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1K views54 pagesGluck - Alceste (Castel)
Castel translation
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Cerulyan24Copyright
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/ 54
Christoph willibald Gluck 35
ALCESTE
Opera in three acts!
‘Music by Christoph Willibald Gluck
Libretto by DuRoullet’ after Calzabigi
First performed at the Académie Royale de Musique, Paris, April 23, 1776
CHARACTERS
Adméte [adimet], king of Thessaly: tenor
Alceste (alsest], his wife: soprano
High Priest of Apollo: baritone
Hercule [erkyl] (Hercules): baritone
Evandre [e'vadra], a leader of the people: tenor
‘Thanatos, Infernal Deity [tanattos]: bass
Voice of Apollo: baritone
A Herald: baritone
The Oracle: baritone
Coryphée (leader of the chorus): sopran
Palace officers, women of Alceste's suite, people of Pherae, Infernal Deities, Priests and Priestesses of the
temple of Apollo, Two Children of Adméte and Alceste.
The action takes place in the city of Pherae, in Thessaly, in ancient Greece.
THE PLOT
ACTI
A great court in front of the palace of Adméte. At the back can be seen the temple of Apollo. The people
crowd into the courtyard and mourn the illness of their king, which, the Herald tells them, is likely to
prove fatal. Evandre announces the entrance of Alceste, and the queen enters, accompanied by her two
children. She laments the prospect in front of her children, soon to be fatherless, and bids the crowd to
‘come to the temple, there to offer sacrifice to the gods. In the temple of Apollo, the High Priest call upon
the god to avert the fate which is to overtake Adméte, and, through him, his wife and his people. Alceste
adds her prayer and a sacrifice is prepared. The High Priest invokes the god and commands the people to
bee silent in order to hear the Oracle's judgment. When it comes, it is more terrible than they had
expected: Adméte must die, unless a friend can be found willing to die in his place. The people lament
the harsh pronouncement and leave the temple in fear, leaving Alceste and the High Priest alone. Alceste
awakes to the reality of the situation and resolves to die for her husband, without whom she cannot live.
The High Priest tells her that her prayer is granted, and that she has the rest of the day to prepare herself
for the advent of death.
ACTIL
In a great hall of his palace Adméte stands to receive the congratulations of his people, headed by
Evandre, on his apparently miraculous recovery. Dances are performed in his honor. The king ing
‘what brought about his recovery and Evandre tells him the condition imposed by the Oracle, but does not
name the victim. The king is horror-stricken at the thought of such a sacrifice. Alceste joins him and
'Gluck's Alceste was originally written in Italian to a libretto by Ranieri de' Calzabigi, and premiered in Vienna in
1767. In 1776 the composer rewrote the opera to a French libretto by Du Roullet, making many alterations in both
music and plot. Over the years the Italian version has waned in popularity, being replaced in the standard repertoire
by the French one.
*The name of the librettist appears in a variety of different spellings depending on the source: Marie Francois Louis
Gand Leblanc Roullet, Marie Francois Louis Gand Bailli Du Roullet dit le Blanc, Lebland du Roullet, Bailly du
Roullet, Baili du Roullet and others. 36
shares his joy that they are reunited. The chorus of praise and rejoicing continues, but Alceste is quite
unable to hide the grief she feels as the moment draws near when she must leave her husband and her
children forever. Adméte tries to comfort his wife but to no avail. Alceste finally admits to him that it is
she herself whom the gods have chosen as the victim, Adméte dramatically refuses to accept this, stating
that he cannot live without her.
ACT IIT
The courtyard of the palace. ‘The light is dimmer as evening approaches. As Evandre leads the people in
‘mourning, Hercule enters to claim the hospitality of his old friend Admete, while he rests from his
legendary labors. Evandre explains that Alceste is dying, and has already made her way to the altar of
death, followed by Adméte. Hercule declares his intention of rescuing her.
The scene changes to the entrance to the underworld, a gloomy place filled with overhanging rocks, trees
tom down or uprooted, and a cavern lit intermittently by a subdued glow. To one side lies the altar of
death. Alceste is almost overcome with horror at the terrifying scene. She is summoned by a unison
chorus of unseen infernal spirits, but finds the strength to resign herself to death. Admeéte joins her,
inveighing against the gods who will not let him repudiate her sacrifice. Alceste urges him to live for the
sake of their children and his subjects, but he rejects her arguments. Each competes in offering to die to
save the other. Thanatos, a god of the underworld, offers Alceste one last chance to take back her offer.
She refuses, and, despite Admete's strenuous protests, she is at the point of death when Hercule enters.
He drives back the infernal spirits and then restores Alceste to her husband. Apollo now descends from
above and rewards Hercule with the promise of immortality, and orders that Admete and Alceste should
live as a model of conjugal devotion.
The action retums to the palace. As the Thessalian people crowd back, Apollon addresses them,
commending their loyalty to their rulers, and charges them to serve them with increased fervor. As
Apollon ascends to the heavens, Hercule claims the happiness of the reunited king and queen as his only
reward. Adméte presents Alceste to the people, while she greets her children. The people celebrate the
fortunate outcome. Alceste, Act I 37
ACTI
(A public square; on one side stands the palace of Adméte, over the door of which is a projecting balcony.
In the background is the temple of Apollo. The square is filled with a crowd of agitated people, filled with
fear and sorrow.)
Scene One
CHORUS
djo rade nu ‘notre rwa —notrae ‘perce
Dieux! rendez-nous notre roi, notre pére!
Gods, giveusback our king, our _ father!
HERALD (from the balcony)
‘poeple ekute © edule vo ploer
Peuple, écoutez! et redoublez ~—-vos_—_pleurs!
People, hear me, and redouble your tears!
vu zal, vepnive ie ply grat de malleer
Vous allez €prouver —le_—plusgrand = des._—malheurs.
You areabout —_tosuffer the greatest, of misfortunes.
adimetae twfa sO ‘noerce_dernnjeroe
Admite touche a son heure derniére;
Adméte is approaching his hour _ final;
(his final hour;)
lepitwajablee mo, repre, tase sezir
Vimpitoyable mort est préte A le saisir
pitiless death is ready to seizehim,
eo nyl —soeku, uymé nee pp ply
et nul secours humain ne peut plus
and no help human cannot any longer
le ravi, = ra sa m&_——moertrierce
le ravir A sas main” meurtriére.
rescuehim from its hand murderous.
(and there is no longer a way for human help to wrest him away from [death's] murderous clutches.)
CHORUS, ONE CORYPHEE, EVANDRE
odio kald nu doevoe'nir
© Dieux! qu'allons-nous devenir?
‘Oh gods! What will to us happen?
nd kuru se'lestoe
Non, courroux céleste
No, wrath celestial
syr de mortel kil vo pynir
sur des __—mortels quill veut punir,
upon the mortals whom it wishes to punish, 38 Alceste, Act I
noe frapa = doe ku ply fynestoe
nefrappa de coup plus funeste.
struck ablow more deadly.
(No, the wrath of heaven has never struck a more deadly blow against mortals it wished to punish.)
EVANDRE
syspade vo 3emisoema Ie-—opale ‘suvroe
Suspendez vos __gémissements; Ie _palais stouvre,
Cease your moaning; the —_palace (gates) are opening.
CHORUS
a 3 fremi gor trdbloe
Ant Je frémis, je tremble!
Ah! oI shudder, Tam trembling!
EVANDRE
Ta rence vje_ va ow vu wae se, af
La reine vient 2 vous, vous voyez ses enfants.
The queen iscomingout to you, you see her _—_ children.
dio kee défortyne sce jp fatal ra'sdbloe
Dieux! que ‘infortunés ce lie fatal _rassemble!
Gods! How many wretched people this place fatal gathers!
(are gathered in this fatal place!)
Scene Two
(Alceste and her children.)
CHORUS OF PEOPLE (in two groups)
gmalere —_zadmetoe oo malérp_—_zalsestoe © tro._kry'el_ desté
O malheureux Adméte! © matheureuse Alceste! Otrop cruel destin!
Oh unfortunate Admet ‘Oh unfortunate Alceste! Ohtoo cruel destiny!
gsor vrema fynestoe abse si tdreema fei
Osort vraiment —_funeste! Objets si tendrement —chéris!
Ob fate truly dire! Objects so tenderly cherished!
(Oh cruel destiny, oh dire fate!)
ate, 7éforyne fe, _blespwar_ ki nu Tester
Enfants infortunés, faible espoir qui nous reste!
Children, unfortunate! Frail hope which remains to us!
mu se syse. u—plyto se, _za'mi
Nous ses sujets, ou plutdt ses amis,
We his subjects, or rather his friends,
pur ki 8 fwa slekspoza sa. Vice
pour qui cent fois exposa sa vie.
for whom ahundred times risked his fife.
© Dieux! qu'allons-nous devenir? malorozce —_pattrice
Malheureuse _patrie!
Unfortunate homeland!
Alceste, Ai
© Dieux! qu’allons-nous devenir?
(ct I 39
RECITATIVE AND ARIA
ALCESTE
sy3e dy wa lee ply. zeme vurepdide de ploer
Sujets du roi_—leplus aimé, vous répandez des pleurs,
Subjects ofthe king — the most beloved, you shed tears,
elas tro lesitimoe
hélas, trop — légitimest
alas, very legitimate!
(Subjects of a most beloved king, the tears you shed, alas, are only too justified!)
par so _na'mur pur ww parse verty_syblimoe
Par son amour pour vous, par ses —_vertus sublimes,
By his love for you, by his __ virtues sublime,
il foeze oe boncer doe spol farme
il faisait lebonheur de —son_peuple charmé;
he created happiness for-—his_—_—people so dear;
il foeze lee boner = dy, _netpuzce§—ferice
il faisait lebonheur d'une _épouse chérie,
he created happiness fora wife beloved,
ki noe sore ‘vivroe sa yi
qui nesaurait vivre sans lui.
who wouldn't know (how) to live without him.
‘febloe_ 7 f so. _zespwar sQ___zatpyi
Faibles enfants, sans espoir, sans appui,
Frail children, without hope, without help,
Je, ajo, _zatpe_ nuver, net doe la vice
Tes yeux Apeine ouverts aux néants de lavie,
their eyes open tothe emptiness of life,
odio doeveenir
8 Dieux, devenir?
oh gods! What is of you to become?
CHORUS
Malheureuse patrie, ete.
ALCESTE
elas di sce) mallee rekstremo: nu na'vS
Hélas! dans ce malheur extréme nous n'avons
Alas! In this misfortune extreme we — haveno 40 Alceste, Act I
ply despwar ka ler ote sypremoe
plus d'espoir quien leur bonté supréme;
more hope than in their goodness __ supreme;
(Alas, in this extreme misfortune our only hope rests in [the gods'] supreme goodness;)
6 sol ‘poever nu scekurir
eux seuls peuvent nous secourir.
they alone can come to our aid.
gra dy desté ki makablee
Grands Dieux! Du destin qui m'accable
Great gods! Ofthe fate which is crushing me
syspade dy mwé la rigoer
suspendez du moins la rigueur;
soften at least the —_ severity;
(Great gods, soften the severity of the fate that is crushing me;)
e sy lekse doe mo
et sur Texeds de mon
and upon theexcess of + my _ misfortune
goete_ _2of ree'gar_pitwaljabloe
jetez un regard pitoyable.
cast. a glance pitying
(and cast a look of pity upon my excessive misfortune.)
rie negalee md dezespwar
Rien n'égale mon désespoir,
Nothing can be equal to my despair,
me turma ma dul, ramerce
mes tourments, ma —_douleur amére;
my — torments, my —_ grief bitter;
(Nothing can compare with my despair, my torment and my bitter sorrow;)
si 1 me pal _ze'pul we ‘merce
si on n'est. pas épouse et mere,
if one is not awife and — mother,
5 nee sore le kosce'vwar
on nesaurait les concevoir.
one —_ wouldn't know (how) _ to conceive them.
(only one who is a wife and a mother could possible imagine them.)
(to her children)
ow 5 le ‘radroe_ za'pa
6 vous, dont les tendres appas
Oh you, whose tender charms Alceste, Act I 41
86 lima, _—kcer © gla'seroedublee = Ja. teroer
tout de mon ceur glacé redouble la_terreur.
allofit of my heart frozen redoubles the _—_—terror.
(it all redoubles the terror in my frozen heart.)
dio ke © md_—__ndtroepri, ze pen ble kryelce
Dieux! que mon entreprise est. © pénibleet_—cruelle!
Gods! How my enterprise is painful and cruel!
(She falls onto a rock.)
la tere soerefyzee «=a = me pa ftscella
La terre serefuse 4 mes pas_—_chancelants,
The earth givesway under_my —steps_uncertain, 16 Alceste, Act II
© me 3cenu abla safesce su
et mes genoux tremblants—s'affaissent sous
and my knees, trembling, fail under
de ma fre'joer morteloe
de ma _—_frayeur mortelle.
of = my terror mortal
(mortal terror.)
(She rises again and takes a step towards the altar of death.)
le pwa
le poids
the weight
o lamur moe roe'do, —__inynoe ‘forsce
Ah! l'amour meredonne une force
Ah, love gives me again a strength
(inspires me with renewed strength!)
a lotel doe la mor Iyi‘memee moe ko'dyi
A Vautel de lamort lui-méme —_ me conduit,
To the altar of death (love) itself leads me
© de ~zOitroe prof do: leternelee nyt
et des antres profonds de éternelle_ nuit
and from the caves deep of eternal night
sata sa vwaski_——smatpeloe
Jtentends sa_—voix qui mappelle.
Thear its voice that calls me.
CHORUS OF INFERNAL DEITIES
maloro_ wm ovaty ata pur tate
Malheureuse, of —_vas-tu? Attends pour tenter
Wretched one, where are you going? Wait to ty
de desa_ dro rivagce fynebroe
de descendre aux _rivages funébres
to descend tothe shores funereal
(to the shores of the underworld)
koe le gur Ki toe fyi Yfasce pla, _so tenebroe
que le jour quite fuit fasse place aux — téndbres;
until the daylight that is leaving you makes place for darkness;
(gives way to darkness;)
ty natdidra pa Jota are, téfortynece
tu nattendras pas longtemps. Arréte, infortunée!
you shall not have to wait long. Stop, unfortunate woman!
Attends pour tenter de descendre, etc.
ARIA
ALCESTE
a divinite Eplakabloe noe kre'ne pa
Abt divinités implacables! Ne craignez pas
Ah, divinities implacable! Do not fear
koe par me_~—ploer
que par mes_pleurs,
that by = my —_ tears se Voejar
je veuille
I may wish
do vo kor
de vos ceurs
of your hearts
la ms wa
La mort a
Death has
ele me
elle est mon
it is my
soe ne pa
ce n'est pas
it isn't
kkoe doe vu kosyre
que de vous conjurer
that I beg you to hasten my — death.
(tis with no wish to offend you that I beg you to hasten my end.)
‘Scene Four
(The former and Adméte, entering distraught. Night has almost fallen.)
ALCESTE
siel admetce 0 moma teribloe
Ciel! Adméte! 6 moment —_ terrible!
Heaven(s)! Adméte! Oh moment terrible!
(She falls back.)
ADMETE (aside)
koe vwa gee alsestor ‘syste djo 0 ‘portoe de_
Que — vois-je! Aleeste, justes Dieux! aux portes des
What do I see! Alceste, just gods! Atthe gates of
ALCESTE
a maloro © ke itty Jerfe
Ah, malheureux, et que_—_viens-tu chercher
Ah, wretched man, and what are you seeking
da soe se'3u, Lrotribloe
dans ce séjour horrible?
inthis place horrible?
ADMETE,
la moL wre tu se kee ge
Lamort est tout. ce = ques je. veux.
Death is all that which _T—want.
Alceste, Act III
flefir le rigoer
fléchir les rigueurs
to soften the harshness
26 pitwaljabloe
impitoyables.
pitiless.
pur mwa tro dapa
pour moi trop d'appas,
for me — toomuch —alllure,
nyni_ Lkesperisoe
unique espérance:
only hope;
vu fe_ UL Lno'fasce
vous faire une _ offense
tocause you an offense
doe atte mo tre'pa
trépas.
de hiiter_ mon
w2itfer
enfers!
hell!
7 8
Alceste, Act IT
le dj kryel 6 reegete, me vo
Les Dieux cruels ont —_rejeté mes veux,
The gods cruel have rejected my prayers.
ALCESTE
ke dity sjel admetoe odezespwa_ _ra'ire
Que — dis-tu? Ciel... Admite! 6 désespoir—_affreux!
What doyousay? Heaven!.. Adméte! Ohdespair frightful!
te syse no, _20fa ne ty 46 ply leer perce
Tes sujets, nos enfants! n'est-tu donc plus leur _pére?
Your subjects, our children, are you then no longer their father?
vi pur garde Joe suveenir
Vis pour garder Je souvenir
Live to preserve the memory
dy nepuze = kite fy ‘Jeroe
d'une épouse qui tefut chere,
ofa wife who was toyou cherished,
ki noe—vive koe pur toe plerce
qui ne —_vivait que pour te plaire,
who didnot live but to _ please you,
e ki pur_twa uly murir
et qui pour toi —_voulut mourir.
and who for you__ wished todie.
(who wished to die in your place.)
ADMETE
vivre sa twa mwa vives sd _zal'sestoe
Vivre sans toi! Moi! Vivre sans Alceste?
Live without you! 1? Live wthout Alceste?
‘vivre pu, Lrabore la lymjerce——setlestor
Vivre pour abhorrer la_—ilumiére eéleste,
Live to hate the light of heaven,
© se barbare = dj. oter de tm no mo
et ces. barbares. © Dieux, auteurs de tous. nos maux?
and those barbarous gods, _ authors of all our woes?
sa'sesoe defire par deturma ——nu'vo
Sans cesse _déchiré par des tourments nouveaux,
Endlessly tomapart_ = by —_—torments new,
sire trene de sur koe sce detestar
Sirais trainer des jours que je —_—déteste?
Tshould drag on my life which I detest?
30e pure sjel al'sester
Je pourrais?... Ciel! Alceste!
How could I?... Heaven! Alveste! Alceste, Act II
19
ARIA
al'ses_ wo nd de dio
Aleeste, au nom = des_—Dieux!
Alceste, inthe name of God!
swa stisibloe swa sdisi_ vblo sor ki makabloe
Sois sensible! Sois sensible au sort qui maceable!
Be understanding! Be understanding ofthe fate that _—_is overwhelming me!
a pra pitied _ne'pu mize'rabloe
Ah! prends pitié d'un époux misérable,
Ah! take pity ona __ husband wretched,
€ nce tee ivrae pwe_ via se turd, vratiro
et ne __le livre point Aces tourments —_affreux.
and don't abandon him to these torments dreadful.
era da sce pale kabelise te farmer
Errant dans ce palais qu'embellissaient tes charmes,
Wandering through this palace which was graced (by) your charms,
3 ferfoere = Lz vE la trasce dee te = pa
je chercherais en vain la trace de —tes-_—_pas;
1 wouldsearch in vain (for) the trace of += -your footsteps;
a prva a adver ez bene doe larmoe
en proie & —Iadouleur, —_ les yeux baignés de larmes,
a prey to sorrow, my eyes bathed in tears,
3 puscere de kei koe ty nditdre pa
je pousserais_ des cris, que tu _n'entendrais pas.
I would utter cries which you — would not be able to hear.
pu cradusir lekse doe ma mizeroe
Pour adoucir Hexeds de ma_misére,
To soothe theexcess of + my _—_unhappiness,
Uiibrase = me, 2 f8
embrasser mes enfants,
toembrace my — children,
s0tdidre lor pletif_ urak'so
Jrentendrais leurs _plaintifs accents,
Iwould hear their plaintive voices,
gee le vere va laspe doe leer perce
je les verrais a Faspect de leur pere;
I would see them trembling at_—the sight. of their father;
mee roeprofe ta mor ~— moe doeméide Jer ‘merce
me reprocher ta mort, medemander leur mere.
reproaching me (for) your death, asking me for their mother.
Alleste, sois sensible, ete. 80
Alceste, Act IT
ALCESTE
xe lesa Jeo crepu tu m0 keer le partasce
Je lessens, cher époux, tout mon caeur les partage,
1 feelthem, dear husband, all, ~=—s my ~—heart shares them,
se turma koe ma mor va toe ferce suftir
ces torments que mamort —-va_—te faire souffrir;
those torments which mydeath —will_-~s make you suffer;
me pur kadmetoee alsestoe wa mutir
mais pour qu'Adméte vive, Alceste doit mourir.
but for Adméte to live, Alceste must die.
rie noe sore, tebrile = mo kurragoe
Rien nesaurait @ranler ~—smon_—_ courage.
Nothing, would be able to shake my courage.
ADMETE
ov dy dja de_~— mor _—ministree~——roeduttabloe
Ovous du Dieu des —morts_ministres —_—_redoutables,
Oh you, ofthe god ofthe dead ministers _—_fearsome,
(Fearsome ministers of the god of death,)
se one) = ka woke ge reekur
ce n'est qu’A vous que j'ai_—_recours!
it isn't butto. you that ‘have recourse!
(Ian tum only to you!)
motre vu mwé kryel, ze — mwé_ _zinegzo'rabloe
Montrez-vous moins cruels et moins inexorables,
Show yourselves less cruel and less _inexorable,
swaje ply. zekitablee ke se dj
soyez plus équitables que ces Dieux
be more fair than those gods
do, UO ve séplore lee soekur
dont en vain jlimplorais Ie secours.
ofwhom ——invain Timplored_forhelp.
se mwa kee lee desté. = vumarka = pur_—_viktimee
Crest moi que ledestin vous marqua pour _victime;
Itis 1 whom destiny marked for victim;
(Destiny marked me out to be your vietim;)
eguerse vo drwa suvoeré
exercez vos droits souverains!
exercise your rights sovereign!
(sovereign rights!)
fraipe noe sufre pa kee se dj. _zinymé
Frappez! _nesouffrezpasque ces‘ Dieux inhumains
Strike! donot allow that those gods inhuman Alceste, Act IIT 81
yzyrpoe de. _20fer le pu'vwar lesitimoe
usurpent des. enfers le pouvoir Kégitime.
usurp of hell the ~~ power legitimate.
(Strike! Do not allow those inhuman gods to usurp the rightful power of hell!)
ALCESTE
nd does dezespwar —_nekute pwe nr)
Non, de son désespoir—_n'écoutez point les veux!
No, of — his despair donot listen at all to the —_ oaths!
(do not listen to his oaths of despai
mwa ki sui ‘votroe_viktimoe
moi qui suis votre victime.
1 who is your victim.
egzekyte la_—voldte de dio
Exéeutez Ia_—volonté des Dieux!
Carryout the will ofthe gods!
DUET
ALCESTE
0 kri_ doe la duloer © daevortne_——_zakse'sibloe
Aux cris de Iadouleur —_devenez accessibles!
Tothe cries of grief become accessible!
(Give heed to our cries of grief!)
swalje. zatadri par ome —pler
Soyez attendris par mes _pleurs!
Be — movedtopity by my tears!
ADMETE
o kris dy_—dezespwar—soe're vu__—_8sdisibloe
Aux cris du désesp serez-vous _insensibles?
Tothe cries ofmy despair will you be insensitive?
swaije tue doe =o me — mailer.
Soyez touchés de mes_—_malheurs!
Be touched by my __ misfortunes!
ALCESTE
de dekre dy desté_ministroe_zéfleK’sibloz
Des décretsdu destin ministres inflexibles,
Ofthe decrees of destiny inflexible ministers,
inflexible ministers of destiny's decrees,)
noe roesoe'te pwe ma —_prierce
ne rejetez point ma priére,
donot reject (atall) my plea,
ede _ziifer uvremwa la batrjeroe
et des enfers ouvrez-moi la —_barritre
and of hell open forme the barrier 82
Alceste, Act IIT
de me turma
de mes _—_tourments!
of my torments!
e termine lekse
et terminez —_excés
and end the excess
(bring to an end my supreme torment!)
ADMETE.
obeise.za se—kom@doe'ma
Obéissez a ses.» commandements!
Obey its commands!
Ne rejetez point ma priére, ete.
THANATOS
karo tapeloe ata
Caron' t'appelle, _—entends
Charon is calling you, hear
doe
de
twa
toi
you
lee
the
sa wa
sa voix.
his voice.
vu dwa_ Jtetroe Ice partagoe
vous doit @re le _partage.
you must be the victim.
doe desde 6 fwa
de déciderson choix.
to decide its choice.
(to decide what Fate's choice must be.)
vo ki tdigasoe
vou qui ge,
vow that binds you,
sybira sel le lwa
subira seul les lois.
must submit alone toits laws.
(alone will will be the victim of death's laws.)
doe la par, ke
De laParque un
Of Fate one
alsestoe seta
Aleeste, cesta
Alceste, it is up to
Caron t'appelle, etc.
sity re'vokoe
Si tu —_révoques
If you renounce
admetce de la mor
Admete de la mort
Admete of death
Caron, t'appelle, ete,
ALCESTE
kil vives e
Quill vive, et
Let him live, and
ADMETE
aretce © dezespwar
Arréte!
Stop!
de_
des
of
wafer uvremwa — le——_patsagce
enfers ouvrez-moi le —_passage.
hell open forme the —_path.
‘Charon, the ferryman in the nether regions, who takes people across the river Styx. Alceste, Act IIT
CHORUS OF INFERNAL DEITIES
83
al'sestoe Joe 3ur fyi e Joe desté ki toe pursyi
Alceste, le jour fuit, et le destin quite poursuit
Alceste, daylight has fled, and destiny which pursues you
a marke 1 Cnoerce fatalce
a marqué ton _ heure fatale:
has signalled your — fatal hour;
syinu dala nyi || éfernaloe
suis-nous dans la nuit —infernale.
follow us into the night infernal.
ALCESTE
aldjo Jee Te'pu
Adieu, cher époux!
Farewell, dear husband!
ADMETE,
arete
Arrétez!
Stop!
ALCESTE
sO_ne fe
C'en est fait.
Itis over.
ADMETE
arete barbarce deite egzerse syr mwa seel
Arrétez! Barbares Déités, exercez sur moi seul
Stop! Barbarous deities, unleash on me alone
‘votre ra, _3iny'mence —_dsceveeli'se mwa dé la nyi dy trepa
votre rage ensevelissez-moi dans la nuit du trépas.
your rage shroud me inthenight of death.
CHORUS
lofer ‘parloe sa wa _suvee'rence
L'enfer parle, sa loi souveraine.
Hell has spoken; obey (to) its ~— law —_ sovereign
(its sovereign law.)
ADMETE.
vu nce marafoe're pwE —alisestoe de me bra kryele
Vous ne m'arracherez point Alceste de mes_ bras, cruelles!
You shall never tear away Alceste from my arms, cruel ones!
ALCESTE
& puvwa, tévesiblee — mattrence
Un pouvoir invincible m'entraine.
A power invincible is drawing me away. 84 Alceste, Act III
CHORUS
Lrenfer parle, ete.
ALCESTE
2° dio
6 Dieux!
Oh gods!
ADMETE
Cater 300 syivre se pa
Aux enfers je suivrai ses pas.
To hell I shallfollow her _ steps.
Scene Five
(Hercule and his followers; Adméte and some of the Infernal Deities.)
HERCULE
ami doer ra, we venoe kote syr ma valloer
Ami, leurrage est vaine; comptez sur ma valeur!
Friend, theirrage isin vain, count ‘on my valor!
sede tu, _pinymence rene md bra_—vOsoer
Cédez, troupe inhumaine, craignez. © mon bras _vengeur!
Give way, rabble inhuman, fear my arm _ avenging!
(avenging strength!)
ADMETE
koe ‘votre m& = barbaree = porte syr_ mwa se ku
Que votre main barbare porte sur moi ses coups.
Let your hand cruel deal on me _—its.—_blows.
frape dio dy tenare e —reynise nu
Frappez, Dieux du —Ténare, et réunissez-nous!
Strike, gods of hell, and reunite us!
Frappez!, ete.
CHORUS OF INFERNAL DEITIES
‘notroe fyror_ re ‘Venoe sedo_ za sa valloer
Notre fureur est vaine, cédons a sa—valeur!
Our fury is invain; letusyield to —his_—_valor!
le fis doe © sypiter doe lafe, re vekcer
Le fils de — Jupiterde —'enfer est ~—_vainqueur!
The son of ‘Jupiter of —hell—is_—_the vanquisher.
(has conquered hell!)
(Hercule brings in Alceste,)
HERCULE
fuije tru_pinymence
Fuyez, troupe inbumaine,
Flee, inhuman rabble,
craignez mon bras vengeur, etc. Alceste, Act IIT
de mé doe —_lamitje re'swa mo fe_
Des mains de Tamitié resois, mon cher
Fromthe hands of friendship —receive,my dear
Joe di Lpobedoe 8, __nardeer
Te digne objet de ton —_ardeur.
the worthy object of your passion.
ADMETE
a ma_—_felisite e dota ply parfetce
Ah! = ma félicité est d'autant plus _parfaite
Ah! My — happiness is-_—allithe more perfect
koe se da = mO__ nami koe gee, tft
que c'est de © mon ami que je —_tiens_ mon
for itis from my friend that 1 receive my
Scene Six
(The former plus Apolion.)
APOLLON (to Hercule)
pursqi 0 ‘dince fis dy suvoeré de
Poursuis, 6 digne fils du souverain des.
Continue thus, oh worthy son of the sovereign of
€ —— limmortalite doevjédra. «8 partagce
et Vimmortalité deviendra ton _partage.
and immortality shall be your reward.
Joe sjel ki toe reergar_ dadmire
Le ciel, qui teregarde, admire ton
Heaven, which is watching you, admires your
e ta pla, se de'sa_—marke °
et ta place est © déji_-smarquée = au
and your place is already assured among the
(to Adméte and Alceste)
vive OTe
