Chapter 1
FLORA _appears in the centre of the stage, attended by_ VERTUMNUS, _god of trees and fruit, and by_ PALEMON, _god of the streams. Each of these gods conducts a troup of divinities; one leads in his train_ DRYADS _and_ SYLVANS, _and the other_ RIVER GODS _and_ NAIADS.
FLORA _sings the following lines, to invite_ VENUS _to descend upon earth_:--
FLORA.
The din of battle is stayed; The mightiest king of earth His arms aside has laid; Of peace 'tis now the birth! Descend thou, lovely Venus, And blissful hours grant us!
VERTUMNUS _and_ PALEMON, _and the divinities who attend them, join their voices to that of_ FLORA, _and sing the following words_.--
CHORUS OF DIVINITIES _of the earth and streams, composed of_ FLORA, NYMPHS, PALEMON, VERTUMNUS, SYLVANS, FAUNS, DRYADS, _and_ NAIADS.
A peace profound we now enjoy, And games and bliss without alloy; Earth's mightiest king has giv'n us rest; To him be praise and thanks addrest. Descend thou, lovely Venus, And happy hours grant us!
_Then is formed an entry of the ballet, composed of two_ DRYADS, _four_ SYLVANS, _two_ RIVER GODS, _and two_ NAIADS, _after which_ VERTUMNUS _and_ PALEMON _sing the following dialogue_:--
VERTUMNUS. Yield, yield, ye beauties stern, To sigh 'tis now your turn!
PALEMON. See you, the queen above, She comes to breathe soft love!
VERTUMNUS. A fair one stern for aye Ne'er wins a faithful sigh!
PALEMON. To woo has beauty arms, But gentleness has greater charms.
BOTH (_together_). To woo has beauty arms; But gentleness has greater charms.
VERTUMNUS. Seek not your hearts to shield; To pine is law, and ye must yield.
PALEMON. Is aught more worthless born Than hearts that love will scorn?
VERTUMNUS. A fair one stern, for aye Ne'er wins a faithful sigh!
PALEMON. To woo has beauty arms, But gentleness has greater charms.
BOTH (_together_). To woo has beauty arms, But gentleness has greater charms.
FLORA _answers the dialogue of_ VERTUMNUS _and_ PALEMON _by the following minuet, and the other divinities join their dances to the song._
Does wisdom say, In youth's heyday, Sweet love forego? Be up, in haste These pleasures taste Of earth below.
Youth's wisdom too Is love to woo, And love to know. If love disarms, It is by charms; So yield your arms.
'Twere madness 'gainst his darts To seek to shield your hearts. Whate'er the bond Of lover fond, 'Tis sweeter chain Than freedom's gain.
VENUS _descends from heaven, attended by_ CUPID, _her son, and two Graces, called_ AEGIALE _and_ PHAËNE; _and the divinities of the earth and the streams once more unite their songs, and continue by their dances to show their joy at her approach._
CHORUS _of all the Divinities of the earth and the streams._
A peace profound we now enjoy, And games and bliss without alloy; Earth's mightiest king has giv'n us rest; To him be praise and thanks addrest. Descend thou, lovely Venus, And happy hours grant us.
VEN. (_in her chariot_). Cease, cease, all your songs of joy. Such rare honours do not belong to me, and the homage which in your consideration you now pay me ought to be reserved for lovelier charms. To pay your court to me is a custom indeed too old; everything has its turn, and Venus is no longer the fashion. There are rising charms to which now all carry their incense. Psyche, the beauteous Psyche, to-day has taken my place. Already now the whole world hastens to worship her, and it is too great a boon that, in the midst of my disgrace, I still find some one who stoops to honour me. Our deserts are not even fairly weighed together, but all are ready to abandon me; while of the numerous train of privileged graces, whose care and friendship followed me everywhere, I have now only two of the smaller ones who cling to me out of mere pity. I pray you, let these dark abodes lend their solitude to the anguish of my heart, and suffer me to hide my shame and grief in the midst of their gloom.
FLORA _and the other deities withdraw; and_ VENUS _with her retinue descends from her chariot._