 | A Collection of Original Poems |  |
VENUS and ADONIS.
A CANTATA
Recitative.
Venus and Mars confess'd an equal flame;Their hopes, their wishes, and their joys the same;
Till green-ey'd jealousy disturb'd his rest,
Watchful he scoul'd, and peevishly carest;
Conduct like this the Goddess must displease,
Freedom, her province, her perfection, ease.
94
Air.
Swains avoid the rigid air,The prying look, the brow severe,
If you'd have the nymph approve,
Shun these foes to female love.
Jealousy's a friend to care,
Close connected with despair;
Its companions are constraint,
Disappointment and complaint.
To secure a woman's heart,
This you'll find the only art;
In her honour still confide,
She'll preserve it out of pride.
Recitative.
This rous'd th'Idalian queen to seek abroad,Some kinder object to displace the God;
Adonis seen his potent charms invade,
A form more lovely nature never made:
95
When Ariadne bless'd the youthful God.
Air.
The Naiads cold the youth desire,For him the Dryads feel desire;
And sportive Fauns with smile approve,
The choice of Cytherea's love:
Struck with his beauty Pan retir'd,
And broke his reeds; but yet admir'd:
Adonis all unrivall'd reigns,
The darling of the rustic plains.
Recitative.
And now the youth, adorn'd with ev'ry grace,Awe in his heart, and blushes in his face,
Approach'd; while Cupid hov'ring in the sky,
View'd, and an arrow thro' his heart let fly;
For Beauty's queen the raptur'd mortal burns,
As fond a passion beauty's queen returns;
96
His fault, and imprecates his hapless fate.
Air.
Thou who would'st charm the virgin's ear,To soft consenting mutual fire;
This short this lasting maxim hear,
'Twill mould her to thy warm desire:
Be kind,—and thou shalt kindness prove,—
The first great mystery of love.
| A Collection of Original Poems | |