find to day The Monster had not yet made her his prey Cyd. What if he had we two are left behind And by the Gods you are for us design'd Nican Heav'n has not yet to me reveal'd that mind My inclinations still are hers I find The honour 's great we might by you enjoy But it would all our vows and all our love destroy Polyn. To Psyche I have offer'd my whole heart Sh' has for no other left me the least part Pardon that I the honour must refuse No Mortals can their own affections chuse Love Heav'ns high power does into us infuse Nican When we lost Psyche solemnly we swore The search of her we never wou'd give o'r Polyn. Should we not find her we our lives must spend Which in th'unwearied search of her must end Aglau Think you with safety you shall us despise Though we 're too weak to wound you with our eyes Our full revenge shall both of you pursue And give what to your insolence is due Cyd. Your heads shall pay for the affront you give And you shall die or we will cease to live Nican If danger cou'd our courages remove We were not fit t' aspire to Psyche's love Polyn. Our absence now you must excuse We in our search no farther time must lose Exeunt Nican Polyn. Aglau I have a trusty Villain which I 'll send Who in disguise shall their unwary steps attend And then an ambush shall for them be laid That their base lives may be to us betray'd Cyd. The powers of all this Kingdom we 'll engage To sacrifice their lives to our insatiate rage Aglau They dearly shall by their example show How soon rejected Love to dangerous Rage can grow Exeunt ambâ—… ACT IV. The Scene is a stately Garden belonging to the Magnificent Palace seen in the former Act. The great Walk is bounded on either side with great Statues Figures of Gold standing on Pedestals and small sitting at their feet And in large Vases of Silver are Orenge Lemon Citron Pomegranate and behind Mirtle Jessemine and other Trees Beyond this a noble Arbour through which is seen a less Walk all of Cypress-Trees which leads to another Arbour at a great distance Enter Aglaura Cydippe Psyche with her Train Aglau ENough the Splendor of your Court w'have seen Such ne'r was known by any earthly Queen Cyd. But we your Conqu'ring Lover wou'd behold Of whom such charming stories you have told Psyc. Oh! he 's the brightest thing your eyes e'r saw Beauty he has might give the whole world Law And then such tender kindness you shall see For he delights in nothing but in me We sport and revel all the day In soft delights melting the hours away And such resistless ways he has to charm We kiss embrace and arm in arm With am'rous sighs and soft discourse Our fainting passions still we reinforce When I would speak my words he does devour And when he speaks I kiss him o'r and o'r And whâ—… from kissing we our lips remove He tells a thousand pretty Tales of Love And all the while his beauty I survey And he so greedily beholds my eyes As he 'd devour them But a moment stay And he will you as he did me surprise Exit Psyche Aglau What cursed Fate is this that did ordain That she shou'd have such pleasure we such pain Oh that I had infection in my breath I my own life wou'd lose to give her death Cid Base Fortune that on Psyche wou'd bestow So vast a share of happiness And give her elder Sisters so much less That she shou'd be so high and we so low Aglau Such glory yet no Monarch ever saw Such humble Vassals such obedient awe Such shining Palaces yet ne'r have been Such pomp the Sun in all his progress ne'r has seen Cid A thousand Beauties wait for her command As many heavenly Youths are still at hand And to our envious eyes she chose These hated objects to expose Aglau When we to our great joy believ'd That she destroy'd had been Oh how the Ridling God has us deceiv'd We see her here like some immortal Queen Whom all her Subjects serve not but adore Cid Oh! I shall die with envy say no more But of some quick revenge let 's meditate To interrupt their happy state Let 's by some Art cause fatal jealousies Between these prosperous Lovers to arise Enter Cupid and Psyche with many Attendants Aglau They 're here What divine object strikes my eyes Cid What heavenly thing does my weak heart surprise Aglau Her hated sight I can no longer bear Cid Oh with what joy I could her heart-strings tear Aglau This is the goodliest Creature Heav'n ere made And I will summon Hell up to my aid But I will Psyche's life destroy And I will then this God-like Youth enjoy Cid When I am dead he may be had by thee But know Aglaura I 'll ne'r live to see This goodly thing enjoy'd by any one but me Cup. Ladies You such a welcome in this place shall find As fits the greatness of your Sisters mind And by your entertainment I will show What I to my lov'd Psyche owe For her shall Quires of Cupids sing For her the Sphears shall their loud Musick bring SONG LEt old Age in its envy and malice take pleasure In business that 's sower and in hoarding up treasure By dulness seem wise be still peevish and nice And what they cannot follow let them rail at as vice Wise Youth will in Wine and in Beauty delight Will revel all day and will sport all the night For never to love wou'd be never to live And Love must from Wine its new vigour receive How insipid were life without those delights In which lusty hot Youth spend their days and their nights Of our nauseous dull beings we too soon should be cloy'd Without those bless'd joys which Fools onely avoid Unhappy grave Wretches who live by false measure And for empty vain shadows refuse real pleasure To such Fools while vast joys on the witty are waiting Life's atedious long journey without ever baiting Now see what is to Psyche's beauty due And what th' Almighty pow'r of Love can show These senseless Figures motion shall receive Psyche's bright beams can life to Statues give Ten Statues leap from their Pedestals and dance Ten Cupids rise from the Pedestals strew all the Stage with Flowers and fly all several ways During the Dance Cupid and Psyche retire Cid With what divine Magnificence They in this place treat every sense Aglau Excess of Love and Hate disturb my rest Which equally divide my breast Cid You may hate her and other Princes love But your affection must from him remove Or th' utmost rage of a revengeful Rival prove Aglau Mountains shall sooner leap or fly The Sun may prove inconstant but not I All my presumptuous Rivals I 'll destroy I cannot live unless I him enjoy Cid Then suddenly resign your hated breath You shall not live to
from the Conqu'ror gains the Field Chorus to Trumpets Kettle Drums Flutes Warlike Musick He turns all the horrours of War to delight And were there no Love no Heroes would fight A Returnello by Martial Instruments c. Mars Honour to Battel spurs them on Honour brings Pow'r when War is done But who would venture Life for Pow'r Onely to govern dull Mankind 'T is Woman Woman they adore For Beauty they those dangers find Chorus to Warlike Musick No Princes the toyls of Ambition would prove Or Dominion would prize if it were not for Love A Returnello again Bacchus The delights of the Bottle and the charms of good Wine To the power and the pleasures of Love must resign Though the Night in the joys of good Drinking be past The debauches but till the next Morning will last Chorus to Hoboys and Rustick Musick of Maâ—…des and Aegipanes But Loves great Debauch is more lasting and strong For that often lasts a man all his life long A Returnello again Bacchus Love and Wine are the Bonds which fasten us all The World but for these to confusion would fall Were it not for the pleasures of Love and good Wine Mankind for each trifle their lives would resign Chorus They 'd not value dull life or would live with-out thinking Nor would Kings rule the World but for Love and good drinking A Returnello again Apollo But to Love to Love the great union they owe All in Earth and in Heav'n to his Scepter must bow A general Chorus of all the Voices and Instruments The Dancers mingle with the Singers All joy to this Celestial Pair Who thus by Heav'n united are 'T is a great thing worth Heav'ns design To make Love's Pow'r with Beauty's joyn Six Attendants to the Elizian Princes bring in Portico's of Arbors adorn'd with Festoons and Garlands through which the Princes and they dance the Attendants still placing them in several Figures Iup. For ever happy in your Psyche be Who now is crown'd with Immortality On Earth Love never is from troubles free But here 't is one eternal Extasie 'Mongst all the Joys which Heav'n and Earth can find Love 's the most glorious object of the mind EPILOGUE WHat e'r the Poet has deserv'd from you Would you the Actors for his faults undo The Painter Dancer and Musician too For you those Men of skill have done their best But we deserve much more then all the rest We have stak'd all we have to treat you here And therefore Sirs you should not be severe We in one Vessel have adventur'd all The loss should we be Shipwrack'd were not small But if it be decreed that we must fall We fall with honour Gallants you can tell No Foreign Stage can ours in Pomp excel And here none e'r shall treat you half so well Poor Players have this day that Splendor shown Which yet but by Great Monarchs has been done Whilst our rich Neighbours mock us for 't we know Already th' utmost they intend to do Yet all the fame you give 'em we allow To their best Plays and their best Actors too But Sirs Good Plays from Censure here you 'll not exempt Yet can like Farces there below contempt Drolls which so course so dull sobawdy are The dirty Rout would damn 'em in a Fair Yet Gentlemen such stuff will daily see Nay Ladies too will in the Boxes be What is become of former modesty Yet Best Iudges will our Ornaments allow Though they the wrong side of the Arras show But Oh a long farewel to all this sort Of Plays which this vast Town can not support If you could be content th' expence to bear We would improve and treat you better ev'ry year FINIS
Beasts at your command in peace would be When you make Rivals thus agree They embrace Psyc. I ne'r can value Birth or State 'T is virtue must my heart obtain You may each other emulate In glorious actions but must quit all hate Ere either of you my esteem can gain The next command I give must be Not to invade my privacy Princes farewel you must not follow me Nican So sacred are the dread commands you give From you my death I humbly wou'd receive For I can scarce hear this and live Polyn. Your breath mens minds to any thing may move When you make Rivals one another love Exit Psyche But see her envious Sisters do appear Whose anger less then love we fear As they are going off in haste Enter Cidippe and Aglaura Cid Great Princes whither do you fly so fast Aglau 'T is to their Idol Psyche by their haste Cid What Prince-like virtue can you find In her poor and groveling mind Aglau Heav'n did her Soul for Cottages create And for some vulgar purpose did design Her mind 's too narrow for a Prince's state She has no virtues which in Courts may shine Cidip. Her beauty like her mind is vulgar too Like the dull off spring of some Village Pair She might perhaps some Shepherds heart subdue But should poor â—…hing of Princes looks despair Aglau A thousand times more charms they here might find Beauty that 's fit to attract great Princes eyes But silly Love forsooth hath struck them blind For could they see they would their Love despise Nican Farewell Such blasphemies we must not hear Against the Goddess we adore Poly So beautiful to us she does appear That none shall ever charm us more Exeunt Nicander Polynices Cidip. Blasted be her Beauty and her charms accurst That must our ruine bring I am almost with envy burst To see each day she can command a King Aglau And whilst she lives we can no Lovers have Oh that her Cradle had become her Grave Cid She by each Prince is Idoliz'd Whilst our neglected Beauties may grow old And not be sought by them she has despis'd Aglau Oh that I live to hear this story told This Theme has made my anger bold I on her Beauty will revenge our Cause We are not safe whilst breath she draws Her an Example of Revenge I 'll make Cidip. Must we be thus neglected for her sake Venus redress the wrongs which she has done She may in time insnare your Son She such an Idol by Mankind is made Your pow'r no more will be obey'd Your Sacred Beauty they 'l neglect Your Deity will have no more respect Aglau No Incense more will on your Altars smoke No Victims more will burn Each Prince her Worshipper will turn Let this your great Divinity provoke Revenge your self and take our part Punish her stubborn heart And by your utmost fury let her smart A Symphony of soft Musick Cidip. What Divine Harmony is this we hear Such never yet approach'd my Ear Venus descends in her Chariot drawn with Doves Aglau See Venus Chariot hovering in the Air The Goddess sure has heard our pray'r Venus sings With kindness I your pray'rs receive And to your hopes success will give I have with anger seen Mankind adore Your Sister's beauty and her scorn deplore Which they shall do no more For their Idolatry I 'll so resent As shall your wishes to the full content Your Father is with Psyche now And to Apollo's Oracle they 'll go Her Destiny to know Iby the God of Wit shall be obey'd For Wit to Beauty still is subject made He 'll so resent your cause and mine That you will not repine But will applaud the Oracle's Design Cidip. Great Goddess we our thanks return We after this no more shall mourn Aglau Your Sacred pow'r for ever we 'll obey And to your Altars our whole Worship pay Venus ascends with soft Musick Enter Theander with his Followers and Psyche with two Ladies Thean Daughters no more you shall contend This happy day your strife shall end The Oracle shall ease you of your care We to the Temple will repair And Psyche will obey What e'r the Delphick God shall say And What e'r Apollo shall command shall be I swear by all the Gods perform'd by me Psyc. And on my knees I make this solemn vow To his Decree I will devoutly bow Let his commands be what they will I chearfully will them fulfill Thean Let 's to Apollo's Temple then repair And seek the God with Sacrifice and Pray'r Exeunt omnes ACT II. The Scene is the Temple of Apollo Delphicus with Columns of the Dorick Order inrich'd with Gold in the middle a stately Cupulo on the top of it the Figure of the Sun some distance before it an Altar lin'd with Brass under it a large Image of Apollo upon the Tripod Enter in a Solemn Procession the Chief Priest crown'd with Lawrel in a white Vestment over that a Purple Gown over that a Cope embroidered with Gold over all a Lamb-skin Hood with the Wool on He has four Boys attending two before two behind clad in Surplices and girt with Girdles of Gold the first carrying a golden Censor with Mirrhe Frankincense and sweet Gums c. The Second a Barley Cake or Barley Meal with Salt upon a golden Service The third a golden Cruise full of Honey and Water The fourth a large gilt Book emboss'd with Gold After them six Priests with Books of Hymns clad in Surplices and embroider'd Copes Then Men with Wind-Instruments clad in Surplices all crown'd with Wreathes of Lawrel After them Nicander Cidippe Polinices Aglaura Theander Psyche Then a Train of Ladies All the Women with their faces cover'd with white Veils After all Theander's Attendants and Guards in their Procession This following Hymn is sung in Chorus Chor. LEt 's to Apollo's Altar now repair And offer up our Vows and Pray'r Let us enquire fair Psyche's destiny Repeat The Gods to her will sure propitious be If Innocence and Beauty may go free Ch. P. Go on and to the Altar lead Chief Priest turns to the People and sings on This hallow'd ground let no one tread Who is defil'd with Whoredom or with Bloud Lest all our pray'rs should be for them withstood Let none be present at our Sacrifice But of an humble uncorrupted mind The God for wicked men will all our vows despise And will to all our wishes be unkind By this time they come near the Altar they all bow and divide and stand on each side of the Altar and the Chief Priest before The Chief Priest kneels and kisses the Altar The Priest and Boys kneel with him they rise and he holding the Altar in his hands sings alone as follows Ch. Pr. Son of Latona and great Jove In Delos born which thou so much dost love Great God of Physick and of Archery Of wisdom Wit and Harmony God of all Divinations too Chor. of Voices and Instrum To
envy feed Could my glad eyes behold her bleed Aglau O good dear Serpent make her sure Her death our grief can onely cure Oh that she were at my command And that her heart were throbbing in my hand Some miracle may else relieve Her from this death and we afresh may grieve Psyc. Good Sir be gone the will of Heav'n obey Besides if you should longer stay Before the Serpent comes my life will steal away Weigh not your loss but what you have remain You have the comfort of my Sisters left Who will your drooping age sustain When y' are of me bereft Sisters be good and to my Father give All comfort and his grief relieve He from you Two much pleasure may receive Cid Our grief as much as his relief will need Oh that I might with Psyche bleed Did not the Gods self-murder hate I wou'd accompany your Fate Aglau Oh that the Gods would suffer me To be exchang'd for thee Psyc. Sisters farewel pray dry your eyes kisses her Sisters I am for you a sacrifice You may your choice of many Princes have When I am cold forgotten in my Grave Thean Gods can I yet hear this and live Oh take my life or me my Psyche give Psyc. Sir if you longer stay You 'll cause my death not they I on my knees beseech you quit This fatal place and to Heaven's will submit Farewell 't is time I now the Rock my fatal Tomb must climb Farewell for ever Thean Say not so For I to death will go My Soul to morrow shall meet thine below Exeunt all but Psyche Psyche sola Even now grim death I slightly did esteem With the wrong end o'th'Glass I look'd on him Then a far off and little he did seem Now my Perspective draws him near He very big and ugly does appear Away it is the base false Glass of fear Enter Nicander and Polynices Why do you come to see me wretched here What can you hope from her whose death 's so near Polyn. To save your life our lives we will expose Psyc. Can mortal men the heav'nly pow'rs oppose Nican What Heav'n commands is surely good Heav'n has declar'd 'gainst shedding humane bloud Bores Rams and Bulls will serve Apollo's turn Whilst Gums and Incense on his Altars burn 'T is to the Priests that you are sacrific'd Psyc. I must not hear the Oracle despis'd Nican In vain 'gainst prejudice we still dispute Our Swords shall this great Oracle confute No Serpent whilst we live shall you embrace Nor any other Rival in this place Psyc. He carries deadly venome in his breath Which certainly will give you death Polyn. Cadmus without Love's aid the Dragon slew Inspir'd by Love what cannot Princes do Psyc. Why for my preservation shou'd you strive For neither my affection e'r cou'd move Though Heav'n for that wou'd suffer me to live No Prince on earth cou'd ever make me love Nican 'T is time we both of us should die Since we from you no pity can deserve Yet Had we no love for generosity Spight of your self we wou'd your life preserve Polyn. You have made Rivals thus agree Though cou'd you love but one cou'd happy be Each will assist the other and you 'll see In spight of Oracles we 'll set you free Psyc. Farewell I must not hear this blasphemy Nican We cannot leave you till you die No Oracle shall that deny The Earth opens infernal Spirits rise and hurry the Prince away Two Zephiri descend and take Psyche by each arm and fly into the Clowds with her Cupid descends a little way hanging in the air Cup. Be gone you Rivals of an angry Deity Shall I by insolent Princes rivall'd be Shall Mortals for my Psyche strive with me Vulcan make haste prepare My costly Palace for my fair I in that splendid place My Love my Dear my Psyche will embrace He flies away Enter Nicander and Polynices Nican By what Enchantment were we hurri'd hence Psyche is gone Let 's use all diligence Soon to prevent her fate Or we shall come too late Polyn. We will our much lov'd Psyche find Or we will leave our hated lives behind Exeunt ACT III. The Scene is the Palace of Cupid compos'd of wreath'd Columns of the Corinthian Order the Wreathing is adorn'd with Roses and the Columns have several little Cupids flying about 'em and a single Cupid standing upon every Capital At a good distance are seen three Arches which divide the first Court from the other part of the Building The middle Arch is noble and high beautified with Cupids and Festoons and supported with Columns of the foresaid Order Through these Arches is seen another Court that leads to the main Building which is at a mighty distance All the Cupids Capitals and Inrichments of the whole Palace are of Gold Here the Cyclops are at work at a forge forging great Vases of Silver The Musick strikes up they dance hammering the Vases upon Anvils After the Dance Enter Vulcan Vulcan sings YE bold Sons of Earth that attend upon Fire Make haste with the Palace least Cupid should stay You must not be lazy when Love does require For Love is impatient and brooks no delay When Cupid you serve you must toil and must sweat Redouble your blows and your labour repeat The vigorous young God 's not with laziness serv'd He makes all his Vassals their diligence show And nothing from him but with pains is deserv'd The brisk Youth that falls on and still follows his blow Is his favourite still The considerate Fool He as useless lays by for a pitiful Tool 1. Cycl This Palace is finish'd and the other shall be Made fit for his small Deity 2. Cycl But fire makes us cholerick and apt to repine Unless you will give us some Wine Chor. With swinging great Bowls Let 's refresh our dry Souls And then we 'll to work with a Clink clink clink But first let us drink but first let us drink Vulcan Let each take his Bowl then and hold it to his nose Then let him redouble his blows Cycl Nay stint us not so but let each take his two And twice as much then we can do Chor. With swinging great Bowls Let 's refresh c. Vulc. Ye Slaves will you never from drunkenness refrain Remember Ulysses again Cycl Ulysses is a Dog were he here he shou'd find We'd scorn him and drink our selves blind Chor. With swinging great Bowls Let 's refresh c. They take their Kans in their hands Pyra Here Harpes to you Harp Here Brontes to you And so take each Cyclops his due Bron. To thee Steropes Ster Pyraemon to thee Omn. And thus in our Cups wee 'll agree Chor. With swinging great Bowls Let 's refresh c. Vulc. Be gone or great Jove will for Thunder bolts stay The world grows so wicked each day Cycl He has less need of Thunder then we have of Wine We'd drink though great Jove shou'd repine Chor. With swinging great Bowls Let 's
Luxury Our Recreations shall be heav'nly sports And to such splendid Joys I thee invite As do the Gods on Festivals delight But first thy pallat thou shalt satisfie Thy ear shall then be ravish'd then thy eye And all thy other Senses thou shalt feast Here thou shalt entertain and I will be the guest This following Song is sung by invisible Singers ALl joy to fair Psyche in this happy place And to our great Master who her shall embrace May never his Love nor her Beauty decay But be warm as the Spring and still fresh as the Day Chor. No Mortals on earth ever wretched cou'd prove If still while they liv'd they 'd be always in love There 's none without Love ever happy can be Without it each Brute were as happy as we The knowledge men boast of does nothing but vex And their wandering Reason their minds does perplex But no Mortals c. Love's sighs and his tears are mix'd with delights But were he still pester'd with cares and with frights Shou'd a thousand more troubles a Lover invade By one happy moment they 'd fully be paid Chor. No Mortals c. Then lose not a moment but in pleasure employ it For a moment once lost will always be so Your Youth requires Love let it fully enjoy it And push on your Nature as far as 't will go Chor. No Mortals c. Psyc. How am I rap't what pleasures do I find My Love I have but one request to thee Two Sisters I have left behind I hope my Love will be so kind That they the Witnesses may be Of all my pomp and my felicity Enter Zephyrus Cup. My Zephyrus is still at hand To wait for thy command Be gone Zeph. I 'll fly as quick as thought They suddenly shall to this place be brought Exit Zephyrus Cup. My Dear let them not here much time employ For I must thy whole heart enjoy From me my Love not one poor thought must stray For I have given thee all my heart away But now prepare thy ears and eyes For I thy senses will surprise Along with me and thou shalt see What Miracles in Love there be Exeunt The Scene changes to the principal Street of the City with vast numbers of People looking down from the tops of Houses and out of the Windows and Balconies which are hung with Tapestry In this Street is a large Triumphal Arch with Columns of the Dorick Order adorned with the Statues of Fame and Honour c. beautified with Festoons of Flowers all the Inrichments of Gold Through this Arch at a vast distance in the middle of a Piazza is seen a stately Obelisk Enter two Men. 1. Man What shouts are those that eccho from the Plain 2. Man The Stranger Princes have the Monster slain The People the Victorious Champions meet And them with Shouts and Acclamations greet 1. Man Our freedom these brave Conqu'rors have restor'd The bloud of Men no more shall be devour'd No more young Ladies shall be snatch'd away To be the cruel Serpents prey 2. Man For this the large Triumphal Arch was built For this the joyful People meet in throngs The Princes Triumph for the bloud they spilt And celebrate the Conquest with loud Songs They in this place a Sacrifice prepare To pay their vows and thanks to th' God of War A Consort of loud Martial Musick Enter the Priests of Mars one carrying the Serpents Head upon the Spear all of them having Targets Breast-plates and Helmets of Brass Then the Praesul having a Trophy of Arms carry'd before him Then Nicander Polynices Cydippe Aglaura Train and Guards The Priests sing this following Song and dance to 't LEt us loudly rejoyce With glad heart and with voice For the Monster is dead And here is his head No more shall our Wives Be afraid of their lives Nor our Daughters by Serpents miscarry The Oracle then Shall bestow them on Men And they not with Monsters shall marry Let us lowdly rejoyce With glad heart and with voice For the Monster is dead And here is his head Praesul sings Great God of War to thee We offer up our thanks and pray'r For by thy mighty Deity Triumphing Conquerours we are Chor. Thou' rt great among the heavenly race And onely to the Thunderer giv'st place Praesul Jove is thy father but does not exceed Thy Deity on any score Thou when thou wilt canst make the whole world bleed And then canst heal their breaches by thy power Chor. 'T is thou that must to Armies give success Thou that must Kingdoms too with safety bless Thou that must bring and then must guard their peace They dance striking their Swords upon the Targets showing the postures of their Swords Kettle-Drums beating and Trumpets sounding Whilst the Praesul and the rest prepare the Altar and kindle the Fire After the Dance Praes sings While we to Mars his praises sing A Horse th' appointed Victim bring Mars and Venus meet in the air in their Chariots his drawn by Horses and hers by Doves Venus sings Great God of War if thou dost not despise The power of my victorious eyes Reject this Sacrifice My Deity they disrespect My Altars they neglect And Psyche onely they adore Whom they shall see no more Have I yet left such influence on your heart As to enjoyn you wou'd take my part By some known token punish their offence And let them know their insolence Mars So much your influence on me remains That still I glory in my chains What ever you command shall be A sov'reign Law to me These saucy Mortals soon shall see What 't is to disrespect your Deity To show how much for you I them despise Since they with Venus dare contend Ye powers of Hell your Furies send And interrupt their Sacrifice Mars and Venus fly away Furies descend and strike the Altar and break it and every one flies away with a fire-brandin's hand 1. Pr. What dreadful prodigies are these Hence from his bloudy rage let 's flie And in his Temple let us try If we his angry Godhead can appease Nican What Magick Charms do this sad place infest And us in all our actions thus molest Polyn. The pow'r of Hell itsure must be That thus against us wages war For when Fair Psyche we wou'd free It still does mischiefs against us prepare But no Enchantment yet our courage binds No accidents can alter valiant minds Nican In spight of Hell we will go on in quest Of our lov'd Psyche who is charm'd from hence Aglau You might from all your fruitless toyls have rest If of your present fortune y 'had a sense Cyd. Our Father who is now at point of death Does in his Will us two to you bequeath Aglau Envy it self will sure confess Our Beauties and our Vertues are not less Then the mean Idol's you so much adore And whom you never can see more The Monster you have slain did her devour Polyn. We by his rav'nous Maw did
hand go plunge into the deep There all our sorrows may for ever sleep Polyn. Agreed and our immortal Souls shall that way go And meet our much lov'd Psyche down below They arm in arm fling themselves into the River Enter Aglaura and Cidippe with Souldier Aglau Villain what Cowards did you entertain That two weak men could not by you be slain Cid Oh Heav'n the Princes are with Psyche fled Base Slave thou hast forfeited thy head Souldier runs out Cupid descends Cup. Oh envious Fools that Psyche thus pursue You both shall soon a deserv'd vengeance find Hells everlasting pangs to you are due Since she is gone you shall not stay behind 'Gainst Psyche you provok'd my Mothers rage And your destruction must my wrath asswage When from below my Psyche shall return You with damn'd Spirits shall for ever mourn Arise ye Furies snatch 'em down to Hell No place becomes such envious Hags so well Aglaura and Cidippe sink ACT V. The Scene represents Hell consisting of many burning Ruines of Buildings on each side In the foremost Pieces are the Figures of Prometheus and Sisyphus Ixion and Tantalus Beyond those are a great number of Furies and Devils tormenting the Damned In the middle arise the Throne of Pluto consisting of Pillars of Fire with him Proserpina at their feet sit Minos Aeacus and Rhadamanthus With the Throne of Pluto arise a great number of Devils and Furies coming up at every rising about the House Through the Pillars of Pluto's Throne at a great distance is seen the Gate of Hell through which a Lake of Fire is seen and at a huge distance on the farther side of that Lake are vast Crowds of the Dead waiting for Charon's Boat The following Song is sung by Furies and Devils TO what great distresses proud Psyche is brought Oh the brave mischiefs our malice has wrought Such Actions become the black Subjects of Hell Our great Prince of Darkness who e'r will serve well Chor. Must to all Mortals nay Gods shew their spight And in horrour and torments of others delight How cool are our flames and how light are our chains If our craft or our cruelty Souls enow gains In perpetual houlings and groans we take pleasure Our joys by the torments of others we measure Chor. To rob Heav'n of the Fair is our greatest delight To darkness seducing the Subjects of Light How little did Heav'n of its Empire take care To let Pluto take the Rich Witty and Fair While it does for it self Fools and Monsters preserve The Blind Ugly and Poor and the Cripple reserve Chor. Heav'n all the worst Subjects for it self does prepare And leaves all the best for the Prince of the Air. A Dance of Furies Cidip. Some ease they find i'th'midst of pain When Hell does a new Subject gain Aglau But in the hottest flames this sight would please And Psyche's houling will our greatest torments ease Cid Were mine the hottest Furnace of all Hell If she were there my flames I could bear well Aglau Were I into some dreadful Cavern tost Where the Damn'd are bound in eternal Frost Where gnashing teeth and shuddering they lie Cursing their births wishing in vain to die To see her there would warm my icy chain And her extreme damnation thaw my pain Cidip. But Oh our Hell is yet to come With horrour I expect my doom Aglau There our eternal Judges are By their stern looks of mercy I dispair Psyc. Does my too criminal Love deserve this pain Circl'd with horrour must I here remain Through thousand terrours I have been convey'd With dismall yellings shricks and groans dismay'd O'r troubl'd Billows of eternal Fire Where tortur'd Ghosts must houl and ne'r expire Where Souls ne'r rest but feel fresh torments still Where furious Fiends their utmost rage fulfil Tossing poor houling Wretches too and fro From raging Fires into eternal Snow From thence to Flames from thence to Ice again In these extremes th' encounter equal pain And no refreshing intervals can gain The cursed Fiends still laughing at their moans Hugging themselves to hear their shricks and groans Upbraiding them with all their Crimes on earth Each miserable Ghost curses in vain his birth Encompass'd with these horrours round No beam of comfort have I found Oh cruel Venus wilt thou ne'r relent Canst thou of Love such an Example make Can Love deserve such punishment Oh cruel God thus to forsake Me at the moment when I need him most I fear he is for ever lost I could endure the horrours of this place Could I again behold his much lov'd face Pluto sings REfrain your tears you shall no pris'ner be Beauty and Innocence in Hell are free They 're Treasons Murders Rapes and Thefts that bring Subjects to th' infernal King You are no Subject of this place A God you must embrace From Hell to Heaven you must translated be Where you shall live and love to all eternity Proserp Psyche draw near with thee this Present take Which given to Venus soon thy peace will make Of Beauty 't is a Treasury Divine And you 're the Messenger she did design Lost Beauty this will soon restore And all defects repair Mortals will now afresh her Beams adore And ease her mind of jealousie and care No Beauty that has this can e'r despair Pluto Here are your Sisters who your life once sought Their malice to this place has Psyche brought And against her all these dire mischiefs wrought For ever here they shall remain And shall in Hell suffer eternal pain But Psyche shall a Deity embrace Proserp Be gone fair Psyche Pluto Be gone fair Psyche Both. Be gone fair Psyche from this place Chor. of all For Psyche must the God of Love embrace For Psyche must the God of Love embrace Aglau O mercy mercy Sister we implore You 'll intercede for a reprieve Cidip. No more our malice can fair Psyche grieve You 'll be a Goddess we must you adore Minos No grace for you she shall obtain For you must here remain Yet for her sake we 'll ease you of some pain No raging pangs of sense here you shall know But must eternal labours undergo And with the Belides for ever live Still shall wish death but never die Each of you must draw water in a Seive To all eternity The envious Sisters sink with all the Devils and Furies and the Throne of Pluto vanishes Psyc. In vain poor Sisters I deplore your Fate Though living you pursu'd me with your hate 'T is a dark Cloud upon my happiness But I ll strive to forget what 's past redress Were 't not for this my Joys I could not bear Immoderate joy would overthrow Were it not ballasted with care My Love I shall enjoy thee now Together we shall happy be And live and love to all eternity Enter the Ghosts of Polynices and Nicander Psyche starts This was a dismal Tragedy These are the Princes Ghosts we see Oh what sad chance has brought you down to me Nicand We
cause my death Your fruitless Love shall soon be lost You to your elder Sister shall give place For I will this Celestial Youth embrace Tho' it the lives of half the world shou'd cost Aglau The pow'r of Hell shall ne'r change my design I wou'd a thousand Lives before one Love resign Cid But Psyche's Life and Love must have an end Or we in vain for him contend What e'r against each other we design Against the common Enemy let 's joyn Aglau Should we kill her it would provoke his hate And on our selves pull down a certain Fate Let 's poison them with jealousie And Lovers had much better die Then suffer that extremity Enter Psyche Psyc. Now Sisters how do you approve my Dear Cid You are secure but give us leave to fear Psyc. Fear not you are in my protection now Aglau We fear not for our selves but you Psyc. For me I am so full of joy That nothing can my happiness destroy I have my Love and that 's enough for me My life is one continued Extasie His love to me is infinite Each moment does transcend Ages of of common gross delight For which dull sensual men so much contend Cid Why does he still conceal his name It argues little love or else much shame Psyc. You cannot doubt his love he is so kind Envy in him no cause of shame can find What need I care who 't is I love Since all that see him must my choice approve Aglau This violent Love may soon decay And he for some new Mistris may Your easie heart betray Cid When he shall please to frown You from this heighth are suddenly thrown down And when he thus shall have abandon'd you On whom will you inflict the vengeance due Psyc. Could I this fatal change survive I sure should be the wretched'st thing alive Aglau True Love has no reserve this is some cheat Your wisdom 's small though your affection 's great Cid Th'Impostor does by Magick Art surprise And this is all delusion of our eyes The Miracles each moment does produce Sufficiently may make this clear Your Lover does no Natural Causes use All Natures Order is inverted here Aglau You see that his Attendants are The winged Spirits of the Air. He 's sure some Demon which commands the Winds And him the Clouds obey How easily may he delude our minds Wh'our bodies can by Winds and Clouds convey This must be some inchanted place Cid aside Let him be what he will I 'll him embrace To her How soon may Fate your seeming Heav'n destroy Which like a dream reflects imaginary Joy Psyc. Oh I am seiz'd with an unusual fright A sudden stop is put to my delight Aglau This still may be the Serpent you did fear Tho' with a humane shape he cheats your eyes And Heav'n by this more cruel will appear After this Joy to ruine by surprise Cid In wrath the Oracle thy doom declar'd Here no effects we of its anger fee Thou know'st not yet what ruine is prepar'd What dreadful Fate Heav'n does reserve for thee Psyc. How I 'm amaz'd Oh my poor trembling heart Enter Zephyrus Zeph. My Lord commands your Sisters must depart And none must his commands deny Aglau What is 't I hear I dye I dye Cid But if I die I will not die alone She shall not here remain when I am gone Aglau Hold take me with thee in thy brave design I 'll in the noble execution joyn Both offer to stab at Psyche aâ—… she looke another way and aâ—… snatch'd away by Zephiri Psyc. Ah! what unwelcome change is this I see Must they so suddenly be snatch'd from me Enter Cupid Cup. Now let 's enjoy our selves the time invites True Love alone in privacy delights What is 't disturbs my Psyche's mind What fatal change is this I find Such a black storm me thinks hangs on thee now As I have seen upon the Mornings brow Which blushing first had promis'd a fair day But strait did nought but dark-swoln Clouds display Is it your Sisters absence makes you grieve All such relations you shou'd now forget Lovers should for each other onely live And having one another should have no regret Psyc. So small a thing cannot afflict my mind Cup. 'T is for some Rival then your griefs design'd Psyc. This mean suspition proves my Lord unkind Ah! did your charms but to your self appear You 'd know that I no other chains cou'd wear No Rhetorick can paint my Loves excess Ere mine can be describ'd it must be less Cup. I love thee too at such a rate No Mertal can approach my height What is it can produce thy grief Psyc. I fear you 'l not afford it your relief Cup. If thou by any thing my wrath cou'dst move 'T wou'd be by thy suspition of my love Thou o'r my heart art grown so absolute That no commands of thine I can dispute Thou of thy pow'r know'st not the large extent To ease thy doubt make an experiment Psyc. No I shall find a harsh repulse I fear Cup. By thy victorious eyes Which govern now the heart they did surprise By th' Gods inviolable Oath I swear By Styx all thy commands shall be to me Sacred as Heav'ns decree Psyc. I with these am'rous vows am doubly pleas'd I am of half my grief already eas'd By this all fear of coldness you remove And then you 'll tell me now who 't is I love Cup. Heav'n Starts Psyc. 'T is fit that I who did great Kings refuse Shou'd know who is the charming Youth I chuse Cup. What do I hear Psyc. 'T is true I love and glory in my chains But to compleat my joys it yet remains That thou my Love wou'dst thy dear name expose And my illustrious choice to me disclose Why dost thou frown thou must my doubts secure I by my Love and by this Kiss conjure If thou dost love me this assurance give 'T is Love my Dear makes me inquisitive Thou shou'dst all secrets to my breast resign Besides th' hast sworn this is no longer thine Cup. I 've sworn and if you will I must comply But then thy fatal curiosity Inevitably ruines Thee and Me. Psyc. Is this my Sov'reign Empire over thee Cup. You must what e'rs within my power command But your extravagant desires withstand Unless you will abandon him you love And will for ever from my sight remove Psyc. You found a heart too ready to believe And wou'd you still that poor weak heart deceive Cup. Must I my fatal secret then resign Psyc. Can you keep back your heart and yet take mine Cup. Consider yet what 't is you do Psyc. I fear'd I shou'd be thus refus'd by you Cup. Let me not yet my name declare Psyc. Oh unkind Youth thou mak'st me now despair That thou 'lt reward my love or ease my care Cup. Consider yet and let me hold my peace Psyc. Will your unkind denials never cease Cup. Know then my self a God I must declare
felt the extremes of love and grief Which never cou'd have found relief And hand in hand we plung'd into the deep To seek repose by deaths last sleep Polyn. Since you were lost to ease us of our care We both obey'd a generous despair For since we could not live for you Our miserable lives we could not bear To all th'insipid World we bad adieu Since nothing that remain'd could please us there Nicand Death we enjoy'd and heavy life remov'd For we in death behold your charms again Those charms which both in life and death we lov'd Which we had sigh'd and wept for there in vain Psyc. Poor Ghosts why would you suffer for my sake In vain too was your death design'd Now I no recompence can make And then by force I was ungrateful and unkind Could I have lov'd your merits were so much Your equal greatness and your vertues such I ne'r had fix'd my choice on one of you But must eternally have waver'd betwixt two She weeps Nicand Who would not willingly resign his breath Who by a glorious death The honour of your tears might gain Polyn. I cannot now of Fate complain Nor would with tedious fools above remain Nor can your pity now or love implore Since you from hence must mount above And must embrace th'all pow'rful God of love And at an humble distance we must you adore Nicand Nor can we you of cruelty accuse Who for a God all mortal Kings refuse Polyn. Farewell our Destiny recalls us now And we t'immortal happiness should go If without you it could be so Psyc. Stay Princes and declare where and what it is This everlasting place of Bliss Nicand In cool sweet Shades and in immortal Groves By Chrystal Rivulets and eternal Springs Where the most beauteous Queens and greatest Kings Do celebrate their everlasting Loves Polyn. In ever peaceful fresh and fragrant Bowers Adorn'd with never fading Fruits and Flowers Where perfum'd Winds refresh their heat And where immortal Quires their Loves repeat There your great Father we have seen Where he afresh enjoys his beauteous Queen Nicand Who did for hopeless Loves themselves destroy Are there the greatest Hero 's far Your God with infinite and endless joy Rewards their meritorious despair Polyn. Each moment there does far outgo The happiest minute Earthly Lovers know With soft eternal Chains of Love combin'd There they are ever youthful ever kind Their endless pleasure is all Extasie And not like Earthly Joys disturb'd with care Each fruitful minute does new pleasures bear From all unwelcome interruption free Each moment there more pleasure is design'd Then mortal Lovers can when first united find Psyc. 'T is fit that you those glorious Crowns should wear Of Friends and Rivals the unequal'd pair Nicand The splendid Crowns of Lovers we 've receiv'd But are by Heav'n of you bereav'd Strangers to Love we are alone Our Love is up to Adoration grown Our hours in contemplation we 'll employ Of the transcendent glory which you share Our am'rous sighs shall turn to holy pray'r While we that Friendship which you made enjoy Polyn. For ever without you we must remain And now we must no longer stay Lest we contribute to your pain And your immortal happiness delay Farewell for ever and remember me Nicand Farewell for ever and remember me Ex. Nic. Pol Psyc. Farewell such Friends and Rivals ne'r were found How much am I by Love and Honour bound Exit Psyche The Scene changes to the Marish which was in the former Act. Enter Psyehe Psyc. These Lovers must for ever in my thoughts remain And would for ever give me pain Did not the thoughts of him my mind employ who 'll banish all my cares and will compleat my joy But ah my sufferings have transform'd me so My decay'd face and languid eyes My ruin'd Beauty He 'll not know Or if he does he will my looks despise But I have here a Sacred Treasury Which all my ruines may repair Since it can make Venus her self more fair Is 't an offence if it be us'd by me She opens the Box. Oh! what dark fumes oppress my clouded brain I go and never shall return again Farewell my Love for ever fare thee well She swoundâ—… Cupid descends Cup. Love o're my anger has the victory gain'd Thy pardon is at length obtain'd Thy dangers and thy sufferings I have known My Love has made them all my own With thee I languish'd with thee did complain With thee I sigh'd and wept and suffer'd all thy pain Why dost thou hide thy conqu'ring eyes Dost thou a Lover and a God despise Open thy pretty eyes I am still the same I still retain my unresisted flame And all my vows are still paid to thy sacred name She 's she 's dead O whether art thou gone O Tyrant death what has thy bold hand done O cruel Mother whose insatiate rage Could thee against such innocence engage Thou hast by this all ties of duty broke No longer I 'll endure thy yoke My filial duty to revenge shall turn You soon shall feel what to my pow'r you owe With hopeless Love you shall for ever burn Your unregarded pains no ease shall know You still shall rage with love and to despair shall bow Venus descends in her Chariot Ven. What insolence is this I hear This from a Son I can no longer bear Resume your duty and put on your fear Cup. Duty to her who has made Psyche die Revenge shall piety succeed Revenge shall make your cruel heart to bleed And by your torments you shall find that I Am much the greater Deity Ven. Sure the great Thunderer asleep does lie Or does not hear this blasphemy Cup. My pow'r can make the Thund'rer bow You all the dire effects of it shall know For thee dear Psyche full revenge I 'll take And of my Mother first I 'll the example make What hellish rage provok'd you to this deed Whom Monsters would have spar'd you have made bleed Ven. You suffer'd her my glory to invade And when I call'd Apollo to my aid You did the fraudulent God suborn For you he that ambiguous Riddle made And promis'd judgment did to mercy turn And by that Oracle I was betray'd Now to deceive me is beyond his power Not all his Art can make her live one hour For none but I cou'd Psyche's life restore Cup. Can you Oh do and punish me If there were any crime 't was mine For her I 'd lose my immortality Oh give me her I 'll all my power resign Here take my Quiver take my Darts You when you please shall rule all hearts You shall the power of Love to that of Beauty joyn Ven. Psyche and you have so provok'd my hate Your pray'rs as soon may alter Fate Cup. Behold the all-commanding Deity Kneels An humble suppliant on his knee Look on my Love can you this form destroy Oh my lov'd Psyche Oh my onely Joy Oh give me her my duty I 'll