it be in my power, we will set out in quest of what I want." "As you will," my friend PRICE replied, "and for the present let us be gay. Here comes my beloved with a little bowl of punch, and as she sings extremely well, and you have not forgot I fancy our old song, we will have it over our nectar. You shall represent Janus and Momus, and I will be Chronos and Mars, and my wife Diana and Venus. Let us take a glass first- THE LIBERTIES OF THE WORLD,' and then do you begin." We drank, and in the following manner I went on. SONG. JANUS. Chronos, Chronos, mend thy pace, A hundred times the rolling sun, Behold, behold, the goal in sight, CHRONOS. Weary, weary of my weight, Let me, let me drop my freight, And leave the world behind. I could not bear Another year The load of human kind. MOMUS. Ha ha ha ha! ha! ha! well hast thou done, To lay down thy pack, And lighten thy back. The world was a fool, e'er since it begun. And since neither Janus, nor Chronos, nor I, Can hinder the crimes, Or mend the bad times, 'Tis better to laugh than to cry. CHORUS. 'Tis better to laugh than to cry. JANUS. Since Momus comes to laugh below, Old Time begin the show! CHRONOS. Then goddess of the silver bow begin! DIANA. With horns and with hounds I waken the day, I tuck up my robe, and am buskin'd soon, With shouting and hooting we pierce through the sky: And echo turns hunter, and doubles the cry. CHORUS. With shouting and hooting we pierce through the sky, And echo turns hunter, and doubles the cry. A very merry, dancing, drinking, CHORUS. Then our age was in its prime, Free from rage, and free from crime. Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking time. MARS. Inspire the vocal brass, inspire; The world is past its infant age: Arms and honour, Arms and honour, Set the martial mind on fire, And kindle manly rage. Mars has look'd the sky to red; In Woodland walks, no more is seen; The sprightly green has drank the Tyrian dye. CHORUS. Plenty, peace, and pleasure fly; The sprightly green In Woodland walks, no more is seen; The sprightly green has drank the Tyrian dye. MARS. Sound the trumpet, beat the drum, Through all the world around; Sound a reveille, sound, sound, The warrior God is come. CHORUS. Sound the trumpet, beat the drum, The warrior God is come. MOMUS. Thy sword within the scabbard keep, And let mankind agree; Better the world were fast asleep, Than kept awake by thee. The fools are only thinner, For things are as they were. CHORUS. The fools are only thinner, But neither side a winner, For things are as they were. VENUS. Calms appear, when storms are past, Nature is my kindly care; Mars destroys, and I repair; Take me, take me, while you may, Venus comes not ev'ry day. CHORUS. Take her, take her, while you may, CHRONOS. The world was then so light, I scarcely felt the weight; Joy rul'd the day, and love the night. But since the queen of pleasure left the ground, I faint, I lag, And feebly drag The pond'rous orb around.. |