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Penelope

A Dramatic Opera

Mottley, John (1692-1750)

PENELOPE.

PROLOGUE. Spoke by Mr. PHOENIX.

SCENE V.

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SCENE V.

Cleaver enters as from a Place where he stood concealed.
Cleav.

We thank Thee, Dol, we've seen Thee act thy Part,
Well as becomes the Mistress of my Heart;
Nor think thy Cleaver will ungrateful prove;
We court the Mistress but the Maid we love.

SONG V.

1

At Highgate tho I have been sworn;
For such a Maid as Thee
There's not a Mistress but I'd scorn,
Of whatsoe'er Degree:
You are, my Dear, my Soul's Delight,
So prim, so gim, so clean, so tight,
With your Fa, la, ra, la.

Dol.
And to thy Dol, while Cleaver is away,
The shortest Moment is a livelong Day:
And, trust me, I had rather, by my Life,
Be Cleaver's Mistress than another's Wife.

Cleav.
And when I'm marry'd, trust me, by my Life,
I'll use Thee as a Mistress, her a Wife;
When I the Widow, and her Goods, possess,
I'll see my Dolly in another Dress.

[Chucking her under the Chin.
Dol.
Then haste, and beg, with Sighs, not to delay,
Tell her you languish for the bridal Day.

Cleav.
Shall I my Fame with whining Sorrows stain,
Whose Arms have Hecatombs of Oxen slain?
Shall I fall on my Knees?—but 'tis no more,
Than Butcher Hercules has done before;
But lo! the Diff'rence great betwixt us twain;
He felt the Passion that I only feign.
Well, Dol, when I have pay'd my Vows to Pen—

Dol.
Then in my Garret we will meet at ten.

SONG VI.
[Dol.]

I

We there will laugh at those credulous Fools,
For Lovers like Us the fittest Tools,
Who beg, as for Life, for the Wedding-day,
While we love on in the nat'ral Way.

Cleav.

II

We want no Call but a beautyful Face,
To fall on like those who ne'er wait for a Grace.

Both.

We want no Call but a beautyful Face,
To fall on like those who ne'er wait for a Grace.