University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

The Scene is the Palace of Cupid, compos'd of wreath'd Columns of the Corinthian Order; the Wreathing is adorn'd with Roses, and the Columns have several little Cupids flying about 'em, and a single Cupid standing upon every Capital. At a good distance are seen three Arches, which divide the first Court from the other part of the Building: The middle Arch is noble and high, beautified with Cupids and Festoons, and supported with Columns of the foresaid Order. Through these Arches is seen another Court, that leads to the main Building, which is at a mighty distance. All the Cupids, Capitals and Inrichments of the whole Palace are of Gold. Here the Cyclops are at work at a forge, forging great Vases of Silver. The Musick strikes up, they dance, hammering the Vases upon Anvils.
After the Dance, Enter Vulcan.
Enter Cupid and Zephyrus, at which they all run away.
Cup.
You are my best of servants, y'have done well.
Say, Zephyrus, how do you like my Love?

Zeph.
Her Beauty does all mortal forms excel,
She should be snatch'd from Earth to reign above.
But why do you a humane shape now wear?
Why will you not your self a God appear?

Cup.
At first, invisible I'll be,
Then like a Prince I will be seen;
Me like a God when she shall see,
I'll make her my Immortal Queen.
When Love thus slily his approaches makes,
He takes fast hold, and long will stay;
But if by storm he once possession takes,
His Empire in the heart will soon decay.
Here comes my Love. Away,
And to her honour dedicate this day.

[Exeunt Cupid and Zephyrus.
Enter Psyche.
Psyc.
To what enchanted Palace am I brought,
Adorn'd beyond all humane thought?
Here Art and Natures utmost powers conspire,
To make the Ornament entire.
Where e'r I turn me, here my dazl'd eye
Does nought but Gold or precious Gems descry:
This sure is some divine abode,
The splendid Palace of some God:
And not a Den where Humane bloud is spilt.
This sure was never for a Serpent built.
I am at this no less amaz'd,
Then at my sudden passage to the place.
With wonder round about I've gaz'd,
And, which is strange, I've seen no humane face.
'Tis sure some Aery Vision which I see,
And I to this imaginary height
Was rais'd by Heav'n in cruelty,
That I might suffer a severer Fate.
I on a Precipice of hope was plac'd,
That so my fall might greater be,
And down with violence I shall be cast
To th'bottom of despair, th'Abyss of misery.
Where is the Serpent? when will he appear?

Cup.
The Serpent which you must embrace is near.

Psyc.
What Divine Harmony invades my ear?
This is a voice I cou'd for ever hear.
O speak again, and strike my ravish'd sense
With thy harmonious excellence!
What Pow'r Divine provokes within my bloud,
I know not what, that cannot be withstood?

Cup.
What ever can be pleasant but in thought,
[within.
Shall for my Love be sought:
This shall her Palace, here her Empire be;
She shall have Sovereign command o'r that and me.

Psyc.
No object of my sense could e'r
Transport me till this hour;
I feel a passion mix'd with Joy and Fear,
That's caus'd by this unknown invisible Power.
Who are you that does charm me so?
Such pain and pleasure I ne'r felt before;
You are by this some God, I know,
And I must you adore—
[she kneels.
Enter Cupid, and takes her up.
Oh Heaven! what glorious thing is this I see?
What unknown Deity?
His shape is humane, but his face divine;
He calls me Love: but ah! wou'd he were mine.

Cup.
I am the Serpent Heav'n for you design'd,
Which shou'd on you his poyson breathe.

Psyc.
This poison ne'r can cause my death,
For such a Serpent I wou'd quit Mankind.
Yours is the pleasant'st poison e'r was felt;
My eyes drop showers of joy, my heart will melt.
My mind was never full before,
But now my swelling joys run o'r;
My heart does pant like a seal'd Doves:
What is it thus my passion moves?

Cup.
How does my charming fair, my Dove?
Let me approach my Dear, my Love:
Let me but touch thy snowy hand,
And thou shalt all my heart command.

Psyc.
There's no request of yours I can withstand.
Oh I am stung! what's this I feel?
It is no pointed Steel:
'Tis such a pretty tingling smart,
Now it invades my heart.
Oh it increases on me still,
And now my bloud begins to chill.
But, Oh the pleasure! Oh the pain!
And, Oh! might both a thousand years remain!

Cup.
Courage, my Dove, I have thee here,
embraces her.
Thou need'st no Serpent fear;
embraces her.
For I am all the Serpents thou shalt see,
And Love is all the poison I'll infuse in thee.

Psyc.
What can it be my senses thus allarms?
What have you done t' your hand that thus it charms?
But, Oh your pow'rful eyes bewitch me more,
I never saw or felt such eyes before.
Nor know I now what 'tis I feel or see.
[He turns his head aside.
Turn not away those eyes that poison me.
Those sweet, those piercing am'rous eyes,
That can so easily a heart surprise.
Oh, may my breast this poison ne'r forsake!
I'm sure no Antidote I'll take.
Why do you sigh? are you transported too?

Cup.
As you by me, so I am charm'd by you.
Oh let my wandring heart find rest
Within thy soft and snowy breast.
Thou must to me thy heart resign,
And in exchange I'll give thee mine.
And when my heart within thy breast does sit,
Thou must be kind, and nurse, and cherish it.

Psyc.
Oh! how mine flutters; yet I hold it fast,
It bates till it it self will tire;
'T will lose it self with violent desire:
Do what I can, it will be gone at last.
Oh give me thine, for mine will flie away;
Ah give it me! for if you longer stay,
Mine will be gone, and I shall die.
Pray let your heart the want of mine supply.

Cup.
Thou through thy Lips, my Love, must mine receive,
And the same way thine to my breast convey;
And when to me that pretty thing thou'lt give,
I'll us't so kindly, 'tshall not fly away.

Psyc.
Then take it, for with me it will not stay.
[They kiss.
What have I done! I am to blame;
I blush and feel a secret shame:
But I feel something which o'rcomes that sense.
I'm charm'd with so much excellence!
Some Power Divine thus animates my bloud,
And 'twere a sin if that shou'd be withstood.
Your sacred form so much does move,
That I pronounce aloud, I love.
How am I rap't! what is it thus does force
My inclination from its proper course?
I was to love an open enemy;
But now the more I look on 'shee,
The more I love. My first surprise
Is heighten'd still by thy bewitching eyes.

Cup.
Love's debt was long deny'd by thee,
But now h'as paid himself with usury.

Psyc.
Should I to one I know not be thus kind,
To one who will, perhaps, unconstant be;
Pray let me so much favour find,
To let me know who 'tis has conquer'd me.

Cup.
Do not suspect my constancy,
Believe my sighs, and then trust me.
Words may be false and full of Art,
Sighs are the nat'ral language of the heart.
But, pray beware of curiosity,
Lest it shou'd ruine Thee and Me.
You must not yet know who I am;
I will in time disclose my name.
I in this Region a vast Empire have,
Each Prince y'have seen compar'd to me's a Slave.
To me all Grecian Princes Tribute owe,
Which they shall pay to you.
A thousand Beauties shall be still at hand,
Waiting for thy command;
And, without envy, they shall thee adore.
The pomp which here thou shalt enjoy, is more
Then e'r was seen in Earthly Princes Courts:
And pleasures here shall be
Beyond all mortal Luxury;
Our Recreations shall be heav'nly sports.
And to such splendid Joys I thee invite,
As do the Gods on Festivals delight.
But first thy pallat thou shalt satisfie,
Thy ear shall then be ravish'd, then thy eye;
And all thy other Senses thou shalt feast:
Here thou shalt entertain, and I will be the guest.

This following Song is sung by invisible Singers.
Chor.
Chor.
Chor.

Psyc.
How am I rap't! what pleasures do I find!
My Love, I have but one request to thee;
Two Sisters I have left behind,
I hope my Love will be so kind,
That they the Witnesses may be
Of all my pomp and my felicity.

Enter Zephyrus.
Cup.
My Zephyrus is still at hand
To wait for thy command.
Be gone—

Zeph.
I'll fly as quick as thought,
They suddenly shall to this place be brought.

[Exit Zephyrus.
Cup.
My Dear, let them not here much time employ,
For I must thy whole heart enjoy.
From me, my Love, not one poor thought must stray,
For I have given thee all my heart away.
But now prepare thy ears and eyes,
For I thy senses will surprise.
Along with me, and thou shalt see
What Miracles in Love there be.

[Exeunt.
The Scene changes to the principal Street of the City, with vast numbers of People looking down from the tops of Houses, and out of the Windows and Balconies, which are hung with Tapestry. In this Street is a large Triumphal Arch, with Columns of the Dorick Order, adorned with the Statues of Fame and Honour, &c. beautified with Festoons of Flowers; all the Inrichments of Gold. Through this Arch, at a vast distance, in the middle of a Piazza, is seen a stately Obelisk.
Enter two Men.
1. Man.
What shouts are those that eccho from the Plain?

2. Man.
The Stranger Princes have the Monster slain:
The People the Victorious Champions meet,
And them with Shouts and Acclamations greet.

1. Man.
Our freedom these brave Conqu'rors have restor'd;
The bloud of Men no more shall be devour'd;
No more young Ladies shall be snatch'd away
To be the cruel Serpents prey.

2. Man.
For this the large Triumphal Arch was built,
For this the joyful People meet in throngs,
The Princes Triumph for the bloud they spilt,
And celebrate the Conquest with loud Songs.
They in this place a Sacrifice prepare,
To pay their vows and thanks to th' God of War.

[A Consort of loud Martial Musick.
Enter the Priests of Mars, one carrying the Serpents Head upon the Spear, all of them having Targets, Breastplates, and Helmets of Brass. Then the Præsul, having a Trophy of Arms carry'd before him. Then Nicander, Polynices, Cydippe, Aglaura, Train and Guards. The Priests sing this following Song, and dance to't.

Præsul
sings.
Great God of War to thee
We offer up our thanks and pray'r
For by thy mighty Deity
Triumphing Conquerours we are.

Chor.
Thou'rt great among the heavenly race,
And onely to the Thunderer giv'st place.

Præsul.
Jove is thy father, but does not exceed
Thy Deity on any score.
Thou, when thou wilt, canst make the whole world bleed,
And then canst heal their breaches by thy power.

Chor.
'Tis thou that must to Armies give success,
Thou that must Kingdoms too with safety bless,
Thou that must bring, and then must guard their peace.

They dance, striking their Swords upon the Targets, showing the postures of their Swords, Kettle-Drums beating, and Trumpets sounding: Whilst the Præsul and the rest prepare the Altar, and kindle the Fire. After the Dance—
Præs.
sings.
While we to Mars his praises sing,
A Horse, th' appointed Victim, bring.

[Mars and Venus meet in the air in their Chariots, his drawn by Horses, and hers by Doves.
Venus
sings.
Great God of War, if thou dost not despise
The power of my victorious eyes,
Reject this Sacrifice.
My Deity they disrespect,
My Altars they neglect,
And Psyche onely they adore,
Whom they shall see no more.
Have I yet left such influence on your heart,
As to enjoyn you wou'd take my part.
By some known token punish their offence,
And let them know their insolence.

Mars.
So much your influence on me remains,
That still I glory in my chains.
What ever you command, shall be
A sov'reign Law to me.
These saucy Mortals soon shall see
What 'tis to disrespect your Deity.
To show how much for you I them despise,
Since they with Venus dare contend,
Ye powers of Hell your Furies send,
And interrupt their Sacrifice.

[Mars and Venus fly away.
Furies descend and strike the Altar, and break it, and every one flies away with a fire-brand in's hand.
1. Pr.
What dreadful prodigies are these!
Hence from his bloudy rage let's flie,
And in his Temple let us try
If we his angry Godhead can appease.

Nican.
What Magick Charms do this sad place infest,
And us in all our actions thus molest?

Polyn.
The pow'r of Hell it sure must be
That thus against us wages war;
For when Fair Psyche we wou'd free,
It still does mischiefs against us prepare.
But no Enchantment yet our courage binds,
No accidents can alter valiant minds.

Nican.
In spight of Hell we will go on in quest
Of our lov'd Psyche, who is charm'd from hence.

Aglau.
You might from all your fruitless toyls have rest,
If of your present fortune y'had a sense.

Cyd.
Our Father, who is now at point of death,
Does in his Will us two to you bequeath.

Aglau.
Envy it self will sure confess,
Our Beauties and our Vertues are not less,
Then the mean Idol's you so much adore,
And whom you never can see more;
The Monster you have slain did her devour.

Polyn.
We by his rav'nous Maw did find to day,
The Monster had not yet made her his prey.

Cyd.
What if he had, we two are left behind,
And by the Gods you are for us design'd.

Nican.
Heav'n has not yet to me reveal'd that mind,
My inclinations still are hers I find.
The honour's great we might by you enjoy,
But it would all our vows and all our love destroy.

Polyn.
To Psyche I have offer'd my whole heart,
Sh'has for no other left me the least part.
Pardon that I the honour must refuse;
No Mortals can their own affections chuse;
Love, Heav'ns high power does into us infuse.

Nican.
When we lost Psyche, solemnly we swore,
The search of her we never wou'd give o'r.

Polyn.
Should we not find her, we our lives must spend,
Which in th'unwearied search of her must end.

Aglau.
Think you with safety you shall us despise?
Though we're too weak to wound you with our eyes,
Our full revenge shall both of you pursue,
And give what to your insolence is due.

Cyd.
Your heads shall pay for the affront you give,
And you shall die, or we will cease to live.

Nican.
If danger cou'd our courages remove,
We were not fit t'aspire to Psyche's love.

Polyn.
Our absence now you must excuse,
We in our search no farther time must lose.

[Exeunt Nican. Polyn.
Aglau.
I have a trusty Villain which I'll send,
Who in disguise shall their unwary steps attend;
And then an ambush shall for them be laid,
That their base lives may be to us betray'd.

Cyd.
The powers of all this Kingdom we'll engage,
To sacrifice their lives to our insatiate rage.

Aglau.
They dearly shall by their example show,
How soon rejected Love to dangerous Rage can grow.

[Exeunt ambo.