 | Rinaldo |  |
SCENE VI.
Enter Armida to Argantes.Arm.
To aggravate thy Grief for my Disdain,
Thus, with triumphant Joy, I face a Traitor.
Arg.
That haughty and insulting Air of thine,
Has Pow'r to move no Passion but my Anger.
Arm.
My injur'd Love shall prove a Devil to damn thee
Arg.
'Twill be a very harmless Devil!
Arm.
Ah no!
'Twill prove a Bosome Fury to torment thee.
Arg.
Woman begone. This is a Day of War,
Thy Sex but serve to soften Men to Cowards.
Arm.
I have a manly Heart, unkind Argantes,
And feel the Force of Glory, when Fame calls.
Arg.
Whate'er my coming Chance in War may be,
In Love I must be conquer'd; say Armida,
Canst thou forgive me?
Arm.
When I've try'd, I'll tell you.
Arg.
The Guilty Part is mine.
Arm.
'Tis well you own it
Arg.
Love caus'd my Fault.
Arm.
I err'd a little too.
Arg.
Now I repent.
Arm.
I lov'd Rinaldo Sir,
(Both together)
Then let this dear Embrace
Our mutual Guilt Efface.
They embrace.
55
Now let us join our Rage to meet the Foe.
Arm.
Lose we our Strifes of Love in Strifes of War;
Arg.
The very Heav'ns their Whirlwind Trumpets sound
And call to Battel.
Arm.
On our side appear,
The Earth, the Skies, Hell, and our Prophet's Pow'r.
The Pagan Trumpets sound a March, and the Army is seen to pass the Gate, and in military Order descend the Mountain, at whose Foot they pay the usual Compliments of War, as they pass by, to Argantes and Armida.
Arg.
Yon Wood of Lances shall outgrow the Palms,
Our haughty Foes reap'd in their hasty Conquests.
Arm.
Drown'd in a Sea of Blood their Fame shall sink.
(Both together)
To Triumph summon'd hence
In Asia's just Defence,
Give we this Day to Rage.
That past, with Joy return,
In softer Fires to burn,
And in Love Fights engage.
In Asia's just Defence,
Give we this Day to Rage.
That past, with Joy return,
In softer Fires to burn,
And in Love Fights engage.
To &c.
| Rinaldo | |