Happy the man. whose wish and care (James Oswald)
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- (Posted 2023-09-12) CPDL #75336:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2023-09-12). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 345 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: Happy the man. whose wish and care
Composer: James Oswald
Lyricist: Alexander Pope
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: solo high
Genre: Secular, Aria
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo, Violin
First published: 1758
Description: Titled The Moderate Wish. Written for performance at Ranelagh pleasure gardens and sung by Catherine (Kitty) Fourmantel.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Happy the man whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound;
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.
Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire;
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter fire.
Blest, who can unconcern'dly find
Hours, days and years slide soft away
In health of body; peace of mind
Quiet by day.
Sound sleep by night, study and ease
Together mixt; sweet recreation
And innocence, which most does please
With meditation.
Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.