 | Hannah |  |
21
SCENE II.
Enter Elkanah, and Attendants.Elkanah.
Thou art accepted in thy Soul's Request,
The Smiles of Hope are on thy lovely Face,
And all thy Looks angelically pleasant
Shew forth the Dawnings of a blest Event—
O welcome Rapture to my longing Heart,
And Pleasure now the dearer for Delay.
AIR.
The Smiles of Hope are on thy lovely Face,
And all thy Looks angelically pleasant
Shew forth the Dawnings of a blest Event—
O welcome Rapture to my longing Heart,
And Pleasure now the dearer for Delay.
No more the Dupe of vague Mischance,
Nor jest of proud deriding Foes,
I feel my Heart within me dance,
Each Vein with livelier Motion flows;
Past Ills the present Bliss inhance,
And all the Man to vaster Joy dispose.
Nor jest of proud deriding Foes,
I feel my Heart within me dance,
Each Vein with livelier Motion flows;
Past Ills the present Bliss inhance,
And all the Man to vaster Joy dispose.
Hannah.
I am receiv'd—it is the Voice of God,
That speaks internal Comfort and Assurance.
The First-fruits of our Love I have devoted
To serve his Maker only, and attend
From early Youth upon this holy Place.
AIR. By a Virgin attendant on Hannah.That speaks internal Comfort and Assurance.
The First-fruits of our Love I have devoted
To serve his Maker only, and attend
From early Youth upon this holy Place.
The Cherubs of the highest Sphere,
As little Children we esteem,
Whose Truth and Innocence endear
Their Presence to the great Supreme;
O may thy Gratitude prepare
Thy Heart for Zeal's transcendant Blaze,
And may the happy Hannah bear
The Fruit of everlasting Praise.
As little Children we esteem,
Whose Truth and Innocence endear
Their Presence to the great Supreme;
O may thy Gratitude prepare
Thy Heart for Zeal's transcendant Blaze,
And may the happy Hannah bear
The Fruit of everlasting Praise.
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to Han.
'Twas well determined for a Son of Elkanah,
Who does confirm thee in thy good Intent,
And duteous Gratitude—the best Resolves,
Are those we form in Thankfulness to Heav'n,
Which fixes wav'ring Nature to itself,
By sure Rewards and never-failing Promises.
AIR and CHORUS.Who does confirm thee in thy good Intent,
And duteous Gratitude—the best Resolves,
Are those we form in Thankfulness to Heav'n,
Which fixes wav'ring Nature to itself,
By sure Rewards and never-failing Promises.
The Lord in highest Bliss above,
Himself alone is constant Love,
Whom Seraphims adore;
And thus their Concerts sing and play,
“The wond'rous Mercy of To-day,
“Endures for evermore.”
Himself alone is constant Love,
Whom Seraphims adore;
And thus their Concerts sing and play,
“The wond'rous Mercy of To-day,
“Endures for evermore.”
The tuneful Spheres that deck the Sky,
Still their sweet Influence supply,
And shine as heretofore;
And thus their Concerts sing and play,
“All hail the Mercy of To-day,
“Which is for evermore.”
Still their sweet Influence supply,
And shine as heretofore;
And thus their Concerts sing and play,
“All hail the Mercy of To-day,
“Which is for evermore.”
Eli.
The Signs are all propitious in your Favour—
Hannah to thee shall surely bare a Son,
And call him Samuel—he shall minister
As Priest in Childhood, and have high Esteem
From God and Man—and ere he shall be gather'd
Unto his People, shall anoint a King
O'er God's selected Nation—from whose Loins
Shall Shiloh come, Redeemer of Mankind—
Ye Levites, blow the Trumpets in the East,
Ye Damsels, smite the Timbrels and rejoice
In these my Words prophetic of Salvation.
Hannah to thee shall surely bare a Son,
And call him Samuel—he shall minister
As Priest in Childhood, and have high Esteem
From God and Man—and ere he shall be gather'd
Unto his People, shall anoint a King
O'er God's selected Nation—from whose Loins
Shall Shiloh come, Redeemer of Mankind—
Ye Levites, blow the Trumpets in the East,
Ye Damsels, smite the Timbrels and rejoice
In these my Words prophetic of Salvation.
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To Thee stupendous in thy Ways,
To Jacob's God the Blessed Uncreate
Be all Dominion, Pow'r and Praise,
And Laud and Adoration in the Height.
| Hannah | |