Mer. I’gin to doubt, that Love with charms hath put
This phant'sie in them; and they only think
That they are ghosts.
I Fate. If so, then let them drink
Of Lethe's stream.
2 Fate. 'Twill make them to forget
Love's name.
3 Fate. And so, they may recover yet.
Mer. Go, bow unto the reverend lake :
[To the Shades.
And having touch'd there; up and shake
The shadows off, which yet do make
Us you,
and you yourselves mistake.
Here they all stoop to the water, and dance forth their
Antimasque in several gestures, as they lived in love: and retiring into the grove, before the last person be off the stage, the first Couple appear in their posture between the trees, ready to come forth, changed.
Mer. See! see! they are themselves again.
i Fate. Yes, now they are substances and men.
2 Fate. Love at the name of Lethe flies.
Lethe. For, in oblivion drown'd, he dies.
3 Fate. He must not hope, though other states
He oft subdue, he can the Fates.
Fates. 'Twere insolence to think his powers
Can work on us, or equal ours. Cho. Return, return,
Like lights to burn
On earth
For others good :
Your second birth
Will fame old Lethe's flood;
And warn a world,
That now are hurl'd
About in tempest, how they prove
Shadows for Love.
Leap forth: your light it is the nobler made,
By being struck out of a shade. Here they dance forth their entry, or first DANCE: after which CUPID
appearing, meets them.
Cup. Why, now you take me! these are rites
That grace Love's days, and crown his nights !
These are the motions I would see,
And praise in them that follow me!
Not sighs, nor tears, nor wounded hearts,
Nor flames, nor ghosts : but airy parts
Tried and refined as yours have been,
And such they are, I glory in.
Mer. Look, look unto this snaky rod,
And stop your ears against the charming god;
His every word falls from him is a snare :
Who have so lately known him, should beware.
Here they dance their Main DANCE.
Cup. Come, do not call it Cupid's crime,
You were thought dead before your time;
If thus you move to Hermes' will
Alone, you will be thought so still.
Go, take the ladies forth, and talk,
And touch, and taste too: ghosts can walk.
'Twixt eyes, tongues, hands, the mutual strife
Is bred that tries the truth of life.
They do, indeed, like dead men move,
That think they live, and not in love!
Here they take forth the Ladies, and the REVELS follow.'
1 The Revels follow.] The Revels were dances of a more and general nature, that is, not immediately connected with the
After which.
Mer. Nay, you should never have left off;
But staid, and heard your Cupid scoff,
To find you in the line you were.
Cup. Your too much wit, breeds too much fear.
Mer. Good fly, good night.
Cup. But will you go?
Can you leave Love, and he entreat you so ?
Here, take my quiver and my bow,
My torches too; that you, by all, may know
I mean no danger to your stay :
This night, I will create my holiday,
And be yours naked and entire.
Mer. As if that Love disarm'd were less a fire !
Away, away.
They dance their going out : which done,
Mer. Yet lest that Venus' wanton son
Should with the world be quite undone,
For your fair sakes (you brighter stars,
Who have beheld these civil wars)
Fate is content these lovers here
Remain still such; so Love will swear
Never to force them act to do,
But what he will call Hermes to.
Cup. I swear; and with like cause thank Mercury,
As these have to thank him and Destiny. Cho. All then take cause of joy; for who hath not?
Old Lethe, that their follies are forgot :
story of the piece under representation. In these, many of the
, nobility of both sexes took part, who had previously been spectators. The Revels, it appears from other passages, were usually composed of galliards and corantos. Their introduction was no less desirable than judicious, as it gave fulness and majesty to the show, and enabled the court to gratify numbers who were not qualified to appear in it as performers.
We, that their lives unto their fates they fit;
They, that they still shall love, and love with wit.
This little drama is written with all the ease and elegance of Pope, who is not without some petty obligations to it, in his Rape of the Lock.
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