 | The Prodigal Son |  |
10
2. PART SECOND.
Chorus of Neighbours.CHORUS.
Arise , great God, with Vengeance rise,
The black unnat'ral Wretch confound,
Who dares thy great Behests despise,
Who dares a Parent's Bosom wound!
Mother advances.
RECITATIVE.
Moth.
No more, my Friends—Heav'n, in its own due Time,
Will sentence and chastise. From the sick Bed,
And pious Task arose, my Mind is calm,
And harbours no Resentment. All my Thoughts
Are on this Suff'rer turn'd. While thus I sue,
That Nature's great Restorer may allay
His sore Inquietudes, his bitter Pangs,
With your good Wishes aid the suppliant Strain,
Oh! aid, and waft it to the eternal Throne!
11
Moth.
Grant, holy Lord, that dewy Sleep
May shed its balmy Comforts o'er him!
In gentle Dreams his Senses steep,
And place ideal Joys before him,
That his waking Thoughts may be
Full of Hope, and full of thee!
Prodigal and Companions.
Prod.
Why this Suspense? Why should a Moment's Pause
Pall the rich Pleasures of our glowing Hearts?
Joy, like the rapid Ocean's ceaseless Wave,
With unremitting Force should pour along,
While Strength and Nature aid the gen'rous Course.
AIR and CHORUS.
With Love and Impatience I burn,
In our Revels let Love have his Turn!
From Pleasure to Pleasure we range,
Say, say, what is Life without Change?
Away with the Vintage, away with the Bowl,
Till Beauty hath pour'd her Delights on my Soul.
CHORUS.
Away with the Vintage, &c.
Then again o'er the Flaggon we meet,
The Roof-rending Chorus repeat;
As the Goblet the Table o'erflows,
Our Fullness of Transport it shews;
Thus, Thus, let us revel in various Delight,
Let Wine crown the Day and let Love crown the Night
CHORUS.
Thus, thus, let us revel, &c.
RECITATIVE.[I.]
Prod.With Love and Impatience I burn,
In our Revels let Love have his Turn!
From Pleasure to Pleasure we range,
Say, say, what is Life without Change?
Away with the Vintage, away with the Bowl,
Till Beauty hath pour'd her Delights on my Soul.
CHORUS.
Away with the Vintage, &c.
II.
Prod.Then again o'er the Flaggon we meet,
The Roof-rending Chorus repeat;
12
Our Fullness of Transport it shews;
Thus, Thus, let us revel in various Delight,
Let Wine crown the Day and let Love crown the Night
CHORUS.
Thus, thus, let us revel, &c.
2nd. Com.
See, see, behold thy Comrade! say, thou Dreamer,
Why, with reluctant Hand, didst thou upheave
The brimming Bowl, and wherefore did thy Lip
Shun the rich Draught distasteful?
1st Com.
With Disgust,
Or Shame—I know not what—my Mind is charg'd
AIR.
Or Shame—I know not what—my Mind is charg'd
Within my dark, my troubled Soul,
What sudden Doubts tumultuous rowl!
Some awful Pow'r usurps my Heart,
Some awful Voice, cries out, “Depart;”
“Th'intemperate Board, it's Riots shun,
“Destruction hastes—away!—begone!—
What sudden Doubts tumultuous rowl!
Some awful Pow'r usurps my Heart,
Some awful Voice, cries out, “Depart;”
“Th'intemperate Board, it's Riots shun,
“Destruction hastes—away!—begone!—
RECITATIVE.
Prod.
Stay, my Friend,
And share my Joys! thy lov'd Companion-ship
Gives them a double Relish.
2d. Com.
Let him go;
13
In loose Attire, a lovely Train of Beauties;
With tripping Gait, and wanton Eye, they court
Our ardent Wishes. In delightful Strife
Now war we for the fairest!
Prod.
Various Fancy
In each beholds Attraction. Here I fix—
These auburn Locks, these glowing Cheeks, these Eyes,
Practis'd in Love's soft Eloquence, invite me.
TRIO and CHORUS.
Hither, fair one, hither bend,
Warm Desires thy Steps attend!
2d. Com.
Hither, fair one, speed thy Way,
Ardent Throbs brook no Delay!
3d. Com.
Hither, fair one, hither dart,
Damp not thou a burning Heart!
Prod.
Grandeur thee and Wealth await,
All the Luxury of State.
2d. Com.
Thee the full the festive Board,
All that Fruits and Wines afford.
3d. Com.
Thee the Pipe, the sprightly Ball,
Haste thee, Nymph, at Music's call!
Chorus.
Hither, fair one, hither bend,
Warm Desires thy Steps attend!
RECITATIVE.
2d. Com.
What Heart, but to the Throne of Beauty bows,
And owns her Pow'r resistless?—See relenting
Thy fav'rite Comrade!
14
No such impious Motive
Recalls my Step; but Zeal for thee, my Friend.
Read'st thou not in my Eye some horrid Tidings?
Within this Land, fell Famine, meagre Fiend,
With ghastly Mein advances. Wide he stalks,
And, as he goes, destroys; the wretched Rustic
Threats Violation to thy treasur'd Hoards,
To gratify his Wants. Rouze thee, my Friend,
And ope thine Eyes to Virtue!
AIR.
Recalls my Step; but Zeal for thee, my Friend.
Read'st thou not in my Eye some horrid Tidings?
Within this Land, fell Famine, meagre Fiend,
With ghastly Mein advances. Wide he stalks,
And, as he goes, destroys; the wretched Rustic
Threats Violation to thy treasur'd Hoards,
To gratify his Wants. Rouze thee, my Friend,
And ope thine Eyes to Virtue!
What Stores have been consum'd!
What Days to Riot doom'd!
See! Ruin aims the deadly Blow,
While yet possess'd of Pow'r;
Repent the lavish Hour!
Repent, 'ere sunk in endless woe!
What Days to Riot doom'd!
See! Ruin aims the deadly Blow,
While yet possess'd of Pow'r;
Repent the lavish Hour!
Repent, 'ere sunk in endless woe!
RECITATIVE.
Prod.
Hence! Begone!
Thou Poison to our Joys! and brood alone
Oe'r thy spleen-born Suggestions. While the Moment
Of Mirth invites, no Thought of future Ill
Shall interrupt th'Enjoyment. Let us on.
CHORUS.
Thou Poison to our Joys! and brood alone
Oe'r thy spleen-born Suggestions. While the Moment
Of Mirth invites, no Thought of future Ill
Shall interrupt th'Enjoyment. Let us on.
The Heart, inflam'd with am'rous Fire,
Glowing Charms and ripe Desire,
Scorns to yield to freezing Fear,
Fear and Doubt are Strangers here;
Sov'reign of the Bosom's Throne,
Love controuls, and Love alone.
Glowing Charms and ripe Desire,
15
Fear and Doubt are Strangers here;
Sov'reign of the Bosom's Throne,
Love controuls, and Love alone.
Eldest Brother and Sister.
RECITATIVE.
E. Bro.
Sister, I trust our Father's long Disease
Will soon have End; his Med'cines have prevail'd;
And Natures's great Restorative begins
To crown our earnest Pray'rs.
Sist.
Ev'n now I left him
Folded in balmy Sleep. With softest Breathings
His Bosom mildly heav'd. Some heav'nly Dream
Inspir'd, and whisper'd Comfort to his Heart;
For, ever and anon, a gentle Smile
Stole on his Cheek, while Life's recruited Stream,
In graceful Tints, gave Signs of inward Joy.
E. Bro.
Thanks, gracious God! Hereon, beloved Sister,
I build a Trust immoveable.
AIR.
I build a Trust immoveable.
When pious Hearts, with Zeal unfeign'd,
The Throne of Heav'n address,
The King of Kings an Ear will lend,
Prone to pity, save, and bless.
The Throne of Heav'n address,
The King of Kings an Ear will lend,
Prone to pity, save, and bless.
16
RECITATIVE.
Sist.
And see! confirming this your pious Faith,
Our Sire has left his Couch; with added Strength
He moves this Way. Advance we to his Aid!
Fath.
Ye (wond'rous Pair!) Ye, who can make Amends
For greater Pains, than one unduteous Boy
Can give an aged Parent's failing Heart,
Partake your Mother's Joy; from softest Sleep
Gently releas'd, some more than wonted Spirit
Informs my Mind, my Frame appears new-brac'd,
And every Pain is flown.
AIR.
For greater Pains, than one unduteous Boy
Can give an aged Parent's failing Heart,
Partake your Mother's Joy; from softest Sleep
Gently releas'd, some more than wonted Spirit
Informs my Mind, my Frame appears new-brac'd,
And every Pain is flown.
Returning Health hath warm'd me,
Returning Strength hath arm'd me
To greet once more th'all-cheering Day;
With active Heat
My Pulses beat,
In nimble Round
My Spirits bound,
And revel in the sunny Ray.
Returning Strength hath arm'd me
To greet once more th'all-cheering Day;
With active Heat
My Pulses beat,
In nimble Round
My Spirits bound,
And revel in the sunny Ray.
RECITATIVE.
Moth.
Yes, yes, my Children;
The dearest Help-mate, Wife yet ever knew,
Heav'n has restor'd to my desiring Soul;
How shall I speak my Rapture, how my Praise?
17
To pay our God the Tribute due,
Faint is Utt'rance, Words are few.
Sist.
Bended Knees, and prostrate Heart,
Grateful Thanks can best impart.
E. Bro.
What the falt'ring Tongue denies
The Fullness of the Soul supplies.
Fath.
Yet your feeble Efforts try,
Lift your Voices, lift them high!
Chorus.
Yet your feeble Efforts, &c.
Fath.
When feeling Hearts their Thanks prefer,
Each Sigh, each Thought, to Heav'n is dear.
Chorus.
When feeling Hearts, &c.
Fath.
Our God, who reigns in endless State,
Is mild as just, and kind as great.
Chorus.
Our God, who reigns in endless State,
Is mild as just, and kind as great.
End of the Second Part.
| The Prodigal Son | |