University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

JUPITER enters, offers to embrace SEMELE; she looks kindly on him, but retires a little from him.
JUPITER.
Come to my Arms, my lovely Fair,
Sooth my uneasie Care:
In my Dream late I woo'd thee,
And in vain I pursu'd thee,
For you fled from my Pray'r,
And bid me despair.
Come to my Arms, my lovely Fair.

SEMELE.
Tho' 'tis easie to please ye,
And hard to deny;
Tho' Possessing's a Blessing
For which I could die,
I dare not, I cannot comply.

JUPITER.
When I languish with Anguish,
And tenderly sigh,
Can you leave me, deceive me,
And scornfully fly?
Ah fear not. You must not deny.

SEMELE, JUPITER.
I dare not, I cannot comply.
Ah fear not; you must not deny.

JUPITER.
O Semele,
Why art thou thus insensible?
Were I a Mortal,
Thy barbarous disdaining
Would surely end me,
And Death at my Complaining
In Pity would befriend me.

SEMELE.
I ever am granting,
You always complain;
I always am wanting,
Yet never obtain.

JUPITER.
Speak, speak your Desire,
I'm all over Fire.
Say what you require,
I'll grant it—now let us retire.

SEMELE.
Swear by the Stygian Lake.

JUPITER.
By that tremendous Flood I swear,
Ye Stygian Waters hear,
And thou Olympus shake,
In witness to the Oath I take.

[Thunder at a Distance, and underneath.
SEMELE.
You'll grant what I require.

JUPITER.
I'll grant what you require.

SEMELE.
Then cast off this human Shape which you wear,
And Jove since you are, like Jove too appear;
When next you desire I should charm ye.
As when Juno you bless,
So you me must caress,
And with all your Omnipotence arm ye.

JUPITER.
Ah! take heed what you press,
For beyond all Redress,
Should I grant what you wish, I shall harm ye.

SEMELE.
I'll be pleas'd with no less,
Than my Wish in Excess;
Let the Oath you have taken allarm ye:
Haste, haste, and prepare,
For I'll know what you are;
So with all your Omnipotence arm ye.