fly from happiness and love?
MENTOR.
Hark! Virtue calls.
CALYPSO.
But Pleasure bids you stay.
CHORUS OF NYMPHS.
Hither, Telemachus; come, come away!
18
Hark! Virtue, &c.
But Pleasure, &c.
Hither, Telemachus, &c.
TELEMACHUS.
How can thy wounded friend depart?
Ah, Mentor! urge me not to fly;
Love's arrow rankles in my heart,
And Love must draw it, or I die.
ANTIOPE.
See, Goddess, see, in his empassion'd eyes
What soften'd fires, what tender tumults rise!
He looks, he loves; all hail to Beauty's charms!
He smiles, he sighs, he sinks into thine arms.
CHORUS OF NYMPHS.
He looks, he loves; all hail to Beauty's charms!
He smiles, he sighs, he sinks into her arms.
| Calypso | |