University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

Scene an open Valley, whose Prospect is confin'd by a Mountain on one side, and Woods on the other, and the Sea at a distance forward.
Aurelia, Sylvia, Phylante walking.
Aur.
Wak'd by the early Mattins of the Lark
We leave our Down, and in this Sunny Vale
Suck the fresh breezes which embalm the air.

Sylv.
Thus in the tedious absence of your Lord,
We by variety of Sports contrive
To pass those hateful minutes with delight,
Which else would lag like years of want and pain.

Aur.
Oh! 'tis an age, 'tis ages since my eyes
Fed last on his, and to my Soul convey'd
Unutterable pleasure.

Syl.
Scarce the Sun
Has thrice in yonder Ocean sunk his beams
Since you beheld him, and may yet e're noon
Again behold, and have him in your arms.

Phyl.
See there—descending from the hill I spy
A man, that tow'rds you seems to bend his course,
So swiftly now he crosses o're the Plain,
'Tis sure the Messenger of welcome news.

Aur.
Oh! nothing can be welcome but my Lord.

Phyl.
I see him, 'tis Alcander.

Aur.
Ha! alone.
Where's my Amintor? Tell me, Phylante,
Has not Arcadius loaded him with Chains,
And sentenc'd him to Torture and to Death?

Sylv.
For what are you thus anxious of his Life?
How wild are all these fears.
You from Amintor's merit may expect
Arcadius has been lavish of his Grace,
And with Imperial honors crown'd your Love.

Aur.
'Tis not for us to think of Honors here,
For what we never see, we ne're desire.
My Soul, contented with our humble state,
Leaves to the Great the glories of a Court;
And in possession of these Shades and Love,
Unenvy'ng and unenvy'd, taste delights,
Which for Elizium I wou'd scarce resign.
But oh! If I, amidst of all this joy,
Shou'd have Amintor ravisht from my arms,
And see him perish by unnatural rage;
This Vale will then be worse than Libian Wilds,
All will be desert here, and all accurst,
Forsook by ev'ry thing but by despair
I then shall wander in a maze of woe,
Till death too late o'retakes me.

Sylv.
What can this mean? This unexpected change,
Gives me just reason to believe you've fears,
Which you in vain endeavour to conceal;
For I will know 'em, I that am your Friend,
A name which claims the priviledge of trust,
Will know your worst of Fate, as I till now
Have been the partner of your hours of bliss.

Enter Alcander.
Alc.
Madam, my Lord.

Aur.
Speak. Lives he? Is he free?

Alc.
He Lives, is free, and o're this Realm of Peace,
Created by the Emp'ror, Soveraign Prince,
As this informs you further.

Giving a Letter.
Aur.
Yes 'tis his.
Look in my eyes, and you'll perceive 'tis his.
Why do I tremble? Is it fear or joy?
Whom shou'd I fear? There's nothing sure in this:
There's nothing which my Lord can send to me,
But what is dear as Life, and soft as Love.
Reads.
Impatient of thy absence, I commit
In thee, the Treasure of my heart to Heav'n.
Our Embassy with rapture was receiv'd:
Our Flocks and Herds, the riches of the Plain,
Preferr'd to heaps of Gold, and homage Crowns.
I am declar'd a Prince, and thou shalt reign
If we survive the danger of this day.
The Emp'ror from our Foes or Fame has heard
So much of our blest Mansion, and of thee,
He begg'd to be my Guest, and with his Court,
Intends to visit our retreat e're even.
I fly to thy relief, I can—no more.

Sylv.
Why weep you, when your fortune is advanc'd
Above what you expected or desir'd,
The Empire of our hearts you had before,
But what was Friendship then is duty now,
Nor shall our Friendship make our duty less.

Aur.
Arcadius.

Sylv.
What of him? I know you think
This place not worthy of the Lord of Greece,
Tho tis not for magnificence or shew,
Or to see splendours equal with his own,
That he descends to be your guest,
'Tis to behold the sweetness of this Vale,
To hear the Musick of our Forest Quires,
And weary'd with perpetual Pomp, to see
How Solitude and Innocence can charm,
For you perhaps, this journey is design'd.
Your Beauty—

Aur.
Hold—I must not hear thee on,
Thou little know'st of whom, or what thou talk'st:
Ungratefully thy Friendship I've abus'd,
And kept the mystery of my fate conceal'd,
Which now alas, necessity reveals.
Come, gentle Sylvia, take me to thy heart,
Support me with thy Counsel, lest I sink
Beneath the burthen of my shame and fears:
Arcadius Is my Father

Sylv.
When you first came a stranger to these Woods,
I ever thought you of divine descent,
And as I thought you then adore you now.

(kneels.
Aur.
Oh rise my Friend, I will not see thee thus.
Say—does the Sun that glids this morning Sky
Shine on a Creature so forlorn as me,
Who can defend me from a Fathers frown,
A Father and an Emperor disobey'd?
Forgive me, that I dare not tell thee more,
Thou soon wilt guess, that Love was all my Crime.

Sylv.
And Love, which was your crime is your defence.
Your story at your leisure I shall know.
But 'tis no more than I have often read
Of Princesses, who scorn'd the Beds of Kings,
When merit had before engag'd their hearts.
Your Father by his favour has approv'd
The choice you made, and all things will be well.

Aur.
Alcander execute your Lords commands.
You Sylvia see that all things be prepar'd
Fit to receive the Master of the World,
While I with Reason and with Love consult
How best I may approach my Fathers wrath,
How move his pity best, or daunt his rage.
Ex. Syl. Alc.
Oh my Phylante, how shall we escape
This Dreadful enterview, or rather meet
The Storm which threatens to o'rewhelm us both.

Phy.
You've little cause to fear, for you are blest
In the fruition of your wishes, I
Have much more reason to deplore my fate,
An Exile from my Parents and my hopes,
Yet in your Friendship I enjoy 'em all.

Aur.
Oh how cou'd we foresee that we shou'd here,
In this vile corner of the World, where none
Scarce hear of Greece or of my Fathers name,
How cou'd we think that here we shou'd have met
The ruin, which we strove so much to shun?

Phy.
Heaven always will protect the Innocent.

Aur.
Who can be Innocent that disobeys
A Fathers pleasure, and a Soveraign's Will?

Phy.
Your Father wou'd have left you to your choice,
The Empress forc'd him to oppose your Vows,
And in her Brothers favour wrong your Love.

Aur.
Wrong'd it indeed, for from our Infant years
Amintor still was promis'd to my Arms
But when Pulcheria dy'd was nam'd no more

Phyl.
You were design'd the Prince of Thrace's Bride.

Aur.
And who's Amintor, but the Prince of Thrace.
Adrastus who possesses now his realm,
Whom thou and every one, that knows him loves,
Was Privy to our flight, and the design
Eudosius form'd to save me for himself.

Phyl.
'Tis said that Prince was in Arabia slain.

Aur.
'Twas said so then, the better to conceal
The Plot Adrastus had in Greece contriv'd,
When he in Royal Embassy was sent
To fetch me for his Brother, as before
The Emperor and Eudosius had agreed.
But all those Treaties with my Mother dy'd,
And the new Empress a new Match resolv'd.
How on this news Eudosius was enrag'd,
How from his Court disguis'd he came to ours,
What means he us'd to see me, and how soon
My Soul consented to be rul'd by him.
I only for his Fame ador'd before;
This for some hour of leisure I reserve,
The rest is known to thee.

Phy.
I lik't implicitely the man you lov'd.
Nor askt with whom we fled, but always thought
His actions shew'd him of the race of Kings.
Who now can say that Love forgets his Slaves?
Love that has led you thro such vast designs;
And when the world to find their Princess rose,
That kept you from the search of Nations free,
That watch'd you on the Waves, and to this shoar
Of safety guided you, and blest your flight.

Aur.
Love on his part has every thing perform'd,
But what have I, Phylante! done on mine,
Rebellious and a Fugitive, can I
Look on my Father and not sink with shame?

Phy.
For what? He bid you love, and you obey'd.
'Tis true, he bid you after this to change,
But that was neither in his pow'r nor yours;
You fled. From whom? Placidia, one who sought
Your ruine, and can hurt you now no more.
Her pride and spite are bury'd in her Grave;
The Emp'ror will behold you as his Child,
And free'd from prejudice you'll then appear
A Heavenly Treasure, which he once had lost,
And now with rapture and amazement finds.

Aur.
Thy words are extasy, thy very looks
Declare thy Prophecy Divine;
And I already feel my transports grow;
Arcadius will forgive me, I no more
Shall clasp Eudosius with reluctant arms.
For when my heart with tenderness dissolv'd,
Has giv'n itself to pleasure, say ye Groves,
Ye Fountain, Hill and Dale, that know my Griefs,
Has not my disobedience checkt my joy,
Enter Sylvia.
And drawn, when we've for solitude retir'd,
A thousand racking questions from my Lord,
Which he no more shall ask, nor I provoke?

Sylv.
Reason prevails and you're your self again,
And this prophetick Peace declares you safe?
Yon in the Grove of pleasure, there are met
Sileno, Daphne, and the Nymphs whose sports
Are us'd to entertain your hour of mirth,
Who waiting your approach, prepare their Songs.

Aur.
This sure's no hour of Mirth, no time for sports
Yet Sylvia, I'll indeavour to be calm,
I'll set the fairest prospect to my View,
And sooth my hopes with Visions of success.
Come, my Phylante, since from every Grove
The cheerful Birds salute us with their Songs,
Joyn thou thy better harmony with theirs,
And lay the rising Tempest in my Soul;
Thy Voice is still the refuge of my care,
Despair herself would listen to the Charm,
And when thou entertainst her lose her sting:
Thrace, by the Magick of thy notes has heard
More wonders, than her ancient fables boast.

Aur.
The Thracian Prince may make the Fable true,
And what you mean of others you may feel.

Phy.
Young Daphne and Sileno, and the Youth
Who to divert you, form a rural Quire
With their diviner Lays, shall cure you griefs,
And health to your distemper'd mind restore.
You then whose Angel voices and whose looks
To ravish every sense,
In heavenly consort join
Attend!
And what I taught you for your Lords return,
To pleasure his belov'd and yours perform.

The Front Scene opens and discovers a Circle of Seven Pillars adorn'd with Garlands of Flowers. The Shepherds and Shepherdesses dancing within it, to the Tune of the Chorus, which they sing as they Dance.
Chorus.
Come all away,
Come and Sing and Dance and Play
'Tis the Shepherds holiday.

1 Shepherd.
Leave the Mountain, Vale, and Home,
To the Grove of Pleasure come:
Never fear your Flocks will stray,
Pan protects 'em while we play.

Shepherdess.
Happy Mansions, pleasant Shades,
Seats of Innocence and Ease;
Gentle Shepherds, Tender Maids,
Sweet Abodes of Smiling Peace,
Ev'ry Grace and Joy possessing,
Welcome him that gives the Blessing.

Shepherds
Amintor's Watchful Care maintains
These Quiet Fields from harms,
His wisdom awes the rougher Swains,
The Mild his Goodness charms.
When Pan the Grecian Shepherds sway'd
He ne're was more ador'd,
They out of Fear their God obey'd,
We out of Love, our Lord.

Shepherdess.
When Venus, deckt with Heavenly Charms,
Once woo'd a Mortal to her Arms,
All but the cruel stupid Boy
Beheld her with transporting Joy;
The Flocks and Herds refus'd to graze,
And Men and Beasts cou'd only gaze.
Aurelia's Beauties thus appear,
Thus shining, thus transporting here.

Shepherd.
For him we Flowry Chaplets bring,
The fairest praduct of the Spring.

Shepherdess.
For her we Crowns of Roses weave,
Which both with cheerful Looks receive,
And with as cheerful Hearts we give,
Thus Loving and Belov'd we live.

Chorus.
Thus Loving and Belov'd we Live.

Aur.
Oh force of Musick and Cælestial Song,
Which from profoundest misery can raise
A Soul to extasy, and tast of Heav'n
To you Phylante! I commit the charge
Of this great Festival, and from your care
Expect what nature, and what art can do.
A March afar off.
The foremost of the Græcian Court arrive,
I see the Glorious Troop descend the Mount,
And love informs me, that my Lord is there,
To him I'll fly, and know what fate decrees;
From him the sharpest Message will be sweet,
Whose Voice is kinder to my Ear than sighs
Of wandring Rivers, or of evening Winds.

Ex. Aur. Syl.
Phyl.
Unhappy Princess! by ill fate persu'd
To these almost the limits of the World,
Oh fatal passion! Thus while I lament
Thy lost condition, I forget my own,
And Friendship always is too strong for Love,
For now that every hour I hope to see
What next to thee is dearest to my heart,
Thy danger sets before my eyes a gloom,
Which hides the gawdy Vision from my view,
And makes it doubtful to me, if I ought
To mourn for thee, or to rejoice for him.
Sileno meet me at the Bow'rs of bliss,
There all shall have the Parts to each assign'd,
What best my thoughts can thus employ'd invent;
For something noble we must now prepare,
Something te ravish an Imperial Ear,
Tho from you only I expect success,
Whose Beauties equal with your Voices please.

Ex. omnes.