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The Maid's Tragedy.

The Measure. Second Song.

Hold back thy Hours, dark Night, till we have done,

The Day will come too soon;
Young Maids will curse thee if thou steal'st away,
And leav'st their Blushes open to the Day.
Stay, stay, and hide
The Blushes of the Bride!
Stay, gentle Night, and with thy Darkness cover
The Kisses of her lover.
Stay, and confound her Tears, and her shrill Cryings,
Her weak Denials, Vows, and often Dyings;
Stay, and hide all,
But help not, though she call.


Nept.Great Queen of us and Heav'n,
Hear what I bring to make this hour a full one,
If not her measure.

Cinth.Speak, seas king.

Nept.The tunes my Amphitrite joys to have,
When they will dance upon the rising Wave,
And court me as she Sails, my Trytons, play
Musick to lead a Storm, I'll lead the way.


Song.Measure.

To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the Bride,

And lay her by her husband's Side:
Bring in the Virgins every one,
That grieve to lie alone:
That they may kiss while they may say, a Maid,
To morrow 'twill be other, kist and said:
Hesperus be long a shining,
Whilst these Lovers are a twining.


Eol.Ho! Neptune!

Nept.Eolus!

Eol.The Seas goes high,
Boreas hath rais'd a Storm; go and apply
Thy Trident, else I Prophesie, e'er Day
Many a tall Ship will be cast away:
Descend with all the Gods, and all their power, to strike a Call.

Cinth.A thanks to every one, and to gratulate
So great Service done at my desire,
Ye shall have many Floods, fuller and higher
Than you have wished for; no Ebb shall dare
To let the Day see where your dwellings are:
Now back unto your Government in haste,
Lest your proud Charge should swell above the Waste,
And win upon the Island.

Nept.We obey.[Neptune descends, and the Sea-gods.

Cinth.