Z 626 Dido and Aeneas II, 1 Prelude for the witches. lyrics

ACT THE SECOND

Scene [I]: The Cave [enter Sorceress]

PRELUDE FOR THE WITCHES

SORCERESS

Wayward sisters, you that fright

The lonely traveller by night

Who, like dismal ravens crying,

Beat the windows of the dying,

Appear! Appear at my call, and share in the fame

Of a mischief shall make all Carthage flame.

Appear!

[enter Enchantresses]

FIRST WITCH

Say, Beldam, say what's thy will.

CHORUS

Harm's our delight and mischief all our skill.

SORCERESS

The Queen of Carthage, whom we hate,

As we do all in prosp'rous state,

Ere sunset, shall most wretched prove,

Depriv'd of fame, of life and love!

CHORUS

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! [etc.]

TWO WITCHES

Ruin'd ere the set of sun?

Tell us, how shall this be done?

SORCERESS

The Trojan Prince, you know, is bound

By Fate to seek Italian ground;

The Queen and he are now in chase.

FIRST WITCH

Hark! Hark! the cry comes on apace.

SORCERESS

But, when they've done, my trusty Elf

In form of Mercury himself

As sent from Jove shall chide his stay,

And charge him sail tonight with all his fleet away.

CHORUS

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! [etc.]

[Enter a Drunken Sailor; a dance]

TWO WITCHES

But ere we this perform,

We'll conjure for a storm

To mar their hunting sport

And drive 'em back to court.

CHORUS [in the manner of an echo.]

In our deep vaulted cell the charm we'll prepare,

Too dreadful a practice for this open air.

ECHO DANCE [Enchantresses and Fairies]