Purcell: The Indian Queen, Z. 630 - Ed A. Pinnock, M. Laurie / Act 4 - They Tell Us That Your Mighty Powers - Catherine Bott, The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood

They tell us that your mighty powers above

Make perfect your joys and your blessings by Love.

Ah! Why do you suffer the blessing that’s there

To give a poor lover such sad torments here?

Yet though for my passion such grief I endure,

My love shall like yours still be constant and pure.

To suffer for him gives an ease to my pains

There’s joy in my grief and there’s freedom in chains;

If I were divine he could love me no more

And I in return my adorer adore

O let his dear life the, kind Gods, be your care

For I in your blessings have no other share.

Note from score: In this section, Orazia and her lover, Montezuma,

are held captive by the villain Traxalla, who offers to spare the hero if

Orazia will submit. Orazia sings of her love and torment.