Sun. We must descend, and leave awhile our sphere,' To greet the world.-Ha? there does now appear moves, Stand fix'd in firmaments of blest content! Meanwhile [the] recreations we present, Shall strive to please:-I have the foremost tract; Each Season else begins and ends an Act. [The Sun disappears. 5 We must descend, &c.] The "sphere" in which the "lord of Light" appeared, was probably a creaking throne which overlooked the curtain at the back of the stage; from this he probably descended to the raised platform. Besides his robe, flammas imitante pyropo, his solar majesty was probably distinguished by a tiara, or rayed coronet, but this is no subject for light merriment. Whatever his SHAPE might be, his address to the audience of the Cockpit is graceful, elegant, and poetical. I believe it to be the composition of Decker. ACT II. SCENE I. The Garden of SPRING. Enter SPRING, RAYBRIGHT, YOUTH, HEALth, and DELIGHT. Spring. Welcome! The mother of the year, the Spring, That mother, on whose back Age ne'er can sit, For Age still waits on her; that Spring, the nurse Whose milk the Summer sucks, and is made wanton; Physician to the sick, strength to the sound, That Spring, on thy fair cheeks, in kisses lays name, RAYBRIGHT, as bright in person as in fame! Ray. Your eyes amazed me first, but now mine ears Feel your tongue's charm; in you move all the spheres. Oh, lady! would the Sun, which gave me life, Spring. Why? all my veins Shrink up, as if cold Winter were come back, Ray. Round about me my lips, A firmament of such full blessings shine, Part'st hence, (as part thou shalt not,) be happy ever! Ray. I know I shall. Spring. Thou, to buy whose state Kings would lay down their crowns, fresh Youth, wait, I charge thee, on my darling. Youth. Madam, I shall, And on his smooth cheek such sweet roses set, You still shall sit to gather them; and when Their colours fade, [like] brave shall spring again. Spring. Thou, without whom they that have hills of gold Are slaves and wretches, Health! that canst nor be sold Nor bought, I charge thee make his heart a tower Guarded, for there lies the Spring's paramour. Health. One of my hands is writing still in Heaven, For that's Health's library; t' other on the Earth, Spring. Thou! to whose tunes The five nice senses dance; thou, that dost spin Those golden threads all women love to wind, And but for whom, man would cut off mankind, Delight! not base, but noble, touch thy lyre, And fill my court with brightest Delphic fire. Del. Hover, you wing'd musicians, in the air! Clouds, leave your dancing! no winds stir but fair! Health. Leave blustering March SONG by DELIGHT. What bird so sings, yet so does wail ?° What bird, &c.] This is taken from the beautiful song of Trico, in Lily's "Alexander and Campaspe." It will be seen from the original, which is subjoined, that it has received no improvements from Delight. "What bird so sings, yet so does wail? Hark, how the jolly cuckoes sing, Jugg, jugg, jugg, terue she cries, And, hating earth, to heaven she flies. [The cuckow is heard. Ha, ha! hark, hark! the cuckows sing Brave prick-song! who is't now we hear? For he fell to't ere break of day. [The cuckow again. Ha, ha! hark, hark! the cuckows sing Spring. How does my sun-born sweetheart like his queen, Her court, her train? Ray. Wondrous; such ne'er were seen. Health. Fresher and fresher pastimes! one delight Is a disease to th' wanton appetite. Del. Music, take Echo's voice, and dance quick rounds To thine own times in repercussive sounds. [An echo of Cornets. Spring. Enough! I will not weary thee. Pleasures, change! Thou, as the Sun in a free zodiac range. [Exit Del. |