 | The Loves of Mars & Venus |  |
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The Second Act.
The Music of the Second Act compos'd by Mr. John Eccles.Scene the Garden of Venus.
A March, with Trumpets and Kettledrums, and then with Hautbois, alternate.
Enter Mars, followed by Gallus, Fear, Anger, Noise, and a Body of Souldiers marching.
Mars.
Halt!
Fear.
—Halt!
Noise.
—Halt!
Mars.
—None but Gallus further comes.
Now face about.
[They all face about, except Gallus.
Sound, beat
A Retreat,
Ye Trumpets, and ye Drums.
March all to Quarters; March, and there remain,
Till my Command renews the rough Campaign.
They all march out in Military order, except Mars and Gallus, who stay. The Drums, Trumpets and Hautbois continue the March alternate, till they are all gone.
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Thou watchful Sentinel of Love,
Gallus, my trusty Spy,
By whom secure in am'rous Wars I move,
And all surprizing Foes defy,
Procure thy Master new Delight;
Go, bring my Goddess to my sight!
Gallus, looking sneekingly.
What if the limping Cuckold's nigh?
I may be bang'd,
And may be hang'd,
And then, god b'y',
Gallus your trusty Spy!
Mars.
No more: I on thy Vigilance rely.
Gallus.
I shall be kill'd.
Mars,
offering to draw his Sword.
—By me.
Gallus.
—Hold, hold, I fly.
Gallus exit running.
Symphony.
Mars.
Oh! Rival! you must happy be;
You ev'ry day my Goddess see.
Perhaps in vain you sigh and sue;
But you, at least, my Goddess view.
You ev'ry day my Goddess see.
Perhaps in vain you sigh and sue;
But you, at least, my Goddess view.
For such a dear bewitching sight,
Who would not gaze away the Light?
Oh! tho I see her ev'ry where,
I too too little see the Fair.
Who would not gaze away the Light?
Oh! tho I see her ev'ry where,
I too too little see the Fair.
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In vain to shun her sight I strove:
Here, in my Heart 'tis fixt by Love.
None can the Charming Image blot,
I see her, when I see her not.
Here, in my Heart 'tis fixt by Love.
None can the Charming Image blot,
I see her, when I see her not.
And who can from her Chains be free'd?
She looks; and Gods themselves adore.
She smiles; then I'm a God indeed.
She's in my Arms, Oh then I'm more!
She looks; and Gods themselves adore.
She smiles; then I'm a God indeed.
She's in my Arms, Oh then I'm more!
Enter Venus follow'd by Cupid and his Train, and Gallus after them.
Venus
running into Mars' Arms.
My Mars!
Mars.
—My Venus!
Mars and Venus.
—Oh!
Mars.
My Life!
Venus.
—My Soul, my dearest Mars!
Mars.
—My dearest Venus! oh!
‘Now let the World a Truce from Wars & Tumults know
‘While Mars is here, 'tis Peace below.
‘O Absence, now I see
‘Unjustly we complain of Thee;
‘Without Thy Pow'r cou'd I have hop'd to find?
‘Even Beauty's Queen so charming and so kind.
Venus.
My Life!
Mars.
—My Soul!
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—My dearest Mars!
Mars.
—My dearest Venus!
Venus.
—Oh!
Cupid, while dumb Courtship passes between Mars & Venus.
Come, you Loves, clap ev'ry Wing;
Io Triumph! dance and sing!
Cupid's Followers dance.
‘Come, you Loves, clap ev'ry Wing;
‘Io Triumph! dance and sing!
Mars and Venus.
How sweet, how pleasing, when return'd,
The lovely Object whom we mourn'd!
Recruited Fires more fiercely warm,
And Absence heightens ev'ry Charm.
The Blessing that a while was lost,
When 'tis regain'd is valu'd most.
‘How sweet, how pleasing, when return'd,
‘The lovely Object whom we mourn'd!
Venus.
My Life!
Mars.
—My Soul!
Venus.
—My dearest Mars!
Mars.
—My dearest Venus!
Venus.
—Oh!
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—Oh!
Vulcan.
So! so!
[He offers to knock 'em down with his Hammer, but is hinder'd by Gallus.
Gallus.
Hold; Let the God of Anvils know,
My Master's Arms must be just so.
[While he sings the last Verse, he puts his Arms about Vulcan's Neek, and then about his Body and Thighs, making motions to show him how a Coat of Armor should be made to fit Mars.
Vulcan.
You sawcy Vatlet, I say no.
Come, Bully Mars, let go, let go!
Your Arms must be just so, just so.
[While he sings this, he takes Mars by the Arms, and lays 'em along his sides.
Gallus.
Hold, fiery Smith, I mean those Arms
Which you must frame for War's Alarms:
Those Arms must o're his Shoulders close just so,
As he now did to Venus show,
Only that she might let you know.
He's somewhat rough, she somewhat tender,
His leaning on her might offend her;
So she cry'd, Oh! That's all.
Vulcan.
—Oh ho! is it so?
Gallus.
Now since you're come, if you're at Leisure,
An't please your Godship, take his Measure
Ritornel.
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Here Vulcan, Arm me, Cap-a-pié!
And let my Shield impenetrable be.
And let my Shield impenetrable be.
Let future Heroes there appear;
Place Greece's, Rome's, and brave Britain's there.
Let Alexander, Cæsar, Arthur meet,
And all their Lawrels lay at greater William's Feet.
Place Greece's, Rome's, and brave Britain's there.
Let Alexander, Cæsar, Arthur meet,
And all their Lawrels lay at greater William's Feet.
‘William, more God like, and as brave,
‘Shall only fight th'endanger'd World to save:
‘William, my other self shall be;
‘Inspir'd by Themis, and by me.
‘Shall only fight th'endanger'd World to save:
‘William, my other self shall be;
‘Inspir'd by Themis, and by me.
‘Immur'd in Steel now Warriors safely fight;
‘But Balls unseen with rapid Flight
‘One day shall deal Destruction through the Field:
‘William, with Brest unarm'd, shall face those fiery Foes;
‘And Mars must kindly interpose,
‘His Representative to shield.
‘But Balls unseen with rapid Flight
‘One day shall deal Destruction through the Field:
‘William, with Brest unarm'd, shall face those fiery Foes;
‘And Mars must kindly interpose,
‘His Representative to shield.
Here, Vulcan, Arm me Cap-a-pié!
And let my Shield impenetrable be.
And let my Shield impenetrable be.
Gallus.
But good your Godship, know,
His Arms must be just so, just so.
Vulcan,
hindering Venus from holding Mars; who, while Gallus sings, talk's to her, making signs as if he gave her Directions about the Armor.
‘Hold, I don't like my Wife should feel
‘This ample Back of Brawn like Steel.
Come, Mistress, pray, what Business had you here?
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faultring.
I only—came—to—take—the Air, my Dear.
Vulcan.
You rather came to Arm my Head, I fear.
Venus
wheadling.
Go, now I hate you, now go to!
And cou'd you, cou'd you think I'd do
As I in jest did threaten you?
Go, now I hate you, now, go to.
And cou'd you, cou'd you think I'd do
As I in jest did threaten you?
Go, now I hate you, now, go to.
Dull Fool! had I design'd to try,
Wou'd I have told you so before?
Besides, you see my Son was by.
Wou'd I have told you so before?
Besides, you see my Son was by.
Vulcan.
Your Son's a Pimp, and you—
Venus.
—No more.
Vulcan.
‘Why, sure some Fiend must have possest you!
‘'Tis but a Month since I caress'd you.
Venus.
‘Ungrateful Dear! cou'd you believe
‘I wou'd my self and you deceive?
‘What with that Fore-head can compare?
‘Can any one read Cuckold there?
‘That Leer! that Hip, that Heel and Toe!
‘What tho' you're old? most Beaux are so.
Vulcan.
‘Nay, when I'm smugg'd up, I'm so comely,
‘I know you cannot think me homely.
Mars.
Come, for her Pardon humbly sue!
Tho' she were not so true,
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Come; for her Pardon humbly sue!
Vulcan.
What shall I do?
I fear this Mars, and love and fear her too.
Mars.
Come, for her Pardon humbly sue.
Vulcan.
It must be so, My Deary, Deary!
My Love! my Soul!
Venus.
—My hate, my Fool!
Vulcan.
Pray, Chuck, don't frown, let me come near you!
Come, 'tis a Folly to repine,
You've had your Jest, pray pardon mine.
Venus.
First ask his Pardon as you ought.
Vulcan
to Mars.
You hear her, pray good Mars forgive my Fault.
Mars.
Well, for her sake, no more of this be thought.
Vulcan.
‘Now, Dear, a Kiss in sign of Grace!
Venus.
‘Not till you've got you a new Face.
Vulcan.
‘Come, Buss'e; come, it must be so!
Venus
after he had kiss'd her.
‘Pish, you're so troublesom! Now go.
Gallus.
‘Shou'd he not beg my Pardon too?
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‘Ah! how sweet is Reconciling,
‘When a loving Pair is smiling,
‘Free from Spleen or jealous doubt!
‘O that we cou'd still be smiling,
‘still thus kindly reconciling,
‘And yet never falling out!
Vulcan.
Now all is well, my Cyclops shall advance
With their newest Anvil-Dance.
Vulcan exit.
Mars.
‘Let's a while renew our Blisses
‘In a sweet exchange of Kisses:
‘Thus the Lover comes in Play,
‘When the Husband is away.
Venus.
‘But alas he will not stay!
‘Soon be gone; but soon retnrn.
‘Soon? no, I a whole tedious hour must mourn!
‘I a whole tedious hour must be
‘Depriv'd of Heav'n, depriv'd of Thee.
Enter Vulcan, with several Singing and Dancing Cyclopes. They lay an Anvil en the middle of the Stage. Brontes, Arges, Steropes, and Pyrachmon, the four chief Cyclopes, Sing, while others Dance and strike on the Anvil.
Vulcan.
Come, away; strike and sing,
Ting, ting, ting, terry terre, terry ting, &c.
Let us make the Caves ring,
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While we forge Thunder-Bolts for Heav'n's King.
Ting, ting, ting.
Steropes
holding a red hot Bolt.
This he'll fling,
Ting, ting, ting.
At Cowards at Sieges, and Atheists at Pray'rs.
At a Husband, who by his Wife's Chastity swears.
Chorus of Cyclops.
This he'll fling, ting, ting, ting.
[Steropes]
At promising Courtiers, and Fools that believe 'em;
At poor Rogues that give Bribes, and rich Knaves that receive 'em,
This he'll fling, &c.
‘At a Weather-Cock Priest who nere thinks as he teaches.
‘At a Cit in his Buff with his Heart in his Breeches.
[Chorus of Cyclops]
This he'll fling, &c.
‘At Beaux who protest they of Favours nere boast,
‘Yet drink the Fair's Health ev'ry Night with a Toast.
This he'll fling, &c.
‘At Masks, who at Fifty wou'd follow Love's Trade;
‘At a Female of Twenty that swears she's a Maid.
This he'll fling, &c.
At a Couple who swear that they never repented;
At a Briton who says, he can long live contented.
This he'll fling, &c.
At a Ninny who finds a Galant with his Wife,
Then begs both their Pardons for making a Strife.
Vulcan.
‘How! then I am fool'd I doubt?
Mars.
‘No, he jests; come, still be smiling,
‘Free from Spleen, or jealous Doubt,
‘Still be kindly reconciling,
‘But be never falling out.
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‘Thus may your Joys for ever last,
‘The Charms of Peace best after Wars we taste.
The End of the Second Act.
| The Loves of Mars & Venus | |