THE SECULAR MASQUE by JOHN DRYDEN

@3Enter@1 JANUS.

@3Janus. Chronos, Chronos,@1 mend thy Pace:
An hundred Times the rowling Sun
Around the Radiant Belt has run
In his revolving Race.
Behold, behold, the Goal in sight;
Spread thy Fans, and wing thy flight.

@3Enter@1 CHRONOS, @3with a Scythe in his Hand and a great Globe on his Back,
which he sets down at his entrance.@1

@3Chronos.@1 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.

@3Enter@1 MOMUS, @3Laughing.@1
@3Momus.@1 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 @3Janus,@1 nor @3Chronos,@1 nor I
Can hinder the Crimes
Or mend the bad Times,
'Tis better to Laugh than to Cry.

Co. of all 3. @3'Tis better to Laugh than to Cry.@1

@3Janus.@1 Since @3Momus@1 comes to laugh below,
Old Time begin the Show,
That he may see, in every Scene,
What Changes in this Age have been.

@3Chronos.@1 Then Goddess of the Silver Bow begin.
@3Horns, or Hunting-Musique within.@1

@3Enter@1 DIANA.

@3Diana.@1 With Horns and with Hounds I waken the Day,
And hye to my Woodland walks away:
I tuck up my Robe, and am buskined soon,
And tye to my Forehead a wexing Moon.
I course the fleet Stagg, unkennel the Fox,
And chase the wild Goats or'e summets of Rocks,
With shouting and hooting we pierce thro' the Sky;
And Eccho turns Hunter, and doubles the Cry.

Cho. of all. @3With shouting and hooting we pierce through the Skie,
And Eccho turns Hunter, and doubles the Cry.@1

@3Janus.@1 Then our Age was in it's Prime:
@3Chronos.@1 Free from Rage.
@3Diana.@1 And free from Crime.
@3Momus.@1 A very Merry, Dancing, Drinking,
Laughing, Quaffing, and unthinking Time.

Cho. of all. @3Then our Age was in it's Prime,
Free from Rage, and free from Crime,
A very Merry, Dancing, Drinking,
Laughing, Quaffing, and unthinking Time.@1
[@3Dance of@1 Diana's @3attendants.@1

@3Enter@1 MARS.

@3Mars.@1 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.
@3Mars@1 has lookt the Sky to Red;
And Peace, the Lazy Good, is fled.
Plenty, Peace, and Pleasure fly;
The Sprightly Green
In Woodland-Walks no more is seen;
The Sprightly Green has drunk the @3Tyrian@1 Dye.

Cho. of all. @3Plenty, Peace,@1 &c.

@3Mars.@1 Sound the Trumpet, Beat the Drum;
Through all the World around,
Sound a Reveille, Sound, Sound,
The Warrior God is come.

Cho. of all. @3Sound the Trumpet,@1 &c.

@3Momus.@1 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,
With all our Cost and Care;
But neither side a winner,
For Things are as they were.

Cho. of all. @3The Fools are only,@1 &c.

@3Enter@1 VENUS.

@3Venus.@1 Calms appear, when Storms are past;
Love will have his Hour at last:
Nature is my kindly Care;
@3Mars@1 destroys, and I repair;
Take me, take me, while you may,
@3Venus@1 comes not ev'ry Day.

Cho. of all. @3Take her, take her,@1 &c.

@3Chronos.@1 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.

@3Momus.@1 All, all of a piece throughout:
Pointing Thy Chase had a Beast in View;
to @3Diana.@1
to @3Mars.@1 Thy Wars brought nothing about;
to @3Venus.@1 Thy Lovers were all untrue.

@3Janus.@1 'Tis well an Old Age is out.

@3Chro.@1 And time to begin a New.

Cho. of all. @3All, all of a piece throughout:
Thy Chase had a Beast in View;
Thy Wars brought nothing about;
Thy Lovers were all untrue.
'Tis well an Old Age is out,
And time to begin a New.@1
Dance of Huntsmen, Nymphs, Warriours, and Lovers.

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