Page images
PDF
EPUB

CANTATA IV,

M IR AN D A.

MU

RECITATIVE.

IRANDA's tuneful voice and fame
Had reach'd the wondering fkies;

From heaven the god of mufic came,
And own'd a pleas'd furprise ;
Then in a foft melodious lay,
Apollo did thefe grateful praises pay.

A IR.

Matchlefs charmer! thine shall be
The highest prize of harmony.
Phoebus ever will infpire thee,

And th' applauding world admire thee;

All shall in thy praise agree.

Matchlefs charmer! thine shall be

The higheft prize of harmony.

RECITATIVE.

The god then fummon'd every Muse t'appear,

And hail their fister of the quire;

Smiling they stood around, her foothing strains to hear, And fill'd her happy foul with all their fire.

AIR.

O harmony! how wondrous fweet,

Doft thou our cares allay !

5

10

15

When

When all thy moving graces meet,
How foftly doft thou fteal our easy hours away!
O harmony! how wondrous fweet,
Doft thou our cares allay!

20

CANTATA V.

CORY DO N.

W

RECITATIVE.

HILE Corydon the lonely shepherd try'd
His tuneful flute, and charm'd the grove,
The jealous nightingales, that ftrove

To trace his notes, contending dy'd;

At last he hears within a myrtle shade

An echo answer all his ftrain ;

Love ftole the pipe of fleeping Pan, and play'd;
Then with his voice decoys the listening swain.
AIR. [with a flute.]

Gay fhepherd, to befriend thee,
Here pleasing scenes attend thee,
O this way speed thy pace!
If mufic can delight thee,
Or vifions fair invite thee,

This bower's the happy place.
Gay fhepherd, to befriend thee,
Here pleafing scenes attend thee,

O this way speed thy pace!

5

10

15

RECITATIVE.

The fhepherd rose, he gaz'd around,
And vainly fought the magic found;
The God of Love his motion fpies,

Lays by the pipe, and shoots a dart
Through Corydon's unwary heart,
Then, fmiling, from his ambush flies;
While in his room, divinely bright,

20

[blocks in formation]

RECITATIVE.

AIRY Cloe, proud and young,

The fairest tyrant of the plain,
Laugh'd at her adoring fwain.

He fadly figh'd-She gayly fung,

And, wanton, thus reproach'd his pain. 5

AIR.

Leave me, filly fhepherd, go;
You only tell me what I know,
You view a thousand charms in me;
Then cease thy prayers, I'll kinder grow,
When I can view fuch charms in thee.
Leave me, filly fhepherd, go;

You only tell me what I know,
You view a thousand charms in me.

RECITATIVE.

Amyntor, fir'd by this disdain,

Curs'd the proud fair, and broke his chain;
He rav'd, and at the scorner swore,

And yow'd he'd be Love's fool no more-
But Cloe fmil'd, and thus fhe call'd him back again.

AIR.

Shepherd, this I've done to prove thee,

Now thou art a man, I love thee;

And without a blush resign.

But ungrateful is the paffion,
And deftroys our inclination,

When, like slaves, our lovers whine.
Shepherd, this I've done to prove thee,
Now thou art a man, I love thee,

And without a blush resign.

10

15

20

25

TH-E

[blocks in formation]

THE KING OF FRANCE'S BREAKING THE PEACE OF RESWICK.

Spartan youths! what fafcinating charms
Have froze your blood? why ruft your idle arms?
When with awaken'd courage will you go,
And minds refolv'd, to meet the threatening foe?
What! fhall our vile lethargic floth betray
To greedy neighbours an unguarded prey?
Or can you
fee their armies rush from far,
And fit fecure amidst the rage of war?

Ye gods! how great, how glorious 'tis to fee
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 fword, and take the field,
And fortify his breaft behind the fpacious fhield.

5

10

Nor

« PreviousContinue »