Psyche

Psyche
Жан-Батист Мольер

Molière

Psyche

PERSONS REPRESENTED

Jupiter.

Venus.

Love.

Zephyr.

Aegiale and Phaëne, two Graces.

The King.

Psyche.

Aglaura.

Cidippe.

Cleomenes and Agenor, two princes, Psyche's lovers.

Lycas, captain of the guards.

A River God

Two Cupids.

PROLOGUE

The front of the stage represents a rustic spot, while at the back the sea can be seen in the distance.

SCENE I

Flora. appears in the centre of the stage, attended by Vertumnus, god of trees and fruit, and by Palemon, god of the streams. Each of these gods conducts a troup of divinities; one leads in his train Dryads and Sylvans, and the other River Gods and Naiads.

Flora sings the following lines, to invite Venus to descend upon earth: —

Flora.

The din of battle is stayed;
The mightiest king of earth
His arms aside has laid;
Of peace 'tis now the birth!
Descend thou, lovely Venus,
And blissful hours grant us!

Vertumnus and Palemon, and the divinities who attend them, join their voices to that of Flora, and sing the following words.—

Chorus of Divinities of the earth and streams, composed of Flora, Nymphs, Palemon, Vertumnus, Sylvans, Fauns, Dryads, and Naiads.

A peace profound we now enjoy,
And games and bliss without alloy;
Earth's mightiest king has giv'n us rest;
To him be praise and thanks addrest.
Descend thou, lovely Venus,
And happy hours grant us!

Then is formed an entry of the ballet, composed of two Dryads, four Sylvans, two River Gods, and two Naiads, after which Vertumnus and Palemon sing the following dialogue: —

Vertumnus.

Yield, yield, ye beauties stern,
To sigh 'tis now your turn!

Palemon.

See you, the queen above,
She comes to breathe soft love!

Vertumnus.

A fair one stern for aye
Ne'er wins a faithful sigh!

Palemon.

To woo has beauty arms,
But gentleness has greater charms.

Both (together).

To woo has beauty arms;
But gentleness has greater charms.

Vertumnus.

Seek not your hearts to shield;
To pine is law, and ye must yield.

Palemon.

Is aught more worthless born