Armida & Amadis & Roland. Philippe Quinault
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this the way I ought to avenge myself today!
My rage flickers out when I approach him!
The more I see him, the more vain my fury;
My trembling arm refuses to obey my hate.
Ah! what cruelty to ravish life from him!
To this young hero all on earth give in.
Who would believe he was only fit for war?
He seems to be made for love.
Can’t I avenge myself in a way so he need not perish?
Eh! Won’t it suffice that love punish him?
Since he’s been unable to find my eyes charming enough,
Let him love me, at least, through my enchantments.
So that, if possible, I will hate him.
Come, Demons, second my wishes.
Transform yourselves into agreeable zephyrs.
I give in to this conqueror: pity overcomes me.
Hide my weakness and my shame
In deserted places.
Fly, escort us to the ends of the universe.
(The demons, transformed into zephyrs, carry off Renaud and Armida.)
CURTAIN
ACT III
The stage represents a desert.
ARMIDA:
(alone) Ah! if liberty must be ravished from me,
Is it you who must be my conqueror?
Most funereal enemy to the happiness of my life,
Despite me, must you then reign in my heart?
The desire for your death was my dearest wish;
How have you been able to change my wrath into languishing?
Vainly do I see a thousand lovers following me.
None has softened my severity.
Can it be that Renaud holds Armida enslaved?
Ah! if liberty must be ravished from me
Is it you who must be my conqueror?
Most funereal enemy of the happiness of my life,
Despite me, must you then reign in my heart?
PHENICIA:
(entering) What can’t your art do? Its power is intense.
What a prodigy! What a change!
Renaud who was so proud loves you.
No one has ever loved so tenderly.
SIDONIA:
Show yourself to his eyes; witness yourself
The marvelous effect of your enchantment.
ARMIDA:
Hell hasn’t yet completed my hope.
A new charm is needed to assure my vengeance.
SIDONIA:
On shores separated from human dwellings.
Who can snatch from your hands
An enemy who adores you?
You enchant Renaud:
what remains for you to fear?
ARMIDA:
Alas! It’s my heart that I fear for.
Your friendship interests itself in my fate.
I’ve taken you with me into these parts.
From the rest of mortals I am hiding my weakness;
I only intend to blush before your eyes.
From my softest looks Renaud was able to defend himself.
I was unable to entangle this proud heart to surrender.
He escaped me despite my efforts.
Under the name of spite love came to surprise me,
As I was protecting myself the least.
The more Renaud loves me the less at peace I will be.
I fear that to force my heart to obey me
All my art will be useless.
PHENICIA:
How fine your art is! It will be admired.
If it knows how to guarantee against the upsets of life!
Happy those who can be assured
Of disposing of their heart at their will!
It’s a secret worthy of being envied.
But of all secrets, it’s the least known.
SIDONIA:
Hate is frightful and barbarous.
Love constrains hearts that it seizes.
To suffer rigorous ills,
If your fate is in your power,
Choose indifference
It assures a happy repose.
ARMIDA:
No, no:
it’s no longer possible for me
To spend my trouble in a peaceable state.
My heart can no longer calm itself.
Renaud greatly offends me; only he’s too lovable.
Henceforth, for me the choice is indispensable,
Either to hate him or love him.
PHENICIA:
You’ve been unable to hate this invincible hero
When he was the most terrible
Of all your enemies.
He loves you; love enfetters him.
Will you be able to better keep your hate
Against a lover so tender and submissive?
ARMIDA:
He loves me? What love! My shame increases from it.
Must I be loved this way? Can I be satisfied with it?
It’s a vain triumph, a false blessing.
Alas! How different his love is from mine!
I had recourse to Hell to ignite his flame.
It’s the power of my art which can do anything to his soul.
My weak beauty can do nothing.
With his own worthiness he suspends my vengeance.
Without help, without effort, even without thinking of it,
He enfetters my heart with a very charming bond.
Alas, how different my love is from his!
What vengeance have I to pretend to
If I want to love him forever?
What! to give up without doing anything!
No, hate must be called to my aid.
The horror of these solitary regions
Is going to increase multifold through my art.
Turn your sight from my frightful mysteries
And especially prevent Renaud from troubling me.
(Exit Phenicia and Sidonia.)
ARMIDA: