Bacchus's Speech in Praise of Wine (George Frideric Handel)
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- (Posted 2004-09-21) CPDL #07917:
- Editor: Christian Mondrup (submitted 2004-09-21). Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 47 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: basso continuo realized by Christian Mondrup. Scroll down to Bacchus's Speech in Praise of Wine (No. 4).
General Information
Title: Bacchus's Speech in Praise of Wine
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Soprano solo
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo
First published: 1730 in The Musical Miscellany, Vol 4, p. 110 ff, John Watts, London
Description: From English Songs, HWV 228
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
1.
Bacchus one Day gayly striding
On his never sailing Ton;
Sneaking empty Pots deriding,
Thus address'd each toaping Son:
Praise the Joys that never vary,
And adore the liquid Shrine;
All things noble, gay and airy,
Are perform'd by generous Wine.
2.
Ancient Heroes, crown'd with Glory,
Owe their noble Rise to me;
Poets wrote the flaming Story,
Fir'd by my Divinity:
If my Influence is wanting,
Musick's Charms but slowly move;
Beauty too in vain lies panting,
'Till I fill the Swains with Love.
3.
If you crave a lasting Pleasure,
Mortals, this way bend your Eyes;
From my ever-flowing Treasure,
Charming Scenes of Bliss arise.
Here's the soothing balmy Blessing,
Sole Dispeller of your Pain;
Gloomy Souls from Care releasing:
He who drinks not, lives in vain.