Now all this Scene shall to Arcadia turn,
The Seat of happy Nymphs and Swains;
There without the Rage of Jealousie they burn,
And taste the Sweets of Love without it s Pains.
SCENE IV.
Jupiter retires. Semele and Ino meet and embrace. The Scene is totally changed, and shews an ope n Country. Several Shepherds and Shepherdesses enter. Semele and Ino having entertain’d each other in dumb Shew, sit and observe the Rural Sports, which end the secon d Act.
ACT III. SCENE I.
The Scene is the Cave o f Sleep. The God of Sleep lying on hi s Bed. A soft Symphony is heard. Then the Musick changes to a diiferen t Movement.
Juno an d Iris.
Juno. SOMNUS, awake,
Raise thy reclining Head;
Iris. Thyself forsake,
And lift up thy heavy Lids o f Lead.
Som. [waking.] Leave me, loathsome Light;
Receive me, silen t Night.
Lethe, why does thy lingering Current cease?
O murmur, murmur me again t o Peace. [sinks down again.
Iris. Dull God, can’st thou attend the Waters fall,
And not hear Saturnia call!
Juno. Peace, Iris, Peace, I know how to charm him:
Pasithea’s Name alone can warm him.
Juno,Iris. Only love on sleep has pow’r;
O’er gods and men
Tho’ Somnus reign,
Love alternate has his hour.
Juno. Somnus, arise,
Disclose thy tender eyes;
For Pasithea’s Sight
Endure the Light:
Somnus, arise.
Som. [rising.] More sweet is that Name
Than a soft purling Stream;
With Pleasure Repose I’ll forsake,
If you’ll grant me but her to sooth me awake.
Juno. My Will obey,
She shall be thine.
Thou with thy softer Pow’rs
First Jove shalt captivate,
To Morpheus then give Order,
Thy various Minister,
That with a Dream in Shape of Semele,
But far more beautiful,
And more alluring,
He may invade the sleeping Deity;
And more to agitate
His kindling Fire,
Still let the Phantom seem
To fly before him,
That he may wake impetuous,
Furious in Desire;
Unable to refuse whatever Boon
Her Coyness shall require.
Som. I tremble to comply.
Juno. To me thy leaden Rod resign,
To charm the Centinels
On Mount Citheron;
Then cast a Sleep on mortal Ino,
That I may seem her Form to wear
When I to Semele appear.
Obey my Will, thy Rod resign,
And Pasithea shall be thine.
Som. All I must grant, for all is due
To Pasithea, Love, and you.
Juno. Away let us haste,
Let neither have rest,
‘Till the sweetest of Pleasures we prove;
‘Till of Vengeance possess’d
I doubly am bless’d,
And thou art made happy i n Love. [Ex. Juno an d Iris.
[Somnus retires within his Cave, the Scene changes to Semele’s Apartment.
SCENE II.
Semele [alone.]
Seme. I love and am lov’d, yet more I desire;
Ah, how foolish a Thing is Fruition!
As one Passion cools. some other takes Fire,
And I’m still in a longing Condition.
Whate’er I possess
Soon seems a n Excess.
For something untry’d I petition;
Tho’ daily I prove
The Pleasures of love,
I die for the Joys o f Ambition.
SCENE III.
Enter Juno as Ino, with a Mirrour in her hand.
Juno [apart.] Thus shaped lik e Ino.
With Ease I shall deceive her,
And in this Mirrour she shall see
Herself as much transform’d as me.
Do I some Goddess see!
Or is it Semele?
Seme. Dear Sister, speak,
Whence this Astonishment?
Juno. Your Charms improving
To Divine Perfection,
Shew you were late admitted
Amongst Celestia l Beauties.
Has Jove consented?
And are you made Immortal?
Seme. Ah no, I still am Mortal;
Nor am I sensible
Of any Change or new Perfection.
Juno [giving her th e Glass. ] Behold in this Mirrour
Whence comes my Surprize;
Such Lustre and Terror
Unite in your Eyes,
That mine cannot fix on a Radiance so bright;
’Tis unsafe for the Sense, and too slipp’ry for sight.
Seme. [looking in th e Glass. ]
O Ecstacy of Happiness!
Celestial Graces
I discover in each Feature!
Myself I shall adore,
If I persist in gazing;
No Object sure before
Was ever half so pleasing.
How did that Glance become me!
But take this flatt’ring Mirror from me.
Yet once again let me view me.
Ah charming all o’er!
[Offering the Glass, withdraws her hand again.
Here — hold, I’ll have one Look more.
Tho’ that Look I were sure would undo me.
Juno [taking the Glass from her.]
Be wise as you are beautiful,
Nor lose this Opportunity.
When Jove appears,
All ardent with desire,
Refuse his proffer’d Flame
‘ Till you obtain a Boon without a Name.
Seme. Can that avail me?
Juno. Unknowing your Intent,
And eager for possessing,
He unawares will grant
The nameles s Blessing.
But bind him by the Stygian Lake,
Lest Lover-like his word he break.
Seme. But how shall I attain
To Immortality?
Juno. Conjure him by his Oath
Not to approach your Bed
In likeness of a Mortal,
But like himself, the mighty Thunderer
In Pomp of Majesty,
And heav’nly Attire;
As when he proud Saturnia charms,
And with ineffable Delights
Fills her encircling Arms,
And pays the Nuptia l Rites.
By this Conjunction
With entire Divinity
You shall partake of heav’nly Essence,
And thenceforth leave this Mortal State
To reign above,
Ador’d by Jove,
In spite of jealous Juno’ s Hate.
Seme. Thus let my Thanks be paid,
Thus let my Arms embrace thee;
And when I’m a Goddess made,
With Charms like mine I’ll grace thee.
Juno. Rich Odours fill the fragrant Air,
And Jove’s Approach declare.
I must retire —
Seme. Adieu — Your Counsel I’ll pursue.
Juno. [apart] And sure Destruction will ensue.
Vain wretched Fool — [To her.]Adieu.
SCENE IV.
Jupiter enters, offers to embrace Semele; she looks kindly on
him, but retires a little from him.
Jupi. Come to my Arms, my lovely fair,
Soothe my uneasie Care:
In my Dream late I woo’d thee,
And in vain I pursu’d thee,
For you fled from my Pray’r,
And bid me despair.
Come to my Arms, my lovel y Fair.
Seme. Tho�
�� ’tis easie to please ye,
And hard to deny;
Tho’ Possessing’s a Blessing
For which I could die,
I dare not, I cannot comply.
Jupi. When I languish with Anguish,
And tenderly sigh,
Can you leave me, deceive me,
And scornfully fly?
Ah fear not, you must not deny.
Seme. Jupi. I dare not, I must not comply.
Ah fear not; you must not deny.
Jupi. O Semele,
Why art thou thus insensible?
Were I a Mortal,
Thy barbarous disdaining
Would surely end me,
And Death at my Complaining
In Pity would befriend me.
Seme. I ever am granting,
You always complain;
I always am wanting,
Yet never obtain.
Jupi. Speak, speak, your Desire,
I’m all ove r Fire.
Say what you require,
I’ll grant it — now let us retire.
Seme. Swear by the Stygia n Lake.
Jupi. By that tremendous Flood I swear,
Ye Stygian waters hear,
And thou Olympus shake,
In witness to the oath I take.
[Thunder at a distance, and underneath,
Seme. You’ll grant what I require?
Jupi. I’ll grant what you require.
Seme. Then cast off this human Shape which you wear,
And Jove since you are, like Jove too appear;
When next you desire I should charm ye.
As when Juno you bless,
So you me must caress,
And with all your Omnipotence arm ye.
Jupi. Ah! take heed what you press,
For beyond all Redress,
Should I grant what you wish, I shall harm ye.
Seme. I’ll be pleas’d with no less,
Than my Wish in excess:
Let the Oath you have taken alarm ye:
Haste, haste, and prepare,
For I’ll know what you are;
So with all your Omnipotence arm ye.
SCENE V.
She withdraws, Jupiter remains pensive and dejected.
Jupi. Ah! whither is she gone! unhappy Fair!
Why did she wish? — Why did I rashly swear?
’Tis past, ’tis pas t Recall.
She must a Victim fall.
Anon, when I appear
The mighty Thunderer,
Arm’d with inevitable Fire,
She must needs instantly expire.
’Tis past, ’tis pas t Recall.
She must a Victim fall.
My softest Lightning yet I’ll try,
And mildest melting Bolt apply:
In vain — for she was fram’d to prove
None but the lambent Flames o f Love.
’Tis past, ’tis pas t Recall.
She must a Victim fall.
SCENE VI.
Juno appears in her Chariot ascending.
Juno. Above measure
Is the Pleasure
Which my Revenge supplies.
Love’s a Bubble
Gain’d with Trouble:
And in possessing dies.
With what joy shall I mount to my Heav’n again,
At once from my Rival and Jealousie freed!
The Sweets of Revenge make it worth while to reign,
And Heav’n will hereafter be Heav’n indeed. [She ascends.
SCENE VII.
The Scene opening discovers Semele lying under a Canopy, leaning pensively. While a mournful Symphony is playing she looks up and sees Jupiter descending in a black Cloud; the motion of the Cloud is slow. Flashes of lightning issue from either side, and thunder is heard grumbling in the air.
Seme. Ah me! too late I now repent
My Pride and impiou s Vanity.
He comes! far off his Lightnings scorch me.
— I feel my Life consuming:
I burn, I burn — I faint — for Pity I implore —
O help, O help — I can no more. [Dies.
[As the Cloud which contains Jupiter is arrived just over the Canopy of Semele, a sudden and great Flash of Lightning breaks forth, and a Clap of loud Thunder is heard; when at one instant Semele with the Palace and the whole present Scene disappear, and Jupiter re-ascends swiftly. The Scene totally changed represents a pleasant Country, Mount Citheron closing th e Prospect.
SCENE VIII.
Enter Cadmus, Athamas an d Ino.
Ino. Of my ill boding Dream
Behold the dir e Event.
Cad. ,Atha. O Terror and Astonishment!
Ino. How I was hence remov’d,
Or hither how return’d, I know not:
So long a Trance whith-held me.
But Hermes in a vision told me
(As I have now related)
The Fate of Semele;
And added, as from me he fled,
That Jove ordain’d I Athamas should wed.
Cad. Be Jove in every thing obey’d.
Atha. Unworthy of your Charms, myself I yield;
Be Jove’s Commands and yours fulfill’d.
Cad. See from above the bellying Clouds descend,
And big with some new Wonder this way tend.
SCENE IX.
A bright Cloud descends and rests on Mount Citheron, which opening, discovers
Apollo seated in it as the God o f Prophecy.
Apollo. Apollo comes to relieve your Care,
And future Happiness declare.
From Tyrannous Love all your Sorrows proceed,
From Tyrannous Love you shall quickly be freed.
From Semele’s Ashes a Phænix shall rise,
The Joy of this earth, and Delight of the skies:
A God he shall prove
More mighty than Love,
And a Sovereign Juice shall invent,
Which Antidote pure
The sick Lover shall cure,
And Sighing and Sorrow for ever prevent.
Then Mortals be merry, and scorn the Blind Boy;
Your Hearts from his Arrows strong Wine shall defend:
Each Day and each Night you shall revel in Joy,
For when Bacchus is born, Love’s Reign’s at an end.
Chorus.
Then Mortals be merry, etc.
Dance o f Satyrs.
[Exeunt omnes.
The Prose
Port Royal, Jamaica, in the late seventeenth century — Congreve’s career later shifted to the political sector and he received an appointment in Jamaica in 1714 from George I. He continued to write, although his style changed greatly. During his time in Jamaica, he wrote poetry instead of full length dramatic productions.
Incognita; Or, Love and Duty Reconcil’d
Congreve spent his childhood in Ireland, where his father, a Cavalier, had settled during the reign of Charles II. He was educated at Kilkenny College where he met Jonathan Swift, and at Trinity College in Dublin. Upon graduation, he matriculated in the Middle Temple in London to study law, but preferred literature, drama and the fashionable life. Congreve adopted the pseudonym Cleophil, under which he published the following narrative, Incognita: or, Love and Duty Reconcil’d, in 1692. A light yet delightfully skilful parody of fashionable romance, it was completed when Congreve was only 17 years of age. The work gained him instant recognition among men of letters and an entrance into the literary world. He became a disciple of John Dryden, who supported Congreve’s work throughout his life, taking the form of complimentary introductions written for some of Congreve’s publications.
CONTENTS
THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
INCOGNITA: OR, LOVE & DUTY RECONCIL’D
THE LETTER.
TO THE
HONOURED AND WORTHILY ESTEEM’D
MRS. KATHARINE LEVESON.
Madam,
A Clear Wit, sound Judgment and a
Merciful Disposition, are things so rarely united, that it is almost inexcusable to entertain them with any thing less excellent in its kind. My knowledge of you were a sufficient Caution to me, to avoid your Censure of this Trifle, had I not as intire a knowledge of your Goodness. Since I have drawn my Pen for a Rencounter, I think it better to engage where, though there be Skill enough to Disarm me, there is too much Generosity to Wound; for so shall I have the saving Reputation of an unsuccessful Courage, if I cannot make it a drawn Battle. But methinks the Comparison intimates something of a Defiance, and savours of Arrogance; wherefore since I am Conscious to my self of a Fear which I cannot put off, let me use the Policy of Cowards and lay this Novel unarm’d, naked and shivering at your Feet, so that if it should want Merit to challenge Protection, yet, as an Object of Charity, it may move Compassion. It has been some Diversion to me to Write it, I wish it may prove such to you when you have an hour to throw away in Reading of it: but this Satisfaction I have at least beforehand, that in its greatest failings it may fly for Pardon to that Indulgence which you owe to the weakness of your Friend; a Title which I am proud you have thought me worthy of, and which I think can alone be superior to that
Your most Humble and
Obliged Servant
CLEOPHIL.
THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
Reader,
Some Authors are so fond of a Preface, that they will write one tho’ there be nothing more in it than an Apology for its self. But to show thee that I am not one of those, I will make no Apology for this, but do tell thee that I think it necessary to be prefix’d to this Trifle, to prevent thy overlooking some little pains which I have taken in the Composition of the following Story. Romances are generally composed of the Constant Loves and invincible Courages of Hero’s, Heroins, Kings and Queens, Mortals of the first Rank, and so forth; where lofty Language, miraculous Contingencies and impossible Performances, elevate and surprize the Reader into a giddy Delight, which leaves him flat upon the Ground whenever he gives of, and vexes him to think how he has suffer’d himself to be pleased and transported, concern’d and afflicted at the several Passages which he has Read, viz. these Knights Success to their Damosels Misfortunes, and such like, when he is forced to be very well convinced that ’tis all a lye. Novels are of a more familiar nature; Come near us, and represent to us Intrigues in practice, delight us with Accidents and odd Events, but not such as are wholly unusual or unpresidented, such which not being so distant from our Belief bring also the pleasure nearer us. Romances give more of Wonder, Novels more Delight. And with reverence be it spoken, and the Parallel kept at due distance, there is something of equality in the Proportion which they bear in reference to one another, with that betwen Comedy and Tragedy; but the Drama is the long extracted from Romance and History: ’tis the Midwife to Industry, and brings forth alive the Conceptions of the Brain. Minerva walks upon the Stage before us, and we are more assured of the real presence of Wit when it is delivered viva voce —
Complete Works of William Congreve Page 70