Galatea secunda, an odaic cantata addressed to H. R. H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, on his first arrival in the colony of Victoria. Written by Richard Hengist Horne ... The music composed by J. Summers |
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 | Galatea secunda, an odaic cantata |  |
GALATEA SECUNDA,
AN ODAIC CANTATA, ADDRESSED TO H. R. H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, ON HIS FIRST ARRIVAL IN THE COLONY OF VICTORIA.
Indulge hospitio, causasq' innecte morandi
Dum pelago desavit hiems et aquosus Orion.
Virg. Æn. lib. iv. i. 51.
Dum pelago desavit hiems et aquosus Orion.
Virg. Æn. lib. iv. i. 51.
I. RECITATIVO (Basso, with Orchestra).
Ye mighty waves, like hills and dalesAt play upon the Indian Ocean:
Upheave your bosoms to the light
In golden glory of devotion!
Fair Galatea to Victoria comes
From an August Victoria,
In Britain's full regalia,
Buoyant through storms!
II. CHORUS (Unaccompanied).
Son of our Queen!Our hearts' belov'd—our ever heart-true Queen—
We recognise in thee
The seaboard branch of that dear island Tree,
Sacred to Science—Art—and Liberty—
Queen and Queen Consort! Chronicled must be
Thy Royal Mother's Throne—
Like a pure star that shines alone—
The most beneficent reign
In Britain's history.
III. FULL CHORUS (with Orchestra).
Hail! hail!—fore, mizen, and main—In the sunlight, the starlight, the wind and the rain—
To the Flag and the Pen'nant of Acis!—huzza!
Of Acis! huzza!
Of Acis, the Prince, and his sea-nymph of war!
Our bright sun will bless what we cannot retain—
O'ergilding the Flag with Australian sheen,
Of Acis, the Prince, and our true-hearted Queen!
IV TRIO (Soprano, Tenor, and Bass, Accompanied).
The votive song, the festal dance,Shall greet each step of thine advance
'Midst city throngs; in fern-tree glade,
No Cyclops lurking in the shade.
Where late the savage sought his game
In lonely forest, thou shalt find
Labour, with sturdy frame and mind;
And every river at thy name
Shall glisten with a lasting fame,
As did thy Spring when first it gush'd
From Ætna's foot, with love-dreams flush'd.
V.
SEMI-CHORUS (Unaccompanied).
But deem not, Prince, this land of goldWill change the impress of that mould
Nor time nor distance can efface,
Derived from loyal Britain's race.
Amidst saluting cannon-roars,
Bethink thee—while the silence comes—
Where thou return'st we once had homes—
RECITATIVO (Contralto, Accompanied).
And the moon's solemn silver fingersSacredly touch with light that lingers
Upon our parents' unforgotten tombs!
PRAYER. (Solo and Choral Response, Accompanied).
O, thou! whose noblest wealth is in thy wrecks—O, World of Waves!
To the great treasures of thy graves
Ne'er add these gallant decks!
Let one angelic voice,
O'er far Britannia's white-cliff'd throne,
Plead for thy Royal Mother's choice
Of a sea life, with safety, for her son.
FULL CHORUS (with Orchestra).
Hail! hail!—fore, mizen, and main—In the sunlight, the starlight, the wind and the rain—
To the Flag and the Pen'nant of Acis! huzza!
Of Acis! huzza!
Of Acis, the Prince, and his sea-nymph of war!
Our bright sun will bless what we cannot retain—
O'ergilding the Flag, with Australian sheen,
Of Acis, the Prince, and our true-hearted Queen!
| Galatea secunda, an odaic cantata | |