A SERENATA. IN TWO PARTS. THE MUSIC BY MR. HANDEL. PART I. A rural prospect, diversified with rocks, groves, and a river. Acis and Galatea seated by a fountain. Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds, distributed about the landscape, and Polyphemus discovered sitting upon a mountain. CHORUS. O THE pleasure of the plains! For us unfolds the rose, And autumn bleeds the vine. RECITATIVE. 10 Da capoe GAL. Ye verdant plains and woody mountains! Purling streams and bubbling Fountains! Ye painted glories of the field! Vain are the pleasures which you yield; Too faint the galés to cool my love. ACIS. Where shall I seek the charming fair? Direct the way, kind Genius of the Mountains: O tell me if you saw my dear; Seeks she the groves, or bathes in chrystal fountains? RECITATIVE. DAM. Stay, Shepherd! stay; See how thy flocks in yonder valley stray. No more thy tuneful pipe we hear. AIR. Shepherd! what art thou pursuing? Share our joy, our pleasure share: Free from love and free from care. Da capo. 30 Da cape. RECITATIVE. ACIS. Lo here, my Love! Turn, Galatea! hither turn thine eyes; AIR. Love in her eyes sits playing, And sheds delicious death; 40 Love in her lips is straying, And warbling in her breath: Love on her breast sits panting, And swells with soft desire; Nor grace nor charm is wanting To set the heart on fire. RECITATIVE. Da cape. GAL. O! didst thou know the pains of absent love, Acis would ne'er from Galatea rove. 51 DUET. ACIS, GAL. Happy we. What joys I feel !---What charms I see! Of all nymphs thou brightest fair! Thou all my bliss, thou all my joy! Happy we, &c. CHORUS. Da capo ACIS AND GALATEA. PART II. A CONCERTO ON THE ORGAN. CHORUS. WRETCHED Lovers! Fate has past RECITATIVE ACCOMPANIED. POLYPH. I rage, I melt, I burn ;' The feeble God has stabb'd me to the heart. Thou trusty Pine! Prop of my godlike steps, I lay thee by. AIR. O ruddier than the cherry! 10 |