Z 626 Dido and Aeneas III, 3: "Your counsel all is urged in vain". lyrics

DIDO

Your counsel all is urged in vain

To Earth and Heav'n I will complain!

To Earth and Heav'n why do I call?

Earth and Heav'n conspire my fall.

To Fate I sue, of other means bereft

The only refuge for the wretched left.

BELINDA

See, Madam, see where the Prince appears;

Such Sorrow in his looks he bears

As would convince you still he's true.

[enter Aeneas]

AENEAS

What shall lost Aeneas do?

How, Royal Fair, shall I impart

The God's decree, and tell you we must part?

DIDO

Thus on the fatal Banks of Nile,

Weeps the deceitful crocodile

Thus hypocrites, that murder act,

Make Heaven and Gods the authors of the Fact.

AENEAS

By all that's good ...

DIDO

By all that's good, no more!

All that's good you have forswore.

To your promis'd empire fly

And let forsaken Dido die.

AENEAS

In spite of Jove's command, I'll stay.

Offend the Gods, and Love obey.

DIDO

No, faithless man, thy course pursue;

I'm now resolv'd as well as you.

No repentance shall reclaim

The injur'd Dido's slighted flame.

For 'tis enough, whate'er you now decree,

That you had once a thought of leaving me.

AENEAS

Let Jove say what he will: I'll stay!

DIDO

Away, away! No, no, away!

AENEAS

No, no, I'll stay, and Love obey!

DIDO

To Death I'll fly

If longer you delay;

Away, away!.....

[Exit Aeneas]

But Death, alas! I cannot shun;

Death must come when he is gone.

• Artist:Henry Purcell
• Album:Live at the Israeli Opera, June 2018.