AH BELINDA

Ah, Belinda, I am press’d with torment not to be confess’d. 

Peace and I are strangers grown. 

I languish ‘til my grief is known, yet would not have it guess’d

 

DISPREZZATA REGINA

Humiliated queen, martyred wife of the Roman monarch,

What am I doing, what am I, what am I thinking?

Oh, pitiable sex of woman: even though nature and heaven

created us free, marriage enchains us like slaves.

If we conceive a boy-child we form the limbs of our godless tyrant, 

we suckle a cruel executioner, who tears at our flesh and tortures us,

For by an unworthy fate we are even compelled to give birth to our own death.

Nero, accursed Nero, oh God, my husband, you are eternally punished

And cursed by my misery, Where, ah, where are you?

In Poppea's arms, you gaily take your pleasure

While my countless tears are an infinite number of mirrors

In which you see your happiness and my torment.

 

Providence, if there is such a thing, Jupiter, listen to me, 

if you have no thunderbolts with which to punish Nero, 

then I accuse you of impotence, and charge you with injustice, -

Ah, I am going too far, I regret what I have said,

I should in silent pain suppress my torments.

Oh, heaven, quell your rage so that my blasphemy

does not provoke your penalties.

 

LAGRIME MIE

My tears, why do you hold back?

Why do you not let burst forth the fierce pain

that takes my breath and oppresses my heart?

Because she looked on me with a favorable glance,

Lidia, whom I so much adore,

is imprisoned by her stern father.

Between two walls the beautiful innocent one is enclosed,

where the sun's rays can't reach her;

and what grieves me most and adds torment and pain to my suffering,

is that my love suffers on my account.

And you, grieving eyes, you don't weep?

My tears, why do you hold back?

Alas, I miss Lidia, the idol that I so much adore;

she's enclosed in hard marble,

the one for whom I sigh and yet do not die.

Because I welcome death, now that I'm deprived of hope,

Ah, take away my life, I implore you, my harsh pain.

But I well realize that to torment me all the more

fate denies me even death.

Thus since it's true, oh God, that wicked destiny

thirsts only for my weeping, tears, why do you hold back?

 

MORTE COL FIERO ASPETTO

The proud face of death holds no horror for me

If I may die in freedom on my throne, where I reigned. 

My soul hopes every day for freedom from my breast; 

Ever since I was in swaddling clothes I have kept within me this noble desire.

 

AH! MIO COR

Ah! My heart! Tainted are you!

Stars! Gods! God of love!

Traitor! I love you so much;

you can leave me alone crying,

oh gods! Why?

 

But, what is Alcina doing whining?

I'm queen, it's still time:

Stay or die, hurt forever,

Or come back to me.

 

AWAKE, SATURNIA… IRIS HENCE AWAY

Awake, Saturnia, from thy lethargy! Seize, destroy the cursed Semele!

Scale proud Cithaeron's top, snatch her, tear her in thy fury,

And down to the flood of Acheron let her fall, let her fall, fall, fall,

Rolling down the depths of night, never more to behold the light.

If I th'imperial scepter sway, I swear by hell!

Not one of curst Agenor's race to spare.

 

Hence, Iris, hence away, far from the realms of day!

O'er Scythian hills to the Maeotian lake, a speedy flight we'll take!

There Somnus I'll compel, his downy bed to leave, and silent cell;

With noise and light I will his peace molest,

Nor shall he sink again to pleasing rest,

Till to my vow'd revenge he grants supplies,

And seals with sleep the wakeful dragons' eyes.

 

A DIO, ROMA

Farewell Rome, farewell homeland, friends farewell.

Though innocent, I must leave you, in bitter suffering,

I go to my exile, traversing in despair the unfeeling seas.

The air, which every hour, shall receive my sighs, shall

waft them in the name of my heart to see and kiss my native land.

And I shall be lonely and with every step weep with sadness,

Teaching pity to trees and rocks.

Oh by calumny most perverted people,

You ban me from my beloved shores.

Ah, sacrilegious woe, you prevent me from weeping

When I leave my homeland, and I cannot even bring forth a tear

When saying to my family and to Rome: Farewell!

 

WHEN I AM LAID IN EARTH

Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me, on thy bosom let me rest,

More I would, but Death invades me; death is now a welcome guest.

When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create no trouble in thy breast;

Remember me, but ah! Forget my fate.

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