ORPHEUS

Again, again, fresh kindle Phœbus sounds, T'exhale Mania from her earthy den; Allay the fury that her sense confounds, And call her gently forth, found, found, again. Mania? Brainsick, why startest thou so? Approach yet nearer, and thou then shalt know The will of Jove, which he will breath from me, The same Mania, and Jove greets thee thus, Though several power to thee, and charge he gave, T'enclose in thy Dominions such as rave Through bloods distemper, how durst thou attempt T'imprison Entheus, whose rage is exempt From vulgar censure? it is all divine Full of celestial rapture, that can shine Through darkest shadows, therefore Jove by me Commands thy power strait to set Entheus free. —Let not fear in vain Trouble thy crazed fancy, all again Save Entheus to thy safeguard shall retire, For Jove into our music will inspire The power of passion, that their thoughts shall bend To any form or motion we intend: Obey Jove's willing then, go, set Entheus free. See Jove is pleased, Statues have life & move, Go newborn men, and entertain with love, These newborn women, though your number yet Exceeds their's double, they are armed with wit, To bear your best encounters, Court them fair: When words and Music speak, let none despair. Woo her, and win her, he that can, Each woman hath two lovers, So she must take and leave a man, Till time more grace discovers; This does Jove to show that want, Makes beauty most respected; If fair women were more skant, They would be more affected. Courtship and Music, suit with love, They both are works of passion, Happy is he whose words can move, Yet sweet notes help persuasion. Mix your words with Music then, That they the more may enter; Bold assaults are fit for men, That on strange beauty's venture. Let Music put on Protean changes now, Wild beasts it once tamed, now let Frantics bow. Through these soft and calm sounds Mania pass With thy Phantastics hence; here is no place Longer for them or thee; Entheus alone Must do Jove's bidding now, all else be gone. —Too too long Alas, good Entheus, hast thou brook't this wrong; What? number thee with madmen? oh mad age, Senseless of thee, and thy celestial rage. For thy excelling rapture, even through things That seems most light, is born with sacred wings: Nor are these Musics, Shows, or Revels vain, When thou adornest them with thy Phoebean brain; Th'are palate sick of much more vanity, That cannot taste them in their dignity. Jove therefore lets thy prisoned spright obtain Her liberty and fiery scope again: And here by me commands thee to create Inventions rare, this night to celebrate, Such as become a nuptial by his will Begun and ended,— Fly cheerful voices, through the air, and clear These clouds, that you hid beauty may appear. COme away; bring thy golden theft, Bring bright Prometheus all thy lights, Thy fires from Heaven bereft Show now to humane sights. Come quickly come; thy stars to our stars straight present, For pleasure being too much deferred, loses her best continued ̄ to ̄ to, What fair dams wish, should swift as their own thoughts appear, To loving & to longing hearts every hour seems a year. See how fair; Oh how fair they shine, What yields more pomp beneath the skies? Their birth is yet divine, And such their form implies. Large grow their beams, their never approach afford the ̄ so By nature sights that pleasing are, Can ̄ not too amply show, Oh might these flames in humane shapes desce ̄ worser this place, How lovely would their presence be, how full of grace! Let here Sybilla's Trophy stand, Lead her now by either hand, That she may approach yet nearer, And the Bride and Bridegroom hear her Bless them in her native tongue, Wherein old prophecies she sung, Which time to light hath brought: She speaks that which Jove hath taught. Well may he inspire her now, To make a joyful and true vow. Enough of blessing, though too much Never can be said to such; But night does wast, and Hymen chides, Kind to Bridegrooms and to Brides, Then singing the last dance induce, So let good night prevent excuse. Found best of Musics, raise yet higher our sprights, While we admire Prometheus dancing lights. Advance your Choral motions now You music-loving lights, This night concludes the nuptial vow, Make this the best of nights, So bravely Crown it with your beams, That it may live in fame, As long as Rhenus or the Thames Are known by either name. Once move again, yet nearer move Your forms at willing view, Such fair effects of joy and love, None can express but you, Then revel amid your airy Bowers Till all the clouds do sweat, That pleasure may be poured in showers On this triumphant Seat. Long since hath lovely Flora thrown Her Flowers and Garlands here, Rich Ceres all her wealth hath shown, Proud of her dainty cheer. Changed then to humane shape descend, Glad in familiar weed. That every eye may here commend The kind delights you breed.