So. Haste, good Zanthia: help! keep yet the doors!
Zan. Fair fall you, lady; so, admit, admit.
Enter four Boys, anticly attired, with bows and quivers, dancing to the cornets a fantastic measure; Massinissa in his nightgown, led by Asdrubal and Hanno, followed by Bytheas and Jugurth. The Boys draw the curtains, discovering Sophonisba, to whom Massinissa speaks.
Mass. You powers of joy, gods of a happy bed,
Show you are pleased; sister and wife of Jove,
High-fronted Juno, and thou Carthage patron,
Smooth-chinn’d Apollo, both give modest heat
And temperate graces!
[Massinissa draws a white ribbon forth[301] of the bed, as from the waist of Sophonisba.
Lo, I unloose thy waist!
She that is just in love is god-like chaste. 40
Io to Hymen!
Chorus, with cornets, organ and voices. Io to Hymen!
So. A modest silence, though’t be thought
A virgin’s beauty and her highest honour;
Though bashful feignings nicely wrought,
Grace her that virtue takes not in, but on her;
What I dare think I boldly speak:
After my word my well-bold action rusheth.
In open flame then passion break!
Where virtue prompts, thought, word, act never blusheth.
Revenging gods, whose marble hands 50
Crush faithless men with a confounding terror,
Give me no mercy if these bands
I covet not with an unfeignèd fervour;
Which zealous vow when ought can force me t’lame,[302]
Load with that plague Atlas would groan at, shame.
Io to Hymen!
Chorus. Io to Hymen!