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!
Happy nymphs and happy swains!
(Harmless, merry, free and gay)
Dance and sport the hours away;
For us the zephyr blows,

For us distils the dew,

For us unfolds the rose,
And flowers display their hue:
For us the winter's rain,
For us the summer's shine;
Spring swells for us the grain,

And autumn bleeds the vine.

RECITATIVE.

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Da capo,

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 thin the shadow of the grove,

Too faint the gales to cool my love.

Cease your song, and take your flight;

Bring back my Acis to my sight.

AIR.

Da cape.

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.
What means this melancholy air?

No more thy tuneful pipe we hear.

AIR.

Shepherd! what art thou pursuing?
Heedless running to thy ruin!

Share our joy, our pleasure share :
Leave thy passion till to-morrow;
Let the day be free from sorrow,

Free from love and free from care.

Da capo.

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Da cape.

RECITATIVE.

ACIS. Lo here, my Love!

Turn, Galatea! hither turn thine eyes;
See at thy feet the longing Acis lies.

AIR.

Love in her eyes sits playing,

And sheds delicious death;

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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 capo

GAL. O! didst thou know the pains of absent love, Acis would ne'er from Galatea rove.

DUET.

ACIS, GAL. Happy we.

What joys I feel!---What charms I see!
Of all youths thou dearest Boy!

Of all nymphs thou brightest fair!
Thou all my bliss, thou all my joy!

CHORUS.

Happy we, &c.

ACIS AND GALATEA.

PART II.

A CONCERTO ON THE ORGAN.

CHORUS.

WRETCHED Lovers! Fate has past
This sad decree, No joy shall last.
Wretched lovers! quit your dream,
Behold the monster Polypheme;
See what ample strides he takes,
The mountain nods, the forest shakes;
The waves run frighten'd to the shores:
Hark! how the thund'ring giant roars.

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.
Bring me a hundred reeds of decent growth,
To make a pipe for my capacious mouth;
In soft enchanting accents let me breathe
Sweet Galatea's beauty and my love.

AIR.

O ruddier than the cherry!
O sweeter than the berry!

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