JUP.Well, but what are we to do? We feel that we ought to do something, but we don't know what.
THES.Why don't you all go down to earth, incog, mingle with the world, hear and see what people think of you, and judge for yourselves as to the best means to take to restore your influence?
JUP.Ah, but what's to become of Olympus in the meantime?
THES.Lor' bless you, don't distress yourself about that.I've a very good company, used to take long parts on the shortest notice.Invest us with your powers and we'll fill your places till you return.
JUP.[aside] The offer is tempting.But suppose you fail?
THES.Fail.Oh, we never fail in our profession.We've nothing but great successes.
JUP.Then it's a bargain.
THES.It's a bargain.[they shake hands on it]
JUP.And that you may not be entirely without assistance, we will leave you Mercury and whenever you find yourself in a difficulty you can consult him.[enter Mercury]
JUP.So that's arranged--you take my place, my boy, While we make trial of a new existence.
At length I will be able to enjoy The pleasures I have envied from a distance.
MER.Compelled upon Olympus here to stop, While the other gods go down to play the hero.
Don't be surprised if on this mountain top You find your Mercury is down at zero.
AP.To earth away to join in mortal acts.
And gather fresh materials to write on.
Investigate more closely, several facts, That I for centuries have thrown some light on.
DIA.I, as the modest moon with crescent bow.
Have always shown a light to nightly scandal, I must say I'd like to go below, And find out if the game is worth the candle.
[enter all thespians, summoned by Mercury]
MER.Here come your people.
THES.People better now.
THES.While mighty Jove goes down below With all the other deities.
I fill his place and wear his "clo,"
The very part for me it is.
To mother earth to make a track, They are all spurred and booted, too.
And you will fill, till they come back, The parts you best are suited to.
CHO.Here's a pretty tale for future Iliads and Odysseys Mortals are about to personate the gods and goddesses.
Now to set the world in order, we will work in unity.
Jupiter's perplexity is Thespis's opportunity.
SPAR.Phoebus am I, with golden ray, The god of day, the god of day.
When shadowy night has held her sway, I make the goddesses fly.
Tis mine the task to wake the world, In slumber curled, in slumber curled.
By me her charms are all unfurled The god of day am I.
CHO.The god of day, the god of day, The park shall our Sparkeion play, Ha Ha, etc.
The rarest fun and rarest fare That ever fell to mortal share Ha ha etc.
NICE.I am the moon, the lamp of night.
I show a light -- I show a light.
With radiant sheen I put to flight The shadows of the sky.
By my fair rays, as you're aware, Gay lovers swear--gay lovers swear, While greybeards sleep away their care, The lamp of night am I.
CHO.The lamp of night-the lamp of night.
Nicemis plays, to her delight.
Ha Ha Ha Ha.
The rarest fun and rarest fare, That ever fell to mortal share, Ha Ha Ha HaTIM.Mighty old Mars, the god of war, I'm destined for--I'm destined for.
A terribly famous conqueror, With sword upon his thigh.
When armies meet with eager shout And warlike rout, and warlike rout, You'll find me there without a doubt.
The God of War am I.
CHO.The god of war, the god of war Great Timidon is destined for.
Ha Ha Ha Ha The rest fun and rarest fare That ever fell to mortal share Ha Ha Ha HaDAPH.When, as the fruit of warlike deeds, The soldier bleed, the soldier bleeds, Calliope crowns heroic deeds, With immortality.
From mere oblivion I reclaim The soldier's name, the soldier's name And write it on the roll of fame, The muse of fame am I.
CHO.The muse of fame, the muse of fame.
Callipe is Daphne's name.
Ha Ha Ha Ha The rarest fun and rarest fare, That ever fell to mortal share.
Ha Ha Ha Ha.
TUTTI.Here's a pretty tale.
[Enter procession of old Gods, they come down very much astonished at all they see, then passing by, ascent the platform that leads to the descent at the back.]
GODS.We will go, Down below, Revels rare, We will share.
Ha Ha Ha With a gay Holiday All unknown, And alone Ha Ha Ha.
TUTTI.Here's a pretty tale.
[The gods, including those who have lately entered in procession group themselves on rising ground at back.The Thespians kneeling bid them farewell.]
ACT II
SCENE-the same scene as in Act I with the exception that in place of the ruins that filled the foreground of the stage, the interior of a magnificent temple is seen showing the background of the scene of Act I, through the columns of the portico at the back.High throne.L.U.E.Low seats below it.All the substitute gods and goddesses [that is to say, Thespians] are discovered grouped in picturesque attitudes about the stage, eating and drinking, and smoking and singing the following verses.
CHO.Of all symposia The best by half Upon Olympus, here await us.
We eat ambrosia.
And nectar quaff, It cheers but don't inebriate us.
We know the fallacies, Of human food So please to pass Olympian rosy, We built up palaces, Where ruins stood, And find them much more snug and cosy.
SILL.To work and think, my dear, Up here would be, The height of conscientious folly.
So eat and drink, my dear, I like to see, Young people gay--young people jolly.
Olympian food my love, I'll lay long odds, Will please your lips--those rosy portals, What is the good, my love Of being gods, If we must work like common mortals?
CHO.Of all symposia...etc.
[Exeunt all but Nicemis, who is dressed as Diana and Pretteia, who is dressed as Venus.They take Sillimon's arm and bring him down]
SILL.Bless their little hearts, I can refuse them nothing.As the Olympian stage-manager I ought to be strict with them and make them do their duty, but i can't.Bless their little hearts, when I see the pretty little craft come sailing up to me with a wheedling smile on their pretty little figure-heads, I can't turn my back on 'em.I'm all bow, though I'm sure I try to be stern.
PRET.You certainly are a dear old thing.
SILL.She says I'm a dear old thing.Deputy Venus says I'm a dear old thing.