How cruel and how hard is my case (James Oswald)
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- (Posted 2023-08-14) CPDL #74871:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-08-14). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 344 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. Figured bass realised editorially.
General Information
Title: How cruel and how hard is my case
Composer: James Oswald
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo, violin accompaniment
First published: c.1760 (n/d)
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
How cruel and hard is my case,
Thus rack'd between friendship and love;
My Chloe possesses each grace
That is shar'd by the angels above.
Her beauty an hermit might warm,
The swan is excell'd by her mien;
She has sense that Minerva might charm,
She's enchanting to hear and be seen.
Ye gods! what delights I should prove
(Since Chloe attends to my strains),
If my Strephon, my friend, did not love,
And of Chloe chant over the plains:
But alas! if my Chloe I wed,
My Strephon's poor bosom 'twill rend:
His body will mix with the dead,
And I must survive my dear friend.
Then can I my Strephon destroy?
Or purchase my bliss with his Death?
Or can I my Chloe enjoy
When I've robb'd her adorer of breath?
No; rather than murder a friend,
To Strephon my love I'll resign;
And tho' I'm approaching my end,
That I've bless'd them I ne'er shall repine.