University of Virginia Library

Scene Three.

—Romantic view in the Island of Cyprus. Adonis discovered pacing the stage.
Ad.
Day breaks! and finds me looking like an ass;
I've watched all night, with my couteau de chasse.
And no antagonist! my temper's soured,
Whate'er his rank—I say he's a rank coward!
At the Horse Guards, and every club I'll post him,
In type that all who run may read and roast him.
In black and white it shall by all be seen,
He feared being pinked and left upon the green.
The plain unvarnished tale abroad shall spread,
And Mars look blue, whenever that is read.
I've waited long enough! be his the shame!
Here come the hunt! so hey for other game.

Enter Hunters.
Chorus—“Foresters sound the cheerful horn.”
Somebody sound the cheerful horn
For nobody here can play;
And some old buck, as sure as he's born,
Shall kick the bucket to-day.
At length when jaded home we come,
We'll moisten well our clay
With whiskey, brandy, gin, and rum,
And backy puff-away, away, away! &c.

(Exeunt Adonis and Hunters)
Music—“By the simplicity of Venus's doves”—to which Venus and Cupid descend in a car drawn by turtle doves.
Ven.
This way we hear the horns! am I too late,
To warn my dear Adonis of his fate?

Cupid.
I wonder, ma, you plague yourself about,
So boorish and insensible a lout.
The Queen of Beauty, thus to hanker after,
A bumpkin full of dog talk and horse laughter.

Ven.
How can you wonder, who have willed it so?
The more he flies me—I the fonder grow!
Find him I must, and bid him Mars beware!
There's something brewing—but it's not a bear.
A strange presentiment my soul comes o'er,
If aught kill him, 'twill be a horrid bore!
Go when I tell you, sir! drive back my car,
You'll find good stabling, yonder at “The Star.”
Let the doves have a peck of peas, when cool,
And don't you with the bar-maid play the fool,
As you're too apt to do—you wicked elf!

Cupid.
But mayn't I order something for myself?
I'm hungry too.

Ven.
Song—Venus—“Kelvin Grove.”
(Exit Venus)

Music—Enter Adonis, pursuing the Wild Boar.
Ad.
Song—Adonis—“Cease, rude Boreas.”

Enter Mars—Melo-dramatic music—Adonis attacks the Boar, who, goaded by Mars, succeeds in wounding Adonis, who falls—Exeunt Mars and Boar.
Ad.
I'm dish'd by jingo! In at my own death
After a hard run—rather out of breath.
Dear brother bucks, in my last will you'll find,
As in the chase, I've left you all—behind.

Enter Venus, Cupid and the Graces.
Ven.
Air—Venus—“Thy Father! away!”

Clouds begin to fill the scene—Exeunt Cupid; Graces, separately.
Ad.
You're very kind, but spare yourself the trouble;
I've often had a squeak for life's vain bubble.
And now 'tis burst—my final leap is taken;
It's quite impossible to save my bacon.
I'm run to earth, and must bid you good-bye;
So prithee don't continue in full cry.
Shake hands, and let's part friends—'twill soon be over;
I'm going fast as I can go to cover.

Quintette—“Mild as the moonbeams”—Venus, Adonis and the Graces, who return.
To range the Elysian fields Adonis hies.
O Dian, hear! Fair huntress of the skies!
Mildly her moonbeams through the dark clouds tremble.
Come, Queen of Night, and aid the Queen of Love.

The moon as a crescent, with Diana seated in it, rises through the clouds, which clear off.
Ven.
Diana! Luna! Proserpine! which e'er
Of thy three names thou likest best to bear—
Hear, goddess of the silver bow, my call,
Thou lady patroness of earth's gay ball;
Queen of the planets, empress of the stars,
Venus invokes your vengeance upon Mars.
He's killed the youth to whom we both were partial.
Oh, break the bâton of this fierce field-marshal,
Say a court martial called on Mars shall be,
Or plunge him, Dian, in the marshalsea.

Dian.
Alack, fair dame, no influence have I
In any court save that of Chancery.
There lunacy's the ward of law, you know,
And many not quite mad are driven so.

Ven.
Assist me, then, for grief has made me frantic.
Thou art the friend of lovers.

Dian.
How romantic!
Well, then, to moderate your grief profound,
Apply this lunar caustic to the wound.
'Twill burn his body up, but has the power
To make him fitter still for beauty's bower.
The fields he hunted he shall still adorn—
Still shoot—“A native to the Manor born.”
Still shall he drink the morning's healthful dew,
Still shall he blow, though not a bugle, through.
Still shall he scent the gale, for he shall be
The wind flower, alias anemone.

Adonis sinks and an anemone gradually rises in his place.
Ven.
He's gone off in a puff! Is it a joke?
And will it end as it began—in smoke?
Ah no! behold sweet incense round it throwing.
He rises all a-growing—all a-blowing.
Sweet bud, from scorching sun and wintry shower
I'll shield thee.

Adonis's face appears in the centre of the flower.
Ad.
That's the time of day, my flower.

Music—Mars appears as a planet in the sky.
Ven.
See where Mars sheds his angry rays! Resist 'em!

Dian.
He's the most baneful planet in our system.
Unless by Sol's consent some comet whips him,
The most that I can do is to eclipse him.

(Music—Moves, and her shadow eclipses Mars)
Mars.
Hollo! you've snuffed me out! Zounds, ma'am, be civil.
I wish you'd mind what you're about. The devil
Is in the moon for mischief, sure. She fidgets
About the sky, and with her dirty digits
Blackens one's face. Oh, Francis Moore, Physician,
How long must I remain in this condition?

Ven.
(to Diana)
Is not the boar within your jurisdiction?

Cupid entering.
Cupid.
He's here in custody and sore affliction.

Dian.
Let him be killed and cured—we are not joking him.
Off with his head—so much for poking him.

(Exit Cupid)
Ven.
(to Audience)
To shine as evening star 'tis now my hour;
But ere again I seek my Paphian Bower,
May I—oh, may I hope you'll bid it bloom?
You who alone can really chase my gloom!
Though metamorphoses I've here a few,
I never wish to metamorphose you!
My humble spells are only thrown around you
To keep you the kind friends I ever found you.
Surely the simple flower that opes to-night,
This genial atmosphere will never blight;
Nor will my poor new moon to wane be told,
Before she is at least a few days old.
Let Hymen join your hands—they have the power
To bless my Stars, and save my Paphian Bower.
Then be not, by malignant Mars, deluded,
But ratify the piece we've here concluded.

Music—The Boar is brought in, in procession, by Cupid, &c., forming the picture by Westall—Venus, in the meantime, passes behind the clouds and appears as the Evening Star.
Finale—“My delight on a shiny night, in the season of the year.”
Ad.

Dian.

Enter Saturn, hastily.
Saturn.

Ven.