Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a, Act II: Whither, Fairest (Polyphemus, Galatea)
Ovid, John Gay, George Frideric Handel
Whither, fairest, art thou running,
Still my warm embraces shunning?
The lion calls not to his prey,
Nor bids the wolf the lambkin stay.
Thee, Polyphemus, great as Jove,
Calls to empire and to love,
To his palace in the rock,
To his dairy, to his flock,
To the grape of purple hue,
To the plum of glossy blue,
Wildings, which expecting stand,
Proud to be gather'd by thy hand.
Of infant limbs to make my food,
And swill full draughts of human blood!
Go, monster, bid some other guest!
I loathe the host, I loathe the feast.
