Poems upon Several Occasions/The British Enchanters/Act 5
ACT V.SCENE. I.
SCENE, Urganda's Bower of Bliss: Being
a Representation of Woodstock-Park.
Enter Oriana and Amadis.
Ori In my Esteem he well deserves a Part,
He shares my Praise, but you have all my Heart:
When equal Virtues in the Scales are try'd,
And Justice against neither can decide,
When Judgment thus perplex'd suspends the Choice,
Fancy must speak, and give the casting Voice:
Much to his Love, much to his Merit's due,
But pow'rful Inclination is for you.
Amad. Thou hast no Equal, a superior Ray
Unrival'd as the Light that rules the Day.
Shou'd Fame sollicit me with all her Charms,
Nor blooming Laurels, nor victorious Arms
Shou'd purchase but a Grain of the Delight,
A Moment from the Raptures of this Night.
Ori. Wrong not my Virtue, to suppose that I
Can grant to Love, what Duty must deny;
A Father's Will is wanting, and my Breast
Is rul'd by Glory, tho' by Love possest:
Rather than be another's I wou'd die,
Nor can be yours, 'till Duty can comply.
Amad. Curst Rules! that thus the noblest Loves engage,
To wait the peevish Humours of old Age!
Think not the Lawfulness of Love consists
In Parents Wills, or in the Forms of Priests;
Such are but licens'd Rapes, that Vengeance draw
From Heav'n, howe'er approv'd by human Law.
Marriage the happy'st Bond of Love might be,
If Hands were only join'd when Hearts agree.
Enter Urganda and Corisanda, Florestan and Attendants.
Urg. Here faithful Lovers to safe Joys remove,
The soft Retreat of Glory and of Love,
By Fate prepar'd, to crown the happy Hours
Of mighty Kings, and famous Conquerours.
The Bower of Bliss 'tis call'd, and is the same
Which Mortals shall hereafter Blenheim name,
Delicious Seat, ordain'd a sweet Recess
For thee, and for a future Amadis.
Here, Amadis, let all your Suffrings end;
Before I brought a Mistress, now a Friend,
The greatest Blessings that the Gods can send.
Amad. O, Florestan there wanted but this more,
This strict Embrace, to make my Joys run o'er:
The Sight of thee does such vast Transports breed,
That scarce the Ecstasies of Love exceed.
Flor. If beyond Love or Glory is a Taste
Of Pleasure, it is sure in Friendship plac'd.
Ori. My Corisanda too!
Not Florestan cou'd fly with greater haste
To take thee in his Arms: O welcome to my Breast,
As to thy Lover's
Cor. O Joy compleat!
Blest Day!
Wherein so many Friends and Lovers meet.
Flor. The Storm blown over, so the wanton Doves
Shake from their Plumes the Rain, and seek the Groves,
Pair their glad Mates, and cooe eternal Loves.
Amad. O Florestan blest as thou dost deserve,
To thee the Fates are kind, without Reserve.
My Joys are not so full; tho' Love wou'd yield,
Fierce Honour stands his Ground, and keeps the Field:
Nature within seduc'd, in vain befriends,
While Honour, with his Guard of Pride, defends:
O Nature frail, and faulty in thy Frame,
Fomenting Wishes, Honour must condemn;
Or O! too rigid Honour thus to bind,
When Nature prompts, and when Desire is kind.
Enter Arcabon conducting Constantius, her Garments loose
and Hair dishevel'd, seeming frantick.
Arcab. This, Roman, is the Place: 'Tis Magick Ground,
Hid by Enchantment, by Enchantment found.
Behold 'em at our View dissolv'd in Fear;
Two Armies, are two Lowers in Despair.
Proceed, be bold, and scorning to entreat;
Think all her Strugglings feign'd, her Cries Deceit.
Not creeping like a Cur that fawns to please,
Nor whine, nor beg—but like a Lyon seize:
Kill him, and ravish her: For so wou'd I,
Were I a Man; or rather let both die.
The Rape may please
Each was disdain'd; to equal Rage resign
Thy Heart, and let it burn and blaze like mine.
'Tis sweet to love, but when with Scorn we meet,
Revenge supplies the Loss, with Joys as great.
A Chariot descends swiftly drawn by Dragons, into which
she enters at the following Lines.
Up to th' etherial Heav'ns where Gods reside,
Lo! thus I fly to thunder on thy side,
[Thunder. The Chariot mounts in the Air, and vanishes
with her.
Con. Fly where thou wilt, but not to blest Abodes,
For know, where-e'er thou art, there are no Gods.
I come not here an Object to affright,
Or to molest, but add to your Delight.
Behold a Prince expiring in your View,
Whose Life's a Burthen to himself, and you.
Fate and the King all other Means deny
To set you free, but that Constantius die.
A Roman Arm had play'd a Roman's part,
But 'tis prevented by my breaking Heart:
I thank you, Gods, nor think my Doom severe,
Resigning Life, on any Terms, for her.
Urg. What cruel Destiny on Beauty waits,
When on one Face depend so many Fates?
Confin'd by Honour to relieve but One,
Unhappy Men by Thousands are undone,
Con. Make Room, ye Decii, whose devoted Breath
Secur'd your Country's Happiness by Death;
I come a Sacrifice no less renown'd,
The Cause as glorious, and as sure the Wound.
Thy Reign be gentle in that beauteous Breast.
Tho' thy malignant Beams, with deadly Force,
Have scorch'd my Joys, and in their baneful Course
Wither'd each Plant, and dry'd up ev'ry Source;
Ah! to Oriana shine less fatal bright,
Cherish her Heart, and nourish her Delight,
Restrain each cruel Influence that destroys,
Bless all her Days, and ripen all her Joys.
Love had been yours; to die had been my Part:
Thus Fate divides the Prize; tho' Beauty's mine,
Yet Fame, our other Mistress, is more thine.
Whom your high Worth has humbled to confess
In every thing, but Love, he merits less.
Con. Art thou that Rival then? O killing Shame!
And has he view'd me thus, so weak, so tame?
Like a scorn'd Captive prostrate at his Side,
To grace his Triumph, and delight his Pride?
O 'tis too much! and Nature in Disdain
Turns back from Death, and firing ev'ry Vein,
Reddens with Rage, and kindles Life again.
Be firm, my Soul, quick from this Scene remove,
Or Madness else may be too strong for Love.
[Draws a Dagger, and stands between Amadis and
Oriana, facing Amadis.
Spent as I am, and weary'd with the Weight
Of burthening LifeI cou'd reverse my Fate.
Thus planted, stand thy everlasting Bar;
[Seizing Amadis, holding the Dagger at his Throat:
Amadis struggles for his Sword.
But for Oriana's sake 'tis better here.
[Looking back upon Oriana, stabs himself; all run to
support him.
Ori.Live, gen'rous Prince, such Virtue ne'er shou'd die.
Con.I've liv'd enough, of all I wish possest,
If dying, I may leave Oriana blest:
Nor can I now recall my Fate
Th' Invader has too sure a Footing found,
He spreads his Troops, and cov'ring all around,
He marches unoppos'd: In ev'ry Vein
Feavers assault, and Phrensies burn my Brain,
The last warm Drop forsakes my bleeding Heart:
Oh Love! how sure a Murderer thou art. [Dies.
Ori.There breaks the noblest Heart that ever burn'd
In Flames of Love, for ever to be mourn'd.
Amad.Lavish to him, you wrong an equal Flame;
Had he been lov'd, my Heart had done the same.
Flor.Oh Emperor, all Ages shall agree,
Such, but more happy, shou'd all Lovers be.
Urg.No Lover now throughout the World remains
But Amadis, deserving of your Chains.
Remove that mournful Object from the Sight.
The stubborn King shall license your Delight;
The Torch, already bright with nuptial Fire,
Shall bring you to the Bridegroom you desire;
And Honour, that so long has kept in doubt,
Be better pleas'd to yield, than to hold out.
To be Sung.
Make Room for the Combat, make Room;
Sound the Trumpet and Drum:
A fairer than Venus prepares
To encounter a greater than Mars,
Make Room for the Combat, make Room;
Sound the Trumpet and Drum:
The Gods of Desire take part in the Fray,
And Love sits like Jove, to decide the great Day,
For the Honour of Britain
This Duel is fought!
Give the Word to begin,
Let the Combatants in;
The Challenger enters all glorious:
But Love has decreed,
Tho' Beauty may bleed,
Yet Beauty shall still be victorious;
CHORUS.
Make Room for the Combat, make Room,
Sound the Trumpet and Drum
A fairer than Venus prepares
To encounter a greater than Mars.
SONG.
Help! help! th' unpractis'd Conqueror cries;
He faints, he falls, help, help! Ah me! he dies:
Gently she tries to raise his Head,
And weeps, alas! to find him dead.
Sound, sound a Charge, 'tis War again;
Again he fights, again is slain;
Again, again, help, help! she cries,
He faints, he falls, help, help! Ah me! he dies.
Another.
Happy Pair.
Free from Care,
Enjoy the Blessing
Of sweet Possessing,
Free from Care,
Happy Pair,
Love inviting,
Souls uniting;
Desiring,
Expiring,
Enjoy the Blessing
Of sweet Possessing,
Free from Care;
Happy Pair.
Chorus Singing and Dancing.
Be true, all ye Lovers, whate'er you endure;
Tho' cruel the Pain is, how sweet is the Cure!
So divine is the Blessing,
In the Hour of Possessing,
That one Moment's obtaining
Pays an Age of Complaining.
Be true, all ye Lovers, whate'er you endure;
Tho' cruel the Pain is, how sweet is the Cure!
[Here enter two Parties from the opposite Sides of the
Theatre, with Lances in their Hands, marching to
a Warlike Measure of Trumpets, &c. Then run a
Tilt, and having broken or quitted their Lances,
form divers Combats with Sword and Buckler. The
Conquerors dance a Measure, expressing their Joy
for Victory.
CHORUS to the Dance.
Amadis is the Hero's Glory,
Of endless Fame a lasting Story:
Amadis is the Hero's Glory.
Oriana is the Queen of Pleasure,
A Light of Love, to shine for ever;
Oriana is the Queen of Pleasure.
[The Entertainment concludes with variety of Songs
and Dances, after which the Company rise and come
forward.
Amad. So Phœbus mounts triumphant in the Skies,
The Clouds disperse, and gloomy Horror flies;
Darkness gives place to the victorious Light,
And all around is gay, and all around is bright
Ori. Our present Joys are sweeter for past Pain;
To Heav'n, and Love, by Suff'ring we attain.
Urg. Prophetick Fury rowls within my Breast.
And as at Delphos, when the foaming Priest
Full of his God, proclaims the distant Doom
Of Kings unborn, and Nations yet to come:
My labouring Mind so struggles to unfold,
On British Ground, a future Age of Gold:
But lest incredulous you hear———behold.
[Here a SCENE represents the Queen and all the
Triumphs of her Majesty's Reign.
High on a Throne appears the Martial Queen,
With Grace sublime, and with Imperial Mien,
Surveying round her with impartial Eyes,
Whom to protect, or whom she shall chastise.
In ev'ry Line of that auspicious Face
Soft Mercy smiles, adorn'd with ev'ry Grace.
So Angels look, and so, when Heav'n decrees,
They scourge the World to Piety and Peace.
Empress, and Conqueror, hail! Thee, Fates ordain
O'er all the willing World, sole Arbitress to reign:
To no One People are thy Laws confin'd,
Great Britain's Queen, but Guardian of Mankind.
Sure Hope of all who dire Oppression bear,
For all th' Opprest become thy instant Care.
Nations of Conquest proud, Thou tam'st, to free;
Denouncing War, presenting Liberty;
The Victor to the vanquish'd yields a Prize,
For in thy Triumph, their Redemption lyes;
Freedom and Peace, for ravish'd Fame, you give;
Invade to bless, and conquer to relieve.
So the Sun scorches, and revives by Turns,
Requiting with rich Metals, where he burns.
Taught by this great Example to be just,
Succeeding Kings shall well fulfill their Trust;
Discord and War and Tyranny shall cease,
And jarring Nations be compell'd to Peace;
Princes and States, like Subjects, shall agree
To trust Her Power, safe in Her Piety.
If curious to inspect the Book of Fate,
You'd farther learn the destin'd Time and Date
Of Britain's Glory, know, this Royal Dame
From Stuart's Race shall rise, ANNA shall be her Name.
FINIS.
