SOLOMON.

RECITATIVE.

Cedars, which since creation grew,

Fall of themselves to grace the dome; All Lebanon, as if she knew

The great occasion-lo, is come!

URIEL.

AIR.

Behold, my brethren of the sky,

The work begins, worthy an angel's eye,

Chorus of Priests and Nobles.

Be present all ye heavenly host,

The work begins-the Lord defrays the cost!

ACT II.

MESSENGER.

RECITATIVE.

BEHOLD, attended by a num'rous train,

Queen of the south, fair Sheba, greets thy reign! In admiration of thy wisdom, she,

Comes to present the bended knee.

SOLOMON TO HIRAM.

RECITATIVE.

Receive her with a fair salute,

Such as with majesty may suit,

HIRAM.

AIR.

When allegiance bids obey,

We with pleasure own its sway.

Enter SHEBA attended.

Obedient to superior greatness, see,
Our sceptre hails the mightier Majesty.
Thus Phoebe, queen of shade and night,
Owning the sun's superior rays,
With feebler glory, lesser light,

Attends the triumph of his blaze,
Oh, all-excelling prince, receive

The tribute due to such a king!

Not the gift, but will, believe!

Take the heart, not what we bring. Da Capo..

SOLOMON.

RECITATIVE.

Let measures softy sweet,

Illustrious Sheba's presence greet.

SOLOMON.

AIR.

Tune the lute and string the lyre,

Equal to the fair we sing!

Who can see and not admire

Sheba, consort for a king!

Enlivening wit and beauty join,

Melting sense and graceful air,

Here united powers combine

To make her brightest of the fair. Da Capo.

SOLOMON.

RECITATIVE.

Hiram, our brother and our friend,
Do thou the queen with me attend.

SCENE II. A View of the Temple.

HIGH PRIEST.

RECITATIVE.

Sacred to heaven behold the dome appears;

Lo, what august solemnity it wears ;

Angels themselves have deign'd to deck the frame, And beauteous Sheba shall report its fame.

When the

AIR.

queen of the south shall return

To the climes which acknowledge her sway,
Where the sun's warmer beams fiercely burn,
The princess with transport shall say,
Well worthy my journey, I've seen

A monarch both graceful and wise,
Deserving the love of a queen,

And a Temple well worthy the skies. Da Capo.

CHORUS.

Open, ye gates, receive a queen who shares,
With equal sense, your happiness and cares.

HIRAM.

RECITATIVE.

Of riches much, but more of wisdom, see
Proportion'd workmanship and Masonry.

HIRAM.

AIR.

Oh charming Sheba, there behold,

What massy stores of burnish'd gold;
Yet richer is our art!

Not all the orient gems that shine,
Nor treasures of rich Ophir's mine,

Excel the Mason's heart.

True to the fair, he honours more,
Than glitt❜ring gems or brightest ore,
The plighted pledge of love;
To ev'ry tie of honour bound,

In love and friendship constant found,
And favour'd from above.

SHEBA.

SOLOMON.

SHEBA.

SOLOMON AND SHEBA.

DUET.

SOne gem beyond the rest I see,
And charming Solomon is he.
One gem beyond the rest I see,
Fairest of the fair ones, thou art she.
Oh thou surpassing all men wise;
SOLOMON. And thine excelling woman's eyes.

ÁN

ORATION ON MASONRY,

PRONOUNCED ON SATURDAY THE 19TH OF JUNE,

1773, AT LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ROOK BY BRIDGE, ON THE RIVER TEES, BY THE BARNARDCASTLE LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

INTRODUCTION.

ON Saturday the 19th Day of June, the foundation stone of a new bridge, over the river Tees, between Rookby Park and Barnardcastle, was laid by the Barnardcastle Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.

This bridge will be erected at the sole expence of John Sawrey Morritt, Esq. of Rookby Park, and will open a ready communication between his estates and the county of Durham.

The Lodge being invited by Mr. Morritt to attend this ceremony, assembled in the Lodge room by eleven o'clock, and walked in procession in the following order:

A band of music, with French-horns, &c.
The Tyler properly apparelled.

The Deacons, with their jewels and staves.

The Secretary bearing the compass, square, &c. on a

velvet cushion trimmed with gold.

The Master with his jewels and staff, attended by the Master of Kendal Lodge.