George Frideric Handel and Charles Jennens

“ 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 ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”