Leave

your flocks. and hafte away,

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With folemn state

To celebrate

Cupid and Hymen's holiday.

Enter a band of fhepherds on one fide with garlands; on the other fide, fhepherdeffes with canisters of flowers.

CHORU S.

From the echoing hills, and the jovial plains,
Where the pleasure, and plenty, and happiness reigns,
We leave our flocks, and hafte away,

With folemn state

To celebrate

Cupid and Hymen's holiday.

[A dance here.]

Scene opening discovers a pleasant bower, with the God of Love asleep, attended by Cupids, fome playing with his bow, others fharpening his arrows, &c. On each fide the bower, walks of cyprefs trees, and fountains playing; a diftant landskip terminates the prospect.

Verse for a shepherdess, with flutes.

See the mighty Power of Love

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Sleeping in a Cyprian grove !

Nymphs and fhepherds, gently fhed

Spices round his sacred head ;

On his lovely body shower

Leaves of roses, virgin lilies,
Cowflips, violets, daffodilies,

And with garlands dress the bower.

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Rittornel of flutes. After which Cupid rifes, and fings with his bow drawn.

Yield to the God of foft Defires!
Whole gentle influence infpires
Every creature

Throughout nature

With sprightly joys and genial fires.

Chorus of the Shepherds and Nymphs.

Hail, thou potent Deity!

Every creature

Throughout nature

Owns thy power as well as we.

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30

Enter Hymen in a faffron-coloured robe, a chaplet of flowers on his head, and in his hand the nuptial torch; attended by priests.

HYME N.

Behold a greater power than he,

Behold the Marriage Deity!

Chorus, by Hymen's Attendants.

Behold the Marriage Deity !

CUPID, fmiling.

Behold the God of Houfhold Strife,
That spoils the happy Lover's life,
And turns a Miftrefs to a Wife!

HYME N.

Foolish and inconstant boy!
Thine 's a tranfitory joy;
Sudden fits in Pleafure's fever;
Hymen's bleffings laft for ever.

CUPID.

Hymen's bondage lafts for ever;
Love's free pleafures failing never.

HY MEN.

Love's ftolen pleasures, infincere,
Purchas'd at a rate too dear,
Shame and forrow will deftroy,
If Hymen license not the joy.

[Both together.]

Then let us join hands and unite.

Laft Chorus of the Shepherds and Nymphs. How happy, how happy, how happy are we, Where Cupid and Hymen in confort agree! We'll revel all day with fports and delight, And Hymen and Cupid fhall govern the night.

K 4

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45

A CAN

50

A

CANTATA.

SET BY MR. GALLIARD.

RECITATIVE.

VENUS! thy throne of beauty now refign!
Behold on earth a conquering fair,

Who more deferves Love's crown to wear!
Not thy own star so bright in heaven does shine.
Afk of thy fon her name, who with his dart
Has deeply grav'd it in my heart;

Or afk the God of tuneful found,

Who fings it to his lyre,

And does this maid inspire

With his own art, to give a furer wound.

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10

AIR.

Hark! the groves her fongs repeat;

Echo lurks in hollow fprings,

And, tranfported while fhe fings,

Learns her voice, and grows more sweet;

Could Narciffus fee or hear her,

From his fountain he would fly,

And, with awe approaching near her,
For a real beauty die.

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Hark!

Hark! the groves her songs repeat;
Echo lurks in hollow fprings,
And, transported while the fings,

Learns her voice, and grows more sweet.
RECITATIVE.

Yet Venus once again my fuit attend!

And when from heaven you fhall defcend,
This shining emprefs to array,

When you prefent her all your train of Loves,
Your chariot, and your murmuring doves,

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25

Tell her the wants one charm to make the rest more

N every age, to brighter honours born,

IN

Which lovelieft nymphs and fweetest bards adorn, Beauty and Wit each other's aid require,

And Poets fing what once the fair inspire;

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The