Orlando furioso (1990) - full transcript
In the depths of this dark world...
...my heart rushes forth to meet
its inexorable destiny
With true courage, the strongest love
will conquer
The tossing of this stormy sea...
...is like the tempest
in my loving heart
The sea sends forth its waves...
...and my tender yearnings
send forth my pangs of anguish
Now the sandy sea bed
is revealed
Now the furious sea swells
towards the sky
Help! Help!
Poor fellow! What is this I see?
A tiny boat, tossed by the sea,
on the point of shipwreck
Have courage, stranger,
beat back the sea's onslaught
Here he is now,
safe from Neptune's raging fury
I have returned to behold you,
my beloved idol
Can this be true?
Ah, my precious
My prayers have snatched you
from death's clutches...
...just to see you again and to hold
you in my arms
Blood? Oh, unhappy me!
I feel faint
Lie back, my love
I can see the wings of death
hovering over me
I can feel a cold sweat as my soul
escapes from my pierced side
But death is sweet indeed...
...if fate decreed that I meet it
in your arms
Merciful gods, who will help me?
Alcina will
Is this how you revive
my precious love?
Look, the lily of love is wilting
for lack of dew...
But, O God, from what heaven
will dew fall?
My tears and blood will be
enough to revive him, Alcina
My power has already revived him
Who calls me back to life?
His eyes are open
Is this true, or am I imagining
these heavenly rays
You see in them only a crude
working of my power
I am bound to you in eternal
gratitude
You breathe again,
my soul
My heart is full of joy
and happiness...
...now I hold you close,
heart of my heart
You will not enjoy your new found
happiness for long, audacious rival!
- Orlando!
- I am lost!
You may thank heaven
that you are unarmed
Else, with your blood I would...
- What would you do?
- Don't be afraid
Only my charms can serve me now
O fleeting happiness
You grow pale, you cruel tigress,
you deceitful sphinx
You do not know, Orlando, the name
of this boy who stirs your jealousy
He is fair Angelica's brother
O heavens, I can breathe again
Ungrateful wretch, is this how you
insult me...
...and shrink from my love and trust
I am confused!
My poor feelings!
Is this how you repay my love,
ungrateful wretch?
For this lovely hand,
which I humbly clasp
You weep for him, my love?
I am only pretending
If he has offended you,
he has offended me
Make sure that he repents
and asks your forgiveness
Forgive me, fair lady!
Are you afraid to trust me?
Don't you know that my heart
is yours...
...that you are my idol?
Ah, most beautiful hand
It is a token of my pure faith
Your beautiful eyes shine with love
Their beauty is for you only
- Are you still jealous?
- No
Then be quiet
You belong to these eyes,
you belong to this breast
Truly, you are the object
of my love
I don't want you to be jealous,
You must believe I love you
I am yours, my adored one,
idol of my heart
O, you cruel jealousy,
how you do torment me!
The archer-god knows no mercy...
...when he poisons a loving heart
with jealousy's icy venom
But I find true consolation
in the knowledge...
...that my fears have stirred
compassion in my beloved's heart
Innocent boy, you still
do not know...
...how many darts love will find
to wound a heart
The day is still to come when
it will colour your thoughts
If I had but a single lover, I would b
as ordinary as any mortal woman
But what does fate bring here?
I see an armed knight dismounting
from a flying steed
He comes this way
Thank heavens! At last, Ruggiero,
your feet touch the ground...
...if this lovely landscape, this bles
Elysium, is indeed the ground
Greetings, handsome stranger
The heavens have delivered you to me
where you honour my kingdom
Tell me, kind sir, who are you?
I am Ruggiero, but I believe
this is heaven before me...
...for all is transformed
by celestial beauty
Here, where I am queen,
my brave Ruggiero, you are lord
You honour me too highly
Alcina owes a great deal
to your name...
...and to his handsome looks
Only my Bradamante can equal
her gracious beauty
He stares at me and talks
to himself
He will be a new victim to my eyes
But my Bradamante is still
more beautiful
Come into the shade and refresh
yourself by these tranquil waters
How clear this spring is!
Let's taste its pure water
I'm leading him to the bait
I've never tasted anything
more refreshing
If the fire of love burned
in his heart...
..this water will have extinguished
all its ardor
How pure is this water...
Has it quenched the fire
of your thirst, my dear?
I am drawing him into my net,
little by little
It has, Alcina, it has indeed
My heart feels free to breathe
and to rejoice
But this is even more exquisite
He's falling into my trap
Is this ambrosia, or Jove's nectar?
The water awakens a burning
desire for me in his heart...
..and erases the image of any other
beauty beloved by him
How kind you are, sweet lady
My eyes have never seen beauty
such as yours
Only you, my sweet love, can bring
peace and comfort to my heart
Your lovely eyes are stars by which
love guides me into port
I search for Ruggiero...
...and find him caught in the snares
of this enchantress
Unhappy me!
Here unobserved I listen
and grow jealous
Behold, fair lady,
the power of your eyes
They compel my heart
to adore you
I am not to blame, my dear,
if I dare to adore you
I will say that I loved you first
and I swear to love you forever
- Faithless woman!
- What true beauty!
Traitor!
Is this the fidelity
you swore to me?
Is this the love you pledged?
- And who is she?
- I do not know her
How wrong I was!
I am Olympia -
- (I'll lie about my name) -
- and that is faithless Bireno
He plucked the fairest flower
from my breast...
...with a promise of marriage
Then he abandoned me
Fair lady, cease your suffering -
I am Ruggiero
(Does he not know me, or is he
pretending) - What wicked lies!
I know my Ruggiero -
he is loving and faithful
In her fury she confuses
Bireno and Ruggiero
Leave her to her madness...
Let us go, dear heart
I am yours, my life
Traitor!
Roses and violets love
the sun's rays
And yet its fierce beams
sometimes make them wilt
Although my beloved may feel
new fire in his heart...
...forever and unchanging
he will love my constancy
Here comes my Ruggiero
Be strong, my heart
Star of love, which heralds
the break of dawn...
...and guides the dreaded night
home to the heavens...
Tell me, have you ever seen...
...such faith and beauty in human form
as that personified in my beloved?
I have never seen a more
faithless heart
Here is delirious Olympia.
Fair lady, cease your lamentations
There was a time when I seemed
beautiful and charming...
...to the wicked heart
in your breast
I tell you again, I am not Bireno
Look for a moment at these eyes.
Do you recognize them, villain?
In their fire you see the angry heart
of Bradamante
Look closely. Look at them,
you traitor!
I don't recall you!
This is the gold ring you gave me
as a token of your faith
Look at it!
O heavens!
A veil is torn from my eyes!
Bradamante, my bride!
Beloved pupils, scornful eyes...
Angry stars of love,
strike with lightning!
Take this ring, Ruggiero, and return
to judge afresh Alcina's beauty
If you then fall in love with her
again...
...I pardon you
And I shall go away,
seeking no revenge
What dark cave, what sunless land
can hide my deep remorse?
I have betrayed you, Bradamante,
my life
O tears, wash away the stain
of wrongdoing from my heart
Console yourself, Ruggiero
Just as you see a bright star shine
more clearly after a storm...
...so you will see your soul
quickly soothed after your wrath
An angry squall blows up
And the deadly storm with restless
waves disturbs both sea and sky
But the fearsome, hostile cloud
soon vanishes...
...and a tranquil sky appears
in the heavens
It is by varying its objects that Love
renders its joys even sweeter...
...in the fortunate ardour
of new attachment
What you say may be true, Alcina
But it pains my poor heart to see
another's delight
The light of the sun is everlasting...
...and beauty's rays bring
everlasting delight
If one man enjoys it, he should not
steal from others...
...the sweet pleasure of
its enjoyment
A faithless woman is a great torment
I no longer have the heart to endure
your way of spreading your love
Poor Astolfo!
You can't take it any longer?
Then leave!
How could I leave you?
My chains are too strong
Stay then, but be quiet
What harsh condition is this
you impose upon me?
Am I to witness your infidelity
and not even be allowed to complain?
This is the way, Astolfo,
to win my affections
Only suffering can one day bring
you happiness
My future looks very black indeed!
I love you, fair lady
I love you with the most tender,
constant love...
...that ever blazed for another soul
And you, you cruel lady...
From now on scatter your complaints
on the wind
Would you like my love?
You shall have it
But never, never nurture the hope...
...that the fire of your bright eyes
alone will inflame my heart
You deceive yourself if you believe it
you are blind if you cannot see it
I will never be satisfied
with only one love
How much I owe to your love...
How much I owe to your devotion,
my lovely lady
Go, go to Alcina!
I am not she
Take pity on my heart, so tormented
by true repentance
I want revenge!
Here is an arrow,
here is my breast
Love has already pierced me
with your eyes...
...now let death pierce me
with your hand
How sweet to die at your dear hands
And so you will, cruel man...
Die then - in my embrace
What bliss to die in your embrace,
my sweet, beloved joy of my soul
Tell the world of my joy...
...all you trees, shrubs, plants
and flowers...
...all you caves, breezes, winds
In truth, my heart has won!
My faithful Ruggiero
has returned to me
When a stream swells with flood
waters and breaks its banks...
...it pours its waters upon the field
and knows no restraint
So great is the joy I feel...
...that my heart does likewise and
cannot contain such intense pleasure
From these rocks?
Yes, from these rocks must shine
the fire...
...with which Hymen will light
a torch...
...to make of our souls one soul
But Orlando, O heavens!
Have no fear that Orlando will see
its flame
Put your trust in me...
...and leave me here alone
to settle our love's future
All the joy of obeying your commands
has vanished...
...now that you bid me to leave you
The few auspicious moments you'll
be away from me...
...will bring eternal happiness
to your heart and mine, my love
Ah, to part from you makes
my heart anxious and sad
Far from your beauty I suffer,
caught between hope and fear
Like an innocent flower
that blooms in the meadow...
...so hope blooms in my heart
then wilts and dies
I know such happiness
in loving you...
...but the spirit of love,
its faith and constancy...
...seems to languish when I am far
from your charms
Shining like a bright star,
the innocent purity of your trust...
...promises a reward for my love
But the cruel thought of our parting
makes me fear...
...that this light which shines in my
heart will not always burn so bright
Here is a true love...
There is a gracious heart...
Who has ever seen a
more blessed love?
Where, where did you go,
my dearest?
Come back, come back, my love...
...and show me your longing or you
will see me die at your feet
Cruel, clever man,
at last you have conquered
Above that cliff you see
a silver vessel
It contains the liquid by which Medea
restored youth to feeble Jason
I want it
Does such a trivial wish
merit these sighs?
The vessel is guarded constantly
A horrible monster makes the spot
impregnable
I will conquer it
Then what fortune will be ours
Forever in the flower of youth...
...our tender love will truly last
for eternity
Ah, sweet hope, how you entice me
O God! I love you but I fear for you
I love you, and your love inspires
such strength in my heart, dearest...
...that I defy any danger
I will scale this cliff and slay
the fierce monster
This precipice, surely death to
others, only doubles my strength
Monster, where are you?
I defy you, come out!
Are you afraid to face me?
I will spare your life
I will not demand your hideous skull
or rough skin to adorn my triumph
Give me the liquid...
...or I will destroy your frightful la
this hideous den...
...and take it by force
You are a prisoner of Alcina
Prisoner! Who speaks?
I have a sword at my side and your
words hold no fears for Orlando
I can see no way out
O proud rocks!
Now I understand the silent
language of your horrors
I am betrayed
I see it and know it
But I will not yield to this fate
Yield, stubborn stones!
In vain do you resist the shaking
of this mighty arm
I have dislodged the marble barrier!
Now a faint light enters
this gloomy den
Most ungrateful Angelica
My heart is charged by anger
and perspires in righteous fury
I will escape, faithless woman...
...and trample your new love
with all my scorn and wrath
Another rock yields to
my great strength
The passage is open
Orlando escapes the prison
of your infamous realm, Alcina...
...to wreak his merciless
and unforgettable revenge
Let the hills echo with the sound
of bold horns
And let love delight the soul,
to the sound of chaste kisses
Here, where soft Zephyr blows...
...and with loving whispers sighs
for his beloved breeze
With wreathed cups, in tender
feeling, we will drink to happiness
Great mother Venus!
Great god Thespius, great father
Liberus, hear their vows
O lovely Cytherea...
O tender Amor...
O loving Liberus...
I invoke you as I drink
this nuptial cup
Sweet is this drink
and may it remain so forever...
...for Medoro and me
in our eternal embrace
Goddess of Hesperus,
youthful Idalius...
...divine Semeleus,
hear their vows
If only those same gods might
hear my vows to Ruggiero
But now, happy souls,
I must leave you
Please excuse my anxiety
to return to my own love
But even as I leave you...
...my unhappy heart wishes you well
May their love last forever...
...Angelica and Medoro:
True lovers and spouses
If only my beloved and I could also
know the peace that eludes my heart
But I am ruled by a treacherous
star...
...and the god of love brings me
nothing but anguish
I pity her
Let us leave her to the pain
of her suffering...
...and on these verdant trees let us
record our joy, my love
Yes, let the tender bark grow around
the symbol of our love
And may our spirit glow in every
kind heart which serves love
I shall carve this laurel
And I this myrtle
Grow, fine trees and flourish...
...and preserve in your bark
the sweetness and joy of our love
Ah, you lying, faithless,
ungrateful woman!
Ah, you treacherous, traitorous
heart!
I shall extinguish the flame
of your ill-gotten love
Oh heavens, what's this I read?
Woe is me!
"May their love last forever,
Angelica and Medoro
"True lovers and spouses"
Angelica and Medoro?
Lovers and spouses?
Alas, this axe strikes a fatal blow
to my hope
Does my treasure belong to Medoro?
Oh, my tears pour forth in springs
and streams...
No, not enough!
In torrents, rivers, seas!
Orlando is on fire!
Who is Orlando?
Orlando is dead!
His ungrateful lady has killed him!
I am his spirit, which she has
severed from him
I have only his shadow...
...a poor image of he who placed
his faith in love
"Here Angelica wed Medoro"
Who carved this laurel?
My tyrannous lady carved it
with her own hand
With her own hand she spells out
my torment!
Lovers and spouses?
O gods! Wed to Medoro!
Revenge, revenge against love!
I have found a way to banish it
from my breast...
...drag it from my heart
Off with helmet,
down with my shield!
Off with my armour and my mail!
"Here Medoro wed Angelica"?
You boastful myrtle!
I'd like to strip you of your leaves..
....crush you to the last branch
and tear your roots from the ground!
I have a hundred wings
upon my back
I have two hundred eyes
The fury in my heart could enrage
a thousand hearts or more!
On these wings I'll rise and fly
from the plain to the mountain
With these eyes I'll watch!
With all these hearts I'll sigh
Eyes, wings, fury, hearts!
Ah, what torment!
Lovers and spouses...
Angelica...
And Medoro!
Do you think Orlando is dead?
He wishes only an honourable
funeral pyre for his corpse...
...and an urn to hold
his illustrious ashes
Use my winged steed to penetrate
the defences of this precipice...
...and the profound depths
of this cavern
But meanwhile, Ruggiero, we must
prepare our vendetta against Alcina
Melissa can open that wall of steel
so we may enter
With you beside me, and our
Amazon united with us...
...I do not fear the might...
...of the Stygian gods
Where valour fights,
hell's fury has no force
- Yes, my love, a vendetta
- You attempt it in vain
What is fixed in the stars cannot fail
Even you thirst for blood and have
hung a sword by your side
Because I alone want the honour
of the attack
And I alone shall have it!
Inside stands the fateful urn...
...which grants that wicked woman
eternal power
Let us wait until Alcina comes
to the temple
Then you will see me slaughter
the cruel woman
I would like to break your bow
and extinguish your torch
You barbarous tyrant,
you god of love!
But I threaten Love in vain...
...for it laughs with scorn
at my foolish fury
If I cannot terrify you, I will terrif
the gods of Flegetonte
Dreadful gods of Avernus!
Go show your frightful plumes in the
very depths of hell at my command
Fly, why do you delay at my orders?
Wicked, evil ones!
Tell me of Ruggiero
Or I will come to plunder
the realms of Acheron
- Boastful woman!
- But all in vain
Alas! Hell is deaf,
heaven is deaf
What must I do?
The spirit of the great sage, Merlin,
may tell me
Open, wall, and give access
to your queen
- What wonders!
- How stupendous
Heavenly spirit, if ever you have
heard Alcina's prayers...
If her tears have ever moved you to
pity, in heaven, where you live...
...then hear her prayers
Witness her tears...
...and take pity on her sad heart
May love assist you
Most beautiful queen...
Your Ruggiero has escaped on his
winged steed your love and my anger
He will be pursued!
Ah, what a handsome face
Tell me, gracious warrior,
what is your name?
I am Aldarico
Faithless Ruggiero seduced the trustin
heart of one of my dear sisters
Then the ungrateful wretch
abandoned her
To erase this shame I pursued
Ruggiero to take revenge...
I found him, but in vain, for he
spread his wings to the breeze...
...while threatening me with death...
...and you with ruin
What madness! Alcina's great
power is eternal
How arrogant!
Does he dare to think that he can
cause me the slightest despair?
A star never lacks the warm rays
of the sun...
...and a beautiful lady never lacks
an obliging lover
I understand her
He is blind...
...to the light of your
lovely features!
Rejoice, my heart
You have found another lover
However they may be, Aldarico,
my features are for you
Gracious Iphigenia!
Furious Orestes has come to you...
He has been exiled from Greece
- How wretched!
- Has Orlando gone mad?
Ah, what is this? This sword is
stolen - it belongs to Mars
There he is now, at the centre
of the moon...
...turning the cards against the ladie
He is mad, indeed
Trouble lies ahead for you
If you don't find a solution...
...everything will fall headlong
into ruin
Listen, listen...
...and pity me
My tale is sad but true
This poor love of mine invited
a beauty to dance...
But then Madame Cruelty and
Monsieur Severity-
- the sworn enemies of love -
- they caused this fine desire -
- alas cruel fate! -
...they toyed with this fine desire
and it has turned to ashes
That is the way of wicked fate!
He is completely insane
In response to my love's
kind invitation...
...Madame Cruelty, with
a sullen glance...
...and with a threatening look,
replied:
"Petit fripon, je ne veux pas!"
And Monsieur Severity
took my beauty by the hand...
...and with solemn steps...
...and a sinister face...
...left my poor love...
...with a dry mouth
This woman may satisfy my love
by dancing with me
Let us dance, madame,
the folly of Orlando!
Play!
Your wish is my command
How has this proud hero
lost his senses?
Fly, fly, fly! What is flying?
It is love that flies!
You see Apollo rising after him
in fury...
...because of the great outrage...
...inflicted on the honour
of his pure Daphne...
...by placing the chaste laurel
in abor-del-Io...
...when Angelica wed Medoro
The crimson flower dies languishing
severed by the passing of the plough
- Whose voice is that?
- Hush!
A loving heart so languishes, too...
...when it lives so far from
its beloved
It is the cruel lady
That faithless woman,
my former love...
...who claims to be descended
from Amphion
Sing a song for her amusement
Sing, please, I beg you
He is mad. Make him happy, fair lady,
by granting his wish
Thus may your desire be satisfied
Will you sing?
I will sing
Heaven be praised!
What state is even sweeter
and more joyous here below...
...than that of a loving heart?
Which of life's happy blessings
rivals being in the company of love?
But a loving heart in exile from its
beloved knows no deeper sadness
Now I shall have her!
Faith, I have caught you
Vous voudrez bien un coup me
pardonner, Madame la Cruauté
Heavens, what is happening?
We have her prisoner
Now let your stern judgement return
to my poor love the stolen beauty
What strange madness!
Comment, vous donc riez?
Ventrebleu la railleuse
I will start a mutiny:
Ladies, knights, arms and lovers
all against your foolish loves
- Love, what have you done to him?
- Poor soul
A pitiless heart
My stern judgement will return
the stolen beauty
Medoro, alas...
You have been too ruthless
I always felt pity for his torment
You lie! You heard the echo
This poor scorned love of mine,
from which all hope is gone...
My poor love tells you,
echoing my sorrow:
You lie, cruel woman!
I do not believe you
You are innocent, my poor feelings
Wrong and sinful is only the threat...
.. which mars your candour
and your innocence
O weeping springs...
O weeping springs, weep until
this heart dissolves in tears
My loving heart, you are made
of diamond...
...if today you are not shattered
by my grief
No, no, I tell you no!
Perhaps you hope to frighten me,
you black and dreary shadow?
No, no, she is not dead
Nero believed that cruelty
was dead...
...and having risen from Acheron...
...the beggar wanted me
to sing for her
But I know very well that
she's not dead
Whoever rends my heart,
flee from me
Descend into the Tartarus
and seek revenge...
...against a cruel and beauteous Fury
A cruel and beauteous Fury?
Indeed, all ugly women are Furies
But Angelica is a Fury,
and still beautiful
Angelica? Yes, Angelica
She who once swore true love to me
But what do I see? It is she!
My heart is enraged
Angelica, my beloved!
Before my very eyes!
Villain, you dare to hold her
prisoner?
I will destroy these bars
And what will you do?
Fight?
You are right, defend yourself
He has a hide like Hydra
O, love of my heart...
I hear her crying!
Cruel man, you are no match
for my enraged heart
I have disarmed him
Go, do you still threaten?
Your madness, villain,
no longer merits my pity
When blood flows, rage subsides
He has fallen to the ground, dead
With his weapons I shatter you,
bars of iron
My longed-for beauty!
How hard she is
She must be frozen with fear!
Do not fear, my heart
Orlando embraces you!
What noise! What is it? The walls
shake to their foundations!
Roofs fly through the air!
The ground reels! Perhaps the world
is collapsing!
I am so tired, so weary!
Now that I have rescued my beloved
from the iron trap...
...I want to close my eyes in sleep...
To sleep as Boreas slept
in Orithyia's embrace
Woe is me, where can I flee?
Where can I hide?
I am defeated and despised
Unjust heaven!
You made me immortal...
...and this gift of yours makes
my immortality so harsh...
...for my pain, too, will be eternal
My fierce enemy in the arms
of sleep!
Heaven, in truth you have mercifully
opened the way for my revenge
My fall is great
But my ruin crushes you with me
Stop, wicked Alcina!
Ruggiero! What do I see?
In me you no longer see Ruggiero,
but your fiercest persecutor
Aldarico, my love...
In me behold Bradamante,
your greatest enemy!
- Let us escape!
- But where, my dear?
Stand still!
- What is happening?
- Heavens!
Arrest Angelica,
and may Alcina perish
- Astolfo!
- Alas!
Where were you, sir? I wept for you,
unfortunate victim of her fury
She can do nothing against me,
for the power of the gods is with me
- But Orlando?
- He is insane
Oh, my torment!
Orlando is in the arms of Angelica
O God, a light!
On the naked earth, naked Orlando
Unhappy me, where am I?
Who am I? What am I seeking?
O gods!
Alas, when I look at myself
I do not know myself
I see only my shame
O unjust gods, O fates,
O contrary stars!
My grief and my disgrace
are too harsh
I have lost you, wicked Ruggiero
In Aldarico I can see my rival
It all spells my doom
Orlando recovers his senses
and I lose the last of my power
O unjust gods, O fates,
O hostile stars!
I shall summon the Furies
from the depths of the abyss
There I shall ask revenge
for my betrayed heart
You see, your triumph brings
that evil woman's destruction
After Alcina is destroyed...
...heaven will preserve my fortunes
in love...
...by removing love from my heart
Ah, my shame!
Enjoy your husband, fair woman
And you, youth, enjoy your wife
in peace
Heaven has joined you
with the sweet bonds of love
May they be eternal
and never slacken...
...and may envious, bitter fate
never untie them
A wise man is one who learns
from his mistakes
Fly, cupids, with myrtle and flowers
to crown constancy and faith
...my heart rushes forth to meet
its inexorable destiny
With true courage, the strongest love
will conquer
The tossing of this stormy sea...
...is like the tempest
in my loving heart
The sea sends forth its waves...
...and my tender yearnings
send forth my pangs of anguish
Now the sandy sea bed
is revealed
Now the furious sea swells
towards the sky
Help! Help!
Poor fellow! What is this I see?
A tiny boat, tossed by the sea,
on the point of shipwreck
Have courage, stranger,
beat back the sea's onslaught
Here he is now,
safe from Neptune's raging fury
I have returned to behold you,
my beloved idol
Can this be true?
Ah, my precious
My prayers have snatched you
from death's clutches...
...just to see you again and to hold
you in my arms
Blood? Oh, unhappy me!
I feel faint
Lie back, my love
I can see the wings of death
hovering over me
I can feel a cold sweat as my soul
escapes from my pierced side
But death is sweet indeed...
...if fate decreed that I meet it
in your arms
Merciful gods, who will help me?
Alcina will
Is this how you revive
my precious love?
Look, the lily of love is wilting
for lack of dew...
But, O God, from what heaven
will dew fall?
My tears and blood will be
enough to revive him, Alcina
My power has already revived him
Who calls me back to life?
His eyes are open
Is this true, or am I imagining
these heavenly rays
You see in them only a crude
working of my power
I am bound to you in eternal
gratitude
You breathe again,
my soul
My heart is full of joy
and happiness...
...now I hold you close,
heart of my heart
You will not enjoy your new found
happiness for long, audacious rival!
- Orlando!
- I am lost!
You may thank heaven
that you are unarmed
Else, with your blood I would...
- What would you do?
- Don't be afraid
Only my charms can serve me now
O fleeting happiness
You grow pale, you cruel tigress,
you deceitful sphinx
You do not know, Orlando, the name
of this boy who stirs your jealousy
He is fair Angelica's brother
O heavens, I can breathe again
Ungrateful wretch, is this how you
insult me...
...and shrink from my love and trust
I am confused!
My poor feelings!
Is this how you repay my love,
ungrateful wretch?
For this lovely hand,
which I humbly clasp
You weep for him, my love?
I am only pretending
If he has offended you,
he has offended me
Make sure that he repents
and asks your forgiveness
Forgive me, fair lady!
Are you afraid to trust me?
Don't you know that my heart
is yours...
...that you are my idol?
Ah, most beautiful hand
It is a token of my pure faith
Your beautiful eyes shine with love
Their beauty is for you only
- Are you still jealous?
- No
Then be quiet
You belong to these eyes,
you belong to this breast
Truly, you are the object
of my love
I don't want you to be jealous,
You must believe I love you
I am yours, my adored one,
idol of my heart
O, you cruel jealousy,
how you do torment me!
The archer-god knows no mercy...
...when he poisons a loving heart
with jealousy's icy venom
But I find true consolation
in the knowledge...
...that my fears have stirred
compassion in my beloved's heart
Innocent boy, you still
do not know...
...how many darts love will find
to wound a heart
The day is still to come when
it will colour your thoughts
If I had but a single lover, I would b
as ordinary as any mortal woman
But what does fate bring here?
I see an armed knight dismounting
from a flying steed
He comes this way
Thank heavens! At last, Ruggiero,
your feet touch the ground...
...if this lovely landscape, this bles
Elysium, is indeed the ground
Greetings, handsome stranger
The heavens have delivered you to me
where you honour my kingdom
Tell me, kind sir, who are you?
I am Ruggiero, but I believe
this is heaven before me...
...for all is transformed
by celestial beauty
Here, where I am queen,
my brave Ruggiero, you are lord
You honour me too highly
Alcina owes a great deal
to your name...
...and to his handsome looks
Only my Bradamante can equal
her gracious beauty
He stares at me and talks
to himself
He will be a new victim to my eyes
But my Bradamante is still
more beautiful
Come into the shade and refresh
yourself by these tranquil waters
How clear this spring is!
Let's taste its pure water
I'm leading him to the bait
I've never tasted anything
more refreshing
If the fire of love burned
in his heart...
..this water will have extinguished
all its ardor
How pure is this water...
Has it quenched the fire
of your thirst, my dear?
I am drawing him into my net,
little by little
It has, Alcina, it has indeed
My heart feels free to breathe
and to rejoice
But this is even more exquisite
He's falling into my trap
Is this ambrosia, or Jove's nectar?
The water awakens a burning
desire for me in his heart...
..and erases the image of any other
beauty beloved by him
How kind you are, sweet lady
My eyes have never seen beauty
such as yours
Only you, my sweet love, can bring
peace and comfort to my heart
Your lovely eyes are stars by which
love guides me into port
I search for Ruggiero...
...and find him caught in the snares
of this enchantress
Unhappy me!
Here unobserved I listen
and grow jealous
Behold, fair lady,
the power of your eyes
They compel my heart
to adore you
I am not to blame, my dear,
if I dare to adore you
I will say that I loved you first
and I swear to love you forever
- Faithless woman!
- What true beauty!
Traitor!
Is this the fidelity
you swore to me?
Is this the love you pledged?
- And who is she?
- I do not know her
How wrong I was!
I am Olympia -
- (I'll lie about my name) -
- and that is faithless Bireno
He plucked the fairest flower
from my breast...
...with a promise of marriage
Then he abandoned me
Fair lady, cease your suffering -
I am Ruggiero
(Does he not know me, or is he
pretending) - What wicked lies!
I know my Ruggiero -
he is loving and faithful
In her fury she confuses
Bireno and Ruggiero
Leave her to her madness...
Let us go, dear heart
I am yours, my life
Traitor!
Roses and violets love
the sun's rays
And yet its fierce beams
sometimes make them wilt
Although my beloved may feel
new fire in his heart...
...forever and unchanging
he will love my constancy
Here comes my Ruggiero
Be strong, my heart
Star of love, which heralds
the break of dawn...
...and guides the dreaded night
home to the heavens...
Tell me, have you ever seen...
...such faith and beauty in human form
as that personified in my beloved?
I have never seen a more
faithless heart
Here is delirious Olympia.
Fair lady, cease your lamentations
There was a time when I seemed
beautiful and charming...
...to the wicked heart
in your breast
I tell you again, I am not Bireno
Look for a moment at these eyes.
Do you recognize them, villain?
In their fire you see the angry heart
of Bradamante
Look closely. Look at them,
you traitor!
I don't recall you!
This is the gold ring you gave me
as a token of your faith
Look at it!
O heavens!
A veil is torn from my eyes!
Bradamante, my bride!
Beloved pupils, scornful eyes...
Angry stars of love,
strike with lightning!
Take this ring, Ruggiero, and return
to judge afresh Alcina's beauty
If you then fall in love with her
again...
...I pardon you
And I shall go away,
seeking no revenge
What dark cave, what sunless land
can hide my deep remorse?
I have betrayed you, Bradamante,
my life
O tears, wash away the stain
of wrongdoing from my heart
Console yourself, Ruggiero
Just as you see a bright star shine
more clearly after a storm...
...so you will see your soul
quickly soothed after your wrath
An angry squall blows up
And the deadly storm with restless
waves disturbs both sea and sky
But the fearsome, hostile cloud
soon vanishes...
...and a tranquil sky appears
in the heavens
It is by varying its objects that Love
renders its joys even sweeter...
...in the fortunate ardour
of new attachment
What you say may be true, Alcina
But it pains my poor heart to see
another's delight
The light of the sun is everlasting...
...and beauty's rays bring
everlasting delight
If one man enjoys it, he should not
steal from others...
...the sweet pleasure of
its enjoyment
A faithless woman is a great torment
I no longer have the heart to endure
your way of spreading your love
Poor Astolfo!
You can't take it any longer?
Then leave!
How could I leave you?
My chains are too strong
Stay then, but be quiet
What harsh condition is this
you impose upon me?
Am I to witness your infidelity
and not even be allowed to complain?
This is the way, Astolfo,
to win my affections
Only suffering can one day bring
you happiness
My future looks very black indeed!
I love you, fair lady
I love you with the most tender,
constant love...
...that ever blazed for another soul
And you, you cruel lady...
From now on scatter your complaints
on the wind
Would you like my love?
You shall have it
But never, never nurture the hope...
...that the fire of your bright eyes
alone will inflame my heart
You deceive yourself if you believe it
you are blind if you cannot see it
I will never be satisfied
with only one love
How much I owe to your love...
How much I owe to your devotion,
my lovely lady
Go, go to Alcina!
I am not she
Take pity on my heart, so tormented
by true repentance
I want revenge!
Here is an arrow,
here is my breast
Love has already pierced me
with your eyes...
...now let death pierce me
with your hand
How sweet to die at your dear hands
And so you will, cruel man...
Die then - in my embrace
What bliss to die in your embrace,
my sweet, beloved joy of my soul
Tell the world of my joy...
...all you trees, shrubs, plants
and flowers...
...all you caves, breezes, winds
In truth, my heart has won!
My faithful Ruggiero
has returned to me
When a stream swells with flood
waters and breaks its banks...
...it pours its waters upon the field
and knows no restraint
So great is the joy I feel...
...that my heart does likewise and
cannot contain such intense pleasure
From these rocks?
Yes, from these rocks must shine
the fire...
...with which Hymen will light
a torch...
...to make of our souls one soul
But Orlando, O heavens!
Have no fear that Orlando will see
its flame
Put your trust in me...
...and leave me here alone
to settle our love's future
All the joy of obeying your commands
has vanished...
...now that you bid me to leave you
The few auspicious moments you'll
be away from me...
...will bring eternal happiness
to your heart and mine, my love
Ah, to part from you makes
my heart anxious and sad
Far from your beauty I suffer,
caught between hope and fear
Like an innocent flower
that blooms in the meadow...
...so hope blooms in my heart
then wilts and dies
I know such happiness
in loving you...
...but the spirit of love,
its faith and constancy...
...seems to languish when I am far
from your charms
Shining like a bright star,
the innocent purity of your trust...
...promises a reward for my love
But the cruel thought of our parting
makes me fear...
...that this light which shines in my
heart will not always burn so bright
Here is a true love...
There is a gracious heart...
Who has ever seen a
more blessed love?
Where, where did you go,
my dearest?
Come back, come back, my love...
...and show me your longing or you
will see me die at your feet
Cruel, clever man,
at last you have conquered
Above that cliff you see
a silver vessel
It contains the liquid by which Medea
restored youth to feeble Jason
I want it
Does such a trivial wish
merit these sighs?
The vessel is guarded constantly
A horrible monster makes the spot
impregnable
I will conquer it
Then what fortune will be ours
Forever in the flower of youth...
...our tender love will truly last
for eternity
Ah, sweet hope, how you entice me
O God! I love you but I fear for you
I love you, and your love inspires
such strength in my heart, dearest...
...that I defy any danger
I will scale this cliff and slay
the fierce monster
This precipice, surely death to
others, only doubles my strength
Monster, where are you?
I defy you, come out!
Are you afraid to face me?
I will spare your life
I will not demand your hideous skull
or rough skin to adorn my triumph
Give me the liquid...
...or I will destroy your frightful la
this hideous den...
...and take it by force
You are a prisoner of Alcina
Prisoner! Who speaks?
I have a sword at my side and your
words hold no fears for Orlando
I can see no way out
O proud rocks!
Now I understand the silent
language of your horrors
I am betrayed
I see it and know it
But I will not yield to this fate
Yield, stubborn stones!
In vain do you resist the shaking
of this mighty arm
I have dislodged the marble barrier!
Now a faint light enters
this gloomy den
Most ungrateful Angelica
My heart is charged by anger
and perspires in righteous fury
I will escape, faithless woman...
...and trample your new love
with all my scorn and wrath
Another rock yields to
my great strength
The passage is open
Orlando escapes the prison
of your infamous realm, Alcina...
...to wreak his merciless
and unforgettable revenge
Let the hills echo with the sound
of bold horns
And let love delight the soul,
to the sound of chaste kisses
Here, where soft Zephyr blows...
...and with loving whispers sighs
for his beloved breeze
With wreathed cups, in tender
feeling, we will drink to happiness
Great mother Venus!
Great god Thespius, great father
Liberus, hear their vows
O lovely Cytherea...
O tender Amor...
O loving Liberus...
I invoke you as I drink
this nuptial cup
Sweet is this drink
and may it remain so forever...
...for Medoro and me
in our eternal embrace
Goddess of Hesperus,
youthful Idalius...
...divine Semeleus,
hear their vows
If only those same gods might
hear my vows to Ruggiero
But now, happy souls,
I must leave you
Please excuse my anxiety
to return to my own love
But even as I leave you...
...my unhappy heart wishes you well
May their love last forever...
...Angelica and Medoro:
True lovers and spouses
If only my beloved and I could also
know the peace that eludes my heart
But I am ruled by a treacherous
star...
...and the god of love brings me
nothing but anguish
I pity her
Let us leave her to the pain
of her suffering...
...and on these verdant trees let us
record our joy, my love
Yes, let the tender bark grow around
the symbol of our love
And may our spirit glow in every
kind heart which serves love
I shall carve this laurel
And I this myrtle
Grow, fine trees and flourish...
...and preserve in your bark
the sweetness and joy of our love
Ah, you lying, faithless,
ungrateful woman!
Ah, you treacherous, traitorous
heart!
I shall extinguish the flame
of your ill-gotten love
Oh heavens, what's this I read?
Woe is me!
"May their love last forever,
Angelica and Medoro
"True lovers and spouses"
Angelica and Medoro?
Lovers and spouses?
Alas, this axe strikes a fatal blow
to my hope
Does my treasure belong to Medoro?
Oh, my tears pour forth in springs
and streams...
No, not enough!
In torrents, rivers, seas!
Orlando is on fire!
Who is Orlando?
Orlando is dead!
His ungrateful lady has killed him!
I am his spirit, which she has
severed from him
I have only his shadow...
...a poor image of he who placed
his faith in love
"Here Angelica wed Medoro"
Who carved this laurel?
My tyrannous lady carved it
with her own hand
With her own hand she spells out
my torment!
Lovers and spouses?
O gods! Wed to Medoro!
Revenge, revenge against love!
I have found a way to banish it
from my breast...
...drag it from my heart
Off with helmet,
down with my shield!
Off with my armour and my mail!
"Here Medoro wed Angelica"?
You boastful myrtle!
I'd like to strip you of your leaves..
....crush you to the last branch
and tear your roots from the ground!
I have a hundred wings
upon my back
I have two hundred eyes
The fury in my heart could enrage
a thousand hearts or more!
On these wings I'll rise and fly
from the plain to the mountain
With these eyes I'll watch!
With all these hearts I'll sigh
Eyes, wings, fury, hearts!
Ah, what torment!
Lovers and spouses...
Angelica...
And Medoro!
Do you think Orlando is dead?
He wishes only an honourable
funeral pyre for his corpse...
...and an urn to hold
his illustrious ashes
Use my winged steed to penetrate
the defences of this precipice...
...and the profound depths
of this cavern
But meanwhile, Ruggiero, we must
prepare our vendetta against Alcina
Melissa can open that wall of steel
so we may enter
With you beside me, and our
Amazon united with us...
...I do not fear the might...
...of the Stygian gods
Where valour fights,
hell's fury has no force
- Yes, my love, a vendetta
- You attempt it in vain
What is fixed in the stars cannot fail
Even you thirst for blood and have
hung a sword by your side
Because I alone want the honour
of the attack
And I alone shall have it!
Inside stands the fateful urn...
...which grants that wicked woman
eternal power
Let us wait until Alcina comes
to the temple
Then you will see me slaughter
the cruel woman
I would like to break your bow
and extinguish your torch
You barbarous tyrant,
you god of love!
But I threaten Love in vain...
...for it laughs with scorn
at my foolish fury
If I cannot terrify you, I will terrif
the gods of Flegetonte
Dreadful gods of Avernus!
Go show your frightful plumes in the
very depths of hell at my command
Fly, why do you delay at my orders?
Wicked, evil ones!
Tell me of Ruggiero
Or I will come to plunder
the realms of Acheron
- Boastful woman!
- But all in vain
Alas! Hell is deaf,
heaven is deaf
What must I do?
The spirit of the great sage, Merlin,
may tell me
Open, wall, and give access
to your queen
- What wonders!
- How stupendous
Heavenly spirit, if ever you have
heard Alcina's prayers...
If her tears have ever moved you to
pity, in heaven, where you live...
...then hear her prayers
Witness her tears...
...and take pity on her sad heart
May love assist you
Most beautiful queen...
Your Ruggiero has escaped on his
winged steed your love and my anger
He will be pursued!
Ah, what a handsome face
Tell me, gracious warrior,
what is your name?
I am Aldarico
Faithless Ruggiero seduced the trustin
heart of one of my dear sisters
Then the ungrateful wretch
abandoned her
To erase this shame I pursued
Ruggiero to take revenge...
I found him, but in vain, for he
spread his wings to the breeze...
...while threatening me with death...
...and you with ruin
What madness! Alcina's great
power is eternal
How arrogant!
Does he dare to think that he can
cause me the slightest despair?
A star never lacks the warm rays
of the sun...
...and a beautiful lady never lacks
an obliging lover
I understand her
He is blind...
...to the light of your
lovely features!
Rejoice, my heart
You have found another lover
However they may be, Aldarico,
my features are for you
Gracious Iphigenia!
Furious Orestes has come to you...
He has been exiled from Greece
- How wretched!
- Has Orlando gone mad?
Ah, what is this? This sword is
stolen - it belongs to Mars
There he is now, at the centre
of the moon...
...turning the cards against the ladie
He is mad, indeed
Trouble lies ahead for you
If you don't find a solution...
...everything will fall headlong
into ruin
Listen, listen...
...and pity me
My tale is sad but true
This poor love of mine invited
a beauty to dance...
But then Madame Cruelty and
Monsieur Severity-
- the sworn enemies of love -
- they caused this fine desire -
- alas cruel fate! -
...they toyed with this fine desire
and it has turned to ashes
That is the way of wicked fate!
He is completely insane
In response to my love's
kind invitation...
...Madame Cruelty, with
a sullen glance...
...and with a threatening look,
replied:
"Petit fripon, je ne veux pas!"
And Monsieur Severity
took my beauty by the hand...
...and with solemn steps...
...and a sinister face...
...left my poor love...
...with a dry mouth
This woman may satisfy my love
by dancing with me
Let us dance, madame,
the folly of Orlando!
Play!
Your wish is my command
How has this proud hero
lost his senses?
Fly, fly, fly! What is flying?
It is love that flies!
You see Apollo rising after him
in fury...
...because of the great outrage...
...inflicted on the honour
of his pure Daphne...
...by placing the chaste laurel
in abor-del-Io...
...when Angelica wed Medoro
The crimson flower dies languishing
severed by the passing of the plough
- Whose voice is that?
- Hush!
A loving heart so languishes, too...
...when it lives so far from
its beloved
It is the cruel lady
That faithless woman,
my former love...
...who claims to be descended
from Amphion
Sing a song for her amusement
Sing, please, I beg you
He is mad. Make him happy, fair lady,
by granting his wish
Thus may your desire be satisfied
Will you sing?
I will sing
Heaven be praised!
What state is even sweeter
and more joyous here below...
...than that of a loving heart?
Which of life's happy blessings
rivals being in the company of love?
But a loving heart in exile from its
beloved knows no deeper sadness
Now I shall have her!
Faith, I have caught you
Vous voudrez bien un coup me
pardonner, Madame la Cruauté
Heavens, what is happening?
We have her prisoner
Now let your stern judgement return
to my poor love the stolen beauty
What strange madness!
Comment, vous donc riez?
Ventrebleu la railleuse
I will start a mutiny:
Ladies, knights, arms and lovers
all against your foolish loves
- Love, what have you done to him?
- Poor soul
A pitiless heart
My stern judgement will return
the stolen beauty
Medoro, alas...
You have been too ruthless
I always felt pity for his torment
You lie! You heard the echo
This poor scorned love of mine,
from which all hope is gone...
My poor love tells you,
echoing my sorrow:
You lie, cruel woman!
I do not believe you
You are innocent, my poor feelings
Wrong and sinful is only the threat...
.. which mars your candour
and your innocence
O weeping springs...
O weeping springs, weep until
this heart dissolves in tears
My loving heart, you are made
of diamond...
...if today you are not shattered
by my grief
No, no, I tell you no!
Perhaps you hope to frighten me,
you black and dreary shadow?
No, no, she is not dead
Nero believed that cruelty
was dead...
...and having risen from Acheron...
...the beggar wanted me
to sing for her
But I know very well that
she's not dead
Whoever rends my heart,
flee from me
Descend into the Tartarus
and seek revenge...
...against a cruel and beauteous Fury
A cruel and beauteous Fury?
Indeed, all ugly women are Furies
But Angelica is a Fury,
and still beautiful
Angelica? Yes, Angelica
She who once swore true love to me
But what do I see? It is she!
My heart is enraged
Angelica, my beloved!
Before my very eyes!
Villain, you dare to hold her
prisoner?
I will destroy these bars
And what will you do?
Fight?
You are right, defend yourself
He has a hide like Hydra
O, love of my heart...
I hear her crying!
Cruel man, you are no match
for my enraged heart
I have disarmed him
Go, do you still threaten?
Your madness, villain,
no longer merits my pity
When blood flows, rage subsides
He has fallen to the ground, dead
With his weapons I shatter you,
bars of iron
My longed-for beauty!
How hard she is
She must be frozen with fear!
Do not fear, my heart
Orlando embraces you!
What noise! What is it? The walls
shake to their foundations!
Roofs fly through the air!
The ground reels! Perhaps the world
is collapsing!
I am so tired, so weary!
Now that I have rescued my beloved
from the iron trap...
...I want to close my eyes in sleep...
To sleep as Boreas slept
in Orithyia's embrace
Woe is me, where can I flee?
Where can I hide?
I am defeated and despised
Unjust heaven!
You made me immortal...
...and this gift of yours makes
my immortality so harsh...
...for my pain, too, will be eternal
My fierce enemy in the arms
of sleep!
Heaven, in truth you have mercifully
opened the way for my revenge
My fall is great
But my ruin crushes you with me
Stop, wicked Alcina!
Ruggiero! What do I see?
In me you no longer see Ruggiero,
but your fiercest persecutor
Aldarico, my love...
In me behold Bradamante,
your greatest enemy!
- Let us escape!
- But where, my dear?
Stand still!
- What is happening?
- Heavens!
Arrest Angelica,
and may Alcina perish
- Astolfo!
- Alas!
Where were you, sir? I wept for you,
unfortunate victim of her fury
She can do nothing against me,
for the power of the gods is with me
- But Orlando?
- He is insane
Oh, my torment!
Orlando is in the arms of Angelica
O God, a light!
On the naked earth, naked Orlando
Unhappy me, where am I?
Who am I? What am I seeking?
O gods!
Alas, when I look at myself
I do not know myself
I see only my shame
O unjust gods, O fates,
O contrary stars!
My grief and my disgrace
are too harsh
I have lost you, wicked Ruggiero
In Aldarico I can see my rival
It all spells my doom
Orlando recovers his senses
and I lose the last of my power
O unjust gods, O fates,
O hostile stars!
I shall summon the Furies
from the depths of the abyss
There I shall ask revenge
for my betrayed heart
You see, your triumph brings
that evil woman's destruction
After Alcina is destroyed...
...heaven will preserve my fortunes
in love...
...by removing love from my heart
Ah, my shame!
Enjoy your husband, fair woman
And you, youth, enjoy your wife
in peace
Heaven has joined you
with the sweet bonds of love
May they be eternal
and never slacken...
...and may envious, bitter fate
never untie them
A wise man is one who learns
from his mistakes
Fly, cupids, with myrtle and flowers
to crown constancy and faith