 | Calisto : or, The Chaste Nimph |  |
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ACT. V.
Enter Mercury.Mer.
The time is past, whil'st vainly round I pace,
As yet encountring nothing in this place,
But the long Evening shadows of the Grove;
And shadows are but slender food to Love.
No it is substance! substance! must delight
Loves wholsom frame and eager appetite.
Malicious Fortune, must this stay contrive
Some sudden ill to Psecas must arrive.
Nothing that's common could my Nymph retain,
For when Nymphs love, they fonder grow than Men.
Their melting hearts in kindness does excell;
And I am sure my Psecas loves so well,
That were she dead, her spirit would appear,
And leave th' Elizian joyes to meet me here.
Well, patience! patience! time rides proudly by!
And looks upon me with a scornful eye;
But I, in spite of all his swift Career,
Will overtake him, when my joyes appear.
Enter Psecas.
Pse.
The mighty Victims ready to be slain!
Heavens Queen a Vassal to my merits grown.
Diana now no more my Soveraign;
The shady Empire of these Woods my own?
Th' impoverisht Stars have nothing to bestow,
But what for my acceptance is too low.
My next affair is quickly to Casheer
My loving patient Slave that waits me here.
Mer.
My Nymph appear? oh! now my Planets smile!
What has detain'd thee from me all this while?
I have been wandring here in grief and fear.
Pse.
Who bid you do't? Could you expect me here?
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Can the kind Vows my Queen was pleas'd to make
Her just and noble Thoughts so soon forsake?
Pse.
Do I such trifling Contemplations use?
Will I my Memory with you abuse?
Mer.
Though I deserve not such a glorious place,
My Goddess will not from her Mem'ry chace
The noble Creatures which she being gave,
I mean, the promises she made her slave.
Pse.
Well, if I did, I'll break 'em if I please!—
Am I oblig'd to keep my promises?
Mer.
Nothing can sov'reign Power oblige, 'tis true,
But its own will, that sov'reign Power have you;
But yet there is one mighty thing above:
Even your own pow'rful Self, and that is Love.
Pse.
Can any one such Insolence endure?
Love above me? You would affront me sure.
Who should, or can I Love? Where is there ought,
(Except my Self?)—that's worthy of my Thought?
Mer.
True! But since Love to me you did express,
Your Love confers on me some worthiness.
Pse.
My Love? Why can you think 'twas Love I meant?
Dare you to hope it be so insolent?
Mer.
Why?—should I rudely think you speak untrue?
Pse.
Am I oblig'd to speak my Thoughts to you?
Mer.
Do you not Love then?
Pse.
Dare you hope I do?
Mer.
Are you in earnest?
Pse.
What should I intend?
Should I with my own Slaves to Mirth descend?
Mer.
And am I fool'd then?
Pse.
Well! What if you be?
Is't a dishonour to be fool'd by me?
Mer.
And will you all my service thus requite?
Pse.
Challenge Reward, as if it was your right?
Mer.
Your service then is with it self re-paid.
Pse.
Supposing not? What service did you do?
Invent a Falshood? Shame a harmless Maid?
Well! when you please, I'll lye as much for you.
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Exceeding well!—Did I then toyle and sweat,
At last, this Mockery to get?
None serve you for your Fools but heav'nly Powers.
Pse.
Mortals are yours, you may sometimes be ours.
Mer.
What? then I must to your Contempt submit?
Pse.
I cannot help another's want of Wit.
Mer.
You do continue in your boldness still?
Pse.
'Tis you are bold, who dare dispute my Will?
Mer.
Thou empty foolish Female, who to please
Thy sickly Longings, with the fond delight
Of thy vain Sex, or rather their disease
Of Pride, resists thy nobler appetite.
Though now when thou so coy pretend'st to be,
Thou'dst give an Empire I would ravish thee.
But I'll not stoop to gratifie thee so;
That joy some bestial Satyr shall bestow!—
Ho! there!—
Pse.
A Rape! here!
Mer.
Call out if you dare,
I'll all your Lyes and Villanies declare.
Pse.
Rape! Rape! here!
Enter Juno, Diana, Nymphs.
So! 'tis well you do appear!
Virtue has excellent protection here.
Much safety your good Government affords,
The spreading Trees are not so full of Birds,
The Caves of Beasts, as all the Woods around,
Of wanton Gods who ev'rywhere abound,
Waiting to make our Chastities a prey,
And Gins and Toyles do for our Honours lay.
On our occasions we can no where move,
But strait we fall into some Trap of Love.
Dia.
Dare you affirm it is a Fault of mine?
Can I the Gods to their abodes confine?
If they be weary of their heavenly bliss,
Must I be guilty?—
Pse.
You are too remiss.
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Dia.
You are too bold, and full of disrespect.
Pse.
Wherein do I that confidence express?
Is hate to Love and Vice grown sauciness?
Your pardon for my dullness I implore,
I never knew they were your Friends before.
It seems your meaning we must backward read,
And we a Key to all your Cyphers need.
By Chastity, you zealous Love intend;
By Hate and Coyness, Kindness to a Friend.
Your nimble Wits have found it out;—but I,
Dull Fool, am hardned in my Chastity.
You should have plainly told me what you meant,
Before your wanton Gods to me you sent
For I affront 'em all, and spoil the sport,
And quite disorder your mysterious Court.—
Dia.
Immortal Gods! was e'r Celestial Power
In her own presence so blasphem'd before?
What? I am turn'd a Venus, and my Groves,
Private Retreats, and Nursery's of Loves.
Hence from my sight, and in the Forest howl,
In some Beasts shape, deformed as thy Soul.
Jun.
Stay Nymph, and flie to me, I'll have it known,
Here is a Power superior to her own.
Dia.
What in my Forrests here have you to do?
I in my Empire am supreme to you.
Go exercise your Goddesship above,
There you may share authority with Jove.
Jun.
Your Nymphs diminish there my Royal due,
And I will have Reprisals here on you.
Pse.
Her Love to Virtue now I hope is shewn,
And how much wrong I have her Honour done.
She has but one chaste Nymph in all her Train,
And she enjoys no rest till that is slain.
Mer.
Boldness above belief!—I've watcht an hour
From all these cloudy Mists to set you free,
And disintangle the whole mystery,
And never yet could get it in my power.
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I now will speak, and none shall interpose.
She then who dares your anger so outbrave,
Is my sworn Female, my devoted Slave!
Bought to my pleasure at no dearer Rates,
Than ruining the Nymphs she so much hates.
I help to gain her her malicious ends,
And for that hire my pleasure she attends.
Pse.
Oh! hellish falshood!—
Dia.
I believe it true!—
Jun.
I think it false.
Pse.
Th' opinion is my due!—
I scorn to fear he can my Fame remove.
Mer.
That let th' event of my Relation prove.
I shall bring proofs will make your courage fall.
Pse.
I'll hear no more.
Dia.
But I will hear it all.
Can you the honour of my Nymphs restore?
And are they innocent?
Mer.
They are; and more,
Calisto's Virtue is above Divine,
And Nyphe at the least a Heroine.
Pse.
How he exalts the praises of his Love?
Jun.
And flatters servilely the vice of Jove.
Pse.
In your own presence dares your Rival praise.
Jun.
To affront me, he does her Honour raise.
Pse.
He is no doubt the cause of your disgrace,
And first allur'd your Jove to her embrace.
Mer.
What horrid Monster art thou? of what kind?
How fortified in body or in mind?
Under what species does thy Nature fall?
Or humane? hellish? or Divine? or all?
So many Gods thou dar'st deride, defie?
To conquer thee, will be a Victory
Great as the Sun's o're Python, nay above
That over all the Titans gain'd by Jove.
But with the force of Truth I'll make thee bow,
And yet will batter down that brazen Brow.
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Melt it with shame!—For though she virtuous be,
Malice so great dishonours Chastity.
They should not dwell together in one Breast,
It is a Serpent in a Phœnix's Neast.
Say then, why call'd you Nyphe in the Grove?
Mer.
Vile Psecas her dishonour to remove,
And fasten it on Nyphes spotless youth.
Dia.
That was not wise, it would not look like truth,
To clear your stains with Innocence so pure.
Mer.
Neatness alone some Maladies does cure.
Contagions soonest taint the finest blood,
Unwholsom Rooms they love to change for good.
But us on all these pikes her Virtue drove,
She chanc't to make discovery of our Love,
And rather chose a thousand deaths to dye,
Than hide a crime of the least infamy.
Pse.
Where lodges truth, if Gods such Lyars be?
He knows all this is only true of me.
Cause by my zeal his Nymph is doom'd to dye,
He sought Revenge here on my Chastity,
And now with falshoods does my Fame pursue.
Mer.
Against such confidence what can I do?
Pse.
What? but your self a foul Defamer own.
Dia.
Despise her boldness, and the truth make known.
Jun.
I am confirm'd that Psecas suffers wrong.
Pse.
If e'r did Nymph from a defaming Tongue.
Dia.
With sacred Truth he does her Honour blast,
Why should I judge a mind so vicious, chaste?
Jun.
Nor Chastity, nor any thing that's good,
Can lodge in one that shares Calisto's blood.
Pse.
My Vice, (I fear) to your disgrace will prove,
Too much severity to Vice, and Love.
Dia.
Hermes! Release me from this Viper here!—
Who in my sacred Honour, does not fear
To fix her Teeth, and Venom to distill
On that, which is an antidote to ill.
Make but Calisto's Fame, as Nyphe's clear,
And this bold Nymph a punishment severe,
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Pse.
When he clears her, then you do what you dare,
Mer.
Her divine Virtues, and unspotted Fame,
Incense and Victims only should proclaim
All wordish praise she is so much above,
That Eloquence would Prophanation prove.
Pse.
Oh! how the Woods must with her praises ring?
Such were the words entic't her to his King.
Dia.
Praise on—and Psecas's Reproaches slight,
Torment her envious Nature to the height.
And did Calisto triumph over Jove?
Mer.
O'r him, o'r Pleasure, Empire, Glory, Love.
Despairing to subdue by open storm,
He first stole to her in your beautious form,
Hoping by ambush his design to gain;
And finding that fair stratagem in vain,
Himself and all his glory he display'd;
Himself his Heaven at her feet he laid,
He su'd, commanded, threatned, and implor'd,
Nay, wept, bow'd, kneel'd, and at her feet ador'd;
But could not or by promise, force, or guile,
Entice, compel, or cheat her to a smile.
Her Fort of Chastity to buy, to break,
Heaven was too poor, Omnipotence too weak.
Pse.
This to torment you sure is some design.
Jun.
It tears my ears.
Dia.
'Tis harmony to mine.
The brave Calisto's praise still boldly tell!
My Pleasure is their Rack, my Heav'n their Hell.
Jun.
Fond Goddess, who triumphest in thy shame,
Preferring thy vain Fancy to thy Fame;
Contending in thy Favourites defence,
Against thy Honour, Reason, and thy Sence.
If all I can affirm no Faith can gain,
Believe thy wound, and listen to thy pain.
Hark how thy blood thy Favourite commends!
Mer.
That very blood will prove her best of Friends.
And only be (when you the reason know)
To your malicious hopes a mortal blow.
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And strongly with the horror still possest.
The sight of you new terrors did awake,
She did your person for your shape mistake.
And that deceiv'd her to a Crime so brave,
She aim'd at Jupiter the blow she gave;
You of his sufferings alone complain,
You have the wound, but Jupiter the pain.
A Crime will to her endless Fame redound.
Dia.
Gods! then I must reward her for my wound.
Mer.
You ought!—but now?—the Virtue she has shown,
Not all the Lawrels in your Woods can crown.
Dia.
Happy the moment when my blood was spilt!
I'll now have Altars to my Victims built
Their glory shall exceed their past disgrace!
Bring 'em in triumph here to my embrace.
[Ex. Nymphs.
Pse.
Oh! Gods! this impious sentence who can bear?
This is a plot betwixt these Gods and her,
Wholly to ruine Virtue by degrees,
That they may love and revel as they please.
Nay, glory in it too, and make it prove
A Virtue worthy high rewards to Love.
And shortly all will Chastity disclaim,
And to be virtuous, will be thought a shame.
Dia.
Oh! most provoking!—
Mer.
Her reproach disdain,
Her sland'rous tongue shall quickly end its Reign.
I'll fetch a sov'reign Judge shall quell her pride,
And this debate impartially decide.
[Ex.
Jun.
She names but half your villanous design,
You plot my glory too to undermine.
Ungrateful Jove, now weary of me grown,
Will place my Rival in my Bed and Throne,
And it is plotted here among you all!
And my severe Revenge on thee shall fall.
[To Dia.
I'll kill thy Nymphs, thy Reputation blast,
Throw down thy Temples, lay thy Forest waste.
Thy self from Cave to Cave with Tempests chace,
And in the savage Beasts an instinct place;
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And make 'em for Revenge go hunt out thee.
Dia.
Oh! foolish Rage! which will no Reason hear!
Your Fury against me I scorn to fear.
Alas! your anger at your equal flies;
But yet, perhaps, you may my Nymphs surprize.
I to their Innocence the more incline,
Your Honour to respect as well as mine.
But since you fight your own disgrace to prove;
I'll both defend 'em against you and Jove.
[Enter Calisto, Nyphe vailed, brought in by Nymphs.
Come Princesses! this posture is not due!
Truth has unvail'd it self, and so may you.
Your Beauties are not brighter than your Fame,
Falshood and Malice you have put to shame.
For the Rewards of Virtue now prepare,
And scorn the utmost which your Foes can dare.
Cal.
Oh! What kind Power has the Truth reveal'd?
Dia.
One that has all our wounds entirely heal'd.
Cal.
And your wound too! For unless that be whole,
My Honour may be well, but not my Soul.
Dia.
So well, that I am better than before!
My courage greater, and my pleasure more!
If I have any pain, 'tis that which flows
From the excess of joy, your Fame bestows:
The mark of which, upon my arm I bear;
The onely Jewel, I am proud to wear.
Ny.
Oh! Glorious News! Who proves the Lyar now?
[To Pse.
Great Goddess some Revenge to us allow.
[To Dia.
The impious Author there of all this Evil,
Let's offer up a Victim to the Devil:
But she in mischief does so much excell,
Pluto, in fear, will keep her out of Hell.
She'll be a greater Plague than any there;
Furies themselves will be afraid of her.
Pse.
Did ever Falshood Virtue so outbrave?
Great Goddess, on my knees, Revenge I crave.
[To Juno.
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You fierce, tempestuous Spirits of the Air,
Who late confin'd me, to my aid repair.
[Enter Spirits, the Nymphs stand on their Guard.
The favour which you forfeited regain;
The Honour of your injur'd Queen maintain:
These bold Rebellious Nymphs in pieces tear,
And throw their Limbs in Whirlwinds round the Air.
Dia.
Approach who dares! nay, for permission pray
To blow out of my Woods one Leaf away.
Ny.
Oh! Goddess! let'em come! for I'm in pain
Till one of 'em at least by me is slain.
As they are ready to Encounter, Enter Jupiter and Mercury.
Jup.
Must I my Heav'n eternally forsake,
To quiet the disorders which you make?
[To Jun.
Jun.
Return'd again?—Oh! most tormenting sight!
There, I resign to you, your sole delight.
Make her your Goddess in the room of me,
I'll bear no more the Royal mockery,
Nor be a Statue to adorn your Throne.
Jup.
And are you weary then of Empire grown?
Jun.
I am, and of my life!—And to be free,
Desire no blessing like Mortality;
That my own hand might pour out with my blood,
My sorrows and my life!—
Jup.
I wish you cou'd!—
That both of us and all the World some ease
Might find of your eternal Jealousies.
Jun.
Who is in fault?
Jup.
Your folly is the cause,
For I will not be limited by Laws;
You but in part my kindness can enjoy,
My Ocean must a thousand Springs supply.
Once more I own this Royal Maid, I strove
To tempt by all the arts of Threats, or Love;
But 'gainst her Virtue did no more prevail,
Than the old Gyants when they Heav'n did scale.
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I Mountains heapt of golden promises;
But found her Virtue from my reach as far
As from my Palace all their Mountains were.
Like those fond Fools when I was most sublime,
I did but in the reach of Thunder climb.
Her Soul shot down such Lightning from her Eyes,
Instead of spoiling, I ador'd my prize.
Once more embrace her then, and after this
The least injurious thought of her dismiss;
[Juno embraces Calisto.
And Mercury the wrong which you have done
That fair young Nymph with low submissions own.
And to whatever suff'rings she thinks fit
To sentence you, with Penitence submit.
Mer.
I gladly to her fair Tribunal come,
[Kneels to Nyphe.
And humbly on my knees attend her doom.
Ny.
I recompence enough from this receive,
Revenge and Malice to your Nymph I leave.
[To Mer.
Jup.
And those good Virtues, which her gentle Mind
So much adorn, she shall rewarded find.
Now you, who with such zeal the ruine sought
[To Pse.
Of these fair Nymphs, shall to your doom be brought.
I hope my words they credit may afford,
And all for truth acknowledge!—
Pse.
Not a word.
Jup.
Oh! Insolence! Charge me with Falshood too?
Pse.
Falshood, I hope, is false, though spoke by you.
Power gives not language the more truth or sence.
Jup.
Astonishing! drag her to Torments hence.
Cal.
Spare her, for I my Honour scorn to owe
To her Acknowledgments.
Ny.
No, let her go.
For she has done, and let her suffer ill.
Pse.
Now I will stay to contradict your will.
The Fondlings dandled upon Fortunes Knee
Were sav'd, ('tis true!) from my conspiracy.
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Excepting pure insipid Innocence.
Dia.
Your judgment (if you please, great Psecas!) spare;
We (with your leave) of that sole Judges are.
Oblige us now your Reason to relate,
Why you pursu'd the Nymphs with so much hate.
Pse.
My hatred stoop to have concern for them?
You much mistake, the Error I contemn.
Seeing what fondnesses abus'd your mind,
Having some kindness for you, I design'd
To disabuse you, set your judgment right,
And honour you with being your Favourite.
But since you from your own good Fortune go,
And have not Wit enough desert to know,
I throw you wholly out of my esteem,
And no submission shall the loss redeem,
Though in deep sorrow at my feet you fall;
For now I scorn you, nay, I scorn you all.
Gods, Goddesses, and Nymphs, away I'll flie,
And keep no more such trifling company.
I'll hunt alone, and in my self delight,
And be my own most dear-lov'd Favourite.
Dia.
She is grown frantick!
[Psecas offers to go, is staid by Juno.
Jun.
Rather she is brave.
Stay gen'rous Psecas, I thy friendship crave,
Bury not all thy worth in a Retreat;
Give me thy Love, and I will make thee great.
Jup.
A most harmonious friendship this must prove!
The Fates design'd 'em for each others Love.
For none love them, and they have love for none;
Their kindness centers on themselves alone.
And they are so exactly of a make,
Each may the other for her self mistake.
Now must the last and heaviest sentence fall
Upon my self the greatest Criminal.
My wretched self (as to my Crimes is due)
I doom to part eternally from you.
[To Calisto.
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But yet I must not leave you here below.
In pity to the World, I must remove
Those fatal eyes, out of the reach of Love.
Love must not here those killing darts retain,
To wound and torture Gods, and murder Men.
And yet to place you in my Heav'n, would be
Not your Reward, but my Felicity.
Some middle Region I must prepare,
Where all may with some ease your Beauty bear.
I then entreat, you will (to end this War!)
Accept the small dominion of a Star.
There you and beautious Nyphe may dispence
With cooler beams your light and influence.
On the great Ceremony Hermes wait,
Let all the Gods give their appearance strait.
These Virgins Consecration nought debars,
I'll in a full Assembly crown 'em Stars.
[Ex.
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Cho.
Happy Lovers! happy Live,
And all the Gods their blessings give.
Cor.
Lead along, and with Delight,
Let us hasten on the Night.
Enter two African Women.
Stre.
What Vision's this is come to greet us?
Cory.
See! the Night is come to meet us.
1 Afr.
Stay gentle Swains be not afraid,
To see our Faces hid in shade.
We, but lately, were as fair,
As your Shepherdesses are.
Did not a frantick Youth of late,
O'reset the Chariot of the Sun?
Cory.
He did, and his deserved Fate
He met when he had done.
2 Afr.
It is he that hath undone us:
He powr'd whole streams
Of melting beams,
Red, and glowing hot upon us.
And now we range the World around,
To see if our lost Beauty can be found.
Enter a third African Woman.
3 Afr.
Rejoyce, Rejoyce: our Beauty's found,
Our lovely White and Red,
To two chaste Nymphs of Cynthia's Train is fled,
And they must Stars be crown'd:
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Our Black with us must fair be thought.
All three.
This happy Fate, who could Divine?
Our Beauty then in Heav'n must shine.
1 Afr.
No Losers we shall prove,
By parting with our Red and White;
If black will serve the turn of Love;
For Beauty's made for Loves delight.
3 Afr.
See! See! the Nymphs are coming here.
Sylv.
But Oh! what glorious Apparition's near?
The Clouds amazing Glories gild:
All the Clouds with Gods are fill'd.
And all the Gods appear.
Calisto and Nyphe enter under a Canopy, supported by Africans; immediately upon their entrance, a Heav'n is discover'd, fill'd with Gods and Goddesses.
The whole concludes with an Entry of Africans, and this Song.
Daph.
Must these be Stars? And to Heaven remove,
Before they have tasted the pleasures of Love.
That the Gods so ill, such Beauty should use!
What mighty Cost must Nature lose?
Syl.
I cannot so much Beauty show,
But what I have, I'll better bestow.
Not upon Gods, or Glories above,
Or empty Renown, but Pleasure and Love.
All pleasure but love, from our hearts we'l be chasing,
We'l kindle our selves into Stars with embracing:
We'l every moment our pleasures renew,
Our Loves shall be flaming, and lasting and true.
| Calisto : or, The Chaste Nimph | |