 | The Birth of Hercules |  |
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1. INTERLUDE THE FIRST.
SCENE THE FIRST.
Scene, a rural prospect, with a bower. During this interlude, the stage gradually darkens as at twilight, till a moon rises, and slowly ascends the hemisphere.[Jupiter and Minerva advance from the bower, in which they were discovered seated.
JUPITER.
The steeds of Phœbus have perform'd their task.
His flaming car has reach'd the western goal!
And day, retiring fast, resigns the skies
To night's more solemn reign.
MINERVA.
Yet on this day
Did Phœbus, the prophetic God, foretel,
That tidings would arrive to glad Olympus,
Of wond'rous import to the world below.
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Whatever blesses mortals, gives to Jove
Supreme delight. Thou wilt accord, Minerva,
In aught benignant to the sons of men.
AIR.
Supreme delight. Thou wilt accord, Minerva,
In aught benignant to the sons of men.
Who joys excite,
Partake the glow
Of each delight
Which they bestow.
Grateful in exalted measure,
Is the pow'r of giving pleasure.
Partake the glow
Of each delight
Which they bestow.
Grateful in exalted measure,
Is the pow'r of giving pleasure.
SCENE THE SECOND.
MINERVA and PHOEBUS.MINERVA.
Thou, God of day, thy radient course hast run:
Yet unfulfill'd thy prophecy remains
Of joy to high Olympus.
PHŒBUS.
It comes! it comes!—
From earth it fast ascends!
Whence blissful mortals, on their blazing altars,
Steam incens'd clouds to heav'n!
AIR.
From earth it fast ascends!
Whence blissful mortals, on their blazing altars,
Steam incens'd clouds to heav'n!
I see with wreaths their temples bound!
I hear their choral notes resound!
With measur'd steps they all advance,
And gaily form the sportive dance;
While glowing raptures strongly rise,
That fill the earth, and reach the skies!
I hear their choral notes resound!
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And gaily form the sportive dance;
While glowing raptures strongly rise,
That fill the earth, and reach the skies!
SCENE THE THIRD.
MINERVA and MARS.MARS.
With ending day, the toils of fight are o'er,
The toils that give me transport!—Say, Minerva,
What pleasures vie with those which are deriv'd
From fierce contention on th'ensanguin'd plain?
MINERVA.
Such as arise from arts which bless mankind.
By reason's laws I seek to guide the war,
And not ferocious impulse. Still more blest,
Beneath the peaceful olive's happier influence,
To cultivate sublime and useful skill,
With milder, better, more refin'd delight.
AIR.
By reason's laws I seek to guide the war,
And not ferocious impulse. Still more blest,
Beneath the peaceful olive's happier influence,
To cultivate sublime and useful skill,
With milder, better, more refin'd delight.
Wisdom 'tis to shun dissention,
What but madness makes contention?
Where the best that can befall,
Is alike to suffer all.
Truer joys must sure attend
Arts which mortals most befriend.
Such 'tis kindness to impart,
Such reveal a bounteous heart.
What but madness makes contention?
Where the best that can befall,
Is alike to suffer all.
Truer joys must sure attend
Arts which mortals most befriend.
Such 'tis kindness to impart,
Such reveal a bounteous heart.
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SCENE THE FOURTH.
MARS, VENUS, CERES, CUPID, and VENUS's Train of Loves and Hours.CERES.
Still, God of battles, still must we behold,
Wide o'er the earth, the wastes of war extend?
When will the rage of desolation cease?
When shall to peaceful arts mankind return,
And till that soil for plenty, now made rich
With streams of human gore?
AIR.
Wide o'er the earth, the wastes of war extend?
When will the rage of desolation cease?
When shall to peaceful arts mankind return,
And till that soil for plenty, now made rich
With streams of human gore?
Ah! let contention cease,
By restoring
Realms deploring
To the grateful calms of peace.
Then shall swords, to plough-shares turning,
Make my gifts abundant rise,
While glad hearts, with fervors burning,
Waft their thanks to bounteous skies.
By restoring
Realms deploring
To the grateful calms of peace.
Then shall swords, to plough-shares turning,
Make my gifts abundant rise,
While glad hearts, with fervors burning,
Waft their thanks to bounteous skies.
MARS.
Their rights of rule all deities assert;
And war's alike my province and delight.
AIR.
And war's alike my province and delight.
The dreadful alarms,
The clangor of arms,
The trumpets, loud-sounding,
The clarions, resounding,
With ardors inspire me,
To ecstasies fire me,
Ev'n groans and loud cries have their charms.
The clangor of arms,
The trumpets, loud-sounding,
The clarions, resounding,
With ardors inspire me,
To ecstasies fire me,
Ev'n groans and loud cries have their charms.
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Cruel Mars! how fatal is thy sway!
Domestic bliss,
The sweets of Hymen, and the joys of love,
Are blasted all by thee.
AIR.
Domestic bliss,
The sweets of Hymen, and the joys of love,
Are blasted all by thee.
Warm desires,
Pleasing fires,
In gentle breasts that glow,
With cries to arms,
With war's alarms,
Are chang'd to throbs of woe.
Sever'd lovers, sighing, pining,
Sweet and tender hopes resigning,
Kind relief from me implore.
Then, in pity to that anguish,
Felt by fond-ones when they languish,
Grant my suit, and peace restore.
Pleasing fires,
In gentle breasts that glow,
With cries to arms,
With war's alarms,
Are chang'd to throbs of woe.
Sever'd lovers, sighing, pining,
Sweet and tender hopes resigning,
Kind relief from me implore.
Then, in pity to that anguish,
Felt by fond-ones when they languish,
Grant my suit, and peace restore.
MARS.
'Tis human guilt involves the human race
In all the various woes deriv'd from war.
I, who delight in horror and in havock,
Am guiltless of their causes.
TRIO.
Ceres.
We still implore—
Mars.
No more—no more—
Venus.
Afflicted nations pitying see—
Ceres.
Bid wounded bosoms cease to sigh—
Venus.
Wipe sorrow's drops from beauty's eye—
Mars.
What—what are human woes to me?
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Gods and mortals sure must move—
Mars.
I impel no fatal ire—
Ceres.
Pleading goodness—
Venus.
Pleading love—
Ceres., Venus.
In Mars Should 'suage this martial fire.
Mars.
In Men Should 'suage this martial fire.
SCENE THE FIFTH.
CUPID, and the Train of Loves and Hours.CUPID.
The Goddess hastens to the court of Jove!
Then is this hour your own—an hour and scene
To dalliance suited, and the sports of love.
AIR.
Then is this hour your own—an hour and scene
To dalliance suited, and the sports of love.
Where soft breezes odours breathe,
Round the trees where woodbines wreathe,
Here, at ev'ning's silent hours,
Daisied banks and myrtle bow'rs,
Darkling shades,
Moon-light glades,
All inviting,
All delighting—
Warbling where, upon the spray,
Philomela tunes her lay,
While fond turtles bill and coo,
Here should lovers kiss and woo.
Round the trees where woodbines wreathe,
Here, at ev'ning's silent hours,
Daisied banks and myrtle bow'rs,
Darkling shades,
Moon-light glades,
All inviting,
All delighting—
Warbling where, upon the spray,
Philomela tunes her lay,
While fond turtles bill and coo,
Here should lovers kiss and woo.
[Cupid goes out, and the Loves and Hours dance.
End of the FIRST INTERLUDE.
| The Birth of Hercules | |