Handel began composing the work in Venice in 1709 and completed it in Hanover after arriving in 1710 to take up his appointment as Kapellmeister to the Elector, the later King George I of Great Britain.

[1] The work is one of Handel's most ambitious cantatas and is indicative of the brilliant operatic career to follow in the next 30 years of his life.

[citation needed] The cantata's instrumentation is bright, as Handel adds a flute, a pair of oboes and a bassoon to the usual strings.

Apollo, having released Greece from tyranny by killing the menacing dragon Python, is in an arrogant mood.

Naturally distrustful, she rejects his advances and declares that she would rather die than lose her honour.

Overwhelmed by sorrow, Apollo pledges that his tears will water her green leaves and that her triumphant branches will be used to crown the greatest heroes.

In the following table, the first column has the movement number, the second the type of music, the third the role, and the fourth the text translated from the original Italian.

After such terrors and such slaughter that have devastated and depopulated the country the Python lies dead, put to death by my hand.

A God should follow after no other love than for objects eternal; the fleeting dust will perish, will end, that makes me pleasing to you, but not the virtue that protects me.

As in gentle heaven the star of Neptune calms the storm, so in an honest and fair soul, reason holds love in check.

May the cold of winter never harm you nor the thunder of heaven touch your sacred and glorious foliage.

Dear laurel, with my tears I shall water your green leaves; with your triumphant branches will I crown the greatest heroes.