[]
THE CHAPLET.
A Muſical Entertainment.
As it is Perform'd by His MAJESTY's Company of Comedians AT THE Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.
The MUSIC Compos'd by Dr. BOYCE.
LONDON, Printed: And Sold by M. Cooper in Pater-Noſter-Row, and J. Clark at the Bible in Drury-lane near Long-Acre.
MDCCLIII. [Price Six Pence.]
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
[]- DAMON, Mr. Beard.
- PALAEMON, Maſter Mattocks.
- LAURA, Miſs Norris.
- PASTORA, Mrs. Clive.
SCENE A GROVE.
THE CHAPLET. A Muſical Entertainment.
[]PART I.
SCENE I.
DAMON, LAURA.
LAURA.
UNgrateful Damon! Is it come to this?
Are theſe the happy Scenes of promis'd Bliſs?
Ne'er hope, vain Laura, future Peace to prove;
Content ne'er harbours with neglected Love.
DAMON.
[4]Conſider, Fair, the ever-reſtleſs Pow'r
Shifts with the Breeze, and changes with the Hour:
Above Reſtraint he ſcorns a fix'd Abode,
And on his ſilken Plumes flies forth the rambling God.
AIR.
You ſay at your Feet that I wept in Deſpair,
And vow'd that no Angel was ever ſo fair;
How could you believe all the Nonſenſe I ſpoke?
What know we of Angels—I meant it in joke.
I next ſtand indicted for ſwearing to love,
And nothing but Death ſhould my Paſſion remove;
I have lik'd you a Twelve-month, a Calendar Year,
And not yet contented—have Conſcience, my Dear.
RECITATIVE.
To Day Damaetas gave a rural Treat,
And I once more my choſen Friends muſt meet.
Farewel, ſweet Damſel, and remember this,
Dull Repetition deadens all our Bliſs.
Exit.
SCENE II.
[5]LAURA.
Where baleful Cypreſs forms a gloomy Shade,
And yelling Spectres haunt the dreary Glade;
Unknown to all, my loneſome Steps I'll bend;
There weep my Suff'rings, and my Fate attend.
AIR.
Vain is ev'ry fond Endeavour,
To reſiſt the tender Dart;
For Examples move us never,
We muſt feel to know the Smart.
When the Shepherd ſwears he's dying,
And our Beauties ſets to view;
Vanity her Aid ſupplying,
Bids us think 'tis all our Due.
Softer than the vernal Breezes,
Is the mild, deceitful Strain;
Frowning Truth our Sex diſpleaſes,
Flatt'ry never ſues in vain.
[6]
Soon, too ſoon, the happy Lover
Does our tend'reſt Hopes deceive;
Man was form'd to be a Rover,
Fooliſh Woman to believe.
Exit.
SCENE III.
DAMON and ſeveral Shepherds drinking
DAMON.
In Mirth and Paſtime ev'ry Hour employ,
Loſt is the Day that is not ſpent in Joy;
Here ſtrew your Roſes, here your Chaplets bring,
And liſten, Neighbours, to the Truths I ſing.
AIR.
Puſh about the briſk Bowl, 'twill enliven the Heart;
While thus we ſit round on the Graſs,
The Lover who talks of his Suff'rings and Smart,
Deſerves to be reckon'd an Aſs.
The Wretch who ſits watching his ill-gotten Pelf,
And wiſhes to add to the Maſs;
Whate'er the Curmudgeon may think of himſelf,
Deſerves to be reckon'd an Aſs.
[7]
The Beau, who ſo ſmart with his well-powder'd Hair,
An Angel beholds in his Glaſs,
And thinks with Grimace to ſubdue all the Fair,
May juſtly be reckon'd an Aſs.
The Merchant from Climate to Climate will roam,
Of Croeſus the Wealth to ſurpaſs;
And oft' while he's wand'ring, my Lady at home
Claps the Horns of an Ox on an Aſs.
The Lawyer ſo grave when he puts in his Plea,
With Forehead well cover'd with Braſs;
Tho' he talk to no purpoſe he pockets your Fee;
There you, my good Friend, are the Aſs.
The formal Phyſician, who knows ev'ry Ill,
Shall laſt be produc'd in this Claſs;
The ſick Man awhile may confide in his Skill,
But Death proves the Doctor an Aſs.
Then let us Companions be jovial and gay,
By turns take the Bottle and Laſs;
For he who his Pleaſures puts off for a Day,
Deſerves to be reckon'd an Aſs.
Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
[8]PASTORA, PALAEMON.
PALAEMON.
Indeed, Paſtora, ſpite of all you ſay,
I muſt this very Inſtant haſte away;
You think my Flame's extinguiſh'd quite, I know;
And other Objects ſtrike me—may be ſo.
PASTORA.
Perfidious Boy! I know 'tis Sylvia's Charms
That tear Palaemon from theſe circling Arms;
But ſoon perhaps ſome other wiſer Youth,
May learn to ſet due Value on my Truth.
PALAEMON.
Whoe'er the Youth may be, who claims my Part,
He has my full Conſent with all my Heart.
AIR.
Farewel, my Paſtora, no longer your Swain,
Quite ſick of his Bondage, can ſuffer his Chain:
Nay arm not your Brow with ſuch haughty Diſdain,
My Heart leaps with Joy to be free once again.
Sing tol derol.
[9]I'll live like the Birds, thoſe ſweet Tenants of May,
Who always are ſportful, who always are gay:
How ſweetly their Sonnets they carol all Day;
Their Love is but Frolick, their Courtſhip but Play.
Sing tol derol.
If ſtruck by a Beauty they ne'er ſaw before,
In chirping ſoft Notes they her Pity implore;
She yields to Intreaty; and when the Fit's o'er,
'Tis an Hundred to Ten that they never meet more.
Sing tol derol.
Exit.
PASTORA.
Inſulting Boy! I'll tear him from my Mind;
Ah! wou'd my Fortune could a Husband find:
And juſt in time young Damon comes this Way,
A handſom Youth he is, and rich they ſay.
SCENE V.
DAMON, PASTORA.
DAMON.
Vouchſafe, ſweet Maid, to hear a wretched Swain,
Who, loſt in Wonder, hugs the pleaſing Chain;
For you in Sighs I hail the riſing Day;
To you at Eve I ſing the love-ſick [...]ay;
Then take, my Love, my Homage as your Due.
The Devil's in her if all this won't do.
Aſide.
AIR.
[10]DAMON.
Beauteous Maid, reward my Paſſion;
Crown with Hopes my fierce Deſire,
SHE.
Soon to yield is not the Faſhion,
Maids ſome Courtſhip ſhould require.
HE.
Tedious Courtſhip damps all Pleaſure,
By this melting Kiſs I ſwear.
SHE.
Now you're rude beyond all Meaſure;
Kiſs again, Sir, if you dare.
HE.
Where yon Bank the Willows cover,
We will ſhun the Heat of Day:
SHE.
You're in too much haſte, young Lover,
For the Prieſt muſt lead the Way.
HE.
We can do without him better,
None but Fools would marry now;
Prieſts the free-born Mind would fetter,
We will meet without a Vow.
PASTORA.
[11]Away, falſe Man, no more your Tale I'll hear:
The black Attempt offends my rigid Ear:
The Joys I taſte ſhall be without a Crime;
I'll ne'er be fool'd by Man—a ſecond Time.
Aſide.
DAMON.
If ſo, farewel, I'll other Regions try;
My gen'rous Mind diſdains the ſlaviſh Tye;
Lovers, like Warriors, oft Repulſes meet;
Yet both undaunted their Attacks repeat.
AIR.
HE.
From Flow'r to Flow'r, his Joy to change,
Flits yonder wanton Bee;
From Fair to Fair thus will I range,
And I'll be ever free.
SHE.
Yon little Birds attentive view,
That hop from Tree to Tree;
I'll copy them, I'll copy you,
For I'll be ever free.
HE.
While Tempeſts ſhake the nodding Grove,
And plough the foaming Sea;
While Hawks purſue the flying Dove,
So long will I be free.
SHE.
[12]'Till on the Buſh the Lily grows,
'Till Flocks forſake the Lea,
'Till from the Rock burſts forth the Roſe,
You'll find me blith and free.
BOTH.
Then let's divide to Eaſt and Weſt,
Since we ſhall ne'er agree;
And try who keeps their Promiſe beſt,
And who's the longeſt free.
Exeunt.
THE CHAPLET. A Muſical Entertainment.
PART II.
[]SCENE I.
LAURA.
AIR.
WHAT Med'cine can ſoften the Boſom's keen Smart?
What Lethe can baniſh the Pain?
What Cure can be met with to ſooth the fond Heart,
That's broke by a faithleſs young Swain!
[14]
In hopes to forget him how vainly I try,
The Sports of the Wake, and the Green;
When Colin is dancing, I ſay with a Sigh,
'Twas here firſt my Damon was ſeen.
When to the pale Moon the ſoft Nightingales moan
In Accents ſo piercing and clear;
You ſing not ſo ſweetly, I cry with a Groan,
As when my dear Damon was here.
A Garland of Willow my Temples ſhall ſhade,
And pluck it, ye Nymphs, from yon Grove;
For there to her Coſt was poor Laura betray'd,
And Damon pretended to love.
Exit.
SCENE II.
DAMON.
A charming Conſort would have fill'd theſe Arms,
Had I but yielded to Paſtora's Charms;
How bleſs'd would then have been my future Life,
Palaemon's Miſtreſs turn'd to Damon's Wife;
Yet in her Coin the wily Nymph I'll pay,
And all her Schemes of Vanity betray.
[15]Then haſte to Laura, that much injur'd Fair,
And ſnatch her from the Jaws of black Deſpair.
Exit
SCENE III.
PASTORA.
AIR.
In vain I try my ev'ry Art,
Nor can I fix a ſingle Heart,
Yet I'm not old or ugly;
Let me conſult my faithful Glaſs,
A Face much worſe than this might paſs,
Methinks I look full ſmuggly.
Yet bleſs'd with all theſe pow'rful Charms,
The young Palaemon fled theſe Arms,
That wild unthinking Rover;
Hope, ſilly Maids, as ſoon to bind
The rolling Stream, the flying Wind,
As fix a rambling Lover.
But hamper'd in the Marriage Nooſe,
In vain they ſtruggle to get looſe,
And makes a mighty Riot;
[16]Like Madmen how they rave, and ſtare,
A while they ſhake their Chains and ſwear,
And then lie down in quiet.
SCENE IV.
To her DAMON.
Once more I come to hear what you decree;
Yet ere you paſs your Sentence, liſt to me.
AIR.
Declare, my pretty Maid,
Muſt my fond Suit Miſcarry?
With you I'll toy, I'll kiſs and play,
But hang me if I marry.
Then ſpeak your Mind at once,
Nor let me longer tarry;
With you I'll toy, I'll kiſs and play,
But hang me if I marry.
Tho' Charms and Wit aſſail,
The Stroke I well can parry;
I love to kiſs, and toy and play,
But do not chooſe to marry.
[17]
Young Molly of the Dale
Makes a mere Slave of Harry;
Becauſe when they had toy'd and kiſs'd,
The fooliſh Swain wou'd marry.
Theſe fix'd Reſolves, my Dear,
I to the Grave will carry;
With you I'll toy, and kiſs and play,
But hang me if I marry.
PASTORA.
Dare you avow, falſe Youth, your lawleſs Flame!
Think not to tempt me to a Deed of Shame,
DAMON.
Say, have you ask'd your never-conquer'd Heart,
How many Years it may reſiſt the Dart?
For long Attacks the ſtrongeſt Fortreſs waſte,
And Troy ſtood ten Years Siege, but fell at laſt.
PASTORA.
Vainly you hope my virtuous Heart to move;
I know your vile Intent, and ſcorn your Love.
DAMON
Turn, turn your Eyes to yonder conſcious Shade;
There a young Shepherd met a haughty Maid;
[18]The pines that hang o'er yonder duſky Dell,
The babbling Pine, a Tale of Scandal tell;
And tattling Willows to the Plains proclaim,
Palaemon was the happy Lover's Name.
Ha! do you ſtart—Paſtora, fam'd for Truth
And rigid Virtue, claſp'd a blooming Youth;
And laying ev'ry ſterner Thought aſide,
Indulg'd her Pleaſure, and forgot her Pride.
PASTORA.
Diſaſtrous Fate! how could he hear the Tale?
Aſide.
You've loſt all Hopes, and now begin to rail.
SCENE V.
To them LAURA.
AIR.
How unhappy's the Nymph
Who weeps to the Wind,
And dotes with Deſpair
On a Swain that's unkind.
DAMON.
I ſee the Fates determine I ſhall wed;
Two Nymphs are ready to partake my Bed;
[19]Which ſhall I chooſe? Paſtora's wond'rous fair,
And Laura ſparkles like the Morning-Star.
PASTORA,
aſide.
Come, there are Hopes, now, Venus, lend each Grace,
And with bewitching Beauties arm my Face.
DAMON.
AIR.
Three Goddeſſes ſtanding together,
Thus puzzled young Paris one Day:
Can I judge the Value of either,
Where both bear ſo equal a Sway?
PASTORA.
Conſider my Wit and Condition,
Conſider my Perſon likewiſe;
I never was us'd to petition,
But pr'ythee make uſe of your Eyes.
LAURA.
No Merit I plead but my Paſſion,
'Twere needleſs to mention your Vow;
Reflect with a little Compaſſion,
On what this poor Boſom feels now.
DAMON.
[20]Some Genius direct me, or Demon,
Or elſe I may chance to chooſe wrong—
After ſome Pauſe.
You're Part of the Goods of Palaemon,
I give you to whom you belong.
PASTORA,
Aſide.
Misjudging Wretch, with Rage my Boſom glows;
Can he prefer a Nettle to a Roſe?
AIR.
I know that my Perſon is charming,
Beyond what a Clown can diſcover:
That Dowdy your Senſes alarming,
Proves what a blind Thing is a Lover.
I'll quit the dull Plains for the City,
Where Beauty is follow'd by Merit;
Your Taſte, ſimple Damon, I pity;
Your Wit, who would wiſh to inherit?
Perhaps you may think you perplex me,
And that I my Anger wou'd ſmother;
The Loſs of one Lover can't vex me,
My Charms will procure me another.
[21]
I ne'er was more pleas'd, I aſſure you;
How odious they look, I can't bear 'em:
I wiſh you much joy of your Fury,
My Rage into pieces could tear them.
Exit.
SCENE the laſt.
DAMON.
To thee, kind Nymph, as to offended Heav'n,
I own my Faults, and ſue to be forgiv'n;
Then, gentle Laura, clear my paſt Offence,
Repentance is ally'd to Innocence.
LAURA.
Think not a rigid Judge your Faults arraigns,
My tender Boſom feels for all your Pains;
In thoſe ſad Hours, when to the ſecret Grove
I told my Pangs of inauſpicious Love,
My only Pray'r was once again to ſee
The lovely Author of my Miſery!
Again to claſp him to my beating Breaſt,
The Gods have heard my Vows, and Laura's bleſt.
AIR.
DAMON.
Contented all Day, I will ſit at your Side,
Where Poplars far ſtretching o'er-arch the cool Tide,
[22]And while the clear River runs purling along,
The Thruſh and the Linnet contend in their Song.
LAURA.
While you are but by me no Danger I fear,
Ye Lambs reſt in Safety, my Damon is near;
Bound on, ye blith Kids, now your Gambols may pleaſe,
For my Shepherd is kind, and my Heart is at Eaſe.
DAMON.
Ye Virgins of Britain, bright Rivals of Day,
The Wiſh of each Heart, and the Theme of each Lay;
Ne'er yield to the Swain, till he make you a Wife,
For he who loves truly, will take you for Life.
LAURA.
Ye Youths, who fear nought but the Frowns of the Fair,
'Tis yours to relieve, not to add to their Care;
Then ſcorn to their Ruin Aſſiſtance to lend,
Nor betray the ſweet Creatures you're born to defend.
BOTH.
For their Honour and Faith be our Virgins renown'd;
Nor falſe to his Vows one young Shepherd be found;
Be their Moments all guided by Virtue and Truth,
To preſerve in their Age what they gain'd in their Youth.
The END.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4420 The chaplet A musical entertainment As it is perform d by His Majesty s company of comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane The music compos d by Dr Boyce. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-6036-B