—Mother, farewel! Climb the bright sky with rapid wings; and swift As a beam shot from great Apollo’s bow Rebounds from the calm mirror of the sea Back to his quiver in the Sun, do thou Return again to thy loved Proserpine. ((Exit Ceres.).) And now, dear Nymphs, while the hot sun is high Darting his influence right upon the plain, Let us all sit beneath the narrow shade That noontide Etna casts.—And, Ino, sweet, Come hither; and while idling thus we rest, Repeat in verses sweet the tale which says How great Prometheus from Apollo’s car Stole heaven’s fire—a God-like gift for Man! Or the more pleasing tale of Aphrodite; How she arose from the salt Ocean’s foam, And sailing in her pearly shell, arrived On Cyprus sunny shore, where myrtles (2) bloomed And sweetest flowers, to welcome Beauty’s Queen; And ready harnessed on the golden sands Stood milk-white doves linked to a sea-shell car, With which she scaled the heavens, and took her seat Among the admiring Gods. (EUNOE: Proserpine’s tale Is sweeter far than Ino’s sweetest aong.) Ino, you knew erewhile a River-God, Who loved you well and did you oft entice To his transparent waves and flower-strewn banks. He loved high poesy and wove sweet sounds, And would sing to you as you sat reclined On the fresh grass beside his shady cave, From which clear waters bubbled, dancing forth, And spreading freshness in the noontide air. When you returned you would enchant our ears With tales and songs which did entice the fauns, (3) With Pan their King from their green haunts, to hear. Tell me one now, for like the God himself, Tender they were and fanciful, and wrapt The hearer in sweet dreams of shady groves, Blue skies, and clearest, pebble-paved streams.

Proserpina Monologue from Proserpine and Midas

Rehearse Proserpina's monologue