Psyche a tragedy / written by Tho. Shadwell.

ACT IV. (Book 4)

The Scene is a stately Garden belonging to the Mag∣nificent Palace, seen in the former Act. The great Walk is bounded on either side with great Statues, Figures of Gold standing on Pedestals, and small sitting at their feet: And in large Vases of Silver are Orenge, Lemon, Citron, Pomegranate; and be∣hind Mirtle, Jessemine, and other Trees. Beyond this a noble Arbour, through which is seen a less Walk, all of Cypress-Trees, which leads to another Arbour at a great distance.

Enter Aglaura, Cydippe, Psyche with her Train.

Aglau.

ENough the Splendor of your Court w'have seen, Such ne'r was known by any earthly Queen.

Cyd.

But we your Conqu'ring Lover wou'd behold, Of whom such charming stories you have told.

Psyc.

Oh! he's the brightest thing your eyes e'r saw; Beauty he has might give the whole world Law. And then such tender kindness you shall see; For he delights in nothing but in me. We sport and revel all the day, In soft delights melting the hours away. And such resistless ways he has to charm. We kiss, embrace, and arm in arm, With am'rous sighs, and soft discourse, Our fainting passions still we reinforce. When I would speak, my words he does devour; And when he speaks, I kiss him o'r and o'r.

And wh•…•… from kissing we our lips remove, He tells a thousand pretty Tales of Love. And all the while his beauty I survey, And he so greedily beholds my eyes, As he'd devour them. But a moment stay, And he will you, as he did me, surprise.

[Exit Psyche.

Aglau.

What cursed Fate is this, that did ordain, That she shou'd have such pleasure, we such pain? Oh that I had infection in my breath, I my own life wou'd lose to give her death.

Cid.

Base Fortune! that on Psyche wou'd bestow So vast a share of happiness, And give her elder Sisters so much less, That she shou'd be so high, and we so low.

Aglau.

Such glory yet no Monarch ever saw; Such humble Vassals, such obedient awe, Such shining Palaces yet ne'r have been, Such pomp the Sun in all his progress ne'r has seen.

Cid.

A thousand Beauties wait for her command, As many heavenly Youths are still at hand: And to our envious eyes she chose These hated objects to expose.

Aglau.

When we to our great joy believ'd, That she destroy'd had been, Oh how the Ridling God has us deceiv'd; We see her here like some immortal Queen, Whom all her Subjects serve not, but adore.

Cid.

Oh! I shall die with envy: say no more, But of some quick revenge let's meditate, To interrupt their happy state: Let's by some Art cause fatal jealousies Between these prosperous Lovers to arise.

Enter Cupid and Psyche, with many Attendants.

Aglau.

They're here: What divine object strikes my eyes?

Cid.

What heavenly thing does my weak heart surprise?

Aglau.

Her hated sight I can no longer bear.

Cid.

Oh with what joy I could her heart-strings tear!

Aglau.

This is the goodliest Creature Heav'n ere made; And I will summon Hell up to my aid, But I will Psyche's life destroy; And I will then this God-like Youth enjoy.

Cid.

When I am dead, he may be had by thee: But know, Aglaura, I'll ne'r live to see This goodly thing enjoy'd by any one but me.

Cup.

Ladies— You such a welcome in this place shall find, As fits the greatness of your Sisters mind; And by your entertainment I will show, What I to my lov'd Psyche owe: For her shall Quires of Cupids sing, For her the Sphears shall their loud Musick bring.

SONG.

LEt old Age in its envy and malice take pleasure, In business that's sower, and in hoarding up treasure: By dulness seem wise, be still peevish and nice; And what they cannot follow, let them rail at as vice.

Wise Youth will in Wine and in Beauty delight, Will revel all day, and will sport all the night. For never to love, wou'd be never to live, And Love must from Wine its new vigour receive.

How insipid were life without those delights, In which lusty hot Youth spend their days and their nights; Of our nauseous dull beings we too soon should be cloy'd, Without those bless'd joys which Fools onely avoid.

Unhappy grave Wretches, who live by false measure, And for empty vain shadows refuse real pleasure; To such Fools while vast joys on the witty are waiting, Life's atedious long journey without ever baiting,

Now see what is to Psyche's beauty due, And what th' Almighty pow'r of Love can show: These senseless Figures motion shall receive; Psyche's bright beams can life to Statues give.

[Ten Statues leap from their Pedestals, and dance. Ten Cupids rise from the Pedestals, strew all the Stage with Flowers, and fly all several ways. During the Dance, Cupid and Psyche retire.

Cid.

With what divine Magnificence They in this place treat every sense?

Aglau.

Excess of Love and Hate disturb my rest, Which equally divide my breast.

Cid.

You may hate her, and other Princes love; But your affection must from him remove, Or th'utmost rage of a revengeful Rival prove.

Aglau.

Mountains shall sooner leap or fly, The Sun may prove inconstant, but not I: All my presumptuous Rivals I'll destroy; I cannot live, unless I him enjoy.

Cid.

Then suddenly resign your hated breath; You shall not live to cause my death. Your fruitless Love shall soon be lost. You to your elder Sister shall give place, For I will this Celestial Youth embrace, Tho' it the lives of half the world shou'd cost.

Aglau.

The pow'r of Hell shall ne'r change my design; I wou'd a thousand Lives before one Love resign.

Cid.

But Psyche's Life and Love must have an end, Or we in vain for him contend. What e'r against each other we design, Against the common Enemy let's joyn.

Aglau.

Should we kill her, it would provoke his hate, And on our selves pull down a certain Fate. Let's poison them with jealousie; And Lovers had much better die, Then suffer that extremity.

Enter Psyche.

Psyc.

Now Sisters! how do you approve my Dear?

Cid.

You are secure: but give us leave to fear.

Psyc.

Fear not: you are in my protection now.

Aglau.

We fear not for our selves, but you.

Psyc.

For me! I am so full of joy, That nothing can my happiness destroy. I have my Love, and that's enough for me. My life is one continued Extasie. His love to me is infinite, Each moment does transcend Ages of of common gross delight, For which dull sensual men so much contend.

Cid.

Why does he still conceal his name? It argues little love, or else much shame.

Psyc.

You cannot doubt his love, he is so kind; Envy in him no cause of shame can find: What need I care who 'tis I love. Since all that see him must my choice approve.

Aglau.

This violent Love may soon decay, And he for some new Mistris may Your easie heart betray.

Cid.

When he shall please to frown, You from this heighth are suddenly thrown down: And when he thus shall have abandon'd you, On whom will you inflict the vengeance due?

Psyc.

Could I this fatal change survive, I sure should be the wretched'st thing alive.

Aglau.

True Love has no reserve, this is some cheat; Your wisdom's small, though your affection's great.

Cid.

Th'Impostor does by Magick Art surprise! And this is all delusion of our eyes. The Miracles each moment does produce, Sufficiently may make this clear; Your Lover does no Natural Causes use. All Natures Order is inverted here.

Aglau.

You see that his Attendants are The winged Spirits of the Air.

He's sure some Demon, which commands the Winds, And him the Clouds obey: How easily may he delude our minds, Wh'our bodies can by Winds and Clouds convey. This must be some inchanted place.

Cid.

(aside.)

Let him be what he will, I'll him embrace.

(To her.)

How soon may Fate your seeming Heav'n destroy, Which like a dream reflects imaginary Joy.

Psyc.

Oh I am seiz'd with an unusual fright, A sudden stop is put to my delight.

Aglau.

This still may be the Serpent you did fear, Tho' with a humane shape he cheats your eyes; And Heav'n by this more cruel will appear, After this Joy to ruine by surprise.

Cid.

In wrath the Oracle thy doom declar'd, Here no effects we of its anger fee: Thou know'st not yet what ruine is prepar'd; What dreadful Fate Heav'n does reserve for thee.

Psyc.

How I'm amaz'd! Oh my poor trembling heart!

Enter Zephyrus.

Zeph.

My Lord commands your Sisters must depart, And none must his commands deny.

Aglau.

What is't I hear! I dye, I dye.

Cid.

But if I die, I will not die alone; She shall not here remain when I am gone.

Aglau.

Hold! take me with thee in thy brave design; I'll in the noble execution joyn.

[Both offer to stab at Psyche, a•…•… she looke another way, and a•…•… snatch'd away by Zephiri.

Psyc.

Ah! what unwelcome change is this I see? Must they so suddenly be snatch'd from me?

Enter Cupid.

Cup.

Now let's enjoy our selves, the time invites; True Love alone in privacy delights. What is't disturbs my Psyche's mind? What fatal change is this I find?

Such a black storm me thinks hangs on thee now, As I have seen upon the Mornings brow; Which blushing first had promis'd a fair day, But strait did nought but dark-swoln Clouds display. Is it your Sisters absence makes you grieve? All such relations you shou'd now forget; Lovers should for each other onely live, And having one another should have no regret.

Psyc.

So small a thing cannot afflict my mind.

Cup.

'Tis for some Rival then your griefs design'd.

Psyc.

This mean suspition proves my Lord unkind! Ah! did your charms but to your self appear, You'd know that I no other chains cou'd wear. No Rhetorick can paint my Loves excess, Ere mine can be describ'd, it must be less.

Cup.

I love thee too at such a rate, No Mertal can approach my height. What is it can produce thy grief?

Psyc.

I fear you'l not afford it your relief

Cup.

If thou by any thing my wrath cou'dst move, 'T wou'd be by thy suspition of my love. Thou o'r my heart art grown so absolute, That no commands of thine I can dispute: Thou of thy pow'r know'st not the large extent; To ease thy doubt, make an experiment.

Psyc.

No: I shall find a harsh repulse, I fear.

Cup.

By thy victorious eyes, Which govern now the heart they did surprise; By th'Gods inviolable Oath I swear, By Styx, all thy commands shall be to me Sacred, as Heav'ns decree.

Psyc.

I with these am'rous vows am doubly pleas'd, I am of half my grief already eas'd. By this all fear of coldness you remove, And then you'll tell me now, who 'tis I love.

Cup.

Heav'n!

[Starts.

Psyc.

'Tis fit that I who did great Kings refuse, Shou'd know who is the charming Youth I chuse.

Cup.

What do I hear?

Psyc.

'Tis true I love, and glory in my chains; But to compleat my joys, it yet remains, That thou, my Love, wou'dst thy dear name expose, And my illustrious choice to me disclose. Why dost thou frown? thou must my doubts secure, I by my Love and by this Kiss conjure, If thou dost love me, this assurance give: 'Tis Love, my Dear, makes me inquisitive. Thou shou'dst all secrets to my breast resign, Besides, th'hast sworn this is no longer thine.

Cup.

I've sworn; and, if you will, I must comply: But then thy fatal curiosity Inevitably ruines Thee and Me.

Psyc.

Is this my Sov'reign Empire over thee?

Cup.

You must what e'rs within my power command; But your extravagant desires withstand: Unless you will abandon him you love, And will for ever from my sight remove.

Psyc.

You found a heart too ready to believe, And wou'd you still that poor weak heart deceive?

Cup.

Must I my fatal secret then resign?

Psyc.

Can you keep back your heart, and yet take mine?

Cup.

Consider yet what 'tis you do.

Psyc.

I fear'd I shou'd be thus refus'd by you.

Cup.

Let me not yet my name declare.

Psyc.

Oh unkind Youth! thou mak'st me now despair, That thou'lt reward my love, or ease my care.

Cup.

Consider yet, and let me hold my peace.

Psyc.

Will your unkind denials never cease?

Cup.

Know then, my self a God I must declare, Whom all the other Deities obey: All things in Earth, Hell, Water, Air, Must to my Godhead their devotion pay. I am the God of Love, whom, to thy cost, Thy foolish curiosity has lost. By this thou dost my Love to Anger turn, And must in fatal desolation mourn.

I from thy once lov'd eyes must fly; For 'tis ordain'd by cruel destiny, Which rules o'r all the Gods and me, That for thy folly I shou'd thus abandon Thee.

Cupid flies away. The Garden and Palace vanish, and Psyche is left alone in a vast Desart, upon the brink of a River in Marish, full of Willows, Flags, Bul∣rushes, and Water-flowers; beyond which is seen a great open Desart.

Psyc.

Oh! whether art thou fled, my Dear? Why hast thou left me here? Of all my glorious pomp I am bereft, And in despair am in a Desart left. Oh my misfortune! Oh my crime! I lov'd a God, and was ador'd by him. My self I banish'd, and am left forlorn, A fatal subject of injurious scorn; A scorn to all the Princes I've refus'd, By my own folly I my self abus'd. Yet sure the God is much unkind, To fly himself, yet leave his power behind. My Love remains still to increase my Care, And heighten all the torments of Despair.

[Psyche retires to the River side.

Enter Aglaura, Cidippe, with a Souldier.

Sould.

We of your Royal Father are bereft, Who you the heires of this great Kingdom left. So much he for the loss of Psyche griev'd, That he by death his fatal grief reliev'd.

Aglau.

But are not yet the Rival Princes slain?

Sould.

We have not follow'd your commands in vain; The Princes are in sight upon the Plain: In quest of Psyche they each path will trace, And their unwearied search will bring them to this place.

So many of us here in ambush lie, As soon as they approach us, they shall die.

Cid.

Be gone, we largely will reward your loyalty.

[Exit Souldier.

How luckily did Zephyras convey Us to this Desart, where we may, To our great pleasure, standing by, Behold these insolent Rivals die.

Aglau.

Since of all hopes of Love we are bereft, Revenge is all the pleasure we have left. Oh my bless'd eyes behold you face; Psyche is thrown upon this desart place.

Cid.

With pleasure I my sufferings embrace, Since her an equal sufferer I find. Is all your splendid Pomp to this declind? Fate did your Pallace to a Desart turn, And you for all your arrogance shall mourn.

Psyc.

Am I the object of my Sisters sooth? Ah, had I there your fatal ever ne'r see, I still had prosperous in my Pallace been. You urg'd that curiosity, Which brought this dreadful ruine upon me.

Aglau.

How well did our first Artifice succeed, She like a Prince when he's depos'd should bleed.

Cid.

Under our power you now a Slave remain; Our Father's dead, and has left us to Reign.

Psyc.

No: a more glorious Fate for me's design'd, Since he is gone, I'll not stay long behind.

Aglau.

She shall not if she wou'd; We to be safe must shed her bloud.

Cid.

Her with her Lovers Heads we'll first surprise, Then to our rage her life well sacrifice.

[Exit Aglaura and Cidippe, s•…•…iling o•…•… Psyche.

Psyc.

No longer these misfortunes I'll endure; Of all such wounds, death is the sovereign cure. In this deep Stream that softly by does glide, All my misfortunes and my faults I'll hide.

[She offers to throw herself into the River. The God of the River arises upon a seat of Bulrushes and Reeds, leaning upon an Urn. The Naiades round about him.

The God sings.

STay, stay, this act will much defile my Streams: With a short patience suffer these extreames. Heav'n has for thee a milder Fate in store, The time shall be when thou shalt weep no more. And yet fair Psyche ne'r shall die.

1. Nymph.

She ne'r shall die.

2. Nymph.

She ne'r shall die.

Chor.

She ne'r shall die: But shall be crown'd with Immortality. But shall be, &c.

The God sings again.

Venus approaches, from her anger flie; More troubles yet your constancy must try▪ But th'happy minute will ere long arrive, That will to you eternal freedom give. And yet fair Psyche ne'r shall die.

1. Nymph.

She ne'r shall die.

2. Nymph.

She ne'r shall die.

Chor.

She ne'r shall die. But shall be crown'd with Immortality. But shall be, &c.

Psyc.

I need not fly, I have done no offence, I'm strongly guarded by my Innocence.

Venus descends in her Chariot.

Ven.

Dares Psyche before me appear? From my dread wrath you scorn to flie: 'Tis Impudence, not Constancy. I'll bend your stubborn heart, and make you fear.

Psyc.

Dread Goddess! how have I Provok'd so your unwonted cruelty?

Venus.

You did usurp my Honours, men to you▪ Did give that Worship which to me was due: For you they did my Deity despise, And wou'd have rais'd up Altars to your Eyes.

Psyc.

Is Beauty then (Heav'ns gift) a fault in me? It is a fault I cannot help, you see.

Ven.

Your Pride did first all Earthly Kings refuse, And then my Son, a God, must chuse. How durst you thus my heavenly Race abuse?

Psyc.

Against all Kings he harden'd my poor heart, And for himself he struck me with his Dart: His Beauty wou'd make hearts of stone to melt; And his almighty power your self have felt.

Ven.

Dare you with me expostulate? I'll make you feel the worst effects of hate: My pow'r you fatally shall know, And for your insolence to Hell shall go.

[Venus flies away.

Enter Nicander and Polynices.

Nican.

How long shall we our search pursue, Without all hope that we shall Psyche find?

Polyn.

Each day our weary labour we renew, And all our life must be for that design'd.

Nican.

What happy Vision does salute my eyes!

Polyn.

It must be Psyche's face that can so much surprise.

Nican.

At length the joy of both our lives is found; Blest Fate! that brought us to this sacred ground!

Polyn.

Oh Divine Psyche! you're at length restor'd; We will defend you now from future harms.

Nican.

Now we have found the Goddess we ador'd, We will protect her against all Hells charms.

Psyc.

Oh come not near, Heav'n does not me restore; I have committed an unknown offence, For which I must be snatch'd from hence, And, Princes! I shall never see you more.

[Furies rise, and then descend with Psyche.

Nican.

Oh cruel Fate!

Polyn.

Oh my curst Stars!

Enter Soldier.

Sould.

Fall on, fall on—

Enter Souldiers, who lay in ambush, and fall upon the Princes, who kill four or five of them, the rest fly.

Nican.

This from the envious Sisters must proceed.

Polyn.

'Tmust be their stratagem to make us bleed

Nican.

Why should we thus our lives defend, Since Psyche we've for ever lost.

Polyn.

'Tis fit our hated lives should end, But not that Slaves shou'd of the victory boast.

Nican.

I am resolv'd I'll not this loss survive.

Polyn.

Nor shou'd you think I am so tame to live.

Nican.

Let's hand in hand go plunge into the deep, There all our sorrows may for ever sleep.

Polyn.

Agreed: and our immortal Souls shall that way go, And meet our much lov'd Psyche down below.

[They arm in arm fling themselves into the River.

Enter Aglaura and Cidippe, with Souldier.

Aglau.

Villain, what Cowards did you entertain, That two weak men could not by you be slain?

Cid.

Oh Heav'n! the Princes are with Psyche fled. Base Slave! thou hast forfeited thy head.

[Souldier runs out.

Cupid descends.

Cup.

Oh envious Fools, that Psyche thus pursue! You both shall soon a deserv'd vengeance find; Hells everlasting pangs to you are due, Since she is gone, you shall not stay behind. 'Gainst Psyche you provok'd my Mothers rage, And your destruction must my wrath asswage. When from below my Psyche shall return, You with damn'd Spirits shall for ever mourn. Arise ye Furies, snatch 'em down to Hell. No place becomes such envious Hags so well.

[Aglaura and Cidippe sink.