 | Love triumphant |  |
CANTATA IV. The Agreable MISTAKE: OR, VENUS Discarded.
Rec.
Within a Shady, Pleasant Grove,By Nature form'd Alone for Love,
Asleep the Fair Ophelia laid,
While Fanning Cupids round Her play'd.
The God of War the Virgin spies,
And swiftly thro' the Grotto flies.
The Rustling Noise Her Slumbers broke,
And thus the GOD the Maid bespoke.
Air.
Rise, Beauteous Cytharea, Rise,This Happy Hour improve;
While Vulcan, and his Smutty Train
Are forging Bolts for JOVE:
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And there renew our Flame;
Let us, possess'd of Present Joys,
Forget our Former Shame.
Rec.
Ophelia trembl'd when She heardThis Amorous Pray'r to Her preferr'd;
And, like a Virgin, free from Stain,
Repuls'd Her Lover with Disdain.
The GOD, un-us'd to be deny'd,
In Moving Accents thus reply'd.
Air.
Why, Lovely Charmer, dost Thou stopThe Rapid Current of my Joy?
Oh! Whence proceeds this suddain Change?
Venus ne're us'd to be so Coy.
Rec.
Ophelia still maintain'd the Field,
And Modestly refus'd to yield;
Still strove, and struggl'd to be gone,
And fain wou'd from his Arms have run:
Tho' proud to be so close pursu'd,
And thought a Venus by a GOD.
And Modestly refus'd to yield;
Still strove, and struggl'd to be gone,
And fain wou'd from his Arms have run:
Tho' proud to be so close pursu'd,
And thought a Venus by a GOD.
A Thousand Ways Fond Mars essay'd
To soften the Relentless Maid:
With Many a Sigh He told his Pain,
And dropp'd a Thousand Tears in vain:
Tho' Sighs and Tears, they say, will move,
And pass for Eloquence in Love.
At last the Amorous God of War
(Unable such Repulse to bear)
Resolv'd by Dint of Force to gain
What He by Art had sought in vain.
Then, like a Soldier, seiz'd his Bliss,
And ravish'd from the Fair a Kiss.
The GOD all-over Transport, swore
Venus ne're charm'd him so before.
But when more closely he survey'd
This Mortal Beauty, British Maid,
Well-pleas'd with His Mistake, He said.
To soften the Relentless Maid:
With Many a Sigh He told his Pain,
And dropp'd a Thousand Tears in vain:
Tho' Sighs and Tears, they say, will move,
And pass for Eloquence in Love.
At last the Amorous God of War
(Unable such Repulse to bear)
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What He by Art had sought in vain.
Then, like a Soldier, seiz'd his Bliss,
And ravish'd from the Fair a Kiss.
The GOD all-over Transport, swore
Venus ne're charm'd him so before.
But when more closely he survey'd
This Mortal Beauty, British Maid,
Well-pleas'd with His Mistake, He said.
Air.
Henceforth, Fair Nymph, will I no moreBe Sport for all the Skies;
But Thy Superior Charms adore,
And Venus, tho' Love's Queen, despise.
| Love triumphant | |