University of Virginia Library

Act. I.

Scene. I.

A rural Scene
Enter Cupid
Cupid.

Exit.
Enter the Fairy Queen.
F. Queen.
By Dian's sacr'd signal hither brought,
I come to seek the quivver'd God of Love;
Who brings the CESTUS Cytherea lends
To her chaste sister Goddess (fit to try
Each Matron's firm faith, & each virgin's truth)
To clear a fav'rite Maid from slander foul:
Who ne'er in Thought's swift transit, or by breath
That ever sever'd yet her vestal lips,
Much less by deed substantial, e'er offended
Against the chaste Laws Dian hath decreed
For all her Vot'ries.

Re-enter Cupid.
Cupid.
Queen! behold Me here!
The smiling Goddess Cytherea sends
Me, her lov'd Boy, with Iove's assenting nod,
With this her CESTUS down to these Abodes,
To try its potent charm.—Thou Fairy Queen!
Hast sought the mighty boon which Venus grants.—
And thus my Mother:—Tidings long have run
Thro' this Caelestial, that on Earth where once
A throned Virgin held the sov'reign sway:
Where Liberty, & all her Sister Arts
Shine like the bright lamps round the throne of Iove;
A royal Pair of far-fam'd excellence,
In love connubial peerless, & unmatch'd,
Blest in their Subjects love as in their own,
Dwell highly honor'd—Should that royal Dame
(If a meet rival with her could be found.)
Deign the great contest; fitly would she find
This heav'nly Cincture ring her sacred Waist.

Queen.

Cupid.
Queen! I obey.—I'll moult these heav'nly plumes,
And vest me in the dress of Cottage-Swain.

Exeunt.

Scene. II.

Enter Florimel
Florimel.
Where'er I wander—wheresoe'er I am,
The image of my much-lov'd Guyon seems
To appear before me.—Ofttimes I frequent
Yon lonely glade, where we were wont to walk;
Where he so often pour'd his tender vows,
And pledged me his troth.—When silent night
Wraps in her sable Mantle half the Globe,
In transient dreams I see him—when in haste
Fondly I strive to rush into his Arms
And welcome his return, he flies my presence:
And like the Phantoms in the Morning Clouds,
The dear delusion melts into thin Air.—
Nor is this all—Suspicion looks askaunce
On all my smallest deeds—I'm scann'd around:
And oft the Duke lets fall ambiguous words,
Which, were I prone to doubting, or suspect,
Would lead to question e'en Sir Guyon's love;
Or, what I scarce dare think, suggest his own.

Enter Fiducio.
Fiducio.
Why still alone?—why shun you the gay Throng
In which with silent majesty you shine?
Why ever pensive, sad, & melancholly?—
I bring fresh tidings from your faithful Lord,
Scarcely you heed me; or let fall a tear,
As if my news were sad.—Say Florimel!
What, save thy dear Lord's absence, gives thee pain?

Florimel.
His absence, good Fiducio! warrants all.
The tears I shed, the sighs I heave for him,
Are but poor tributes to his high deserts.
I mourn to think how little in return
My penury of merit will allow
Me, his unworthy chosen One, to give.—
But other cares oppress Me, good Fiducio!
Such as a Maiden jealous of her fame,
And spotless honor, ever ought to feel.

Fiducio.
Alas! what cares? impart them that I may,
In absence of my Friend, afford that comfort
Which may support you till his wisht Return.

Florimel.
What I suspect, perhaps may not be true.
Nor am I warranted to cast reproach
Where any doubt remains: nor call the hand
Of tender Pity, or the soothing aid
Of thy prompt friendship to relieve a weight
Which wayward Fancy only thinks it bears.
If ought from ground of my suspicion rise,
Of whatsoever growth, however foul,
Tho' rankest poison harbour in its care,
I will unfold it all to thee Fiducio!
Tho' thy assured faith I put to trial,
And urge that confidence I ne'er have doubted.
Exit Florimel

Fiducio
alone
What can this mean?—Such purity as her's
Suspects not but with Reason—I'll observe
With nicest circumspection all around;
And see by this if any Clue I find
To lead Me thro' the Labrynth of her doubt.

Exit.

Scene III.

Scene changes.
Enter Florimel
Florimel.
Ye pow'rs! that watch o'er virgin innocence,
Guard & protect Me!

[To her enter The Fairy Queen.]
Queen.
That Pow'r is here.

Florimel.
What may this mean, that ready to my pray'r
Such Form divine, for sure divine thou art,
Appear to aid me?

F. Queen.
'Tis the Fairy Queen:
Who at thy birth did welcome thee to life,
And gave thee the first blessing—kept aloof
Each Fairy-Elf, & those pernicious pow'rs
That often sport with Mortals soon as born,
And cast the die of their Nativity.
I husht the storms to rest at thy first breath:
Dispel'd the mirky-mists, & calm'd the Air;
And shed upon thy head the dew of heav'n.
Unseen thy infant steps have I attended;
Watch'd thee in play, & wiped from thine eye
The tears which wayward Childhood wont to shed.
Thee still I guard with the same tender care.
And 'midst the trials which thou must endure,
To prove thy steady Virtue, I'll infuse
My sov'reign Influence—try'd thou must be:
Virtue is nought, till resolute Resistance,
Prove its full strength—then conquest crowns the Conflict.

Florimel.
All gracious Pow'r! what merit can I claim
To be the object of thy high protection?
And what am I, that thou, the powerful Queen,
Deign thus to guard, protect, & succour Me?

F. Queen.
The Powers above ordain it.—Learn thy Fate.
If thou by trial shalt approve thyself;
And thy beloved Lord return from toil,
His Enemies subdu'd, he plum'd with conquest;
(As in firm faith I trust he will) and give
Proof of his prowess & exalted Virtue;
Your hands shall link in holiest Union:
And from that union mighty Princes rise
To bless the People over whom they reign,
And in their blessings find their own secur'd:
The sov'reign bliss of Kings!

Florimel.
Immortal Powers!
Bless Me in what I am, & what I shall be.
Frame Me to your high purpose by your aid:
And Make Me worthy of your Ordinance,
By Virtues Mortals ought, or can perform.

F. Queen.
Nor less thy present state demands that pray'r
Than doth thy future exaltation need it.
For such the Mortal Frame, when plac'd on high,
Like the tall Column pointing to the skies,
It asks those firm supports & Buttresses,
Which Edifices humbler do not need.—
Thus then I shed my infl'ence o'er thy heart,
And give my benediction on thy head. [waving her Wand]

Be true, & firm,—& leave the rest to Heav'n.

Exit.
Florimel.