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BORGO PRESS BOOKS BY PHILIPPE QUINAULT
Alcestis
Armida & Amadis & Roland: Three Opera Librettos
Atys
Cadmus and Hermione; &, Perseus: Two Plays
Isis
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 2003, 2013 by Frank J. Morlock
The music (not included) for these operettas was by Jean-Baptiste Lully.
Published by Wildside Press LLC
www.wildsidebooks.com
DEDICATION
To Lucy and Chip,
who really do love each other
ARMIDA
AN OPERETTA IN FIVE ACTS
CHARACTERS
GLORY
TROUPE OF HEROES who follow Glory
WISDOM
TROUPE OF NYMPHS who follow Wisdom
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
ARMIDA, a sorceress niece of Hidraot
PHENICIA, her confidante
SIDONIA, another confidante of Armida
HIDRAOT, a sorcerer, king of Damas
TROUPE OF PEOPLE of the Kingdom of Damas
ARONTE, leader of the knights that Armida has put in chains
RENAUD, the most renowned knight in Godfrey’s camp
ARTEMIDORUS, one of Armida’s captive knights, saved by Renaud
A DEMON transformed into a Naiad (Water Sprite)
TROUPE OF DEMONS transformed into nymphs, shepherds and shepherdesses
HATE
SUITE OF HATE, FURIES, CRUELTY, VENGEANCE, RAGE
UBALDE, knight in search of Renaud
THE DANISH KNIGHT, who accompanies Ubalde to find Renaud
A DEMON in the shape of Lucinda, dancing girl in love with the Danish knight
TROUPE OF DEMONS transformed into rustic clothes of the island where Armida keeps Renaud enchanted
A DEMON in the shape of Melissa, an Italian girl loved by Ubalde
THE PLEASURES
TROUPE OF DEMONS who take the shape of fortunate lovers that accompany Renaud in the enchanted palace
TROUPE OF FLYING DEMONS who destroy the enchanted palace
PROLOGUE
The stage represents a palace.
GLORY:
Everybody in the universe
Must yield to the splendid hero I love.
The endeavors of enemies, the ices of winter,
The rocks, the streams, the seas,
Nothing can stop the ardor of his intense valor.
WISDOM:
Everybody in the universe must yield
To the splendid hero that I love.
He knows the art of keeping all monsters in chains.
He is the absolute master of a hundred diverse nations,
And even more master of himself.
GLORY AND WISDOM:
Everybody in the universe must yield
To the splendid hero that I love.
WISDOM AND HER SUITE:
Let’s sing of the sweetness of his rule.
GLORY AND HER SUITE:
Let’s sing of his glorious exploits.
GLORY AND WISDOM:
With equal tenderness,
We love the same conqueror.
WISDOM:
Proud Glory, it’s you.
GLORY:
Sweet Wisdom, it’s you.
GLORY AND WISDOM:
It’s you who share with me, his great heart.
GLORY:
I’ll take him away from you so long as the war lasts,
But in peace you will take him from me.
You rule in secret with this wise king,
The destiny of the whole earth.
WISDOM:
Victory has followed this hero everywhere.
But to demonstrate his love to Glory,
He uses peace even better
Than victory.
In the midst of the rest that he assures to humans
Under his powerful hands, he brings down
A monster that was long thought to be invincible.
One sees how sensitive he is in his works
To your immortal beauty.
He foresees your desires, he exceeds your hopes.
The passion with which he loves you unceasingly increases
And has never been so dazzling.
Only a vain desire for preference,
Unspoiled by intelligence,
Would make this hero want to choose between
