Copyright 2010 - Donya Lane & Ed McNamee
The Battle of Love
Isabella D’Este orders her court of nymphs and footmen
to pose for a painting of allegorical fantasy,
depicting her triumph over all the woman who have been
her rival for Leonardo’s paintbrush in…
Vocals: Rebecca Robbins, Mark Chmiel, Nick Cearley, Scott Barnhardt, Randy Blair, Kristin Knutson, Donya Lane, Brian E. Long & Logan Tracey
(dialogue)
I call upon the mythical Athena and Diana,
to oppose Venus and Eros.
Four goddesses of love…and war!
With golden bows and silver arrows!
It’s a battle of love versus lust,
and also the reverse!
This may become perverse.
I know, now, let’s rehearse!
It’s a battle of love.
And I shall be Venus in this war.
And Venus shall win the heart of the Moor…
Alone.
Now let it be shown. Parides! Take it away!
Bring in the trees. Listen up please. Think battlefield.
Symbolizing – Dramatizing
Here, here’s a shield. I’ll need some swans.
You two – you’re fauns!
Satirizing – Plagiarizing
Who’s got a drum? Where was that from? Here, play the flute.
Moralizing – Patronizing
Get the goat suit! You, get a lance!
Take off your pants! Take off your pants!
Take off your pants! Take off your pants! Take off your pants!
We vent our aggression in forms of expression
that calm our obsession for Da Vinci’s signature.
Until we sit for our session, we’ll allow this small digression
until at last, in our possession it will be, I am sure.
She is sure!
Now, in my vision the goddesses are bare breasted.
But you may stay bodiced, if you are modest.
ISABELLA
PARIDES
ISABELLA
COURT
ISABELLA
COURT
ISABELLA
PARIDES
COURT
PARIDES
COURT
PARIDES
COURT
ISABELLA
COURT
ISABELLA
One extra spear. Who needs one? Here. Put on your wings.
Bastardizing – Scandalizing.
Gather your things. Pull out the stops. Where are your props?
Ostracizing – Agonizing
Put that away. Don’t take all day. Who should have bows?
Tantalizing – Improvising
A perfect tableau. And make it look real.
Show how you feel. Everyone pose.
Everyone pose. Everyone pose! Everyone pose!
Enough! Parides!
(dialogue)
Once it becomes her desire – for a story by your hand,
this painted allegory is subject to her command.
And that is what you shall paint.
It’s a battle of love versus lust. And also the reverse!
Oh, this is quite perverse.
I know. Just you paint. And we’ll rehearse!
It’s the battle of love. (The battle of love.)
It’s the battle of love. (The battle of love.)
It’s the battle of love. (The battle of love.)
It’s the battle we mistress-wives, who spread mistrust
in sinful lives of love and lust must win!
It’s the battle of love!
Now let it begin!
PARIDES
COURT
PARIDES
COURT
PARIDES
COURT
PARIDES
COURT
ISABELLA
PARIDES
ISABELLA
COURT
SALAI
ISABELLA
COURT
ISABELLA
Sample Tracks:
