Z 626 Dido and Aeneas I, 6 See, your royal guest appears. lyrics

BELINDA:

See, your royal guest appears;

How godlike is the form he bears!

AENEAS:

When, royal fair, shall I be bless'd,

With cares of love and state distress'd?

DIDO:

Fate forbids what you pursue.

AENEAS:

Aeneas has no fate but you!

Let Dido smile, and I'll defy

The feeble stroke of Destiny.

CHOIR:

Cupid only throws the dart

That's dreadful to a warrior's heart,

And she that wounds can only cure the smart.

AENEAS:

If not for mine, for empire's sake

Some pity on your lover take;

Ah! make not in a hopeless fire

A hero fall, and Troy once more expire.

BELINDA:

Pursue thy conquest, Love--her eyes

Confess the flame her tongue denies.

(A Dance: Guitars Chacony.)

CHOIR:

To the hills and the vales, to the rocks and the mountains,

To the musical groves and the cool shady fountains

Let the triumphs of Love and of beauty be shown;

Go revel ye Cupids, the day is your own.

(The Triumphing Dance)