University of Virginia Library

ACT. II.

Jupiter, Mercury.
JUPITER.
When shall I get this Vision in my sight;
She flyes from Love, as Shadows from the Light:
Whilst I pursue her, flaming with desire,
And o're these Hills rowl like an Orb of Fire;
Making the Sun the Rule of Day resign.
To these more bright and pearcing Beams of mine.

Mer.
'Tis folly longer o're these Hills to stray:
'Tis noon, and now the Golden Dust of Day
Dissolved, does from the Heavenly Mountains flow,
In fiery Streams, and drowns the World below.
In the Cool Groves our Nymphs we now shall find,
Wading in Shades, and bathing in the Wind:
Whilst Phœbus shoots his Arrows round,
And vainly seeks the Nymphs to wound.
The Groves he vainly does invade;
His fiery Darts are quench'd in Shade.
Fit your disguise, and thither let's repair.

Jup.
At small expence I from the Wealthy Air,
My self with any Figure can supply:
Or I can fix an Image in the Eye.
Come here you wandring Atoms of the Air.
You that are fittest for a Form so fair,
And now my Beauteous Ambuscade prepare.
Into Diana's Shape your selves Congeal,
Under that Ice the burning Jove Conceal;
There let me all lie cover'd, like the Brow
Of some high Flaming Mountain hid in Snow.

Mer.
See! the assembling Atoms do obey;
Or rather the great Jove is fled away:
And the fair Goddess of these Woods is here.
Hail Beauteous!—

Jup.
Oh! Thou Rallyest now I fear;
But canst thou any where
Descry one Beam of Jupiter?

Mer.
Not one by your own self I swear;
There's nothing but Diana can be seen:
Her Habit, Feature, Shape, Proportion meen;
Nay, and your Voice exactly tun'd I hear,
And past discovery deludes the Ear.

Jup.
Now you cool Atoms, from your Ranks disband,
Flow to loose Air again at my command:
Thither return like Rivers to the Main,
And let me now be Jupiter again.

Mer.
Again the Atoms Loyally obey,
The Snowy shape is all dissolv'd away.

Jup.
Poor God! No shape at all thou didst discry:
I only Grav'd a Figure on thy Eye:
And the soft Voice which you believe you hear.
Was form'd but in the Concave of your Ear.

Mer.
Ah! Jove! How useful, and of what delight
Is Sovereign Power? 'tis that determines Right.
Nothing is truly good, but what is great:
A Mortal you would punish for this Cheat.

Jup.
I would, and justly; shall the thing I make
Presume the Freedom of a God to take?
I cannot erre, what e're my Actions be;
There's no such thing as good, or ill to me.
No Action is by Nature good or ill;
All things derive their Natures from my will.
If Vertue from my will distinct could be,
Vertue would be a Power Supream to me.
What no dependency on me will own,
Makes me a Vassal, and usurps my Throne,
If so I can revenge me in a Trice,
Turn all the Ballance, and make Vertue Vice.

Mer.
Jove like himself, with Reasons firm and strong,
Upholds the Port, does to a God belong;
For I have ever of opinion been,
Gods only should be priviledg'd to sin;
We guild sower Vertue with fine Titles still,
To make men swallow the unpleasant Pill;
But from the Sweets of sin they'l ne're be chac'd,
E're since the Liquorish Slaves have got a tast:
But let us hasten now to seek our Loves,
And first examine all the neighbouring Groves.

Jup.
See! something swiftly darted by my sight;
Cal. goes over the Stage.
Was it a Nymph, or sudden Glance of Light?

Mer.
A Nymph I swear!

Jup.
Oh! whither is she run?

Mer.
See! See! to yonder Grove she's gone:
There like a glittering Star in Night,
She tempers all the Shades with Light.
Fair Streams of Light seem after her to stray,
Like the bright dawning of some Beauteous day.

Jup.
It is my Nymph, none else is half so fair.
Fly thou, whilst thither I repair:
Fly, or thou ruin'st my design.

Mer.
Nay stay, perhaps the Nymph is mine:
If mine, she will to mock me stay.

Jup.
If mine, thou chacest her away.

Mer.
I in a Cloud my self will hide.

Jup.
I'm ruin'd, if thou art descry'd.

Mer.
And I, if mine, discover Jove.

Jup.
But mine will fly.

Mer.
But mine may Love.

Jup.
I'le be so hid, she shall not Jove surprize.

Mer.
But Jove may peep through his disguise.

Jup.
It shall no damage to thee bring.

Mer.
Oh! no one can resist a King.

Jup.
I will not tempt thy Nymph I swear.

Mer.
Your Glory will, if you forbear.

Jup.
Oh! thy Impertinence! the Nymph is gone!
Thy sawcy wrangling has my Hopes undone.

Mer.
For what should all this anger be?
Perhaps 'tis you have ruin'd me.

Jup.
Surely you ought at my commands to move;

Mer.
Love understands not either King or Jove.

Jup.
What Monarch will endure this from a slave?

Mer.
What constant lover but is bold and brave?

Jup.
Begone, thou wilt provoke my rage.
In foolish strife no more engage.

Mer.
Thrice happy Jove! your Nymph I now espy!

Jup.
Where, where?

Mer.
In yonder neighbouring Wood!

Jup.
So nigh?
Happy Contention which my flight delay'd!
For I had lost her if I had not stay'd.

Mer.
To me the Obligation then confess,
And chide no more a Lovers haughtiness.

Jup.
Be gone, be gone, and thy own Nymph pursue,
Or once again thou wilt thy King undo.
Ex. Mer.
Now all you Troops of Winged Loves, come see
Your selves reveng'd on your fair Enemy.

Exit.
Calisto.
Cal.
Under the days oppression tyr'd I grow;
The Sun to day does no compassion shew.
In these cool shades I am compell'd to stray,
To shun the merciless fury of the day.
My Goddess up the Mountain's farther gone;
The Nymph's dispers'd, and I left all alone:
My hopes to find 'em I will now forsake,
And tyr'd with hunting too, will gladly take
The invitation of this Bed of Flowers,
In soft repose to pass away some Hours:
There lye my Bow, and take thy ease unbent;
Thy weary Arms I'le not this hour torment.
And you my Arrows in your Lodging keep,
And there from mischief lull your selves to sleep.
Mine and your travel for an Hour shall cease,
And now poor Herds go browse awhile in peace.

She lies down to sleep, Enter Jupiter.
Jup.
Oh! Love! what pleasure dost thou here prepare?
Dull Heaven, I shall return to thee no more;
Here is a Pleasure I prefer before:
All the delights I am possess'd of there.
Now Juno thy disgrace with patience bear,
And to disturb my Pleasures do not dare:
My former Loves I yielded to thy Rage:
I was contented they should be remov'd;
Alass! I find I only thought I lov'd.
No Nymph but this did e're my Heart engage:
Thou might'st contend for Beauty with the rest;
But this shakes all thy Interest in my Breast.
Keep in thy Heaven, and do not cast an Eye;
There gnaw thy self with rage and jealousie.
Thou art already half undone,
Be glad thou dost enjoy my Throne:
For plague me now, Ile chace thee from my Bed,
And place thy Crown upon thy Rivals Head.
[Cal. wakes.
But I have wak'd my Nymph from her repose,
Her opening Eyes a sparkling Heaven disclose;
Wherein a Thousand Captive Cupids lye,
Opprest and fetter'd all with Chastity.
In those Two Temples full of Heavenly Light,
At the bright Christal Portal of her sight,
Let me in fair Diana's form appear:
And let my Voice dissolve into her Ear;
And thither in those pleasing accents flow,
The Goddess speaks, when she does kindness shew.
My Huntress here at her repose? which way
Did you pursue the Chace to day?

Cal.
My Goddess here so nigh?
Hail Power! more great than Jove, though Jove stood by,
In my esteem!

Jup.
Till now what Lover heard
[Aside.
Himself with pleasure to himself preferr'd?
Oh! now my Fire does rage within!
I for the pain,
No longer can my self contein;
Without more forms I must begin.
Princess Calisto, pleasure of my sight!
Grace of my Train, my pride, and my delight;
What Courteous God will lend me Words and Art,
To speak the amazing passion in my Heart;
Thy dazling Excellence each moment breeds.

Cal.
My Goddess now in praise of me exceeds.
That I from Fate or Nature did obtain
Any Deserts, that might your favour gain,
Must in my Soul a Noble pleasure raise;
But now you quite oppress me with your praise.

Jup.
Not half my sence of your desert I speak;
My Heart can never shew it, till it break,
Which swell'd with kindness it will do e're long,
If Love can find no passage but the Tongue.

Cal.
Chaste Power! I beg you let these praises die,
Take some compassion of my modesty.

Jup.
Oh! Princess! it is I that pity need,
(shall I the secret tell?) your merits breed
In my last Heart, a strange uncommon flame:
A kindness I both fear and blush to name;
Nay, one for which no name I ever knew,
The Passion is to me so strange, so new!

Cal.
My wondring thoughts you into mazes guide!
And your dark meaning close in Riddles hide.

Jup.
You are not half so much amaz'd as I!
My self am frighted at the Prodigy.
I daily stand, and wonder at my pain,
And do not know of what I would complain;
I always sigh, when I your Beauties view,
And wish (but wonder why!) I wish for you.
Something I fain would crave, but do not know
What I should ask, or what you can bestow.
Some Charms about you for my ease you bear,
But know not how they cure, nor what they are;
But I am certain they could give me ease.

Cal.
Oh! Gods! how came you by this strange disease,
Weary with hunting, you to day in hast
Of some accursed Plant did rashly tast;
On which some Viper left his deadly sting;
Or else you drank at some infectious Spring.

Jup.
Some Spring where Cupid wash'd his bloody Darts,
When the young Tyrant had been murdring Hearts;
That, that the Author of my grief does prove,
The poisnous gore has tainted me with Love.

Cal.
Who to that fatal Spring your steps betray'd;
Call, Call to Æsculapius for some aid.

Jup.
Oh! none can give me any ease but you.
Sick! Sick I grow!—

Cal.
What would you ha' me do?

Jup.
Look kindly on me with a pleasing Eye!
Smile, smile upon me sweetly, or I die.
Suppose me now, some Beauteous God, or Jove
The King of Gods, and think your self in Love.

Cal.
You do not speak your own desires, I'm sure,
You'd rather dye, than ask me such a Cure.

Jup.
Yes once I would, but I am alter'd now:
Some kindness now, you may, you must allow.

Cal.
What kindness can I shew? what can I do?
Stand off, or I shall be infected too.

Jup.
That is the reason why I press so nigh;
To Cure me, you must be as sick as I.

Cal.
Yes, were your sickness but the Plague, I wou'd;
This for a World shall never taint my Blood.

Jup.
In this necessity you must submit;
It will be only one tempestuous Fit;
And we shall both be well,—you must, you shall.—

Cal.
She raves, I to the Nymphs for aid must call,
Or she will do some horrid act, I fear;
Help, help, my Goddess is distracted here;
Come both to mine, and to my Goddess aid!

Jup.
I will not wrong you, be not thus afraid.

Cal.
You cannot help it, you distracted grow,
Loose me, or this into my Heart shall go.

Shews a Dart.
Jup.
I find my stratagem is fond and vain,
By other Arts I my design must gain;
Or in despair and shame must vanish hence;
Glory has most victorious influence
On Womens Hearts, that seldom is deny'd;
For that subdues their only guard, their pride.
I'le try how that will work upon her mind,
And rush with Troops of Glories from behind
The Ambush, where I lye in vain conceal'd,
And fight her Vertue fairly in open field.
The wondrous Vertue, Royal Nymph, you shew,
Deserves your Glorious Fortune you should know:
From fair Diana's vanish'd form, see here,
Low at your Feet thus prostrate does appear,
Paying his homage to your conquering Eyes,
No less than Jove the King of Deities;
Who so unfortunate ('tis true!) did prove,
At Two Cœlestial Springs to drink in Love;
But they were these Two bright ones of your Eyes,
From which he bears such tortring miseries,
Unless you quickly some compassion shew,
You will the World into confusion throw.

Cal.
Oh! Gods! have I been cheated all this while?
Talked with a God, and of a thing so vile
As Love? I might have guest by all his words,
As Men by horrid shreeks of ominous Birds;
Their deaths foretel some fate in secret lay,
To make my Fame and Innocence a prey.
What sin have I committed, mighty Jove!
You should contrive to punish me with Love?

Jup.
Your killing Beauty is one great Offence;
But your chief sin is too much Innocence.

Cal.
If Beauty does offend you, ruine, blast,
Take what revenge on it you please,—the last
My Vertue, you, nor shall, nor can destroy;
I all my Life will in that sin employ.

Jup.
Then all my life I must be wretched made.
Condemn me then to the Infernal shade.
Let me with speed to any pains remove,
To Hell, or any Torment, but your Love.

Jup.
That way my self I into Hell shall doom,
And turn their Hell into Elizium;
For that is Heaven, where Sovereign Pleasures are,
And oh! what Pleasure can with you compare;
Then do not by severity so fierce,
Damn the great Soul of the whole Universe.

Cal.
These fond discourses I'le no longer bear;
Farewell, you only Combate with the Air:
And all your high Contention vain shall find:
Ha: He my feet does with Inchantments bind!
Release me Tyrant!—

Jup.
Do not yet begone!
I Beg, I kneel, I offer you my Throne.

[kneels.
Cal.
I scorn the Throne, the Deity of Jove!

Jup.
Oh! do but counterfeit a little Love.

Cal.
Be gone, the Sight of You I cannot brook.

Jup.
I'le give my Empire for a smile, a look:
For nothing,—let me but so happy prove,
To oblige one I so entirely Love.

Cal.
If Gifts you will bestow, I'le name you one,
Give me my self, and let me streight be gone.

Jup.
Proud and ungrateful Nymph, did I bestow
[rises angerly
Those Treasures on you, which enrich you so,
And now, I come a begging to your door,
Can I not gain an Alms when I implore?
I'le quickly if I please retake my due,
And punish those your sawcy Vertues too:
For Vertues in a Soul my Vice-roys be,
And may my Empire guard, but not from me.
Their power vanishes when I appear,
Nor shall they dare o're me to domineer.
I will depose 'em from their high commands,
And take the Rule of you into my hands.
Ho! There the Winds? to yonder Valley bear
This Nymph, and for my Love prepare her there.

Cal.
Kill me you Tyrant!

Enter Winds carry of Calisto.
Jup.
Stop her needless Cries!
Now Nymph, it is my turn to tytennize;
She is led hence my Captive, but I find
My self in stronger Chains left bound behind:
Glory and Pleasure in my Breast contend;
Pleasure would seize what Glory would defend:
Her Vertues charm my Glory on their side;
But pleasure longs to have his pleasure try'd;
For Glory like a bragging Coward, does here
Only in Beauties absence domineer;
But in her sight 'twill make a poor defence,
And never stand before Victorious sence.

Exit.
Enter Strephon, Corydon, Daphne, Sylvia, Chorus of Shepheards. The Scene near the Vale, whither the Winds carryed Calisto.
Cho.
Come Shepheards quickly hasten to the Shades,
The Sun with all his force the Air invades.

Sylv.
The open Plains let us forsake;
Here is a Grove will pity of us take:
The Trees in gentle whisperings invite us;
Here are all things to invite us.

Stre.
These pleasures none can well improve,
But we, (my Shepherdess) who love.

Daph.
These Pleasures none can well improve,
But we, (my dearest Swain) who love.

Corid.
Oh happy Shepheard, and kind Shepherdess,
Whom all the Gods, above expression bless.
Here Sylvia cruel, I forlorn,
Torment our selves each day.
Whilst I with grief, and she with scorn,
Wast all your youth away.

Sylv.
Alas poor Shepheard! the fault is not mine
That to thy passion I do not incline;
I wish thy love and desert were more moving;
For I confess I fain would be loving.
She Pawses and Starts.
What (on the sudden) do I ayle?
Gentle Winds from yonder Vale,
On the sudden warm my Heart.

Sylv.
Oh! I'm wounded: Oh! I smart.

Enter Cupids, and Winds.
Stre.
Sure some God is here descended,
With a Train of Loves attended.

Sylv.
Oh! I'm wounded: Oh! I Love.
This is some inchanted Grove.

Cho.
This is some inchanted Grove.

An Entry of Cupids, and Winds.
Stre.
Oh! my Soul is in a Flame.

Daph.
I must fly, or lose my Fame.

Cor.
O what raging Passions fill me!
Love me Sylvia now, or kill me.

Sylv.
Oh! I love, and long to shew it;
But my Shepheard shall not know it.

Stre.
Oh! my Daphne! now or never.

Daph.
Strephon, fly my sight for ever.

Corid.
I can no longer Sylvia wait thee.

Syl.
Corydon be gone, I hate thee.

Chor.
Curse on this inchanted Grove.
We are all undone with Love.
We are all undone with Love.
Fly from this inchanted Grove.

Exeunt omnes.