But when [thro' all th'infernal]1 bounds Which flaming Phlegethon surrounds, Love, strong as Death, the Poet led To the pale nations of the dead, What sounds were heard, What scenes appear'd, O'er all the dreary coasts! Dreadful gleams, Dismal screams, Fires that glow, Shrieks of woe, Sullen moans, Hollow groans, And cries of tortur'd ghosts! But, hark! he strikes the golden lyre; And see! the tortur'd ghosts respire, See, shady forms advance! Thy stone, O Sisyphus, stands still, Ixion rests upon his wheel. And the pale spectres dance! The Furies sink upon their iron beds, And snakes uncurl'd hang list'ning round their heads.
1 Parry: "through all the infernal"
Authorship:
- by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), appears in Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, no. 4, first published 1708 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Sir (1848 - 1918), "But when through all the infernal bounds", 1889 [ soprano and orchestra ], from Ode to St. Cecelia's Day, no. 5 [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Luca Antonio Pagnini) , no title, written 1800, appears in Ode di Alessandro Pope in onore di Santa Cecilia, no. 4, first published 1807
Researcher for this page: John Fowler
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-04
Line count: 22
Word count: 103
Quando poi lungo le tartaree sponde, Che l’infocato Flegetonte accerchia, Amor crudo, qual morte, il gran Cantore Agli squallidi trasse orror dell’ombre, Quai voci rintronar, quai forme in mostra Vennero allor su le bollenti arene! Torbidi lampi, disperate strida, Rosse facelle, gemiti affannosi, Lamenti inconsolabili, profonde Smanie e clamor de’ tormentati spirti. Ma udite! Ei tocca la dorata lira, E le trist’alme han posa. A lui rincontro Accorron le fantasme: il tuo gran sasso, Sisifo, immobil pende: alto s’arresta Su la rota Ission: pallidi spettri Vagano in danza: sdraiansi le Furie Su covacci di ferro, e intirizzite Stan su’ lor capi ad ascoltar le serpi.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Collezione d'opuscoli scientifici e letterarj ed estratti d'opere interessanti, Volume IV, Firenze, Stamperia di Borgo Ognissanti, 1807.
Authorship:
- by Luca Antonio Pagnini (1737 - 1814), no title, written 1800, appears in Ode di Alessandro Pope in onore di Santa Cecilia, no. 4, first published 1807 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), appears in Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, no. 4, first published 1708
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-05-31
Line count: 18
Word count: 105