 | The Play-House to be Let |  |
The Sixth ENTRY.
A symphony prepares the last change of the Scene, and an Army is discern'd at distance, consisting of English and Peruvians; the Van is led by the English, who are distinguisht by the Ensignes of England, and their Red-Coats. The Reer is brought up by the Peruvians, who are known by their feather'd Habits, Glaves, and Spears. There is likewise discern'd a Body of armed Spaniards, their backs turn'd, and their Reer scatter'd as if put to flight. These imaginary English113
The Sixth Speech,
Intimating their first adoration of the Spaniards when they landed, the behaviour of the Spaniards towards them, and a Prophecy that they shall be reliev'd by the English.
We on our knees these Spaniards did receive
As Gods, when first they taught us to believe.
They came from Heaven, and us o're heights would lead,
Higher than e're our sinful fathers fled.
Experience now (by whose true eyes, though slow,
We find at last, what oft too late we know)
Has all their cous'ning miracles discern'd:
'Tis she that makes unletter'd mankind learn'd,
She has unmask't these Spanish dark Divines:
Perhaps they upward go,
But hasten us below,
Where we, through dismal depths, must dig in Mines.
As Gods, when first they taught us to believe.
They came from Heaven, and us o're heights would lead,
Higher than e're our sinful fathers fled.
Experience now (by whose true eyes, though slow,
We find at last, what oft too late we know)
Has all their cous'ning miracles discern'd:
'Tis she that makes unletter'd mankind learn'd,
She has unmask't these Spanish dark Divines:
Perhaps they upward go,
But hasten us below,
Where we, through dismal depths, must dig in Mines.
When first the valiant English landed here,
Our reason then no more was rul'd by fear:
They streight the Spaniards Riddle did unfold,
Whose Heav'n in caverns lies of others Gold.
Our griefs are past, and we shall cease to mourn,
For those whom the insulting Spaniards scorn,
And slaves esteem
The English soon shall free;
Whilst we the Spaniards see
Digging for them.
The Priest being gone, a wild Ayr is play'd, (differing from that in the First Entry) which prepares the comming in of a Spaniard out of the Wood, loaden with Ingots of Gold, and Wedges of Silver. He makes his footing to the tune of the Instruments; and after a while he discovers a weariness and inclination to sleep, to which purpose he lies down, with his basket for his pillow. Two Apes come in from opposite sides of the Wood, and dance to the Ayr. After a while, a great Baboon enters, and joyns with them in the dance. They wake the Spaniard, and end the Antique Measures with driving him into the Wood.Our reason then no more was rul'd by fear:
They streight the Spaniards Riddle did unfold,
Whose Heav'n in caverns lies of others Gold.
Our griefs are past, and we shall cease to mourn,
For those whom the insulting Spaniards scorn,
And slaves esteem
The English soon shall free;
Whilst we the Spaniards see
Digging for them.
The Sixth Song,
Pursuing the Argument of that Prophecy, which foretells the subversion of the Spaniards by the English.
We shall no longer fear
The Spanish Eagle darkly hov'ring here;
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And spatiously his wings has spread:
Yet th'English Lyon now
Does still victorious grow,
And does delight
To make his walks as far
As th'other e're did dare
To make his flight.
Chorus.
1
High,
2
high,
3
and high
4
Our Arrows shall flie,
And reach the winged for our prey.
Our Nets we'll cast, and Sprindges lay:
The Ayr, the River, and the Wood,
Shall yield us sport and change of food.
All in Chorus.
After all our disasters
The proud Spaniards our Masters,
When we extoll our liberty by feasts,
At Table shall serve,
Or else they shall starve;
Whilst th'English shall sit and rule as our guests.
This Song being ended, an Ayr consisting of three Tunes, prepares the grand Dance, three Indians entring first, afterwards to them three English Souldiers, distinguisht by their Red-Coats, and to them a Spaniard, who mingling in the measures with the rest, does in his gestures express pride and sullenness towards the Indians, and pays a lowly homage to the English, who often salute him with their feet, which salutation he returns with a more lowly gravity; whilst the English and the Indians, as they encounter, salute and shake hands, in sign of their future amity.
| The Play-House to be Let | |