THE CAPTIVITY: AN ORATORIO.' ACT I. SCENE. Israelites sitting on the banks of the Euphrates. FIRST PROPHET. Recitative. YE captive tribes, that hourly work and weep And turn to God, your father and your friend: Our God alone is all we boast below. From the autograph of the poet, 1764; a valuable manuscript, communicated to the publishers by Mr. Murray of Albemarle-street. Portions of two of the songs, printed in italics, are from The haunch of Venison, etc. 1776. The dramatis personæ, omitted in the manuscript, may be thus stated: First Israelitish prophet; second Israelitish prophet; Israelitish woman; first Chaldean priest; second Chaldean priest; Chaldean woman; chorus of Israelites, etc. — The captivity of Hoshea, and the ten tribes of Israel, is assigned to the year 721; the captivity of Zedekiah, King of Judah, to 587; and the conquest of Babylon, by Cyrus, to 538, B.C.-This oratorio was never performed; nor, I believe, ever set to music. N Chorus of ISRAELITES. Our God is all we boast below, To him we turn our eyes; And though no temple richly dress'd, We'll make his temple in our breast, And offer up a tear. SECOND PROPHET. Recitative. That strain once more: it bids remembrance rise, And calls my long lost country to mine eyes. These hills how sweet! those plains how wondrous fair! Air. O memory! thou fond deceiver — Still importunate and vain; To former joys recurring ever, Thou, like the world, the oppress'd oppressing, FIRST PROPHET. Recitative. Yet, why repine? what, though by bonds confin'd. Are not this very day those rites begun And should we mourn? Should coward virtue fly No; rather let us triumph still the more And as our fortune sinks, our wishes soar. Air. The triumphs that on vice attend Shall ever in confusion end; The good man suffers but to gain, As aromatic plants bestow No spicy fragrance while they grow- SECOND PROPHET. Recitative. But hush, my sons! our tyrant-lords are near The sound of barbarous mirth offends mine ear; Near, nearer still, it gathers on the gale; 470100 The growing note their near approach declares Desist, my sons, nor mix the strain with theirs. Enter Chaldean priests, attended. FIRST PRIEST. Air. Come on, my companions, the triumph display - The sun calls us out on this festival day, And our monarch partakes of our joy. Like the sun, our great monarch all pleasure supplies: Both similar blessings bestow. The sun with his splendor illumines the skies; And our monarch enlivens below. CHALDEAN WOMAN. Haste! ye sprightly sons of pleasure, Leave all other sports for me. |