University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

The SCENE a Grove.
Enter Eurilla.
Eur.
Is he then mine! and shall this Hour
See us join'd, by Hymen's Pow'r!
Oh! what Joys his Vows dispence!
I doubt my weak revolving Sense.
Wild with Joy, as once with Grief,
Sure Madness proves its own Relief,
And I my self deceive.
Yet flatter on, dear waking Dream!
Since you give Pleasure in extream,
Why should I not believe.
AIR.

Enter Olindo.
Olin.
Like me, Nymph, forbear to grieve!
False Liso to Licisca leave.
He now invites
The Swains, to grace their Nuptial Rites.
To be reveng'd, let's only change our Chain.
They most will lose, when we each other gain.

Eur.
Are you, Swain,
Very sure of what you say?

[Smiling.
Olin.
I know he weds to Day,
And sure 'tis the perjur'd Fair.
Hymen's Priest,
The Bridal Feast,
Will soon attend 'em here.
Then let us not delay.

Eur.
You're not sure of what you say!

Olin.
Can you, when disdain'd, be gay?

Eur.
Go, Swain! your Licisca see!
She may be more disdain'd than we:
But I can ne'er unconstant be.
AIR.
[Ex. Euril.

Olin.
How my Flame with Hope returns!
I'm blest if Liso for Eurilla burns.
My Tyrant comes—I'll seem now to disdain her;
I must fright her Pride, to gain her.

Enter Licisca.
Olindo advances, and sings to her, smiling.
AIR.
Olin.
An Air, a Shape, a Face
A-while may charm me.
But there's a nobler Grace
That must disarm me.
From Beauty soon declin'd
Love is removing.
But, nourish'd with the Mind,
Lasts, still improving.

Lic.
Well, Olindo! then you find
Your lov'd Eurilla kind?

Olin.
She's kind, where her Love is due;
And must be happy; since she's true.
Had Liso, Nymph, been so with you?
This Day they wed.

Lic.
What do I hear!
Oh! Despair!
Does he leave me,
And deceive me?

AIR.
Olin.
Be wiser! ne'er betray us,
If you'll not be betray'd:
True Love repay us,
Or be with false repay'd.
My Heart true Passion prizes;
But nobly Love despises,
When made a common Trade.
Be wiser! ne'er betray us,
If you'll not be betray'd.
[Exit Olindo.

Lic.
Be wiser! ne'er betray us,
If you'll not be betray'd!
How insulting grows a Lover,
When his Rivals give over!
Now I'm afraid
I neither shall recover.
But he comes, the perjur'd Rover.
Oh! now I feel, Olindo's Scorn resenting,
How Disdain is tormenting.

Enter Liso.
Liso.
Charming Licisca.
[To her.
Vaga Licisca.

Lic.
[Aside.]
O my Heart! I am reviving.
Olindo may repent the Arts he try'd.
Tho' lov'd, 'tis dang'rous to provoke our Pride.
Liso, my Joy,
[To Liso.
When kindly you're returning,
Shall I be coy,
Your tender Passion scorning?
No. Let no more Disdain our Hearts dissever;
But Love and Hymen join our Hands for ever.

Liso.
Here is my Hand.
Ecco la destra.

Lic.
With mine my Heart I give you.
No Pow'r but Death shall force my Soul to leave you.

Liso.
But what will Eurilla say,
And ev'ry Nymph and Swain
On your Arcadian Plain,
Shou'd we thus our selves betray?
Oh! the Thought I dread, I hate.
Let me 'scape, e'er 'tis too late!
Ma Eurilla che dirà?
Che dirà tutta la nostra Arcadia
Di Licisca e di Liso?
Dunque si pensi meglio.

Lic.
Oh! my Treasure, you afright me.
Let kinder Love to Joy invite me.

AIR.
Liso.
Dare not, oh! dare not talk of Love,
The Name offends me.
Then hide it, or wisely remove.
Tho' my Heart shou'd approve,
My Pride defends me.
[Exit Liso.


Taci! ne mi parlar d'amor:
C'hora non voglio.
Le faci nascondi del tuo cor.
Ch'un tiranno rossor
Mi fa di scoglio.

Lic.
With my own Words derided! Left with Scorn!
Oh! how my Breast with raging Passion's torn!
Too late my Fault I mourn.
Ye Pow'rs, relenting,
Oh! punish me no more.
While I my Fate deplore,
Too late repenting,
Each Passion is a Fury most tormenting.
AIR.
[Ex. Licisca.

Enter Serpetta and Neralbo.
AIR.
Ner.
Now, my Dear,
All is clear,
And our Friends agree and join.
Let me know,
E'er I go,
Must I hang, or are you mine?

Ser.
Why so fast.
Why in haste?
Both, my Friend, may come at last.

Ner.
Let me taste,
Or I'm cast!
Better hang, than ever fast.
Lose me not then by your Hate;
Tho' 'tis true I am not cruel.
We love too soon, or you too late,
When we've wasted all our Fuel.

AIR.
Ser.
You're so pretty,
Airy, witty,
'Twere a pity
We shou'd part.
I cou'd love you,
And approve you,
Were I sure I had your Heart.
But soon Cooling
Follows fooling:
Shou'd you leave me,
Or deceive me,
For my Folly I shou'd smart.

[Going.
Ner.
Stay! E'er you leave me;
Hear, and believe me.—
Cruel, since you'll not be mine,
I'll go drown—my Love in Wine.
AIR.

[Going.
Ser.
Oh! Stay! Thou shalt not hang—I wou'd refuse thee;
But with fooling I might lose thee.

Ner.
As for hanging let that pass!
Did you think me such an Ass?—

Enter Liso and Eurilla.
Ner.
to Ser.
But see Eurilla now her Love possessing!
Long, happy Pair, enjoy, and prize your Blessing!

[To them.
Duo, or two Part Song.
Liso.
When I am ranging,

Eur.
When I am changing,

Both.
May Lions prey on my Flock and my Heart!

Eur.
With Love I'll kindly chain you.
We'll never, never part.

Liso.
All possessing, when I gain you,
Each Hour will Love impart.

Both.
Transported, to obtain you,
Ever join'd,
Ever kind,
I bless the Dart.

Eur.
Ch'io non l'adori!

Liso.
Ch'io la tradisca!

Eur. & Lis.
Pria mi saeti, mi fulmini il ciel!

Eur.
Porta nel volto vago
L'Idea di fedelta.

Liso.
Ne piu vezzosa imago
Amor formar non sà.
Tutti due.
E cede i suoi splendori
Chi non hà il cor di gel.

Ner.
I'm glad you so agree.
You're pleas'd, and so are we.
None grow so true in Love
As we who us'd to rove.
A-while abroad we taste;
But feast at home at last.

Liso.
Now ready, by my Care,
The Nuptial Pomp will soon attend my Fair.
Sure the greatest Glory's due,
To grace the Triumph of a Love so true.
Andiamo, cara Eurilla;
Dove l'Arcadia tutta
Con solita pompa vuol celebrar
La tua costanza & vuole
Che si vegga in Trionfo oggi il mio sole.

Duo, or two Part Song.
Liso.
Come, my Charmer, now to bless you
Love and Hymen shall combine.

Eur.
I am blest, since Love does press you,
Charming Shepherd, to be mine.

Liso.
Vieni, ô bella, vieni e godi
Che ora è tempo di gioir.

Eur.
Fido il piè, fido il cor mio,
Caro sposo, avrai con te.

Ser.
There's more Pleasure to possess you,
Than our Neighbours have to join.

Ner.
I hope better to caress you,
Tho' my Courtship's not so fine.

Liso., Ner.
Come, my Charmer, now to bless you
Love and Hymen shall combine.

[Exeunt.
Enter Licisca.
AIR.
Lic.

Enter several Shepherds and Shepherdesses, who cross the Stage, singing and dancing.
Chor.
Love and Hymen are combining.
Call all Nature to rejoice;
And applaud the Lover's Choice.
Ever shining,
Still refining,
Like the Sun the World adorning,
May their Joys be still returning.
Love and Hymen are combining.
Call all Nature to rejoice.

[Exeunt Shepherds and Shepherdesses. Licisca alone.
Lic.
Ah! cruel Joy! I'm punish'd over Measure;
With my Sorrow, and their Pleasure.
Oh break my Heart! or ease me, Fate!
Olindo's lost: There's nothing now can please me,
O Death, when Life I hate,
Why so slow to ease me?
AIR.

[Going.
Enter Olindo, who stops Licisca, as she is going to kill her self.
Olin.
Oh, hold! my Charmer! Live,
Or see Olindo die!

Lic.
When Life no Joy can give,
Why should you Death deny?

Olin.
Oh! forgive a false Disdain!
Love but feign'd, your Heart to gain.

Duo, or two Part Song,
Lic.
Oh! No more with Love torment me!

Olin.
Charmer, why should Love despair?

Lic.
I despair.

Olin.
I'll ease your Care.

Lic.
Life, nor Reason, can content me.

Olin.
Death or Life with you I'll share.

Lic.
Death or Madness are my Share.

Olin.
Life or Death with you I'll share.

Lic.
No. Tho' your Love I ever priz'd,
I dare not claim it when despis'd.
Since, idly vain, your Heart too long I try'd,
Death shall punish now my Pride.

Olin.
See me then first punish here
[Draws a Dagger.
The Cause of your Despair!

Lic.
Oh, hold! Death I do not fear,
[Runs to stop him.
But I cannot bear it there.

Olin.
Oh, my Life! my Soul! my Joy!
[Embracing her.
Now with Pleasure you destroy.
AIR.

[Exeunt.
Enter Neralbo and Serpetta Hand in Hand.
AIR.
Ner.
Come now, my Dear, be gay!
We're one, and all is right.
To crown the Wedding-day,
We'll have the Wedding-night.

Ser.
I would be merry; but I can't.
My Heart misgives me—Feel it pant.

Ner.
What more to cheer you can you want.

AIR.
Ser.
You say you love me—Do!
You please, and move me—True.
But prethee prove me—Do.
Your Love is true.
Never deceive me.
All you have, give me—Do.
Ever believe me—True.
Ever believe me—New,
And then 'twill do.

Ner.
What greater Proof of Love can be,
Unless I hang?—I marry thee.
But my Delight,
Stay but 'till Night,
I'll prove it o'er and o'er.
E'er nine Months pass,
My pretty Lass,
Thou too may'st prove it more.

Ser.
Be sure you do!
For false or true,
A Wife can quit your Score.

Duo, or two Part Song.
Ner.
Serpetta!

Ser.
Neralbo!

Ner.
My Pleasure!

Ser.
My Treasure!

Both.
For ever I'm thine.

Ser.
You warm me.

Ner.
You charm me.

Ser.
You flatter.

Both.
No matter, no matter!
Be worse, or be better;
We'll love, and we'll join.

[Exeunt.
Enter Olindo, Licisca and Liso.
Lic.
Your Change is just: Then say no more,
[To Liso.
We envy not your Choice.

Olin.
Heav'n, with Licisca, does my Joys restore.
We all are happy, and will all rejoice.

[To Liso.
AIR.
Liso.
Kind, happy Pair! Now all our Ills are past,
[To Licisca and Olindo.

The SCENE opens, and discovers Eurilla seated in the middle of an Amphitheatre, adorn'd with Myrtles and various Garlands of Flowers. She is attended by Shepherds and Shepherdesses, who spread to the Front of the Stage; Neralbo and Serpetta with 'em.
The Instruments perform a Symphony, to which some of the Shepherds, &c. dance.
Eur.
Come, Liso! come, my Treasure.
Come, with that happy Pair!
With me the Honor share,
That I may share the Pleasure.

Liso, Olindo and Licisca place themselves on the Amphitheatre by Eurilla.
Duo, or two Part Song.
Ser.
Fly, fond Lovers! Fly to Pleasure!
Seize the Treasure,
And enjoy.

Ser., Ner.
May the Blessing
You're Possessing,
Ever thus your Hours employ!
Fly, fond Lovers! Fly to Pleasure!
Seize the Treasure,
And enjoy.

A Grand DANCE.
Grand CHORUS.
True Love alone has real Joy.
True Love alone can never cloy.
Still brighter grows the Fire;
Still higher and higher.
Still aspiring,
Ne'er expiring,
The heav'nly Flame none can destroy.
True Love alone has real Joy.

[Exeunt Omnes.