These hills how sweet! those plains how wond'rous fair!1 But sweeter still when Heaven was with us there! 2 Air. O Memory! thou fond deceiver, To former joys recurring ever, And turning all the past to pain: Hence, deceiver most distressing! The wretch who wants each other blessing, 25 30 FIRST PROPHET. Recitative. Yet, why repine? What though by bonds confin'd, Air. 6 7 The triumphs that on vice attend. The good man suffers but to gain, And every virtue springs from pain : 1 Var.-How sweet those groves! that plain, &c.-First MS. 2 Var.-How doubly sweet when, &c.-First MS. 3 Var.-Fly to.-Erasure, first MS. 35 40 45 4 This song is one of the two that were re-written and published sepa rately. See Poems, p. 83.-ED. Var.-head.-First MS. 5 Var.-vaunting.-First MS. 7 Var.-spirits. —First MS. As aromatic plants bestow No spicy fragrance while they grow; SECOND PROPHET. But hush, my sons! our tyrant lords are near, Near, nearer still, it gathers on the gale; 50 The growing sound their swift approach declares- 55 Desist, my sons, nor mix the strain with theirs. Enter CHALDEAN PRIESTS attended. FIRST PRIEST. Air. Come on, my companions, the triumph display, Let rapture the minutes employ; The sun calls us out on this festival day, And our monarch partakes in the joy. SECOND PRIEST. Like the sun, our great monarch all rapture supplies, Both similar blessings bestow : The sun with his splendour illumines the skies, And our monarch enlivens below. A CHALDEAN WOMAN. Air. Haste, ye sprightly sons of pleasure, A CHALDEAN ATTENDANT. Or rather, Love's delights despising, Wine shall bless the brave and free. 1 Var.-pleasure strike.-First MS. 2 Var.-the.-First MS. 60 65 70 FIRST PRIEST. Wine and beauty thus inviting, SECOND PRIEST. I'll waste no longer thought in choosing, Recitative. But whence, when joy should brighten o'er the land SECOND PROPHET, 75 80 Bow'd down with chains,' the scorn of all mankind, 85 To want, to toil, and every ill consign'd, Is this a time to bid us raise the strain, Or mix in rites that Heaven regards with pain? FIRST PRIEST. Insulting slaves! if gentler methods fail, [Exeunt CHALDEANS. 1 Var.-Chain'd as we are, &c.-First MS. 2 Var.-That wakes to finest joys the human heart.-First MS. 3 Var.-Rebellious slaves! if soft persuasion fail, More formidable terrors, &c.—First MS. 90 FIRST PROPHET. Why, let them come; one good remains to cheer,— ACT II. SCENE as before. Chorus of ISRAELITES. O Peace of Mind, angelic guest! Dispense thy balmy store! Wing all our thoughts to reach the skies, Shall vanish as we soar! 95 100 [Exeunt. 5 FIRST PRIEST. Recitative. No more! Too long has justice been delay'd, Var.-scorn all.-First MS. 2 Var.-Can chains or tortures bend, &c.-First MS. Can chains or tortures bind the mind 10 Ah me! what angry terrors round us grow; 25 How shrinks my soul to meet the threaten'd blow! Ye prophets, skill'd in Heaven's eternal truth, Forgive my sex's fears, forgive my youth! If shrinking thus, when frowning power appears, Air. To the last moment of his breath, And e'en the pang preceding death Hope, like the gleaming taper's light, Var.-tempest.-First MS. 6 30 35 2 Var.-whirlwind.-First MS. 3 These two lines are not in the first MS.-ED. A Var.-Ah! let us one, one little hour obey.-First MS. Var.-Fatigued with life, yet loth to part, On hope the wretch relies ; And every blow that sinks the heart Bids the deluder rise.-First MS. Var.-Hope like the taper's gleamy light, Adorns and cheers our way, &c.-First MS. |