Song of a Scholar and his Mistress




WHO, BEING CROSSED BY THEIR FRIENDS, FELL MAD FOR ONE ANOTHER; AND NOW FIRST MEET IN BEDLAM.

[Music within.]

_The Lovers enter at opposite doors, each held by a keeper._

_Phillis_. Look, look I see--I see my love appear! 'Tis he--'Tis he alone; For, like him, there is none: 'Tis the dear, dear man, 'tis thee, dear.

_Amyntas_. Hark! the winds war; The foamy waves roar; I see a ship afar: Tossing and tossing, and making to the shore: But what's that I view, So radiant of hue, St Hermo, St Hermo, that sits upon the sails? Ah! No, no, no. St Hermo never, never shone so bright; 'Tis Phillis, only Phillis, can shoot so fair a light; 'Tis Phillis, 'tis Phillis, that saves the ship alone, For all the winds are hush'd, and the storm is overblown.

_Phillis_. Let me go, let me run, let me fly to his arms.

_Amyntas_. If all the fates combine, And all the furies join, I'll force my way to Phillis, and break through the charm.

[_Here they break from their keepers, run to each other, and embrace_.]

_Phillis_. Shall I marry the man I love? And shall I conclude my pains? Now bless'd be the powers above, I feel the blood bound in my veins; With a lively leap it began to move, And the vapours leave my brains.

_Amyntas_. Body join'd to body, and heart join'd to heart, To make sure of the cure, Go call the man in black, to mumble o'er his part.

_Phillis_. But suppose he should stay--

_Amyntas_. At worst if he delay, 'Tis a work must be done, We'll borrow but a day, And the better, the sooner begun.

_Cho. of both_. At worst if he delay, &c.

[_They run out together hand in hand._]



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