Holland (Daniel Read)

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• (Posted 2015-05-22)  CPDL #35495:  MusicXML

Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2015-05-22).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 72 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Oval note edition. The other eight stanzas from Watts' poem added below.

• (Posted 2015-05-22)  CPDL #35494: 

Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2015-05-22).   Score information: 7 x 10 in (landscape), 1 page, 72 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Note shapes added (4-shape). Four other stanzas from Watts' poem added below.

General Information

Title: Holland
First Line: Say, mighty love, and teach my song
Composer: Daniel Read
Lyricist: Isaac Watts

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Secular, Ode   Meter: 886. 886

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

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Description: First published in The American Singing-Book, 1785. Words by Isaac Watts, 1706, Lyric Poems, entitled Few Happy Matches, with nine stanzas.

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Original text and translations

English text 1. Say, mighty Love, and teach my song To whom thy sweetest joys belong, And who the happy pairs, Whose yielding hearts and joining hands Find blessings twined with their bands, To soften all their cares. 2. Not the wild herd of nymphs and swains, That thoughtless fly into the chains, As custom leads the way: If there be bliss without design, Ivies and oaks may grow and twine, And be as blessed as they. 3. Not sordid souls of earthy mold, Who drawn by kindred charms of gold, To dull embraces move: So two rich mountains of Peru May rush to wealthy marriage too, And make a world of love.

4. Not the mad tribe that hell inspires With wanton flames; those raging fires The purer bliss destroy: On Ætna's top let furies wed, And sheets of lightning dress the bed, To improve the burning joy. 5. Not the dull pairs, whose marble forms None of the melting passions warms, Can mingle hearts and hands: Logs of green wood, that quench the coals. Are married just like Stoic souls, With osiers for their bands. 6. Not minds of melancholy drain, Still silent, or that still complain, Can the dear bondage bless: As well may heavenly concerts spring From two old lutes with ne'er a string, Or none beside the bass.

7. Nor can the soft enchantments hold Two jarring fouls of angry mold. The rugged and the keen: Sampson's young foxes might as well In bands of cheerful wedlock dwell, With firebrands tied between. 8. Nor let the cruel fetters bind A gentle to a savage mind; For love abhors the fight: Loose the fierce tiger from the deer; For native rage and native fear Rife and forbid delight. 9. Two kindest souls alone must meet; ‘Tis friendship makes the bondage sweet, And feeds their mutual loves: Bright Venus on her rolling throne Is drawn by gentlest birds alone, And Cupids yoke the doves.

Few Happy Matches by Isaac Watts