 | The Cestus |  |
Scene III.
A romantic Scene in a Forrest.Enter Sir Guyon in armour.
Sir Guyon.
Tho' toil succeed to toil, & one Encounter
Heralds another—tho' I long have borne
Fatigue & hunger, till to lowest ebb
The tide of Life was fall'n—known no suspense
28
Of my Reward in Florimel bears up
My otherwise defective pow'rs, & balms
Each heart-felt sorrow. O! all-gracious heav'n!
Still still support me in the hour of trial;
And raise my virtue to the highest bent
Of manly daring; that I may deserve,
And gain at last this your most precious prize.
Enter the Fairy Queen.
F. Queen.
When Virtue sends its Oraisons on high
From unpolluted lips, the pray'r is heard.—
From unpolluted lips, the pray'r is heard.—
Once more I come to comfort & assist thee;
To aid thee in thy purpose, & infuse
Fresh vigor may support thee to perform
All the high biddings which I have commanded.
Go on & conquer—little now remains,
Compar'd with thy past conflicts, to achieve.
The gracious pow'r that watches o'er thy head
Alike attends thy Florimel—Her virtue,
As is thy prowess, must be put to trial.
Both try'd, like melted Gold from dross refin'd,
Shall shine in peerless lustre full of glory.
To aid thee in thy purpose, & infuse
Fresh vigor may support thee to perform
All the high biddings which I have commanded.
Go on & conquer—little now remains,
Compar'd with thy past conflicts, to achieve.
The gracious pow'r that watches o'er thy head
29
As is thy prowess, must be put to trial.
Both try'd, like melted Gold from dross refin'd,
Shall shine in peerless lustre full of glory.
Sir Guyon.
If my Request be not presumptuous, say
How long these ordeal suff'rings must I bear?
And when an end (for Mortals ever wish
A period to their suff'rings) of my toils?
F. Queen.
Be patient in thy toils, & that will serve
More than the knowledge, when these toils will end
To lead thee on to glory.—Leave the rest
To those high Powers who ever will the best.
Meanwhile bethink thee, that thy promis'd bliss
Ensures a certain end to all thy toils:
What boots it then to know the day, or hour,
When this bliss shall arrive?—still for thy comfort,
I will unfold (for this I am permitted)
The sign by which thou shall be well assur'd,
30
The Omen seen, straight sheath thy conqu'ring sword.
Thrice having wash'd thee in the running stream,
With pure ablution, then thou mayst return:
And all that heav'n hath spoke shall be fulfill'd.—
The Omen this:—A Falcon from the West
Shall chase a snow-white Dove thro' mid-way air,
And seize the prey—then hover o'er thy head,
And drop the trembling Quarry at thy feet.
Sir Guyon.
Thanks, gentle Pow'r! for these kind admonitions:
And for the promis'd Omen, thank'd be heav'n.
Contented I submit—& meet each danger,
Secure in heav'n's assistance, & support.—
Most gracious Queen farewell [to the F. Queen Retiring]
F. Queen.
—Farewell! & prosper
Exeunt.
| The Cestus | |