George Frideric Handel and Charles Jennens

“ Hark, Cyrus! Twenty times the sun Round the great year his course shall run: If there so long thy army stay, Not yet to dogs and birds a prey, No succour from without arrive, Within remain no means to live, We then may think it time to treat, And Babylon capitulate. A tedious time! To make it short, Thy wise attempt will find us sport. 7. Recitative Gobrias: Well may they laugh, from meagre famine safe, In plenteous stores for more than twenty years; From all assault secure in gates of brass, And walls stupendous ”

“ Sweet bird, that shun'st the noise of folly, Most musical, most melancholy! Thee, chauntress, oft the woods among, I woo to hear thy even-song. Or, missing thee, I walk unseen, On the dry smooth-shaven green, To behold the wand'ring moon Riding near her highest noon. Sweet bird. . . da capo 14. Recitative L'Allegro (bass) :
If I give thee honour due, Mirth, admit me of thy crew! 15. Air L'Allegro (bass) :
Mirth, admit me of thy crew! To listen how the hounds and horn Cheerly rouse the slumb'ring morn, From the side of some hoar hill, Through the high wood echoing shrill. 16. ”

“ But to destroy my friend, the brave, the virtuous, The godlike David, Israel's defender, And terror of her foes! To disobey you — What shall I call it? 'Tis an act of duty To God, to David — nay, indeed, to you. ”

“ Alternate hopes and fears distract my mind, My weary soul no rest can find. My busy fancy now presents A gracious scene: my son repents And God recalls his doom. Now to false shame he quits his fears, False courage takes, and madly dares His impious feast resume. Then arms and dying groans resound, And streams of blood gush out around. Alternate hopes and fears distract my mind, My weary soul no rest can find. ”

“ Sweet temp'rance in thy right hand bear, With her let rosy health appear, And in thy left contentment true, Whom headlong passion never knew; Frugality by bounty's side, Fast friends, though oft as foes belied; Chaste love, by reason led secure, With joy sincere, and pleasure pure; Happy life from Heav'n descending, Crowds of smiling years attending: All this company serene, Join, to fill thy beauteous train. ”

“ Let gladness reign in all our host; For pious David will restore What Saul by disobedience lost. The Lord of hosts is David's friend, And conquest will his arms attend. 86. Chorus of Israelites Gird on thy sword, thou man of might, Pursue thy wonted fame: Go on, be prosperous in fight, Retrieve the Hebrew name! Thy strong right hand, with terror armed, Shall thy obdurate foes dismay; While others, by thy virtue charm'd, Shall crowd to own thy righteous sway. ”

“ Cyrus, impossible! Messenger:
It is too true; A tumult heard without, the gates unbarr'd, Disclos'd a dreadful scene: the guards overpow'rd By numbers far superior, fell before them With faint resistance. The victorious foe No sooner saw the gates set open wide, But rush'd at once, and easy entrance gain'd. 54. Chorus of Jews Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth! How is Sesach taken, And how is the praise of the whole earth surpris'd! Thy counsel stands, O Lord, And thou dost all thy pleasure! ”

“ Chorus Is there a man, who all his ways, Directs, his God alone to please? In vain his foes against him move: Superior pow'r their hate disarms; He makes them yield to virtue's charms, And melts their fury down to love. 58. Symphony Scene 6 David and Michal.
59. Recitative David:
Thy father is as cruel, and as false, As thou art kind and true. When I approach'd him, New from the slaughter of his enemies, His eyes with fury flam'd, his arms he rais'd, With rage grown stronger ”

“ Chorus of Babylonians Ye tutelar gods of our empire, look down, And see what rich trophies your victory crown. Let our bounteous gifts, which our gratitude raise, Wine, gold, merry notes, pay our tributes of praise. Sesach, this night is chiefly thine, Kind donor of the sparkling wine! 36. Air Belshazzar:
Let the deep bowl thy praise confess, Thy gifts the gracious giver bless! Thy gifts, of all the gods bestow, Improve by use, and sweeter grow. Another bowl! 'Tis gen'rous wine, Exalts the human to divine. 37. Accompagnato Belshazzar:
Where is the God of Judah's boasted pow'r? ”

“ No, cruel father, no! Your hard commands I can't obey. Shall I with sacrilegious blow Take pious David's life away? No, cruel father, no! No, with my life I must defend Against the world my best, my dearest friend. 40. Air High Priest:
O Lord, whose providence Ever wakes for their defence Who the ways of virtue choose: Let not thy faithful servant fall A victim to the rage of Saul Who hates without a cause, And, in defiance of thy laws, His precious life pursues. 41. Chorus:
Preserve him for the glory of Thy name, Thy people's safety, and the heathen's shame.
ACT TWO ”

“ As steals the morn upon the night, And melts the shades away: So Truth does Fancy's charm dissolve, And rising Reason puts to flight The fumes that did the mind involve, Restoring intellectual day. 46. Chorus Thy pleasures, Moderation, give, In them alone we truly live. ”

“ On to the feast! I waste my time too long In frivolous dispute, time, due of right To pleasure and the gods. 29. Duet Nitocris:
O dearer than my life, forbear! Profane not, O my son, With impious rites Jehovah's Name. Remember what His arm has done, The earth contains not half his fame: Remember, and his vengeance fear! Belshazzar:
O queen, this hateful theme forbear! Join not against your son With captive slaves, your country's foes. Remember what our gods have done To those who durst their pow'r oppose. Remember, and their vengeance fear. ”

“ First, small and weak, it scarcely rears its head, Scarce stretching out its helpless infant arms, Implores protection of its neighbour states, Who nurse it to their hurt. Anon, it strives For pow'r and wealth, and spurns at opposition. Arriv'd to full maturity, it grasps At all within its reach, o'erleaps all bounds, Robs, ravages and wastes the frighted world. At length, grown old and swell'd to bulk enormous, The monster in its proper bowels feeds Pride, luxury, corruption, perfidy, Contention, fell diseases of a state, That prey upon her vitals. ”

“ Nature began, of labour eas'd, Her latent beauties to disclose, A fair harmonious world arose; And though, by diabolic guile, Disorder lord it for a while, The time will come, When nature shall her pristine form regain, And harmony for ever reign. Scene 5 Saul, David, Jonathan, Merab, Michal, Abner, High Priest. ”

“ So shall thy youthful happiness In age no diminution know. With sweet reflections thou shalt taste, Declining gently to thy tomb, The pleasure of good actions past, And hope with rapture joys to come. ”

“ Can the black AEthiop change his skin, His native spots the leopard lose? Then may the heart obdur'd in sin Grow soft, repent, and virtue choose! Threats or advice but move disdain, And signs and wonders glare in vain. Can the black. ”

“ Semi-Chorus:
Why, faithless river, dost thou leave Thy charge to hostile arms a prey, Expose the lives thou ought'st to save, Prepare the fierce invader's way, And, like false man, thy trust betray? Semi-Chorus:
Euphrates hath his task fulfill'd, But to divine decree must yield. While Babel queen of cities reign'd, The flood her guardian was ordain'd; Now to superior pow'r gives place, And but the doom of Heav'n obeys. Full Chorus:
Of things on earth, proud man must own, Falsehood is found in man alone. 32. Recitative Cyrus:
You see, my friends, a path into the city Lies open. ”

“ All this company serene, Join, to fill thy beauteous train. 42. Air Il Moderato (soprano) :
Come, with gentle hand restrain Those who fondly court their bane, One extreme with caution shunning, To another blindly running. Kindly teach, how blest are they, Who nature's equal rules obey; Who safely steer two rocks between, And prudent keep the golden mean. 43. Recitative Il Moderato (soprano or tenor) :
No more short life they then will spend In straying farther from its end, In frantic mirth, and childish play, In dance and revels, night and day ”

“ Let festal joy triumphant reign, Glad ev'ry heart, in ev'ry face appear! Free flow the wine, nor flow in vain; Far fly corroding care. Each hand the chime melodious raise, Each voice exult in Sesach's praise; Let order vanish! Liberty alone, Unbounded liberty the night shall crown. Let festal joy. . . da capo 24. Recitative Belshazzar:
For you my friends, the nobles of my court, I have prepar'd a feast magnificent, Worthy of you and me. Let all my wives And concubines attend. Our royal mother — Nitocris:
I must prevent thee, son. ”

“ Air Cyrus:
Amaz'd to find the foe so near, When sleep and wine their senses drown, All hearts shall faint, and melt with fear, All hands unnerv'd fall feebly down. Useless the hero's valour lies, Useless the counsel of the wise. Amaz'd to find. . . da capo 34. Chorus of Persians and Medes To arms, to arms, no more delay! God and Cyrus lead the way. Scene 2 A banquet-room, adorned with the images of the Babylonian gods. Belshazzar, his wives, concubines, and lords, drinking out of the Jewish temple-vessels, and singing the praises of their gods. ”

“ Saul:
O perverse, rebellious! Thinkst thou I do not know that thou hast chose The son of Jesse to thy own confusion? The world will say thou art no son of mine, Who thus canst love the man I hate; the man Who, if he lives, will rob thee of thy crown: Send, fetch him thither; for the wretch must die. Jonathan:
What has he done? And wherefore must he die? Saul:
Darest thou oppose my will? Die then thyself! He throws the javelin. Exit Jonathan, then Saul.
68. Chorus Oh, fatal consequence Of rage, by reason uncontroll'd! With every law he can dispense ”

“ Recitative Cyrus:
My friends, be confident, and boldly enter Upon this high exploit. No little cause We have to hope success; since not unjustly We have attack'd, but being first attack'd, We have pursu'd th'aggressor. Add to this, That I proceed in nothing with neglect Of pow'r divine: whate'er I undertake, I still begin with God, and gain His favour With sacrifice and pray'r. 18. Chorus All empires upon God depend; Begun by his command, at his command they end. Look up to him in all your ways, Begin with pray'r and end with praise. ”

“ Destructive war. . . da capo Re-enter Gobrias, with Nitocris, Daniel, and Jews.
60. Duet Nitocris:
Great victor, at your feet I bow, No more a queen, your vassal now! My people spare! Forgive my fears, I mourn a son, indulge my tears, Resistless nature bids them flow. Cyrus:
Rise, virtuous queen, compose your mind, Give fear and sorrow to the wind. Safe are your people if they will; Be still a queen, a mother still, A son in Cyrus you shall find. 61. Recitative Cyrus (to Daniel) :
Say, venerable prophet, is there aught In Cyrus' pow'r by which he can oblige Thee, or thy people? ”

“ But lovely Michal, As mild as she is fair, outstrips all praise. 46. Air David:
Such haughty beauties rather move Aversion, than engage our love. They can only our cares beguile, Who gently speak, and sweetly smile. If virtue in that dress appear, Who, that sees, can love forbear? Such beauties. . . da capo. 47. Recitative Jonathan:
My father comes: retire, my friend, while I With peaceful accents try to calm his rage. Exit David.
Scene 3 Saul and Jonathan.
48. Recitative Saul:
Hast thou obey'd my orders, and destoy'd My mortal enemy, the son of Jesse? Jonathan:
Alas, my father! He your enemy? ”

“ Dramatis Personae Saul (bass) Merab (soprano) Michal (soprano) Jonathan (tenor) David (alto) Samuel (bass) High Priest (tenor) Witch of Endor (tenor) Abner (tenor) Amalekite (tenor) Doeg (bass) Chorus of Israelites Chorus
ACT ONE
1. ”