Philidel, a repentant airy spirit, reports to Merlin that Grimbald is approaching and will attempt to mislead the conquering Britons to cliffs, where they will fall to their deaths, by telling them that they are pursuing the retreating Saxons. Merlin commands Philidel, assisted by his band of spirits, to protect the Britons and counter. Grimbald's forces. Exit Merlin in this chariot. Merlin's spirits stay with Philidel. Enter Grimbald in the habit of a shepherd, followed by King Arthur, Conon, Aurelius, Albanact and soldiers, who wander at a distance in the scenes.
PHILIDEL
Hither, this way, this way bend,
Trust not the malicious fiend.
Those are false deluding lights
Wafted far and near by sprites.
Trust 'em not, for they'll deceive ye,
And in bogs and marshes leave ye.
CHORUS OF PHILIDEL'S SPIRITS
Hither, this way, this way bend.
CHORUS OF GRIMBALD' S SPIRITS
This way, hither, this way bend.
PHILIDEL
If you step no longer thinking,
Down you fall, a furlong sinking.
'Tis a fiend who has annoy'd ye:
Name but Heav'n, and he'll avoid ye.
Hither, this way.
PHILIDEL' S SPIRITS
Hither, this way, this way bend.
GRIMBALD' S SPIRITS
This way, hither, this way bend.
PHILIDEL' S SPIRITS
Trust not the malicious fiend.
Hither, this way, etc.
Conon and Albanact are persuaded not to follow Grimbald any further, but Grimbald produces fresh footprints as proof that they are following the Saxons.
GRIMBALD
Let not a moon-born elf mislead ye
From your prey and from your glory;
To fear, alas, he has betray'd ye;
Follow the flames that wave before ye,
Sometimes sev'n, and sometimes one.
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry on.
Ritornello
GRIMBALD
See, see the footsteps plain appearing.
That way Oswald chose for flying.
Firm is the turf and fit for bearing,
Where yonder pearly dews are lying.
Far he cannot hence be gone.
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry on.
All are going to follow Grimbald.
Ritornello
PHILIDEL'S SPIRITS
Hither, this way, this way bend.
GRIMBALD' S SPIRITS
Hither, this way, this way bend.
PHILIDEL'S SPIRITS
Trust not that malicious fiend.
Hither, this way, etc.
They all incline to Philidel. Grimbald curses Philidel and sinks with a flash. Arthur gives thanks that the fiend has vanished.
PHILIDEL
Come, follow me.
SOLOS
Come, follow me,
And me, and me, and me, and me.
CHORUS
Come, follow me.
PHILIDEL, SOPRANO
And green-sward all your way shall be.
CHORUS
Come, follow me.
BASS
No goblin or elf shall dare to offend ye.
CHORUS
No goblin or elf shall dare to offend ye.
Ritornello
TWO SOPRANOS, TENOR
We brethren of air
You heroes will bear
To the kind and the fair that attend ye.
CHORUS
We brethren of air, etc.
Philidel and the spirits go off singing, with King Arthur and the rest in the middle of them. Enter Emmeline led by Matilda. Pavilion Scene. Emmeline and Matilda discuss King Arthur. Matilda entreats Emmeline to forget her cares and let a group of Kentish lads and lasses entertain her while she awaits Arthur's return. Enter shepherds and shepherdesses.
SHEPHERD
How blest are shepherds, how happy their lasses,
While drums and trumpets are sounding alarms.
Over our lowly sheds all the storm passes
And when we die, 'tis in each other's arms
All the day on our herds and flocks employing,
All the night on our flutes and in enjoying.
CHORUS
How blest are shepherds, how happy their lasses, etc.
SHEPHERD
Bright nymphs of Britain with graces attended,
Let not your days without pleasure expire.
Honour's but empty, and when youth is ended,
All men will praise you but none will desire.
Let not youth fly away without contenting;
Age will come time enough for your repenting.
CHORUS
Bright nymphs of Britain with graces attended, etc.
Here the men offer their flutes to the women, which they refuse.
Symphony
TWO SHEPHERDESSES
Shepherd, shepherd, leave decoying:
Pipes are sweet on summer's day,
But a little after toying,
Women have the shot to pay.
Here are marriage-vows for signing:
Set their marks that cannot write.
After that, without repining,
Play, and welcome, day and night.
Here the women give the men contracts, which they accept.
CHORUS
Come, shepherds, lead up a lively measure
The cares of wedlock are cares of pleasure:
But whether marriage bring joy or sorrow.
Make sure of this day and hang tomorrow
Hornpipe
The dance after the song, and exeunt shepherds and shepherdesses.
Second Act Tune: Air
Emmeline and Matilda are captured by Oswald, who has refused to release them during a parley with Arthur. The Britons prepare to rescue Emmeline from the Saxon fortress.
ACT THREE
FIRST SCENE
The Britons are panicked by the magic horrors that have been put around the Saxon fortress to protect it and want to retreat. Arthur, however, is prepared to attempt to penetrate them alone. Merlin advises him to wait until after the spells have been broken, but does promise to spirit him off to the captive Emmeline, and to restore her sight.
SECOND SCENE
A Deep Wood
Philidel is captured by Grimbald while trying to find Emmeline, but he escapes and casts a strong spell over the evil spirit. Merlin and Arthur enter; Merlin gives Philidel a vial containing the drops that will restore Emmeline's sight and leaves to attempt to dispel the
dire enchantments in the wood. Emmeline and Matilda enter from the far end of the wood. Arthur withdraws as Philidel approaches Emmeline, sprinkling some of the water out of the vial over her eyes. Emmeline sees Arthur for the first time, and tells him that not only Oswald, but also Osmond desires her love. Airy spirits appear to congratulate her on the recovery of her sight, but then vanish when Philidel announces the approach of their foes. Emmeline and Matilda are left alone. Osmond, whom Emmeline now sees for the first time, ardently woos her and boasts how he has thrown Oswald into prison. Emmeline, frozen with terror, refuses his advances, but Osmond assures her that Love will thaw her, and demonstrates by using his magic wand to change Britain's mild clime to Iceland and farthest Thule's frost.
THE FROST SCENE
Prelude
Osmond strikes the ground with his wand, the scene changes to a prospect of winter in frozen countries.
Cupid descends.
CUPID
What ho! thou genius of this isle, what ho!
Liest thou asleep beneath those hills of snow?
Stretch out thy lazy limbs. Awake, awake!
And winter from thy furry mantle shake.
Prelude
Genius arises.
COLD GENIUS
What power art thou, who from below
Hast made me rise unwillingly and slow
From beds of everlasting snow?
See'st thou not how stiff and wondrous old,
Far unfit to bear the bitter cold,
I can scarcely move or draw my breath?
Let me, let me freeze again to death.
CUPID
Thou doting fool forbear, forbear!
What dost thou mean by freezing here?
At Love's appearing, All the sky clearing,
The stormy winds their fury spare.
Winter subduing,
And Spring renewing,
My beams create a more glorious year.
Thou doting fool, forbear, forbear!
What dost thou mean by freezing here?
COLD GENIUS
Great Love, I know thee now:
Eldest of the gods art thou.
Heav'n and earth by thee were made.
Human nature is thy creature,
Ev'rywhere thou art obey'd.
CUPID
No part of my dominion shall he waste:
To spread my sway and sing my praise
E'en here I will a people raise
Of kind embracing lovers, and embrac'd.
Cupid waves his wand, upon which the scene opens, discovers a prospect of ice and snow. Singers and dancers, men and women, appear.
Prelude
CHORUS OF COLD PEOPLE
See, see, we assemble
Thy revels to hold:
Tho' quiv'ring with cold
We chatter and tremble.
Dance
CUPID
'Tis I, 'tis I, 'tis I that have warm'd ye.
In spite of cold weather
I've brought ye together.
'Tis I, 'tis I, 'tis I that have warm'd ye,
Ritornello
CHORUS
'Tis Love, 'tis Love, 'tis Love
that has warm'd us.
In spite of the weather
He brought us together.
'Tis Love, 'tis Love, 'tis Love
that has warm'd us.
CUPID & COLD GENIUS
Sound a parley, ye fair, and surrender,
Set yourselves and your lovers at ease.
He's a grateful offender
Who pleasure dare seize:
But the whining pretender
Is sure to displease.
Sound a parley, ye fair, and surrender.
Since the fruit of desire is possessing,
'Tis unmanly to sigh and complain.
When we kneel for redressing,
We move your disdain.
Love was made for a blessing
And not for a pain.
Ritornello
CHORUS
'Tis Love, 'tis Love, 'tis Love
that has warm'd us, etc.
Third Act Tune: Hornpipe
A dance; after which the singers and dancers depart. Emmeline is saved from Osmond's lustful advances when the ensnared Grimbald cries out, compelling the magician to go to the rescue of his evil spirit.
ACT FOUR
FIRST SCENE
Osmond learns that Merlin has broken his spells but plans to cast new spells and seduce Arthur with visions of beauty.
SECOND SCENE
The Wood
Arthur, having first been warned by Merlin that everything he sees is illusion, is left alone in the wood under the watchful eye of Philidel, who can reveal any evil spirits with a wave of Merlin's wand. Arthur is amazed that instead of the horrors and dangers he had expected, he hears soft music and sees a golden bridge spanning a silver stream. Though suspecting a trap, he approaches the bridge. Two sirens naked to the waist, emerge, begging him to lay aside his sword and join them.
TWO SIRENS
Two daughters of this aged stream are we,
And both our sea-green locks have comb'd for ye.
Come bathe with us an hour or two;
Come naked in, for we are so.
What danger from a naked foe?
Come bathe with us, come bathe, and share
What pleasures in the floods appear.
We'll beat the waters till they bound
And circle round, and circle round.
Though sorely tempted, Arthur resists and presses on.As he is going forward, nymphs and sylvans come out from behind the trees. Dance with song, all with branches in their bands.
Passacaglia
TENOR I
How happy the lover,
How easy his chain!
How sweet to discover
He sighs not in vain.
CHORUS
How happy the lover, etc.
Ritornello
SYLVAN & NYMPH
For love ev'ry creature
Is form'd by his nature.
No joys are above
The pleasures of love.
CHORUS
No joys are above.
The pleasures of love.
THREE NYMPHS
In vain are our graces,
In vain are your eyes.
In vain are our graces
If love you despise.
When age furrows faces,
'Tis too late to be wise.
THREE SYLVANS
Then use the sweet blessing
While now in possessing.
No joys are above
The pleasures of love.
THREE NYMPHS
No joys are above
The pleasures of love.
CHORUS
No joys are above
The pleasures of love.
Fourth Act Tune: Air
Arthur commands the sylvans, nymphs and sirens begone and they vanish. In an attempt to break the spells, he draws his sword and strikes a blow at the finest tree in the wood. A vision of Emmeline appears from its trunk, her arm wounded by the blow; it persuades him to lay down his sword and take her hand. Philidel rushes in, and with a touch of the wand reveals the vision to be Grimbald in disguise, Arthur then fells the tree, breaking the spells and opening a safe passage for the Britons to the Saxon fortress. Grimbald is bound up by Philidel and led out into daylight.
ACT FIVE
FIRST SCENE
Osmond's spells have been broken and his spirit Grimbald captured. He decides to release Oswald from the prison in the hope that together they may at last defeat Arthur.
SECOND SCENE
The Britons march on the Saxon fortress, and are met by Oswald, who proposes the war be decided in single combat with Arthur. After a very close fight, in which the two magicians are also pitted against each other, Arthur finally succeeds in disarming Oswald, but grants him his life.
Trumpet Tune
A consort of trumpets within, proclaiming Arthur's victory. While they sound, Arthur and Oswald seem to confer. Arthur commands Oswald to return to Saxony with his men. Emmeline is restored to Arthur. Merlin imprisons Osmond and proclaims the triumph of British sovereignty, faith and love. Merlin waves his wand; the scene changes, and discovers the British Ocean in a storm. Aeolus in a cloud above: Four Winds hanging, etc.
AEOLUS
Ye blust'ring brethren of the skies,
Whose breath has ruffled all the wat'ry plain,
Retire, and let Britannia rise
In triumph o'er the main.
Serene and calm, and void of fear,
The Queen of Islands must appear.
Aeolus ascends, and the Four Winds fly off. The scene opens, and discovers a calm sea, to the end of the house. An island arises, to a soft tune; Britannia seated in the island, with fishermen at her feet, etc. The tune changes; the fisher men come ashore, and dance a while; after which, Pan and a Nereid come on the stage, and sing.
Symphony
NEREID, PAN
Round thy coast, fair nymph of Britain,
For thy guard our waters flow:
Proteus all his herd admitting
On thy green to graze below:
Foreign lands thy fish are tasting;
Learn from thee luxurious fasting.
CHORUS
Round thy coast, fair nymph of Britain, etc.
ALTO, TENOR, BASS
For folded flocks, and fruitful plains,
The shepherd's and the farmer's gains,
Fair Britain all the world outvies;
And Pan, as in Arcadia, reigns
Where pleasure mix'd with profit lies.
Tho' Jason's fleece was fam'd of old,
The British wool is growing gold;
No mines can more of wealth supply:
It keeps the peasants from the cold,
And takes for kings the Tyrian dye.
Enter Comus with peasants.
COMUS
Your hay, it is mow'd and your corn is reap'd,
Your barns will be full and your hovels heap'd.
Come, boys, come,
Come, boys, come,
And merrily roar out our harvest home.
CHORUS OF PEASANTS
Harvest home,
Harvest home,
And merrily roar out our harvest home.
COMUS
We've cheated the parson, we'll cheat him again,
For why shou'd a blockhead have one in ten?
One in ten, one in ten,
For why shou'd a blockhead have one in ten?
PEASANTS
One in ten, one in ten,
For why shou'd a blockhead have one in ten?
COMUS
For prating so long, like a book-learn'd sot,
Till pudding and dumpling are burnt to the pot:
Burnt to pot, burnt to pot,
Till pudding and dumpling are burnt to pot.
PEASANTS
Burnt to pot, burnt to pot,
Till pudding and dumpling are burnt to the pot.
COMUS
We'll toss off our ale till we cannot stand;
And heigh for the honour of old England;
Old England, Old England,
And heigh for the honour of old England.
PEASANTS
Old England, Old England,
And heigh for the honour of old England.
Dance
The dance varied into a round country-dance.
Enter Venus.
VENUS
Fairest isle, all isles excelling,
Seat of pleasure and of love;
Venus here will choose her dwelling,
And forsake her Cyprian grove.
Cupid from his fav'rite nation,
Care and envy will remove;
Jealousy that poisons passion,
And despair that dies for love.
Gentle murmurs, sweet complaining,
Sighs that blow the fire of love;
Soft repulses, Kind disdaining,
Shall be all the pains you prove.
Ev'ry swain shall pay his duty,
Grateful ev'ry nymph shall prove;
And as these excel in beauty,
Those shall be renown'd for love.
SHE
You say, 'tis Love creates the pain,
Of which so sadly you complain,
And yet would fain engage my heart
In that uneasy cruel part;
But how, alas! think you that
I Can bear the wounds of which you die?
HE
'Tis not my passion makes my care,
But your indiff'rence gives despair:
The lusty sun begets no spring
Till gentle show'rs assistance bring;
So Love, that scorches and destroys,
Till kindness aids, can cause no joys.
SHE
Love has a thousand ways to please,
But more to rob us of our ease;
For waking nights and careful days,
Some hours of pleasure he repays;
But absence soon, or jealous fears,
O'erflows the joy with floods of tears.
HE
But one soft moment makes amends
For all the torment that attends.
BOTH
Let us love, let us love and to happiness haste.
Age and wisdom come too fast.
Youth for loving was design'd.
HE
I'll be constant, you be kind.
SHE
You be constant, I'll be kind.
BOTH
Heav'n can give no greater blessing
Than faithful love and kind possessing.
Trumpet Tune (Warlike Consort)
The scene opens above, and discovers the Order of the Garter. Enter Honour, attended by heroes.
HONOUR
Saint George, the patron of our Isle,
A soldier and a saint,
On this auspicious order smile,
Which love and arms will plant.
CHORUS
Our natives not alone appear
To court the martial prize;
But foreign kings adopted here
Their crowns at home despise.
Our Sov'reign high, 'in awful state,
His honours shall bestow;
and see his sceptred subjects wait
On his commands below.
