When Stella's charms first met mine eye - Turner, Elizabeth

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◈ Genre → Arias ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Basso continuo,violin

Pages 2

CPDL # 79399

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2024-03-06

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

When Stella's charms first met mine eye, While yet unknown her name, A falt'ring tongue and tell-tale sigh My passion did proclaim. But when her splendid birth I knew, Ye gods! How much I strove The guilty passion to subdue, And screen my heart from love. Oh! had I liv'd in happier time, When love was free as air, And ev'ry swain without a crime Accosted any fair, My artless vows had tried to move The pity of her breast; And pity rip'ning into love Perchance had made me blest. But, wretched, I each hope disclaim That feeds my fond desire; And ev'ry wish my breast can frame Shall in that breast expire: What tyrant custom can't approve My reason shall reject; And that which in its birth was love Shall only be respect. But Stella, should a struggling sigh From my poor heart get free, Or should you catch my guilty eye When fondly fix'd on thee; Oh! let me, let me be forgiv'n, And think how hard's my task; Since sinners may revere that heav'n For which they dare not ask.