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SCENE II.
The Magician appears at the Mouth of the Cave.Magician.
That supernat'ral Pow'r which helps my Art,
Long e'er your coming, told me why you came;
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High on the Summit of yon dreadful Hill,
Slaves to the fierce Armida's Pleasure lye.
Thither no Mortal Courage can arrive,
Unless high Heav'n shall please to lend a Force,
Equal to that of Hell, which guards her Palace.
Godf.
My Sword shall be my Guide.
Eust.
My Virtue mine.
Godf.
Follow ye faithful Sharers of my Glory.
Eust.
Thus let me lead you on to noble Victory.
Godfrey and Eustatio, with drawn Swords, and follow'd by their Soldiers, ascend the Mountain, regardless of the Magician who calls after them.
Magician.
Forbear you mad unthinking Braves forbear,
Soon shall your Ship of Hope a Tempest meet,
Will drown you in a wondrous Sea of Terror.
Godfrey, Eustatio and the Soldiers, having climb'd half way up the Mountain, are stopp'd by a Row of ugly Spirits, who start up before 'em; The Soldiers, frighted, endeavour to run back, but are cut off in their Way by another Troop, who start up below 'em. In the midst of their Confusion, the Mountain opens and swallows 'em up, with Thunder, Lightning, and amazing Noises. Godfrey, Eustatio, and the Soldiers who escape, return in great Confusion to the Magician's Cave.
Godf.
The dreadful River of impetuous Death
Rolls down upon us!
Eust.
Stormy Acheron
Vomits her blackest Horrours on our Heads!
Magician.
Wonder not, mighty Warriours, that you sail'd;
To Earthly Valour it was never given,
Alone to vanquish Hell's infernal Rage.
But take these fatal Wands, and then return,
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No Witchcraft can withstand the touch of Heav'n.
Godf.
Now Brother to the Trial!
Eust.
Impatience galls my Thought; on let us go,
And hurl swift Vengeance on our impious Foe.
They reascend the Mountain, while the Magician stands at his Cave Door, and sings, to encourage 'em. The Spirits, as before, present themselves in opposition, but upon the Touch of the Wands, vanish upward and downward, with terrible Noises and Confusion. They gain the Summit of the Hill and entring the Enchanted Arches, strike the Gate with their Wands; when immediatly the Palace, the Spirits, and the whole Mountain vanish away, and Godfrey and Eustatio are discover'd hanging on the sides of a vast Rock in the middle of the Sea; with much Difficulty they reach the Top, and descend on the other side.
The Magicians Song.
Fearless climb, illustrious Strangers,
Facing Death, and scorning Dangers,
Till your pious End you gain;
Virtue guiding your Advances,
Vain alas are all the Chances,
Hell can form to give you Pain.
As soon as the Magician sees the Enchantment ended, he goes into his Cave.
Magician.
O great and sure Effect of Virtue's Pow'r!
Which no Designs can hurt, no Hell devour!
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