University of Virginia Library

CAROLINE:

A PASTORAL ELEGY FOR MUSIC.

TIME—THE EVENING.
CHORUS.
Glory to heaven! the day is o'er:
We love mankind, and God adore.

FIRST SHEPHERDESS.
With humble heart I say Amen!
To heaven praise, and peace to men;
But we must Caroline bewail,
The fairest blossom of the vale.

CHORUS.
With woodbines let the cypress twine,
To shade the tomb of Caroline.

FIRST SHEPHERD.
'Twas past the dawn and Aura near,
As wakeful on my bed I lay,
These sounds did surely strike mine ear,
“Come, lovely Caroline, away.”

CHORUS.
Beauty and innocence were thine!
Ah! why so soon died Caroline!

SECOND SHEPHERD.
As near the brook I graz'd my kine
And lay beneath a tree supine,
Believe me, swains, I saw the willow,
Slow-dropping, touch my grassy pillow.

CHORUS.
Her temper sweet, her soul divine!
Ah! why so soon died Caroline!

SECOND SHEPHERDESS.
A blooming damask caught my eye,
The bud unclos'd allured me nigh;
“A lovely rose 'twill prove”—I spoke,
When from the stalk the rose-bud broke.

CHORUS.
If aught from youth we may divine,
Ah! why so soon died Caroline!

THIRD SHEPHERDESS.
Shepherds! methinks 'tis plain to see
Our valley felt the sad decree,
When angels with enticing lay
Called lovely Caroline away.

CHORUS.
Come lovely Caroline away,
Come, and partake our brighter day.

THIRD SHEPHERD.
We who can feel the power of love,
Must offer much at Sorrow's shrine:
Then haste and raise a solemn grove,
To shade the tomb of Caroline.

CHORUS.
Let's offer then at Sorrow's shrine,
To soothe the shade of Caroline!

FINALE.
Glory to heaven! the day is o'er:
We love mankind, and God adore.