 | The death of Dido |  |
[First Entertainment]
[Dido is discover'd sleeping. Cupid descends.]Cupid.
In vain the God of Sleep bestows
Rest on Fair Elisa's Eyes;
She for the Dardan Hero sighs,
And Now with fancy'd Raptures glows
Venus her Command has giv'n;
Cupid Venus must obey,
Venus, who extends her Sway
To Seas and Air, to Earth and Heaven!
Rest on Fair Elisa's Eyes;
She for the Dardan Hero sighs,
And Now with fancy'd Raptures glows
8
Cupid Venus must obey,
Venus, who extends her Sway
To Seas and Air, to Earth and Heaven!
Soft Desires,
Glowing Fires,
In her heaving Bosom move!
Still surrounding,
Ever wounding,
Fix the Fair a Slave to Love!
Glowing Fires,
In her heaving Bosom move!
Still surrounding,
Ever wounding,
Fix the Fair a Slave to Love!
[Cupid withdraws.
[Dido wakes, and comes forward.]
Dido.
Delightful Vision! Pleasing Dream!
False Elysium! Fading Pleasure!
Flatter still, and lasting seem,
That my Joys may know no Measure!
I dreamt the Tyrian Crown Æneas wore,
Forbid'n by Jove to seek the Latian Shore.
Juno the Marriage did approve;
The Hero vow'd eternal Love.
False Elysium! Fading Pleasure!
9
That my Joys may know no Measure!
I dreamt the Tyrian Crown Æneas wore,
Forbid'n by Jove to seek the Latian Shore.
Juno the Marriage did approve;
The Hero vow'd eternal Love.
Gentle Morpheus, still relieve me,
With repeated Dreams deceive me,
Such as Love-sick Minds delight!
Let my Fancy still discover
Truth and Passion in my Lover,
Each returning Hour of Night.
[Trumpets at a Distance.
With repeated Dreams deceive me,
Such as Love-sick Minds delight!
Let my Fancy still discover
Truth and Passion in my Lover,
Each returning Hour of Night.
He comes! the Conq'ror comes! I feel his Pow'r!
Resistance is in vain!
Our Sexes Guard! Pride is no more!
Nor I my Freedom lost deplore,
But find a secret Pleasure in my Pain!
Resistance is in vain!
10
Nor I my Freedom lost deplore,
But find a secret Pleasure in my Pain!
Love approaching, Sorrow flying.
Oh! the Joys his Eyes impart!
Raptures ev'ry Vein supplying!
Quick rebounds my beating Heart.
Oh! the Joys his Eyes impart!
Raptures ev'ry Vein supplying!
Quick rebounds my beating Heart.
[Æneas attended.]
Æneas.
Hail, gracious Princess! who employ
Your Care to save the poor Remains of Troy!
Your Care to save the poor Remains of Troy!
Fame, your Glories never-dying,
Shall to distant Shores convey,
Ever sounding, ever flying,
Where the Fates direct my Way.
The Beauties of your Mind proclaiming,
With the Charms that grace your Eyes,
Incense on your Altars flaming,
When your Shade ascends the Skies.
Shall to distant Shores convey,
Ever sounding, ever flying,
Where the Fates direct my Way.
11
With the Charms that grace your Eyes,
Incense on your Altars flaming,
When your Shade ascends the Skies.
Dido.
Cease, Royal Guest, your Flatt'ry cease,
And follow to the Field;
Sweet is the Pleasure of the Chase,
When Western Winds refreshing Odors yield.
Dido.
All the Joys of Pow'r shall charm thee,
Still to grace our Lybian Shore:
Or some softer Pleasure warm thee;
Trust the faithless Seas no more.
12
Were only Joys of Pow'r to charm me,
I'd forsake your Libyan Shore;
Softer Pleasures gently warm me!
Faithless Seas I'll trust no more!
[Exeunt.
[Cupid appears.]
Cupid.
'Tis done! The Hero burns with equal Fire!
And lo! the Heav'ns with Love conspire!
Thick, gathering Clouds obscure the Sky!
Thunder shall roar, and Lightning fly!
A Grot shall in its Bosom hide
The Queen and Prince, Venus their Guide!
Nor shall the Storm be overblown,
'Till the soft Goddess Rites be done.
And lo! the Heav'ns with Love conspire!
Thick, gathering Clouds obscure the Sky!
Thunder shall roar, and Lightning fly!
A Grot shall in its Bosom hide
The Queen and Prince, Venus their Guide!
Nor shall the Storm be overblown,
'Till the soft Goddess Rites be done.
13
The Lover for the Favour presses;
With her Words the Fair denies;
Nor returns his darting Kisses,
But invites him with her Eyes.
Feigning Fears, and Rage dissembling,
Seems to loath the dear Delight;
Yet, tho' sighing, dying, trembling,
Surely conquers in the Fight.
With her Words the Fair denies;
Nor returns his darting Kisses,
But invites him with her Eyes.
Feigning Fears, and Rage dissembling,
Seems to loath the dear Delight;
Yet, tho' sighing, dying, trembling,
Surely conquers in the Fight.
[Exit.
The End of the First Entertainment.
| The death of Dido | |