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The THIRD DAY.
The Sequel and Conclusion of the Pleasures of the Inchanted Island.The more they advanced towards the great Ring which represented the Lake, on which was anciently built the Palace of Alcina, the nearer they approach'd to the End of the Diversions of the Inchanted Island, as if it had not been just that so many brave Knights should any longer remain in an Idleness which would have done wrong to their Glory.
'Twas pretended therefore, still following the first Design, that Heav'n having resolv'd to free those Warriors, Alcina had some Presages of it, which fill'd her
Within this Ring, whose Extent and Form were extraordinary, there appear'd a Rock situate in the middle of an Island cover'd with divers Animals, as tho' they wou'd defend the Entry of it.
Two other Islands longer, but not so broad, were seen on the two Sides of the first, and all three, as well as the Borders of the Ring, were so very much illuminated, that these Lights produc'd a new Day in the Darkness of the Night. Their Majesties being arrived, had no sooner taken their Places, than one of the two Islands that were by the Sides of the first, was all cover'd with Violins very well dress'd. The other that was opposite to it, was at the same time cover'd with Trumpets and Kettle-Drums, whose Habits were no less rich.
But what was more surprising was to see Alcina issue from behind the Rock, born by a Sea-Monster of a prodigious Bigness.
Two of the Nymphs of her Train, by the Names of Celia and Dirce appear'd at the same time following her; and placing themselves on each Side of her upon great Whales, they approach'd the Brink of the Ring of Water; and Alcina began Verses, which her Companions answer'd, and which were in praise of the Queen, Mother to the King.
ALCINA, CELIA, DIRCE.
Alcina.
You who in my Felicity have Share,
Come, weep with me in this Extremity.
Celia.
What unexpected Cause of such Alarms?
Who draws such Floods of Tears from those bright Eyes?
I can't ev'n think to speak on't without trembling.
'Midst the dark Horrors of a threatning Dream,
A Spectre with a hideous Voice declar'd
That Hell on my account suspends its Force,
That a celestial Power arrests its Aid,
And, this Day gone, that I shall be no more.
All the malignant Influence of the Stars,
Which adverse reign'd ascendant at my Birth,
And all my Art had promis'd of Misfortunes,
This Dream depainted in such lively Colours,
That ceaseless to my waking Eyes it offers
Melissa's Power and Brandimart's Misfortune.
These Evils I foresaw, but the dear Pleasures,
Which here seem'd even to prevent our Wishes;
Our lofty Palaces, our Fields, our Gardens,
The pleasing Converse of our dear Companions,
Our Songs and Sports, the Concerts of the Birds,
The Zephyr's fresh Perfume, the Waters Murmur,
The sweet Adventures of our tender Loves,
Made me forget those fatal Auguries;
When that dire Dream, which still distracts my Senses,
With so much Fury brought 'em to my Mind.
Methinks I see my Troops each Moment routed,
My Guards put to the Sword, my Prisons forc'd,
A thousand Lovers by my Art transform'd,
Who bent on my Destruction quit their Trunks
And leafy Dwellings to take Vengeance on me;
And last methinks I see my dear Rogero
Ready to shake off my despised Chains.
Celia.
Fear in your Breast has gain'd too great an Empire.
You reign sole here; for you alone they sigh;
Nought interrupts the Course of your Contentment,
But plaintive Accents of your mournful Lovers.
Logistile and his Troops driv'n from our Fields
Still quake with Fear, bury'd beneath their Mountains,
Is only by your Aug'ries known to us.
Dirce.
Ah! let us not deceive our selves, this Phantom
Held, this last Night, the same Discourse with me.
Alcina.
Alas! Who then can doubt of our Misfortunes?
Celia.
I see a sure and easy Remedy;
A Queen appears, whose most auspicious Aid
Will guard us from the Efforts of Melissa.
The Goodness of this Queen is highly boasted.
'Tis said her Heart, whose Constancy despis'd
The Insolence of the most daring Storms,
Is ever open to her Subjects Vows.
Alcina.
'Tis true, I see her. In this pressing Danger
Let us endeavour to engage her Succour.
Let's tell her that the publick Voice displays
The charming Beauties of her Royal Soul.
Say, that her Virtue, higher than her Rank,
Adorns the Lustre of her noble Blood;
And that our Sex's Glory she has born
So far, that Times to come will scarce believe it.
That her great Heart, fond of the publick Good,
Gives her a generous Contempt of Dangers;
Proof against ought that may befal her self,
She apprehends for nothing but the State.
Say that her Benefits profusely pour'd,
Gain her the Love and Rev'rence of Mankind,
That even the Shadow of an Ill that threats her
Is Cause enough to put the World in Mourning.
Say that at abs'lute Power's highest Point,
Her Grandeur without Pride or Pomp appears;
That in most dangerous Times her constant Prudence,
Has fearless the Prerogative supported;
And in the happy Calm gain'd by her Labours
Restores it to her Son without Regret.
Say, with what great Respect, what Complaisance
That glorious Son rewards her for her Cares.
Of that same Son, the greatest of all Monarchs;
And how that Mother, fortunately fruitful,
Giving but twice, gave so much to the World.
In fine, the more to move her to Compassion,
Let's use the Eloquence of Sighs and Tears,
That we amidst our grievous Pain may find
A peaceful Refuge at her royal Feet.
Dirce.
I know her Heart, magnificently generous,
Receives the Voice of Misery with Pleasure;
But yet she ne'er was seen t'exert her Power,
Unless to shield the Innocent from Wrong;
I know she all things can, but dare not think
She'll stoop so low as to defend our Cause.
She may have been inform'd of our soft Errors,
And nothing is more clashing with her Conduct;
Her well-known Zeal for Piety will render
Our Interests odious to her spotless Virtue;
And far from growing less at her Approach
My Fear redoubling chills my troubled Spirits.
Alcina.
Oh! my own Fear's sufficient to afflict me.
Instead of sharp'ning, sooth my Grief, and try
To furnish my dejected Soul, with Means
Of warding off the Ills that threaten it.
Mean time let all the Palace-Guards be doubled,
And if there be no Sanctuary for us,
Let us in our Despair our Comfort seek,
Nor yield our selves at least without Resistance.
- Alcina, Mademoiselle du Parc.
- Celia, Mademoiselle de Brie.
- Dirce, Mademoiselle Moliere.
BALLET Of the PALACE of ALCINA.
FIRST ENTRY.Giants . The Sieurs Manseau, Vagnard, Pesan and Joubert.
Dwarfs. The two young Des-Airs, young Vagnard, and young Tutin.
SECOND ENTRY.
Eight Moors allotted by Alcina for the Guard of the Inside, make an exact Visit of it with, each, two Flambeaux.
Moors. The Sieurs d'Heureux, Beauchamp, Moliere, la Marre, le Chantre, de Gan, du Pron and Mercier.
THIRD ENTRY.
Mean time an amorous Indignation prompts Six of the Knights that Alcina kept Prisoners, to attempt to get out of the Palace; but Fortune not seconding the Endeavours they make in their Despair, they are conquer'd after a sharp Combat by as many Monsters which attack them.
Knights. Monsieur de Souville, the Sieurs Raynal, Des-Airs the Eldest, Des-Airs the Second, de Lorge, and Balthazard.
Monsters. The Sieurs Chicanneau, Noblet, Arnald, Desbrosses, Desonets and la Pierre.
FOURTH ENTRY.
Alcina , alarm'd at this Accident, invokes a-new all her Spirits, and demands their Assistance: Two of them present themselves before her, leaping with a wonderful Force and Agility.
Active Demons. The Sieurs St. Andre and Magny.
FIFTH ENTRY.
Other Demons come, and seem to assure the Inchantress that they'll forget nothing that may contribute to her Repose
Leaping Demons. The Sicurs Tutin, la Brodiere, Pesan and Bureau.
SIXTH and LAST ENTRY.
But hardly had she begun to take Heart, before she saw the sage Melissa appear under the Form of Atlas, near Rogero and some Knights of his Train: She presently runs to hinder her from effecting her Intention; but she comes too late. Melissa has already put on the Finger of that brave Knight, the famous Ring, which destroys the Inchantments. Then a Clap of Thunder, follow'd by several Flashes of Lightning, portends the Destruction of the Palace, which is presently reduced to Ashes by a Firework which puts an End to this Adventure, and to the Diversions of the Inchanted Island.
Alcina, Madamoiselle du Parc. Melissa, the Sieur de Lorge.
Rogero, the Sieur Beauchamp.
Knights, the Sieurs d'Heureux, Raynal, du Pron and Desbrosses.
Squires, the Sieurs la Marre, le Chantre, de Gan and Mercier.
It look'd as if Heaven, Earth and Water were all in a Flame, and as if the Destruction of the superb Palace of Alcina, as well as the Liberty of the Knights she there retain'd, cou'd not be effected but by Prodigies and Miracles; the Height and Number of Sky-Rockets, those which roll'd along on the Shore, and those which return'd out of the Water, after having been cast into it, made a Spectacle so grand and magnificent, that nothing could better terminate the Inchantments, than such fine Fireworks; which being at last ceased after an extraordinary Length and Noise, the Coups des Boetes which had begun it, redoubled again.
Then all the Court retiring, confess'd that nothing could be more perfect than these three Feasts. And 'tis a sufficient Confession that nothing could be added to it, to say, that the three Days having each its Partisans, as every one of them had its particular Beauties, none cou'd agree which ought to bear away the Bell; tho' they all agreed that they might justly dispute it with all those that ever had been seen till then, and perhaps surpass them.
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