The Fair Penitent/Act 2 Sc 1
ACT II. SCENE I.
SCENE, a Hall.
Enter Calista and Lucilla.
Cal.Be dumb for ever, silent as the Grave,
Nor let thy fond officious Love disturb
My solemn Sadness, with the sound of Joy.
If thou wilt sooth me, tell some dismal Tale
Of pining Discontent, and black Despair;
For oh! I've gone around thro' all my Thoughts,
But all are Indignation, Love, or Shame,
And my dear Peace of Mind is lost for ever.
Nor let thy fond officious Love disturb
My solemn Sadness, with the sound of Joy.
If thou wilt sooth me, tell some dismal Tale
Of pining Discontent, and black Despair;
For oh! I've gone around thro' all my Thoughts,
But all are Indignation, Love, or Shame,
And my dear Peace of Mind is lost for ever.
Luc.Why do you follow still that wand'ring Fire,
That has mis-led your weary Steps, and leaves you
Benighted in a Wilderness of Woe?
That false Lothario! Turn from the Deceiver;
Turn, and behold where gentle Altamont,
Kind as the softest Virgin of our Sex,
And faithful as the simple Village Swain,
That never knew the Courtly Vice of Changing,
Sighs at your Feet, and wooes you to be happy.
That has mis-led your weary Steps, and leaves you
Benighted in a Wilderness of Woe?
That false Lothario! Turn from the Deceiver;
Turn, and behold where gentle Altamont,
Kind as the softest Virgin of our Sex,
And faithful as the simple Village Swain,
That never knew the Courtly Vice of Changing,
Sighs at your Feet, and wooes you to be happy.
Cal.Away, I think not of him. My sad Soul
Has form'd a dismal melancholy Scene,
Such a Retreat as I wou'd wish to find;
An unfrequented Vale, o'er-grown with Trees
Mossie and old, within whose lonesome Shade,
Ravens, and Birds ill omen'd, only dwell;
No Sound to break the Silence, but a Brook
That bubling wind's among the Weeds: no Mark
Of any Human Shape that had been there,
Unless a Skeleton of some poor Wretch,
Who had long since, like me, by Love undone,
Sought that sad Place out to despair and die in.
Has form'd a dismal melancholy Scene,
Such a Retreat as I wou'd wish to find;
An unfrequented Vale, o'er-grown with Trees
Mossie and old, within whose lonesome Shade,
Ravens, and Birds ill omen'd, only dwell;
No Sound to break the Silence, but a Brook
That bubling wind's among the Weeds: no Mark
Of any Human Shape that had been there,
Unless a Skeleton of some poor Wretch,
Who had long since, like me, by Love undone,
Sought that sad Place out to despair and die in.
Luc.Alas for Pity!
Cal.There I fain wou'd hide me,
From the base World, from Malice, and from Shame;
For 'tis the solemn Counsel of my Soul,
Never to live with publick Loss of Honour:
'Tis fix'd to die, rather than bear the Insolence
Of each affected She that tells my Story,
And blesses her good Stars that she is virtuous.
To be a Tale for Fools! Scorn'd by the Women,
And pity'd by the Men! oh insupportable!
From the base World, from Malice, and from Shame;
For 'tis the solemn Counsel of my Soul,
Never to live with publick Loss of Honour:
'Tis fix'd to die, rather than bear the Insolence
Of each affected She that tells my Story,
And blesses her good Stars that she is virtuous.
To be a Tale for Fools! Scorn'd by the Women,
And pity'd by the Men! oh insupportable!
Luc.Can you perceive the manifest Destruction,
The gaping Gulf that opens just before you,
And yet rush on, tho' conscious of the Danger?
Oh hear me, hear your ever faithful Creature;
By all the Good I wish, by all the Ill
My trembling Heart forebodes, let me intreat you,
Never to see this faithless Man again:
Let me forbid his coming.
The gaping Gulf that opens just before you,
And yet rush on, tho' conscious of the Danger?
Oh hear me, hear your ever faithful Creature;
By all the Good I wish, by all the Ill
My trembling Heart forebodes, let me intreat you,
Never to see this faithless Man again:
Let me forbid his coming.
Cal.On thy Life
I charge thee no; my Genius drives me on;
I must, I will behold him once again:
Perhaps it is the Crisis of my Fate,
And this one Enterview shall end my Cares.
My lab'ring Heart, that swells with Indignation,
Heaves to discharge the Burthen; that once done,
The busie thing shall rest within its Cell,
And never beat again.
I charge thee no; my Genius drives me on;
I must, I will behold him once again:
Perhaps it is the Crisis of my Fate,
And this one Enterview shall end my Cares.
My lab'ring Heart, that swells with Indignation,
Heaves to discharge the Burthen; that once done,
The busie thing shall rest within its Cell,
And never beat again.
Luc.Trust not to that;
Rage is the shortest Passion of our Souls,
Like narrow Brooks that rise with sudden Show'rs.
It swells in haste, and falls again as soon;
Still as it ebbs the softer Thoughts flow in,
And the Deceiver Love supplies its place.
Rage is the shortest Passion of our Souls,
Like narrow Brooks that rise with sudden Show'rs.
It swells in haste, and falls again as soon;
Still as it ebbs the softer Thoughts flow in,
And the Deceiver Love supplies its place.
Cal.I have been wrong'd enough, to arm my Temper
Against the smooth Delusion; but alas!
(Chide not my Weakness, gentle Maid, but pity me)
A Woman's Softness hangs about me still:
Then let me blush, and tell thee all my Folly.
I swear I could not see the dear Betrayer
Kneel at my Feet, and sigh to be forgiven,
But my relenting Heart would pardon all,
And quite forget 'twas he that had undone me.
Against the smooth Delusion; but alas!
(Chide not my Weakness, gentle Maid, but pity me)
A Woman's Softness hangs about me still:
Then let me blush, and tell thee all my Folly.
I swear I could not see the dear Betrayer
Kneel at my Feet, and sigh to be forgiven,
But my relenting Heart would pardon all,
And quite forget 'twas he that had undone me.
Lucil.Ye sacred Powers, whose gracious Providence
Is watchful for our Good, guard me from Men,
From their deceitful Tongues, their Vows and Flatteries;
Still let me pass neglected by their Eyes,
Let my Bloom wither, and my Form decay,
That none may think it worth his while to ruin me,
And fatal Love may never be my Bane.
Is watchful for our Good, guard me from Men,
From their deceitful Tongues, their Vows and Flatteries;
Still let me pass neglected by their Eyes,
Let my Bloom wither, and my Form decay,
That none may think it worth his while to ruin me,
And fatal Love may never be my Bane.
Cal.Ha! Altamont? Calista now be wary,
And guard thy Soul's Accesses with Dissembling;
Nor let this Hostile Husband's Eyes explore
The warring Passions, and tumultuous Thoughts,
That rage within thee, and deform thy Reason.
And guard thy Soul's Accesses with Dissembling;
Nor let this Hostile Husband's Eyes explore
The warring Passions, and tumultuous Thoughts,
That rage within thee, and deform thy Reason.
Enter Altamont.
Alt.Be gone my Cares, I give you to the Winds,
Far to be born, far from the happy Altamont;
For from this sacred Æra of my Love,
A better Order of succeeding Days
Come smiling forward, white and lucky all.
Calista is the Mistress of the Year,
She crowns the Seasons with auspicious Beauty,
And bids ev'n all my Hours be good and joyful.
Far to be born, far from the happy Altamont;
For from this sacred Æra of my Love,
A better Order of succeeding Days
Come smiling forward, white and lucky all.
Calista is the Mistress of the Year,
She crowns the Seasons with auspicious Beauty,
And bids ev'n all my Hours be good and joyful.
Cal.If I was ever Mistress of such Happiness,
Oh! wherefore did I play th' unthrifty Fool,
And wasting all on others, leave my self
Without one Thought of Joy to give me Comfort?
Oh! wherefore did I play th' unthrifty Fool,
And wasting all on others, leave my self
Without one Thought of Joy to give me Comfort?
Alt.Oh mighty Love! Shall that fair Face profane
This thy great Festival with Frowns and Sadness!
I swear it sha' not be, for I will wooe thee
With Sighs so moving, with so warm a Transport,
That thou shalt catch the gentle Flame from me,
And kindle into Joy.
This thy great Festival with Frowns and Sadness!
I swear it sha' not be, for I will wooe thee
With Sighs so moving, with so warm a Transport,
That thou shalt catch the gentle Flame from me,
And kindle into Joy.
Cal.I tell thee, Altamont.
Such Hearts as ours were never pair'd above,
Ill suited to each other; join'd, not match'd;
Some sullen Influence, a Foe to both,
Has wrought this fatal Marriage to undo us.
Mark but the Frame and Temper of our Minds,
How very much we differ. Ev'n this Day,
That fills thee with such Extasie and Transport,
To me brings nothing that should make me bless it,
Or think it better than the Day before,
Or any other in the Course of Time,
That dully took its turn, and was forgotten.
Such Hearts as ours were never pair'd above,
Ill suited to each other; join'd, not match'd;
Some sullen Influence, a Foe to both,
Has wrought this fatal Marriage to undo us.
Mark but the Frame and Temper of our Minds,
How very much we differ. Ev'n this Day,
That fills thee with such Extasie and Transport,
To me brings nothing that should make me bless it,
Or think it better than the Day before,
Or any other in the Course of Time,
That dully took its turn, and was forgotten.
Alt.If to behold thee as my Pledge of Happiness,
To know none fail, none excellent beside thee;
If still to love thee with unweary'd Constancy,
Through ev'ry Season, ev'ry Change of Life,
Through wrinkled Age, through Sickness and Misfortune,
Be worth the least Return of grateful Love,
Oh then let my Calista bless this Day,
And set it down for happy.
To know none fail, none excellent beside thee;
If still to love thee with unweary'd Constancy,
Through ev'ry Season, ev'ry Change of Life,
Through wrinkled Age, through Sickness and Misfortune,
Be worth the least Return of grateful Love,
Oh then let my Calista bless this Day,
And set it down for happy.
Cal.'Tis the Day
In which my Father gave my Hand to Altamont;
As such I will remember it for ever.
In which my Father gave my Hand to Altamont;
As such I will remember it for ever.
Enter Sciolto, Horatio, and Lavinia.
Sci.Let Mirth go on, let Pleasure know no pause,
But fill up ev'ry Minute of this Day.
'Tis yours, my Children, sacred to your Loves;
The glorious Sun himself for you looks gay,
He shines for Altamont and for Calista.
Let there be Musick, let the Master touch
The sprightly String, and softly-breathing Flute,
'Till Harmony rouse ev'ry gentle Passion,
Teach the cold Maid to lose her Fears in Love,
And the fierce Youth to languish at her Feet.
Begin, ev'n Age it self is chear'd with Musick,
It wakes a glad Remembrance of our Youth,
Calls back past Joys, and warms us into Transport.
[Here an Entertainment of Musick and Dancing.
But fill up ev'ry Minute of this Day.
'Tis yours, my Children, sacred to your Loves;
The glorious Sun himself for you looks gay,
He shines for Altamont and for Calista.
Let there be Musick, let the Master touch
The sprightly String, and softly-breathing Flute,
'Till Harmony rouse ev'ry gentle Passion,
Teach the cold Maid to lose her Fears in Love,
And the fierce Youth to languish at her Feet.
Begin, ev'n Age it self is chear'd with Musick,
It wakes a glad Remembrance of our Youth,
Calls back past Joys, and warms us into Transport.
[Here an Entertainment of Musick and Dancing.
SONG.
By Mr. CONGREVE.
I.
Ah stay! ah turn! ah whither would you fly
Too charming, too relentless Maid?
I follow not to Conquer but to Die,
You of the fearful are afraid.
Ah stay! ah turn! ah whither would you fly
Too charming, too relentless Maid?
I follow not to Conquer but to Die,
You of the fearful are afraid.
II.
In vain I call; for she like fleeting Air,
When prest by some tempestuous Wind,
Flies swifter from the Voice of my Despair,
Nor casts one pitying Look behind.
In vain I call; for she like fleeting Air,
When prest by some tempestuous Wind,
Flies swifter from the Voice of my Despair,
Nor casts one pitying Look behind.
Sci.Take care my Gates be open, bid all welcome;
All who rejoice with me to Day are Friends:
Let each indulge his Genius, each be glad,
Jocund and free, and swell the Feast with Mirth.
The sprightly Bowl shall chearfully go round,
None shall be grave, nor too severely wise;
Losses and Disappointments, Cares and Poverty,
The rich Man's Insolence, and great Man's Scorn,
In Wine shall be forgotten all. To Morrow
Will be too soon to think, and to be wretched.
Oh! grant, ye Powers, that I may see these happy,
[Pointing to Alt. and Calista.
Compleatly blest, and I have Life enough;
And leave the rest indifferently to Fate.
[Exeunt.
All who rejoice with me to Day are Friends:
Let each indulge his Genius, each be glad,
Jocund and free, and swell the Feast with Mirth.
The sprightly Bowl shall chearfully go round,
None shall be grave, nor too severely wise;
Losses and Disappointments, Cares and Poverty,
The rich Man's Insolence, and great Man's Scorn,
In Wine shall be forgotten all. To Morrow
Will be too soon to think, and to be wretched.
Oh! grant, ye Powers, that I may see these happy,
[Pointing to Alt. and Calista.
Compleatly blest, and I have Life enough;
And leave the rest indifferently to Fate.
[Exeunt.
Manet Horatio.
Hor.What if, while all are here intent on Revelling,
I privately went forth, and sought Lothario?
This Letter may be forg'd; perhaps the Wantonness
Of his vain Youth, to stain a Lady's Fame;
Perhaps his Malice, to disturb my Friend.
Oh no! my Heart forebodes it must be true.
Methought ev'n now I mark'd the starts of Guilt,
That shook her Soul; tho' damn'd Dissimulation
Skreen'd her dark Thoughts, and set to publick View
A specious Face of Innocence and Beauty.
Oh false Appearance! What is all our Soveraignty,
Our boasted Pow'r? when they oppose their Arts,
Still they prevail, and we are found their Fools.
With such smooth Looks, and many a gentle Word,
The first fair She beguil'd her easie Lord;
Too blind with Love and Beauty to beware,
He fell unthinking in the fatal Snare;
Nor cou'd believe, that such a Heav'nly Face
Had bargain'd with the Devil, to damn her wretched Race.
[Exit.
I privately went forth, and sought Lothario?
This Letter may be forg'd; perhaps the Wantonness
Of his vain Youth, to stain a Lady's Fame;
Perhaps his Malice, to disturb my Friend.
Oh no! my Heart forebodes it must be true.
Methought ev'n now I mark'd the starts of Guilt,
That shook her Soul; tho' damn'd Dissimulation
Skreen'd her dark Thoughts, and set to publick View
A specious Face of Innocence and Beauty.
Oh false Appearance! What is all our Soveraignty,
Our boasted Pow'r? when they oppose their Arts,
Still they prevail, and we are found their Fools.
With such smooth Looks, and many a gentle Word,
The first fair She beguil'd her easie Lord;
Too blind with Love and Beauty to beware,
He fell unthinking in the fatal Snare;
Nor cou'd believe, that such a Heav'nly Face
Had bargain'd with the Devil, to damn her wretched Race.
[Exit.