,
Murmuring still thy gentle love."

[21] The superior attractions of the English serenata will probably
prevent the earlier work from ever becoming a popular favorite; more
especially since the role of Polifemo needs a bass singer with a
voice of the extraordinary compass of two octaves and a
half.--_Rockstro's Life of Handel_.

[22] Miss Arne, afterwards Mrs. Cibber, enjoyed, under the latter name, a
great reputation as a singer. Her husband was Theophilus Cibber, the
brother of Colley Cibber, a poet laureate in the reign of George
II.--_Schoelcher's Life of Handel_.

[23] This undoubtedly is the manner in which this charming little piece
ought to be performed. It is a dramatic poem, but not an acting play,
and the incidents are such as cannot be represented on the stage. A
few years ago another attempt was made to perform it as an opera, but
without success. Polyphemus is entirely an ideal character, and any
attempt to personate him must be ridiculous; and the concluding
scene, in which the giant throws a huge rock at the head of his
rival, produced shouts of merriment. "Acis and Galatea" is performed
in an orchestra in the manner in which oratorios are performed; but
its effect would certainly be heightened by the picturesque scenery
and decorations employed by Handel himself.--_Hogarth's Musical
Drama_.

[24]
"Not showers to larks so pleasing,
Not sunshine to the bee,
Not sleep to toil so easing,
As these dear smiles to me."

[25]
"Help! Galatea! Help, ye parent gods!
And take me dying to your deep abodes."

Alexander's Feast.

Handel composed the music for Dryden's immortal ode in 1736. In the
original score the close of the first part is dated January 5, and the
end of the work January 17, showing rapid composition. Three years before
this time he had had a violent quarrel with Senesino, his principal
singer at the opera-house in the Haymarket, which led to his abandonment
of the theatre and its occupancy by his rival, Porpora. After an
unsuccessful attempt to compete with the latter, which nearly bankrupted
him in health and purse, he decided to quit opera altogether. He sought
relief for his physical ailments at Aix-la-Chapelle, and upon his return
to London in October, 1735, publicly announced that "Mr. Handel will
perform Oratorios and have Concerts of Mu