 | Calypso and Telemachus |  |
1
ACT I.
SCENE I.
The Sea-Shore.Calypso, Eucharis.
Calypso looking towards the Sea.
Cal.
Here, on this Beach he stood, the Pride of Greece,
'Twas here from my forsaken Isle
The fam'd Ulysses parted.
Nor cou'd eternal Spring that blossoms here,
The Promise of Immortal Youth,
Nor all my soothing Arts—Ah cruel Hero!
Engage thy Stay.
I saw thee climb the Ship, I saw thee sail,
Till far in trackless Seas I lost the Sight,
Then turn'd away my Eyes, which since
Have serv'd me but to weep thy Absence.
'Twas here from my forsaken Isle
The fam'd Ulysses parted.
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The Promise of Immortal Youth,
Nor all my soothing Arts—Ah cruel Hero!
Engage thy Stay.
I saw thee climb the Ship, I saw thee sail,
Till far in trackless Seas I lost the Sight,
Then turn'd away my Eyes, which since
Have serv'd me but to weep thy Absence.
For thee the rilling Waters weep,
That dash from Rocks, or softly creep
In Murmurs to the Sea.
That dash from Rocks, or softly creep
In Murmurs to the Sea.
The Winds that o'er my Island blow,
Bear on their breezy Wings my Woe,
And sighing call for thee.
Bear on their breezy Wings my Woe,
And sighing call for thee.
For thee the rilling Waters weep,
That dash from Rocks, or softly creep
In Murmurs to the Sea.
That dash from Rocks, or softly creep
In Murmurs to the Sea.
Euch.
Behold, divine Calypso,
Two gallant Strangers from the Shore
Are this way moving
3
Cal.
The Seas run high—'Twas such a Day as this
When first I saw Ulysses.
Alas! unknowing I pronounce that Name,
Still the fond Sound dwells flatt'ring on my Tongue;
Ulysses! O Ulysses!
Euch.
See, here they come.
Cal.
Eucharis,
Withdraw with me, and let us mark them.
[They retire to a Corner of the Stage.
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SCENE II.
Telemachus and Mentor enter at a Distance.Calypso, Eucharis, Telemachus, Mentor.
Tel.
Ye gracious Gods!
To what new Trial have you hither brought me?
To what new Trial have you hither brought me?
I go—yet know not where,
Fate leads, and I obey.
Fate leads, and I obey.
The Brave still free from Fear,
Pursue their destin'd Way.
Pursue their destin'd Way.
I go—yet know not where,
Fate leads, and I obey.
Fate leads, and I obey.
Cal.
aside.]
'Tis he, the lovely Youth, Ulysses Son!
His Father lives exprest in every Feature.
'Tis—O my conscious beating Heart!—
'Tis he, it is Telemachus.
[Advances to them as they are going off.
His Father lives exprest in every Feature.
'Tis—O my conscious beating Heart!—
'Tis he, it is Telemachus.
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Young Stranger, stay!
The Land you tread is mine;
How have you dar'd t'approach it without Leave?
The Land you tread is mine;
How have you dar'd t'approach it without Leave?
Tel.
O Nymph Divine! for such thy Form bespeaks thee,
A sudden Shipwreck cast me on your Isle,
Pity th'unhappy Son of Great Ulysses,
That wand'ring seeks his Father;
My Father wand'ring too o'er Seas and Land
Has spent whole Years;
Since from Troy's famous Siege returning home,
By Fates averse detain'd,
He strives, in vain, to reach his native Shore,
That seems to fly before him.
Cal.
aside.]
O he is all Ulysses!—But that Friend!
Who is he, or from whence?
Severest Wisdom sits upon his Brow,
And Majesty Divine!
I'm aw'd, and wish him hence.
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Well, Royal Youth!
All things shall smile, and thou may'st here be happy.
Thy Father—but I will not tell thee now—
First, let me lead thee to my Grotto; there
In gentle Sleep thou shalt forget thy Cares,
And waking bless the Storm that drove thee hither.
All things shall smile, and thou may'st here be happy.
Thy Father—but I will not tell thee now—
First, let me lead thee to my Grotto; there
In gentle Sleep thou shalt forget thy Cares,
And waking bless the Storm that drove thee hither.
Pleasing Visions shall attend thee,
Soft Repose and blooming Joy.
Soft Repose and blooming Joy.
Smiling Hours the Gods shall send thee,
Happy then their Gifts employ.
Happy then their Gifts employ.
Pleasing Visions shall attend thee,
Soft Repose and blooming Joy.
Soft Repose and blooming Joy.
[Exeunt Calypso, Telem. and Mentor.
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SCENE III.
Eucharis.Is this Calypso?—This the mourning Fair,
That taught the vocal Caves, and ev'ry Eccho
To murmur and complain for lost Ulysses?
This young Ulysses fires her Soul, I saw,
I saw it in her Eyes;
She gaz'd, she smil'd, and call'd out all her Charms,
To sooth him into Fondness.
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SCENE IV.
The Cave of Proteus arises, adorn'd with Coral, Shelfish, &c. Sea Monsters represented around it.Proteus, Eucharis.
Prot.
Lovely Fair!
Euch.
Godlike he look'd and spoke!
While she—
Prot.
Behold thy Lover!
Euch.
With Rapture saw and heard
What well might charm a Goddess.
Prot.
Behold me, hear me,
Thy Lover Proteus—
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seeing him.]
O the frightful Form!
But doubly frightful now.
[Aside.
Pro.
Proteus adores thee.
Euch.
O Telemachus!
[Aside.
Pro.
The Son of Ocean wooes thee to his Bed,
In Coral Caves, and Grots of shining Amber.
Euch.
Alas!
[Aside.
Prot.
On the green Flood I oft have seen
The sporting Sea-Nymphs in a Row,
Shine in the Court of Neptune;
Yet Galatea, if she view'd thy Face,
Wou'd dive beneath the Waves;
Nor Amphitrite's self is half so lovely.
Euch.
If I am lovely, will that make thee so?
Proteus forbear—
Of all the various Shapes thou canst assume,
Thou hast not one to please me.
Proteus forbear—
Of all the various Shapes thou canst assume,
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No, no—you'd deceive me,
Still changing,
And ranging,
So various a Lover
I never can bear.
Still changing,
And ranging,
So various a Lover
I never can bear.
Go, leave me,
Thou Rover!
To the Winds and the Waves thy Passion discover,
They sooner will hear.
Thou Rover!
To the Winds and the Waves thy Passion discover,
They sooner will hear.
No, no—you'd deceive me,
Still changing,
And ranging,
So various a Lover
I never can bear.
Still changing,
And ranging,
So various a Lover
I never can bear.
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SCENE V.
Proteus.
Stay, wandring Nymph!—if I am full of Change,
Thou fly'st from thy own Likeness.
Stay—hear the Prophet, if you hate the Lover.
Proteus will tell thee—but she's gone—
That all the various Shapes he can assume,
Are not so various as one courted Beauty;
That Winds, and Waves, and shifting Sands,
All, all are Female—yet I'll follow her.
E'er this she smil'd, and now she frowns;
Anon she'll smile again,
While I alone am constant.
Thou fly'st from thy own Likeness.
Stay—hear the Prophet, if you hate the Lover.
Proteus will tell thee—but she's gone—
That all the various Shapes he can assume,
Are not so various as one courted Beauty;
That Winds, and Waves, and shifting Sands,
All, all are Female—yet I'll follow her.
E'er this she smil'd, and now she frowns;
Anon she'll smile again,
While I alone am constant.
Pursue, pursue the flying Fair;
Tho' she fly thee,
'Tis to try thee;
'Tis a Folly to despair.
'Tis to try thee;
'Tis a Folly to despair.
Pursue, pursue the flying Fair.
[Exit after her.
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SCENE VI.
Calypso's Grotto.Calypso, Telemachus, Mentor, Eucharis, and Nymphs attending on Calypso.
Cal.
Behold! my royal Guest,
The verdant Beauties of this Isle
Wear a new Bloom to welcome thee.
The spreading Vines new dress their Leaves,
The sprouting Flow'rs rejoice;
And Lawrels, that imbowring shade this Grotto,
Spring fresh, as if aspiring to thy Brows.
Here end thy Labours,
And live for ever blest.
Tel.
O bounteous Goddess! O delightful Scene!
What Thanks can I repay?
What Thanks can I repay?
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A thousand Raptures fill my Breast,
And glow thro' ev'ry Vein;
And glow thro' ev'ry Vein;
How bright is Joy, how grateful Rest,
Succeeding Toil and Pain!
Succeeding Toil and Pain!
A thousand Raptures fill my Breast,
And glow thro' ev'ry Vein.
And glow thro' ev'ry Vein.
Cal.
aside.]
I know not why, yet still that Chief unknown
Disturbs my Sight—
His Looks chastise the Pleasures of this Place,
And damp my rising Joy.
Tel.
Ye Pow'rs! where-e'er I turn my Eyes,
New Prospects rise to view, new Wonders charm me.
Cal.
Thy Father here enjoy'd seven blissful Years.
Tel.
My Father!—
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And had he stay'd till now, had still been happy.
Tel.
O say, Divine Calypso!
Where may I find the King of Ithaca,
Where may I find my Father?
Cal.
Alas!—thy Search is vain.
Tel.
O never will I cease,
Till join'd in his Embrace,
With mutual Joy I bless him, and am blest.
Cal.
Then know, when he forsook this Isle,
His Ship was lost;
And he—Enquire no more.
Tel.
What do I hear?—Where am I?
O Ulysses!
O Ulysses!
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If in Elizian Plains he roves,
And silent wanders thro' the Groves;
O let me thither be convey'd!
I'll die to meet his happy Shade.
And silent wanders thro' the Groves;
O let me thither be convey'd!
I'll die to meet his happy Shade.
Cal.
No—Live; be warn'd, and shun thy Father's Fate:
Within this Island grows Ambrosial Fruit,
Whose Juice unfading Youth bestows;
When thou hast tasted this, no more
Shall mortal Care approach thee.
Now take secure thy Rest;
An inner Grotto is prepar'd
For thee and thy brave Friend;
Where falling Currents from the Hills,
At distance heard, invite to easy Slumbers,
While Nightingales, that haunt the neigh'bring Woods,
Cheer all the Hours of Darkness.
Within this Island grows Ambrosial Fruit,
Whose Juice unfading Youth bestows;
When thou hast tasted this, no more
Shall mortal Care approach thee.
Now take secure thy Rest;
An inner Grotto is prepar'd
For thee and thy brave Friend;
Where falling Currents from the Hills,
At distance heard, invite to easy Slumbers,
While Nightingales, that haunt the neigh'bring Woods,
Cheer all the Hours of Darkness.
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No more let Sorrow wound thee;
Here Peace, still hov'ring round thee,
Shall smoothly guide the Night.
Here Peace, still hov'ring round thee,
Shall smoothly guide the Night.
And Phœbus ev'ry Morning,
With Pleasures new returning,
Shall bless the dawning Light.
With Pleasures new returning,
Shall bless the dawning Light.
[Exeunt Cal. Euch. and Nymphs.
17
SCENE VII.
Telemachus, Mentor.Tel.
O Mentor, best of Friends,
My Guide and my Support!
What canst thou say to sooth my swelling Grief?
Ment.
Thy Grief is pious;
And yet I fear—
Tel.
Why dost thou chide me with thy Eyes?
O speak!—
Thy gloomy Silence wounds me.
Ment.
Then hear me: Let thy Father's Image
Live in thy Soul, and waken all thy Virtue.
Tel.
Can I forget my Father—Let these Tears
Speak how I mourn his Loss.
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Alas! thou dost not see
What Dangers here surround thee.
Tel.
Danger!—from whence?
Calypso smiles.
Ment.
So smil'd of late the Ocean;
And yet the Storm arose, by which the Ship,
Ev'n on this Shore, this faithless Shore, was split.
And yet the Storm arose, by which the Ship,
Ev'n on this Shore, this faithless Shore, was split.
Let not Pleasure's Charms undo thee;
Trust not the deluding Joy.
Trust not the deluding Joy.
Tho' the Syren softly wooe thee,
Gayly smiling,
And beguiling,
She'll thy nobler Bliss destroy.
Gayly smiling,
And beguiling,
She'll thy nobler Bliss destroy.
Let not Pleasure's Charms undo thee;
Trust not the deluding Joy.
Trust not the deluding Joy.
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Speak thus for ever! when I hear thy Voice,
I think the Gods themselves
Vouchsafe to give me Counsel.
i now perceive thy Fears,
Lest I forget my Country—No—
I'll leave this charming Place,
Wou'd the kind Gods but point me out the way,
And favour my Return.
I think the Gods themselves
Vouchsafe to give me Counsel.
i now perceive thy Fears,
Lest I forget my Country—No—
I'll leave this charming Place,
Wou'd the kind Gods but point me out the way,
And favour my Return.
Two VOICES.
Ment.
Hark, how the Voice of Fame
Calls loudly, Come away!
Tel.
I hear th'immortal Claim,
I hear, and I obey.
Ment.
Come, come away.
Tel.
I hear, and I obey.
Ment. & Tel.
The Hero's Soul with native Fires,
To Glory's noblest Height aspires,
And scorns supine Delay.
Ment.
Hark, how the Voice of Fame
Calls loudly, come away!
Tel.
I hear th'immortal Claim,
I hear, and I obey.
Ment.
Come, come away.
Tel.
I hear, and I obey.
Ment.
Hark, how the Voice of Fame
Calls loudly, Come away!
Tel.
I hear th'immortal Claim,
I hear, and I obey.
Ment.
Come, come away.
Tel.
I hear, and I obey.
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The Hero's Soul with native Fires,
To Glory's noblest Height aspires,
And scorns supine Delay.
Ment.
Hark, how the Voice of Fame
Calls loudly, come away!
Tel.
I hear th'immortal Claim,
I hear, and I obey.
Ment.
Come, come away.
Tel.
I hear, and I obey.
End of the First ACT.
| Calypso and Telemachus | |