图书图片
PDF
ePub

"In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. "But" come, thou goddess fair and free, In heaven yclep'd Euphrosyné,

And by men, heart-easing Mirth,

Whom lovely Venus at a birth

With two sister Graces more,
To ivy-crowned Bacchus bore.
Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee
Jest and youthful jollity,

Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles,
Nods and becks, and wreathed smiles,
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek,
And love to live in dimple sleek;
Sport, that wrinkled Care derides,
And Laughter holding both his sides.
Come, and trip it as you go,

On the light fantastic toe;

And in thy right hand lead with thee
The mountain-nymph, sweet Liberty.

[merged small][ocr errors]

[Whilst these lines are repeating, enter a Nymph representing EUPHROSYNE, or Mirth; who advances to the Lady, and sings the following song.

SONG.

Come, come, bid adieu to fear,
Love and harmony live here,
No domestic jealous jars,
Buzzing slanders, wordy wars,
In my presence will appear;
Love and harmony reign here.

3༠

Sighs to amorous sighs returning,

Pulses beating, bosoms burning,

Bosoms with warm wishes panting,
Words to speak those wishes wanting,
Are the only tumults here,

All the woes you need to fear;

Love and harmony reign here.

40

Lady. How long must I, by magick fetters chain'd To this detested seat, hear odious strains

Of shameless folly, which my soul abhors?

Com. Ye sedge-crown'd Naiades, by twilight seen Along Mæander's mazy border green,

At Comus' call appear in all your azure sheen.

[He waves his Wand, the Naiads enter, and range themselves in order to dance.]

Now softly slow let Lydian measures move,
And breathe the pleasing pangs of gentle love.

["The Naiads dance a slow dance expressive of the passion of Love.]

["After this dance" the pastoral Nymph advances slow,

with a melancholy and desponding air, to the side of the stage, and repeats, by way of soliloquy, the first six lines, and then sings the ballad. In the mean time she is observed by EUPHROSYNE, who by her gesture expresses to the audience her different sentiments of the subject of her complaint, suitably to the character of their several songs.]

E

RECITATIVE.

How gentle was my Damon's air!
Like sunny beams his golden hair,
His voice was like the nightingale's,
More sweet his breath than flow'ry vales.
How hard such beauties to resign!

And yet that cruel task is mine!

A BALLAD.

On every hill, in every grove,
Along the margin of each stream,
Dear conscious scenes of former love,
I mourn, and Damon is my theme.
The hills, the groves, the streams remain,
But Damon there I seek in vain.

"Now to the mossy cave I fly,

"Where to my swain I oft have sung,
"Well pleas'd the browsing goats to spy,
"As o'er the airy steep they hung.
"The mossy cave, the goats remain,
"But Damon there I seek in vain.

"Now through the winding vale I pass,
"And sigh to see the well-known shade;
"I weep, and kiss the bended grass,

"Where love and Damon fondly play'd, "The vale, the shade, the grass remain, "But Damon there I seek in vain."

50

60

70

80

From hill, from dale, each charm is fled,

Groves, flocks, and fountains please no more, Each flower in pity droops its head,

All nature does my loss deplore. All, all reproach the faithless swain, Yet Damon still I seek in vain.

RECITATIVE. By EUPHROSYNE.

Love, the greatest bliss below,
How to taste few women know;
Fewer still the way have hit

How a fickle swain to quit.
Simple nymphs then learn of me,
How to treat inconstancy.

BALLAD.

The wanton god, that pierces hearts,
Dips in gall his pointed darts ;
But the nymph disdains to pine;
Who bathes the wound with rosy wine.

Farewell lovers, when they're cloy'd ;
If I am scorn'd, because enjoy'd.
Sure the squeamish fops are free
To rid me of dull company.

They have charms whilst mine can please;
I love them much, but more my ease;
Nor jealous fears my love molest,

Nor faithless vows shall break my rest.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

"Fire, water, earth, and air, combine

"To compose the rich repast,

"Their aid the distant seasons join

"To court thy smell, thy sight, thy taste."

[merged small][ocr errors]

[After this "they put on their chaplets and prepare for "the feast: while COMUS is advancing with his cup, "and one of his attendants offers a chaplet to the Lady, "(which she throws on the ground with indignation) "the preparation for the feast is interrupted by lofty "and solemn musick from above, whence" the second Attendant Spirit enters gradually in a splendid machine, repeating the following lines to the Lady, and sings, remaining still invisible to COMUS and his crew.

« 上一页继续 »