Judas Maccabbaeus

See, the conqu'ring hero comes!

Tekst: Thomas Morell

First Messenger
From Capharsalama, on eagle wings I fly,
With tidings of impetuous joy:
Came Lysias, with his host, array'd
In coat of mail; their massy shields
Of gold and brass, flash'd lightning o'er the fields,
While the huge tow'r-back'd elephants display'd
A horrid front. But Judas, undismay'd,
Met, fought, and vanquish'd all the rageful train.
Yet more, Nicanor lies with thousands slain;
The blasphemous Nicanor, who defied
The living God, and, in his wanton pride,
A public monument ordain'd
Of victories yet ungain'd.

Second Messenger
But lo, the conqueror comes; and on his spear,
To dissipate all fear,
He bears the vaunter's head and hand,
That threaten'd desolation to the land.

58. Chorus
Youths
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums.
Sports prepare, the laurel bring,
Songs of triumph to him sing.

Virgins
See the godlike youth advance!
Breathe the flutes, and lead the dance;
Myrtle wreaths, and roses twine,
To deck the hero's brow divine.

Israelites
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums.
Sports prepare, the laurel bring,
Songs of triumph to him sing.
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums.

59. March

 

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Zie, de zegevierende held komt!

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Eerste boodschapper
Op adelaarsvleugels kom ik uit Capharsalama gevlogen,
met tijdingen van onstuimige vreugde:
Lysias kwam, met zijn leger, uitgerust
in malienkolder; hun zware schilden
van goud en koper flitsten als bliksem over de velden,
terwijl de torenhoge ruggen van de olifanten een angstaanjagend
voorste gelid vormden . Maar Judas, onverschrokken,
trof, bestreed en overwon de razende horde.
Meer nog, Nicanor is tezamen met duizenden anderen gedood.
[ . . . ]

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