 | The death of Dido |  |
14
Second Entertainment:
SCENE a Grove. Æneas Solus.Æneas.
Blest be the Pow'rs that ruin'd Troy
And blest the Tempest which our Navy tost
Far from Latium's dang'rous Coast
And drove me on this Realm of Joy!
Here, where the Shades the Light controul,
I wait the Charmer of my Soul!
And blest the Tempest which our Navy tost
Far from Latium's dang'rous Coast
And drove me on this Realm of Joy!
Here, where the Shades the Light controul,
I wait the Charmer of my Soul!
Charmer of my Soul, away;
You too long my Joys delay,
Charmer of my Soul away!
Love his Quiver empties on me,
Thick his Darts around me fly!
Cruel Boy! thou hast undone me,
With excess of Love I dye!
[Symphony of Musick at a Distance.]
You too long my Joys delay,
Charmer of my Soul away!
15
Thick his Darts around me fly!
Cruel Boy! thou hast undone me,
With excess of Love I dye!
What Heavenly Sounds invade my Ears!
Lo! in the distant Skies
A Radiant Form appears!
Gods! 'tis the Messenger of Jove!
Hither with swift Descent he flies!
Terror flashes from his Eyes!
Venus! support thy Son! and guard his Love!
Lo! in the distant Skies
A Radiant Form appears!
Gods! 'tis the Messenger of Jove!
Hither with swift Descent he flies!
Terror flashes from his Eyes!
Venus! support thy Son! and guard his Love!
[Mercury descends.]
Mer.
Degen'rate Prince! why are thou here
Forgetful of thy promis'd Fate?
All-powerful Jove, with Doom severe,
Ordains thee to depart the Lybian State.
Thou know'st thou'rt destin'd to command
A martial Race, and rule the Latian Land!
Forgetful of thy promis'd Fate?
16
Ordains thee to depart the Lybian State.
Thou know'st thou'rt destin'd to command
A martial Race, and rule the Latian Land!
Trojan, dare no more delay,
Awful Jove's Command obey,
Vengeance will pursue thy stay!
Monarchs, fam'd for Power and Pride,
Dare thee forth to mortal Jars:
The Gods for Venus Son provide
Empire, and a charming Bride;
The Purchase dear of cruel Wars!
Awful Jove's Command obey,
Vengeance will pursue thy stay!
Monarchs, fam'd for Power and Pride,
Dare thee forth to mortal Jars:
The Gods for Venus Son provide
Empire, and a charming Bride;
The Purchase dear of cruel Wars!
[Mercury ascends.
17
Lost and undone! Oh, cruel Jove!
'Tis Death thy dire Commands to hear!
How then, alas! will my unhappy Love
These Soul-distracting Tidings bear!
Oh, short-live'd Pleasure! deep Despair!
'Tis Death thy dire Commands to hear!
How then, alas! will my unhappy Love
These Soul-distracting Tidings bear!
Oh, short-live'd Pleasure! deep Despair!
Take, ye Powers, your promis'd Glory,
Loss of Empire, I approve:
I wou'd Die, renown'd in Story,
For my spotless Faith in Love.
Loss of Empire, I approve:
I wou'd Die, renown'd in Story,
For my spotless Faith in Love.
Dido.
Ye bending Myrtles of the Grove,
Where do your envious Shades conceal my Love!
Where do your envious Shades conceal my Love!
Softest Strains of Musick sounding,
Pierce each Covert of the Grove!
Ecchoes, from the Springs rebounding,
Ye warbling Choir!
His Soul inspire,
With your sweetest Harmony!
Guide my Lover,
Round him hover,
Summon all your Melody!
To my Arms my Dear returning
With an equal Passion burning!
Pierce each Covert of the Grove!
Ecchoes, from the Springs rebounding,
18
His Soul inspire,
With your sweetest Harmony!
Guide my Lover,
Round him hover,
Summon all your Melody!
To my Arms my Dear returning
With an equal Passion burning!
He comes!—Sheild me Venus from my Fears!
Sorrow on his Brow appears!
He bends beneath the Weight of Care!
And seems the Statue of Despair!
Sorrow on his Brow appears!
He bends beneath the Weight of Care!
And seems the Statue of Despair!
Æneas.
Hermes, by the Doom of Jove,
This Moment warn'd me from my Love!
19
Vengeance will pursue my stay!
I must, with broken Heart, the God obey!
Both.
Oh, Doom severe! oh, killing Blow!
Dido.
Take me, the Partner of your Woe,
Through Storms and Seas, where'er you go!
Æneas.
Death to my Soul! oh, wretched State
That Blessing is deny'd by Fate!
Dido.
Leave me then, my Fate bewailing,
Leave me ever void of Joy!
Losing thee, my Life is failing,
Leave me to Despair, and Dye!
20
I, like thee, our Fate bewailing,
Shall be ever void of Joy:
Leaving thee, my Life is failing;
Parting, I Despair and Dye!
[Exit Æneas.
[Dido falls into the Arm of her Attendants.
[Soft Musick.]
[Cupid comes down on one side of the Stage, Mercury on the other.]
Cupid.
Hear me, mourning Princess, hear me,
Raise once more thy weeping Eyes;
Venus sends her Son to chear thee,
Nor to ease thy Pain denies:
Death, the Goddess Doom obeying,
Points his Arrow to thy Breast;
21
To the Groves where Lovers rest:
There thy happy Shade surviving,
Soon shall come the fated Hour,
When thy Love to Bliss arriving,
Ever shall thy Joys restore.
Dido.
Oh pleasing Sounds! oh sweet Relief!
Kind Goddess, now my Pains remove!
Receive a Soul oppress'd with Grief,
The truest Sacrifice of Love!
Kind Goddess, now my Pains remove!
Receive a Soul oppress'd with Grief,
The truest Sacrifice of Love!
Oh! I feel the friendly Blow!
And a willing Victim go,
To mingle with the Shades below.
And a willing Victim go,
To mingle with the Shades below.
22
to Cupid.
Conduct her to the gloomy Shade,
By Fate for hapless Lovers made!
The Hero's Safety be my Care,
His Guide in Peace, his Guard in War!
Mercury and Cupid.
A sad Example of Despair
Thou to future Times shalt prove:
Weeping, every tender Fair
Shall hear the Story of thy Love.
Grief shall wound 'em,
Fears surround 'em,
23
Lest by Falshood, or by Fate,
Reduc'd to thy unhappy State,
They trust in Man, and be Undone.
FINIS.
| The death of Dido | |