University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

The SCENE is a Grove.
Enter Licisca.
AIR.
Lic.
Wanton Rovers, Winds now sporting,
Ev'ry Leaf and Flow'r you're courting!
Taught by you, let me be ranging!
What so sweet as ever changing.

Enter Liso and Eurilla.
Liso
to Eur.
Bright Nymph, alone your Coyness blame.
What you refus'd, oh! cease to claim;
But see, Licisca! [spying Licisca.]
I retire—
[Going.
Ecco Licisca.

Eur.
Oh! rather let me here expire—

Liso
[to her.]
I dare not stay—
At least I'll not be seen.
[Apart.
Non posso piu tardar.

[Liso withdraws to the side of the Stage.
Eur.
He's gone!—Beat gently, jealous Heart!
Once let me act a double Part;
Try if to Liso she'll be kind,
And seek for what I dread to find.

Lic.
[aside.]
Eurilla, here!
I'll please my self, unseen, with her Despair.

AIR.
Eur.
advancing.
In my Breast what Disorder so rages!
Now fearing,
Now daring,
My Heart I betray.
Love it self against Love now engages.
Yet there's something my Torment asswages:
'Tis a Pleasure in Love to obey.

Lic.
[to her.]
Dear Eurilla, once be kind!
Say what Thought employs your Mind!

Eur.
Oh! Licisca, I would say it;
But you'll chide, if I betray it.

Lic.
Let your Fear be at an End;
When I chide, 'tis like a Friend.

Eur.
Liso loves you.

Lic.
I know it.

[With a scornful Smile.
Eur.
Sure so admir'd a Swain
Can never love in vain!

Lic.
I like his Dress and Air.
He pleases,—when he's near.

Liso.
O happy Fortune!
[Apart.
Sorte felice!

Eur.
Liso—

Lic.
Say on!

Eur.
I'm lost!

[Aside.
Lic.
What of him?

Eur.
You like him!—

Liso.
What will she say?
[Aside.
Che mai dira?

Eur.
Will you not then crown his Love?

Lic.
Hold, jealous Nymph, too far you move.
AIR
[Exit Licisca.

Eur.
Oh Love! the stronger when you're crost,
Why never truly known 'till lost!

[Aside.
Liso.
[advancing.]
Slighted once, now lov'd, I grieve.
Alas! I've only Thanks to give.

Eur.
Ah! Shepherd, could you know
Who best does love you,
True Flames alone would move you.
Why would you go
For one unkind Denial?
Passion should stronger grow
By such a Trial.
How humbly you addrest me!
How fondly you carest me!
You sigh'd, you vow'd, you prest me;
And swore, would I approve,
You'd ever, ever love—
You turn—you're silent—Cruel Fate!
Am I then your Scorn, or Hate!
Hate is Death—oh! soon declare it!
Scorn is worse—no Heart can bear it.

AIR.
Liso.
Why are you kind too late?
My Heart is mine no more.
Why was it not my Fate
To warm your Breast before?
Again I might adore.
Why are you kind too late?
My Heart is mine no more.
[Exit Liso.


Avrei di lei pietà,
Se non chiedesse amor.
Mà non ê crudeltà,
Quando che niega un cor,
Donar quel che non hà.
Se non chiedesse amor,
Avrei di lei pietà.

Eur.
He's gone!—he's lost! for ever fled!
Reason, Pride, or Rage retrieve me!
Love, oh! leave me!
Why d'you live, when Hope is dead!

Enter Serpetta.
Ser.
Eurilla grieving!—Mournful Fair,
Let me strive your Heart to cheer.

Eur.
Oh! leave me, leave me!
You but grieve me.
AIR.
[Exit Eurilla.

Ser.
And is this the end of wooing!
Leering, bowing,
Swearing, vowing.
Dying, lying, sueing, cooing,
Long pursuing, and undoing!
Rather than I'll so be curst,
I'll—I'll—I'll consider first.
AIR.
[Exit Serpetta.

Enter Licisca.
Lic.
Tho' new Adorers swell our Train,
We hate to lose the meanest Swain.
So, tho' I pleas'd my Pride a-while
With fond Olindo's Pain,
'Twill now be sweeter, with a Smile,
My Rebel to regain.
He comes—

Enter Olindo.
Lic.
Indeed, Olindo, I must chide you.
Perhaps too long I try'd you.
But should you, tho' unkind I prov'd,
Ill-use the Woman once you lov'd?

Olin.
Vain trusting Heart, would you believe her?
Rather deceive the fair Deceiver.
[Aside.
AIR.
Form'd to charm, lovely all over,
[To her.
You wound a Lover
In ev'ry Part.
But we recover,
When we discover
There is a Rover
Within your Heart.

Luc.
Dull Swain, what Lightness you mis-call
Is Prudence in a gay Disguise.
Since so soon Desire does pall,
A wanton Air allures you all;
To try your Minds is to be wise.
AIR.

[Lic. is going.
Olin.
[To her.]
Stay, Charmer, Stay—But oh! what am I doing!
How shall I scape the smiling Ruin!
[Aside.
AIR.

Lic.
He's mine! The Rebel's mine again,
[Aside.
What easie trusting Fools are Men!
But let me feign—
Swain, now you'll find
[To him.
I'm truly kind.

Olin.
Will you, will you then be kind?

Lic.
Take my Hand! I will—press your Eurilla to relieve you?

Olin.
I'm fool'd again.
But I'll feign.

Enter Liso, who stops, seeing Licisca and Olindo hand in hand.
Liso.
Olindo false to me! Licisca falser!
[Aside.
Olindo traditor! Licisca infida!

Duo, or two Part Song.
Olin.
Charmer, beguile no more.
Shall I believe you?

Lic.
Believe me, I'll no more deceive you.

Olin.
With Love amus'd before,
I'll be beguil'd no more.

Lic.
Kind Fate will relieve you,
Love still has Joys in store.

[Exeunt.
Liso.
[advancing.]
If thus you treat a tender Heart,
Oh point your fatal Dart,
Tyrant Love,
At the wild Tenants of the Grove.—
Scarce by Eurilla's chilling Coldness cur'd,
Then by Licisca's tempting Smiles allur'd,
When my first Charmer would my Heart retrieve,
I left the condescending Fair;
Cruel to my self and her;
Asham'd my kinder second Choice to leave:
Now too late my Fault I view,
Self-condemn'd, and punish'd too.
AIR.

[Exit.

[Exit Liso.
Enter Serpetta, follow'd by Neralbo.
Ner.
Prethee hear me.

Ser.
None but Fools would trust you Men.

Ner.
Hear me—

Ser.
Don't stand leering then.

Ner.
Say, my Joy,
Why so coy?

Ser.
I am not coy.

Ner.
Then be kind.

Ser.
I won't be kind.—
I've a Mind
To be neither coy nor kind.

Ner.
Would you kill me! here I swear—

Ser.
Oh forbear,
Don't forswear—

Ner.
I'll for ever love my Dear.

Ser.
Don't provoke me—here I vow—
I won't—I won't tell you now—
There's poor Eurilla, Liso's Love she had.
See what's come on't! he slights her—she's run mad.

Ner.
That's her Fault. Why did she slight him,
'Till another did invite him?
Take heed! should I another woo,
I shall have you do so too.

Ser.
Meagre Face,
Void of Grace,
Pray, who would run mad for you?
AIR.
[Exit Serpetta.

Ner.
Could the Gipsie serve me so?
Could she leave me? Could she go?
I'll o'ertake her, rail, and then—
Play the Fool, and love again.
AIR.
[Exit Neralbo.

Enter Liso.
AIR.
Liso.
Eurilla, injur'd Fair,
Now I true Love by false compare,
How I prize thee!
How, Licisca, I despise thee!
I for Eurilla now would live.
But can I hope she will receive me?
I can ne'er my self forgive.
Can I hope she will forgive me?


Enter Eurilla in Disorder, as distracted, deck'd with Flowers. Liso starts, unseen by her.
AIR.
Eur.
[She starts, spying Liso.
Ha! he's by me.

Liso.
Amazement!
Che sento!

Eur.
Liso, by Charon ferry'd over!
Hold, perjur'd Lover!
Th'avenging Furies I discover.
Ah, Liso! to these Shades has Fate now sent thee,
More to torment me?

Liso.
Alas! she is delirious.
Ah che delira Eurilla!

Eur.
Fly, my Treasure,
Fly to your upper World again!
Tempt not our Elyzian Plain.
Danger's near you.
Cerberus will tear you.
Hear him!—Ah me! how's he growling!
Hark! how he's howling!
The wakeful Fiends alarming!
Ha! now they all are arming.
Ye Pow'rs, your Aid I'm craving.
How shall I save him!
The Fiends are raving.
Ah me! I no Help discover.
Liso!—Furies!—give over!—
Spare me, spare my Lover.

Liso.
How she wounds me,
And confounds me!
Mi scoppia il cor nel petto.

Eur.
Fear not! The Danger's over.

Liso.
Oh! Torment!
Che pena.

Eur.
Give me your Hand.

Liso.
With yours, and Pardon, bless
[Kneeling.
Your Fond repenting Lover!
If e'er—
E con la destra ancora,
Concedimi il perdono.
Se già—

Eur.
Hold! Hope and I are dead. Why would you move me?
AIR.

Liso.
Oh! you're not dead; but I with Pain am dying.
Unless Heav'n my Joy restore,
My Soul is flying.
No, chê morta non sei:
Ma tu mi vuoi far morir di tormento,
Se non cessano ancor i sdegni tuoi.

Duo, or two Part Song.
Liso.
Give o'er, Charmer, give o'er!

Eur.
Oh! grieve no more! Oh! grieve no more.

Liso.
Forgive me.

Eur.
I do.

Liso.
Kind Heav'n, to relieve me,
Your Peace must restore.
Give o'er, Charmer, give o'er.—

Liso.
Pietà, cara, pietà.

Eur.
Non piangere, no.

Liso.
T'offesi.

Eur.
Lò, sò.
Tutti due. Ma fida per sempre quest' alma sarà.

Eur.
Ah! now with Envy burning,
The Furies are returning.

Liso.
Take, take me to your Arms.
Now, now I'm safe from Harms.
To Love a Right is given,
Spight of infernal Foes,
To share the Joys of Heav'n.
[Exeunt.
Vieni fra le mie braccia, amata Eurilla;
Che nasconder vogl'io.
Tra le ombre dell' Inferno il Paradiso.

Enter Olindo.
Olin.
“Love, that false and wandring Light,
“Leads astray, then leaves in Night;
“So Licisca, to deceive me,
“Brought me hither but to leave me,
“Yet no Reason can retrieve me.
AIR.

Enter Licisca.
Olin.
I sought Eurilla round the Plain.
Olindo's Care would be as vain,
Should he seek your Love again.

Lic.
Hold, wav'ring Swain!
Would you play the Fool again?

Olin.
No; like the Wise,
Love I'll vary, or disguise—
[Aside.
Hark! I hear a lively Measure;
The Swains appear
With the Fair,
Their Joys I'll share.
Love adieu, and welcome Pleasure!

Enter Shepherds, Shepherdesses, and others, who place themselves on both sides the Stage, the Instruments playing to 'em as they march. Olindo and Licisca mix with 'em.
Olindo comes forwards, and sings.
AIR.
Olin.
Swains, wing the Day
With Songs and Dances!
Cares fly away,
When Sport advances.
Let all be gay;
But while you play
Beware of fatal Glances.

[Looking towards Licisca smiling.
CHORUS of Shepherds and Shepherdesses.
Swains, wing the Day with Songs and Dances.
Cares fly away, when Sport advances.
Let all be gay; but while you play,
Beware of fatal Glances.

A DANCE.
Licisca comes forwards, and sings.
AIR.
Lic.
Lovers, discover no Sorrow!
Kind Fate may smile to Morrow,
If you but smile to Day.
Gay Folly may content us:
Grave Humours but torment us.
The happy are the gay.

[Looking towards Olindo smiling.
A DANCE.
AIR.
Olin.
No Sorrow we discover,
When Beauty smiles, 'tis over.
Alike we love and play.
Fate may a-while ill-use us:
But, what one Moment loses,
Another will repay.

[Looking on Licisca, as if it were to answer her.
AIR.
Lic.
Delights all around
Smile on our Leisure.
Joys abound,
And know no Measure.
So may Pleasure,
Ever sporting,
Grow transporting!
Like the Spring, Love smiles to bless us.
Lest it cloy,
Change the Toy,
New Sweets caress us.

CHORUS
as before, some dancing at the same time.
Swains, wing the Day with Songs and Dances.
Care fly away, where Sport advances.
Let all be gay;
But while you play
Beware of fatal Glances.