The Mighty Master smil'd to see
That Love was in the next Degree;
"Twas but a Kindred-Sound to move,
For Pity melts the Mind to Love.

91

100

Softly sweet, in Lydian Measures, Soon he sooth'd his Soul to Pleasures. War, he sung, is Toil and Trouble; Honour but an empty Bubble. Never ending, still beginning, Fighting still, and still destroying, If the World be worth thy Winning, Think, O think, it worth Enjoying. Lovely Thals sits beside thee,

Take the Good the Gods provide thee. The Many rend the Skies, with loud applause;

So Love was Crown'd, but Musique won the Cause.

The Prince, unable to conceal his Pain, Gaz'd on the Fair

Who caus'd his Care,

110

And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, Sigh'd and look'd, and sigh'd again : At length, with Love and Wine at once oppress'd,

The vanquish'd Victor sunk upon her Breast.

CHORUS.

The Prince, unable to conceal his Pain, Gaz'd on the fair

Who caus'd his Care,

And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, Sigh'd and look'd, and sigh'd again; 120 At length, with Love and Wine at once oppress'd,

The vanquish'd Victor sunk upon her Breast.

Behold a ghastly Band,

Each a Torch in his Hand!

Enlarg'd the former narrow Bounds, And added Length to solemn Sounds,

known before.

Go tell Amynta, gentle Swain,
I wou'd not die, nor dare complain,
Thy tuneful Voice with numbers joyn,
Thy words will more prevail than mine.
To Souls oppress'd, and dumb with grief,
The Gods ordain this kind releif;
That Musick shou'd in sounds convey
What dying Lovers dare not say.

2

A Sigh or Tear perhaps she'll give, But love on pitty cannot live.

180

Tell her that Hearts for Hearts were made,
And love with love is only paid.

Tell her my pains so fast encrease,
That soon they will be past redress;
But ah! the Wretch, that speechless lyes,
Attends but Death to close his Eyes.

HIGH State and Honours to others impart,

But give me your Heart:

That Treasure, that Treasure alone,

I beg for my own.

So gentle a Love, so fervent a Fire,
My Soul does inspire.

That Treasure, that Treasure alone,
I beg for my own.

Your Love let me crave,

Give me in Possessing

10

So matchless a Blessing;
That Empire is all I wou'd have.

Love's my Petition,

All my Ambition;
If c'er

you discover So faithful a Lover, So real a Flame,

I'll die, I'll die,

So give up my Game.

Chronos. Then Goddess of the Silver Bow begin.

Horns, or Hunting-Musique within.
Enter DIANA.

Diana. With Horns and with Hounds I waken the Day,

And hye to my Woodland walks away:
I tuck up my Robe, and am buskined soon,
And tye to my Forehead a wexing Moon.
I course the fleet Stagg, unkennel the Fox,
And chase the wild Goats or'e summets of
Rocks,
32

With shouting and hooting we pierce thro' the Sky;

And Eccho turns Hunter, and doubles the Cry.

Cho. of all. With shouting and hooting we pierce through the Skie,

And Eccho turns Hunter, and doubles the
Cry.

Janus. Then our Age was in it's Prime:
Chronos. Free from Rage.
Diana.
And free from Crime.
Momus. A very Merry, Dancing, Drinking,
Laughing, Quaffing, and unthinking Time.
Cho. of all. Then our Age was in it's Prime,
Free from Rage, and free from Crime, 42
A very Merry, Dancing, Drinking,
Laughing, Quaffing, and unthinking Time.
[Dance of Diana's attendants.

THE SECULAR MASQUE. Text from the original but posthumous edition of 1700, except as noted.