Henry Purcell - Dido and Aeneas: Act II. Prelude for the Witches

ACT the Second,
Scene the Cave.
Enter Sorceress.

[Prelude for the Witches.]

SORC Wayward sisters, you that fright
The lonely traveller by night,
Who like dismal ravens crying
Beat the windows of the dying,
Appear at my call, and share in the fame
Of a mischief shall make all Carthage flame.
Appear, appear!

Enter Enchantresses.

ENCHA Say, Beldame, what's thy will?
CHO Harm's our delight and mischief all our skill.

SORC The Queen of Carthage, whom we hate,
As we do all in prosp'rous state,
Ere sunset shall most wretched prove,
Depriv'd of fame, of life and love.

CHO Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, &c.

ENCHA Ruin'd ere the set of sun?
Tell us, how shall this be done?

SORC The Trojan Prince you know is bound
By Fate to seek Italian ground;
The Queen and he are now in chase,
ENCHA Hark! hark! the cry comes on apace!

SORC But when they've done, my trusty elf,
In form of Mercury himself,
As sent from Jove, shall chide his stay,
And charge him sail tonight with all his fleet away!

CHO Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, &c.

ENCHA But ere we this perform,
We'll conjure for a storm,
To mar their hunting sport,
And drive 'em back to court.

CHO In our deep vaulted cell, the charm we'll prepare,
Too dreadful a practice for this open air.