Volume Iii Part 134 (2/2)

The Youth shall now complain no more Of_ Sylvia's _needless Scorn, But she shall love, if he adore, And melt when he shall burn.

The Nymph no longer shall be shy, But leave the jilting Road; And_ Daphne _now no more shall fly The wounded panting G.o.d; But all shall be serene and fair, No sad Complaints of Love Shall fill the gentle whispering Air, No echoing Sighs the Grove.

Beneath the Shades young_ Strephon _lies, Of all his Wish possess'd; Gazing on_ Sylvia's _charming Eyes, Whose Soul is there confessed.

All soft and sweet the Maid appears, With Looks that know no Art, And though she yields with trembling Fears, She yields with all her Heart_.

--See, Sir, the Cloud of Foreigners appears, French, English, Spaniards, Danes, Turks, Russians, Indians, and the nearer Climes of Christendom; and lastly, Sir, behold the mighty Emperor.--

[_A Chariot appears, made like a Half Moon, in which is_ Cinthio _for the Emperor, richly dressed, and_ Charmante _for the Prince, rich, with a good many Heroes attending_. Cinthio's _Train born by four Cupids. The Song continues while they descend and land. They address themselves to_ Elaria _and_ Bellemante.--Doctor _falls on his Face, the rest bow very low as they pa.s.s. They make signs to_ Keplair.

_Kep_. The Emperor wou'd have you rise, Sir, he will expect no Ceremony from the Father of his Mistress.

[_Takes him up_.

_Doct_. I cannot, Sir, behold his Mightiness--the Splendor of his Majesty confounds me.

_Kep_. You must be moderate, Sir, it is expected.

[_The two Lovers make all the Signs of Love in dumb show to the Ladies, while the soft Musick plays again from the end of the Song_.

_Doct_. Shall I not have the Joy to hear their heavenly Voices, Sir?

_Kep_. They never speak to any Subject, Sir, when they appear in Royalty, but by Interpreters, and that by way of Stentraphon, in manner of the Delphick Oracles.

_Doct_. Any way, so I may hear the Sense of what they wou'd say.

_Kep_. No doubt you will--But see the Emperor commands by Signs his Foreigners to dance.

[_Soft Musick changes_.

[_A very Antick Dance. The Dance ended, the Front Scene draws off, and shows a Temple, with an Altar, one speaking through a Stentraphon from behind it. Soft Musick plays the while_.

_Kep_. Most Learned Sir, the Emperor now is going to declare himself, according to his Custom, to his Subjects. Listen.--

_Sten_. Most Reverend Sir, whose Virtue did incite us, Whose Daughter's Charms did more invite us; We come to grace her with that Honour, That never Mortal yet had done her; Once only, _Jove_ was known in Story, To visit _Semele_ in Glory.

But fatal 'twas, he so enjoy'd her, Her own ambitious Flame destroy'd her.

His Charms too fierce for Flesh and Blood, She dy'd embracing of her G.o.d, We gentler marks of Pa.s.sion give, The Maid we love, shall love and live; Whom visibly we thus will grace, Above the rest of human Race, Say, is't your Will that we shou'd wed her, And nightly in Disguises bed her?

_Doct_. The Glory is too great for Mortal Wife.

[_Kneels with Transport_.

_Sten_. What then remains, but that we consummate This happy Marriage in our splendid State?

_Doct_. Thus low I kneel, in thanks for this great Blessing.

[Cinthio _takes_ Elaria _by the Hand_; Charmante, Bellemante; _two of the Singers in white being Priests, they lead 'em to the Altar, the whole Company dividing on either side. Where, while a Hymeneal Song is sung, the Priest joins their Hands: The Song ended, and they marry'd, they come forth; but before they come forward, two Chariots descend one on one side above, and the other on the other side; in which is_ Harlequin _dress'd like a Mock Hero, with others; and_ Scaramouch _in the other, dress'd so in Helmets_.

_Scar_. Stay, mighty Emperor, and vouchsafe to be the Umpire of our Difference. [Cinthio _signs to_ Keplair.

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