Text and translation
Text and translation
Text and translation
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J.-B. Lully, La Plainte italienne<br />
Note: This is not a direct <strong>translation</strong> from the Italian, but rather an English <strong>translation</strong> of the French<br />
<strong>translation</strong> provided in the opera libretto. It nevertheless gives a general idea of the subject of the<br />
Plainte.<br />
Femme désolée. Distressed Woman.<br />
Deh, piangete al pianto mio, Mix your cries with our tears,<br />
Sassi duri, antiche selve, Hard Rocks, cold Waters, & you fearsome Tigers<br />
Lagrimate, fonti, e belve, Deplore the hard fate<br />
D’un bel volto il fato rio. Of an Object whose crime is having too many charms.<br />
1. Homme affligé. First Afflicted Man.<br />
Ahi dolore ! Ah! what pain!<br />
2. Homme affligé. Second Afflicted Man.<br />
Ahi martire ! Ah! what sorrow!<br />
1. Homme affligé. First Afflicted Man.<br />
Cruda morte ! Fatal hardship!<br />
2. Homme affligé. Second Afflicted Man.<br />
Empia sorte. Cruel fate!<br />
Tous trois. All Three.<br />
Che condanni à morir tanta beltà, Must so barabous a fate condemn to death so rare a beauty?<br />
Cieli, stelle, ahi crudeltà. Heavens, stars, ah what cruelty.<br />
Femme affligée. Distressed Woman.<br />
Rispondete a miei lamenti, Anwer my complaints, Echo of this grove<br />
Antri cavi, ascose rupi ; May a lugubrious noise sound in the midst of this Forest.<br />
Deh, ridite, fondi cupi, May deep caverns <strong>and</strong> wild Caves<br />
Del mio duolo i mesti accenti. Repeat the accents of my sad lamentations.<br />
2. Homme affligé. Second Afflicted Man.<br />
Com’ esser può fra voi, o numi eterni, Which of you, o great Gods, with such fury,<br />
Chi voglia estinta una beltà innocente ? Wishes to destroy so much beauty?<br />
Ahi che tanto rigor, Cielo inclemente, Merciless Heavn’s! By this barbarism<br />
Vince di crudeltà gli stessi inferni. Would you eclipse Hell in cruelty?<br />
1. Homme affligé. First Afflicted Man.<br />
Nume fiero. Hateful God!<br />
2. Homme affligé. Second Afflicted Man.<br />
Dio severo. Inhuman Deity!<br />
Translation © Luke Arnason, 2012
Les deux Hommes ensemble. The Two Men Together.<br />
Per che tanto rigor Why this fierce rage against an innocent?<br />
Contro innocente cor ? Unheard-of cruelty!<br />
Ahi sentenza inudita, To cut short such a sweet life<br />
Dar morte à la beltà, ch’altrui da vita. Which gives life to so much Love.<br />
Ces Plaintes sont entrecoupées ici par These Complaints are here interrupted<br />
une Entrée de ballet qui se fait par les huit by an Entrée de ballet which is danced by<br />
Personnes qui portent les Flambeaux. the eight Persons bearing Torches.<br />
Femme désolée. Distressed Woman.<br />
Ahi ch’indarno si tarda, What vain effort against an ill without remedy,<br />
Non resiste a li Dei mortale affetto What useless tears & superfluous cries!<br />
Alto impero ne sforza When the Heav’ns have given fateful orders,<br />
Ove comm<strong>and</strong>a il Ciel, l’Uom cede à forza. Human will must submit.<br />
1. Homme affligé. First Afflicted Man.<br />
Ahi dolore ! Ah! what pain!<br />
2. Homme affligé. Second Afflicted Man.<br />
Ahi martire ! Ah! what sorrow!<br />
1. Homme affligé. First Afflicted Man.<br />
Cruda morte ! Fatal hardship!<br />
2. Homme affligé. Second Afflicted Man.<br />
Empia sorte. Cruel fate!<br />
Tous trois. All Three.<br />
Che condanni à morir tanta beltà, Must so barabous a fate condemn to death so rare a beauty?<br />
Cieli, stelle, ahi crudeltà. Heav’ns, stars, ah what cruelty.<br />
Translation © Luke Arnason, 2012
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