The Fairy Queen, an operatic adaptation of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream

Come all ye songsters of the sky,
Wake and assemble in this wood;
But no ill-boding bird be nigh,
No, none but the harmless, and the good.

One charming night
Gives more delight
Than a hundred lucky days:
Night and I improve the taste,
Make the pleasure longer last
A thousand, thousand several ways.

A Nymph:
 When I have often heard young Maids complaining, 
 That when Men promise most they most deceive, 
 The I thought none of them worthy of my gaining; 
 And what they Swore, resolv'd ne're to believe. 
 But when so humbly he made his Addresses, 
 With Looks so soft, and with Language so kind, 
 I thought it Sin to refuse his Caresses; 
 Nature o'ercame, and I soon chang'd my Mind. 
 Should he employ all his wit in deceiving, 
 Stretch his Invention, and artfully feign; 
 I find such Charms, such true Joy in believing, 
 I'll have the Pleasure, let him have the Pain. 
 If he proves Perjur'd, I shall not be Cheated, 
 He may deceive himself, but never me; 
 'Tis what I look for, and shan't be defeated, 
 For I'll be as false and inconstant as he. 
 A Thousand Thousand ways we'll find 
 To Entertain the Hours; 
 No Two shall e're be known so kind, 
 No Life so Blest as ours. 

Thrice happy lovers, may you be 
  For ever, ever free,
From the tormenting devil, Jealousy.
  From all the anxious cares and Strife,
  That attends a married Life:
  Be to one another true,
  Kind to her as she's to you.
And since the Errors of this Night are past,
May he be ever Constant, she be ever chaste.

O, let me forever weep:
My eyes no more shall welcome sleep.
I'll hide me from the sight of day,
And sigh my soul away.
He's gone, his loss deplore,
And I shall never see him more.

Hark! how all things in one sound rejoice.
And the world seems to have one voice.
Hark! how all things in one sound rejoice.

Hark! now the echoing air a triumph sings.
And all around pleas'd Cupids clap their wings.

Turn then thine eyes upon those glories there,
And catching flames will on thy cheek appear.