 | A Pastoral Masque |  |
SCENE, A Prospect of a Wood.
Enter a Shepherd, and sings.
Ye Nymphs and Shepherds of the Grove,
That know the pleasing Pains of Love,
Eager for th'expected Blessing,
Sighing, panting for possessing!
Leave your Flocks, and haste away,
With solemn State
To celebrate
CUPID and HYMEN's Holiday.
Enter a Band of Shepherds on one side with Garlands;
on the other side, Shepherdesses with Canisters of Flowers.
CHORUS.
From the echoing Hills, and the jovial Plains,
Where Pleasure and Plenty and Happiness reigns,
We leave our Flocks, and haste away,
With solemn State
To celebrate
CUPID and HYMEN's Holiday.
[A DANCE here.]
SCENE opening discovers a pleasant Bower, with the God of Love asleep, attended by Cupids, some playing with his Bow, others sharpening his Arrows, &c. On each side the Bower, Walks of Cypress-Trees, and Fountains playing; a distant Landskip terminates the Prospect.
Verse for a Shepherdess, with Flutes.
See the mighty Pow'r of Love
Sleeping in a Cyprian Grove!
Nymphs and Shepherds, gently shed
Spices round his sacred Head;
On his lovely Body show'r
Leaves of Roses, Virgin Lillies,
Cowslips, Vi'lets, Daffadillies,
And with Garlands dress the Bow'r.
Rittornel of Flutes. After which Cupid rises, and sings with his Bow drawn.
Yield to the God of soft Desires!
Whose gentle Influence inspires
Every Creature
Throughout Nature
With sprightly Joys and genial Fires.
Chorus of the Shepherds and Nymphs.
Hail thou potent Deity!
Every Creature
Throughout Nature
Owns thy Pow'r as well as we.
Enter Hymen in a Saffron-colour'd Robe, a Chaplet of Flowers on his Head, and in his Hand the Nuptial Torch; attended by Priests.
HYMEN.
Behold a greater Pow'r than He,
Behold the Marriage Deity!
Chorus, by Hymen's Attendants.
Behold the Marriage Deity!
CUPID,
smiling.
Behold the God of Houshold Strife,
That spoils the happy Lover's Life,
And turns a Mistress to a Wife!
HYMEN.
Foolish and inconstant Boy!
Thine's a transitory Joy;
Sudden Fits in Pleasure's Fever;
HYMEN's Blessings last for ever.
CUPID.
HYMEN's Bondage lasts for ever;
Love's free Pleasures failing never.
HYMEN.
Love's stol'n Pleasures, insincere,
Purchas'd at a Rate too dear,
Shame and Sorrow will destroy,
If HYMEN license not the Joy.
[Both together.]
Then let us join Hands and unite.
Last Chorus of the Shepherds and Nymphs.
How happy, how happy, how happy are we,
Where CUPID and HYMEN in Consort agree!
We'll revel all Day with Sports and Delight,
And HYMEN and CUPID shall govern the Night.
Enter a Shepherd, and sings.
Ye Nymphs and Shepherds of the Grove,
That know the pleasing Pains of Love,
Eager for th'expected Blessing,
Sighing, panting for possessing!
Leave your Flocks, and haste away,
With solemn State
To celebrate
CUPID and HYMEN's Holiday.
152
CHORUS.
From the echoing Hills, and the jovial Plains,
Where Pleasure and Plenty and Happiness reigns,
We leave our Flocks, and haste away,
With solemn State
To celebrate
CUPID and HYMEN's Holiday.
[A DANCE here.]
SCENE opening discovers a pleasant Bower, with the God of Love asleep, attended by Cupids, some playing with his Bow, others sharpening his Arrows, &c. On each side the Bower, Walks of Cypress-Trees, and Fountains playing; a distant Landskip terminates the Prospect.
Verse for a Shepherdess, with Flutes.
See the mighty Pow'r of Love
Sleeping in a Cyprian Grove!
Nymphs and Shepherds, gently shed
Spices round his sacred Head;
153
Leaves of Roses, Virgin Lillies,
Cowslips, Vi'lets, Daffadillies,
And with Garlands dress the Bow'r.
Rittornel of Flutes. After which Cupid rises, and sings with his Bow drawn.
Yield to the God of soft Desires!
Whose gentle Influence inspires
Every Creature
Throughout Nature
With sprightly Joys and genial Fires.
Chorus of the Shepherds and Nymphs.
Hail thou potent Deity!
Every Creature
Throughout Nature
Owns thy Pow'r as well as we.
Enter Hymen in a Saffron-colour'd Robe, a Chaplet of Flowers on his Head, and in his Hand the Nuptial Torch; attended by Priests.
HYMEN.
Behold a greater Pow'r than He,
Behold the Marriage Deity!
154
Behold the Marriage Deity!
CUPID,
smiling.
Behold the God of Houshold Strife,
That spoils the happy Lover's Life,
And turns a Mistress to a Wife!
HYMEN.
Foolish and inconstant Boy!
Thine's a transitory Joy;
Sudden Fits in Pleasure's Fever;
HYMEN's Blessings last for ever.
CUPID.
HYMEN's Bondage lasts for ever;
Love's free Pleasures failing never.
HYMEN.
Love's stol'n Pleasures, insincere,
Purchas'd at a Rate too dear,
Shame and Sorrow will destroy,
If HYMEN license not the Joy.
[Both together.]
Then let us join Hands and unite.
155
How happy, how happy, how happy are we,
Where CUPID and HYMEN in Consort agree!
We'll revel all Day with Sports and Delight,
And HYMEN and CUPID shall govern the Night.
| A Pastoral Masque | |