Say, curious painter (Elizabeth Turner)
Music files
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- (Posted 2023-10-04) CPDL #76034:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-10-04). Score information: A4, 4 pages, 421 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Say, curious painter
Composer: Elizabeth Turner
Lyricist: Anonymous
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
Say, curious painter, can thy art
Angelic beauty give?
Then draw the mistress of my heart,
And bid the canvas live.
First let her easy-flowing hair,
Whose am'rous locks entwine,
In wanton ringlets sport in air
And negligently shine.
Her temples draw divinely fair
As Parian marble bright,
Through which meandering veins appear
And beautify the white:
Her brow, like Cupid's fatal bow,
Her eyes (ye gods! what fire!)
In pearly liquids sparkling glow
And raise intense desire.
Her blooming cheek, the peachless sweet,
Strikes all description dumb;
Where roses with soft lilies meet,
But blush to be o'ercome.
Her vermile lips sweet smiles bedeck,
Where sense with beauty dwells;
The polish'd iv'ry of her neck
A poet's thought excels.
The rest, her air, her shape, her mien,
So sprightly, gay and free,
Copy it from the Cyprian queen,
Just rising from the sea.
Proceed, and when with happiest art
You think your piece complete,
I'll show her picture on my heart
Shall all your skill defeat.