Court Odes: Love’s goddess sure was blind this day


 Selected item (#2011) = Love’s goddess sure was blind this day
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incipit (first line(s), normalized): Love’s goddess sure was blind this day
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the item's genre (general): ode
the item's genre (specific): Birthday, Queen Mary
the institution/place or purpose 
for which the work was first destined:
English court
the work's year (or focal date, if known): 1692
author of the text: Charles Sedley
composer of the music: Henry Purcell
Number of texts stored: 1  
  • Selected text (below): #108 / Source: Purcell Society Edition, vol. xxiv.
 Selected text (#108) / Source: Purcell Society Edition, vol. xxiv.  
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Purcell Society Edition, vol. xxiv.
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An Anniversary Ode / sung before Her Majesty / the 29th. of April: / the Words by Sir Charles Sidley: Set by Mr. Henry Purcell

Love’s Goddess sure was blind this Day
Thus to adorn her greatest Foe,
And Love’s Artillery betray
To one that would her Realm oer-throw.
Those eyes[,] that form[,] that lofty Meen,
Who could for Virtues Camp design?
Defensive Arms should there be seen;
No sharp, no pointed Weapons shine. Sweetness of Nature, and trye Wit,
High Power, with equal Goodness joyn’d!
In this fair Paradise are met
The Joy and Wonder of Mankind.
Long may she Reign over this Isle,
Lov’d and Ador’d in Foreign Parts;
But gentle Pallas shield the while
From her bright Charms our single Hearts. May her blest Example chace
Vice in troops out of the Land,
Flying from her awful Face,
Like pale Ghosts when Day’s at hand.
May her Hero bring home Peace
Won with Honour in the Field,
And all home-bred Factions cease;
He our Sword, and she our Shield.
Many such Days may she behold,
Like the glad Sun without decay:
May Time, that tears where he lays hold,
Only salute her in his way.
Late, late may she to Heav’n return,
And Quires of Angels there rejoice
As much, as we below shall mourne
Our short, but their Eternal choice.

Sir Charles Sedley
The Gentleman’s Journal, May 1692.
(Spelling, punctuation and capitalization original, but roman and italic types reversed except in heading)


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