From Saul, HWV 53, Act III, Scene III
Composer |
George Frideric Handel |
|---|---|
Key |
c minor → g minor |
Meter |
4/4 |
Tempo |
Largo |
Length |
41 measures |
English text |
|---|
Samuel |
Why hast thou forc’d me from the realms of peace |
Back to this world of woe? |
Saul |
O holy prophet! |
Refuse me not thy aid in this distress. |
The num’rous foe stands ready for the battle: |
God has forsaken me: no more he answers |
By prophets or by dreams: no hope remains, |
Unless I learn from thee from course to take. |
Samuel |
Hath God forsaken thee? And dost thou ask |
My counsel? Did I not foretell thy fate, |
When, madly disobedient, thou didst spare |
The curst Amalekite, and on the spoil |
Didst fly rapacious? Therefore God this day |
Hath verified my words in thy destruction, |
Hath rent the kingdom from thee, and bestow’d it |
On David, whom thou hatest for his virtue. |
Thou and thy sons shall be with me tomorrow, |
And Israel by Philistine arms shall fall. |
The Lord hath said it: He will make it good. |
Opera Stanford |
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