Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation http://www.archive.org/details/perseusandromeda00theo WH Fecit PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. As it is Performed at the THEATRE ROYAL IN LINCOLN'S-INN-FIELDS. Adorn'd with COPPER-PLATES. ——— Risu diducere Rictum Auditoris; & est quædam tamen hĂ®c quoque Virtus. HOR. LONDON: Printed and Sold by THO. WOOD in Little Britain. M DCC XXX. [Price One Shilling.] PERSONĆ. CEPHEUS, King of Ethiopia, Mr. Leveridge. PERSEUS the Son of Jupiter by Danae, Mrs. Barbier. MERCURY, — — — — — Mr. Legare. VENUS, — — — — — Mrs. Wright. CASSIOPE, Queen of Ethiopia, Mrs. Seedo. ANDROMEDA, Daughter to Cepheus, Mrs. Chambers. MEDUSA, — — — — — Mrs. Wright. STHENO,} Gorgons, {Mr. Salway, EURIALE, Mr. Papillon. Two Ethiopians, — — — {Mr. Thompson, Mr. Harrison. CYCLOPS, — — — — {Mr. Hall, Mr. DuprĂ©, jun. Mr. Legard, Mr. Smith, Mons. St. Luce. AMAZONS, — — — — {Mrs. Cantrel, Mrs. Legare, Mrs. Pelling, Mrs. Bullock, Miss. Latour, Mrs. Orden, Mrs. Hill, INFERNAL SPIRITS, — {Mons. SallĂ©, Mons. Poictier, Mons. DuprĂ©, Mr. Pelling, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Lanyon. The Followers of Cepheus, Loves, Graces and Sports. SCENE in Ethiopia. COMIC PARTS. A Spanish Merchant, Father to Colombine.} Mons. Nivelon. A Petit-Maitre, in Love with Colombine.} Mons. Poictier. Harlequin, a Wizard, also in Love with Colombine,} Mr. Lunn. Colombine, Daughter to the Spanish Merchant,} Mrs. Younger. Valet de Chambre to the Petit-Maitre,} Mr. Ray. A Spaniard, Servant to the Merchant,} Mr. Hippisley. Constable, Hay-makers, PossĂ©, & ARGUMENT. PERSEUS was the Son of Jupiter by Danae, whom he deceived under the Form of a Shower of Gold. Acrisius, the Father of Danae, exposed her and her Son Perseus in a Chest on the Sea, for fear of a Prediction (which Perseus afterwards fulfill'd) that he should be slain by his Grandson; but the Lady and her Son were, not with standing, by the Care of Jupiter preserved. When Perseus came of Age, he was presented by Mercury with a Falchion and Pair of Wings, by Minerva with the celebrated Shield Ægis: And thus equipp'd and mounted on Pegasus, he set out in quest of Adventures. His first was against the Gorgons, whom he overcame; and cutting off the Head of Medusa, which had the miraculous Property of turning whoever look'd on it into Stone, he placed it on his Shield, and by the Force thereof transformed Atlas into a Rock. After this Atchievement, flying to the Ethiopian Shore, he there found Andromeda naked, and chained to a Rock by the Sea-side. This Lady was the 'Daughter of Cepheus King of Ethiopia by Cassiope, who having been imprudent enough to rival the Nymphs in Beauty, they in Revenge caused her Daughter Andromeda to be thus bound and exposed to the Fury of a Sea-Monster; her Father and Mother at the Time of Perseus's Arrival were standing by her, deploring their Misfortunes: The Hero after hearing her Story, promised, on Condition of her becoming his Wife, to release her: But while they were speaking, the Monster with a prodigious roaring and lashing the Waves with his Tail, approached the Shore: Perseus immediately attack'd him, and a most terrible Combat ensued; but at last he slew the Monster, and delivered the Lady. The joyful Parents performed their Promise of giving him their Daughter; and the Marriage of Perseus and Andromeda being solemnized with the utmost Magnificence, they resigned to him their Kingdom. WH Fecit PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. SCENE, The Gardens of Cepheus. CEPHEUS, CASSIOPE, ANDROMEDA. Attendants. WHEN will the saving Gods Look down with Pity on this groaning Land? Relentless Juno! will thy Wrath ne'er cease? Inexorable Queen! Still must the fell Medusa range Wide o'er, my Realms with Gorgon Terrors arm'd, And turn my gazing Subjects into Stone: Then I in vain am call'd a King; Soon Desolation will o'er-run my Realms, And only breathless Statues be my Subjects. Cass. That your dear Subjects thus you lose, Such is the Curse of my aspiring Pride! How happy, had I known my glorious Lot, Nor arrogantly vied With Jove's avenging Consort. But deep repenting Sorrow can alone This Crime of Insolence repair. Cep. In Perseus, Jove's triumphant Son, Rests all my Hope. The Warlike Youth, Intrepid as his Sire, has sworn To dare the curs'd Medusa's Rage, And rid my Empire of the cruel Spoiler. And. What do I hear? O my presaging Heart! Cep. And in Reward of this heroick Deed, Demands our Daughter for his Bed. And. Alas! what Woes can equal mine? Can I survive, and see The Lord of all my Wishes For me to certain Death expos'd? Forbid it Gods. O Perseus! Perseus! Smiling Venus, Goddess, save The Treasure of my Heart and Eyes: 'Tis the only Boon I crave, Save him, and Danger I despise. Enter an Æthiopian. Mess. Fly, fly, my Lord, E'er instant unavoided Death You, and your Royal House o'ertake: Medusa is at hand; where'er she moves, Your gazing Subjects, now no more, But Monuments of Men, turn'd sudden Rocks, Mark out the Magick of her baleful Eye. Cep. The assembled Gods have doom'd my Fall, And make Prevention vain. Cep. Cass. And.} Ye righteous Powers, at whose dread Hand Mercy and Rage obedient stand, Arrest a suffering Empire's Fate: Behold what Victim'd Crowds have dy'd; See we repent, forgive our Pride, E'er Death make Pity come too late. B SCENE, a Wood. Enter Perseus reading a Letter. Pers. Welcome thou Harbinger, O lov'd Andromeda! She tells me here, oft as my Dangers fill her Thoughts, Unwonted Tremblings seize her Heart, and Sorrows drown her Eyes. Charming Anguish, How I languish To repay this tender Woe! From her Sorrow, Venus borrow Tears more soft than feather'd Snow. Charming, & [Going. [Mercury rises as from Hell. Mer. Whence, Perseus, this impetuous Haste? Pers. I fly, a Land distress'd to save. Mer. Immortal Jove, who boasts in thee a Son, Thy great Design approves, Bids thee, by me, go on, And still by generous Acts assert thy Sire; But let not Rashness prompt thy Arm To Danger unadvis'd; Wisdom and Heaven must join to guard the Hero; All Nature is inform'd, that Jove Seconds thy great Exploits. In vain the jealous Juno raves, Even Hell prepares to lend thee Aid. Groaning Nations to redeem, Is the Warrior's noblest Praise; Go, and rise fair Honour's Theme, Fame will Trophies to thee raise. Groaning, & [Several Cyclops enter, and Dance. Afterwards they present Perseus with a Sword and wing'd Sandals from Vulcan. Cyc. For thee, immortal Vulcan's Hand, This Sword has forg'd, these Wings prepar'd: Fortune and Conquest wait thee. [A Train of Warlike Nymphs form an Entry; then present Perseus with a Diamond Shield from Pallas. Nym. The bravest Warrior oft is foil'd, Who on his single Force relies. B 2 Hop'st thou Medusa to subdue, This Shield of Pallas make thy Guard: 'Tis Prudence that makes strong the Hero's Hand. [A Company of Infernals rise; they Dance, and then present Perseus with a Helmet from Pluto. Inf. See, Perseus, from the gloomy King, Whose Court is Darkness and whose Empire Shade, This saving Helm I bring, To guard thee in the dreadful Hour of Danger. This worn, the Darkness of our Realms Shall spread thee round, and, with a Cloud, Hide thee from keenest Mortal Eye. Hence learn, whoe'er Success wou'd hope, Secret as Night his purposed Act must vail. Mer. Auspicious Warrior, to my Care Thy Conduct is assign'd. I see Impatience sparkles in thy Eye, And thy big Heart burns for the promis'd Glory. Per. Lead on, and be my Guide. Lead on, to Conquest and to Love. No Dangers can alarm me, While Fame and Honour charm me, While Beauty fires me to Renown. The Man my Lot possessing, Can hope no nobler Blessing, Whom Love and Conquest doubly crown. No Danger, & [Perseus and Mercury fly away. Cho. Let Heaven, Earth, and Hell unite, To favour the Godlike Son of Jove. [The Cyclops and Warlike Nymphs go off on different Sides, the Infernals sink. Here the COMIC PART begins, in which is sung the following Recitative and Air. Enter Harlequin, shewing Actions of Despair, and to him a Magician. Magic. Dispel that horrid Gloom: Your dire Distress by Magic Power I've learn'd, And will redress. Resume your wonted Joy, Receive this Sword, Aided by this, your Power shall be ador'd. When severest Woes impending, Seem to show Destruction near, Unexpected Joys attending, Sooth the Soul, and banish Fear. Tho' to Fortune's Frowns subjected, And attacked by anxious Care, Servile Spirits are dejected, Noble Minds should ne'er despair. When severest, & SCENE, The Gorgon's Cave, embellish'd with Figures of Men and Beasts turn'd into Stone. MEDUSA. Med. Fled are those Charms, that late with Pride Swell'd up my Woman's Breast, And made the Sea-God languish with Desire. My Golden Tresses, that with Grace In Ringlets flow'd, are now exchang'd For Curls of hissing Snakes. A Sight of Horror! Pernicious Pallas, such thy Spleen, To blast a favour'd Rival! Yet this in Recompence is given; Not the wing'd Bolts of Jove Carry more swift Destruction than my Eyes; Still with a Glance I kill; What can the proudest Beauty more? For this, the Gods by Turns employ Me, and my baleful Power, To execute their worst Revenge. Beauty delighting, All Eyes inviting, Was my vain Glory late. Now Looks affrighting, Terror exciting, Kill my Soul with Joys as great. Beauty, & [Soft Musick without. EURYALE, STHENO. Eur. Ha! Whence that soothing Sound? No Mortal to these dreary Cells Dares make Approach, and hope to live. Hermes! 'tis he my dreadful Aid demands. Enter MERCURY. My nimble God, what grateful Mischief Waits on your swift Command? Mer. Still one unceasing Third of Rage! Med. 'Tis from the cruel Gods I copy Those Cruelties that feast my Soul. Mer. Still this becoming Fury breathe, And know such Ruin now is ripe in Fate, As will your utmost Rancour claim. But e'er the pleasing Task you learn, With Sleep your baleful Powers repair, And rise renew'd and fresh for mighty Horrors. Sth. Rest is our Bane, Destruction our Delight: To Works of Woe we ever wake. Mer. Permit me best your Strength to know, And for your Good be counsell'd. [Mercury touches 'em with his Caduce. O hateful God, Repose, Why wilt thou strive to close The Eye where Envy loves to dwell? Slumber and Night's dull Reign Creep on my yielding Brain. Curse on the drowsy, potent Spell! O hateful, & [They retire to sleep. Mer. Perseus advance, the Dæmons sleep. Enter PERSEUS. But look not on them as you strike, For certain Death rides on their baleful View. Per. Thy Caution I with Thanks embrace. Mer. Adieu, and guard a Life the Gods hold dear. Per. Assist Beauty, charming Maid, The Gods command, but Love inspires: Thy Cause I fight, O lend thy Aid, Redouble all the Hero's Fire. Assist me, & [Holds his Shield before his Face, and cuts off Medusa's Head. The Monster is no more: The World is freed! O happy Arm! Heaven's Instrument of Vengeance. [Euryale and Stheno awake at the Voice of Perseus, and run to the Place from whence the Sound came. 2d Gor. What Voice! Ha, Hell! Medusa slain! Seek out the Traitor; dreadful Vengeance wait him. [They seek about for Perseus, whom his Helmet renders invisible. 1st. Gor. Where is he fled? What unknown Charm Secures him from our Eyes? But see, Medusa still in Death, Her venom'd Powers retains! Lo, what an Off-spring from her Blood arises! C Several frightful and fantastic Monsters spring from Medusa's Blood; some creeps some run, all in Search of Perseus. 2d. Gor. Dæmons, your destin'd Victim seek, Revenge the Blood from whence you sprung; Revenge, revenge Medusa. MERCURY returns. Mer. Avaunt, ye hideous Forms, And sink to lowest Hell. Gor. What horrid Gulphs appear! Earth to her Center yawns; O dreadful Change! Gorgons and Monsters sink. Mer. Danger's no more. Victorious Youth, Now the Rewards of Glory wait you. The Charmer waits, Desires invite. Per. Oh! that a Wish could speed my Flight. Her. {Blest Moments move a Lover's Pace, And wing me to the Fair's Embrace. [Perseus and Mercury fly away. The Actions of Harlequin continued. SCENE, The Palace of Cepheus. CEPHEUS, CASSIOPE, Attendants. Cep. Victorious Perseus! Gallant Youth! Our great Deliverer comes. E'er this, with Smiles our Royal Daughter Her conquering Lover greets. A rescu'd People's Love, A Monarch's and a Father's Thanks, Must join his generous Toils to crown. Ten thousand Silver Trumpets sound, The Triumphs of our Joy proclaim; Pleasure diffuse my Realms around, And praise a Hero dear to Fame. Ten thousand, & Enter an Ethiopian. Eth. O cruel Heavens! disastrous Fate! Cep. What mean these ill-tim'd Strains of Woe? Eth. Juno, relentless her Rage, To our Destruction arms The watry World. O lost Andromeda! A hideous Monster rises from the Flood, C 2 And thou its destin'd Victim. Rude Tritons issuing sudden from the Deep, Seiz'd in our Sight, and to a Rock The trembling Princess bore. Cass. What Horrors shake my Soul! Eth. Perseus, 'tis said, will arm in her Defence; But all, we fear, in vain. Cep. O dire Reverse of Fate! Is this Your Justice, Gods! Can Innocence, Can Vertue merit such Distress! Cass. Mine is the Crime, mine be the Punishment. If Ruin must fall, Gods, here point it all, Me, only me invade; My Death should alone, Your Vengeance attone; O save the guiltless Maid. If Ruin, & [Scene opens to a Prospect of the Sea; Andromeda bound to a Rock. The Monster appears. Cass. Ha, blasted be my Eyes! The Monster comes. — Is there no Rescue? Cep. Assist, ye righteous Gods. — — The Hero comes, Perseus, to her and our Relief. [Perseus flies down, and fights with the Monster. Cep. Perseus o'ercomes: mighty Joy! Trit. Rise, rise, at once, ye swelling Waves, O'erwhelm us and our Shame. [Tritons sink. [The Sea grows calm. Perseus unbinds Andromeda, and they come forward, and sing the following Air. Both. O Transport, do I bold thee here! Per. And.}Thou{Blessing Guardian}of my Days! Both. For thee what anxious Tumults Fear In my poor Heart did raise! O Transport, & Cep. Lead to the Temple strait. This Hour your Hands shall join. Hymen, and all auspicious Powers, This Pair with choicest Blessings crown. [The Palace of Venus descends, in it the Goddess, Cupid, Hymen, the Graces, Loves and Sports. Ven. Mortals, your Woes have here an End, Peace shall succeed your Cares; For Jove, in Favour of his gallant Son, Henceforth will guard the harrass'd Land. E'en Juno's dire Resentments cease, Cepheus, Cassiope and you, Most happy Pair, so Fate ordains, Begin Celestial Joys to share, And with new Stars enrich our Heaven. Such Change of Fate, Such blissful State, To Love and Vertue join'd you owe. Thus Mortals rise, To tread the Skies, And quit their grovelling Lot below. [Machine ascends. CHORUS. Happy Hero, Loves surround you, And your Bliss for ever guard: Hymen has with Beauty crown'd you, Beauty, Valour's best Reward. [The Subjects of Cepheus end with Dances, expressing their Joy. FINIS.