Gondibert and Birtha - Act 4, Scene 1

ACT IV. Scene I.

G ONDIBERT .

H AIL Marriage! Fountain of unsullied Bliss,
Descending from above, to quench the Thirst
Of Holy Love, and bathe the Soul in Sweetness.
Hail Hymeneal Rose, without a Thorn!
How have thy Leaves distill'd into my Heart
Their balmy Dews, as pleasant as the Drops
Which softly fall upon our Fields and Hills.
But see the beauteous Partner of my Life,
My Birtha moves this Way. Her modest Cheeks
With rosy Virtue flame, and speak her Thoughts
As bright and spotless as the golden Lamps
Which burn before the sacred Throne of Love.

Scene Fourth,

Gondibert, Birtha.

B IRTHA .

My Lord, my Gondibert , it was not kind
To leave me thus alone, so soon to leave me,
For I cou'd dwell for ever in your Sight,
Live on your Looks, or dye within your Arms.
But you'll forgive me while I thus complain,
For 'tis Excess of Love, it is, believe me:
Love overflows my Heart, inflames my Pulse,
Beats with my Life, and mingles with my Soul.

G ONDIBERT .

Good Heav'n! what Blessings has thy Mercy pour'd
On thy unworthy Servant! — O My Birtha ,
Thy Love is Wonderful, surpassing far
The Love of Women! Vestal Maids might own it,
And learn from thine to glow with purer Fires.
Here I had sought the Bosom of the Grove
To wonder at thy Charms, to feed my Heart
In Meditation on Thee, and to thank
In humble Pray'rs the Gods for giving Thee!
For, trust me, while I stand blest in thy Presence,
Such ardent Tumults of severe Delight
Astonish all my Soul, that nought is left
To shew the boundless Virtue of my Love
But dying Gazes, Sighs, and speechless Raptures.

B IRTHA .

The Language of the Soul! no Tongue can speak it:
O Love! thy Thoughts are painted to the Eye;
Each Motion has the Force of Eloquence,
And nothing in us, but our Tongues, is silent. —
Support me, Gondibert , I faint with Rapture.

G ONDIBERT .

Methinks I am a real Atlas , thus
While I support my Birtha — Heav'nly Burthen!
Ambition! how I spurn thee! — And I swear
The Flame of Glory, and the shouting Field,
The golden Chariot, and attending Princes
Who bit their Chains to swell the Triumph high,
Cou'd never pour such Transports on my Heart,
As now I feel, thus clasping Thee! — Farewel
All future Thoughts of War: farewel, my Arms,
Which spread a burnish'd Horror o'er the Fields,
I give you up to rust. No more the Foe
Shall tremble at the nodding of my Plumes;
And Death no more look grimly pleas'd to see
Her griesly Empire growing by my Sword.
No Sights but Beauty now shall charm my Eyes,
No Sounds but Sighs be pleasing to my Ears,
And nought but Birtha triumph in my Heart.

B IRTHA .

And by the gentle Pow'r of Love, I never,
O never tasted Joy compar'd to this
Through all my Virgin-Life. Your Words are Honey
Distilling from your Lips, and feed my Soul.
Your Silence and your Words both charm alike.
O may our Bliss continue thus to roll,
A long, a soft, uninterrupted Stream;
Nor vext with Troubles, nor the Storms of Life;
Till having run through Meadows, green Retreats,
And peaceful Vales, refining as it runs,
It meet the Ocean of Eternity,
There lose itself in never-ending Love.

G ONDIBERT .

My Heart has form'd as fair a Scene of Joy.
For I have call'd to mind a Seat of Safety
Low in a Vale, and distant from the Court,
Where Peace and Innocence wou'd chuse a Dwelling:
Where Pleasure smiling roves through blooming Bowers,
Through flowery Fields, through silver-rolling Streams,
And dips in rosy Dews her purple Wings.
In those soft Scenes of Love and rural Silence,
Where Nature laughs, a Wilderness of Sweets!
There lives a good old Man, my Father's Friend,
I know He gladly will receive us both.
We'll fly to Him, nor hear of Danger more.
There like two Vines we'll grow and curl together,
Swell into Ripeness, blossom into Joy!
The Sun shall sooth us with his sweetest Beams,
No Winds, but spicy Gales, refresh our Noons,
No Birds, but Turtles, warble in our Shades,
And Love Himself shall wave his Banner o'er us:
While Truth, and Joy, and Hope, a smiling Train,
Sport round, and fan us with their shining Plumes.
— You tremble and look pale: — Why starts my Love?
— What sudden Change is this?

B IRTHA .

Behold the Guards;
Protect us, Heav'n! I dread the fatal Consequence.

G ONDIBERT .

Heav'n will protect Thee: Let us meet the Storm,
I'll either save my Love or perish in it.
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