On Princess Amelia (Maurice Greene)
Music files
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- (Posted 2023-08-14) CPDL #74867:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-08-14). Score information: A4, 2 pages, 133 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. Figured bass realised editorially.
General Information
Title: On Princess Amelia
Composer: Maurice Greene
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo
First published: 1738
Description: Princess Amelia was the second daughter of George II. It is generally accepted that she was the mother of composer Samuel Arnold, though it was never acknowledged officially.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Ye nymphs of Bath prepare the lay;
Why, why are you so slow to pay?
Amelia claims the song:
But if you fear to wrong your cause,
Go borrow from the crowd applause
And rob the public tongue.
Sweet as her softly flowing name,
Sweet is Amelia's rising fame,
And as her virtue great:
Attend ye nymphs the fav'rite sound,
And what from shore to shore goes round,
Let Avon's banks repeat.
See, see, and sure you can no less,
See how the thronging people press!
Who, dwelling on her face,
Cry, "Is she then of Brunswick's line?
Are all like her, are all divine?"
And bless the royal race.
Encircled by our British fair
The boast of Nature and her care!
Amelia charms alone:
And will it not your ear amaze
To hear ev'n vanquish'd Beauty praise
And Pride to be outshone?
But chief our youthful heroes trace
While humbly on that form they gaze
And tell us their surprise:
Yet how ye nymphs can be that said?
No, no, let's be content to read
Their wonder in their eyes.