Fairest Isle ( i.e. Britain)


1.

Fairest Isle, all isles excelling.
Seat of pleasure and of love,
Venus here will choose her dwelling,
And forsake her Cyprian grove.
Cupid from his fav'rite nation,
Care and envy will remove;
Jealousy that poisnous passion,
And despair that dies for love.

2.

Gentle murmers sweet complaining,
Sighs that blow the fire of love,
Soft repulses, kind disdaining,
Shall be all the pains you prove.
Ev'ry swain shall pay his duty,
Grateful ev'ry nymph shall prove;
And as these excel in beauty,
Those shall be renowned for love.
John Dryden wrote these words in the 17th Century.
Henry Purcell set them to music, also in that Century

How amazing to hear these words and music from an oriental choir in the 21st Century!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrNqSNLQ-Qw&feature=related


Comments

  1. Anonymous2 August 2010 at 06:04

    Speaking of things British - Here's what Sarah Dylan Breuer had to say when she found out that Bishop Tom Wright was hired by the University of St. Andrews...
    http://churchman.blogspot.com/2010/06/zounds.html
    It's part of
    http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/bishops/wrights_appointment_to_teachin.html#comment-24225


    -Steve

    ReplyDelete

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