 | Dido and Aeneas |  |
The PROLOGUE.
Phæbus Rises in the Chariot, Over the Sea, the Nereids out of the Sea.Phæbus,
From Aurora's Spicy Bed,
Phæbus rears his Sacred Head.
His Coursers Advancing,
Curvetting and Prancing.
1. Nereid,
Phæbus strives in vain to Tame 'em,
With Ambrosia Fed too high.
2. Nereid,
Phæbus ought not now to blame 'em,
Wild and eager to Survey
The fairest Pageant of the Sea.
Phæbus.
Tritons and Nereids come pay your Devotion
Cho.
To the New rising Star of the Ocean.
Venus Descends in her Chariot, The Tritons out of the Sea. The Tritons Dance.
Nereid.
Look down ye Orbs and See
A New Divinity.
Phæ.
Whose Lustre does Out-Shine
Your fainter Beams, and half Eclipses mine,
Give Phæbus leave to Prophecy.
Phæbus all Events can see.
Ten Thousand Thousand Harmes.
From such prevailing Charmes,
To Gods and Men must instantly Ensue.
Cho.
And if the Deity's above,
Are Victims of the powers of Love,
What must wretched Mortals do.
Venus)
Fear not Phæbus, fear not me,
A harmless Deity.
2
What can these blind Archers do.
Phæ.
Blind they are, but strike the Heart,
Ven.
What Phæbus say's is alwayes true.
They Wound indeed, but 'tis a pleasing smart.
Phæ.
Earth and Skies address their Duty,
To the Sovereign Queen of Beauty.
All Resigning,
None Repining
At her undisputed Sway.
Cho,
To Phæbus and Venus our Homage wee'l pay,
Her Charmes blest the Night, as his Beams blest the day.
The Nerieds Dance.
Exit.)
The Spring Enters with her Nymphs.
[Scene the Grove.
Ven.
See the Spring in all her Glory,
Cho.
Welcomes Venus to the Shore,
Ven.
Smiling Hours are now before you,
Hours that may return no more.
[Exit, Phæ. Ven. Soft Musick
Spring,
Our Youth and Form declare,
For what we were designed.
'Twas Nature made us Fair,
And you must make us kind.
He that fails of Addressing,
'Tis but Just he shou'd fail of Possessing.
The Spring and Nymphs Dance.
Shepherdesses,
Jolly Shepherds come away,
To Celebrate this Genial Day,
And take the Friendly Hours you vow to pay,
Now make Trial,
And take no Denial.
Now carry your Game, or for ever give o're.
The Shepherds and Shepherdesses Dance.
Cho.
Let us Love and happy Live,
Possess those smiling Hours,
The more auspicious Powers,
And gentle Planets give.
Prepare those soft returns to Meet,
That makes Loves Torments Sweet.
The Nymphs Dance.
3
He,
Tell, Tell me, prithee Dolly,
And leave thy Melancholy.
Why on the Plaines, the Nymphs and Swaines,
This Morning are so Jolly.
She.
By Zephires gentle Blowing.
And Venus Graces Flowing.
The Sun has bin to Court our Queen,
And Tired the Spring with wooing.
He,
The Sun does guild our Bowers,
She,
The Spring does yield us Flowers.
She sends the Vine,
He,
He makes the Wine,
To Charm our happy Hours.
She,
She gives our Flocks their Feeding,
He,
He makes 'em fit for Breeding.
She,
She decks the Plain,
He,
He fills the Grain,
And makes it worth the Weeding.
Cho.
But the Jolly Nymph Thitis that long his Love sought,
Has Flustred him now with a large Mornings draught.
Let's go and divert him, whilst he is Mellow,
You know in his Cups he's a Hot-Headed Fellow.
The Countreys Maids Dance.
[Exit]
| Dido and Aeneas | |