That Stella quits the wint'ry plain (James Oswald)

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• (Posted 2023-09-12)  CPDL #75339: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-09-12).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 303 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

General Information

Title: That Stella quits the wint'ry plain
Composer: James Oswald
Lyricist: "By a lady"^{create page}
Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo, Violin

First published: 1758
Description: Titled Advice to Colin. Written for performance at Ranelagh pleasure gardens and sung by Catherine (Kitty) Fourmantel. The text first appeared in The Gentleman's Magazine, December 1757; any attribution to Esther Johnson (Jonathan Swift's Stella) is tenuous.

Original text and translations

English text

That Stella quits the wint'ry plain,
Forbear, fond youth to mourn;
The leafless tree will bloom again
And smile at Spring's return.
Can duty justify a choice?
Her duteous choice approve;
And let at last her parting voice
Still seem the voice of love.

By absence, bliss awhile delay'd
With brighter flames will burn;
As Sol, to distant climes convey'd,
More welcome his return.
Hence let no fear your breast invade,
By hope each hour improve;
Be constant to the vows you've made,
Then doubt not Stella's love.