 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| PROLOGUE |
 [44KB 8' 24"] |
The Spire of Strasburg Cathedral. Night and storm.
Lucifer, with the Powers of the Air, trying to tear down the Cross.
| Lucifer | ||
Hasten! Hasten! |
 |
|
| Voices | ||
| O, we cannot; For around it All the saints and guardian angels Throng in legions to protect it; They defeat us ev'rywhere! |
||
| The Bells | ||
| Laudo Deum verum! Plebem voco! Congrego clerum! |
||
| Lucifer | ||
| Lower! Lower! Hover downward! Seize the loud vociferous bells, and Clashing, clanging, to the pavement Hurl them from their windy tower. |
||
| Voices | |
| All thy thunders Here are harmless! For these bells have been anointed And baptized with holy water! They defy our utmost power. |
|
| The Bells | |
| Defunctos ploro! Pestem fugo! Festa decoro. |
|
| Lucifer | |
| Shake the casements! Break the painted Panes, that flame with gold and crimson: Scatter them, scatter them like leaves of Autumn, Swept away before the blast! |
|
| Voices | |
| O, we cannot; The Archangel Michael flames from ev'ry window, With the sword of fire that drove us, Headlong, out of heaven, aghast! |
|
| The Bells | |
| Funera plango! Fulgura frango! Sabbata pango! |
|
| Lucifer | Voices | The Bells | |||
| Aim your lightnings |
|||||
| At the oaken, | |||||
| Massive, iron studded portals! | O, | ||||
| Sack the house of God, and scatter, | we cannot, O we cannot, | Ex- | |||
| Scatter, scatter, | The Apostles And the | -cito lento, | |||
| Scatter wide the | Martyrs, wrapped in | ||||
| ashes of the dead! | mantles stand as warders | Disipo ventos! | |||
| Sack the house of God, and scatter | Stand as | Paco | |||
| Wide the ashes of the dead! | sentinels o'erhead! | cruentos! | |||
| Lucifer | ||
| Baffled! baffled! Inefficient, Craven spirits! leave this labour Unto Time, the great Destroyer! Come away, Come away, ere night is gone! |
 |
|
| Voices | ||
| Onward! onward! With the night-wind, Over field, and farm, and forest, Lonely homestead, darksome hamlet, Over field, and farm, and forest, Over field, and farm, and forest, Field and farm and forest, Field and farm and forest, Blighting all we breathe upon. |
||
They sweep away. Organ and Gregorian Chant.
| Choir | |
| Nocte surgentes Vigilemus omnes, Nocte surgentes Vigilemus omnes, Omnes, omnes, omnes. |
|
 |
Date modified 5 January, 2010