costing us either blood or tears.
CHORUS:
Let’s follow Armida and sing of her victory.
The whole universe echoes her glory.
PHENICIA:
Passionate love, which follows her everywhere,
Clings to hearts she wants to inflame.
It is content to reign in her eyes
And still doesn’t dare to pass into her soul.
CHORUS:
Let’s follow Armida and sing of her victory.
The whole universe echoes her glory.
SIDONIA AND THE CHORUS:
How sweet is an extreme triumph
When one owes the entire honor only to oneself.
SIDONIA:
We haven’t made our soldiers arm.
Armida is triumphant without their aid.
All her power is in her soft allures.
Nothing is so mighty as her charming beauty.
CHORUS:
How sweet is an extreme triumph
When one owes the honor only to oneself.
SIDONIA:
Beautiful Armida has known how to easily vanquish
Proud warriors more feared than thunder.
And in less than a moment, her glances
Have ruled the conquerors of the earth.
CHORUS:
How sweet is an extreme triumph
When one owes the honor only to oneself.
(Armida’s triumph is interrupted by the arrival of Aronte, who was charged with escorting the captive knights and who returns wounded and holding in his hand the stump of a sword.)
ARONTE:
O Heaven! O cruel disgrace!
I was leading your captives with care.
I attempted everything to demonstrate my zeal to you.
My flowing blood is witness of it.
ARMIDA:
But where are my captives?
ARONTE:
An indomitable warrior
Has delivered all of them
ARMIDA AND HIDRAOT:
A single warrior! what are you saying?
Heaven!
ARONTE:
Of our enemies, he’s the most formidable.
Our most valiant soldiers fell beneath his blows.
Nothing can resist his extreme valor.
ARMIDA:
O Heaven! It’s Renaud.
ARONTE:
Himself.
ARMIDA AND HIDRAOT:
Let’s pursue to the death
The enemy who offends us.
Let him not escape
Our vengeance.
CHORUS:
Let’s pursue to the death
The enemy who offends us.
Let him not escape
Our vengeance.
CURTAIN
ACT II
The stage represents a countryside where a river forms a pleasant island.
ARTEMIDORUS:
Invincible hero, it’s through your courage
That I escaped the rigors of a funereal slavery.
After this generous help
Can I excuse myself from following you forever?
RENAUD:
Go, go fill my place
In the regions from which my misfortune hunts me.
Proud Gernand has forced me to punish
His bold audacity.
Godfrey threatened me with an unworthy prison,
And from his camp I am obliged to banish myself.
I distance myself from it with constraint.
Luckily, I have been able to dedicate my exploits
To delivering the holy city
Which trembles under harsh laws!
Follow the warriors that have fine zeal,
Hurrying to demonstrate their valor and their faith.
Seek an immortal glory.
I intend that my exile envelop only me.
ARTEMIDORUS:
Without you, what can they attempt?
The one who banished you cannot defend himself
From wishing for your return.
If I must leave you, may I not at least learn
In what regions you are going to choose for your abode?
RENAUD:
Rest does me violence;
Only glory has attraction for me.
I intend to address my steps
To where justice and innocence
Are in need
