can answer to my self The world must then be satisfy'd Par. 'T is evident the Treason 's grown mature What Interest has Adrastus in this man This rising Comet whose portentous look To Nations threatens ruin Is this the Mansion of a Village Lord The Roman Chiefs in their triumphal pride Were never more illustrious in their sports Than those ev'n now with wonder I behold The Prince by nature turbulent and proud Brooks not the narrow limits of his Thrace With envy he beheld Byzantium's wealth When for his Brother with opprobrious terms He wou'd have forc'd your Daughter from your arms Arc. Oh! thou hast rous'd a fury in my breast Which stings me worse than Scorpions fiery tongues Why didst thou name my Daughter she was once The blessing of my Youth The glory of my Court The fairest product of Pulcheria's Love But now a wanderer in some barren Clime Driv'n by my cruelty to spend her Spring With a vile ravisher in want and pain Par. 'T is time my Lord to think of this no more What we can't help we must with patience bear And when you 're thus by threatning dangers prest Look forwards to prevent the future ills Arc. What wou'd'st thou that we do I yet can see No ills but such as from suspicion rise Perhaps as Idle as Adrastus threats Par. In Rome 't was whisper'd that Byzantium's Streets With Thracian Captains swarm'd and Thracian arms Your self has heard the Rumours which have spread Of Armies on the Borders to revenge An injur'd Brother true the rumours dy'd But still the Injury as they tell you lives Arc. Again thy just reproaches rack my Soul To what wou'd'st thou perswade me Par. To be safe The business of my days my nightly care Is to preserve you from the strokes Of such as dare not meet you in the Field Arc. What plots hast thou discover'd Par. None my Lord Howe'er I thought it strange to see the Prince Abandon Thrace and hear Amintor's name So often chanted in your ears with praise Nor were his Friends contented till their pray'rs Extorted from your bounty what 't is plain They meant to take without your gift a Crown Why when this Journey was at first propos'd Were there such reasons giv'n you to adjourn The visit or disswade you from 't And when He saw you wou'd not listen to him Why Must he be foremost was he not afraid His friends might be surpriz'd or unprepar'd It may be only Fancy but if e're My Loyalty foresaw a black design And was of service to your Empire now This very hour the wit of Hell 's at work And you 're the destin'd Victim Arc. Heav'n he shakes With honest fears do with me what thou wilt We 'll to the City arm the Roman bands And storm the Palace in the face of noon Adr. No 't is not worth your care command your Guardâ— To seize on every Post which may oppose Assistance from the Province This at first They must with utmost secrecy perform While I by promis'd Tortures and Rewards Discover from Amintor's Slaves how long Their Lord has known the Prince of Thrace and whence Their Master and this Mass of Riches came Arc. Be careful of my name nor let the world Re-enter Nic. Report my Host insulted by his Guest On groundless Tales and visionary Fears I 'll give directions to my Guards The rest Is left to thee Be wise Ex. Alc. Par. Be so your self fond Emp'ror Was not your Reason clouded by your fears The Tyrant passion of your Soul you soon Wou'd see thro all my airy Plots and Truth And Innocence wou'd shine like perfect day Well Nicias thou I know art pleas'd to see The hour for which we oft have wisht to find The Lord of Greece from Foreign Counsels free Consents to hear his Friends and own their Love How suits Confinement with Adrastus say Does he not rage and like a Forrest Boar Entangled in the Snare by raging close The toil the faster on him Nic. Yes A while his wild resentment threaten'd VVar. And with injurious words denounc'd to Greece Eternal Enmity But most to you The Emp'ror and the Empire 's ruin This He oft repeated in outrageous Phrase And darted from his Eyes avengeful fires Par. I laugh to hear him talk of War in Chains His Fury's impotent his Sword is mine He lives but till my Love has full revenge And reacht Phylante's Image in his heart Oh! thou remembrest when the cruel Maid Deaf to my sighs and heedless of my tears Profusely on him lavisht guilty smiles And spurn'd me from her feet with utmost scorn The curst remembrance of that shameful hour Is fatal to my Foe He dies Nor can Arcadius save him 't is too late Tho as he 's won't he shou'd this minute change His breach of Treaty's ne're to be compos'd But to be safe the Prince of Thrace must dye Nic. Or Greece must perish by intestine broils Brothers by Brothers fall and Friends by Freinds Which to prevent Par. Ay Nicias that 's my task To hinder this the Thracian Prince must bleed The Emp'ror seize his State Nic. For what Par. That 's left To me and if my Vengeance proves so weak It can't find reasons for his death 't is just My wrongs unpunisht should be still my shame I know thee faithful Nicias that with thee My most important secrets are secure Amintor or whatever else he 's stil'd When his Friends safety calls perhaps may arm The Province h 'as obtain'd but what he meant Of service to the Prince shall prove his doom The Roman Guards at several Posts are plac'd To quell the Village Tumults in their rise Thy charge of highest moment is within Let none without the Imperial Signet see Adrastus 't will enrage him yet the more And that the more encrease the Emp'rors fears On which my hopes depend Enter Eud. and Alca. N c. My Lord our Host Par. Retire expect anon Instructions further from me My business now is not with him but yet T is criminal to love the man I hate Ex. Par. Nic. Eud. Confin'd without my knowledge in my house Against the faith of Nations and of Leagues From thee who never didst deceive me This Wou'd scarce be credible but that the looks Of him who there avoided us declare The guilt of wicked Counsels and confirm Enter Aurelia Thy just report and make our danger sure Oh my Aurelia Aur. Tell me why that sigh Is it for me thy nature 's on the rack For me that these Convulsions shake thy Soul Oh let me share the anguish of thy mind Say We must dye Alas I know we must And in my Crime rejoyce my Love of thee Fate in thy Brother has begun her spoils Our Lot I know is next Eud. Oh cease thy tears And if 't is in thy heart to love me less In pity to us both attempt it now For while I see thee thus endearing kind I grow a Coward and cou'd wish to live Think of
Mint They talk of Rules and those that break 'em scorn Yet none more forward when it serves their turn Good Sense and Nature ev'ry where should reign Where these are wanting they but talk in vain The precepts of their Art with heat they praise But draw the vile examples from their Plays Hard fate if we must all their paths pursue Or win their favour by offending you To you bright Circle he commends his Cause They must to him who to the world give Laws If Foreign Theatres with mighty cost Of wondrous Scenes and Decorations boast Of opening Heav'ns and Visions in the air They ne're cou'd shew so many wonders there Nor by the help of Magick or Machine Produce such Beauties or so fair a Scene Tho awful terrour in your eyes appears He less your Cruelty than Justice fears Yet by your sentence since he lives or dies He 'll fall with Pleasure or with Glory rise ACT I. Scene an open Valley whose Prospect is confin'd by a Mountain on one side and Woods on the other and the Sea at a distance forward Aurelia Sylvia Phylante walking Aur. WAk'd by the early Mattins of the Lark We leave our Down and in this Sunny Vale Suck the fresh breezes which embalm the air Sylv. Thus in the tedious absence of your Lord We by variety of Sports contrive To pass those hateful minutes with delight Which else would lag like years of want and pain Aur. Oh! 't is an age 't is ages since my eyes Fed last on his and to my Soul convey'd Unutterable pleasure Syl. Scarce the Sun Has thrice in yonder Ocean sunk his beams Since you beheld him and may yet e're noon Again behold and have him in your arms Phyl. See there descending from the hill I spy A man that tow'rds you seems to bend his course So swiftly now he crosses o're the Plain 'T is sure the Messenger of welcome news Aur. Oh! nothing can be welcome but my Lord. Phyl. I see him 't is Alcander Aur. Ha! alone Where 's my Amintor Tell me Phylante Has not Arcadius loaded him with Chains And sentenc'd him to Torture and to Death Sylv. For what are you thus anxious of his Life How wild are all these fears You from Amintor's merit may expect Arcadius has been lavish of his Grace And with Imperial honors crown'd your Love Aur. 'T is not for us to think of Honors here For what we never see we ne're desire My Soul contented with our humble state Leaves to the Great the glories of a Court And in possession of these Shades and Love Unenvy'ng and unenvy'd taste delights Which for Elizium I wou'd scarce resign But oh If I amidst of all this joy Shou'd have Amintor ravisht from my arms And see him perish by unnatural rage This Vale will then be worse than Libian Wilds All will be desert here and all accurst Forsook by ev'ry thing but by despair I then shall wander in a maze of woe Till death too late o'retakes me Sylv. What can this mean This unexpected change Gives me just reason to believe you 've fears Which you in vain endeavour to conceal For I will know 'em I that am your Friend A name which claims the priviledge of trust Will know your worst of Fate as I till now Have been the partner of your hours of bliss Enter Alcander Alc. Madam my Lord. Aur. Speak Lives he Is he free Alc. He Lives is free and o're this Realm of Peace Created by the Emp'ror Soveraign Prince As this informs you further Giving a Letter Aur. Yes 't is his Look in my eyes and you 'll perceive 't is his Why do I tremble Is it fear or joy Whom shou'd I fear There 's nothing sure in this There 's nothing which my Lord can send to me But what is dear as Life and soft as Love Reads Impatient of thy absence I commit In thee the Treasure of my heart to Heav'n Our Embassy with rapture was receiv'd Our Flocks and Herds the ricâ—es of the Plain Preferr'd to heaps of Gold and homage Crowns I am declar'd a Prince and thou shalt reign If we survive the danger of this day The Emp'ror from our Foes or Fame has heard So much of our blest Mansion and of thee He begg d to be my Guest and with his Court Intends to visit our retreat e're even I fly to thy relief I can no more Sylv. Why weep you when your fortune is advanc'd Above what you expected or desir'd The Empire of our hearts you had before But what was Friendship then is duty now Nor shall our Friendship make our duty less Aur. Arcadius Sylv. What of him I know you think This place not worthy of the Lord of Greece Tho t is not for magnificence or shew Or to see splendours equal with his own That he descends to be your guest 'T is to behold the sweetness of this Vale To hear the Musick of our Forest Quires And weary d with perpetual Pomp to see How Solitude and Innocence can charm For you perhaps this journey is design'd Your Beauty Aur. Hold I must not hear thee on Thou little know'st of whom or what thou talk'st Ungratefully thy Friendship I 've abus'd And kept the mystery of my fate conceal'd Which now alas necessity reveals Come gentle Sylvia take me to thy heart Support me with thy Counsel lest I sink Beneath the burthen of my shame and fears Arcadius Is my Father Sylv. When you first came a stranger to these Woods I ever thought you of divine descent And as I thought you then adore you now kneels Aur. Oh rise my Friend I will not see thee thus Say does the Sun that glids this morning Sky Shine on a Creature so forlorn as me Who can defend me from a Fathers frown A Father and an Emperor disobey'd Forgive me that I dare not tell thee more Thou soon wilt guess that Love was all my Crime Sylv. And Love which was your crime is your defence Your story at your leisure I shall know But 't is no more than I have often read Of Princesses who scorn'd the Beds of Kings When merit had before engag'd their hearts Your Father by his favour has approv'd The choice you made and all things will be well Aur. Alcander execute your Lords commands You Sylvia see that all things be prepar'd Fit to receive the Master of the World While I with Reason and with Love consult How best I may approach my Fathers wrath How move his pity best or daunt his rage Ex. Syl. Alc. Oh my Phylante how shall we escape This Dreadful enterview or rather meet The Storm which threatens to o'rewhelm us both Phy. You 've little cause to fear for you are blest In the fruition of your wishes I Have much more reason to deplore my fate An Exile from my Parents and my hopes Yet in your Friendship I enjoy 'em all Aur. Oh how cou'd we foresee that we shou'd here In this vile corner of
the World where none Scarce hear of Greece or of my Fathers name How cou'd we think that here we shou'd have met The ruin which we strove so much to shun Phy. Heaven always will protect the Innocent Aur. Who can be Innocent that disobeys A Fathers pleasure and a Soveraign's Will Phy. Your Father wou'd have left you to your choice The Empress forc'd him to oppose your Vows And in her Brothers favour wrong your Love Aur. Wrong'd it indeed for from our Infant years Amintor still was promis'd to my Arms But when Pulcheria dy'd was nam'd no more Phyl. You were design'd the Prince of Thrace's Bride Aur. And who 's Amintor but the Prince of Thrace Adrastus who possesses now his realm Whom thou and every one that knows him loves Was Privy to our flight and the design Eudosius form'd to save me for himself Phyl. 'T is said that Prince was in Arabia slain Aur. 'T was said so then the better to conceal The Plot Adrastus had in Greece contriv'd When he in Royal Embassy was sent To fetch me for his Brother as before The Emperor and Eudosius had agreed But all those Treaties with my Mother dy'd And the new Empress a new Match resolv'd How on this news Eudosius was enrag'd How from his Court disguis'd he came to ours What means he us'd to see me and how soon My Soul consented to be rul'd by him I only for his Fame ador'd before This for some hour of leisure I reserve The rest is known to thee Phy. I lik't implicitely the man you lov'd Nor askt with whom we fled but always thought His actions shew'd him of the race of Kings Who now can say that Love forgets his Slaves Love that has led you thro such vast designs And when the world to find their Princess rose That kept you from the search of Nations free That watch'd you on the Waves and to this shoar Of safety guided you and blest your flight Aur. Love on his part has every thing perform'd But what have I Phylante done on mine Rebellious and a Fugitive can I Look on my Father and not sink with shame Phy. For what He bid you love and you obey'd 'T is true he bid you after this to change But that was neither in his pow'r nor yours You fled From whom Placidia one who sought Your ruine and can hurt you now no more Her pride and spite are bury'd in her Grave The Emp'ror will behold you as his Child And free'd from prejudice you 'll then appear A Heavenly Treasure which he once had lost And now with rapture and amazement finds Aur. Thy words are extasy thy very looks Declare thy Prophecy Divine And I already feel my transports grow Arcadius will forgive me I no more Shall clasp Eudosius with reluctant arms For when my heart with tenderness dissolv'd Has giv'n itself to pleasure say ye Groves Ye Fountain Hill and Dale that know my Griefs Has not my disobedience checkt my joy Enter Sylvia And drawn when we 've for solitude retir'd A thousand racking questions from my Lord Which he no more shall ask nor I provoke Sylv. Reason prevails and you're your self again And this prophetick Peace declares you safe You in the Grove of pleasure there are met Sileno Daphne and the Nymphs whose sports Are us'd to entertain your hour of mirth Who waiting your approach prepare their Songs Aur. This sure 's no hour of Mirth no time for sports Yet Sylvia I 'll indeavour to be calm I 'll set the fairest prospect to my View And sooth my hopes with Visions of success Come my Phylante since from every Grove The cheerful Birds salute us with their Songs Joyn thou thy better harmony with theirs And lay the rising Tempest in my Soul Thy Voice is still the refuge of my care Despair herself would listen to the Charm And when thou entertainst her lose her sting Thrace by the Magick of thy notes has heard More wonders than her ancient fables boast SONG I. IN Vain you tell me Love is sweet And boast of his delights I hear you talk of nothing yet But restless days and nights For when you have your wish enjoy'd You find the bliss so small You either think your Lover cloy'd Or that you han't him all II. Strange Magick when we see before So many Fools undone We long to make the number more And on their Perils run Tho thousands shou'd our hopes reprove Who have their falshood known In this we 'll trust so weak is Love No knowledge but our own Aur. The Thracian Prince may make the Fable true And what you mean of others you may feel Phy. Young Daphne and Sileno and the Youth Who to divert you form a rural Quire With their diviner Lays shall cure you griefs And health to your distemper'd mind restore You then whose Angel voices and whose looks To ravish every sense In heavenly consort join Attend And what I taught you for your Lords return To pleasure his belov'd and yours perform The Front Scene opens and discovers a Circle of Seven Pillars adorn'd with Garlands of Flowers The Shepherds and Shepherdesses dancing witkin it to the Tune of the Chorus which they sing as they Dance Chorus Come all away Come and Sing and Dance and Play 'T is the Shepherds holiday 1 Shepherd Leave the Mountain Vale and Home To the Grove of Pleasure come Never fear your Flocks will stray Pan protects 'em while we play Shepherdess Happy Mansions pleasant Shades Seats of Innocence and Ease Gentle Shepherds Tender Maids Sweet Abodes of Smiling Peace Ev'ry Grace and Joy possessing Welcome him that gives the Blessing Shepherds Amintor's Watchful Care maintains These Quiet Fields from harms His wisdom awes the rougher Swains The Mild his Goodness charms When Pan the Grecian Shepherds sway'd He ne're was more ador'd They out of Fear their God obey'd We out of Love our Lord. Shepherdess When Venus deckt with Heavenly Charms Once woo'd a Mortal to her Arms All but the cruel stupid Boy Beheld her with transporting Joy The Flocks and Herds refus'd to graze And Men and Beasts cou'd only gaze Aurelia's Beauties thus appear Thus shining thus transporting here Shepherd For him we Flowry Chaplets bring The fairest praduct of the Spring Shepherdess For her we Crowns of Roses weave Which both with cheerful Looks receive And with as cheerful Hearts we g've Thus Loving and Belov'd we live Chorus Thus Loving and Belov'd we Live Aur. Oh force of Musick and Caelestial Song Which from profoundest misery can raise A Soul to extasy and tast of Heav'n To you Phylante I commit the charge Of this great Festival and from your care Expect what nature and what art can do A March afar off The foremost of the Graecian Court arrive I see the Glorious Troop descend the Mount And love informs me that my Lord is there To him I 'll fly and know what fate decrees From him the sharpest Message will be sweet Whose Voice
the Glories thou hast left the worlds That would have kneel'd before thee but for me Think of the heats that oft have parcht thy limbs The tedious nights which we have liv'd in Snow The Tempests which have tost thee on the Main The hateful Exile thou hast since endur'd The terrours that assault thee Think on this And then behold me as the cause of all Aur. Oh! I for ever cou'd behold thee thus For ever feast my longing eyes on thine Thee the last object that shall bless their Rayes And give my parting Soul a taste of heav'n For heav'n they tell us is but perfect Love And mine 's perfection when I look on thee Eud. Why when my care presag'd this dreadful houâ— Why did my Brother bring us hopes of peace Or that thy Father would forgive our flight When thou the darling of his age were 't found Oh thou art found to him but lost to me The fatal secret's known my Friend in Chains This this Aurelia racks me worse than Wheels I 've liv'd a Slave too long a worthless Slave I 've seen my Brother injur'd to my face And Patient of his bonds expect my own Wou'd I in Thrace have suffer'd this from Kings My house by Foreign pow'rs prophan'd Has he then mockt me with a Soveraigns name The word that said it was the voice of Heav'n Pronounc'd by him and here 't is mine to Reign Oh had th' Arabian Host beheld me thus Thus passive in my wrongs they ne're had fled From Thracian Arms nor shunn'd the Victors Sword Aur. Cease the remembrance of that glorious day Talk not of War your business is with Love Eud. My business is with Death Aur. Oh! speak my Lord You think too much on things which long are past I 'll to my Father tell him of our Loves Eud. And beg him wou'dst thou not to let us live By Heav'n I scorn to owe my Life to one Who can't defend his own I 'll give my Brother liberty or dye Nor wou'd I yield to live till he is free Alcander to Dametas Let him know Our danger 't is enough and tell his Friends That if we want their aid they be prepar'd Ex. Alc. Come my Aurelia See my Fury's o're And I am gentle now as Lovers dreams Aur. With you indeed 't is but a dream to love Which waking you forget or blush to own Off Off I dare not gaze for never man Could look so much like truth and be so false Eud. Oh why this language to my ear unknown By thee too left I 'm wretched then indeed Come While this minute is our own and whose The next shall be or where we next shall meet Is only known to Fate While this is ours Come Let us spend it like the rest in love Aur. That word from thee 's like sounds of empty air Love always best is in obedience seen Had I been dear to thee thou ne're hadst thought Of War nor mention'd it against my Will And who 's this Foe with whom thou wou'd'st contend The Father of thy Wife Thy Emp'ror and thy Guest From thee by Guards and Troops of Slaves secur'd And what wou'd'st thou oppose to this a band Of Village Heroes arm'd with Crooks and Staves Wer 't thou in Thrace thy Armies on their march Led on by thee and Greece the destin'd Prize Dost think thy Feudatory Realm a Match For the great Empire of the world Had I been dear to thee as thou hast sworn Thou wou'd'st not to offend me act like one Whom Reason has forsook Eud. Was I in Thrace my Armies on their march And the great Empire of the world the Prize Thus govern'd I should think of Philip's Son Who with a chosen few subdu'd the East And made the proud Euphrates flow with Blood But in this peaceful Region where I see A Prize much fairer than the subject World What wou'd I not Aur. Thy Eyes speak what thou wou'd'st and they are truth They force belief beyond a thousand Oaths We wander in the dark misled by fear For was the secret known thy self wou'd first My Fathers Vengeance feel if Vengeance still Is in his breast reserv'd of him inform'd For what Adrastus suffers you may then Or arm or sue for Peace as we resolve Eud. We all dispute in vain with what we love I 'll to Arcadius shew him how this deed VVill ever be injurious to his Fame Thou to Phylante and forget thy griefs To lessen hers who now abounds in woe These dangers cannot long our Loves molest For death or pardon soon must bring us rest Ex. Omnes End of the Third Act. ACT IV. Scene an Apartment before that where Adrastus is confin'd Aurelia Phylante Sileno Myrtilla c. Aur. WHere will your sorrow lead you Can your tears O're doors of Brass prevail or Marble Walls Or Savage man less flexible than these Phy. 'T is yet imperfect night and all is husht As if her time was spent and day was nigh What means this early quiet when our shades Converted to a Court shou'd ring with noise VVhich waits on Princes and proclaims their state The hours that labour with our Fate are vext To bring the dreadful issue forth and lag Behind their course Forgive me I am rude My senses wand'ring make me hear your words As things which came not from a Friend like you Aur. To speak you comfort is I know in vain All Counsel in excess of trouble 's lost But what can you propose by coming here T is death for these to let you see the Prince Or was it not while you believe him safe A minutes absence you may well endure Phyl. An age for you I suffer'd with content An age of absence for my friend but then I thought him safe and wou'd not wish for more My eyes have seen him since the pleasure 's new And I again must see him or I dye Aur. You will on us th' impending storm will fall VVith us the Emp'rors wrath will end with us His bounds and your despair will be no more Phyl. For you my heart weeps blood as well as him My Pity thus divided scarce can tell Where first she should her mournful office pay She 's us'd to visit you the stranger claims His debt and with a voice which will be heard Aur. You 've reason was it in your pow'r to act The Guards remov'd the rest you might o'recome Soft musick begins here and continues till the other is perform'd Phyl. And these we 'll conquer with the rest if 't is In Numbers or in Notes to win on man We 'll move their hearts to listen to our pray'r And when they 're most defenceless tempt their faith Aur. On Souls dispos'd to yield you may succeed But few will venture where the crime is death This sooner will betray 'em from their trust My Fathers Signet which I brought from Greece That serv'd us in our flight if pray'rs should sail Produce it at the Emp'rors dread command Be
is kinder to my Ear than sighs Of wandring Rivers or of evening Winds Ex. Aur. Syl. Phyl. Unhappy Princess by ill fate persu'd To these almost the limits of the World Oh fatal passion Thus while I lament Thy lost condition I forget my own And Friendship always is too strong for Love For now that every hour I hope to see What next to thee is dearest to my heart Thy danger sets before my eyes a gloom Which hides the gawdy Vision from my view And makes it doubtful to me if I ought To mourn for thee or to rejoice for him Sileno meet me at the Bow'rs of bliss There all shall have the Parts to each assign'd What best my thoughts can thus employ'd invent For something noble we must now prepare Something te ravish an Imperial Ear Tho from you only I expect success Whose Beauties equal with your Voices please Ex. omnes ACT II. Scene a Fountain with Bowers of Myrtle around it a Shepherdess lying in one that fronts the Stage sings SONG TO Hill and Dale I tell my Care To Rocks and Streams how I despair To faithless Winds my fortune mourn The Winds in sighs my plaint return The Streams in murmurs Hill and Dale And hollow Rocks my fate bewail In Ecchoes kindly they resound My moan and seem to feel my wound He only that should hear is deaf He only that can give relief Despises me and mocks my grief Phylante Sileno Shepherds and Shepherdesses come to her as the Song begins Phyl. What hapless Virgin haunts these lonely Bow'rs Who with these mournful sighs disturbs our Plays Myrtilla then 't is but affected grief Such beauty ne'r had reason to despair Come you to other notes must tune your voice To sing of Gods and win immortal praise Sileno since you challenge us to try Whose Layes have greater influence on the Soul Whether the Trumpets lofty sounds prevail Less than the dying whispers of your Flutes Exert your utmost skill for we accept Your offer and your Valley shall resound With Musick such as Eccho ne'r can learn Sileno We boast no skill but from our artless Songs Expect success which Nature never fails When Birds untaught in Woods and Forests sing Their notes seem wild and not so just as ours There 's something in 'em yet which charms our ears More than the finest graces of your art Why mayn't our Voices uninflam'd like theirs Give the same Pleasure tho they seem as wild Amintor or Eudosius and Aurelia Phyl. Amintor and Aurelia Let 's retire And in the thickest of this beauteous shade Attend their leisure to approve our mirth There meditate the business of the day And the rewards which we expect from Fame Aur. I have thee my Eudosius I have all That Heav'n can give me of my hearts desire I have thee but how long shall I enjoy The mighty blessing this is all my fear And this the source of these untimely tears My Father Eud. 'T is not in the power of Man Nor Gods to part what Love so firmly joyns Nor have we liv'd for many rolling years In sweet fruition of our wish and past Thro dangers eminent on both the Mains To fall at last by him that gave thee life Aur. He 'll look on me perhrps as on a Child The pangs of Nature may oppose his rage I in the combat of his soul be safe But how will you escape his dire revenge He 'll view thee as the robber of his house That stole his dearest treasure thence and lives Unlicens'd in possession of those joys Which he and only he had right to give Eud. That right by solemn Oaths he gave to me Himself first tempted me to soar so high To gaze upon thy Beauties with desire And when he wou'd have flung me from the Heav'n To which his promise had advanc'd my hopes Oh was it possible for me to leave Such Sweetness such Divinity as thine And yield thee to the bosom of thy Foe What Danger cou'd have driven me to this For whom had I to please but thee Oh! were his power omnipotent as Jove's His will as sâ—â—â—ed and his wrath as fierce And I be … d hee thus profusely kind What fear cou'd interdict me thy embrace What duty check … y transport or defend My arms this circle of incessant joy Aur. To have thee thus Eudosius tho I saw My Father darting from his awful brow His keenest arrows yet my soul secure In extasy wou'd brave 'em all for thee Eud. Away with sorrow Fate already shews A boundless store of happiness reserv'd To recompence the troubles we have past Aur. What made Arcadius visit our retreat What made this show'r of favour fall on thee Eud. When chosen by these Provinces I went To pay the homage which our Lord requires Our Presents Flocks and Herds and crowns of Flow'rs Were to the wealth of Italy preferr'd He askt me whence this plenty and these Youth Who rul'd for him the Region whence they came And ravisht with their Elegance and Looks Declar'd this morn Amintor for their Lord As they with tears of earnestness implor'd Of you Sir smiling from the Throne on me He said we 've heard such wonders we resolve To see the Paradice which you possess And be our self a witness of your sports Aur. Adrastus what of him Eud. My care of thee Prevented me from being further known For tho I dy'd to take him to my heart I durst not let our Friendship then appear Lest e're we were prepar'd to meet his frown Arcadius had been jealous of our loves And we unheard had faln before his wrath Which now we may defeat or else avoid Trumpets are heard Aur. Hark others of the Royal Train arrive The Trumpet ecchoes in this Vale of Peace A noise more dreadful than the din of War Enter Edrastus Eud. Sink on my breast and lose thy terrors there Oh my Aurelia if thou yet hast life Look on a sight which will enchant thy Soul My Brother why dost thou behold me thus Why cruelly detain thee from my arms What message hast thou brought are we proscrib'd Is Death presented us by thee my friend I cannot argue with thee nor endure This distance Oh Adrastus Adra. Amazement My Eudosius strikes me dumb My Prince my Brother and my dearest Friend To see thee and embrace thee thus alive Is more than weak humanity can bear Forgive me Madam Nature flows so high That I had almost lost my duty here Kneels Aur. Oh rise Adrastus we 're not now in Greece This posture suits not with our humble state Adra. A thousand questions I have next to ask Of my own Love a thousand then of yours Aur. Phylante's busy'd with her Rural friends And in our Groves instructing 'em to sing But she shall leave her talk to welcome you Ex. Aurel. Eud. That sigh which from thy bosome broke its way Discovers thou hast Secrets in thy heart Which shake thy inmost Soul Oh speak my Friend Thou
Wood being several rows of Trees illuminated All the Actors on the Stage A Warlike Tune Fame THro wondring Worlds I Caesar 's worth proclaim The Nations tremble at his mighty name My hundred Tongues his matchless deeds declare In Peace his Wisdom or his Force in War Himself at rest my Labours never cease To spread his Vertues or in War or Peace Pan. What voice is this to me unknown What noise which in the Elysian Shades Disturbs my quiet Reign If God or Goddess hence be gone Nor vex our Youth nor fright our Maids But leave to me the Plain I know thee by thy hundred Tongues Thy hundred Ears and thousand Eyes To Court go sing thy flatt'ring Songs Among the Great disperse thy Lyes Nor raise Confusion in our peaceful Land And you who reign with Pan below Ascend and ye who rove in Wilds Or press the Vine or watch in Fields Who use the Crook or bend the Bow Appear at my Command Satyr Shepherds Shepherdesses Bacchanalian Hunters Huntresses Hunters and Huntresses We come from the Mountain and hunting the Fox Shepherds and Shepherdesses And we from the Valley and keeping our Flocks Satyr I come from the Forest and plucking up Trees Bacchanalian And I from the Wine-press and sucking fat Lees. Chorus At Pan s great Command we leave Working and Play 〈…〉 call which with Joy we obey Ceres ascends Ceres Where 's my Pan my Lord my Love Why flies he from the Sacred Grove Why flies he from his Ceres arms For mortal Beauty leave immortal Charms Pan. One of the Gods who rule on Earth Descends to visit now the Plain For him we bring forth all our mirth For him too summon you your Train Our Presence shall their Rural Triumphs grace And with celestial lustre fill the place Ceres Ye Men and Maids who cut the Ear Or bind the bounteous Sheave Who reap the Golden Meads appear A while your Labour leave Binders and Reapers Reap Ous work at an end we 'll awhile go to play To Binding and Reaping a much better way This Harvest thus in for the next we will Plow And if we expect a new Crop we must Sow Bind Not so hasty you 're too warm Thus all Renters for a year When they mean to leave a Farm Care not what they wear or tear Come Man since you are so stout Take a Lease on 't and be merry There 's no fear you 'll wear it out When you are oblig'd to tarry Reap Oh talk not of Leases I hate 'em my Honey Your Copy Lands are for men who have Money When I rent at my will I can do as I please And had much rather Hold by another mans Lease Bind You and I shall never deal Put an end then to the strife Give me both your Hand and Seal And the Soil is yours for Life Reap By my troth 't is too hard as the Taxes go now When my Landlord paid all we more freely could sow But since I have try'd it and know how 't will bear 'T is a bargain between us Bind For Life Reap For a Year For two Voices Pan Ceres Plenty mirth and gay delights Pleasant days and blissful nights All the sweets of Love and Peace Numerous Flocks and large Increase Ever bless you Joy attend ye Pan and Ceres still befriend ye While they descend Fame appears The Trumpet sounds Fame Away with all these fatal Charms Away with these deluding Sounds The notes that rouze the fearful Camp to Arms That from the Coward drive his false alarms And make him dauntless look on death and wounds Fame to these Woods again restores And with the Emp'rors potent name torments the lab'ring Shores While the Musick is performing Arcadius seems to talk very earnestly with Parmenio and Nicias Eud. Observe Adrastus how Arcadius stands Unmov'd by Harmony or Artful shew Ev'n I who trembling on the brink of fate Behold the horrid Precipice am charm'd What cares are his superiour then to mine Par. The Emp'ror weary'd with the days fatigue Wills that all leave him but the Prince of Thrace Ex. Om. but Arc. Ad. Par. and Nic. Arc. That I have cause to think I am betray'd This wealth with which our own can scarce compare These Tow'rs these rich Alcoves these Gilded Roofs And all this bright magnificence declare Is this the dwelling of a private Swain This the retreat of discontent and love The Mines of Asia and the Ethiop Sands Scarce in the course of ten abundant years Produce more Treasures than my Eyes behold I see you know the Master of this place Already grown his confident and friend You have your secrets and your private talk While I with Fairy Dance and Song amus'd Play with my danger as the Pilot steers Tow'rds the sweet Voice which tempts him to the Rock Adr. Yourself my Lord discover'd first his worth You who so soon advanc'd him to a Throne Might well expect th' admiring world would gaze With more than common pleasure on the man Whom from profoundest solitude you chose To wear a Scepter and to sit with Kings Arc. This solitude so gloriously adorn'd These Riches hidden in a Diamond Cave Might tempt a Hermits Faith and make him view The Empire of the world with lustful Eyes Nor dropt they like you gay Machines from Heav'n Nor is it painted Wealth but Massy Gold Have you not heard him boast his high descent What Princess careless of her Nuptial Vow Has bred this Issue of polluted Love To nourish Treason here and prove at last Her injur'd Monarch's ruin and his shame Adr. This of a Prince and underneath his Roof Arc. You 're toucht Sir and would tell me this is base Ingrate Inhospitable and unjust Your Eyes convict you and your glowing Cheeks Burn with projected Mischiefs But Princes must not trifle with their Fate From whence this Rural prodigy What Realm Cou'd spare the Treasure that supports this Cost Adr. He told you whence himself From this blest Land where Peace and Safety dwell Where no projected mischiefs e're were form'd No Princess careless of her Nuptial Vow E're thought to wrong her Monarch or prophane This Vale of innocence with lawless love Arc. The secret which you dare not trust with me Is brooding mischiefs of the blackest form Prince you 're my Pris'ner till the truth is known Adr. Is this the safety of an Emp'rors Faith But that the Crown which glitters on your brow Commands submission and forbids my arm The vengeance to a Soveraigns honour due These chains shou'd never else affront your name My self wou'd else be Guardian of your Oath And force you to be just Arc. Guards till you hear from us observe the Prince To all but those whom we allow defend Admittance near him 't is our lifes concern Ex. Nic. with Adr. Next him by whom I reign I know no pow'r Superiour to my own No Judge who durst Declare against my pleasure that is wrong Which the Imperial word pronounces right I for this deed
foe without Forget or never knew that pass within But five are posted at the Gate and those We soon shall master and with Lycon joyn Eud. Thy nows transports me haste secure the Guards Be careful of their Lives receive our Friends Bar all the Palace Gates and leave at each Sufficient strength with charge to suffer none To enter or to pass let Lycon know I wait his entrance in the Inner Court Ex. Alcander I 'll meet the Emp'ror like an Emp'rors Son Nor on his Pity or his Daughters Tears Depend for pardon when I most am wrong'd Oh my Adrastus thou shalt see I still Am worthy of the Heroes of our race I fly to bring thee Freedom Ha my Wife Enter Aur. Phyl. Sylvia Aur. Am I unwelcome to my Lord Not thus He wou'd have met me when our Loves were young Why sits such thoughtful sorrow on thy brow My eyes were wont to kindle joy in thine Am I the cause of these distracting cares Am I more happy that my heart can find Relief in Love and only think of thee Have you not seen my Father Eud. No nor you Nor must I see him till Parmenio's pleas'd So far I prest it that the Guards were call'd To stop my passage Where are now your hopes The Traytor proudly told me 't was too late And bad me prove my innocence in Rome Dametas with an Army is at hand I will be heard and will have Justice done Aur. Dametas is at hand you will be heard This stile with thirty Legions would agree We dream of dangers which our fears create And reason yielding to those fears the ills At last prove real that our fancies form'd Eud. Blame not a passion which I learnt with love Fear was till then a stranger to my Soul I thought of losing you and then I fear'd T was then I trembled first forgot my Sex And felt a woman's softness in my heart Aur. Oh wou'd that softness argue with me now For ever you must lose me if you go Against you Greece will send forth all her pow'rs And Rome her Sister turn her force on you Where will your Army sly for refuge then Their Flocks and Herds their Virgins and their Wives Their Woods their Groves will be the Soldiers spoil And this fair Land of pleasure then lye waste While I abandon'd to my Father's rage Expos'd to Death or what is worse am left By all unpity'd and by all forsook Eud. Say wou'd you have me led in chains to Rome Shown for a Monster to the gaping crowd And with my Brother on a Scaffold fall The Victim of a jealous Minions lust The Emp'ror leaves us with the Rising day My Foe is conscious of his guilt and far Will keep me from his Master's Ear till Rome Has seen my shame and we can ne're be friends Oh no Aurelia things must ne're be thus Adrastus must be safe Arcadius undeceiv'd His honour 's equally concern'd with mine Both by a perjur'd Villain are abus'd And by this Sword we will have justice both Farewel To please thee wou'd be ruin But not to please thee I must hear no more Aur. Stay my Eudosius stay he 's gone he 's gone To certain Death nor gave a parting kiss Nor close embrace but tore him from my arms My longing arms that ne're must clasp him more What am I grown a burden to his Heart Have I for this endur'd a Parents curse For this the Kingdoms of the world refus'd For this to Menial Offices comply'd And been as much his Servant as his Wife Oh man oh false ungrateful man Oh thou Of all thy Sex most false and most ingrate Where hast thou left me but no matter where Since to be left for ever is a fate No circumstance of Woe can render worse My Father soon will seek me in his wrath And when his hard reproaches wound my ear Hadst thou been near me to relieve my shame And in thy bosom hide me from his frown His awful Brow had shot its darts in vain But now thus destitute of help from thee My crimes appear so black my Judge so fierce I dye with terrour e're my doom is read Phy. When by our griefs our reason is opprest How weak are all our arguments how vain Has he not suffer'd equally with you And I who have no interest but yours Have not I had my share and yet ev'n now When most I suffer I repent it least Was nothing to his Brothers Injuries due Must poor Adrastus still remain in chains Or for his freedom wait his Rivals Nod Aur. Too morrow I had past thro Swords and Spears Thro pointed Deaths and at my Fathers feet Implor'd his pity clung about his knees And of my Mothers beauteous Image full Hung on his neck and bath'd it with my tears Till to our wish I had inclin'd his Soul But oh my Husbands useless Fury adds New Fuel to his Flame when Peace was nigh Phy. Cease cease these mournings all things will be well The War is with Parmenio not his Lord. The Emp'ror will himself applaud his Son And when he sees his Favorite's curst designs Throw him with horrour from his arms Par. within Oh my Philante Phy. Heard you not a voice Aur. I did it nam'd you and the sound came thence Phy. Th'apartment where Adrastus is confin'd Sure 't was his Genius or my own that call'd To warn me of our danger Oh my heart Why sinks it in my breast why shake my limbs Why these ill Bodings if my Prince is safe Oh no I see the bloody hand advanc'd The Dagger lifted high his heart its aim Stop stop inhuman Butcher strike it here The wound is mine my Breast shall be his Shield Sylv. How well we counsel others and how ill When our greifs disturb us act our selves Aur. Where e're we turn we meet with new distress New Scenes of woe new Images of death Fly Sylvia from this most unhappy wretch This out-cast this forsaken woman fly My Friendship ruins what it holds most dear Syl. Madam Retire you 're here too much exposd Rous'd by the noise and perils of the night The Emp'ror arm'd with Thunder will appear And if he sees you in the first alarm How fatal may the meeting be to both Aur. Yes here this Jove this Thund'rer I 'll expect I 'll stand between my Lord and him and bear The dreadful weight of his resentment here On me the Tempest first shall break on me The edge of his insufferable rage Shall fall till thus it strikes me to the Earth falls Thus low I 'll bless him with my latest sighs And pray that his revenge may end with me Enter Emp. and Nic. Sylv. Oh save us ye immortal powers he comes Arc. Is he not dead Nic. No. Arc. Bring him forth Nic. My Lord The poison 's in his brain his Fancies rove On things extravagant the Fever past He may e're death be sensible and calm What dropt from him before was only this Parmenio