by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Amidst the shades
Language: English
Amidst the shades and cool refreshing streams, Where lovers ease their panting hearts in dreams, Poor Damon lay; his grief so sadly printed in his face, His looks disturb'd the pleasures of the place; In hollow notes he sung his wretched fate, His hopeless love and his Aminda's hate. The trembling birds about him throng, Listen and murmur at his song Which hinder'd their sweet strains so long. But straight with charming notes They stretch their warbling throats, And all, with one consent and voice, Invite the shepherd to rejoice. But what can his sad soul inspire, His heart so much by grief oppress'd? A sigh (alas!) breaks from his breast, Which frights the harmless birds, And damps the cheerful choir.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked 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 Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695), "Amidst the shades", Z. 355, published 1683. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 121