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Can hinder the crimes,

Or mend the bad times,

"Tis better to laugh than to cry.

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CHORUS OF ALL THREE.

'Tis better to laugh than to cry.

JANUS.

Since Momus comes to laugh below,

Old Time begin the show,

That he may see, in every scene,
What changes in this age have been.

CHRONOS.

Then goddess of the silver bow begin.

[Horns, or hunting music within.

Enter DIANA.

DIANA.

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With horns and with hounds I waken the day;
And hie to the woodland-walks away:
I tuck up my robe, and am buskin'd soon,
And tie to my forehead a wexing moon.
I course the fleet stag, unkennel the fox,
And chase the wild goats o'er summits of rocks,
With shouting and hooting we pierce through

the sky,

And Echo turns hunter, and doubles the cry.

CHORUS OF ALL.

With shouting and hooting we pierce thro' the sky, And Echo turns hunter, and doubles the cry.

JANUS.

Then our age was in its prime :

[blocks in formation]

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45

And free from crime:

MOMUS.

A very merry, dancing, drinking,

Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking time.

CHORUS OF ALL.

Then our age was in its prime,

Free from rage, and free from crime,
A very merry, dancing, drinking,

Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking time.

[Dance of DIANA's attendants.

Enter MARS.

MARS.

Inspire the vocal brass, inspire;

The world is past its infant age:

Arms and honour,

Arms and honour,

Set the martial mind on fire,
And kindle manly rage.

Mars has look'd the sky to red;
And Peace, the lazy god, is fled.
Plenty, peace, and pleasure fly;
The sprightly green,

In woodland-walks, no more is seen;

The sprightly green has drunk the Tyrian dye.

CHORUS OF ALL.

Plenty, peace, &c.

[blocks in formation]

MARS.

Sound the trumpet, beat the drum ;
Through all the world around,

Sound a reveillé, sound, sound,

The warrior god is come.

ALL.

CHORUS OF ALL

Sound the trumpet, &c.

MOMUS.

Thy sword within the scabbard keep,

And let mankind agree;

Better the world were fast asleep,

Than kept awake by thee.

The fools are only thinner,

With all our cost and care;

But neither side a winner,

For things are as they were.

CHORUS OF ALL.

The fools are only, &c.

Enter VENUS.

VENUS.

Calms appear when storms are past;

Love will have his hour at last:
Nature is my kindly care;

Mars destroys, and I repair;
Take me, take me, while
you may,
Venus comes not every day.

CHORUS OF ALL.

Take her, take her, &c.

[blocks in formation]

CHRONOS.

The world was then so light,

I scarcely felt the weight;

Joy rul'd the day, and Love the night.

But, since the queen of pleasure left the ground,

I faint, I lag,

And feebly drag

The ponderous orb around.

MOMUS.

All, all of a piece throughout:
Thy chase had a beast in view;

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85

[Pointing to Diana. [To Mars. [To Venus.

Thy wars brought nothing about;
Thy lovers were all untrue.

JANUS.

'Tis well an old age is out.

CHRONOS.

And time to begin a new.

CHORUS OF ALL.

All, all of a piece throughout;

Thy chase had a beast in view:
Thy wars brought nothing about;

Thy lovers were all untrue.

"Tis well an old age

is out,

And time to begin a new.

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[Dance of huntsmen, nymphs, warriors, and lovers.

SONG OF A SCHOLAR AND HIS MISTRESS,

WHO BEING CROSSED BY THEIR

FRIENDS, FELL MAD FOR ONE ANOTHER; AND NOW FIRST MEET IN BEDLAM.

Music within.

The lovers enter at opposite

doors, each held by a keeper.

PHILLIS.

Look, look, I see -I see my love appear!

"Tis he "Tis he alone;

For, like him there is none:

'Tis the dear, dear man, 'tis thee, dear.

AMYNTAS.

Hark! the winds war;

The foamy waves roar;

I see a ship afar,

Tossing and tossing, and making to the shore:
But what's that I view,

So radiant of hue,

St. Hermo, St. Hermo, that sits upon the sails?

Ah! No, no, no.

St. Hermo, never, never shone so bright;

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'Tis Phillis, only Phillis, can shoot so fair a light; 'Tis Phillis, 'tis Phillis, that saves the ship alone, For all the winds are hush'd, and the storm is overblown.

PHILLIS.

Let me go, let me run, let me fly to his arms.

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