ACIS AND GALATEA.

A SERENATA.

IN TWO PARTS.

THE MUSIC BY MR. HANDEL.

PART I.

A RURAL PROSPECT, DIVERSIFIED WITH ROCKS, GROVES, AND A RIVER. ACIS AND GALATEA SEATED BY A FOUNTAIN.

CHORUS OF NYMPHS

AND SHEPHERDS, DISTRIBUTED ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE, AND POLYPHEMUS DISCOVERED SITTING UPON A MOUNTAIN.

CHORUS.

O THE pleasure of the plains!
Happy nymphs and happy swains!
(Harmless, merry, free, and gay)
Dance and sport the hours away.
For us the zephyr blows,
For us distils the dew,
For us unfolds the rose,
And flowers display their hue:
For us the winters rain,
For us the summers shine;
Spring swells for us the grain,
And autumn bleeds the vine.

RECITATIVE.

GAL. Ye verdant plains and woody mountains!
Purling streams and bubbling fountains!
Ye painted glories of the field!

Vain are the pleasures which you yield;
Too thin the shadow of the grove,

Too faint the gales to cool my love.

AIR.

Hush, ye pretty warbling choir,
Your thrilling strains;

Awake my pains,

And kindle fierce desire :

Cease your song, and take your flight;
Bring back my Acis to my sight.

AIR.

Acıs. Where shall I seek the charming fair? Direct the way, kind Genius of the mountains: O tell me if you saw my dear;

Seeks she the groves, or bathes in crystal fountains?

RECITATIVE.

DAM. Stay, shepherd! stay;

See how thy flocks in yonder valley stray.

What means this melancholy air?

No more thy tuneful pipe we hear.

AIR.

Shepherd! what art thou pursuing
Heedless running to thy ruin!