Oh, 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 distills the dew, For us unfolds the rose, And flow'rs display their hue. For us the winters rain, For us the summers shine, Spring swells for us the grain, And autumn bleeds the wine. Oh, the pleasure. . . da capo. 3. Accompagnato
Galatea Ye verdant plains and woody mountains, Purling streams and bubbling fountains, Ye painted glories of the field, Vain are the pleasures which ye yield; Too thin the shadow of the grove, Too faint the gales, to cool my love. 4. Air
Galatea Hush, ye pretty warbling quire! Your thrilling strains Awake my pains, And kindle fierce desire. Cease your song, and take your flight, Bring back my Acis to my sight! Hush. . . da capo 5. Air
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 grove, or bathes in crystal fountains? Where. . . da capo 6. Recitative
Damon Stay, shepherd, stay! See, how thy flocks in yonder valley stray! What means this melancholy air? No more thy tuneful pipe we hear. 7. Air
Damon Shepherd, what art thou pursuing? Heedless running to thy ruin; Share our joy, our pleasure share, Leave thy passion till tomorrow, Let the day be free from sorrow, Free from love, and free from care! Shepherd. . . da capo 8. Recitative
Acis Lo, here my love, turn, Galatea, hither turn thy eyes! See, at thy feet the longing Acis lies. 9. Air
Acis Love in her eyes sits playing, And sheds delicious death; Love on her lips is straying, And warbling in her breath! Love on her breast sits panting And swells with soft desire; No grace, no charm is wanting, To set the heart on fire. Love in her eyes. . . da capo 10. Recitative
Galatea Oh, didst thou know the pains of absent love, Acis would ne'er from Galatea rove. 11. Air
Galatea As when the dove Laments her love, All on the naked spray; When he returns, No more she mourns, But loves the live-long day. Billing, cooing, Panting, wooing, Melting murmurs fill the grove, Melting murmurs, lasting love. As when. . . da capo 12. Duet
Galatea, Acis Happy we! What joys I feel! What charms I see Of all youths/nymphs thou dearest boy/brightest fair! Thou all my bliss, thou all my joy! Happy. . . da capo 13. 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! 14. Accompagnato
Polyphemus 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. 15. Air
Polyphemus O ruddier than the cherry, O sweeter than the berry, O nymph more bright Than moonshine night, Like kidlings blithe and merry. Ripe as the melting cluster, No lily has such lustre; Yet hard to tame As raging flame, And fierce as storms that bluster! O ruddier. . . da capo 16. Recitative
Polyphemus Whither, fairest, art thou running, Still my warm embraces shunning? Galatea The lion calls not to his prey, Nor bids the wolf the lambkin stay.
Polyphemus Thee, Polyphemus, great as Jove, Calls to empire and to love,