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.