 | Albion Restored, or Time turned Oculist |  |
SCENE II.
The Scene opens and discovers a Temple.Bacchus seated on his tun, with his Bacchanals surrounding him.
Comus is brought in by some of Bacchus's companions, and presented to Bacchus.
Comus bows to all.
AIR.
BACCHUS.
While the happy minutes pass,
While we quaff the mantling glass,
None so happy are as we,
None so jovial, brisk and free.
[Comus kneels and Bacchus gives him his goblet.]
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What cannot this juice inspire?
Love and courage, gay desire
Dance and skip around the brim,
Sorrow durst not venture in.
Comus drinks and returns the goblet.]
AIR.
COMUS.
Thus jovial and free
Let's united agree
To cast away sorrow and care;
Ne'er think of to-morrow,
This moment we'll borrow,
Of joy let us each take a share.
Let's united agree
To cast away sorrow and care;
Ne'er think of to-morrow,
This moment we'll borrow,
Of joy let us each take a share.
Then ye mortals be wife,
Grave notions despise,
That forbid us to laugh and to drink;
Such choice spirits as we,
Will for ever be free,
'Tis a toil and a madness to think.
Grave notions despise,
That forbid us to laugh and to drink;
Such choice spirits as we,
Will for ever be free,
'Tis a toil and a madness to think.
CHORUS.
Such choice spirits as we, &c.
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A BACCHANAL.
Love and mirth, and wine uniting,
Fills our souls with joys sublime;
Lur'd by pleasures so inviting,
Who would grudge to spend his time?
Fills our souls with joys sublime;
Lur'd by pleasures so inviting,
Who would grudge to spend his time?
Snarling cynicks that despise us,
Yet in secret court the bliss,
May with sober face advise us,
Liking what they call amiss.
Yet in secret court the bliss,
May with sober face advise us,
Liking what they call amiss.
But we boldly take our pleasure,
And despise their empty rules;
Fill up all our joyous measure,
Laugh at such dissembling fools.
And despise their empty rules;
Fill up all our joyous measure,
Laugh at such dissembling fools.
Grand CHORUS.
But we boldly take our pleasure, &c.
[The bacchanals and Comus's companions perform a dance with goblets in their hands.]
[Bacchus nods over his tun.]
[The bacchanals at the end of the dance grow tipsy, and run against one another]
[Bacchus and Comus rise and with their companions stagger off the stage.]
| Albion Restored, or Time turned Oculist | |