Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913.

Songs, Odes, and Lyrical Pieces

The Secular Masque

Janus.Chronos, Chronos, mend thy Pace:

An hundred Times the rowling Sun

Around the Radiant Belt has run

In his revolving Race.

Behold, behold, the Goal in sight;

Spread thy Fans, and wing thy flight.

Chronos.Weary, weary of my weight,

Let me, let me drop my Freight,

And leave the World behind.

I could not bear,

Another Year,

The Load of Human-kind.

Momus.Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha! well hast thou done

To lay down thy Pack,

And lighten thy Back.

The World was a Fool, e’er since it begun,

And since neither Janus, nor Chronos, nor I

Can hinder the Crimes

Or mend the bad Times,

’Tis better to Laugh than to Cry.

Co. of all 3.’Tis better to Laugh than to Cry.

Janus.Since Momus comes to laugh below,

Old Time begin the Show,

That he may see, in every Scene,

What Changes in this Age have been.

Chronos.Then Goddess of the Silver Bow begin.

Diana.With Horns and with Hounds I waken the Day,

And hye to my Woodland walks away:

I tuck up my Robe, and am buskined soon,

And tye to my Forehead a wexing Moon.

I course the fleet Stagg, unkennel the Fox,

And chase the wild Goats or’e summets of Rocks,

With shouting and hooting we pierce thro’ the Sky;

And Eccho turns Hunter, and doubles the Cry.

Cho. of all.With shouting and hooting we pierce through the Skie,

And Eccho turns Hunter, and doubles the Cry.

Janus.Then our Age was in it’s Prime:

Chronos.Free from Rage.
Diana.And free from Crime.

Momus.A very Merry, Dancing, Drinking,

Laughing, Quaffing, and unthinking Time.

Cho. of all.Then our Age was in it’s Prime,

Free from Rage, and free from Crime,

A very Merry, Dancing, Drinking,

Laughing, Quaffing, and unthinking Time.

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 lookt the Sky to Red;

And Peace, the Lazy Good, 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 Reveille, 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.

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 ev’ry Day.

Cho. of all.Take her, take her, &c.

Chronos.The World was then so light,

I scarcely felt the Weight;

Joy rul’d the Day, and Love the Night.

But since the Queen of Pleasure left the Ground,

I faint, I lag,

And feebly drag

The pond’rous Orb around.

Momus.All, all of a piece throughout:

Pointing to Diana.Thy Chase had a Beast in View;

Pointing to Mars.Thy Wars brought nothing about;

Pointing to Venus.Thy Lovers were all untrue.

Janus.’Tis well an Old Age is out.

Chro.And time to begin a New.

Cho. of all.All, all of a piece throughout:

Thy Chase 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.