First Act

 
[Ouverture]

 N 

 

Scene: the palace

[Enter Dido and Belinda, and Train.]

 Q 

<- Dido, Belinda, Train, Second woman

 
[N. 1 - Scena and Chorus]

 N 

BELINDA

Shake the cloud from off your brow,  

fate your wishes does allow;

empire growing,

pleasures flowing,

fortune smiles and so should you,

shake the cloud from off your brow.

CHORUS

Banish sorrow, banish care,

grief should ne'er approach the fair.

 
[N. 2 – Song]

 N 

DIDO

Ah! Belinda, I am prest    

with torment not to be confest,

peace and I are strangers grown.

I languish till my grief is known,

yet would not have it guest.

S

Sfondo schermo () ()

 
[N. 3 - Recitative]

 N 

BELINDA

Grief increasing by concealing.  

DIDO

Mine admits of no revealing.

BELINDA

Then let me speak the Trojan guest

into your tender thoughts has prest.

SECOND WOMAN

The greatest blessing fate can give,

our Carthage to secure, and Troy revive.

 
[N. 4 - Chorus]

 N 

CHORUS

When monarchs unite how happy their state,  

they triumph at once on their foes and their fate.

 
[N. 5 - Recitative]

 N 

DIDO

Whence could so much virtue spring?  

what storms, what battles did he sing?

Anchises' valour mixt with Venus' charmes,

how soft in peace, and yet how fierce in arms.

BELINDA

A tale so strong and full of wo,

might melt the rocks as well as you.

SECOND WOMAN

What stubborn heart unmoved could see

such distress, such pity?

DIDO

Mine with storms of care opprest

is taught to pity the distrest.

Mean wretches grief can touch,

so soft, so sensible my breast,

but ah! I fear, I pity his too much.

 
[N. 6 - Duet and Chorus]

 N 

BELINDA, SECOND WOMAN

Fear no danger to ensue,  

the hero loves as well as you,

ever gentle, ever smiling,

and the cares of life beguiling,

Cupid strew your path with flowers

gathered from Elysian bowers.

 

CHORUS

Fear no danger to ensue,

the hero loves as well as you:

Cupid strew your path with flowers

gathered from elysian bowers.

 
Dance this chorus.
 
 

Scene: the baske

[Aeneas enters with his Train.]

 Q 

Belinda, Dido

<- Aeneas, Train

 
[N. 7 - Recitative]

 N 

BELINDA

See, your royal guest appears,  

how godlike is the form he bears!

AENEAS

When, royal fair, shall I be blest

with cares of love and state distrest?

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.

 
[N. 8 - Chorus]

 N 

CHORUS

Cupid only throws the dart  

that's dreadful to a warrior's heart,

and she that wounds can only cure the smart.

 
[N. 9 - Recitative]

 N 

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.

 
[N. 10 - Air]

 N 

BELINDA

Pursue thy conquest, love; her eyes  

confess the flame her tongue denies.

 
A dance. Gittars chacony.
 
[N. 11 - Chorus]

 N 

CHORUS

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.

 
[N. 12 - The triumphing dance]

 N 

A dance.
 

The end (First Act)

The Prologue First Act Second Act Third Act

[Ouverture]

The palace

<- Dido, Belinda, Train, Second woman

[N. 1 - Scena and Chorus]

Shake the cloud from off your brow

[N. 2 – Song]

[N. 3 - Recitative]

Grief increasing by concealing

[N. 4 - Chorus]

[N. 5 - Recitative]

Whence could so much virtue spring?

[N. 6 - Duet and Chorus]

Belinda, Second Woman, Chorus
Fear no danger to ensue

(Dance this chorus.)

The baske.

Belinda, Dido
 
Belinda, Dido
<- Aeneas, Train

[N. 7 - Recitative]

See, your royal guest appears

[N. 8 - Chorus]

[N. 9 - Recitative]

If not for mine, for empire's sake

[N. 10 - Air]

(A dance.)

[N. 11 - Chorus]

[N. 12 - The triumphing dance]

(A dance.)

 
Scene: the palace Scene: the baske
The sea. The grove The palace The baske. The cave The grove. The ships.
[Ouverture] [N. 1 - Scena and Chorus] [N. 2 – Song] [N. 3 - Recitative] [N. 4 - Chorus] [N. 5 - Recitative] [N. 6 - Duet and Chorus] [N. 7 - Recitative] [N. 8 - Chorus] [N. 9 - Recitative] [N. 10 - Air] [N. 11 - Chorus] [N. 12 - The triumphing dance] [N. 13 - Prelude for the witches] [N. 14 - Witches chorus] [N. 15 - Recitative] [N. 16 - Chorus] [N. 17 - Recitative] [N. 18 - Chorus] [N. 19 - Duet] [N. 20 - Chorus] [N. 21 - Echo dance of furies] [N. 22 - Ritornelle] [N. 23 - Song and Chorus] [N. 24 - Song] [N. 25 - Recitative] [N. 26 - Song and Chorus] [N. 27 - Recitative] [N. 28 - Prelude] [N. 29 - The sailors dance] [N. 30 - Recitative] [N. 31 - Chorus] [N. 32 - The witches dance] [N. 33 - Recitative] [N. 34 - Recitative] [N. 35 - Chorus] [N. 36 - Recitative] [N. 37 - Song] [N. 38 - Chorus]
The Prologue Second Act Third Act

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