Pursuing beauty, men descry the distant shore - Arne, Thomas

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"Probably written for performance at Vauxhall. The text is from a play, Sir Anthony Love, or, The Rambling Lady, for which Henry Purcell composed the best known setting."

⌛ Period → Baroque ◈ Genre → Arias ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Basso continuo, violin

Pages 4

CPDL # 87094

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2025-10-09

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

Pursuing beauty, men descry The distant shore, and long to prove (Still richer in variety) The treasures of the land of love. We women, like weak Indians, stand, Inviting, from our golden coast, The wandering rovers to our land: But she who trades with 'em is lost. With humble vows they first begin, Stealing unseen into the heart; But, by possession settled in, They quickly act another part. For beads and baubles we resign, In ignorance, our shining store; Discover nature's richest mine, And yet the tyrants will have more. Sisters, be wise; forbear to try How he can court, or you be won: For love is but discovery; When that is made, the pleasure's done.