Rinaldo.

Am I doom’d myself to see
Thus degraded evermore?

Chorus.

Courage take, and all is o’er.

Rinaldo.

Be it so!  I’ll take fresh heart,
From the spot beloved depart,
Leave Armida once again,—­
Come then! here no more remain.

Chorus.

Yes, ’tis well! no more remain.

Semi-chorus.

Away then! let’s fly

O’er the zephyr-kiss’d ocean! 
The soul-lighted eye

Sees armies in motion,
See proud banners wave

O’er the dust-sprinkled course.

Chorus.

From his forefathers brave

Draws the hero new force.

Rinaldo.

With sorrow laden,

Within this valley’s

All-silent alleys
The fairest maiden

Again I see.

Twice can this be? 
What! shall I hear it,
And not have spirit
To ease her pains?

Chorus.

Unworthy chains?

Rinaldo.

And now I’ve see her,

Alas! how changed! 
With cold demeanour.

And looks estranged,
With ghostly tread,—­
All hope is fled,
Yes, fled for ever. 
The lightnings quiver,
Each palace falls;
The godlike halls,
Each joyous hour
Of spirit-power,
With love’s sweet day
All fade away!

Chorus.

Yes, fade away!

Semi-chorus.

Already are heard

The prayers of the pious.

Why longer deny us? 
The favouring zephyr

Forbids all delay.

Chorus.

Away, then! away!

Rinaldo.

With heart sadly stirr’d,

Your command I receive;

Ye force me to leave. 
Unkind is the zephyr,—­

Oh, wherefore not stay?

Chorus.

Away, then! away!

1811.
-----
The first Walpurgis-night.

A druid.

  Sweet smiles the May!

  The forest gay

From frost and ice is freed;

  No snow is found,

  Glad songs resound

Across the verdant mead.

  Upon the height

  The snow lies light,

Yet thither now we go,
There to extol our Father’s name,

Whom we for ages know. 
Amid the smoke shall gleam the flame;

Thus pure the heart will grow.

The DRUIDS.

Amid the smoke shall gleam the flame;
Extol we now our Father’s name,

Whom we for ages know!

Up, up, then, let us go!

One of the people.

Would ye, then, so rashly act? 
Would ye instant death attract? 
Know ye not the cruel threats

Of the victors we obey? 
Round about are placed their nets