Alexander's Feast

Part II

Tekst: Newburgh Hamilton

20. Accompagnato and Chorus
Tenor
Now strike the golden lyre again,
A louder yet — and yet a louder strain!
Break his bands of sleep asunder,
And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder.
Hark, hark! — the horrid sound
Has rais'd up his head,
As awak'd from the dead,
And amaz'd, he stares around.

Chorus
Break his bands of sleep asunder,
And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder.

21. Air
Bass
Revenge, revenge, Timotheus cries,
See the furies arise,
See the snakes that they rear,
How they hiss in their hair,
And the sparkles that flash from their eyes!
Behold a ghastly band,
Each a torch in his hand!
Those are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain,
And unbury'd, remain
Inglorious on the plain.
Revenge. . . da capo

22. Accompagnato
Tenor
Give the vengeance due
To the valiant crew:
Behold how they toss their torches on high,
How they point to the Persian abodes,
And glitt'ring temples of their hostile gods!

23. Air
Tenor
The princes applaud with a furious joy;
And the king seiz'd a flambeau, with zeal to destroy.

24. Air and Chorus
Soprano
Thais led the way,
To light him to his prey;
And like another Helen, fir'd another Troy.
The princes applaud with a furious joy;
And the king seiz'd a flambeau, with zeal to destroy.

Chorus
The princes applaud with a furious joy;
And the king seiz'd a flambeau, with zeal to destroy.

25. Accompagnato and Chorus
Tenor
Thus long ago,
Ere heaving bellows learn'd to blow,
While organs yet were mute,
Timotheus to his breathing flute,
And sounding lyre,
Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.

Chorus
At last divine Cecilia came,
Inventress of the vocal frame;
The sweet enthusiasts from her sacred store,
Enlarg'd the former narrow bounds,
And added length to solemn sounds,
With Nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown before.

26. Recitative
Tenor
Let old Timotheus yield the prize,

Bass
Or both divide the crown;
He rais'd a mortal to the skies,

Tenor
She drew an angel down.

27. Soli and Chorus
Let old Timotheus yield the prize,
Or both divide the crown;
He rais'd a mortal to the skies,
She drew an angel down.

[Additional Chorus]
Your voices tune, and raise them high,
Till th'echo from the vaulted sky
The blest Cecilia's name;
Music to Heav'n and her we owe,
The greatest blessing that's below;
Sound loudly then her fame:
Let's imitate her notes above,
And may this evening ever prove,
Sacred to harmony and love.

 

 

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20. Accompagnato en Koor
Tenor
Speel nu de gouden lier weer,
luider - en nog luider!
Breek de banden van zijn slaap,
en wek hem met een donderslag.
Luister, luister! - het vreselijke geluid
heeft hem zijn hoofd doen heffen,
als opgewekt uit de dood,
en verbaasd kijkt hij rond.

Koor
Breek de banden van zijn slaap,
en wek hem met een donderslag.

[ . . . ]

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