 | The Loves of Mars & Venus |  |
1
PROLOGUE, or Introduction. Set to Musick by Mr. Finger.
Perform'd after the Prologue that is spoken.The Overture: A Symphony of Trumpets, Kettle-Drums, Violins and Hautbois.
Scene the New Theatre.
Erato, Thalia, and Terpsicore, with their Attendants on both sides the Stage, are discover'd.
Acoompaniments of Instruments.
Erato.
Come, all, with moving Songs prepare
To Charm the Witty and the Fair!
Ye Trumpets softly breathe, or cease!
Love may in Britain raise a War,
But 'twill be sweeter far than Peace.
Chorus repeats the foregoing Stanza.
One of Erato's Followers.
I.
Love alone can here alarm us,
And he only strikes to charm us.
Gazing, liking, and admiring,
Firing, panting, and desiring,
Fearing, daring, trying, flying,
Feigning, pressing, faint denying,
Still reviving, fierce Delights;
This is Love, and these his Fights.
Ritornel of Flutes.
And he only strikes to charm us.
2
Firing, panting, and desiring,
Fearing, daring, trying, flying,
Feigning, pressing, faint denying,
Still reviving, fierce Delights;
This is Love, and these his Fights.
II.
Eager Kisses,
Fiery Glances,
Balmy Blisses,
Melting Trances,
Kind Complying,
Kinder Dying,
Happy Days, and happier Nights,
Still reviving fierce Delights,
This is Love, and these his Fights.
Fiery Glances,
Balmy Blisses,
Melting Trances,
Kind Complying,
Kinder Dying,
Happy Days, and happier Nights,
Still reviving fierce Delights,
This is Love, and these his Fights.
Ritornel of Violins.
Two others.
Love, like War, has noble Cares:
War sheds Blood, and Love sheds Tears.
War has Swords, and Love has Darts;
War takes Towns, and Love takes Hearts.
Love, like War, the bold requires:
Love, like War, has Flames and Fires.
Love, like War, does Art admit;
Love, like War, for Youth is fit.
Ritornel of Violins.
Erato.
Scorn, tho Beauty frowns, to tremble.
Lovers, boldly urge your Flame:
For a Woman will dissemble,
Loves the Joy, but hates the Name:
Her refusing, your pursuing
Yeild alike a pleasing pain,
Ever curing and renewing,
Soon appeas'd, to rage again.
Lovers, boldly urge your Flame:
For a Woman will dissemble,
Loves the Joy, but hates the Name:
3
Yeild alike a pleasing pain,
Ever curing and renewing,
Soon appeas'd, to rage again.
II.
‘If the Soldier storms and rages,
‘Face him with a lovely Maid:
‘This his Fury soon assuages,
‘And the Devil soon is laid.
‘He ne're conquers but by Toyling,
‘But the Fair subdues with Ease:
‘Blood he sheds with hatred boyling,
‘But the Fair can kill and please.
‘Face him with a lovely Maid:
‘This his Fury soon assuages,
‘And the Devil soon is laid.
‘He ne're conquers but by Toyling,
‘But the Fair subdues with Ease:
‘Blood he sheds with hatred boyling,
‘But the Fair can kill and please.
Ritornel of Violins.
Thalia.
To double the Sports to Thalia belongs;
I'll joyn Comic Scenes to your Amorous Songs:
To heighten Life's Pleasures, to soften its Cares,
No Charm like a Farce, no Physicians like Play'rs.
Ritornel.
Terpsichore.
To treble the Pleasures,
With regular Measures,
My Train shall advance:
Some joyn in a Chorus;
While, gayly before us,
Some joyn in a Dance.
Ritornel.
4
Let Scenes of Mirth and Love,
With Songs and Dances joyning,
The fleeting hours improve,
And banish dull repining.
He who those Joys refuses,
When kindly they invite,
The End of Living loses;
Life's business is Delight.
Exeunt.
While the Grand Chorus is performing, there is an Entry of Dancing-masters, teaching their Scholars, and making Love to 'em: and a Harlequin mimicking 'em with a She-Harlequin, which expresses the business of the Prologue. This Dance cannot be perform'd, the Master who made it being sick. Another Entry is danc'd instead of it.
| The Loves of Mars & Venus | |