Dido and Aeneas

or Elissa

DIDO, Queen of Carthage (Soprano)

DIDOBELINDA, her sister (Soprano)

DIDOSECOND WOMAN (Soprano)

DIDOSORCERESS (Mezzo-Soprano)

DIDOFIRST WITCH (Soprano)

DIDOSECOND WITCH (Soprano)

DIDOSPIRIT (Mezzo-Soprano)

DIDOAENEAS, a Trojan Prince (Tenor)

DIDOSAILOR (Soprano or Tenor)

CHORUSDido's train, Aeneas' train, Fairies, Sailors

SYSTEMPROLOGUE

[The music to the prologue is lost]

Phoebus Rises in the Chariot.

Over the Sea, The Nereids out of the Sea.

PHOEBUSFrom Aurora's Spicy Bed,

PHOEBUSPhoebus rears his Sacred Head.

PHOEBUSHis Coursers Advancing,

PHOEBUSCurvetting and Prancing.

FIRST NEREIDPhoebus strives in vain to Tame'em,

FIRST NEREIDWith Ambrosia Fed too high.

SECOND NEREIDPhoebus ought not now to blame'em,

SECOND NEREIDWild and eager to Survey

SECOND NEREIDThe fairest Pageant of the Sea.

PHOEBUSTritons and Nereids come pay your Devotion

To the New rising Star of the Ocean.

CHORUSVenus Descends in her Chariot,

CHORUSThe Tritons out of the Sea.

Look down ye Orbs and See

NEREIDA New Divinity.

PHOEBUSWhose Lustre does Out-Shine

PHOEBUSYour fainter Beams, and half Eclipses mine,

Give Phoebus leave to Prophecy.

PHOEBUSPhoebus all Events can see.

PHOEBUSTen Thousand Thousand Harmes.

PHOEBUSFrom such prevailing Charmes,

PHOEBUSTo Gods and Men must instantly Ensue.

CHORUSAnd if the Deity's above,

CHORUSAre Victims of the powers of Love,

CHORUSWhat must wretched Mortals do.

VENUSFear not Phoebus, fear not me,

VENUSA harmless Deity.

VENUSThese are all my Guards ye View,

VENUSWhat can these blind Archers do.

PHOEBUSBlind they are, but strike the Heart,

VENUSWhat Phoebus say's is alwayes true.

VENUSThey Wound indeed, but 'tis a pleasing smart.

PHOEBUSEarth and Skies address their Duty,

PHOEBUSTo the Sovereign Queen of Beauty.

PHOEBUSAll Resigning,

PHOEBUSNone Repining.

PHOEBUSAt her undisputed Sway.

CHORUSTo Phoebus and Venus our Homage wee'l pay,

CHORUSHer Charmes blest the Night, as his Beams blest the day.

EXITThe Spring Enters with her Nymphs.

SYSTEMSCENE I

The Grove.

VENUSSee the Spring in all her Glory,

CHORUSWelcomes Venus to the Shore.

VENUSSmiling Hours are now before you,

VENUSHours that may return no more.

Exit, Soft Musick.

SPRINGOur Youth and Form declare,

SPRINGFor what we were designed.

SPRING'Twas Nature made us Fair,

SPRINGAnd you must make us kind.

SPRINGHe that fails of Addressing,

SPRING'Tis but Just he shou'd fail of Possessing.

SHEPHERDESSESJolly Shepherds come away,

SHEPHERDESSESTo Celebrate this Genial Day,

And take the Friendly Hours you vow to pay.

SHEPHERDESSESNow make Trial,

SHEPHERDESSESAnd take no Denial.

SHEPHERDESSESNow carry your Game, or for ever give o're.

CHORUSLet us Love and happy Live,

CHORUSPossess those smiling Hours,

CHORUSThe more auspicious Powers,

CHORUSAnd gentle Planets give.

CHORUSPrepare those soft returns to Meet,

CHORUSThat makes Loves Torments Sweet.

Enter the Country Shepherds and Shepherdesses.

HETell, Tell me, prithee Dolly,

And leave thy Melancholy.

HEWhy on the Plaines, the Nymphs and Swaines,

HEThis Morning are so Jolly.

SHEBy Zephires gentle Blowing.

SHEAnd Venus Graces Flowing.

SHEThe Sun has bin to Court our Queen,

SHEAnd Tired the Spring with wooing.

HEThe Sun does guild our Bowers,

SHEThe Spring does yield us Flowers.

SHEShe sends the Vine,

HEHe makes the Wine,

HETo Charm our happy Hours.

SHEShe gives our Flocks their Feeding,

HEHe makes'em fit for Breeding.

SHEShe decks the Plain,

HEHe fills the Grain,

HEAnd makes it worth the Weeding.

CHORUSBut the Jolly Nymph Thitis that long his Love sought,

CHORUSHas Flustred him now with a large Mornings draught,

CHORUSLet's go and divert him, whilst he is Mellow,

CHORUSYou know in his Cups he's a Hot-Headed Fellow.

Exit

SYSTEMACT THE FIRST

The Palace

Enter Dido, Belinda and train

BELINDAShake the cloud from off your brow,

BELINDAFate your wishes does allow;

BELINDAEmpire growing, pleasures flowing,

BELINDAFortune smiles and so should you.

CHORUSBanish sorrow, banish care,

CHORUSGrief should ne'er approach the fair.

DIDOAh! Belinda, I am press'd

DIDOWith torment not to be confess'd,

DIDOPeace and I are strangers grown.

DIDOI languish till my grief is known,

DIDOYet would not have it guess'd.

BELINDAGrief increases by concealing,

DIDOMine admits of no revealing.

BELINDAThen let me speak; the Trojan guest

BELINDAInto your tender thoughts has press'd;

BELINDAThe greatest blessing Fate can give

BELINDAOur Carthage to secure and Troy revive.

CHORUSWhen monarchs unite, how happy their state,

CHORUSThey triumph at once o'er their foes and their fate.

DIDOWhence could so much virtue spring?

DIDOWhat storms, what battles did he sing?

DIDOAnchises' valour mix'd with Venus' charms

DIDOHow soft in peace, and yet how fierce in arms!

BELINDAA tale so strong and full of woe

BELINDAMight melt the rocks as well as you.

SECOND WOMANWhat stubborn heart unmov'd could see

SECOND WOMANSuch distress, such piety?

DIDOMine with storms of care oppress'd

DIDOIs taught to pity the distress'd.

DIDOMean wretches' grief can touch,

DIDOSo soft, so sensible my breast;

DIDOBut ah! I fear, I pity his too much.

repeated by Chorus

SECOND WOMANFear no danger to ensue,

SECOND WOMANThe Hero loves as well as you,

SECOND WOMANEver gentle, ever smiling,

SECOND WOMANAnd the cares of life beguiling,

SECOND WOMANCupid strew your path with flowers

SECOND WOMANGather'd from Elysian bowers.

Aeneas enters with his train

BELINDASee, your Royal Guest appears;

BELINDAHow Godlike is the form he bears!

AENEASWhen, Royal Fair, shall I be bless'd

AENEASWith cares of love and state distress'd?

DIDOFate forbids what you pursue.

AENEASAeneas has no fate but you!

AENEASLet Dido smile and I'll defy

AENEASThe feeble stroke of Destiny.

Cupid only throws the dart

CHORUSThat's dreadful to a warrior's heart,

CHORUSAnd she that wounds can only cure the smart.

AENEASIf not for mine, for Empire's sake,

AENEASSome pity on your lover take;

AENEASAh! make not, in a hopeless fire

A hero fall, and Troy once more expire.

BELINDAPursue thy conquest, Love; her eyes

BELINDAConfess the flame her tongue denies.

BELINDAA Dance. Gittars Chacony

CHORUSTo the hills and the vales, to the rocks and the mountains,

CHORUSTo the musical groves and the cool shady fountains.

CHORUSLet the triumphs of love and of beauty be shown.

CHORUSGo revel, ye Cupids, the day is your own.

SYSTEMACT THE SECOND

SYSTEMSCENE I

The Cave

Enter Sorceress

SYSTEMPrelude for the Witches

SORCERESSWayward sisters, you that fright

SORCERESSThe lonely traveller by night.

SORCERESSWho, like dismal ravens crying,

SORCERESSBeat the windows of the dying,

SORCERESSAppear! Appear at my call, and share in the fame

SORCERESSOf a mischief shall make all Carthage flame.

SORCERESSAppear!

Enter Enchantresses

FIRST WITCHSay, Beldame, say what's thy will.

CHORUSHarm's our delight and mischief all our skill.

SORCERESSThe Queen of Carthage, whom we hate,

SORCERESSAs we do all in prosp'rous state,

SORCERESSEre sunset, shall most wretched prove,

SORCERESSDepriv'd of fame, of life and love!

CHORUSHa, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

TWO WITCHESRuin'd ere the set of sun?

TWO WITCHESTell us, how shall this be done?

SORCERESSThe Trojan Prince, you know, is bound

SORCERESSBy Fate to seek Italian ground;

SORCERESSThe Queen and he are now in chase.

FIRST WITCHHark! Hark! the cry comes on apace.

SORCERESSBut, when they've done, my trusty Elf

SORCERESSIn form of Mercury himself

SORCERESSAs sent from Jove, shall chide his stay,

SORCERESSAnd charge him sail tonight with all his fleet away.

CHORUSHa, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

CHORUSEnter a Drunken Sailor; a dance

TWO WITCHESBut ere we this perform,

TWO WITCHESWe'll conjure for a storm

TWO WITCHESTo mar their hunting sport,

TWO WITCHESAnd drive 'em back to court.

in the manner of an echo

CHORUSIn our deep vaulted cell the charm we'll prepare,

CHORUSToo dreadful a practice for this open air.

ECHO DANCE(

Enchantresses and Fairies

SYSTEMSCENE II

The Grove

Enter Aeneas, Dido, Belinda, and their train

RITORNELLE(

Orchestra

repeated by Chorus

BELINDAThanks to these lovesome vales,

BELINDAThese desert hills and dales,

BELINDASo fair the game, so rich the sport,

BELINDADiana's self might to these woods resort.

BELINDAGitter Ground A Dance

SECOND WOMANOft she visits this lone mountain,

SECOND WOMANOft she bathes her in this fountain;

SECOND WOMANHere Actaeon met his fate,

SECOND WOMANPursued by his own hounds,

SECOND WOMANAnd after mortal wounds

SECOND WOMANDiscover'd, discover'd too late.

SECOND WOMANA Dance to entertain Aeneas by Dido's women

AENEASBehold, upon my bending spear

AENEASA monster's head stands bleeding,

AENEASWith tushes far exceeding

AENEASThose did Venus' huntsman tear.

DIDOThe skies are clouded, hark! how thunder

DIDORends the mountain oaks a sunder.

repeated by Chorus

BELINDAHaste, haste to town, this open field

BELINDANo shelter from the storm can yield.

exeunt Dido and Belinda and train

The Spirit of the Sorceress descends to Aeneas in the likeness of Mercury

SPIRITStay, Prince and hear great Jove's command;

SPIRITHe summons thee this Night away.

AENEASTonight?

SPIRITTonight thou must forsake this land,

SPIRITThe Angry God will brook no longer stay.

SPIRITJove commands thee, waste no more

SPIRITIn Love's delights, those precious hours,

SPIRITAllow'd by th'Almighty Powers.

SPIRITTo gain th' Hesperian shore

SPIRITAnd ruined Troy restore.

AENEASJove's commands shall be obey'd,

AENEASTonight our anchors shall be weighed.

Exit Spirit

AENEASBut ah! what language can I try

AENEASMy injur'd Queen to pacify:

AENEASNo sooner she resigns her heart,

AENEASBut from her arms I'm forc'd to part.

AENEASHow can so hard a fate be took?

AENEASOne night enjoy'd, the next forsook.

AENEASYours be the blame, ye gods! For I

AENEASObey your will, but with more ease could die.

The Sorceress and her Enchantresses

CHORUSThen since our Charmes have sped,

CHORUSA Merry Dance be led

CHORUSBy the Nymphs of Carthage to please us.

CHORUSThey shall all Dance to ease us,

CHORUSA Dance that shall make the Spheres to wonder,

CHORUSRending those fair Groves asunder.

SYSTEMACT THE THIRD

SYSTEMSCENE I

The Ships

Enter the Sailors

SYSTEMPrelude

repeated by Chorus

FIRST SAILORCome away, fellow sailors, your anchors be weighing,

FIRST SAILORTime and tide will admit no delaying.

Take a boozy short leave of your nymphs on the shore,

FIRST SAILORAnd silence their mourning

FIRST SAILORWith vows of returning

FIRST SAILORBut never intending to visit them more.

Enter the Sorceress, and her Enchantresses

SORCERESSSee the flags and streamers curling

SORCERESSAnchors weighing, sails unfurling.

FIRST WITCHPhoebe's pale deluding beams

FIRST WITCHGilding o'er deceitful streams.

SECOND WITCHOur plot has took,

SECOND WITCHThe Queen's forsook.

TWO WITCHESElissa's ruin'd, ho, ho!

TWO WITCHESOur plot has took,

TWO WITCHESThe Queen's forsook, ho, ho!

SORCERESSOur next Motion

SORCERESSMust be to storm her lover on the ocean!

SORCERESSFrom the ruin of others our pleasures we borrow;

SORCERESSElissa bleeds tonight, and Carthage flames tomorrow.

CHORUSDestruction's our delight

CHORUSDelight our greatest sorrow!

CHORUSElissa dies tonight,

CHORUSAnd Carthage flames tomorrow. Ha, ha!

Jack of the the Lanthorn leads the sailors out of their way among the Enchantresses.

SYSTEMSCENE II

The palace

Enter Dido, Belinda and train

DIDOYour counsel all is urg'd in vain,

DIDOTo Earth and Heaven I will complain!

DIDOTo Earth and Heaven why do I call?

Earth and Heaven conspire my fall.

DIDOTo Fate I sue, of other means bereft,

DIDOThe only refuge for the wretched left.

Enter Aeneas

BELINDASee, Madam, see where the Prince appears;

BELINDASuch sorrow in his look he bears

BELINDAAs would convince you still he's true.

AENEASWhat shall lost Aeneas do?

AENEASHow, Royal Fair, shall I impart

AENEASThe God's decree, and tell you we must part?

DIDOThus on the fatal Banks of Nile,

Weeps the deceitful crocodile;

DIDOThus hypocrites, that murder act,

DIDOMake Heaven and Gods the authors of the Fact.

AENEASBy all that's good ...

DIDOBy all that's good, no more!

DIDOAll that's good you have forswore.

DIDOTo your promis'd empire fly

DIDOAnd let forsaken Dido die.

AENEASIn spite of Jove's command, I'll stay,

AENEASOffend the Gods, and Love obey.

DIDONo, faithless man, thy course pursue;

DIDOI'm now resolv'd as well as you.

DIDONo repentance shall reclaim

DIDOThe injur'd Dido's slighted flame.

DIDOFor 'tis enough, whate'er you now decree,

That you had once a thought of leaving me.

AENEASLet Jove say

AENEASwhat he will: I'll stay!

DIDOAway, away! No, no, away!

AENEASNo, no, I'll stay, and Love obey!

DIDOTo Death I'll fly

DIDOIf longer you delay;

DIDOAway, away!.....

Exit Aeneas

DIDOBut Death, alas! I cannot shun;

DIDODeath must come when he is gone.

CHORUSGreat minds against themselves conspire

CHORUSAnd shun the cure they most desire.

DIDOThy hand, Belinda; darkness shades me,

DIDOOn thy bosom let me rest,

DIDOMore I would, but Death invades me;

DIDODeath is now a welcome guest.

DIDOWhen I am laid in earth,

DIDOMay my wrongs create

DIDONo trouble in thy breast;

DIDORemember me, but ah! forget my fate.

Cupids appear in the clouds o'er her tomb

CHORUSWith drooping wings you Cupids come,

CHORUSAnd scatter roses on her tomb.

CHORUSSoft and gentle as her heart

CHORUSKeep here your watch, and never part.