 | Sappho |  |
SCENE I.
A Grove with a view open to the sea on one side, and an elegant Temple dedicated to Venus on the other. While the Overture is performing, a splendid Barge appears on the sea bearing Sappho and her attendants from Lesbos; they land, and approach the Temple; when Sappho takes her Lyre from her principal attendant, and strikes it in accompaniment to her voice.SAPPHO.
Immortal Venus! power benign!
From this thy gaily-glittering shrine,
Daughter of Jove, thy vot'ry hear!
O, skill'd in each delusive art,
That best beguiles the love-lorn heart,
Defend thy Sappho from despair!
From this thy gaily-glittering shrine,
Daughter of Jove, thy vot'ry hear!
O, skill'd in each delusive art,
That best beguiles the love-lorn heart,
Defend thy Sappho from despair!
Come with such willing haste,
As oft thou cam'st before,
When thy light car thy nimble sparrows bore
Thro' the cærulean vast.
Forth from thy mighty sire's refulgent hall
Swift on their little dusky wings they flew,
Propitious to my call,
And gave thee to my dazzled view.
Raptur'd I mark'd each radiant grace,
That beam'd in thy celestial face;
I saw thee smile; I heard thy tongue
The soft consoling strain prolong;
“What from my power would Sappho claim?
“Who scorns thy flame?
“What wayward boy
“Disdains to yield thee joy for joy?
“Soon shall he court the bliss he flies;
“Soon beg the boon he now denies,
“And, hast'ning back to love and thee,
“Repay the wrong with extacy.”
As oft thou cam'st before,
When thy light car thy nimble sparrows bore
Thro' the cærulean vast.
Forth from thy mighty sire's refulgent hall
Swift on their little dusky wings they flew,
326
And gave thee to my dazzled view.
Raptur'd I mark'd each radiant grace,
That beam'd in thy celestial face;
I saw thee smile; I heard thy tongue
The soft consoling strain prolong;
“What from my power would Sappho claim?
“Who scorns thy flame?
“What wayward boy
“Disdains to yield thee joy for joy?
“Soon shall he court the bliss he flies;
“Soon beg the boon he now denies,
“And, hast'ning back to love and thee,
“Repay the wrong with extacy.”
Ah, gentle Goddess! once again
Repeat the soft consoling strain:
My queen, my patroness, my friend,
Again thy powerful influence lend;
Relieve me from these dire alarms,
And give my Phaon to my arms!
Repeat the soft consoling strain:
My queen, my patroness, my friend,
Again thy powerful influence lend;
Relieve me from these dire alarms,
And give my Phaon to my arms!
[The Hymn ended, she takes from another of her attendants two Doves, and with the rest of her train enters the Temple.]
| Sappho | |