University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE, the sea, as before. Merlin and Columbine.
Recitativo.
Col.
I'll not be satisfied:
No—

Merl.
Why?—relentless fair!
Sure!—when a perjur'd lover died,
He claim'd not this despair!

Col.
No more—I die, to hear his name,
Who, for my sake, has bled:

Merl.
Yet, while he liv'd, you join'd, to blame.

Col.
Alas!—But, now, he's dead!

Merl.
Wou'd you be pacified, my art
Cou'd, yet, his life restore:
But, let an oath convince my heart,
You ne'er will see him, more.

Col.
I swear—

Merl.
Enough. Behold this wand,
Whate'er he dares require,
Who waves it, with commanding hand,
It grants the bold desire.
Neptune, beneath the stormy wreck,
Shall hear its magic call:
And give your perish'd wand'rer, back,
From his sea-cover'd hall.

Col.
If such, its power, ah! let my hand
That charity bestow!
Let him, by aid of this dear wand,
To me, redemption owe.
To me, who, injur'd, can forgive;
And will, from death, restore:
Then, once, upbraid him—bid him live,
And never see him more.

Merlin intrusts her with the wand; and she sings the following incantation.
Air XX.
Col.
Down, through the deep, down, far, far, far, below,
Profoundly aweful, and serene!
Where whisp'ring tempests are afraid to blow,
And nothing mortal's seen!
Hear!—from thy coral groves, great Neptune! hear!
Descend, ye Pow'rs, that aid my waving rod!
Descend in magic sounds—go, near;
Strike thro' his storm-resisting ear:
And wake the sleeping god!
Tell him—love, that lives, to bless,
Reclaims a wanderer, lost:
O!—let him save me from distress;
And free the fleeting ghost.

During the invocation, there arises out of the sea, a huge whale, that covers the whole flat of the stage.—In the mouth of the whale, sits Harlequin, with a lanthorn in his hand, and sings, in his ascending.
[Note, a singer placed behind him.
Air XXI.
Harl.
Where am I? good people, where am I?
It smells like a fish's belly!
May I never more dive,
If, dead, or alive,
Is a point, that I know, how to tell ye!
But whoever may ha' me,
I am sure, I don't sham ye,
When I swear, and declare,
That I tremble, and stare;
And am melting apace, to a jelly!

The whale continues to rise, higher and higher, till at length it forms the roof to a marine palace, supported on for

---

341

silvery pillars, glittering like the scales of fishes.—The sea re-appears below; and, from the midst of it, arises a coral rock, with Neptune seated on its top; surrounded by Tritons below, and Mermaids at more distance.
Air XXII.
To the sound of the Tritons' shells.
Nept.
Sound, sound, ye Tritons! sound your tuneful shells!
Tell the mortal, that invokes us,
Magic force, in vain, provokes us;
But, when love its sorrow tells,
Complaining beauty, heard through all our cells,
Our aid compels;
And adamantine hearts to pity swells!
Tell the Fair One, we approve her;
Send her back, her roving lover,
More sincere, and grateful to her.—
Let, him since his fancy chose her,
Let him—now his life he owes her,
With a faithful passion, woe her,
Nor pursue her,
Like a false one—to undoe her.
Let him, &c.

During the song, a succession of rocks, arising from behind, form a winding ascent to the back part of the roof, whereby Neptune goes up out of sight, preceded in state by the Tritons; while the Mermaids sink into the surges.

The clouds being drawn up from before, there appears, above the roof, a transparent arch; to the opening whereof advance the Tritons, from behind; followed by Neptune, leading Harlequin, and delivering him, at the opening of the arch, to the care of two Cupids: supported between whom, he is gently let down to the sound of soft music; and presented to Columbine.

Air XXIII.
Col.
Turn, turn away your face,
Lest this last favour,
This final act of grace,
This leave you gave her;
Shou'd bring your mistress woe,
By your repenting:
And you shou'd jealous grow,
And curse consenting.

Air XXIV.
Merl.
Stretch, as you please, your grace,
I will not heed it:
See! see!—I shade my face;
'Twas Love decreed it.

Merlin turning away his face, and shading himself behind his robe, Columbine, after winking upon Harlequin, strikes Merlin with the wand, and changes him into an ass, with a halter about his neck: after which, she dresses Harlequin in his rival's robe, and puts the wand into his hand; with which, he struts and dances about in exstacy: and, at length, mounting on the ass's back, is led off in triumph by Columbine, singing.
Air XXV.
Col.
The wise may take warning, as well as they can,
Still thus, will it come to pass!
Let a young woman loose, at an old cunning man;
The conjurer proves but an ass.