Poems, moral and descriptive By the late Richard Jago ... (Prepared for the press, and improved by the author, before his death.) To which is added, some account of the life and writings of Mr. Jago |
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 | Poems, moral and descriptive |  |
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ACT I.
SCENE I.
RECITATIVE.
Under a tuft of shade, that, on a green,Stood whisp'ring soft, on Eden's blissful plain,
Sate the first human Pair. (Not that fair Field
Of Enna, where Proserpine, gath'ring flow'rs,
Herself, a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd; nor that sweet Elysian Grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, and th'inspir'd
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Of Eden strive: nor that Nysean Isle,
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,
Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Lybian Jove,
Hid Amalthea, and her florid son,
Young Bacchus from his step-dame Rhea's eye—
Nor where Abassine kings their issue guard,
Mount Amara! enclos'd with shining rock,
A whole day's journey high.) Around them grew
All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste,
And all amid them grew the Tree of Life,
High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit
Of vegetable gold; and, next to Life,
Our Death! the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by.
Here waving boughs wept od'rous gums, and balm:
On others fruit, burnish'd with golden rind,
Hung amiable: betwixt them lawns, and downs,
Or palmy hillock, or the flow'ry lap
Of some irriguous valley spread her store,
Flow'rs of all hues, and without thorn the rose.
Another side umbrageous grots, and caves
Of cool recess! o'er which the mantling vine
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Luxuriant. Mean while murm'ring waters fall
Down the slope hills dispers'd, or, in a lake,
That to the fringed bank, with myrtle crown'd,
Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams.
The birds their quire apply—airs, vernal airs
Breathing the smell of field, or grove attune
The trembling leaves, and whisper whence they stole
Their balmy spoils. About them frisking play'd
All beasts of th'earth, since wild, and of all chase
In wood, or wilderness, forest, or den.
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and, in his paw,
Dandled the kid. Bears, tygers, ounces, pards
Gambol'd before them. Th'unwieldy elephant,
To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and wreath'd
His lithe proboscis. Close the serpent sly,
Insinuating, wove, with Gordian twine,
His braided train, and, of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded. They superior sate
As lords of all, of God-like shape erect!
For valour he, and contemplation form'd,
For softness she, and sweet attractive grace!
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AIR.
“They superior sate,“As lords of all, of God-like shape erect!
“For valour he, and contemplation form'd,
“For softness she, and sweet attractive grace!”
SCENE II.
RECITATIVE.
On the soft downy bank, damaskt with flow'rs,Reclin'd they sate, when Adam first of men
To first of women Eve thus smiling spake.
ADAM.
Sole partner, and sole part of all these joys,
Dearer thyself than all! needs must the Pow'r,
That made us, and, for us, this ample world,
Be infinitely good, and, of his good
As liberal, and free as infinite;
Who rais'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here,
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From us no other service, than to keep
This one, this easy charge—Of all the Trees
In Paradise, that bear delicious fruit
So various, not to taste that only Tree
Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life.
SONG.
“Then let us ever praise Him, and extol“His bounty, following our delightful task,
“To prune these growing plants, and tend these flow'rs,
“Which, were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.”
RECITATIVE.
EVE.O thou! for whom
And from whom I was form'd! Flesh of thy flesh!
And without whom am to no end! My guide,
And head! what thou hast said is just, and right:
For we indeed to Him all praises owe,
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So much the happier lot, enjoying thee.
AFFETUOSO.
“That day I oft remember, when from sleep“I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd
“Under a shade of flow'rs, much wond'ring where,
“And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
“Not distant far from thence, a murm'ring sound
“Of waters issued from a cave, and spread
“Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd
“Pure as th'expanse of Heav'n. I thither went,
“With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down
“On the green bank to look into the clear,
“Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky.
“As I bent down to look, just opposite,
“A shape within the watry gleam appear'd,
“Bending to look on me. I started back,
“It started back. But pleas'd I soon return'd,
“Pleas'd it return'd as soon, with answ'ring looks
“Of sympathy, and love. There I had fix'd
“Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire,
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“What there thou see'st, fair creature! is thyself.
“With thee it came, and goes. But follow me,
“And I will bring thee where no shadow stays
“Thy coming, and thy soft embraces—He!
“Whose image thou art—him thou shalt enjoy
“Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear
“Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd
“Mother of human race. What cou'd I do,
“But follow strait, invisibly thus led?
“Till I espied thee, fair, indeed, and tall,
“Under a platan. Yet methought less fair,
“Less winning soft, less amiably mild,
“Than that smooth watry image. Back I turn'd.
“Thou following cry'dst aloud;
AIR.
“Return, fair Eve!“Whom fly'st thou? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art,
“His flesh, his bone! To give thee being I lent
“Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,
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“Henceforth an individual solace dear.
“Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim
“My other half.” With that thy gentle hand
“Seiz'd mine; I yielded—and from that time see
“How beauty is excell'd by manly grace,
“And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.”
RECITATIVE.
So spake our gen'ral Mother, and with eyesOf conjugal affection, unreprov'd,
And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd
On our first Father. Half her swelling breast
Naked met his, under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid. He, in delight
Both of her beauty, and submissive charms,
Smil'd with superior love, and press'd her lip
With kisses pure. Thus they in am'rous sport,
As well beseems fair couple, linkt as they,
In happy nuptial league, their minutes pass'd,
Crown'd with sublime delight. The loveliest pair
That ever yet in Love's embraces met:
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His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve!
CHORUS.
“Hail! Hymen's first, accomplish'd Pair!“Goodliest he of all his sons!
“Of her daughters she most fair!
“Goodliest he!
“She most fair!
“Goodliest he of all his sons!
“Of her daughters she most fair.
SCENE III.
RECITATIVE.
Now came still Ev'ning on, and Twilight greyHad, in her sober liv'ry all things clad.
Silence accompanied: for beast, and bird,
They to their grassy couch, these to their nests
Were slunk: all but the wakeful Nightingale!
She all night long her am'rous descant sung.
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With living saphires. Hesperus, that led
The starry host, rode brightest, till the Moon,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length,
Apparent queen! unveil'd her peerless light,
And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.
When Adam thus to Eve.
ADAM.
Fair Consort! th'hour
Of Night, and all things now retir'd to rest
Mind us of like repose: since God hath set
Labour, and rest as day, and night to men
Successive, and the timely due of sleep,
Now falling with soft slumb'rous weight, inclines
Our eye-lids. Ere fresh Morning streak the east
With first approach of light, we must be ris'n,
And at our pleasant labour, to reform
Yon' flow'ry arbours, yonder alleys green,
Our walk at Noon, with branches overgrown.
Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us rest.
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My author, and disposer, what thou bid'st
Unargu'd I obey, so God ordains.
God is thy law, thou mine. To know no more
Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise.
AIR.
“With thee conversing, I forget all time.“All seasons, and their change, all please alike.
“Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet,
“With charm of earliest birds! Pleasant the Sun!
“When first on this delightful land he spreads
“His orient beams on herb, tree, fruit, and flow'r,
“Glist'ring with dew: fragrant the fertile Earth,
“After soft show'rs! and sweet the coming on
“Of grateful Evening mild; the silent Night,
“With this her solemn bird; and this fair Moon,
“And those the gems of Heav'n, her starry train!
“But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends,
“With charm of earliest birds, nor rising Sun
“On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flow'r,
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“Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night,
“With this her solemn bird, nor walk by Moon,
“Or glitt'ring star-light without thee is sweet.”
RECITATIVE.
Thus talking, hand in hand, alone they pass'd
On to their blissful bow'r. It was a place,
Chos'n by the Sov'reign Planter, when he fram'd
All things to man's delightful use; the roof,
Of thickest covert, was in-woven shade,
Laurel, and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm, and fragrant leaf; on either side,
Acanthus, and each od'rous, bushy shrub
Fenc'd up the verdant wall, each beauteous flow'r,
Iris, all hues, roses, and jessamine
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought
Mosaic; under foot the violet,
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay,
Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone
Of costliest emblem. Other creature here
Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none,
Such was their awe of Man. In shady bow'r,
More sacred, and sequester'd; tho' but feign'd,
Pan, or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph,
Or Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess,
With flow'rs, and garlands, and sweet smelling herbs
Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed,
And heav'nly quires the Hymenæan sung.
On to their blissful bow'r. It was a place,
Chos'n by the Sov'reign Planter, when he fram'd
All things to man's delightful use; the roof,
Of thickest covert, was in-woven shade,
Laurel, and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm, and fragrant leaf; on either side,
Acanthus, and each od'rous, bushy shrub
Fenc'd up the verdant wall, each beauteous flow'r,
Iris, all hues, roses, and jessamine
Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and wrought
Mosaic; under foot the violet,
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay,
Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone
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Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none,
Such was their awe of Man. In shady bow'r,
More sacred, and sequester'd; tho' but feign'd,
Pan, or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph,
Or Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess,
With flow'rs, and garlands, and sweet smelling herbs
Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed,
And heav'nly quires the Hymenæan sung.
Thus at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood,
Both turn'd, and, under open Sky, ador'd
The God that made both Sky, Air, Earth, and Heav'n,
Which they beheld, the Moon's resplendent globe,
And starry pole.
Both turn'd, and, under open Sky, ador'd
The God that made both Sky, Air, Earth, and Heav'n,
Which they beheld, the Moon's resplendent globe,
And starry pole.
EVENING HYMN.
“Thou also mad'st the night,“Maker omnipotent! and Thou the day,
“Which we, in our appointed work employ'd,
“Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help,
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“Ordain'd by Thee, and this delicious place,
“For us too large, where Thy abundance wants
“Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.
“But Thou hast promis'd from us two a race,
“To fill the earth, who shall, with us, extol
“Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,
“And when we seek, as now, thy gift of Sleep.
END OF THE FIRST ACT.
| Poems, moral and descriptive | |