Henry Purcell - King Arthur - ACT IV, sc. 2. 30. "How happy the Lover"; 31. Fourth Act Tune | Текст песни

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• Henry Purcell
• King Arthur - ACT IV, sc. 2. 30. "How happy the Lover"; 31. Fourth Act Tune

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.