THE SAXON ERA 381
prevailing political circumstances. The Republic resigned itself to an extended
association with Saxony. Saxony rejoiced in the fact that its ruler's fortunes in
the Republic had been reprieved. In January 1734, for the royal Coronation in
Cracow, the Saxon Music-Master at Leipzig hurriedly set an existing compo-
sition to new words: 'Blast Larmen ihr Feinde' (Raise your alarms, oh
enemies). In October, he was taken by surprise when the impending arrival of
the Court was announced on the anniversary of the Polish accession. In three
days, he produced an entire Cantata Gratulatoria in adventum Regis in nine
parts:
- Chorsatz Preise dein Glucke, gesegnetes Sachsen,
(Praise thy good fortune, blessed Saxony) - Rezitativ Wie Konnen wir, grossmachtigster August...
(How can we, most mighty Augustus, lay at thy feet the unfeigned
impulse of our Respect, Faithfulness and Love) - Arie Freilich trotz Augustus' Name...
(Augustus's Name, such a noble seed of God, certainly defies all mor-
tal might) - Rezitatip Was hat dich sonst, Sarmatien, bewogen...
(What has stirred thee, Sarmatia, that thou hast preferred the Saxon
Piast, great Augustus's worthy son?) - Arie Rase nur verwegner Scbwarm...
(Bluster now, presumptuous swarm, in thine own bowels! Steep thy
insolent arm, full of fury, in innocent fraternal blood, to our abhor-
rence and thine own hurt. For the venom and the fierceness of thy
envy strikes More at thee than at August.) - Rezitativ ]a, ja! Gott ist uns nacb mit seine
(Yea, yea! God is nigh, with his succour to protect Augustus's throne.
He ensures that the whole North has been contented by the royal elec-
tion... and does he not allow that city which so long opposed him to
feel his favour more than his anger?) - Arie Durch die von Eifer entlammeten Waffen ...
(To punish one's enemies with weapons inflamed by zeal brings hon-
our and renown to many men; but to requite Evil with good deeds is
only for heroes, and is Augustus's prerogative.) - Rezitativ Lass docb, o teurer Landesvater, zu
(Grant then, o Father of our country, that the Muses may sing and
honour the Day when Sarmatia elected Thee as King .. .) - Chorsatz Stifter der Reiche, Beherrscher der Kronen,...
(Founder of empires, Lord of Crowns, support the throne which
Augustus occupies. Adorn his House with imperishable prosperity
... May his lands dwell in peace...^13
The full-blooded words of No. 5 refer to the defeat of the French party in
Poland; those of No. 6 to the recent fall of Danzig. For them, the librettist,
Johann Christian Clauder, received 12 thalers, as compared with the composer's
50, and the total cost of production of 229 thalers 22 grosz. The chronicler of