XV (BWV Anh. 13) Willkommen! Ihr herrschenden Götter der Erden!

In Honor of the Visit of Augustus III and Maria Josepha and Marriage of Princess Maria Amalia and Karl IV of Sicily.

Johann Christoph Gottsched, PT (Leipzig, 1738); Facs: Neumann T, p. 418.

28 April 1738, Leipzig.

BG 34, Vorwort; NBA I/37, Krit. Bericht.



1. Aria

Be welcome, ye sovereign immortals terrestrial!
We townsmen of Helicon bring you thanks too.
To pay you honor,
Your pleasure to increase
We’ll make many praises echo:
For to offer heroes service
Is the Muses’ ancient work.  

Da Capo.

2. Recit.

O mightiest August!
Thou Lord of Saxons and Sarmatians!
Within thy highly-favored nations
Reign peace and affluence and joy.
The sovereign Father of the world
Hath deigned a share of his own might
Into thy hand to place.
He gave thee more than folk and land;
No, both with prudence here to govern
And on the path to guide of true good fortune,
He lent to thee both wisdom and good sense.
These dost thou use to help thy people:
Thus they’re seen to come
With honest gratitude
As oft as possible before thee.

3. Aria

Princes are the earth’s great pleasure;
When they’re shepherds of their sheepfolds
And the townsmen’s patron fathers,
Gold and wealth,
Sweat and blood
Subjects offer then in turn
As their gift of loyal favor
To the land’s true governors.  

Da Capo.

4. Recit.

This image glows in thee,
O mightiest, with clearest features.
Thy father, hero in the strife,
Was like a David in his triumphs.
Thee as the second Solomon
Decks now the gentle robe of peace.
The olive-branch the laurel(1) succeeds
Which once the royal staff
And Saxon state-sword had enveloped.
Although Bellona’s madness may
Still yet from Europe not have vanished,
We see at least within thy borders
The sickles shine instead of weapons.
The Muses bloom therewith
And gaze in proud repose
At the effects of this thy wise regime.

5. Aria

Gentle stillness!
Sweetest fullness!
This doth peace the arts afford,
O what fortune!
When a hero doth his vision
E’en to works of science turn.  

Da Capo.

6. Recit.
What doth resound here now with joyful news?
And whose delight can with our own be measured?
A young great man, a lord of two great kingdoms,(2)
Doth seek at last with gentle-minded breast
In Hymen's power rest and joy.
But yet, where was in many countries
More worthy prize for his attentions
Than this our court's own gem and pride?
The fairest offshoot of the rue,(3)
Josepha's image true, of princesses the jewel,
Amalia alone had power to win him?
Yes, O King Carl! This is the bride
Which to thee heav'n itself entrusts.
Couldst thou have chosen better?
Through her to thee will fortune now be wedded.

7. Arioso

Come forth, then, Princess!
Have no doubts!
The springtime hastes itself to meet thee,
And Flora paints for thy sake only
The world’s re-youthened countenance.

8. Recit.

The warming southern wind
Brings thee from romance lands vast greetings.
The little cupids’ feet are darting
More quickly than their wonted pace,
Surrounding mirthfully thy carriage
And wishing thee on wings aloft to carry.
And thee shall now the mighty Queen,
Who thee as mother loves, henceforth a model offer:
Just as the world through her exalted mind,
Her courage, fear of God, and virtue
Hath long been filled with wonder,
So shalt thou too, both in thy youthful vigor
And later years, through these same royal virtues,
Have loyal subjects’ hearts and Europe’s admiration.

9. Aria

Come, most precious grandchild of mightiest Emp'rors!(4)
United now here to lofty houses
Through this thy beauty's noble light,
Through this thy fresh new myrtle-crown.
May providence favor this most sacred bond
And make this henceforward known over the earth:
That Saxon and Austrian offspring to earth now
Will be the certain source of blessing.


1. Pronounce "laurel" here with one syllable.

2. The Two Sicilies.

3. The rue is the symbol of Augustus' house.

4. Maria Josepha, Amalia's mother, was the daughter of the Hapsburg Emperor Joseph I.


© Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose


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