Languages & literature > Alfred: a masque

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First Entry.
A husband, his wife, and family.
She. How fft ifthe fcene!
The woodlands how green !
What charms in the nightingale's layl
He. Fair peace, that now reigns
On our hills and our plains,
'Tis peace bids all nature be gay.
Cho. 'Tis peace bids all nature be gay.
She. The difaff,
He. The plow,
Both. Shall employ our hands now,
For ottrfelves and our children alone.
He. Secure from the foe,
We fall reap what we fw:
And the year, the whole year is our own!
Cho. And the year, the whole year is our own.
She waves her hand. Second Entry.
A fepherd, and fepherdefs.
They run into each others arms.
She. If to meet is all this pleafure,
Sure, to part was killing pain !
Both. Yes, to part was killing pain!
He. If ’twas grief to lofe our treafiret
How tran/porting to regain!
Both. 0 'tis tranfport to regain!
He. Thus poffeffing
She. every bleffng
Crowns the maid
He. And crowns her fwain.
Both. Crowns the happy maid and Jwain!
She waves her wand. Third Entry.
Soldiers defend the mountain by two different paths: at the
bottom they lay down the fpoils with which they areloaded;
and then, advancing,two of them fng the following ballad.