Come lyrist, tune thy harp (Elizabeth Turner)
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- (Posted 2024-03-06) CPDL #79410:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2024-03-06). Score information: A4, 4 pages, 570 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Come lyrist, tune thy harp
Composer: Elizabeth Turner
Lyricist: Anacreon (trans. William Broome)create page
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo,violin
First published: 1756
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Come lyrist, tune thy harp and play
Responsive to my vocal lay;
Ah! Gently touch it while I sing
The rose, the glory of the Spring.
When Venus, from the ocean's bed,
Rais'd o'er the waves her lovely head,
To grace the world, the teeming Earth
(With fragrance) gave the infant birth.
In fabled song and tuneful lays,
The fav'rite rose the Muses praise;
To pluck the rose, the virgin train
With blood their pretty fingers stain.
See how they wave the charming toy;
Now kiss, now snuff the fragrant joy;
Nor dread the pointed terrors round,
Which threaten and inflict a wound.
Oh! ever lovely, ever sweet,
The object where thy beauties meet;
Aurora, with a blushing ray
And rosy fingers spreads the day.
The Graces more enchanting show,
When rosy blushes paint their snow;
And ev'ry pleas'd beholder seeks
The rose in Delamira's cheeks.