Congreve.

Die jährliche Feier des Namenstages der heil. Cácilia, welche die Legende als Erfinderin der Orgel angiebt, durch ein großes musikalisches Concert, hat in England vornehmlich zu Anfange des jegigen Jahrhunderts mehrere, für die Musik bestimmte, Oden veranlasst, deren man viele in den von Dryden bei Tonson herausgegebenen Miscellanies. findet, deren Werth aber sehr ungleich ist. Die drei besten theile ich hier mit. William Congreve (geb. 1672, geft. 1728.) schrieb die seinige im Jahre 1701, und fie wurde von John Eccles in Musik gefeht. Eine glückliche deutsche Neberz sehung dieser Ode, und der beiden folgenden von Dryden und Pope, findet man in Hrn. Weißens Lyrischen Gedich ten, B. III. S. 187.

A HYMN TO HARMONY

IN HONOUR

OF ST. CECILIA's DAY.

Congreve.

1

0

I.

Harmony, to thee we fing,

To thee the grateful Tribute bring

Of facred Verfe, and iweet refounding Lays:
Thy Aid invoking while thy Pow'r we praise.
All Hail to thee

All-powerful Harmony!

Wife Nature owns thy undisputed Sway,
Her wondrous Works refigning to thy Care:
The Planetary Orbs thy Rule obey,
And tuneful roll, unerring in their Way,
Thy voice informing each melodious Sphere..

CHORUS.

Congreve.

CHORUS.

All Hail to thee
All-pow'rful Harmony!

IL

Thy Voice, o Harmony, with awful Sound
Could penetrate th' Abyfs profound,
Explore the Realms of ancient Night,
And fearch the living Source of unborn Light,
Confufion heard thy Voice and fled,

And Chaos deeper plung'd his vanquish'd Head,
Then didst thou, Harmony, give Birth
To this fair Form of Heav'n and Earth;
Then all those fhining Worlds above
In Mystick Dance began to move
Around the radiant Sphere of Central Fire,
A never ceasing, never filent Choir.

CHORUS.

Confufion heard thy Voice and fled,
And Chaos deeper plung'd his vanquish'd Heads

III.

Thou only, Goddess, firft cou'dft tell
The mighty Charms in Numbers found;
And didft to heav'nly Minds reveal
The fecret force of tuneful Sound.
When firft Cyllenius form'd the Lyre,
Thou didst the God inspire;

When first the vocal Shell he ftrung,
To which the Mufes fung:

Then first the Mufes fung; melodious Strains
Apollo plaid,

And Mufick first begun by thy aufpicious Aid.
Hark, hark, again Urania fings!

Again Apollo ftrikes the trembling Strings!

And

And fee, the lift'ning Deities around
Attend infatiate, and devour the Sound.,

CHORUS.

Hark, bark, again Urania fings!
Again Apollo ftrikes the trembling Strings!
And fee, the lift'ning Deities around
Attend infatiate, and devour the Sound.

IV.

Defcend Urania, heav'nly Fair!

To the Relief of this afflicted World repair;

1

See, how with various Woes opprest,

The wretched Race of Men is worn;

Confum'd with Cares, with Doubts distrest,
Or by conflicting Paffions torn.
Reafon in vain employs her Aid,
The furious Will on Fancy waits;

While Reason still by Hopes or Fears betray'd,
Too late advances, or too foon retreats.

Mufick alone with fudden Charms can bind
The wandring Senfe, and calm the troubled Mind.

CHORUS.

Mufick alone with fudden Charms can bind
The wandring Senfe, and calm the troubled Mind.

V.

Begin the pow'rful Song, ye Sacred Nine,
Your Inftruments and Voices join;
Harmony, Peace, and fweet Defire
In ev'ry Breast inspire.
Revive the melancholy drooping Heart,
And foft Repofe to reftlefs Thoughts impart..
Appeafe the wrathful Mind,

To dire Revenge and Death inclin'd:

Congreve

Congreve. With balmy Sounds his boiling Blood affuage,
And melt to mild Remorse his burning Rage.
"Tis done; and now tumultuous Paffions ceafe;
And all is hufht, and all is Peace.

The weary World with welcome Eafe is bleft,
By Mufick lull'd to pleafing Reft.

CHORUS.

'Tis done; and now tumultuous Paffions ceafe;
And all is husht, and all is Peace.

The weary World with welcome Ease is bleft,
By Mufick lull'd to pleafing Reft.

VI.

Ah, fweet Repose, too soon expiring!
Ah! foolish Man, new Toils requiring!
Curs'd Ambition, Strife purfuing,
Wakes the World to War and Ruin.
See, fee the Battel is prepar'd!

Behold the Hero comes!

Loud Trumpets with fhrill Fifes are heard;
And hoarfe refounding Drums.

War, with difcordant Notes and jarring Noife,
The Harmony of Peace deftroys.

CHORUS.

War, with difcordant Notes and jarring Noife,
The Harmony of Peace destroys.

VII.

See the forfaken Fair with ftreaming Eyes
Her parting Lover mourn;

She weeps, fhe fighs, defpairs and dies,
And watchful waftes the lonely livelong Nights,
Bewailing past Delights

That may no more, no never more return.

O footh