 | Britannia |  |
7
SCENE IV.
As this speech ends, a Triton rises above the waves, and sounds his shell.TRITON.
Recitativo.
Behold! the sovereign of the sea,
Britannia's patron-deity,
Now rising awful from the deep,
With her this festival to keep!
He leaves the pearly dome, the coral-shade,
To rouse her spirit, and her arms to aid!
Britannia's patron-deity,
Now rising awful from the deep,
With her this festival to keep!
He leaves the pearly dome, the coral-shade,
To rouse her spirit, and her arms to aid!
SONG.
Wide o'er this bright aëreal scene,
Let only Zephir wave the wing:
And let all ocean be serene,
To honor her ascending King.
Let only Zephir wave the wing:
And let all ocean be serene,
To honor her ascending King.
8
NEPTUNE.
Recitativo.
Hail! fairest daughter of the sea;
Imperial seat of liberty;
Indulgent nurse of arms and arts,
Of coolest heads and warmest hearts;
Thy sons for every worth renown'd,
With every charm thy daughters crown'd;
The land's great umpire, ocean's queen—
All this has fam'd Britannia been:
And to this envy'd height, the Gods once more,
Leagu'd in her cause, their favorite would restore.
Imperial seat of liberty;
Indulgent nurse of arms and arts,
Of coolest heads and warmest hearts;
Thy sons for every worth renown'd,
With every charm thy daughters crown'd;
The land's great umpire, ocean's queen—
All this has fam'd Britannia been:
And to this envy'd height, the Gods once more,
Leagu'd in her cause, their favorite would restore.
9
Inspire the vocal shell!
Let harmony explore
Her sacred store,
Through all its moving, mazy swell:
For sounds that warm
Exalt and charm
The soul untouch'd before!
Then roll their rising flow from ecchoing shore to shore!
Let harmony explore
Her sacred store,
Through all its moving, mazy swell:
For sounds that warm
Exalt and charm
The soul untouch'd before!
Then roll their rising flow from ecchoing shore to shore!
BRITANNIA.
Chief let their mighty power be shown
On those I gladly call my own:
GENIUS.
SONG.
Those best sons of Britain, bold, open, and brave,
Who dare the loud tempest, and stem the rough wave.
Theirs is the sound bottom, on which to rely;
And theirs the firm heart, that will conquer or dy!
| Britannia | |