TATE, Nahum
When night her purple veil has softly spread
When night her purple veil has softly spread,
And busy men assembled with the dead,
When all is hush’d, but zephyr’s gentle breath,
Which cools the air, perfuming all the earth,
With silent wings thro’ murmuring forests flies,
Spreading the sweets which from the woodbine rise,
With hasty steps and a wild, thoughtful air,
Heedless of danger, guided by despair,
The lovely damon strivest in the thickest shades to mix,
On whom all graces do, and all desires would fix.
While night he seeks, new day he seems to bring,
For blooming youth has light in ev’rything.
He sighs, now weep, then with a just dedain
Reproaches her he loves, alas! In vain;
The senseless nymph does on a satyr dote,
Despising damon, couples with a goat.
Under a mossy oak he thus began,
Which, bending, seem’d to listen as he sang:
“Ah Silvia, ah, unkind, ah! cruel fair,
To him so gentle, to me severe,
Sweeter than the flow’ry Spring,
Than the dew which bees do bring
From op’ning buds with careful wing,
Which when I strive to taste, like them you sting.
When I am laid in earth
Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me,
On thy bosom let me rest,
More I would, but Death invades me;
Death is now a welcome guest.
When I am laid, am laid in earth, May my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
Whilst Shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,
Whilst Shepherds watch'd their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The Angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
Fear not, said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind,
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.
To you in David's town this day
Is born of David's line
A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign.
The heavenly Babe you there shall find,
To human view display'd,
All meanly wrapt in swaddling bands
And in a manger laid.
Thus spake the Seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a heavenly throng
Of Angels praising God, and thus
Address'd their joyful song:
All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace,
Good-will henceforth from Heav'n to men
Begin and never cease.
Hallelujah.
As pants the hart for cooling streams / Psalm 42
As pants the hart for cooling streams
When heated in the chase,
So longs my soul, O God, for Thee,
And Thy refreshing grace.
Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Trust God, who will employ
His aid for thee, and change these sighs
To thankful hymns of joy.
For Thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine;
Oh, when shall I behold Thy face,
Thou Majesty Divine?
God of my strength, how long shall I,
Like one forgotten, mourn,
Forlorn, forsaken, and exposed
To my oppressor’s scorn?
Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still, and thou shalt sing
The praise of Him who is thy God,
Thy health’s eternal spring.
Dido and Aenaes
DIDO
Whence could so much virtue spring?
What storms, what battles did he sing?
Anchises' valour mixt with Venus' charms
How soft in peace, and yet how fierce in arms!
BELINDA
A tale so strong and full of woe
Might melt the rocks as well as you.
What stubborn heart unmov'd could see
Such distress, such piety?
DIDO
Mine with storms of care opprest
Is taught to pity the distrest.
Mean wretches' grief can touch,
So soft, so sensible my breast,
But ah! I fear, I pity his too much.
BELINDA AND SECOND WOMAN
[Repeated by Chorus]
Fear no danger to ensue,
The Hero Loves as well as you,
Ever gentle, ever smiling,
And the cares of life beguiling,
Cupid strew your path with flowers
Gather'd from Elysian bowers.
…..
CHORUS
Cupid only throws the dart
That's dreadful to a warrior's heart,
And she that wounds can only cure the smart.
AENEAS
If not for mine, for Empire's sake,
Some pity on your lover take;
Ah! make not, in a hopeless fire
A hero fall, and Troy once more expire.
BELINDA
Pursue thy conquest, Love; her eyes
Confess the flame her tongue denies.
A DANCE. GITTARS CHACONY.
CHORUS
To the hills and the vales, to the rocks and the mountains
To the musical groves and the cool shady fountains.
Let the triumphs of love and of beauty be shown,
Go revel, ye Cupids, the day is your own.
…..
[PRELUDE FOR THE WITCHES]
SORCERESS
Wayward sisters, you that fright
The lonely traveller by night
Who, like dismal ravens crying,
Beat the windows of the dying,
Appear! Appear at my call, and share in the fame
Of a mischief shall make all Carthage flame.
Appear!
[enter Enchantresses]
…..
BELINDA
[Repeated by Chorus]
Thanks to these lovesome vales,
These desert hills and dales,
So fair the game, so rich the sport,
Diana's self might to these woods resort.
…..
AENEAS
Behold, upon my bending spear
A monster's head stands bleeding,
With tushes far exceeding
Those did Venus' huntsman tear.
DIDO
The skies are clouded, hark! how thunder
Rends the mountain oaks a sunder.
……….
Tonight thou must forsake this land,
The Angry God will brook no longer stay.
Jove commands thee, waste no more
In Love's delights, those precious hours,
Allow'd by th'Almighty Powers
To gain th' Hesperian shore
And ruined Troy restore.
AENEAS
Jove's commands shall be obey'd,
Tonight our anchors shall be weighed.
[Exit Spirit.]
But ah! what language can I try
My injur'd Queen to Pacify:
No sooner she resigns her heart,
But from her arms I'm forc'd to part.
How can so hard a fate be took?
One night enjoy'd, the next forsook.
Yours be the blame, ye gods! For I
Obey your will, but with more ease could die.
…..
DIDO
Your counsel all is urged in vain
To Earth and Heav'n I will complain!
To Earth and Heav'n why do I call?
Earth and Heav'n conspire my fall.
To Fate I sue, of other means bereft
The only refuge for the wretched left.
…..
AENEAS
What shall lost Aeneas do?
How, Royal Fair, shall I impart
The God's decree, and tell you we must part?
DIDO
Thus on the fatal Banks of Nile,
Weeps the deceitful crocodile
Thus hypocrites, that murder act,
Make Heaven and Gods the authors of the Fact.
AENEAS
By all that's good ...
DIDO
By all that's good, no more!
All that's good you have forswore.
To your promis'd empire fly
And let forsaken Dido die.
AENEAS
In spite of Jove's command, I'll stay.
Offend the Gods, and Love obey.
DIDO
No, faithless man, thy course pursue;
I'm now resolv'd as well as you.
No repentance shall reclaim
The injur'd Dido's slighted flame.
For 'tis enough, whate'er you now decree,
That you had once a thought of leaving me.
AENEAS
Let Jove say what he will: I'll stay!
DIDO
Away, away! No, no, away!
AENEAS
No, no, I'll stay, and Love obey!
DIDO
To Death I'll fly
If longer you delay;
Away, away!.....
[Exit Aeneas]
But Death, alas! I cannot shun;
Death must come when he is gone.
CHORUS
Great minds against themselves conspire
And shun the cure they most desire.
DIDO
[Cupids appear in the clouds o're her tomb]
Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me,
On thy bosom let me rest,
More I would, but Death invades me;
Death is now a welcome guest.
When I am laid in earth, May my wrongs create
No trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
CHORUS
With drooping wings you Cupids come,
To scatter roses on her tomb.
Soft and Gentle as her Heart
Keep here your watch, and never part.