Full Lyrics
Overture
1. OVERTURE
Prologue
2. PROLOGUE (MUSIC LOST)
PHOEB.
From Aurora's Spicy Bed,
Phoebus rears his Sacred Head.
His Coursers Advancing,
Curvetting and Prancing.
1st NEREID.
Phoebus strives in vain to Tame'em,
With Ambrosia Fed too high.
2d NER.
Phoebus ought not now to blame'em,
Wild and eager to Survey
The fairest Pageant of the Sea.
PHOEB.
Tritons and Nereids come pay your Devotion
CHO.
To the New rising Star of the Ocean.
Venus Descends in her Chariot,
The Tritons out of the Sea.
The Tritons Dance
NEREID
Look down ye Orbs and See
A New Divinity.
PHOEB.
Whose Lustre does OutShine
Your fainter Beams, and half Eclipses mine,
Give Phoebus leave to Prophecy.
Phoebus all Events can see.
Ten Thousand Thousand Harmes.
From such prevailing Charmes,
To Gods and Men must instantly Ensue.
CHO.
And if the Deity's above,
Are Victims of the powers of Love,
What must wretched Mortals do.
VENUS
Fear not Phoebus, fear not me,
A harmless Deity.
These are all my Guards ye View,
What can these blind Archers do.
PHOEB.
Blind they are, but strike the Heart,
VENUS
What Phoebus say's is alwayes true.
They Wound indeed, but 'tis a pleasing smart.
PHOEB.
Earth and Skies address their Duty,
To the Sovereign Queen of Beauty.
All Resigning,
None Repining.
At her undisputed Sway.
CHO.
To Phoebus and Venus our Homage wee'l pay,
Her Charmes blest the Night, as his Beams blest the day.
[The Nereids Dance.]
Exit.
The Spring Enters with her Nymphs.
SCENE I
The Grove.
VENUS
See the Spring in all her Glory,
CHO.
Welcomes Venus to the Shore.
VENUS
Smiling Hours are now before you,
Hours that may return no more.
[Exit, Soft Musick.]
SPRING
Our Youth and Form declare,
For what we were designed.
'Twas Nature made us Fair,
And you must make us kind.
He that fails of Addressing,
'Tis but Just he shou'd fail of Possessing.
[The Spring and Nymphs Dance.]
SHEPH'S
Jolly Shepherds come away,
To Celebrate this Genial Day,
And take the Friendly Hours you vow to pay.
Now make Trial,
And take no Denial.
Now carry your Game, or for ever give o're.
[The Shepherds and Shepherdesses Dance.]
CHO.
Let us Love and happy Live,
Possess those smiling Hours,
The more auspicious Powers,
And gentle Planets give.
Prepare those soft returns to Meet,
That makes Loves Torments Sweet.
[The Nymphs Dance.]
[Enter the Country Shepherds and Shepherdesses.]
HE
Tell, Tell me, prithee Dolly,
And leave thy Melancholy.
Why on the Plaines,
the Nymphs and Swaines,
This Morning are so Jolly.
SHE
By Zephires gentle Blowing.
And Venus Graces Flowing.
The Sun has bin
to Court our Queen,
And Tired the Spring with wooing.
