Listen, and appear to us, In name of great Oceanus ; By the earth-shaking Neptune's mace, And bridle in thy headlong wave, Till thou our summons answer'd have. Listen, and save! SABRINA rises, attended by Water-Nymphs, and sings. By the rushy-fringed bank, Where grows the willow, and the osier dank, My sliding chariot stays, Thick set with agate, and the azurn sheen Of turkis blue, and emerald green, That in the channel strays; Whilst from off the waters fleet Spirit. Goddess dear, We implore thy powerful hand To undo the charmed band Of true virgin here distrest, Through the force, and through the wile, Of unblest enchanter vile. Sabrina. Shepherd, 'tis my office best To help ensnared chastity: Brightest Lady, look on me; Smear'd with gums of glutinous heat, I touch with chaste palms moist and cold: Now the spell has lost his hold; Listen, and appear to us, In name of great Oceanus ; By the earth-shaking Neptune's mace, By dead Parthenope's dear tomb, And bridle in thy headlong wave, Till thou our summons answer'd have. Listen, and save! SABRINA rises, attended by Water-Nymphs, and sings. By the rushy-fringed bank, Where grows the willow, and the osier dank, My sliding chariot stays, Thick set with agate, and the azurn sheen Of turkis blue, and emerald green, That in the channel strays; Whilst from off the waters fleet Spirit. Goddess dear, We implore thy powerful hand Of true virgin here distrest, Through the force, and through the wile, Of unblest enchanter vile. Sabrina. Shepherd, 'tis my office best To help ensnared chastity: Brightest Lady, look on me; Smear'd with gums of glutinous heat, I touch with chaste palms moist and cold :Now the spell has lost his hold d; And I must haste, ere morning hour, To wait in Amphitrite's bower. SABRINA descends, and the LADY rises out of her seat. Spirit. Virgin, daughter of Locrine Sprung of old Anchises' line, May thy brimmed waves for this Their full tribute never miss From a thousand pretty rills, ; With many a tower and terrace round, With groves and myrrh and cinnamon! Come, Lady, while Heaven lends us grace, Let us fly this cursed place, Lest the sorcerer us entice With some other new device. |