For 'tis impossible you should proceed. ALEXANDER'S FEAST; OR, THE POWER OF MUSIC. A SONG IN HONOUR OF ST. CECILIA'S DAY: 1697. Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound: (So should desert in arms be crowned). The lovely Thais, by his side, Sate like a blooming Eastern bride, In flower of youth and beauty's pride. Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair. 65 70 75 5 ΙΟ 15 3 The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung, He shows his honest face: Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes. Bacchus, ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain; Bacchus' blessings are a treasure, Drinking is the soldier's pleasure ; Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. 50 55 60 CHORUS. Bacchus' blessings are a treasure, Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. 4 Soothed with the sound the king grew vain; Fought all his battles o'er again; 65 And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain. The master saw the madness rise, And while he heaven and earth defied, His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes; 70 Changed his hand, and checked his pride. He chose a mournful Muse, Soft pity to infuse; He sung Darius great and good, By too severe a fate, Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen, Fallen from his high estate, 75 Deserted at his utmost need By those his former bounty fed; On the bare earth exposed he lies, With not a friend to close his eyes. The various turns of chance below; CHORUS. Revolving in his altered soul The various turns of chance below; 90 And, now and then, a sigh he stole, 5 The mighty master smiled to see Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, War, he sung, is toil and trouble; Never ending, still beginning, If the world be worth thy winning Think, O think it worth enjoying: Take the good the gods provide thee. The many rend the skies with loud applause; So Love was crowned, but Music won the cause. Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sighed and looked, sighed and looked, At length, with love and wine at once oppressed, 115 CHORUS. The prince, unable to conceal his pain, Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sighed and looked, sighed and looked, At length, with love and wine at once oppressed, 6 Now strike the golden lyre again; I 20 A louder yet, and yet a louder strain, Break his bands of sleep asunder, 125 And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder. And unburied remain Those are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain, Inglorious on the plain : Give the vengeance due To the valiant crew. Behold how they toss their torches on high, How they point to the Persian abodes, 140 And glittering temples of their hostile gods! 145 The princes applaud with a furious joy; And the king seized a flambeau with zeal to destroy; Thais led the way, To light him to his prey, And, like another Helen, fired another Troy. 150 |