"Ho Perduto Il Bel Sembiante" (Real)

One of the songs which Caterina sings to Sir Christopher Cheverel. In the first edition of Mr. Gilfil George Eliot describes this song as being from Gluck's Orfeo, but in the revised edition she changed the text to read: "Sir Christopher's favorite airs, by Gluck and Paisiello." It is by Giovanni Paisiello (1741-1816), and, when Caterina sang it, was one of the new songs of the day, as it had been sung two years before, in 1786, at Naples, by the popular prima donna, Anna Morichelli. It is from Paisiello's cantata Amor vendicato, first presented at Naples, 30th June, 1786. That cantata seems to have been called sometimes Dafne ed Alceo, from its principal characters.

<em>Mr. Gilfil's Love Story, Scenes of Clerical Life</em>

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