THE CAPTIVITY; AN ORATORIO. (1) (1) [Written in 1764, and now printed from the original manuscript, in Goldsmith's hand-writing, in the possession of Mr. Murray. See LIFE, ch. xiv.] THE PERSONS. FIRST JEWISH PROPHET. SECOND JEWISH PROPHET. ISRAELITISH WOMAN. FIRST CHALDEAN PRIEST. SECOND CHALDEAN PRIEST. CHALDEAN WOMAN. CHORUS OF YOUTHS AND VIRGINS. SCENE.-The Banks of the River Euphrates, near Babylon. THE CAPTIVITY, AN ORATORIO. ACT I.-SCENE I. ISRAELITES sitting on the Banks of the Euphrates. First PROPHET. Recitative. Ye captive tribes, that hourly work and weep, VOL. IV. First PROPHET. Air. Our God is all we boast below, To him we turn our eyes; G Second PROPHET. And though no temple richly drest, Nor sacrifice is here; We'll make his temple in our breast, And offer up a tear. [The first stanza repeated by the CHORUS. Second PROPHET. Recitative. That strain once more: it bids remembrance rise, Air. O Memory, thou fond deceiver ! Still importunate and vain ; To former joys recurring ever, And turning all the past to pain; Hence, intruder, most distressing, The wretch who wants each other blessing, Ever wants a friend in thee. First PROPHET. Recitative. Yet, why complain? What, though by bonds confin'd, Should bonds repress the vigour of the mind? Have we not cause for triumph, when we see And as our fortune sinks, our wishes soar. Air. The triumphs that on vice attend The good man suffers but to gain, As aromatic plants bestow No spicy fragrance while they grow, Second PROPHET. Recitative. But hush, my sons! our tyrant lords are near; Near, nearer still, it gathers on the gale; The growing sound their swift approach declares ; Desist, my sons, nor mix the strain with theirs. |