 | Calisto : or, The Chaste Nimph |  |
49
ACT. IV.
Enter Psecas.Pse.
How long will these malicious Woods in spight
Conspire to hide my Goddess from my sight.
Were the Truth known, she is in private gone
To some blind Cave with her Endimion:
For busie Tongues are with her Honour bold,
Or she with Love does Correspondence hold.
Some beautious Youths that do her fancy please,
Have reconcil'd those bloody Enemies;
I scorn and hate her, (though these falshoods be)
That she delights in any thing but me.
At her my generous Revenge does aim,
I in Calisto would my Goddess shame.
[Enter Mercury.
But ha! my Vassal Mercury so nigh?
Put me in humor with some pleasing Lye,
For my lost Goddess I can no where find.
Mer.
I bring you News (my Nymph!) will tune your mind,
Much better News then did I only aim
To please and flatter you my wit could frame.
Pse.
Oh! Speak! the Expectation does delight.
Mer.
The minute that I parted from your sight,
Our jealous Queen descended from above,
And found Calisto (as you wish't) with Jove.
Pse.
Oh! Joy! and kill'd her streight?—
Mer.
She was debarr'd,
The Nymph was then under her Lovers Guard.
Pse.
What strange Event must that Encounter have?
Mer.
All his Queens Rage my Monarch did outhrave.
With her fair Rival forc't her to comply,
Nay, ask her pardon for her Jealousy.
Not daring then to trust her with his Love,
Compell'd her to return, and fled above.
50
Tyrant! That I had been his Queen an hour,
I would have plagu'd and exercis'd his power!
Will Juno then put up Affronts so rude?
Mer.
No, No, the angry Queen I strait pursu'd,
Fir'd all the Mines of Sulphur in her Soul,
The active Flame through ev'ry Vein did rowl,
That she wept Fire, and her whole Soul did blaze.
The frightned Gods, did at the Wonder gaze,
Believ'd the World once more with Fire undone,
And Jove lookt round for a new Phaeton.
Pse.
The World for Ruine surely must prepare!
Let her destroy it, ere Calisto spare.
Oh! I'm impatient till she does appear,
Why tarries Juno? when will she be here?
Mer.
Ere you can think again—I left her now
This instant standing on the shining brow
Of a Celestial Arch, of wondrous height,
With her Robes girt, and ready for her flight.
Calisto's dead by this time, or at least
Roaring beneath the figure of a Beast.
Pse.
Oh! Shall she be a Beast?
Mer.
If any ease
It will give you, she shall what Beast you please.
Pse.
Oh! Let me think!—Some very ugly one,
Uglier than yet by Nature e'r was shewn
With all her skill and power, let Juno try
To outwit Nature in deformity.
Mer.
She shall observe your pleasure to the full,
She shall discover Natures fancy dull.
Pse.
My most obedient Deity! But stay,
May not Calisto have escap't away,
And found our Goddess, whil'st you fled above?
Mer.
I charm'd both her, and Nyphe in that Grove.
There round they wander, chac't by panique fear,
Take for a sighing Ghost each wind they hear;
At their own Voices start, and Shadows stare,
And think the lofty Trees tall Fantoms are.
Pse.
Observ'd to every tittle my Command;
Nay, guest my very wishes, take my hand,
51
My Favors unpetition'd I'll bestow.
Now Nyphe's Ruine I must next contrive;
For no one my displeasure shall survive.
Mer.
For her disgrace do not disturb your thought;
Go, let your Goddess to the Grove be brought.
To shew her Fav'rites virtues there pretend,
My jealous Queen will soon your Cause defend.
Calisto's fall will some dishonour throw
On her young Friend, and to pursue the blow,
Charge her with confidence of Love to me.
Then I, as if I fear'd discovery,
And of my Mistriss Honour cautious were,
Will gently call, but so as all may hear,
Nyphe my Love.—My Nyphe, why so slow?
Come to me here, for I impatient grow.
Pse.
How active in Invention dost thou prove?
Thou half deserv'st the glory of my Love.
I could descend to smile now, if I durst;
But that's too great a Favor at the first:
And to rash Youth 'tis an unhappy Fate,
To come too early to a great Estate.
Much Wealth, much Honour, I design my Slave,
But I the management of all will have.
Mer.
My glorious Mistriss, does her kindness shew,
With the vast wealth, I should distracted grow.
But yet some mark of Favor let me wear,
This little Arrow from your Quiver spare.
Pse.
'Tis thine!—But stay, not that, the Dart you have,
My Goddess in reward of Service gave,—
No matter, take it, I her Favors slight;
Nay, to affront her, wear it in her sight.
Mer.
How will I strut among the Powers Divine
With this, and make 'em at my Fortune pine?
Psecas? Knight my self I now declare,
And this the Badge of my Queens Order wear.
But see the Nymphs walking their Fairy round,
This of their Circle is their utmost bound.
52
Pse.
Oh! Let me run and wound e'm with my Eye!
But now I think on't—by my Frowns to dye,
Will be a Fate too glorious and sublime,
And I shall look e'm dead before their time.
They are of use that Huntress to disgrace,
Which 'cause she is of a Celestial Race,
Usurps the Title of a Power Divine,
Though her Deserts inferiour are to mine.
Howe'r by Birth she's not below my hate,
I'll shew her Folly, and dismiss her strait.
Then these may live.—
Mer.
See! See! I have descryed
Your Goddess.
Pse.
Where?
Mer.
There by that Rivers side—
Run, Run, my Queen!
Pse.
In yonder Thicket stay
Till my Return—
Mer.
My Queen I shall obey.
[Ex. several ways.
Cal.
How long shall we this black, this cursed place,
The hated horrid Scene of my disgrace,
In wild and frightful Mazes wander round?
Ny.
Sure we are here by black Inchantments bound.
Cal.
Where ere we go, wild shapes around us move!
And every Tree appears to me like Jove.
Ny.
These frightful shadows are his Guard I fear,
And for some black design, imprison us here.
Cal.
They are! What shall we for our safety do?
Run, and the Fantoms swiftlier pursue!
Shoot, and our Arrows flie we know not where,
Are lost in Mists, or onely wound the Air.
They come!—Stand off ye Fiends!—
Ny.
How pale they shew?
Cal.
And every thing is blasted where they go.
That some brave Man of the old Tytans Race,
Would help me to revenge my great disgrace.
53
Let him depose that hated Tyrant Jove.
Ny.
Oh! That the Gods should be such wicked things!
Now this into my Soul the Reason brings,
Why Heav'n is hated by the Young and Fair;
It seems, the Deities abuse 'em there:
For which, the old and slighted do not care.
Is it for this Priests bid us worship Jove?
Are these the Joyes they promise us above?
But we are safe, my Goddess does appear.
[Looks within.
Cal.
Disguis'd again the Tyrant Jupiter.
Ny.
Do you not see the Nymphs around her there?
Cal.
Cheats, Fantoms, all!—Delusions of the Air.
My heart of fears for you (sweet Nyphe) ease!
Leave me to suffer my own miseries.
Ny.
Why with unkindness do you Love repay?
I hope you do not think I will obey.
Besides, I'm fetter'd in Inchantments too,
Though I need none to fasten me to you.
The foolish Gods may their Inchantments spare,
Stronger than theirs about your self you bare.
Cal.
Fortune who sends me Suff'rings, does in you
Send me the sweetest of all comforts too.
Ny.
Discourse no more, I cannot bravelier dye,
Than in your aid, and by a Deity.
Cal.
Then let us bravely perish in defence
Of injur'd Chastity and Innocence;
And when we both are dead, oh! if there be
In Heav'n, but any Friend to Chastity.
Some Goddess, of our purity have care,
And to some private Tomb our Bodies bare.
[Ex.
Diana, Psecas, Nymphs.
Dia.
The chaste Calisto sin? if thou woud'st try
To scare us with some frightful Prodigy,
Thy stories within bounds of Reason feign;
Those who out-talk their mark, derision gain.
54
They, of all Merchants, the most cunning need.
Pse.
I scorn the Traffick, and your Friend, nay you
May Love, ere I speak any thing untrue.
Dia.
Of one most useful Virtue you have store,
Of Confidence, to charge you with no more.
But know, no ill can her fair Soul invade!
Her whole Composure is for Virtue made.
Her Body of so pure a mold is wrought,
Her very Body may a Soul be thought!
A Soul to highest Purity refin'd!
Visible Virtue, a Celestial Mind
Condens't to Beauty, in that fair disguise
Descending to the view of humane eyes.
Gross Passions can no more find dwellings there,
Than Men can breath in the Ætherial Air.
There is no Fuel there for earthy Fire,
The starving Flame must instantly expire.
Pse.
Oh! How much curious Art you make appear?
How finely you would paint us nothing here?
Your Colours are so fine, your Strokes so small,
That they no Strokes, nor Colour have at all.
I know not how invisible, and pure
Her Body may be, 'tis not so obscure,
But you may see her now in yonder Grove;
There but this instant in the arms of Jove,
She humbly condescended to my view.
Dia.
I say 'tis false! Nay, it is Nonsense too.
Pse.
Nonsense to see! That does indeed surprize!
Nymphs in your service must have witty Eyes.
Dia.
That it is Nonsense, I again proclaim,
The Gods for her must a new Nature frame,
Ere Sin in her the least possession gains!
No longer then Calisto she remains,
Who sayes Calisto then does spot her Fame,
Sayes she's at once another, and the same.
Pse.
How for Calisto you employ your Wit?
How virtuous 'tis to be a Favourite?
55
You shall not argue me out of my Eyes.
Dia.
Proceed in insolent Contention still?
Cease your Disputes! And know it is my Will,
You never more presume to touch her Fame,
Nor mention, but with high Respect, her Name.
Pse.
Gods! Gods! to rev'rence her I much incline!
What pity 'tis she is no Power Divine?
Yes! I will spread her Virtues, and your own,
What Virtues too they are, shall well be known.
Dia.
Call in dispute my Virtues?—Seize her there!
[Nymphs seize Psecas.
Pse.
Is this the Love to Chastity you bear?
Dia.
Who boast of it so much, oft-times have none!
Pse.
My Chastity is equal with your own.
Dia.
Amazing Pride!—Confine her.
Pse.
If you dare.
I'll work on Flowers the story with my hair;
Which round the World some courteous wind shall blow,
Till it with Zeal into a Tempest grow.
Dia.
With Pride and Malice she begins to Rave;
Conveigh her to some Beasts forsaken Cave.
I doom her by her restless self to dwell,
And that at once both Fury is, and Hell.
As they are guarding her out, Enter Juno, who stops them.
Jun.
Hold! Goddess, Do you thus your Nymphs reward,
That with such Loyalty your Honour guard?
Is this the place where Chastity's profest?
Has Love so strong a party in your Breast?
Dia.
Has Love in any Breast a greater Foe?
Jun.
Do you your Hatred to that Passion shew,
By guarding those who wrong my Bed and Throne?
Am I excepted from your Rules alone?
Dia.
On any such did e'r my Favour fall,
Who will not bear my Nymphs should love at all?
58
Does not this Nymph in seizure here remain,
For charging the most Vicious of your Train?
Whom you from Infamy defend with Might,
For no desert, but being your Favourite?
Dia.
The merits of Calisto well I know,
My Favour rashly I on none bestow.
Jun.
And shall my Eyes then be affronted too?
Dia.
It was some shape abus'd both her and you.
Jun.
That cursed shape still somewhere haunts this Wood,
And it shall bleed if it be flesh and blood.
Pse.
See! with Dart fixt, and Bowe completely bent,
She comes from yonder Grove.
Jun.
As if she meant
To give us an Assault.
Dia.
And Nyphe there?—
Pse.
Of Virtue she has much her Sisters share.
I thought to tell you (if I durst proceed)
How Mercury her forward Youth does breed,
And make already most expert in Love,
But I perceiv'd I should your Anger move.
Dia.
Ignorant Nature (if these Nymphs be ill)
To temper spotless Chastity wants skill,
Or flesh and blood is of too course allay,
And she may waste the fires of Souls away,
And in her vain Experiments grow old,
Ere that base Metal will be turn'd to Gold.
In them I'm sure she did at Virtue aim,
And never yet so near Projection came.
Enter Calisto and Nyphe in a posture of defence.
Cal.
Now, now the Satyr comes, let us prepare!
Ny.
Guarded around with Spirits of the Air
In shape of Nymphs.
Cal.
Let's make a brave defence,
Who knows what Charms may be in Innocence?
'Twas Virtue to the Gods their Godheads gave,
Dare they, what made 'em impiously outbrave?
59
If that gave Godheads, we, who Virtue have,
Are above Gods, and Jove is but our slave.
Cal.
Fear not, but valiantly our selves defend.
Jun.
See! See! I think for Battel they intend.
Dia.
Amazement! let us their intention know.
Princess, what mean you by that bended Bow?
Cal.
Tyrant! I mean to guard my self from you.
Dia.
Do you not know me?
Cal.
Yes, and hate you too.
And will my Honour to the death defend.
Jun.
This is your Royal Virgin.
Pse.
This your Friend.
Jun.
She knows her guilt too publick to be hid,
So does to Honour bold defiance bid.
Dia.
Why sacred Honour do you dare to name?
Is Honour, since we parted, turn'd to shame?
And Vice grown Virtue? Riddles you express.
Cal.
That Virtue is a Vice which you profess.
Ny.
Practise no more on us that stale deceit!
You wear that shape of Chastity to cheat.
Dia.
The wonder almost stupifies my Sence;
Run Nymphs, and bring 'em here by violence.
Cal.
Stand off you shapes, and do not venture near.
Ny.
Go play your Masquerading tricks elsewhere.
Cal.
Stand off, I say, if further you proceed,
If shapes have any blood, I'll make you bleed.
Dia.
See! to the height they Insolence pursue.
Now to all honour and esteem for you,
And everlasting farewell; now I'll know,
If against me you dare to bend your Bow.
Ny.
We dare, and will.—
Cal.
And could we make you fly
From your strong Guard of Immortality,
Let Heaven and Nature of themselves take care,
Or stand, or fall, to kill you we would dare.
[Both strike Diana with their Darts.
Dia.
I'm wounded!
Jun.
They to Violence proceed,
And have presum'd to make a Goddess bleed.
60
Pse.
Oh! the infernal deed! fetch Engines, Chains!—
Jun.
They shall this instant at my Altars dye,
I will revenge my injur'd dignity.
Not Jove himself shall his lov'd Mistriss save.
Pse.
And I the honour of the Priesthood crave.
Jun.
'Tis thine the glory to thy zeal is due.
Pse.
Now all my malice is devotion too.
Cal.
Like one from strong infernal Chains unbound,
Whose Soul is after long distractions found,
To Sense and Reason, I begin to wake,
And doubt and tremble at my sad mistake.
Is it our Goddess? are you Nymphs indeed?
For Heav'n, for goodness sake, reply with speed.
Yet if you do, delusions still I fear,
Who will secure me it is you I hear?
I dare not trust my cheated ears or sight.
Dia.
Ah! Princess! do you thus my Love requite?
Do I displease you then in being too kind?
And is this wound a punishment design'd?
Cal.
Am I betray'd into so black a guilt?
Is it your sacred blood which I have spilt?
Oh! Look not on me with that wounding Eye,
Speak not, unless to sentence me to dye.
No other word but death I can endure,
My impious hands from farther ill secure.
Kill me, if you design Revenge to gain,
Ere I grow mad, and have no sense of pain.
Ny.
My Goddess cannot save me if she wou'd,
For I am fainting in her loss of blood;
If to her self she does Revenge deny,
I of her bleeding wound alone shall dye.
Pse.
Now they begin again their Syrens Song,
The Tunes which charm'd my Goddess Soul so long.
Jun.
Hope they to be forgiven Crimes like these?
Abuse at once two mighty Goddesses?
The spotless blood of chaste Diana shed?
And yet more horrid, durst invade my Bed?
61
Believe it, I will scorn to make defence,
Nor to beg Life, pretend to Innocence.
Pse.
The reason for it, is, but too well known!
In spite of you, you are ingenious grown.
This injur'd Queen, my Goddess here and I
May thank your guilt for so much modesty.
Cal.
Your Office, Nymph, I do not understand,
Who to implead us gave you the command?
From whom do you derive a place so high?
Ny.
I shall inform you, 'tis from Mercury.
Her Charms that God her humble Vassal make;
He would not be a God but for her sake.
And she that she may kind, and grateful 'prove,
Revolts from Chastity, and sides with Love.
Nature has to th' amphibious Creature lent
An art to live in either Element.
Pse.
Malicious! Will you wipe your stains on me?
And soyle my Honour with your Mercury?
Though could I bow to Love my Noble Sence,
Love then would be a thing of Excellence.
My Nature is so Godlike and Sublime,
That nothing I can do can be a Crime.
Ny.
My Mercury?
Pse.
Yes yours, who should he be?
He durst not have presum'd to think on me.
Ny.
Did I not find him with you making Love?
Pse.
Did I not leave you with him in the Grove?
Ny.
You did, but do you not the Reason know?
Pse.
Must I a Reason for your Vices shew?
Ny.
Oh! Gods! Are there such things, as wrong, or right?
As Truth, and Falshood? And is Seeing, Sight?
If Truth be true, and Seeing be to see,
You love, and are belov'd of Mercury?
Pse.
Which way can I such confidence confute?
But yonder's one will finish our dispute.
Dia.
See, Mercury indeed in yonder Grove!
Jun.
Listen, he gently calls.
Mer.
within.]
Nyphe, my Love.
62
Ny.
Steal to thee? who art thou?
Mer.
within.
Haste, haste away.
Ny.
Villain, Impostor, Had I but a dart,
I'd steal to thee, and fix it in thy heart.
Pse.
Now Truth is true, I hope, and Seeing sight,
Now pray inform us, who is in the right?
Ny.
I am, and this some wicked Plot must be
Invented by thy lying God, and thee.
Jun.
Astonishment! So soon to Vice begin?
Your youth an early riser is in sin.
Love is in so much haste he cannot stay,
But must set with you ere break of day.
Pse.
Now where's your Chymistry? your beaten Gold?
Your spiritual flesh and blood? A finer mold
[To Dia.
Than Souls are made of? All's a Cobweb Cell,
Where her black Soul does like a Spider dwell.
Dia.
Embitter not thy words with Gall like this!
Treacherous Love has rob'd my Paradise,
And pluckt the fairest Fruit that there did grow;
The Gods, in vain, plant Virtue here below.
It ripens not by any Sun or Time,
This World for Virtue is too cold a Clime.
Jun.
Her thoughts, still for her Favourites, partial stay;
Virtue can sooner faulty be than they.
You may forgive the blood of yours they shed,
But she shall dye for injuring my Bed.
Cal.
Yes, let me dye! I many deaths would bear,
Rather than once these foul Reproaches hear.
Ny.
Death on a Rack would be a greater bliss,
Than Life in such a lying World as this.
Cal.
Chaste Goddess, my Petition is to dye,
Hearken no longer to your Clemency;
Death for your sacred blood alone is due,
Let me not live to wound your Honour too.
I can a Plea produce yet (if I please)
Not only all my clamorous Enemies
Could vanquish, quite, but silence, if I wou'd,
The loudest cryes of your immortal blood.
63
But make your blood become my Advocate.
That very dart (would I the truth reveal)
Which wounded you, my bleeding Fame would heal.
But that would too much love for life display;
And I so hate the evils of this day,
My self I out of Fortunes way would hide!
My Innocence will for it self provide.
If that shines by me in my shady Tomb,
I shall sleep sweetly in that mournful Room,
And dream not of the Worlds censorious doom.
Dia.
Unhappy Princesses, your Fate's severe!
Your Prayers I most unwillingly must hear,
Your Cause I cannot with my Honour own;
A torrent of misfortunes bear you down.
In spite of all my kindness you must dye;
Nay, I must banish too your memory.
What Plea you have your Innocence to clear,
I cannot guess; but I have cause to fear
None, that can all these Witnesses oppose:
At least, subdue the malice of your Foes.
If you shall suffer an injurious doom,
Oh! may your Honour blossom from your Tomb!
I'll build my Arbor there, and every hour
Come and bedew with tears the sacred Flower.
If you be faulty, and disgrace your due
Eternal shades conceal your names and you.
[Diana goes off weeping, Nymphs Guard of Calisto and Nyphe.
Jun.
See! in deep sorrow she is parted hence!
Her love to Virtue is but a pretence—
She is unchaste her self.
Pse.
Is that unknown?
Have you not heard of her Endimion?
Nor of her young Hippolitus that fled
From every Nymph, in private to her Bed?
She to the World has been a long mistake!
Pretends to Chastity for pleasures sake.
64
They understand each others meaning well.
Jun.
She shall disgrace our dignity no more,
I will depose her from her heavenly Power.
And crown thee in her stead a Power divine!
I will!—the Empire of these Woods is thine.
Mean while I to my first Revenge will flie,
Thy Foes and mine shall at my Altars dye.—
Ex.
Pse.
Oh! how I am transported with success!
Courted and sought by Fame and Happiness!
[Enter Mercury.
But how malicious does my Fortune prove?
Now he comes here to pester me with Love.
Mer.
My fairest Queen!
Pse.
Thou troublest me, be gone!
Mer.
What change is this?
Pse.
I'm busied in fruition
Of a new Love.
Mer.
Do you say this, to try
If with despair I at your feet will dye?
Name him.
Pse.
My self.
Mer.
Oh! Now farewell despair,
I hope in that fruition I shall share.
Pse.
I must feign Love, that I may freedom gain.
[Aside.
Another time you shall.
Mer.
Oh! where, and when?
Pse.
Perhaps this Evening.
Mer.
Where?
Pse.
In yonder Grove.
Mer.
Will you not fail me?
Pse.
Ask a Maid in Love,
If she will fail to meet with her delight?
Mer.
With expectations of this pleasant Night,
Till it arrives, my thoughts I will employ.—
[Ex.
Pse.
Do! Expectation's all you shall enjoy.
If in the Grove he tarries till he sees
Me there, he shall stay longer than the Trees.—
[Ex.
65
Daph.
Oh! whither are our poor despairing Shepherd's gone?
I fear I have my Strephon slain,
Sylv.
And I my Corydon.
Daph.
Oh my sorrow! Oh my pain!
Could I my Strephon find:
Could I my dearest Strephon find,
I'd never be unkind.
I'd never be unkind to him again.
Sylv.
And I, my Love would passionately own,
Could I find my Corydon.
Daph.
Do I Dream? Do I Rave?
Look towards yonder Cave.
Sylv.
Our Shepherds come from yonder Cave.
Sylv., Daph.
Our Shepherds come from yonder Cave.
Sylv.
From empty Pride I'll be free,
It shall bring no more mischief upon me,
Since I Love as well as he,
I'll not hazard my joy,
In being foolishly coy,
It had like to have undone me.
Daphne and Sylvia go and meet Strephon and Corydon: each brings in her Shepherd.
Daph.
Dear Strephon, give despairing o're,
Unkindnesses are gone,
I never will be cruel to thee more.
Sylv.
Nor I to Corydon.
66
O what kind God does Sylvia's hate remove?
Str.
And made at length my Daphne grateful prove?
Sylv.
The God of Love.
Daph.
The God of Love.
Sylv., Daph.
The gentle God of Love.
Cory.
Oh happy Tydings!
Str.
Blessed hour!
Ever kind and gentle Pow'r.
Cor.
Ever kind and gentle Pow'r.
Enter Chorus of Shepherds, follow'd by Bacchusses.
Chor.
Joy Shepherds Joy! Diana's disgrac'd,
Love has had to day Revenge on the Chaste.
The Bacchusses here our mirth to improve,
Come hither to follow the Triumphs of Love.
No mirth without Bacchus, nor joy without Love.
An Entry of Bacchusses.
After the Dance.
Cor.
Since all our Grief thus joyfully ends,
Let each Shepherdess make her Shepherd amends,
To the Temple let's go,
And then we will show,
What every Lover, by Loving intends.
Exeunt omnes.
| Calisto : or, The Chaste Nimph | |