_Mars._ 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. Mars has looked the sky to red; And Peace, the lazy God,[74] is fled. Plenty, peace, and pleasure fly; The sprightly green, In woodland-walks, no more is seen; The sprightly green has drunk the Tyrian dye. Cho. of all. _Plenty, peace, &c._ _Mars._ Sound the trumpet, beat the drum; Through all the world around, Sound a reveillé, sound, sound, The warrior god is come. Cho. of all. _Sound the trumpet, &c._ _Momus._ 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. _The fools are only, &c._ _Enter_ VENUS. _Venus._ Calms appear, when storms are past; Love will have his hour at last: Nature is my kindly care; Mars destroys, and I repair; Take me, take me, while you may, Venus comes not every day. Cho. of all. _Take her, take her, &c._ _Chronos._ The world was then so light, I scarcely felt the weight; Joy ruled the day, and Love the night. But, since the queen of pleasure left the ground,[75] I faint, I lag, And feebly drag The ponderous orb around. _Momus._ All, all of a piece throughout; Thy chace had a beast in view; [_Pointing to_ DIANA. Thy wars brought nothing about; [_To_ MARS. Thy lovers were all untrue. [_To_ VENUS. _Janus._ 'Tis well an old age is out, _Chronos._ And time to begin a new. Cho. of all. _All, all of a piece throughout; Thy chace 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._ [Dance of Huntsmen, Nymphs, Warriors, and Lovers. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 74: The first edition, and some others, have _Good_; but I prefer _God_, as the more poetical reading.] [Footnote 75: There seems here to be a secret allusion to the exile of the beautiful queen of James II., so much admired by the Tory poets of the time.] EPILOGUE TO THE PILGRIM.