Decrepit winter limped away (Thomas Arne)

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• (Posted 2024-11-06)  CPDL #82646: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2024-11-06).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 109 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

General Information

Title: Decrepit winter limped away
Composer: Thomas Arne
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo, violin

First published: 1760
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Decrepit winter limp'd away,
Now youthful spring, all trim and gay,
Comes tripping o'er the sunny plain,
With health and pleasure in her train.
She comes, and Lo! where e'er she treads,
Soft cowslips lift their velvet heads,
With snowdrops white and vi'lets blue,
And flow'rs of ev'ry leaf and hue.

Hail! smiling season, woo'd by thee,
Town has no longer charms for me;
Sated with folly, smoke and noise,
I pant for calmer, purer joys,
Lead me, some rural genius, where
The wanton, cool and balmy air,
Fresh breathing from hill, mead and grove,
Inspires festivity and love.

Thrice happy man, whose friendly fate
Affords a pleasant country seat;
Secure retirement, and defence
From business and impertinence.
There, he may stretch beneath the shade,
For ease and contemplation made;
And neither spy nor whisp'rer near
Enjoy the bounties of the year.