Richard Bellamy
(?1743 - 1813)

I mourn the lovely young Adonis
(A.T.B.)
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From Bellamy's collection of glees published in 1789.

Bellamy was one of the most prominent basses of his day, appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal (1771), a lay vicar of Westminster Abbey (1773), and a vicar choral of St Paul's Cathedral (1777), where he was also Master of the Choristers. He was dismissed from all his posts in 1800 for "great indecency" with some of the choirboys. "Drunkenness, I suppose, brought on a temporary insanity, foolishness! and beastliness!" according to R.J.S. Stevens.
Lyrics: "By a Cornish gentleman"

I mourn the young Adonis dead;
He's gone, and all that's fair is with him fled.
Ye tender loves, in piteous accents mourn
The young Adonis, dead and never shall return.

Arise, bright Venus, from thy purple bed
And gay alcove, with richest carpets spread;
Throw off th'embroidered robe and zoneless vest,
And now henceforth in sable weeds be dressed.

Bend thy loose locks, the fav'rite youth bemoan,
And say Adonis is forever gone.
Cold on the mountain tops the charmer lies,
And by a boar's unpitying tusk he dies.

I mourn Adonis. All the loves deplore
The lovely, fair Adonis, now no more.