The Indian Queen

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The Indian Queen Libretto

SYSTEMAct I

BOYWake, Quivera, wake, our soft rest must cease,

BOYAnd fly together with our country's peace;

BOYNo more must we sleep under plantain's shade,

BOYWhich neither heat could pierce nor cold invade;

BOYWhere bounteous nature never feels decay,

And opening buds drive falling fruits away.

GIRLWhy should men quarrel here, where all possess

GIRLAs much as they can hope for by success?

GIRLNone can have most where nature is so kind

GIRLAs to exceed man's use, though not his mind.

BOYBy ancient prophecy we have been told,

BOYOur land shall be subdu'd by one more old;

BOYAnd see that world already hither come.

BOYgirl, boy

BOYIf these be they we welcome then our doom.

BOYTheir looks are such that mercy flows from hence,

BOYMore gentle than our native innocence;

BOYBy their protection let us beg to live:

BOYThey come not here to conquer, but forgive.

BOYgirl, boy

BOYIf so your goodness may your power express,

BOYAnd we shall judge both best by our success.

SYSTEMAct II

FAMEI come to sing great Zempoalla's story

FAMEWhose beauteous sight so charming bright

FAMEOutshines the lustre of glory.

FAMEWe come to sing great Zempoalla's story

FAMEWhose beauteous sight so charming bright

FAMEOutshines the lustre of glory.

ENVYWhat flattering noise is this,

ENVYAt which my snakes all hiss?

ENVYI hate to see fond tongues advance

ENVYHigh as the Gods the slaves of chance.

ENVYWhat flattering noise is this,

ENVYAt which my snakes all hiss?

FAMEScorn'd Envy, here's nothing that thou canst blast:

FAMEHer glories are too bright to be o'ercast.

ENVYI fly from the place where flattery reigns,

ENVYSee, see those might things that before

ENVYSuch slaves like gods did adore

ENVYCondemn'd and unpitied in chains.

ENVYI fly from the place where flattery reigns.

ENVYI hate to see fond tongues advance

ENVYHigh as the Gods the slaves of chance.

ENVYWhat flattering noise is this,

ENVYAt which my snakes all hiss?

FAMEBegone, curst fiends of Hell,

FAMESink down, where noisome vapours dwell,

FAMEWhile I her triumph sound,

FAMETo fill the universe around.

FAMEI come to sing great Zempoalla's story

FAMEWhose beauteous sight so charming bright

FAMEOutshines the lustre of glory.

FAMEWe come to sing great Zempoalla's story

FAMEWhose beauteous sight so charming bright

FAMEOutshines the lustre of glory.

SYSTEMAct III

ISMERONYe twice ten hundred deities

ISMERONTo whom we daily sacrifice,

ISMERONYe pow'rs that dwell with fates below

ISMERONAnd see what men are doom'd to do,

ISMERONWhere elements in discord dwell:

ISMERONThou god of sleep arise and tell

ISMERONGreat Zempoalla what strange fate

ISMERONMust on her dismal vision wait.

ISMERONBy the croaking of the toad

ISMERONIn their caves that make abode,

ISMERONEarthy dun that pants for breath

ISMERONWith her swell'd sides full of death,

ISMERONBy the crested adders' pride

ISMERONThat along the cliffs do glide,

ISMERONBy thy visage fierce and black,

ISMERONBy the death's head on thy back,

ISMERONBy the twisted serpents plac'd

ISMERONFor a girdle round thy waist,

ISMERONBy the hearts of gold that deck

ISMERONThy breast, thy shoulders and thy neck,

From thy sleeping mansion rise

ISMERONAnd open thy unwilling eyes,

ISMERONWhile bubbling springs their music keep,

ISMERONThat used to lull thee in thy sleep.

GOD OF DREAMSSeek not to know what must not be reveal'd,

GOD OF DREAMSJoys only flow when hate is most conceal'd.

GOD OF DREAMSToo busy man would find his sorrows more

GOD OF DREAMSIf future fortunes he should know before;

GOD OF DREAMSFor by that knowledge of his destiny

GOD OF DREAMSHe would not live at all but always die.

GOD OF DREAMSEnquire not then who shall from bonds be freed,

GOD OF DREAMSWho'tis shall wear a crown and who shall bleed.

GOD OF DREAMSAll must submit to their appointed doom,

GOD OF DREAMSFate and misfortune will too quickly come.

GOD OF DREAMSLet me no more with powerful charms be press'd

GOD OF DREAMSI am forbid by fate to tell the rest.

AERIAL SPIRITSAh, how happy are we!

AERIAL SPIRITSFrom human passions free.

AERIAL SPIRITSAh, how happy are we!

AERIAL SPIRITSThose wild tenants of the breast,

AERIAL SPIRITSNo, never can disturb our rest.

AERIAL SPIRITSAh, how happy are we!

AERIAL SPIRITSYet we pity tender souls

AERIAL SPIRITSWhom the tyrant of love controls,

AERIAL SPIRITSAh, how happy are we,

AERIAL SPIRITSFrom human passions free!

AERIAL SPIRITSWe the spirits of the air

AERIAL SPIRITSThat of human things take care,

AERIAL SPIRITSOut of pity now descend

AERIAL SPIRITSTo forewarn what woes attend.

AERIAL SPIRITSGreatness clogg'd with scorn decays,

AERIAL SPIRITSWith the slave no empire stays.

AERIAL SPIRITSWe the spirits of the air

AERIAL SPIRITSThat of human things take care,

AERIAL SPIRITSOut of pity now descend

AERIAL SPIRITSTo forewarn what woes attend.

AERIAL SPIRITSCease to languish the in vain

AERIAL SPIRITSSince never to be loved again.

AERIAL SPIRITSWe the spirits of the air

AERIAL SPIRITSThat of human things take care,

AERIAL SPIRITSOut of pity now descend

AERIAL SPIRITSTo forewarn what woes attend.

SOPRANO SOLOI attempt from love's sickness to fly in vain,

SOPRANO SOLOSince I am myself my own fever and pain.

SOPRANO SOLONo more now, fond heart, with pride no more swell;

SOPRANO SOLOThou canst not raise forces enough to rebel.

SOPRANO SOLOI attempt from love's sickness to fly in vain,

SOPRANO SOLOSince I am myself my own fever and pain.

SOPRANO SOLOFor love has more power and less mercy than fate,

SOPRANO SOLOTo make us seek ruin and of those that hate.

SOPRANO SOLOI attempt from love's sickness to fly in vain,

SOPRANO SOLOSince I am myself my own fever and pain.

SYSTEMAct IV

ORAZIAThey tell us that your might powers above

ORAZIAMake perfect your joys and your blessings by love,

ORAZIAAh! Why do you suffer the blessing that's there

ORAZIATo give a poor lover such a sad torments here?

ORAZIAYet though for my passion such grief I endure,

ORAZIAMy love shall like yours still be constant and pure.

ORAZIATo suffer for him gives an ease to my pains;

ORAZIAThere's joy in my grief and there's freedom in chains.

ORAZIAIf I were divine he cou'd love me no more,

ORAZIAAnd I in return my adorer adore,

ORAZIAO, let his dear life then, kind gods, be your care,

ORAZIAFor I in your blessing have no other share.

SYSTEMAct V

SYSTEMChorus

ORAZIAWhile thus we bow before your shrine,

ORAZIAThat you may hear great pow'rs divine,

ORAZIAAll living things shall in your praises join.

HIGH PRIESTYou who at the altar stand

HIGH PRIESTWaiting for the dread command

HIGH PRIESTThe fatal word shall soon be heard,

HIGH PRIESTAnswer then, is all prepared?

SYSTEMChorus

HIGH PRIESTAll's prepared.

HIGH PRIESTLet all unallow'd souls begone

HIGH PRIESTBefore our sacred rites come on.

HIGH PRIESTTake care that this be also done.

SYSTEMChorus

HIGH PRIESTAll is done.

HIGH PRIESTNow in procession walk along

HIGH PRIESTAnd then begin your solemn song.

SYSTEMChorus

HIGH PRIESTAll dismal sounds thus on these off'rings wait,

HIGH PRIESTYour pow'r shown by their untimely fate;

HIGH PRIESTWhile by such various fates we learn to know,

HIGH PRIESTThere's nothing, no, nothing to be trusted here below.