The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 134

_Bell_. Came you, most reverend Bards, from the Moon World?

_Kep_. Most lovely Maid, we did.

_Doct_. May I presume to ask the manner how?

_Kep_. By Cloud, Sir, through the Regions of the Air, down to the fam'd _Parna.s.sus_; thence by Water, along the River _Helicon_, the rest by Post upon two wing'd Eagles.

_Doct_. Sir, are there store of our World inhabiting the Moon?

_Kep_. Oh, of all Nations, Sir, that lie beneath it in the Emperor's Train! Sir, you will behold abundance; look up and see the Orbal World descending; observe the Zodiack, Sir, with her twelve Signs.

[_Next the Zodiack descends, a Symphony playing all the while; when it is landed, it delivers the twelve Signs: Then the Song, the Persons of the Zodiack being the Singers. After which, the Negroes dance and mingle in the_ Chorus.

A Song for the Zodiack.

_Let murmuring Lovers no longer repine, But their Hearts and their Voices advance; Let the Nymphs and the Swains in the kind Chorus join, And the Satyrs and Fauns in a Dance.

Let Nature put on her Beauty of May, And the Fields and the Meadows adorn; Let the Woods and the Mountains resound with the Joy, And the Echoes their Triumph return_.

Chorus.

_For since Love wore his Darts, And Virgins grew Coy; Since these wounded Hearts, And those cou'd destroy, There ne'er was more Cause for your Triumphs and Joy.

Hark, hark, the Musick of the Spheres, Some Wonder approaching declares; Such, such, as has not bless'd your Eyes and Ears This thousand, thousand, thousand Years.

See, see what the Force of Love can make, Who rules in Heaven, in Earth and Sea; Behold how he commands the Zodiack, While the fixt Signs unhinging all obey.

Not one of which, but represents The Attributes of Love, Who governs all the Elements In Harmony above_.

Chorus.

_For since Love wore his Darts And Virgins grew coy; Since these wounded Hearts, And those cou'd destroy, There ne'er was more Cause for your Triumphs and Joy.

The wanton Aries first descends, To show the Vigor and the Play, Beginning Love, beginning Love attends, When the young Pa.s.sion is all-over Joy, He bleats his soft Pain to the fair curled Throng, And he leaps, and he bounds, and loves all the day long.

At once Love's Courage and his Slavery In_ Taurus _is expressed, Though o'er the Plains the Conqueror be, The generous Beast Does to the Yoke submit his n.o.ble Breast; While_ Gemini _smiling and twining of Arms, Shews Love's soft Indearments and Charms; And_ Cancer's _slow Motion the degrees do express, Respectful Love arrives to Happiness_.

Leo _his strength and Majesty_, Virgo _her blushing Modesty, And_ Libra _all his Equity.

His Subtilty does_ Scorpio _show, And_ Sagittarius _all his loose desire, By_ Capricorn _his forward Humour know, And_ Aqua, _Lovers Tears that raise his Fire, While_ Pisces, _which intwin'd do move, Shew the soft Play, and wanton Arts of Love_.

Chorus.

_For since Love wore his Darts, And Virgins grew coy; Since these wounded Hearts, And those you'd destroy, There ne'er was more Cause for Triumphs and Joy_.

--See how she turns, and sends her Signs to Earth.--Behold the Ram, _Aries_--see _Taurus_ next descends; then _Gemini_--see how the Boys embrace.--Next _Cancer_, then _Leo_, then the _Virgin_; next to her _Libra--Scorpio, Sagittary, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces_. This eight thousand Years no Emperor has descended, but _Incognito_; but when he does, to make his Journey more magnificent, the Zodiack, Sir, attends him.

_Doct_. 'Tis all amazing, Sir.

_Kep_. Now, Sir, behold the Globick World descends two thousand Leagues below its wonted Station, to shew Obedience to its proper Monarch.

[_After which, the Globe of the Moon appears, first like a new Moon, as it moves forward it increases till it comes to the Full. When it is descended, it opens and shews the Emperor and the Prince. They come forth with all their Train, the Flutes playing a Symphony before them, which prepares the Song. Which ended the Dancers mingle as before_.

A SONG.

_All Joy to Mortals, Joy and Mirth, Eternal_ IO'S _sing; The G.o.ds of Love descend to Earth, Their Darts have lost the Sting.

The Youth shall now complain no more Of_ Sylvia's _needless Scorn, But she shall love, if he adore, And melt when he shall burn.

The Nymph no longer shall be shy, But leave the jilting Road; And_ Daphne _now no more shall fly The wounded panting G.o.d; But all shall be serene and fair, No sad Complaints of Love Shall fill the gentle whispering Air, No echoing Sighs the Grove.

Beneath the Shades young_ Strephon _lies, Of all his Wish possess'd; Gazing on_ Sylvia's _charming Eyes, Whose Soul is there confessed.

All soft and sweet the Maid appears, With Looks that know no Art, And though she yields with trembling Fears, She yields with all her Heart_.

--See, Sir, the Cloud of Foreigners appears, French, English, Spaniards, Danes, Turks, Russians, Indians, and the nearer Climes of Christendom; and lastly, Sir, behold the mighty Emperor.--

[_A Chariot appears, made like a Half Moon, in which is_ Cinthio _for the Emperor, richly dressed, and_ Charmante _for the Prince, rich, with a good many Heroes attending_. Cinthio's _Train born by four Cupids. The Song continues while they descend and land. They address themselves to_ Elaria _and_ Bellemante.--Doctor _falls on his Face, the rest bow very low as they pa.s.s. They make signs to_ Keplair.

_Kep_. The Emperor wou'd have you rise, Sir, he will expect no Ceremony from the Father of his Mistress.

[_Takes him up_.

_Doct_. I cannot, Sir, behold his Mightiness--the Splendor of his Majesty confounds me.

_Kep_. You must be moderate, Sir, it is expected.

[_The two Lovers make all the Signs of Love in dumb show to the Ladies, while the soft Musick plays again from the end of the Song_.

_Doct_. Shall I not have the Joy to hear their heavenly Voices, Sir?

_Kep_. They never speak to any Subject, Sir, when they appear in Royalty, but by Interpreters, and that by way of Stentraphon, in manner of the Delphick Oracles.

_Doct_. Any way, so I may hear the Sense of what they wou'd say.

_Kep_. No doubt you will--But see the Emperor commands by Signs his Foreigners to dance.

[_Soft Musick changes_.

[_A very Antick Dance. The Dance ended, the Front Scene draws off, and shows a Temple, with an Altar, one speaking through a Stentraphon from behind it. Soft Musick plays the while_.

_Kep_. Most Learned Sir, the Emperor now is going to declare himself, according to his Custom, to his Subjects. Listen.--

_Sten_. Most Reverend Sir, whose Virtue did incite us, Whose Daughter's Charms did more invite us; We come to grace her with that Honour, That never Mortal yet had done her; Once only, _Jove_ was known in Story, To visit _Semele_ in Glory.

But fatal 'twas, he so enjoy'd her, Her own ambitious Flame destroy'd her.

His Charms too fierce for Flesh and Blood, She dy'd embracing of her G.o.d, We gentler marks of Pa.s.sion give, The Maid we love, shall love and live; Whom visibly we thus will grace, Above the rest of human Race, Say, is't your Will that we shou'd wed her, And nightly in Disguises bed her?

_Doct_. The Glory is too great for Mortal Wife.

[_Kneels with Transport_.

_Sten_. What then remains, but that we consummate This happy Marriage in our splendid State?

_Doct_. Thus low I kneel, in thanks for this great Blessing.

[Cinthio _takes_ Elaria _by the Hand_; Charmante, Bellemante; _two of the Singers in white being Priests, they lead 'em to the Altar, the whole Company dividing on either side. Where, while a Hymeneal Song is sung, the Priest joins their Hands: The Song ended, and they marry'd, they come forth; but before they come forward, two Chariots descend one on one side above, and the other on the other side; in which is_ Harlequin _dress'd like a Mock Hero, with others; and_ Scaramouch _in the other, dress'd so in Helmets_.

_Scar_. Stay, mighty Emperor, and vouchsafe to be the Umpire of our Difference. [Cinthio _signs to_ Keplair.