Händel, Samson (englisch)

George Frideric Handel

SAMPSON - An Oratorio
SYMPHONY

ACT ONE

SCENE I
- Samson, blind and in chains. Chorus of the Priests of
 Dagon, celebrating his festivals at a distance.

Samson
This day, a solemn feast to Dagon held,
relieves me from my task of servile toil;
Unwillingly their superstition yields
this rest, to breathe heaven's air,
fresh blowing, pure and sweet.

Chorus of Philistines
Awake the trumpet's lofty sound!
The joyful sacred festival comes round,
when Dagon king of all the earth is crown'd.

Philistine Woman
(Aria - Andante)
Ye men of Gaza, hither bring
the merry pipe and pleasing string,
in solemn hymn, and cheerful song,
be Dagon prais'd by ev'ry tongue!

Chorus of Philistines
Awake the trumpet's lofty sound!

SCENE II
- Enter Micah, Samson's best Friend,
 and Israelites, observing Samson.

Micah
(apart) Oh change beyond report, thought, or belief!
See, how he lies with languish'd head,
unpropt, abandon'd, past all hope! Can this be he?
heroic Samson? Whom no strength of man,
nor fury of the fiercest beast could quell!
Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid!
Ran weaponless on armies clad in iron,
useless the temper'd steel, or coat of mail!

(to Samson) Matchless in might! once Israel's glory,
now her grief! We come (thy friends
well known) to visit thee!
Samson
Welcome, my friends!

Micah
Which shall we first bewail,
thy bondage, or lost sight?

Samson
Oh loss of sight! of thee I most complain!
oh worse than beggary, old age, or chains!
my very soul in real darkness dwells!

(Cavata - Larghetto e staccato)
Total eclipse! no sun, no moon,
all dark admidst the blaze of noon!
Oh glorious light! no cheering ray,
to glad my eyes with welcome day!
Why thus depriv'd Thy prime decree?
Sun, moon, and stars are dark to me!

Chorus of Israelites
Oh first created beam! and thou great word:
"Let there be light!" - and light was over all;
one heav'nly blaze shone round this earthly ball:
to thy dark servant, life, by light afford!

SCENE III
- Enter Manoa, Samson's Father

Manoa
Oh miserable change! is this the man,
renown'd afar, the dread of Israel's foes?
Who with an angel's strength their armies duell'd,
himself an army! Now unequal match
to guard his breast against the coward's spear!

(Aria - Allegro)
Thy glorious deeds inspir'd my tongue,
whilst airs of joy from thence did flow.
To sorrows now I tune my song,
and set my harp to notes of woe.

Samson
Justly these evils have befall'n thy son;
sole author I, sole cause - my griefs for this forbid mine
eyes to close, or thoughts of rest. But now the strife
shall end: me overthrown, Dagon presume to enter lists
with God, who, thus provok'd, will not connive, but
rouse his fury soon, and his great name assert; Dagon
shall stoop, ere long be quite despoil'd of all those
boasted trophies won on me.
(Aria - Allegro)
Why does the God of Israel sleep?
Arise with dreadful sound
and clouds encompass'd round
then shall the Heathen hear thy thunder deep.
The tempest of thy wrath now raise,
in whirlwinds them persue,
full fraught with vengeance due,
till shame and trouble all thy foes shall seize!

Chorus of Israelites
Then shall they know,
that He, whose name Jehova is alone
o'er all the earth but One,
was ever the Most High and still the same.

Manoa
For thee, my dearest son, must thou meanwhile lie,
thus neglected, in this loathsome plight?

Samson
It should be so! Why should I live?
soon shall these orbs to double darkness yield.
My genial spirits droop, my hopes are fled,
nature in me seems weary of herself,
my race of glory run and race of shame:
Death, invocated oft, shall end my pains
and lay me gently down with them, that rest.

Chorus of Israelites
Then round about the starry throne
of Him, who ever rules alone,
your heav'nly-guided soul shall climb:
Of all this earthly grossness quit,
with glory crown'd, forever sit,
and triumph over Death, and thee, oh Time!

ACT TWO

SCENE I
- Samson, Manoa, Chorus

Manoa
Trust yet in God! Thy father's timely care
shall prosecute the means to free thee hence;
meantime, all healing words from these thy friends admit.

(Aria - Allegro moderato)
Just are the ways of God to man,
let none his secret actions scan
for all is best, though oft we doubt,
of what his wisdom brings about.
Still his unsearchable dispose
blesses the righteous in the close

Samson
My evils hopeless are! One pray'r remains:
a speedy death, to close my miseries.

Micah
Relieve Thy champion, image of Thy strength,
and turn his labours to a peaceful end!

(Aria - Andante)
Return, oh God of hosts!
Behold Thy servant in distress!
His mighty, mighty griefs redress,
nor by the Heathen be it told.
Chorus and Micah
To dust his glory they would tread,
and number him amongst the dead.
Return, oh God of hosts!
Behold Thy servant in distress!

SCENE II
- Samson, Micah. Enter Dalila,
 attended by her virgins.

Micah
But who is this? that so bedeck'd and gay,
comes this way sailing like a stately ship?
'tis Dalila, thy wife.

Samson
My wife? my traitress!
Let her not come near me!

Micah
She stands, and eyes thee fix'd, with head declin'd,
- like a fair flow'r surcharg'd with dew - she weeps;
her words address'd to thee, seem tears
dissolv'd, wetting the borders of her silken veil.
Dalila
Forgive what's done, nor think of what's
past cure; from forth this prisonhouse
come home to me,
where with redoubled love and nursing care,
- to me glad office! - my virgins and myself
shall tend about thee to extremest age.

(Aria - Larghetto)
My faith and truth, oh Samson, prove,
but hear me, hear the voice of love!
With love no mortal can be cloy'd,
all happiness is love enjoy'd.
Virgins
Her faith and truth, oh Samson, prove,
but hear her, hear the voice of love!

Samson
Ne'er think of that! I know thy warbling
charms, thy trains, thy whiles, and faith
enchanted cup: their force null'd; where once
I have been caught, I shun the snare;
these chains, this prisonhouse,
I count the house of liberty to thine.

Dalila
Let me approach, at least,
and touch thy hand.

Samson
Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake
my sudden rage to tear thee limb from limb.
At distance I forgive: depart with that.
Now triumph in thy falsehood; so farewell!

Dalila
Thou art more deaf to pray'rs than winds or seas;
Thy anger rages an eternal tempest.
Why should I humbly sue for peace,
thus scorn'd, with infamy upon my name denounc'd?

(Duetto - Allegro)
Dalila
Traitor to love! I'll sue no more
for pardon scorn'd,
your threats give o'er!
Samson
Traitress to love! I'll hear no more
the charmer's voice,
your arts give o'er!

(Exeunt Dalila and Virgins.)
SCENE III

Micah
She's gone! a serpent manifest: her sting
discover'd in the end.

Samson
So let her go!
God sent her here to aggravate my folly.

SCENE IV
- Micah, Samson

Micah
No words of peace, no voice enchanting fear,
a rougher tongue expect: here's Harapha,
I know him by this stride and haughty look.

(Enter Harapha and Philistines.)

Harapha
I come not, Samson, to condole thy chance;
I am of Gath, men call me Harapha:
thou know'st me now. Of thy prodigious might
much have I heard, incredible to me!
Nor less displeas'd, that never in the field
we met, to try each other's deeds of strength,
I'd see if thy appearance answers loud report.

Samson
The way to know, were not to see,
but taste.

Harapha
The honour certain to have won from thee
I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out;
to combat with a blind man, I disdain.

(Aria - Allegro)
Honour and arms scorn such a foe,
though I could end thee at a blow;
Poor victory, to conquer thee,
oh glory in thy overthrow!
Vanquish a slave that is half slain:
So mean a triumph I disdain.

Samson
Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster?
yet take heed! My heels are fetter'd, but my
hands are free.
Thou bulk, of spirit void! I once again
blind and in chains, provoke thee to the fight!

Harapha
Oh Dagon! can I hear this insolence
to me unus'd, not rend'ring instant death?
(Duetto - Allegro)
Samson
Go, baffled coward, go,
lest vengeance lay thee low,
in safety fly my wrath with speed!
Harapha
Presume not on thy God,
who under foot has trod,
thy strength and thee, at greatest need.

Micah
Here lies the proof: if Dagon be thy God,
with high devotion invocate his aid;
his glory is concern'd. Let him dissolve
those magic spells that gave our hero strength.
Then know whose God is God; Dagon,
of mortal make or that Great One whom
Abram's sons adore.

Chorus of Israelites
Hear, Jacob's God, Jehovah, hear!
Oh save us, prostrate at Thy throne!
Israel depends on Thee alone,
save us, and show that Thou art near!

Harapha
Dagon, arise! attend thy sacred feast!
Thy honour calls, this day admits no rest.

Chorus of Philistines
To song and dance we give the day,
which shows thy universal sway.
Protect us by thy mighty hand,
and swep this race from out the land!

Chorus of Israelites and Philistines.
Dalila, Samson, Manoa, Harapha
Fix'd in his everlasting seat,
- Jehovah/Great Dagon - rules the world in state.
His thunder roars, heav'n shakes, and earth's aghast,
the stars with deep amaze,
remain in steadfast gaze:
- Jehovah/Great Dagon - is of God's the first and last.

ACT THREE

SCENE I
- Samson, Micah, Harapha and Chorus of Israelites

Micah
More trouble is behind; for Harapha
comes on amain, speed in his steps and look

Samson
I fear him not, nor all his giant brood.

(Enter Harapha.)

Harapha
Samson, to thee our Lords thus bid me say:
This day to Dagon we do sacrifice
with triumph, pomp, and games; we know, thy strength
surpasses human race: come then, and show
some public proof to grace this solemn feast.

Samson
I am an Hebrew, and our law forbids
my presence at their vain religious rites.

Harapha
This answer will offend; regard thyself.

Samson
Myself! my conscience and internal peace!
Am I so broke with servitude, to yield
to such absurd commands? to be their fool,
and play before their God?
I will not come.

Harapha
My message, given with speed,
brooks no delay.

(Aria - Pomposo)
Presuming slave, to move their wrath!
for mercy sue,
or vengeance due
dooms in one fatal word thy death!
Consider, ere it be too late,
to ward th' unerring shaft of fate.

Micah
Reflect then, Samson, matters now are strain'd
up to the height, whether to hold, or break.
He's gone, whose malice may inflame the Lords.

Samson
Shall I abuse this consecrated gift
of strength, again returning with my hair,
by vaunting it in honour to their God
and prostituting holy things to idols?

Micah
How thou wilt here come off surmounts my
reach; 'tis Heaven alone can save, both us and thee.
Chorus of Israelites
With thunder arm'd, great God, arise!
Help Lord, or Israel's champion dies!
To Thy protection this Thy servant take
and save, oh save us for Thy servant's sake!

Samson
In nothing I'll comply that's scandalous
or sinful by our law. - Brethren, farewell!
Your kind attendance now, I pray, forbear.

Micah
So may'st thou act
as serves His glory best.

Samson
Let but that spirit (which first rush'd on me
in the camp of Dan) inspire me at my need:
then shall I make Jehovah's Glory known!
Their idol gods shall from His presence fly,
scatter'd like sheep before the God of Hosts.

(Aria - Andante)
Thus when the sun from's wat'ry bed
All curtain'd with a cloudy red,
Pillows his chin upon an orient wave!
The wand'ring shadows ghastly pale,
All troop to their infernal jail
Each fetter'd ghost slips to his sev'ral grave.

Micah
With might endued above the sons of men,
swift as the lightning's glance His errand execute,
and spread His name amongst the heathen round!

SCENE II
- Micah, Manoa, and Chorus of Israelites

Manoah
O Micah, get up and force your steps,
to find my son and bring us some glad news!

Philistine Woman
Great Dagon has subdued our foe
and brought their boasted hero low:
Sound out his Pow'r in notes divine,
praise him with mirth, high cheer and wine.

Chorus of Philistines
Great Dagon has subdued our foe
and brought their boasted hero low:
Sound out his Pow'r in notes divine
praise him with mirth, high cheer and wine.

A SYMPHONY OF HORROR AND CONFUSION
Manoah
Heav'n! what noise!
Horribly loud, unlike the former shout.

Chorus of Philistines
- At a distance.
Hear us, our God! oh hear our cry!
death! ruin! fall'n! no help is nigh!
oh mercy, Heav'n! we sink, we die!

SCENE III
 - Enter Micah

Micah
Where shall I run, or which way fly
the thoughts of his most horrid sight?
Oh countrymen!
You're in this sad event too much concern'd.

Manoa
The accident was loud, we long to know from whence.

Micah
Let me recover breath; it will burst forth.

Manoa
Suspense in news is torture:
speak them out!

Micah
Then take the worst in brief - Samson is dead!

Manoa
The worst indeed!

Micah
Unwounded of his enemies he fell,
at once he did destroy, and was destroy'd;
the edifice (where all were met to see)
upon their heads, and on his own he pull'd!

Manoa
Oh lastly overstrong against thyself!
A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge:
glorious, yet dearly bought!

Micah
(Cavata e Coro - Largo assai)
Ye sons of Israel, now lament;
Your spear is broke, your bow's unbent,
your glory's fled!
Amongst the dead
Great Samson lies
for ever, ever clos'd his eyes!
Chorus of Israelites
Weep, Israel, weep a louder strain -
Samson, your strength, your hero, is slain!

A DEAD MARCH
Micah
The body comes; we'll meet it on the way
with laurels evergreen, and branching palm;
then lay it in his monument, hung round
with all his trophies, and great acts enroll'd
in verse heroic, or sweet lyric song.

Manoa
There shall all Israel's valiant youth resort,
and from his memory inflame their breasts
to matchless valour, whilst they sing his praise.

(Enter Israelites with the body of Samson.)

Manoa, Chorus of Israelites
(Solo e Coro - Largo)
Glorious hero, may thy grave
peace and honour ever have;
After all thy pains and woes
rest eternal, sweet repose!
Chorus of younglings
Glorious hero, may thy grave
peace and honour ever have;
Micah
The virgins too shall on their feastful days
visit his tomb with flow'rs, and there bewail
his lot unfortunate in nuptial choice.
Chorus of Virgins
Bring the laurels, bring the bays,
strew his hearse, and strew the ways!

Chorus of Israelites
Glorious hero, may thy grave,
peace and honour ever have,
after all thy pains and woes,
rest eternal, sweet repose!

Manoa
Come, come! no time for lamentation now,
no cause for grief; Samson like Samson fell,
both life and death heroic.
To his foes ruin is left; to him eternal fame.

Israelitish Woman
(Aria - Andante)
Let the bright Seraphim in burning row
their loud, uplifted angel trumpets blow.
Let the Cherubic host, in tuneful choirs,
touch their immortal harps with golden wires.

Let their celestial concerts all unite:

Chorus of Israelites
Let their celestial concerts all unite,
ever to sound his praise
in endless blaze of light.