No further could imagination roam, 'Till Vanbrook fram'd, and Marlbrô' rais'd the dome. And thy own laurels shade thy envy'd name: While the charm'd reader with thy thought complies, And views thy Rosamond with Henry's eyes. DRAMATIS PERSONE. MEN. KING HENRY. SIR TRUSTY, Keeper of the Bower. PAGE. MESSENGER. WOMEN. QUEEN ELINOR. ROSAMOND. GRIDELINE, Wife to Sir Trusty. Guardian Angels, &c. SCENE, WOODSTOCK PARK. ACT I. SCENE I.a A Prospect of Woodstock-Park, terminating in the Bower. Enter QUEEN and PAGE. QUEEN. WHAT place is here! Where'er I turn my eyes, All around Enchanted ground And soft Elysiums rise: Flow'ry mountains, Mossy fountains, Shady woods, Chrystal floods, With wild variety surprise. As o'er the hollow vaults we walk," A hundred echoes round us talk: Rocks rebounding, Caves resounding, Not a single word is lost. PAGE. There gentle Rosamond immured QUEEN. Curse on the name! I faint, I die, [Aside. • The comic scenes of this opera are pleasant and entertaining. Alluding to the famous echo in Woodstock-Park. PAGE. There does the pensive beauty mourn, Death and confusion! I'm too slow Show me the happy mansion, show- [Aside. PAGE. Great Henry there QUEEN. Trifler, no more!— PAGE. -Great Henry there Will soon forget the toils of war. QUEEN. No more! the happy mansion show PAGE. Behold on yonder rising ground The bower, that wanders In meanders, Ever bending, Never ending, Glades on glades, Shades in shades, Running an eternal round: QUEEN. In such an endless maze I rove, Lost in labyrinths of love. My breast with hoarded vengeance burns, With hope engage, And rule my wav'ring soul by turns. PAGE. The path yon verdant field divides, QUEEN. Eleonora, think betimes, What are thy hated rival's crimes! |