Celia, that I once was blest (Dryden/Purcell)

Subject: Info on tune: Celia, that once was blest
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 04:23 PM

Helping out "Guest,lutenist" who posted a few tunes in this thread, looking for info on them. Thought it might be better to have one thread for each, so I'm starting the first one for them.

Here's the relevant bit on "Celia, that once was blest:"

Many of the tunes are known to me as traditional, but I have no information on some of those I'd like to perform. Can anyone shed any light on the following titles? Some may be from Playford's publications, as indicated in the foreword ('The Division Violin', 1685, 'Apollo's Banquet', 1670, 'Original Scotch-Tunes', 1700 and 1701), but as I don't have them, I can't check.

Subject: RE: Info on tune: Celia, that once was blest
From: GUEST,lutenist
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 04:31 PM

Thanks, katlaughing, for the suggestion, and for posting this thread for me. Any clues on the title, anyone?

Subject: RE: Info on tune: Celia, that once was blest
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 05:34 PM

Celia, That I Once Was Blest was written by Henry Purcell, taking its name from a song set to it in Dryden's Amphitryon, 1690, Act III. It appears in D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy and (arranged for treble violin) in Apollo's Banquet, second book, 1691. Claude M. Simpson, The British Broadside Ballad and Its Music, 1966, 89-90, gives this information and quotes the tune.

Subject: Lyr Add: CELIA, THAT I ONCE WAS BLEST (J Dryden)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 09:30 AM

From The Works of John Dryden: Now First Collected ... Vol. 8 (London: William Miller, 1808) page 70:


I.

Celia, that I once was blest
Is now the torment of my breast;
Since, to curse me, you bereave me
Of the pleasures I possest:
Cruel creature, to deceive me!
First to love, and then to leave me!

II.

Had you the bliss refused to grant,
Then I had never known the want:
But possessing once the blessing,
Is the cause of my complaint;
Once possessing is but tasting;
'Tis no bliss that is not lasting.

III.

Celia now is mine no more;
But I am her's, and must adore,
Nor to leave her will endeavour;
Charms, that captived me before,
No unkindness can dissever;
Love, that's true, is love for ever.