Love Triumphant : or, The Rival Goddesses :: :: University of Virginia Library

SCENE VIII.

Enter Paris, Venus, Cupid, the Graces, Hours, and Other Attendants.
Cup.
Attend, Ye Graces, and Ye Gentle Loves,
Ye Billing Sparrows, and Ye Cooing Doves,
To This Blest Place, Ye Flying Hours resort,
Come All the Numerous Train of Venus' Court,
In Concert join to sing My Mother's Name,
With Chearful Voice Her Great Success proclaim
O're Gilded Empires, and the Pride of Fame.
O! Sing, and spread the Joyful News around,
The Queen of Love is Queen of Beauty crown'd.

(After Venus is seated in Her Triumphal Chair by Paris, and All the Attendants are rang'd in Order round about Her, One of the Graces sings the Following Song)

SONG. Address'd to Paris and Venus on the Determination of the GOLDEN PRIZE.

I

Let LOVE's Goddess sooth Thy Mind,
Guard no more Thy Fleecy Flock:
Thour't for Greater Joys design'd,
Leave the Plain, and quit thy Crook. Cho.

Thou'rt for Greater, &c.

II

Softest Sounds shall strike Thine Ear,
Thou shalt revel in Delight:
War's Alarms Thou ne're shalt hear,
Nothing shall Thy Soul affright. Cho.

War's Alarms, &c.

III

Dread not Juno's Angry Frown,
Pallas' Arms and Arts disdain;
GODS Themselves LOVE's Pow'r own,
Thou o're LOVE Himself dost reign. Cho.

GODS Themselves, &c.

IV

Goddess of Desire, Hail!
Wond'rous Magick's in Thy Eyes:
Charms like Thine must needs prevail,
Justly Thou hast won the Prize. Cho.

Charms like Thine, &c.

V

JOVE Himself would partial prove,
Should His Wrath the Swain pursue:
Had Thy Cause been try'd Above,
He had giv'n The BALL to You. Cho.

Had Thy Cause, &c.

Cup.
Now to conclude Our Joys let's all advance,
And grace Her Triumph with a Chearful Dance.

(A Figure Dance, and several other Dances. The Triumph ended, All the Attendants pay their Obedience to Venus and Paris, and go off in Order Two and Two.)
Venus.

Now Farewel, Paris, I'll ascend the Skies,
And shew all round the Heav'ns My Glorious Prize:
There a New Triumph shall compleat My Joys.
How will My Mars be pleas'd, My God of War,
When I in Publick shall My Trophies bear!
With what Extatick Joy will Vulcan come
To welcome His Successful Part'ner Home!

But e're I go, One Secret I'll declare,
Which Thou'lt with Pleasure, and with Wonder hear.
Thou art no Shepherd, but a Monarch's Son,
And thro' Thy Veins Great Priam's Blood does run.
Therefore, No more the Flow'ry Plains frequent,
But let Thy Thoughts on Nobler Views be bent.
Go, bid Thy Gentle Nymphs and Swains Adieu,
For Thou must Nobler Joys, and Brighter Charms pursue
All Lesser Beauties Thou must now despise,
And strive to captivate Fair Helen's Eyes.
Fear not Success: To JOVE Thy Cause I'll move,
And He will hear, for Thou'rt ally'd to JOVE.
Be Bold, and with the Queen to Troy repair:
I'll be Thy Guardian Goddess, and protect Thee there.

Paris.
Goddess Divine, My humblest Thanks I pay,
And I'll with Joy Thy Kind Commands obey.
This Moment I'll Oenone's Fetters break,
And range the World for Fair Queen Helen's Sake.
I lov'd Oenone while an Humble Swain:
But now a Prince, I am Myself again.

(He goes out with Venus Hand in Hand.)