by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Hark, Damon, hark!
Language: English
Hark, Damon, hark! what music's this I hear? Gods! what melodious noise invades my ear? The flocks are wonder-struck; birds, as they fly, Ravish'd with these sweet strains fall down and die. Mark how from yonder hill it does rebound! Hark how the fainting echoes all around, Charm'd with delight, repeat the pleasing sound. Orpheus perhaps is from the shades below Return'd, and strikes his lyre to let us know That since he play'd upon Parnassus' hill He has improv'd his fancy and his skill. Come, shepherds, come, his pipe let each one take, And try what kind of music we can make. I'll warrant you, boys, we play louder than he: Though our pipes may but jar, yet our humours agree, And Orpheus himself's not so merry as we.
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), "Hark, Damon, hark!", Z. 541, symphony song [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Athony Burton
This text was added to the website: 2009-07-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 130