Mer. I'gin to doubt, that Love with charms hath put This phant'sie in them; and they only think That they are ghosts. 1 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 you, and you yourselves mistake. Us 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. 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 Leap forth: your light it is the nobler made, Here they dance forth their entry, or first DANCE: after which CUPID appearing, meets them. Cup. Why, now you take me! these are rites And praise in them that follow me! Mer. Look, look unto this snaky rod, Here they dance their Main DANCE. Cup. Come, do not call it Cupid's crime, Go, take the ladies forth, and talk, And touch, and taste too: ghosts can walk. They do, indeed, like dead men move, Here they take forth the Ladies, and the REVELS follow.' 1 The Revels follow.] The Revels were dances of a more free and general nature, that is, not immediately connected with the After which. Mer. Nay, you should never have left off; Cup. Your too much wit, breeds too much fear. Cup. But will you go? Can you leave Love, and he entreat you so? This night, I will create my holiday, And be yours naked and entire. Mer. As if that Love disarm'd were less a fire! They dance their going out: which done, Mer. Yet lest that Venus' wanton son 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; AND THUS IT ENDED. 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. |