University of Virginia Library

Scene V.

Jupiter, Mercury.
MERCURY.
Thanks to the Fates! my Heart is now at ease!
Two different Nymphs our Inclinations please.

[Aside.
Jup.
Ah! Mercury! what Beauty have I seen?

Mer.
I have with Jove in equal Raptures been.

Jup.
I in so hot an Agony did stay
The Cloud, in which I hidden lay,
Dropt, and Melted half away:
That she such Beauty should on Shades bestow,
And careless Love should let her scape his Bow.

Mer.
And is it she?

Jup.
Why dost thou so enquire?

Mer.
Because I one of the same Train admire.

Jup.
Art thou by these Cold Beauties wounded then?

Mer.
—Yes, by the scornful'st of the Train:
Your Nymph is yielding, if compar'd to mine;
Yours hates she knows not why, mine with design;
Yours only flyes you, mine returns and fights;
Yours lets you dye, but mine to kill delights:
You have but One Aversion to subdue,
I Thousands have, which every Hour renew.

Jup.
Poor Hermes! how are we by Love opprest?
Two wounded Gods here desolate appear,
Each with an Arrow sticking in his Breast,
Goes wandring round the Woods he knows not where;
Chacing his Nymph, some little ease to find,
And may as well pursue the Fleeting Wind.

Mer.
Pursue the Wind? rather a Storm I chace,
Which turns to dash her Fury in my Face,
Not in wild shapes, but in all Beauty drest,
That ever did a Humane Shape adorn.
I've met my Nymph, and have my Love exprest,
And never any thing obtain'd, but scorn.
She meets me, (true!) but 'tis to mock me still,
And if she ever smiles, it is to kill.

Jup.
Oh! Hermes! you your self may happy call;
When Maids shew scorn, they oft are near to yield,
And they who venture once to fight, may fall;
But mine will not be drawn into the Field:
Could I intice her thither any way,
I only for a little scorn would pray.
I'le not to Heaven, till I obtain some ease,
Let Jealous Juno watch me as she please.

Mer.
What will ye do? you no attempt must dare.

Jup.
Prithee, what God or Mortal can forbear?
T'enjoy such Beauty I'de no Shape refuse:
Nay, if I knew what form most pleas'd her Eye,
I'de not deny
To be that thing, and my whole Godhead loose.

Mer.
—O wondrous power of Love!
Too hard for Jove!
I wonder not he baffles my defence,;
He is too Mighty for Omnipotence!

Jup.
Hermes I've thought! I can my self relieve.

[Starts.
Mer.
What new Minerva does Joves Brain conceive?

Jup.
A sure and pleasant Ambush I will lay;
I'le in Diana's shape the Nymph betray:
My wanton Kisses then she'l ne're suspect,
Nor my design detect.
No Vice but for a Vertue may escape,
If it be acted in a Holy Shape.
Disguis'd like her, I'le Kiss, Embrace, be free.

Mer.
Yes, and perswade her too, 'tis Chastity.
All Actions finely guilded o're succeed;
Men still the Doers mind, and not the Deed:
The Nymph will all Diana does allow;
Nay think she liv'd in some mistake till now.

Jup.
'Tis Sacred Truth; then firmly I decree,
I will serve her, as all Mankind serves me.
When on the World they would impose some Cheat,
Most strict Devotion they will counterfeit:
Look grave on all Men, and then whine to me,
With such absurd and apish Mimickry:
I scarce from Laughter, spight of Rage forbear,
And take Diversion in the Villains Prayer:
This Trick of Mortals shall be learnt by me;
I to serve Love will mimick Chastity.
What Form wilt thou assume for thy design?

Mer.
What better Form than one that is Divine?
In Humane shape no more to her I'le go;
My own true Form I thus attir'd will shew,
When she perceives it is a God does Love,
Perhaps Ambition the proud Nymph may move.
This satisfaction too I shall enjoy:
'Tis not a shape embraces her, but I,
Whilst our delights we in disguises chuse,
We half the pleasure of Enjoyment loose.

Jup.
I like thy plot, thy Thoughts agree with mine,
Come let us each with speed to his designe.
Now vanish from my Thoughts all vexing cares,
And rule of Humane, or Divine Affairs.
Let Gods and Mortals what they will pursue,
And Fate and Fortune their own Business do.
Let wrengling Eliments contend their fill,
And all the Wheels of the Worlds Frame stand still;
Let toyling Nature if she please go sleep,
Or for her sport a general Revel keep.
Let trembling Mortals now go curse or pray,
Be good or wicked, which they will today,
I care not what disorders there shall be;
Let Heaven and Earth slide into Anarchy.
All politick Cares of every kind
I'le from my Breast remove;
And will to day perplex my mind,
With never a Thought but Love.

Enter Strephon, Corydon, Daphne, Sylvia. Cho. of Shepheards.
Str.
Hark , Hark, I hear the merry Hunters Horn.

Cory.
The Sound from yonder Hill by Winds is born.

Daph.
Diana, and her Nymphs are all that way
A Hunting gone.

Syl.
So soon e're break of day?

Chor.
Let 'em, let e'm go.
Lovers, better pleasures know.

Stre.
Let the cold Nymphs run dubling in the Dew,
Kind Love to warmer Pleasures us invites.

Daph.
I do not envy their Delights,
Whilst my dear Strephon does continue true.

Cor.
Whilst thus severe my Sylvia does remain,
I envy not the Hunters, but the Slain.

Sylv.
Poor Corydon, thy Flame remove,
I pity thee, but cannot love.
Yet I own, I have something in every Vein,
Which moves me to Love, could I meet with a Swain,
Who were to my mind, and would love me again.

Stre.
See Shepheards, the day is begun:
Come, with our Sports let's welcom the Sun.

An Entry of Basques.
Sylv.
Kind Lovers, Love on,
Least the World be undone,
And Mankind be lost by Degrees:
For if all from their Loves
Should go wander in Groves,
There soon would be nothing but Trees.

Chor.
Kind Lovers, Love on, &c.

Exeunt omnes.