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Henry Purcell Dido and Aeneas - Libretto
Henry Purcell Dido and Aeneas - Libretto
Libretto by Nahum Tate They triumph at once o'er their foes and their
Music composed by Henry Purcell fate.
DIDO DIDO
Your counsel all is urged in vain To Death I'll fly
To Earth and Heav'n I will complain! If longer you delay;
To Earth and Heav'n why do I call? Away, away!.....
Earth and Heav'n conspire my fall. [Exit Aeneas]
To Fate I sue, of other means bereft But Death, alas! I cannot shun;
The only refuge for the wretched left. Death must come when he is gone.
BELINDA CHORUS
See, Madam, see where the Prince appears; Great minds against themselves conspire
Such Sorrow in his looks he bears And shun the cure they most desire.
As would convince you still he's true.
[enter Aeneas] DIDO
[Cupids appear in the clouds o're her tomb]
AENEAS Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me,
What shall lost Aeneas do? On thy bosom let me rest,
How, Royal Fair, shall I impart More I would, but Death invades me;
The God's decree, and tell you we must part? Death is now a welcome guest.
When I am laid in earth, May my wrongs
DIDO create
Thus on the fatal Banks of Nile, No trouble in thy breast;
Weeps the deceitful crocodile Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
Thus hypocrites, that murder act,
Make Heaven and Gods the authors of the CHORUS
Fact. With drooping wings you Cupids come,
To scatter roses on her tomb.
AENEAS Soft and Gentle as her Heart
By all that's good ... Keep here your watch, and never part.
AENEAS
In spite of Jove's command, I'll stay.
Offend the Gods, and Love obey.
DIDO
No, faithless man, thy course pursue;
I'm now resolv'd as well as you.
No repentance shall reclaim