 | The Loves of Mars & Venus |  |
5
The First Act.
Set to Musick by Mr. John Eccles.
Scene a Palace.Overture. Violins and Hautbois.
Enter Aglaia and Euphrosyne.
To meet her Mars, the Queen of Love
Comes here adorn'd with all her Charms
The Warrior best the Fair can move;
And crowns his Toyls in Beauty's Arms.
Symphony of Flutes.
Enter Venus improving her Dress; attended by Hora, the Graces, and others.
Say, ye Graces, am I now
Fit to make Immortals bow?
Are my Dress, my Face, and Air
Fit to charm the God of War?
Say, ye Graces, am I now
Fit to make Immortals bow?
Hora.
You've been scarce five hours a dressing;
Yet you're charming past expressing.
Venus.
Let me see once more the Glass!
So!—I fancy it may pass.
She looks a while in the Glass while a Ritornel is plaid.
6
‘Women seldom like their Faces,
‘Tho they long consult the Glass;
‘But, if you dare trust the Graces,
‘You now ev'n your self surpass.
‘And when Beauty's self engages,
‘Arm'd with such a Dress and Air,
‘She may conquer rigid Sages,
‘And ev'n the rough God of War.
Venus.
How slow the Warlike God I find!
On Love's expanded Wings expecting Lovers move
But slow as palsied age expected Lovers prove;
Love flags, and leaves the heavy mass behind.
On Love's expanded Wings expecting Lovers move
But slow as palsied age expected Lovers prove;
Love flags, and leaves the heavy mass behind.
Fly, ye hours; haste, bring him here
Swift as my fond Wishes are!
When we love, and love to rage,
Ev'ry Moment is an Age.
Enter Cupid, to the same Tune, and smiling.
Swift as my fond Wishes are!
When we love, and love to rage,
Ev'ry Moment is an Age.
But when blest with what we love,
Ages but a Moment prove.
Ages but a Moment prove.
Beauty's Goddess, cease to mourn:
Soon to your Arms,
From War's! Alarms,
Your Lover will return:
Your Grief will then be lost in Kisses,
Melting Blisses,
You will gaze and laugh and toy:
As gloomy night
Adds Charms to Light,
So Absence to our Joy.
Soon to your Arms,
From War's! Alarms,
Your Lover will return:
Your Grief will then be lost in Kisses,
Melting Blisses,
You will gaze and laugh and toy:
As gloomy night
Adds Charms to Light,
So Absence to our Joy.
Ritorne.
7
Will my Soldier then be here?
Where was he? come, tell, my Dear?
Chucks Cupid under the Chin.
Cupid.
The rough Warrior rov'd a while
In the lovely British Isle.
Had not I his Flame renew'd,
He cou'd scarce have now been here;
For such Beauties there I view'd,
As might ev'n with You compare.
Venus.
Tell me, gentle Cupid, how
In that Isle I'm worshipp'd now?
Cupid.
There the kindest Husbands are,
And the kindest-hearted Fair.
Each in Hymen's Bonds is free;
And, when Wives with Lovers go,
Cuckolds, not to disagree,
Thank the Men who make 'em so.
Ritornel.
And the kindest-hearted Fair.
Each in Hymen's Bonds is free;
And, when Wives with Lovers go,
Cuckolds, not to disagree,
Thank the Men who make 'em so.
Others, fond of roving Lives,
Love all Women but their Wives.
Painted Beauties there abound;
Nay, some Men are painted too:
Crouds are in all Temples found,
But come most to worship You.
Love all Women but their Wives.
Painted Beauties there abound;
Nay, some Men are painted too:
Crouds are in all Temples found,
But come most to worship You.
Venus.
Happy Isle! and happier far,
If thou knew'st no other War!
Venus's Attendants repeat this Distich
Happy Isle! and happier far
If thou knew'st no other War!
8
Enter Vulcan with Brontes, Steropes, Arges, Pyrachmon, and other Cyclopes.
Vulcan looks about with his Spectacles.
Vulcan.
Where's my damn'd Wife? hoh! here she stands!
Methinks she's plaguy fine to day!
And this in spight of my Commands:
There's something in't; she looks too gay.
Cupid.
the grumbling Husband here?
Love no longer then can stay.
[Exit Cupid with his Followers.
Euphrosyne.
When the jealous Coxcomb's near,
All the Graces must away.
[Exeunt the three Graces.
Hora.
Now an hour will seem a day.
[Manent Horæ.
Vulcan.
Thou Plague of my Life,
Thou Devil, thou Wife!
Come, tell me, why did you
Dress so like a Crack? you know I forbad you.
Why d'you Patch thus and prink?
What, you're Painted I think!
Why this Head six foot high?
'S Blood and Fire, who am I?
Venus.
My Fool; for what else can that Property be
That's ugly, and old, and ill-natur'd, like Thee?
9
What else have young Wives with such Husbands to do?
Vulcan.
If ever you dare,
I'll make the World know what a Strumpet you are.
Venus.
Nay, what do I care?
You'll make the World know what a Cuckold you are.
Both at the same time in a scolding manner.
Vulcan.
I'll make the World know what a Strumpet you are.
Venus.
You'll make the World know what a Cuckold you are.
Ritornel.
Vulcan.
Join, and curse the Tye with me,
That confines us to one Bed!
Venus.
Thus at least we'll once agree;
Curs'd be he that made us wed!
[Vulcan repeats that Verse three times with Venus.
Enter some Cyclopes and their Wives, at the noise of Vulcan and Venus's quarrelling.
Chorus of all.
Join, and curse the Tye with me
That confines us to one Bed!
Thus alone you can agree,
Curst be he, curst be he, curst be he that made you wed.
[Some of the Cyclopes and their Wives dance, while the others are singing; and in the Dance they frown, jolt, and threaten each other, wring their hands, and kick backwards, and the Women make Horns at the Men.
The End of the First Act.
| The Loves of Mars & Venus | |