University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

The SCENE is a Grove with a Green, and a Village at a Distance.
Eurilla is discover'd in a Melancholic Posture on a green Bank.
AIR.
Eur.

Enter Neralbo singing, and in a manner dancing, without observing Eurilla.
AIR.
Ner.
Let's laugh, and dance, and play,
Dull Care defying:
No Swain, that's bold and gay,
Can fear denying.
When Shepherds whine and pray,
The Nymph is flying;
How should they get the Day
Who're always dying.

Eur.
Neralbo! Neralbo!

Ner.
Let's laugh, and dance, and play—

Eur.
Neralbo, hear me!

Ner.
Dull Care defying.

Eur.
Neralbo—

Ner.
Would you but hold your Tongue,
I might sing out my Song.

Eur.
Do you know where is Liso?

Ner.
I keep my Dog and Sheep;
But him I do not keep.

Eur.
Why thus d'you answer, Shepherd?

Ner.
Nymph, if you want the Foreign Swain,
Yonder's his Cottage on the Plain—
Go—Tho' I'm sure you'll go in vain.

[Aside.
Eu.
Tho' Passion's pressing,
A Virgin's Honour bars her from Addressing.

AIR.
Ner.
Do like the rest,
Do like the best,
A Lover's Heart to strike.
They leer,
They sneer,
They Dress,
Caress,
And wheadle, where they like.

Eur.
Hard to a modest Mind the Task must prove,
Yet harder to desponding Love.
My Heart in Pity cheer,
Ye Pow'rs, to charm him!
My cold Despair
Will never, never warm him.

AIR.
Be gay, my Eyes! Regain a Heart with Smiles!
Try ev'ry Art that pleases and beguiles!
But oh! in vain, I try;
My Looks my Aim destroy;
How hard's the Trial,
In Love's Denial,
To give Despair the Face of Joy?

[Exit. Eurilla.
Ner.
Ah! poor Eurilla!—She for Liso mourns.—
The wand'ring Swain for false Licisca burns;
That vain Licisca, who, the great one's way,
Hunts down the Game, then slights the Prey.
AIR.
But, as warm in our Love, we'll ne'er baulk one another.
She comes—My little Heart does skip and bound,
Just like our Flock, when a fresh Pasture's found.

Enter Serpetta, with a Basket of Flowers.
AIR.
Ser.
Sweet Lillies, and Roses,
I'm chusing for Posies.
More Thorns we discover
In chusing a Lover.

Ner.
Our Eyes, and our Noses,
Chuse Lillies, and Roses.
To please you all over,
Chuse Love and a Lover.—
Serpetta, stay.

Ser.
No, no; I must leave you,
I cannot believe you.

Ner.
D'you think, my Dear, I would deceive you?

Ser.
Indeed I would, but can't believe you.

Ner.
To please you all over,
Take Love and a Lover.

Ser.
My Mother told me, that you Men
Speak not one Word of Truth in ten.
I'm simple; yet I know full well,
Since you're no Woman, you can't tell.

Ner.
Believe me, and try;
I ne'er told a Lie.

Ser.
There's railing,
And wailing,
All Day, when we're wed.

Ner.
Tho' we wrangle,
And jangle,
All's made up abed.

Duo, or two Part Song.

My Dear, let us wed!
I'll venture my Head;
'Tis time you were sped.

Ser.
My Friends bid me tarry,
You Men do so vary;
I would—but I dread.

Ner.
So pretty, so airy,
Say, are you not weary
Of living a Maid?

Ser.
Tho' I am but silly,
D'you think I will tell ye?
No, no; I'm afraid.

Ner.
My Dear one—

Ser.
You'd jeer one.

Ner.
Relieve me.

[Together.
Ser.
Oh leave me.
[Together.
No, no, I'm afraid.

Ner.
My Dear, let us wed, &c.

Ser.
I would, oh! I would, but I dread.

[Exit Serpetta and Neralbo.
Enter Liso.
AIR.
Liso.
Enter Olindo.

Olin.
Her Falshood and Disdain,
At last have broke my Chain.
A nobler Passion
Has conquer'd Inclination—
You leave a Nymph, whom slow to Love you find:
Would you be constant to the changing Wind?

Liso.
Charm'd by the fair Deceiver,
I cannot leave her.
Tu mi parli da Saggio, e non da amante.

AIR.

My fatal Charmer
Chains me before her.
Could true Love warm her,
Gods might adore her.
E una Tiranna
Il mio Tesoro.
Sò che m'inganna;
Mà pur l'adoro.

Olin.
Tho' coy my Charmer,
I'm chain'd before her.
No Love can warm her;
Yet I adore her.

Enter Licisca.
Lic.
Shepherds, the Gods preserve ye!

Olin.
From false Licisca's Looks, and fatal Pow'r!

Lic.
Alas! poor Shepherd! are you still afraid!
Am I some Asp, or Monster?

Liso.
Wondrous your Beauty, killing are your Darts;
The Love, Delight, and Torment of our Hearts.
Mostro sei di Bellezza, Aspe d'amore.
Dolce conforto, e pena del mio core.

Olin.
Freed from th'alluring Danger,
I dread it now for thee, too easie Stranger.

Lic.
Believe a baffled Swain,
You'll never gain
What he has try'd in vain.
Follow me, my dear Liso.

Liso.
Olindo, adieu!
Olindo, Adio.

AIR.
Lic.
Kindly, kindly, thus, my Treasure,
Ever love me, ever charm.
But let Love still prove a Pleasure,
Let the Passion know no Measure;
Yet no jealous Care alarm.
Kindly, kindly, thus, my Treasure,
Ever love me, ever charm.

[Ex. Licisca and Liso.
Olin.
Advice is lost on Lovers:
Reason's vain.
Our Ills it discovers;
But ne'er ends our Pain.
While we others ridicule,
We in our Turns all play the Fool.—
Ev'n I, Licisca scorning,
Feel sometimes Love returning;
Tho' for another burning—
Eurilla comes—Oh! Love! by her retrieve me!
Let fickle Liso gain my perjur'd Fair!
To his slighted Treasure leave me,
And of two Wretches make a happy Pair.—

Enter Eurilla.
Eur.
Ah! Liso, must I lose thee?
[Aside.
My Pride, to try thee, might refuse thee;
But my Heart did ever chuse thee:
And what true Lover,
For a Denial would give over?

Olin.
She grieves! Let me gently chear,
[Aside.
And tune to Peace, the mournful Fair.
Peace and Joy to Love prepare.
AIR.
Young and Charming,
[To Eur.
Hearts alarming,
Say, why lament you?
What can torment you,
Now 'tis strange!
When a Lover
Proves a Rover,
Give him over.
He relieves you,
When he leaves you
Room for Change.

Enter Serpetta.
Eur.
Too late, Olindo, you advise:
Love's ev'n a Folly in the Wise.
All foreign Aid, like Reason, fails,
When there's a Foe within prevails.

Ser.
Away with Grief! To help you to recover,
Do as Menalcas once advis'd a Lover.
[To Eur.
AIR.
What burns the Mournful, but warms the Gay.

Olin.
The Counsel's good; yet, charming Creature,
'Twill be sweeter
To crown my Love, and let a faithful Swain
Ease his Torment, and your Pain.

Eur.
Alas! I love, and 'tis in vain.

Ser.
Will you talk of Love again?

Olin.
While I prize you,
Liso flies you.

Eur.
Alas! I love, and 'tis in vain.

Duo, or two Part Song.
Eur.
Him I love: No longer try me!

Olin.
You I love: No longer fly me!

Eur.
He alone commands my Heart.

Olin.
You alone command my Heart.
Ease my Anguish!

Eur.
Pleas'd, I languish.

Olin.
Ne'er deny me.

Eur.
Love does tie me.

Olin.
Bless a Lover!

Eur.
Oh! give over!

Olin.
Mingle Pleasure with the Smart!

Eur.
There's a Pleasure in the Smart.

[Ex. Olin.
Ser.
Well, let him go; and yet 'tis Pity
To slight a Swain so kind, and pretty.
Just so you serv'd the foreign Swain;
And now for him you sigh in vain.

Eur.
Hurtful Caution! guiltless Fault!
Needful Danger! forc'd Denial!
Fatal Trial!
Racking, and upbraiding Thought!
AIR.

[Exeunt.
Enter Liso and Licisca.
Duo, or two Part Song.
Lic.
How great is the Blessing!

Liso.
O Joy past expressing!

Both.
My Charmer is loving; my Charmer is kind,

Lic.
Why sigh you?

Liso.
I languish.

Lic.
What Anguish?—

Liso.
Fond Lovers still languish 'till join'd.

Lic.
O giorno beato!

Liso.
Momento felice!
Se stringer mi lice
L'amato mio ben.

Pray Note, That throughout the Opera what is mark'd thus “with double Comma's in the Margent is left out.
Lic.
(Aside...)
“Olindo to regain,
“I've sooth'd and caught the roving Swain.
“Now I'll be coy again. (...Aside)


Lic.
to Liso.
But what will Eurilla say,
And ev'ry Nymph and Swain
On our Arcadian Plain,
Should we thus our selves betray?
Oh! the Thought I dread, I hate:
Let me 'scape, e'er 'tis too late.

Liso.
Oh! my Treasure, no denying!
If you leave me, see me dying.
O mio Tesoro,
Se m'abandonni, io moro.

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

Liso.
“Lost in Wonder,
“Stunn'd with Thunder;
“Can I believe,
“In spight of Vows, you'll Liso leave!

AIR.
Lic.
“Do not, oh! do not talk of Vows,
“Presuming Lover!
“'Tis Folly—my Anger you rouse:
“Reason a Change allows
“When Love is over.

Liso.
Fair Delusion! fickle Mind!
You're most cruel, when you're kind.
When I with early Harvest feast my Eyes,
Wild for the golden Joy,
Smiling, like Light'ning, you surprise;
And smile but to destroy.
Era pur meglio, instabile Licisca,
Lasciarmi nel dolor, che un sol momento
Farmi gioir, perche risenti poi,
Con doppia doglia, i tradimenti tuoi.

Enter Neralbo.
Ner.
Liso, Eurilla sends me—

Liso.
Imprudent Shepherd,
Say no more, or you'll repent it.
Ardito Servo,
Chiudi il labro, ò t'uccido.

Ner.
Is Liso mad, Licisca?

Lic.
Oh! this is pleasant! Go on, Neralbo.
Tell us what wants Eurilla?

Ner.
Eurilla—

Liso.
Swain, give over—
[To Neralbo.
Hear, my Charmer, hear your Lover.
[To Lic.
Mio conforto,
Dammi aita, ò con morto.

Ner.
I'd tell it; but I can't.

Lic.
What does Eurilla want?

Ner.
What Liso soon may grant.

Lic.
Go on.—

Ner.
A word or two with Liso.

Lic.
Go, Shepherd! see the Fair!
None more deserves your Care.

Liso.
Ah! my Licisca, when so well I love you,
Say, should I leave you now, would it not move you?
Non ho si poco amor perte, Liçisca,
Che mi lasci partir senza cordoglio.

Lic.
You think me jealous sure.
Go, Liso, you're secure.
AIR.
[Exit Licisca

Ner.
Now sure you'll let me go.

Liso.
No.

Ner.
I'm gone.

Liso.
Pernicious Messenger!—
Perfido Messaggiero.

Ner.
What have I done?

Liso.
By thy presuming Tongue,
The greatest Wrong.
D'ogni tormento mio cagion tu sei.

Ner.
Eurilla—

Liso.
What? again!
Che vuoi dir?

Ner.
I say no more.

Liso.
Go, tell her, when her Pride and Coldness drove
From her my neglected Love,
'Tis poor, to envy the Delights
To which a kinder Nymph invites.
What she, refusing, did restore,
Is giv'n away, and mine no more.
There was a Time: But 'tis too late;
Nor can I think 'tis Love, but Hate.
To ease us both then, say, I swore,
If e'er I see Eurilla more,
She this ill Usage must repair;
And make Licisca ease my Care.
AIR.
[Exit Liso.


Odimmi!
In questo punto, ad Eurilla dira
Ch'un vero affetto
Mi contrasta le gioie al suo diletto.
Dirai che amo Licisca, e che gran prova
Sarebbe del suo amor se à prò del mio
Usasse ogn' arte, e di Licisca il core
Inspirasse per Liso, e fede, e amore.
La crudel che mi feri
Forse un di,
Forse chi sa,
Fedel mi sanera.
Voglio Sperar, ch'Amor
Tenor cangiar vorrà.
Ne sempre del mio cor
Tiranno esser potrà.

Ner.
He's mad, or deep in Love—'Tis all a Case;
Or poor Eurilla he'd not so disgrace,
Nor bid her court her Rival in his Place.
I'll tell her tho'; for sure
This may her Passion cure.
She woo Licisca for him! Can it be?
Unless she's as mad as he.—
But Serpetta's coming hither,—
I fear I'm as mad as either.

Enter Serpetta.
Ner.
Heav'n the fair Serpetta bless!

Ser.
Kind Neralbo, you no less.

Ner.
For that, your Hand is all I want.

Ser.
Hold; 'tis what I dare not grant.
A Shepherd swore
As much before;
Then he wanted something more.

AIR.
Ner.
No more Trial,
Nor Denial;
Be more kind,
And tell your Mind.
So crost,
So tost,
I'm sad,
I'm mad;
Be more kind, and tell your Mind.
No more then hide your good Nature,
Thou dear Creature!
Balk no longer Love nor Hunger!
Both grow stronger, when we're younger;
But fall, and pall at last,
If long we fast.
No more Trial! Be more kind, and tell your Mind.

Ser.
I'm asham'd;—Thus do not ply me.

Ner.
Why do you turn? Thus do not fly me.

Ser.
I am told, I still should fly him,
[Aside.
And deny him:
But, I vow,
I can't tell how.
AIR.

Ner.
Oh! I must—

Ser.
Oh! pray forbear!

Ner.
Who can forbear?

Ser.
See the Nymphs and Swains appear.—
[To him.
I grew weaker; he grew stronger;—
[Aside.
Oh! 'tis well they stay'd no longer.

Enter Licisca, attended by many Shepherds and Shepherdesses, who advance, and place themselves on both sides the Stage; the Music playing a March all the while.
Lic.
Shining Days, and cooling Gales;
Flow'ry Plains, and fruitful Vales,
Leasie Shades;
Groves and Glades,
Prattling Ecchoes, Verdant Hills,
Warbling Birds, and murm'ring Rills;
Bleeting Flocks, and springing Joy,
Here the Nymphs and Swains employ.
AIR.

A Shepherdess Sings.
Gay, kind, and airy.
Sweet is a Lover.
Sweet is a Lover,
Gay, kind, and airy:
But when we marry,
Too soon we vary,
Courting,
And sporting,
Are over.

The Chorus of Shepherds and Shepherdesses repeat the Song.
A DANCE.
Duo, or two Part Song.
Ser.
Blest with Freedom, Peace, and Leisure,
What is sweeter than our Pleasure?
What is sweeter?

Ner.
Love will show you,
Love will show you, dearest Creature,
Love will show you what is sweeter.

A DANCE.
A Shepherdess.
Now is the time for sporting;
Be here no Love, no Care,
No formal Courting!
Here gaily time employing,
We none to Sorrow spare,
Each Hour enjoying.
Now is the time for sporting!
Be here no Love, no Care,
No formal Courting!

The Chorus of Shepherds and Shepherdesses repeat the Song, while some others dance to the same Tune.
[Exeunt.