Bess of Bedlam by Henry Purcell

Bess of Bedlam by Henry Purcell
Filmed at St. Augustine's in-the-woods, Freeland WA (Whidbey Island)
Danielle Reutter-Harrah, soprano
Tess Roberts, viola da gamba
Henry Lebedinsky, harpsichord
From silent shades and the Elysium groves, where sad, departed spirits mourn their loves;
From crystal streams, and from that country where Jove crowns the fields with flowers all the year;
Poor senseless Bess, clothed in her rags and folly, is come to cure her lovesick melancholy:
Bright Cynthia kept her revels late, while Mab the Fairy Queen did dance,
and Oberon did sit in state, when Mars at Venus ran his lance;
In yonder cowslip lies my dear, entombed in liquid gems of dew,
Each day I'll water it with a tear, its fading blossom to renew:
For since my love is dead, and all my joys are gone;
Poor Bess for his sake a garland will make, my music shall be a groan.
I'll lay me down and die within some hollow tree,
The raven and cat, the owl and bat will warble forth my elegy.
Did you not see my love as he passed by you?
His two flaming eyes, if he come nigh you, they will scorch up your hearts!
Ladies beware ye, lest he should dart a glance that may ensnare ye!
Hark! Hark! I hear old Charon bawl, his boat he will no longer stay,
and furies lash their whips and all, come, come away; come, come away.
Poor Bess will return to the place whence she came, since the world is so made she can hope for no cure;
For love's grown a bubble, a shadow, a name, which fools do admire and wise men endure...
Cold and hungry am I grown... ambrosia will I feed upon, drink nectar still and sing;
Who is content does all sorrow prevent,
and Bess in her straw, whilst free from the law
In her thoughts is as great - great as a king.