Poems upon Several Occasions/The British Enchanters/Act 2

by George Granville

ACT II. SCENE I.

SCENE, A Thick-wooded Forest.

Enter Arcabon seeming pensive, and Arcalaus.

Arcab. No Warning of th' approaching Flame,
Swiftly like sudden Death it came;
Like Travellers by Light'ning kill'd,
I burnt the Moment I beheld.

In whom so many Charms are plac'd,
Is with a Mind as nobly grac'd;
The Case, so shining to behold,
Is fill'd with richest Gems and Gold.

To what my Eyes admir'd before,
I add a thousand Graces more,
And Fancy blows into a Flame
The Spark, that from his Beauty came.

The Objećt thus improv'd by Thought,
By my own Image I am caught.
Pygmalion so with fatal Art,
Polisht the Form that stung his Heart.

Arcal. Enchantress say, whence such Replies as these?
Thou answer's Love, I speak of Amadis.

Arcab. Swiftly he past, and as in Sport pursu'd
The savage Herd, and hunted round the Wood;
[Seeming not to mind him
Tygers and Wolves in vain his Stroke withstand,
Cut down, like Poppies by the Reaper's Hand;
Like Mars he look'd, as terrible and strong,
Like Jove majestick, like Apollo young;
With all their Attributes divinely grac'd,
And sure their Thunder in his Arm was plac'd.

Arcal. Who pass'd? who look'd?

Arcab. Ah! there's the fatal Wound,
That tears my Heartstrings———But he shall be found:
Yes, ye Infernals, if there's Pow'r in Art,
My Arms shall hold him, as he grasps my Heart.
Shall I, who can draw down the Moon, and keep
The Stars confin'd, enchant the boist'rous Deep,
Bid Boreas halt, make Hills and Forests move,
Shall I be baffled by this Trifler, Love?

Arcal. Suspend these Follies, and let Rage surmount.
A Brother's Death requires a strict Account;
To Day, to Day, perhaps this very Hour,
This Moment, now, the Murth'rer's in our Pow'r.
Leave Love in Cottages and Cells to reign,
With Nymphs obscure, and with the lowly Swain.
Who waste their Days and Strength in such short Joys,
Are Fools, that barter precious Life for Toys.

Arcab. They're Fools who preach we waste our Days and Strength;
What is a Life, whose only Charm is Length?
Give me a Life that's short, and wing'd with Joy,
A Life of Love, whose Minutes never cloy:
What is an Age in dull Renown drudg'd o'er?
One little single Hour of Love is more.

An Attendant enters hastily, and whispers Arcalaus.

Arcal. See it perform'd———And thou shalt be,
Dire Instrument of Hell, a God to me.

[Exit Attendant.

He comes, he comes, just ready to be caught.
Here Ardan fell, here on this fatal Spot
Our Brother dy'd; here flow'd that precious Gore,
The purple Flood, that cries so loud for more:
Think on that Image, see him on the Ground,
His Life and Fame both bury'd in one Wound.
Think on the Murderer, with insulting Pride
Tearing the Weapon from his bleeding Side,
Oh think———

Arcab. What need these bloody Images to move?
Revenge I will———And would secure my Love.
Why shou'd I of a Frailty shameful be,
From which no Mortal yet was ever free?
Not fierce Medea, Mistress of our Art,
Nor Circe, nor Calypso 'scap'd the Smart.

If Hell has Pow'r, both Passions I will please,
My Anger and my Love shall both have Ease.
Lead on, Magician, make Revenge secure,
My Hand's as ready, and shall strike as sure.

[They go off

Oriana and Corisanda appear entring from the lower Part of the Scene.

Ori. Thrice happy they, who thus in Woods and Groves,
From Courts retir'd, possess their peaceful Loves.
Of royal Maids, how wretched is the Fate,
Born only to be Victims of the State,
Our Hopes, our Wishes, all our Passions ty'd
For publick Use; the Slaves of others Pride.
Here let us wait th'Event, on which alone
Depends my Peace, I tremble 'till 'tis known.

Cor. So generous this Emperor's Love does seem,
'Twould justifie a Change, to change for him.

[Flourish of Musick as in the Forest.

Ori. Oft we have heard such airy Sounds as these,
Which in soft Musick murm'ring thro' the Trees,
Salute us as we pass———

Cor. The Air we breathe sure is inchanted Air.

[They listen, looking about as surpriz'd.

Enter several of Arcalaus's Magicians, representing Shepherds
and Shepherdesses, singing and dancing.

A SHEPHERDESS.

Follow ye Nymphs and Shepherds all,

Come celebrate this Festival,
And merrily sing, and sport, and play,
For 'tis Oriana's Nuptial Day.

To Oriana.] Queen of Britain, and of Love,
Be happy as the Blest above;
A joyful Day is in thy Power,
Seize, O seize the smiling Hour.
Graces numberless attend thee,
The Gods as many Blessings send thee:
Be happy as the Blest above,
Queen of Britain, and of Love.
[Exeunt, singing in

CHORUS.

Follow ye Nymphs, &c.

Ori. Preposterous Nuptials, that fill ev'ry Breast
With Joy, but only hers, who shou'd be blest.

Cor. Sure some Magician keeps his Revels here:
Princess retire, there may be Danger near.

Ori. What Danger in such gentle Notes can be?
Thou Friend to Love, thrice-pow'rful Harmony,
I'll follow thee —— Play on ——
Musick's the Balm of Love, it charms Despair,
Suspends the Smart, and softens ev'ry Care.

[Exeunt, following the Musick.

Arcalaus enters, with an Attendant, observing them.

Arcal. Finish the rest, and then be free as Air:
My Eyes ne'er yet beheld a Form so fair.
Happy beyond my Wish, I go to prove
At once, the Joys of sweet Revenge and Love.

[Exeunt following.

Enter Amadis and Florestan.

Amad. Mistake me not ——— No, Amadis shall die,
If she is pleas'd, but not disturb her Joy.
Nice Honour still engages to requite
False Mistresses, and proud, with Slight for Slight.
But if, like mine, the stubborn Heart retain
A wilful Tenderness, the Brave must feign,
In private grieve, but with a careless Scorn
In publick, seem to triumph, not to mourn.

Flor.Hard is the Task, in Love or Grief to feign;
When Passion is sincere, it will complain:
Doubts that from Rumour rose, you shou'd suspend;
From evil Tongues what Virtue can defend?
In Love, who injures by a rash Distrust,
Is the Aggressor, and the first unjust.

Amad.If she is true, why all this Nuptial Noise,
Still echoing as we pass her guilty Joys?
Who to a Woman trusts his Peace of Mind,
Trusts a frail Bark, with a tempestuous Wind.
Thus to Ulysses, on the Stygian Coast
His Fate enquiring, spake Atrides's Ghost;
Of all the Plagues with which the World is curst,
Of ev'ry Ill, a Woman is the worst;
Trust not a Woman.———Well might he advise,
who perish'd by his Wife's Adulteries.

Flor.Thus in Despair, what most we love, we wrong,
Not Heav'n escapes the impious Atheist's Tongue.

Amad.Enticing Crocodiles, whose Tears are Death;
Sirens, that murder with enchanting Breath:
Like Egypt's Temples, dazling to the Sight,
Pompously deck'd, all gaudy, gay, and bright;
with glitt'ring Gold and sparkling Gems they shine,
But Apes and Monkeys are the Gods within.

Flor.My Love attends with Pain, while you pursue
This angry Theme: I have a Mistress too:
The faultless Form no secret Stains disgrace,
A beauteous Mind unblemish'd as her Face,

Not painted and adorn'd to varnish Sin,
Without all Goddess, all Divine within,
By Truth maintaining what by Love she got,
A Heav'n without a Cloud, a Sun without a Spot.

Amad.Forgive the Visions of my frantick Brain,
Far from the Man I love, be all such Pain:
By the immortal Gods I swear, my Friend,$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
The Fates to me no greater Joy cou'd send,
Than that your Labours meet a prosp'rous End.
After so many glorious Toils, that you
Have found a Mistress, beautiful and true.

Oriana and Corisanda without.

Ori. and Cor.Help, help, oh! Heav'ns, help——

Amad.What Cries are these?

Flor.It seem'd the Call of Women in Distress.
Of savage Beasts and Men a monstruous Brood
Possess this Land——

Ori. and Cor.Help, help———

Amad.Again the Cry's renew'd.
Draw both our Swords, and fly with Speed to save;
Th' Opprest have a sure Refuge in the Brave.
[Exeunt drawing their Swords.

[Oriana and Corisanda cross the Stage pursu'd by a Party
belonging to Arcalaus.

Ori. and Cor.Help, help!

Party.Pursue, pursue.
[Flor. crosses the Stage following the Pursuit

Arcalaus enters fighting, and retreating before Amadis.

Arcab.Forbear, rash Mortal, give thy Frenzy o'er,
For know thou tempt'st a more than mortal Pow'r.

Amad.Think not my Sword shall give the least Reprieve,
Twere Cruelty to let such Monsters live.

Florestan re-enters retreating before another Party, is
seiz'd, disarm'd, and carry'd off.

Arcal.Yet pause, and be advis'd; avoid thy Fate;
Without thy Life, my Vengeance is compleat:
Behold thy Friend born to eternal Chains,
Remember Ardan now, and count thy Gains.

Amad.Like Ardan's be thy Fate, unpity'd fall.
Thus I'll at once revenge, and free 'em all.

Fight again, Arcalaus still retreating 'till off the Stage.
Instruments of Horror are heard under Ground, and in the
Air. Monsters and Damons rise from under the Stage,
whilst others fly down from above, crossing to and fro in
confusion: Clashing of Swords behind the Scenes: Thunder
and Lightning, during which Time the Stage is darken'd.
On the sudden a Flourish of all the Musick succeeds, the
Sky clears, and the Scene changes to a pleasant Prospect:
Amadis appears leaning on his Sword, surrounded by Shepherds
and Shepherdesses, who with Songs, Musick and Dances
perform the following Enchantment.

A SHEPHERD.

Love, Creator Love, appear,

Attend and hear;
Appear.

A SHEPHERDESS.

Love, Creator Love,

Parent of Heav'n and Earth,
Delight of Gods above,
To thee all Nature owes her Birth,
Love, Creator Love.

CHORUS.

Appear, appear.

Attend and hear;
Appear.

SHEPHERD.

All that in ambient Air does move,

Or teems on fertile Fields below,
Or sparkles in the Skies above,
Or does in rowling Waters flow,
Spring from the Seeds that thou dost sow,
Love, Creator Love.

CHORUS.

Appear, appear;

Attend, and hear;
Appear.

SHEPHERDESS.

When Love is away,

Or is not ours,
How dull is the Day,
How slow the Hours;
When Love is away there's no Delight;
How dull is the Day,
When Love's away,
How dull is the Day,
How slow the Hours;
But wing'd with Love, how swift is the Flight!

CHORUS.

Better in Love a Slave to be,

Than with the widest Empires free.
[Symphony for Discord,

ODE for DISCORD.

When Love's away, then Discord reigns:

The Furies he unchains,
Bids Æolus unbind
The Northern Wind,
That fetter'd lay in Caves,
And root up Trees, and plough the Plain,
Old Ocean frets and raves,
From their deep Roots the Rocks he tears,
Whole Deluges lets fly,
That dash against the Sky,
And seem to drown the Stars,
Th' assaulted clouds return the Shock,
Blue Lightnings singe the Waves,
And Thunder rends the Rock.
Then Jove usurps his Father's Crown,
Instructing Mortals to aspire;
The Father would destroy the Son;
The Son dethrones the Sire,
The Titans, to regain their Right,
Prepare to try a second Fight,
Briareus arms his hundred Hands,
And marches forth the bold Gigantick Bands.
Pelion upon Offa thrown,
Steep Olympus they invade,

Gods and Giants tumble down,
And Mars is foil'd by Encelade,
Horror, Confusion, vengeful Ire, $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
Daggers, Poison, Sword, and Fire,
To execute the destin'd Wrath conspire:
The Furies loose their Snaky Rods,
And lash both Men and Gods.

Chorus of Instrumental Musick for Discord.

SYMPHONY for LOVE.

SHEPHERDESS.

But when Love bids Discord cease,

The jarring Seeds unite in Peace;
O the Pleasures past expressing!
All is joy, and all is Blessing,
Hail to Love, and welcome Joy,
Hail to the delicious Boy!
In Cyprus first the God was known;
Then coasting to the Main,
In Britany he fix'd his Reign,
And in Oriana's Eyes his Throne.

CHORUS.

Hail to Love, and welcome joy,

Hail to the delicious Boy!

see the Sun from Love returning,
Love's the Flame in which he's burning.
See the Zephyrs kissing close,
On Flora's Breast their Wings repose.
Hail to Love! the softest Pleasure;
Love and Beauty reign for ever.

DANCE.
Dance of Shepherds and Shepherdesses.
Shepherdess to Amadis.

Now Mortal prepare,

For thy Fate is at hand,
Now Mortal prepare
And surrender.
For Love shall arise,
Whom no Pow'r can withstand,
Who rules from the Skies
To the Center.
Now Mortal prepare,
For thy Fate is at Hand;
Now Mortal prepare
And surrender.

[Oriana rises enchanted, reposing on a Bed of Flowers.
Amadis seeing her, throws away his Sword, and offers
to run to her, but is seiz'd in the same Instant.

Amad. I'll break thro' all Enchantments to those Arms.
I am all Love, and thou all over Charms.
[Here he is seiz'd: Oriana wakes and rises.

Ori. In what enchanted Regions am I lost?
Am I alive? Or wander here a Ghost?
Art thou too dead?

Amad. Where-e'er you are, the Realms of Bliss must be;
I see my Goddess, and 'tis Heav'n to see!
Stand off——and give me way——

Ori. No——keep him there,
Th'ungrateful Traitor, let him not come near:
Convey the Wretch where Sisyphus atones
For Crimes enormous, and where Tityus groans,
With Robbers and with Murderers let him prove
Immortal Pains —— for he has murder'd Love.

Amad. Have I done this!

Ori. Base and perfidious Man,
Let me be heard, and answer if you can.
Was it your Love, when trembling by your Side
I wept, and I implor'd, and almost dy'd,
Urging your Stay——Was it your Love that bore
Your faithless Vessel from the British Shore?
What said I not, upon the fatal Night,
When you avow'd your meditated Flight?
Was it your Love, that prompted you to part,
To leave me dying, and to break my Heart?
See whom you fled, Inhuman and Ingrate,
Repent your Folly, but repent too late.

Amad. Mistaken Princess! By the Stars above,
The Pow'rs below, and by Immortal Jove,
Unwilling and compell'd——

Ori. Unwilling and compell'd! Vain, vain Pretence,
For base Neglect, and cold Indifference.
Was it your Love, when by those Stars above,
Those Pow'rs below, and that Immortal Jove
You vow'd, before the first revolving Moon
You wou'd return——Did you return? The Sun
Thrice round the circled Globe was seen to move,
You neither came, nor sent——Was this your Love!

Amad. Thrice has that Sun beheld me on your Coast,
By Tempests beaten, and in Shipwrecks lost.

Ori. And yet you chose those Perils of the Sea,
Of Rocks, and Storms, or any thing, but me.
The raging Ocean, and the Winter Wind,
Touch'd at my Passion, with my Wishes join'd,
No Image, but of certain Fate, appear'd,
Less I your Absence, than your Danger, fear'd;
In vain they threaten'd, and I su'd in vain.
More deaf than Storms, more cruel than the Main,
No Pray'r, nor gentle Message cou'd prevail,
To wait a calmer Sky, or softer Gale;
You brav'd the Danger, and despis'd the Love,
Nor Death cou'd fright, nor Tenderness cou'd move.

Amad. Of our past Lives, the Pleasure, and the Pain,
Fixt in my Soul, for ever shall remain;

Recall more gently my unhappy State,
And charge my Crime, not on my Choice, but Fate:
In Mortal Breast, sure, Honour never wag'd
So dire a War, nor Love more fiercely rag'd;
You saw my Torment, and you knew my Heart,
'Twas Infamy to slay, 'twas Death to part.

Ori. In vain you'd cover, with the Thirst of Fame,
And Honour's Call, an odious Traitor's Name;
Cou'd Honour such vile Perfidy approve?
Is it no Honour, to be true to Love?
O Venus! Parent of the Teojan Race,
In Britain too, some Remnants found a Place;
From Brute descending in a Line direct,
Within these Veins, thy fav'rite Blood respect;
Mother of Love, by Men and Gods rever'd,
Confirm these Vows, and let this Pray'r be heard.
The Briton to the Gaul henceforth shall bear
Immortal Hatred, and Eternal War;
Nor League, nor Commerce, let the Nations know,
But Seeds of everlasting Discord grow;
With Fire and Sword the faithless Race pursue,
This Vengeance to my injur'd Love is due:
Rise from our Ashes some avenging Hand,
To curb their Tyrants, and invade their Land,
Waves fight with Waves, and Shores with Shores engage,
And let our Sons inherit the same Rage.

Amad. Might I be heard one Word in my Defence——

Ori. No, not a Word. What specious forc'd Pretence
Wou'd you invent, to gild a weak Defence?
To false Æneas, when 'twas given by Fate
To tread the Paths of Death, and view the Stygian State,
Forsaken Dido was the first that stood
To strike his Eye, her Bosom bath'd in Blood
Fresh from her Wound: Pale Horror and Affright
Seiz'd the false Man, confounded at the Sight,
Trembling he gaz'd, and some faint Words he spoke,
Some Tears he shed, which, with disdainful Look,
Unmov'd she heard, and saw, nor heeded more,
Than the firm Rock, when faithless Tempests roar.
With one last Glance, his Falshood she upbraids,
Then sullenly retires, and seeks eternal Shades.
Lead me, O lead me, where the bleeding Queen,
With just Reproaches, loads perfidious Men,
Banish'd from Joy, from Empire, and from Light, $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
In Death involve me, and in endless Night,
But keep—that odious Object——from my Sight.

[Exit.

Enter Arcalaus.

Arcal. With her last Words she sign'd his dying Breath:
Convey him strait to Tortures and to Death.

Amad. Let me not perish with a Traitor's Name!
Naked, unarm'd, and single as I am,
Loose this right Hand, I challenge all thy Odds
Of Heav'n, or Hell, of Demons, or of Gods.

Arcal. Hence to his Fate the valiant Boaster bear.

[They force him off.

For him, let our infernal Priests prepare

Their Knives, their Cords, and Altars——But for her,
Soft Beds, and flow'ry Banks, and fragrant Bow'rs,
Musick and Songs, and all those melting Pow'rs
With which Love steals on Hearts, and tunes the Mind
To tenderness and yielding——
Superior Charms, enchant us to be kind.

[Exeunt.