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ARCALAUS.

Enchantress fay, whence fuch replies as thefe ?
Thou answer'ft Love, I speak of Amadis.

ARCABON.

Swiftly he paft, and as in fport purfue
The favage herd, and hunted round the wood;

[Seeming not to mind dim.

Tigers and wolves in vain his stroke withstand,
Cut down, like poppies, by the reaper's hand;
Like Mars he look'd, as terrible and strong,
Like Jove majestic, like Apollo young ;
With all their attributes divinely grac'd,
And fure their thunder in his arm was plac'd.

ARCALAU S.

Who pafs'd? who look'd?

ARCABO N.

Ah! there's the fatal wound,

That tears my heart-strings---But he shall be found:
Yes, ye Infernals, if there's power in art,

My arms fhall hold him, as he grasps my heart.
Shall I, who can draw down the moon, and keep
The ftars confin'd, enchant the boisterous deep,
Bid Boreas halt, make hills and forefts move,
Shall I be baffled by this trifler, Love?

ARCALAUS.

Sufpend thofe follies, and let rage furmount,
A brother's death requires a ftrict account;
To-day, to-day, perhaps this very hour,

This moment, now, the murderer's in our power.

Leave Love in cottages and cells to reign,

With nymphs obfcure, and with the lowly fwain. Who waste their days and strength in fuch fhort joys, Are fools, that barter precious life for toys.

ARCABON.

They're fools who preach we wafte our days and ftrength; What is a life whofe only charm is length?

Give me a life that 's fhort and wing'd with joy,

A life of love, whofe minutes never cloy;

What is an age in dull renown drudg'd o'er?

One little fingle hour of love is more.

An Attendant enters haftily, and whispers ARCALAUS.

ARCALAUS.

See it perform'd---and thou fhalt be,

Dire inftrument of hell, a god to me.

[Exit Attendant. He comes, he comes, juft ready to be caught. Here Ardan fell, here on this fatal spot Our brother dy'd; here fov'd that precious gore, The purple blood, that cries fo loud for more : Think on that image, fee him on the ground, His life and fame both bury'd in one wound. Think on the murderer, with insulting pride Tearing the weapon from his bleeding side, Oh think.

ARCABO N.

What need thefe bloody images to move?
Revenge I will---and would fecure my love.

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Why should I of a frailty fhameful be,
From which no mortal yet was ever free?
Not fierce Medea, miftrefs of our art,
Nor Circe nor Calypfo 'scap'd the smart.
If hell has power, both paffions I will please,
My anger and my love shall both have ease.
Lead on, magician, make revenge fecure,
My hand 's as ready, and shall strike as fure.

[They go of

ORIANA and CORISANDA appear entering from the lower part of the Scene.

ORIANA.

Thrice happy they, who thus in woods and groves,

From courts retir'd, poffefs their peaceful loves.
Of royal maids how wretched is the fate,
Born only to be victims of the state;

Our hopes, our wifhes, all our paffions, ty'd
For public use, the flaves of others' pride.
Here let us wait th' event, on which alone
Depends my peace, I tremble till 'tis known.

CORISANDA.

So generous this emperor's love does feem,
'Twould justify a change, to change for him.

[Flourish of mufic, as in the Foreft.

ORIANA.

Oft' we have heard fuch airy founds as these,

Which, in foft mufic murmuring through the trees,

Salute us as we pass.--

CORISAN DA.

The air we breathe fure is inchanted air.

[They liften, looking about as furprized.

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Enter feveral of ARCALAUS's Magicians, reprefenting Shepherds and Shepherdeffes, finging and dancing.

A

SHEPHERDESS.

Follow, ye nymphs and fhepherds all,
Come celebrate this festival,

And merrily fing, and fport, and play,
For 'tis Oriana's nuptial day.

To Oriana.] Queen of Britain, and of Love,
Be happy as the bleft above;
A joyful day is in thy power,
Seize, O feize the smiling hour.
Graces numberlefs attend thee,

The gods as many bleffings fend thee:

Be happy as the blest above,

Queen of Britain, and of Love.

CHOR U S.

Follow, ye rymphs, &c.

ORIANA.

[Exeunt, finging in

Prepofterous nuptials, that fill every breaft.
With joy, but only her's who fhould be bleft.

CORISANDA.

Sure fome magician keeps his revels here;
Princefs retire, there may be danger near,

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ORIANĂ.

What danger in fuch gentle notes can be?
Thou friend to Love, thrice-powerful Harmony,
I'll follow thee---Play on---

Mufic's the balm of love, it charms despair,
Sufpends the fmart, and foftens every care,

[Exeunt, following the music.

ARCALAUS enters, with an Attendant, obferving them.

ARCALAUS.

Finish the reft, and then be free as air:
My eyes ne'er yet beheld a form so fair.
Happy beyond my wish, I go to prove
At once the joys of fweet revenge and love.

[Exeunt, following.

Enter AMADIS and FLORESTAN.

AMADI S.

Mistake me not---No, Amadis fhall die

If fhe is pleas'd, but not disturb her joy.
Nice honour still engages to requite

Falfe miftreffes, and proud, with flight for flight.
But if, like mine, the ftubborn heart retain
A wilful tenderness, the brave must feign,
In private grieve, but with a careless scorn
In public feem to triumph, not to mourn.

FLORESTA N.

Hard is the task in love or grief to feign;
When paffion is fincere, it will complain:

Doubts

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