_Arth._ Beauty like yours commands; and man was made But a more boisterous, and a stronger slave, To you, the best delights of human kind. _Em._ But are you mine? Is there an end of war? Are all those trumpets dead themselves, at last, That used to kill men with their thundering sounds? _Arth._ The sum of war is undecided yet; And many a breathing body must be cold, Ere you are free. _Em._ How came you hither then? _Arth._ By Merlin's art, to snatch a short-lived bliss; To feed my famished love upon your eyes One moment, and depart. _Em._ O moment, worth Whole ages past, and all that are to come! Let love-sick Oswald now unpitied mourn; Let Osmond mutter charms to sprites in vain, To make me love him; all shall not change my soul. _Arth._ Ha! Does the enchanter practise hell upon you? Is he my rival too? _Em._ Yes, but I hate him; For, when he spoke, through my shut eyes I saw him; His voice look'd ugly, and breathed brimstone on me; And then I first was glad that I was blind, Not to behold damnation. _Phil._ This time is left me to congratulate Your new-born eyes; and tell you what you gain By sight restored, and viewing him you love.-- Appear, ye airy forms! [_Airy Spirits appear in the shapes of Men and Women._ Man sings. _Oh sight, the mother of desires, What charming objects dost thou yield! 'Tis sweet, when tedious night expires, To see the rosy morning gild The mountain-tops, and paint the field! But when Clarinda comes in sight, She makes the summer's day more bright; And when she goes away, 'tis night._ Chor. _When fair Clarinda comes in sight, &c._ Wom. sings. _'Tis sweet the blushing morn to view; And plains adorned with pearly dew:_ _But such cheap delights to see, Heaven and nature Give each creature; They have eyes, as well as we; This is the joy, all joys above, To see, to see, That only she, That only she we love!_ Chor. _This is the joy, all joys above, &c._ Man sings. _And if we may discover What charms both nymph and lover, 'Tis, when the fair at mercy lies, With kind and amorous anguish, To sigh, to look, to languish, On each other's eyes!_ Chorus of all Men and Women. _And if we may discover, &c._ _Phil._ Break off your music, for our foes are near. [_Spirits vanish._ _Enter_ MERLIN. _Merl._ My sovereign, we have hazarded too far; But love excuses you, and prescience me: Make haste, for Osmond is even now alarmed, And, greedy of revenge, is hasting home. _Arth._ Oh! take my love with us, or leave me here.