University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

Enter Eudosia, Lucia, and other Atendants. The Priests turn from the Altar, and address themselves to Eudosia.
1st Priest.
Hail! sweet Eudosia, happiest of thy Race!
Brightest of Forms! Thou Nature's Master-Peice.

2d Priest.
Sure framing thee Heaven took unusual Care,
By its own Beauties he designed thee Fair,
And form'd thee by the best lov'd Angel there.

3d Priest.
Thy Coldness to Great Manlius can't be blam'd;
Thy Mortal Beauties have a God inflam'd.

4th Priest.
Our bright Apollo has beheld thy Eyes,
And now from Heav'n, to wait on thee, he flies.

Eud.
This wondrous Honour is too great to bear;
My Heart it fill'd with a Religious Fear.

1st Priest.
Your Fears, tho' pious, yet all groundess prove,
Since 'tis your bounded Duty now to love.

2d Priest.
O! don't presume to thwart Heav'n's great Design,
But with Submission to the God resign.

3d Priest.
So shall a Train of Joys possess thy Soul,
And heavenly Transports all thy Powers controul.

4th Priest,
But if profanely you reject his Love,
Withstand his Offer, and disdainful prove,
Soon will that Bloom of Beauty fade away,
And Sickness make thy youthful Charms decay.

Eud.
Yet still I doubt:—Some further Proof declare,
That you from Heav'n this wondrous Message bear.

1st Priest.
Last Night as in the Temple late we pray'd,
Apollo call'd: We strait the Call obey'd,
And listen'd with Surprise to what he said.

3d Priest.
Arise, said he, and to Eudosia go:
What Honours I've design'd her let her know.

3d Priest.
Strait to the Temple let the Maid repair;
Soon her Apollo will with Pomp appear.

4th Priest.
Before her Eyes will Great Apollo stand,
And from Herself her Beauteous Self demand.

Eud.
I yield, I yield; new Transports fire my Breast,
Seraphic Joys too great to be exprest:
Uncommon Pleasures glide thro all my Veins,
And amply recompence my former Pains.

1st Priest.
Look up, bright Maid, Apollo does appear.

2d Priest.
I see him sailing in the ambient Air.

3d Priest.
Let all your Instruments of Musick sound,
And solemn Measures beat the hallow'd Ground.

4th Priest.
Honours like these uncommon Joys demand.
Behold!—The Great Apollo is at hand!

A Curious Machine is seen in the Air, descending slowly: During which Movement Eudosia stands fixt with Admiration, and the Priests sing a short Hymn to Apollo.