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AIRS, DUETS, TRIOS, &c. IN THE COMIC OPERA OF LOVE FINDS THE WAY.
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AIRS, DUETS, TRIOS, &c. IN THE NEW COMIC OPERA, CALLED LOVE FINDS THE WAY.
AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL IN COVENT-GARDEN.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. BELL, NEAR EXETER-EXCHANGE, IN THE STRAND. 1777.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
[]MEN.
- Young Brumpton, Mr. Mattocks.
- Bellford, Mrs. Farrel.
- Oldcaſtle, Mr. Quick.
- Lovibond, Mr. Wilſon.
- Peter, Mr. Wewitzer.
WOMEN.
- Mary-Ann, Miſs Brown.
- Harriet, Miſs Courtenay.
- Bridget, Mrs. Wilſon.
[]
*⁎* The Reader will pleaſe to obſerve, that the Duet at Page 11, beginning, "Beauty is the Prize of Merit," is omitted in the Repreſentation; and the Air, Page 22, beginning, "Submiſſion's the Lover's beſt Grace," is ſubſtituted for it.
LOVE finds the WAY.
ACT I.
AIR.
BRUMPTON.
I.
[] [...][] [...]MY Heart, I preſume, is my own, Sir,
And will not to Bondage ſubmit;
'Tis Paſſion for Paſſion alone, Sir,
My Wiſh and my Humour can hit.
[2]II.
If I ſmack of an obſtinate Temper,
The Failing from you I derive;
While you try my Affections to hamper,
'Gainſt Weather and Current you ſtrive.
III.
I know 'tis a Maxim with you, Sir,
That Money all Faults will remove,
But each Guinea with me is as two, Sir,
When Wealth is ennobled by Love.
AIR.
[3]OLDCASTLE.
I.
'Tis the commoneſt Inſtance in Nature,
The pleaſanteſt Subject of Satire,
No Object of Ridicule greater,
In the Records of Whim can be ſhewn;
To find others Faults how we labour,
And our Tongue, like a two-edged Sabre,
Hacks and hews the Defects of a Neighbour,
But never adverts to our own.
II.
Lord help us, what's come to your Reaſon,
That thus, out of Meaſure and Seaſon,
Your Betters you iſſue Decrees on,
Setting up Judge and Jury in one;
Brother Lovibond, lay by your Jeering,
Your Carping, your Mocking, and Sneering,
At the Hump of another leave peering,
And, pr'ythee, look back at your own.
AIR.
[4]BRUMPTON.
I.
Though his Modes and Forms are ſlighted,
Venus' Son beholds delighted,
Ardent Hearts at View united,
And adopts the Pair his own.
II.
Not by dint of tedious Sighing,
Pining, Whining, Crying, Dying,
Daily Oaths, and daily Lying,
Did I make my Paſſion known;
III.
But by Love's more artleſs Fancies,
Silent, ſoothing▪ ſoft Advances,
Ogling Looks, alluring Glances,
I was caught, and ſhe was won.
Though his Modes, &c.
AIR.
[5]HARRIET.
As mourns the ſoft Songſter confin'd from the Spray,
And changes to Notes of Lamenting his Lay;
So I, with my Freedom, my Spirits forego,
And my Ditties, alas! all are Ditties of Woe;
Oh! come then, my Belford, my well-belov'd Swain,
Reſtore me to Mirth, and to Freedom again;
Or ſtill, if a Captive I'm fated to be,
Alone make me Captive to Love and to thee.
AIR.
OLDCASTLE.
Zooks! that an old Man can't keep a Chicken,
A ſnug Tit-bit for his own private picking,
And Means of Redreſs no Statute allows:
But a Rake, like a ſly Beaſt of Prey, will be watching,
New Miſchiefs inventing, new Artifice hatching,
O [...] his White-legged Dainty the Owner to chouſe.
Are there no Means in his Art to out-trick him?
Traps and Guns ſhall be planted to nick him,
On every Floor and each Stair of my Houſe.
AIR.
[6]LOVIBOND.
I.
My Joy, my Pride,
While thee beſide,
My Heart is light and gay;
Thoſe Charms, ſo rare,
Old Age r [...]air,
And Winter turns to May; Toll, loll, &c.
Thoſe Charms, &c.
II.
No Time deſtroys
Our Hopes and Joys,
While Health and Mirth remain;
The honeſt Mind,
From Spleen confin'd,
Defies Old Age and Pain; Toll, loll, &c.
Thoſe Charms, &c.
[7]III.
In Hymen's Bands
Adieu Commands,
My Harriet then ſhall ſway;
In his bleſs'd Reign,
Let her ordain,
While I with Pride obey; Toll, loll, &c.
Thoſe Charms, &c.
AIR.
HARRIET.
I.
Fancy my Thought inſpiring,
Courage my Boſom firing,
To Pleaſure's Realms aſpiring,
On Love's gay Wings I riſe;
[8]II.
D ubt and Deſpair defying,
O Belford's Truth relying,
Fond Hope, her Aid ſupplying,
Shall waft me to my Joys.
AIR.
MARY ANN.
I.
At ruddy Eve, and roſy Dawn,
I rov'd the Fields at Leiſure,
I danc'd at Freedom on the Lawn,
And took my Fill of Pleaſure;
[9] I rambled through the buſhy Wood,
Where Rills were gently flowing;
Admir'd the Roſe within the Bud,
And Violets ſweetly blowing.
II.
How ſweet to ſee, along the Meads,
The Lads and Laſſes playing;
When Spring entic'd them from their Beds,
And call'd them forth a-Maying!
Some new Vagary and Delight,
With ev'ry Day returning;
And Mirth and Paſtime clos'd the Night,
And welcom'd in the Morning.
DUET.
OLDCASTLE and MARY ANNE.
Old.
His Words, his Looks, his wanton Smiles,
Were only ſly alluring Wiles,
Your Pride ſhould take Alarm;
Mar.
So ſoft, ſo ſoothing was his Look,
So gentle ev'ry Word he ſpoke,
He could not mean to harm.
Oldc.
Vows like his are ever harming.
Mar.
Vows like his are ever charming.
Oldc.
[10]Then away to your Chamber, and mind what I ſay;
What your Guardian adviſes, be ſure to obey;
His Preſents and Words you muſt learn to diſdain,
And do all you can to forget him again.
Mar.
I'll away to my Chamber, nor mind what you ſay;
What my Guardian adviſes, I cannot obey;
His Preſents and Words I can never diſdain;
And I'll do all I can to behold him again.
END OF THE FIRST ACT.
ACT II.
[11]AIR.
HARRIET.
WHEN a Point's in Agitation,
Whereon ſome future Bliſs depends,
What alarming Palpitation,
The anxious Boſom rends!
Now glowing Hope, now chilling Fear,
Now ſullen Doubt, now dark Deſpair;
Then again comes Hope with ardent Fires,
Gives new Ambition, new Deſires;
And ſure Succeſs inſpires,
DUET.
LOVIBOND and HARRIET.
Beauty is the Prize of Merit;
Boys and Fools appeal in vain;
Manly Senſe and manly Spirit,
They alone the Fair obtain.
AIR.
[12]BELFORD.
I.
Sweet Peace, reſtore my wonted Reſt,
No longer let me prove
The Pangs that rend the hapleſs Breaſt,
Of unrequited Love;
By thee protected, let me lie,
And ſhun the Scorn of Beauty's Eye.
II.
But ſhould, ye Powers, the ſweet, ſweet Maid,
My Pains with Pity view;
And though my Sighs too weakly plead,
Lament a Swain ſo true:
Far greater Torments bid me prove;
I'll die adoring, die for Love.
AIR.
[13]BELFORD.
Oh, Love! thou Delight and Tormentor of Hearts;
How balmy thy Comforts! how piercing thy Smarts:
When diſtreſs'd by the Frowns of the Nymph we adore,
The Pinions of Time move with Rapture no more.
But when Beauty relents, and no longer we mourn;
When Sighs of fond Paſſion are paid with Return;
Our Years and our Days, Oh, how ſweetly they fly!
Each Moment of Life is a Moment of Joy.
AIR.
BELFORD.
I.
How ſweetly fits the ſimpleſt Phraſe,
Unfeigned Paſſion to diſcover!
Too weak, alas! my fondeſt Lays,
To ſhew how well, how true I love her;
As ſoon could I the glittering Stars,
That Midnight's ſable Boſom cover,
In order number, as declare,
How well, how true, how dear I love her.
[14]II.
Profeſſions trick'd in Language high
The Force of Eloquence diſcover;
But Nature's Accents beſt imply,
The Meaning of a faithful Lover.
As ſoon could I, &c.
III.
Fierce Vows, too often ſprung from Art,
Unfair Deſigns may ſerve to cover;
But Deeds of Kindneſs ſpeak the Heart;
And they ſhall ſhew how well I love her.
As ſoon could I, &c.
AIR.
MARY ANN.
I.
Come, Oh, come, my own dear Swain,
Be but true to Love and me;
Come, Oh, come, thy Faith maintain,
And my Guardian ever be!
[15]II.
Chaſe away theſe rude Alarms,
And beneath thy tender Care,
Take a Laſs, that from thy Arms,
No Wealth nor Power ſhall tear.
TRIO.
OLDCASTLE, PETER, BRIDGET.
Oldc.
Villain! thus your Faith d'ye hold?
'Twas but by Way of Trial.
Peter.
If you had not ſhewn the Gold,
I ſtill had made Denial.
Oldc.
All my good Advice to fail;
The Devil ſure is in ye.
Brid.
What will good Advice avail,
When balanc'd with a Guinea?
Oldc.
From your Duty and Virtue ſo quickly to fall!
Peter.
'Tis the Sight of this Gold that bewitches us all.
If our Betters reſiſt not the Force of a Fee,
Say, how ſhould ſuch poor ſilly Creatures as we?
Brid.
Oldc.
From your Duty and Virtue ſo quickly to fall!
Pet.
From our Duty and Virtue how could we but fall!
Brid.
'Tis the Sight of this Gold that bewitches us all.
Oldc.
'Tis the Sight of that Gold that be-devil's you all.
END OF THE SECOND ACT.
ACT III.
[16]AIR,
LOVIBOND.
I.
I often have thought, and I often have ſaid,
'Tis Matter of greateſt Surpriſe,
Such old ones as he ſtill purſue their own Head,
And will not with wiſer adviſe.
II.
An obſtinate Grey-beard, by Dotage miſled,
Returns to his Childhood again;
Good Counſel's the Go-cart wherein he ſhould tread,
Or Woe to his poor ſhatter'd Brain!
III.
If theſe he provide not, all Miſchief and Moan
Deſervedly fall on the Elf;
For none ſhould preſume to proceed all alone,
Unleſs they're as wiſe as myſelf.
AIR.
[17]BRUMPTON.
I.
Lovers, when they meet Return,
Soft Return to am'rous Wiſhes,
Feel no more their Boſoms burn,
But diſſolve in melting Bliſſes▪
But debarr'd the fair-one's Sight,
All is Torment, all is Anguiſh;
Far they ſtray from cheering Light,
Doom'd alone to pine and languiſh.
II.
Yet, before I bid adieu▪
Oh, forgive each rude Vexation!
Which from fond Endeavours grew
To reveal a faithful Paſſion.
Thus debarr'd my Fair-one's Sight,
Left alone to pine and languiſh;
Robb'd of thee, my Star of Light,
All is Darkneſs, all is Anguiſh.
AIR.
[18]MARY-ANN.
I.
Two before me that adore me;
How, how ſhall I ſpeak my mind!
One is pleaſing, t'other teazing;
Where I ought to be, I'll be kind:
Then▪ Ah-well-a-day, what I covet, Oh!
Gueſs, and my Meaning find.
II.
One to cheer me, ever near me,
Sweet ſmiling I wiſh to obtain;
T'other Creature, ſour in Feature,
Never may I behold again.
Then, Ah-well-a-day, what I covet, Oh!
Gueſs, and my Meaning find.
III.
One to wed me if decreed me,
Bleſs'd, bleſs'd wou'd be all my Hours!
But with t'other horrid Lover,
Marriage Mis'ry at once inſures.
Then, Ah-well-a-day, what I covet, Oh!
Gueſs. and my Heart is yours.
TRIO.
[19]BRUMPTON, MARY-ANN, OLDCASTLE.
Brump.
At length the falſe Dream of Deluſion is o'er;
I wander in Doubt and in Darkneſs no more.
Mar.
At length the falſe Dream of Deluſion is o'er;
I wander in Doubt and in Darkneſs no more.
Oldc.
At length the ſad Hours of Suſpicion are o'er;
I wander in Doubt and Vexation no more.
Mar.
To your Honour be juſt, to your Promiſe be true:
Thus, firmly relying, I bid you adieu.
Brum. Mar.
Endleſs Bleſſings Fortune ſend you.
Oldc.
With your Leave, Sir, I'll attend you.
Brum. Mar.
All your faireſt Wiſhes crown.
Oldc.
With your Leave, I'll ſee you down.
To Honour be juſt—&c.
To my Honour—
AIR.
[20]BELFORD.
I.
Cupid, befriends us,
His Sanction he lends us,
Rebuking our idle Delay▪
He points to the Glade,
Where his Honours are paid,
And he cries, Come away, come away!
II.
Away with denying,
The Moments are flying,
And fleet is the Seaſon of Love;
The God will repent
Of the Grace he has lent,
If the Favours we will not improve.
III.
On thoſe who obey,
And are fond of his Sway,
Profuſely his Bleſſings he ſhow'rs:
Then ſeize we the Time,
That if loſt by our Crime,
Ah! never again may be ours.
DUETT.
[21]HARRIET and BELLFORD.
Love and Freedom now uniting,
Speak the happy Moments nigh;
Now to Hymen's Fane inviting,
Glad, their golden Courſe they ply,
And, in his Beheſt delighting,
Scatter Bleſſings as they fly.
AIR.
MARY-ANN.
Tell me, Love, tell me, Love,
Tell the Fate I'm doom'd to prove;
Hope now ſhines with cheerful Ray,
Smiling Joys around me play.
Cupid, ſay, Cupid, ſay,
Will the flatt'ring Viſion ſtay?
Let no mournful Change appear,
Gloomy Sorrow, boding Fear.
Tell me, Love, &c.
AIR.
[22]HARRIET.
I.
Submiſſion's the Lover's beſt Grace;
Loud Accents, and Menaces rude,
Each other Perfection efface;
By Softneſs the Fair is ſubdu'd.
II.
The Glances that partly reveal,
And partly ſuppreſs the ſoft Pain▪
Mute Sighs, to the Soul that appeal,
Theſe only the Fair can obtain.
AIR.
HARRIET.
Come, my good Guardian, and compare
The Bloom of Youth with aged Care;
As you to Time, to you I bow;
But here have pledg'd my faithful Vow.
Believe me, Youth hath many Charms,
Which long ago has left thy Arms.
Be patient, Sir; this Flight will prove
A School for Guardians, kept by Love.
FINALE▪
[23]BRUMPTON.
Affection, born of wild Deſires,
Uncertain, tranſient Joys inſpires;
But built on firm and fair Eſteem▪
It then affords a Bliſs ſupreme.
Chor.
It then affords, &c.
MARY-ANN.
Affection oft is truer ſeen,
When ſporting round the rural Green,
Than there, where Wealth and Pow'r reſide,
Tho' deck'd in all the Pomp of Pride.
Chor.
Tho' deck'd, &c.
HARRIET.
By Nature Love was firſt deſign'd
A gen'ral Good to all Mankind;
"And Love, like Air, was widely giv'n,
The pureſt, nobleſt Gift of Heav'n."
Chor.
The pureſt, nobleſt, &c.
BELFOLD.
[24]Love himſelf will find the Way
His faithful Vot'ries to repay;
And decent Hymen moſt reveres
Conſenting Hearts, and equal Years.
Chor.
Conſenting Hearts, &c.
OLDCASTLE and LOVIBOND together.
Tho' fooliſh once, grown wiſer now,
Let us this honeſt Truth allow,
That decent Hymen moſt reveres
Conſenting Hearts, and equal Years.
GENERAL CHORUS.
Affection, born of wild Deſires, &c.
FINIS.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 5418 Airs duets trios c in the new comic opera called Love finds the way As performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5A18-5