King Arthur: Act IV. Passacaglia. "How Happy the Lover"
Passacaglia
TENOR I How happy the lover, How easy his chain! How sweet to discover He sighs not in vain.
CHORUS How happy the lover, etc.
Ritornello
SYLVAN & NYMPH For love ev'ry creature Is form'd by his nature. No joys are above The pleasures of love.
CHORUS No joys are above. The pleasures of love.
THREE NYMPHS In vain are our graces, In vain are your eyes. In vain are our graces If love you despise. When age furrows faces, 'Tis too late to be wise.
THREE SYLVANS Then use the sweet blessing While now in possessing. No joys are above The pleasures of love.
THREE NYMPHS No joys are above The pleasures of love.
CHORUS No joys are above The pleasures of love.
Fourth Act Tune: Air
Arthur commands the sylvans, nymphs and sirens begone and they vanish. In an attempt to break the spells, he draws his sword and strikes a blow at the finest tree in the wood. A vision of Emmeline appears from its trunk, her arm wounded by the blow; it persuades him to lay down his sword and take her hand. Philidel rushes in, and with a touch of the wand reveals the vision to be Grimbald in disguise, Arthur then fells the tree, breaking the spells and opening a safe passage for the Britons to the Saxon fortress. Grimbald is bound up by Philidel and led out into daylight.