Handel composed the aria “Lascia la spina” for his 1707 oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno. The opening words of the aria are: “Lascia la spina, cogli la rosa,” translated as “Avoid the thorn, pluck the rose.” The allegorical character Pleasure sings the song, hoping to tempt the heroine Beauty into a life of pleasant diversion rather than virtuous truth-seeking.