Henry Purcell King Arthur or The British Worthy Text by John Dryden Frost Scene from Act 3
Deller Consort The Deller Choir Alfred Deller, director
The King’s Musick Roderick Skeaping, director
The musical sections of Purcell's semi-opera form interludes within the main action mostly at the ends of each of the acts of Dryden's text. [...] In Act 3, as an illustration of the power of love, Cupid descends on a wintry landscape and even the Cold Genius and his colleagues are warmed by his gift. From Synopsis in http://www.boosey.com
THIRD ACT ~ Frost Scene Cupid What ho! thou genius of this isle, what ho! Liest thou asleep beneath those hills of snow? Stretch out thy lazy limbs. Awake, awake! And winter from thy furry mantle shake.
Cold Genius What power art thou, who from below Hast made me rise unwillingly and slow From beds of everlasting snow? See'st thou not how stiff and wondrous old Far unfit to bear the bitter cold, I can scarcely move or draw my breath? Let me, let me freeze again to death.
Cupid Thou doting fool, forbear, forbear! What dost thou mean by freezing here? At Love's appearing, All the sky clearing, The stormy winds their fury spare. Thou doting fool, forbear, forbear! What dost thou mean by freezing here? Winter subduing, And Spring renewing, My beams create a more glorious year.
Cold Genius Great Love, I know thee now: Eldest of the gods art thou. Heav'n and earth by thee were made. Human nature is thy creature. Ev'rywhere thou art obey'd.
Cupid No part of my dominion shall be waste: To spread my sway and sing my praise, E'en here, e'en here I will a people raise Of kind embracing lovers and embrac'd.
Chorus of Cold People See, see, we assemble Thy revels to hold, Tho' quiv'ring with cold, We chatter and tremble.
Cupid 'Tis I, 'tis I that have warm'd ye. In spite of cold weather I've brought ye together.
Chorus 'Tis Love that has warm'd us?
Cupid & Genius Sound a parley, ye fair, and surrender. Set yourselves and your lovers at ease. He's a grateful offender Who pleasure dare seize: But the whining pretender Is sure to displease. Sound a parley? Since the fruit of desire is possessing, 'Tis unmanly to sigh and complain. When we kneel for redressing, We move your disdain. Love was made for a blessing And not for a pain.