FOR MUSIC'. AIR. HENCE, avaunt ('tis holy ground), Comus, and his midnight crew, And Ignorance with looks profound, And dreaming Sloth of pallid hue, Mad Sedition's cry profane, Servitude that hugs her chain, Nor in these consecrated bowers [flowers. Let painted Flattery hide her serpent train in CHORUS. Nor Envy base, nor creeping Gain, While bright-eyed Science watches round: RECITATIVE. From yonder realms of empyrean day This Ode was performed in the Senate House at Cambridge, July 1, 1769, at the Installation of his Grace Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton, Chancellor of the University. It is here printed with the divisions adopted by the composer, Dr. Randall, then professor of music at Cambridge. To bless the place where on their opening soul First the genuine ardour stole: Twas Milton struck the deep-toned shell, AIR. Ye brown o'erarching groves, Where willowy Camus lingers with delight! I trod your level lawn, Oft woo'd the gleam of Cynthia silver bright RECITATIVE. But hark! the portals sound, and pacing forth High potentates, and dames of royal birth, And sad Chatillon, on her bridal morn3 2 Edward the Third, who added the fleur de lys of France to the arms of England. He founded Trinity College. 3 Mary de Valentia, Countess of Pembroke, daughter of Gay de Chatillon, Comte de St. Paul in France; of whom tradition says, that her husband, Audemar de Valentia, Earl of Pembroke, was slain at a tournament on the day of his nuptials. She was the foundress of Pembroke College or Hall, under the name of Aula Mariæ de Valentia. That wept her bleeding love, and princely Clare *, The murder'd saint, and the majestic lord RECITATIVE ACCOMPANIED. All that on Granta's fruitful plain QUARTETTO. What is grandeur, what is power? 4 Elizabeth de Burg, Countess of Clare, was wife of John de Burg, son and heir of the Earl of Ulster, and daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, by Joan of Acres, daughter of Edward the First. Hence the Poet gives her the epithet of princely. She founded Clare Hall. 5 Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry the Sixth, foundress of Queen's College. Elizabeth Widville, wife of Edward the Fourth, hence called the paler rose, as being of the house of York. She added to the foundation of Margaret of Anjou. Henry the Sixth and Eighth. The former the founder of King's, the latter the greatest benefactor to Trinity, College. Sweet is the breath of vernal shower, RECITATIVE. Foremost and leaning from her golden cloud AIR. Thy liberal heart, thy judging eye, The flower unheeded shall descry, And bid it round Heaven's altar shed The fragrance of its blushing head: Shall raise from earth the latent gem To glitter on the diadem. RECITATIVE. Lo, Granta waits to lead her blooming band, No vulgar praise no venal incense flings; 7 Countess of Richmond and Derby: the mother of Henry the Seventh, foundress of St. John's and Christ's Colleges. 8 The Countess was a Beaufort, and married to a Tudor : hence the application of this line to the Duke of Grafton, who claims descent from both these families. With modest pride to grace thy youthful brow, While spirits bless'd above, and men below GRAND CHORUS. Through the wild waves as they roar, With watchful eye and dauntless mien Thy steady course of honour keep, Nor fear the rocks, nor seek the shore: The Star of Brunswick smiles serene, And gilds the horrors of the deep.' 9 Lord Treasurer Burleigh was Chancellor of the University in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. |