Thomas Arne
(1710 - 1778)

Arne : See, Daphne, see (reduced accompaniment) : illustration

See, Daphne, see (reduced accompaniment)
(Song)
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This work, Arne : See, Daphne, see (reduced accompaniment) : scoreid 148704, as published by notAmos Performing Editions, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. All relevant attributions should state its URL as https://www.notamos.co.uk/detail.php?scoreid=148704. Permissions beyond the scope of this licence may be available at https://www.notamos.co.uk/index.php?sheet=about.
Probably written for performance at Vauxhall. This edition includes a keyboard reduction of the original instrumental accompaniment; a full version is also available.
Lyrics: William Shenstone

"See, Daphne, see!" Florelio cried,
"And learn the sad effects of pride!
Yon shelter'd rose, how fair, conceal'd!
How quickly blasted when reveal'd!
The sun with warm attractive rays
Tempts it to wanton in the blaze;
A gale succeeds from eastern skies,
And all its blushing radiance dies."

"So you, my fair! of charms divine,
Will quit the plains, too fond to shine
Where Fame's transporting flames allure,
Tho' here more happy, more secure.
The breath of some neglected maid
Will make you sigh you left the shade;
A breath to beauty's bloom unkind,
As, to the rose, an eastern wind."

The nymph replied: "You first, my swain!
Confine your sonnets to the plain;
One envious breath alike disarms
You of your wit, me of my charms.
What is, unknown, the poet's skill?
Or what, unheard, the tuneful thrill?
What, unadmir'd, a charming mien?
Or what the rose's blush unseen?"