תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Or can you see their armies rush from far,
And sit secure amidst the rage of war?
Ye gods! how great, how glorious 'tis to sce
The warrior-hero fight for liberty,

For his dear children, for his tender wife,
For all the valued joys, and soft supports of life!
Then let him draw his sword, and take the field,
And fortify his breast behind the spacious shield.
Nor fear to die; in vain you shun your fate,
Nor can you shorten, nor prolong its date;
For life's a measur'd race, and he that flies
From darts and fighting foes, at home inglorious
No grievi g crowds his obsequies attend; [dies;
But all applaud and weep the soldier's end,
Who, desperately brave, in fight sustains
Inflicted wounds, and honourable stains,
And falls a sacrifice to Glory's charms:
But if a just success shall crown his arms,
For his return the rescued people wait,
To see the guardian genius of the state;
With rapture viewing his majestic face,
His dauntless mien, and every martial grace,
They'll bless the toils he for their safety bore,
Admire them living, and when dead adore.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

The nymph look'd back, well pleas'd to see
That Damon ran as swift as she.
Pastora fled to a shady grove;
Damon view'd her,

[blocks in formation]

Scene opening discovers a pleasant bower, with the god of love asleep,, attended by Cupids, some playing with his bow, others sharpening his arrows, &c. On each side the bower, walks of cypress trees, and fountains playing; a distant landscape terminates the prospect.

Verse for a shepherdess, with flutes.
See the mighty power of love,
Sleeping in a Cyprian grove!
Nymphs and shepherds, gently shed
Spices round his sacred head;
On his lovely body shower

Leaves of roses, virgin lilies,
Cowslips, violets, daffodilies,
And with garlands dress the bower.

Rittornel of flutes. After which Cupid rises, and sings, with his bow drawn.

Yield to the god of soft desires!
Whose gentle influence inspires
Every creature

Throughout nature

With sprightly joys and genial fires.
Chorus of the shepherds and nymphs.

Hail, thou potent deity!

Every creature
Throughout nature

Owns thy power as well as we.

Enter Hymen in a saffron-coloured robe, a chaplet of flowers on his head, and in his hand the nuptial torch; attended by priests.

[blocks in formation]

VENUS! thy throne of beauty now resign !
Behold on Earth a conquering fair,
Who more deserves Love's crown to wear!
Not thy own star so bright in Heaven does shine.
Ask of thy son her name, who with his dart
Has deeply grav'd it in my heart;

Or ask the god of tuneful sound,

Who sings it to his lyre,

And does this maid inspire

With his own art, to give a surer wound.

AIR.

Hark! the groves her songs repeat;
Echo lurks in hollow springs,
And, transported while she sings,
Learns her voice, and grows more sweet;
Could Narcissus see or hear her,
From his fountain he would fly,
And, with awe approaching near her,
For a real beauty die.

Hark! the groves her songs repeat;
Echo lurks in hollow springs,
And, transported while she sings,
Learns her voice, and grows more sweet.
RECITATIVE.

Yet, Venus, once again my suit attend ;
And when from Heaven you shall descend,

CLAUDIANUS.

IN EPITHALAMIO HONORII ET MARIE.

CUNCTATUR Stupefacta Venus. Nunc ora puellæ,
Nunc flavam niveo miratur vertice matrem.
Hæc modo crescenti, plenæ par altera lunæ :,
Assurgit ceu fortè ininor sub matre virenti
Laurus: & ingentes ramos, olimque futuras
Promittit jam parva comas: vel flore sub uno,
Ceu geminæ Pæstana rosæ per jugera regnant.
Hæc largo matura die, saturataque vernis
Roribus, indulget spatio: latet altera nodo,
Nec teneriş audet foliis admittere soles.

TRANSLATED.

Venus coming to a nuptial ceremony, and entering the room, sees the bride and her mother sitting together, &c. On which occasion Claudian makes the following description.

THE goddess paus'd; and, held in deep amaze,
Now views the mother's, now the daughter's face;
Different in each, yet equal beauty glows,
That, the full moon, and this, the crescent shows:
Thus, rais'd beneath its parent tree, is seen
The laurel shoot, while, in its early green,
Thick-sprouting leaves and branches are essay'd,
And all the promise of a future shade.
Or, blooming thus, in happy Pæstan fields,
One common stock two lovely roses yields;
Mature by vernal dews, this dares display
Its leaves full blown, and boldly meets the day;
That, folded in its tender nonage, lies
A beauteous bud, nor yet admits the skies,

A CANTATA

SET BY MR. PEPUSCH.

AIR.

FOOLISH Love! I scorn thy darts,
And all thy little wanton arts,
To captivate unmanly hearts.
Shall a woman, proud and coy,
Make me languish for a toy?
Foolish Love! I scorn thy darts,
And all thy little wanton aris,
To captivate unmanly hearts.

RECITATIVE.

Thus Strephon mock'd the power of Love, and swore His freedom he would still maintain,

Nor ever wear th' inglorious chain,

Or slavishly adore.

But when Lamira cross'd the plain,

The shepherd gaz'd, and thus revers'd his strain.

AIR.

Love, I feel thy power divine,

And blushing now my heart resign!
Ye swains, my folly don't despise;
But look on fair Lamira's eyes,
Then tell me if you can be wise.
Love, I feel thy power divine,
And blushing now my heart resign!

THE SOLDIER IN LOVE.
A CANTATA.

SET WITH SYMPHONIES BY MR. PEPUSCH.

AIR.

WHY, too amorous hero! why
Dost thou the war forego,
At Celia's feet to lic,

And sighing tell thy woe?
Can you think that sneaking air
Fit to move th' unpitying fair?
She laughs to see thee trifle so.
Why, too amorous hero! why
Dost thou the war forego,
At Celia's feet to lie,

And sighing tell thy woe?

RECITATIVE.

Cleander heard not this advice,

Nor would his languishing refrain.

But while to Celia once he pray'd in vain, By chance his image in a glass he spies, And, blushing at the sight, he grew a man again.

AIR. WITH A TRUMPET.

Hark! the trumpet sounds to arms!
I come, I come, the warrior cries,
And from scornful Celia flies,
To court Victoria's charms.
Celia beholds his alter'd brow,
And would regain her lover now.
Hark! the trumpet sounds to arms!
I come, I come, the warrior cries,
And from scornful Celia flies,
To court Victoria's charms.

[blocks in formation]

Melting airs, soft joys inspire:
Airs for drooping Hope to hear,
Melting as a lover's prayer;
Joys to flatter dull Despair,
And softly sooth the amorous fire.
Now let the sprightly violin
A louder strain begin;
And now

Let the deep-mouth'd organ blow,
Swell it high, and sink it low.

Hark-how the treble and base
In wanton fugues each other chase,
And swift divisions run their airy race!
Through all the travers'd scale they fly,
In winding labyrinths of harmony:

By turns they rise and fall, by turns we live and die,

[blocks in formation]
« הקודםהמשך »