“Armida” – Act 2

ACT TWO

A dreadful forest. Among some trees the sea is seen in the distance.

SCENE ONE

Astarotte and a chorus of demons, rising from beneath the earth.

CHORUS At the mighty voice of Armida We have crossed Acheron and Cocytus. This silent and inhospitable shore Must be animated by our work. ASTAROTTE and PART OF THE CHORUS Come, companions, here let your steps be stayed, Here extinguish the dreadful torches, Lay down the viperous scourge; So commands she who gives the law.

FULL CHORUS At Armida’s new wonder All hell shall be obedient. PART OF THE CHORUS The royal niece of Idraote Is wont to restrain the roaring of shades. ANOTHER PART OF THE CHORUS Her magic notes have the power To double the howling and the roaring Where sorrow knows no limit. FULL CHORUS This silent and inhospitable shore Must be animated by our work.

ASTAROTTE A power beyond human. Gods of the dark abyss now summon us here. All around, fame Spreads the name of Rinaldo, the foremost Among the feared champions Of him who above the stars, For our eternal torment, Moves and governs all at his will. Yet by a bond of love the mighty warrior Has become prey; Armida dared to rob him Of reason, honor, freedom, so that there may be lacking Among the hated Franks The greatest sword of the supreme captain’s host, And to wrest Zion from its destined fate. To assist her, O gods, Is it not a light task for us? In our deeds The king of shadows places trust; Let Goffredo tremble for us, let Armida rejoice. CHORUS Clad in iron and flame, Against the heavenly empire There in the highest realm You know that once we fought. It is true, we fell defeated; But of our former valor Within our breast The seed has not yet withered. (A cloud appears from above.)

ASTAROTTE Well then, the moment has come To put into action both power and daring. Look, Armida approaches. Hidden, At the hiss of her magic wand, Let each of you be ready; Such is the command of our greatest deity. (They vanish.)

SCENE TWO

Once it reaches the ground, the cloud dissolves and reveals a chariot drawn by two dragons, upon which are Armida and Rinaldo. Armida transforms the chariot into a seat of flowers. The dragons disappear. Rinaldo is almost beside himself with astonishment.

RINALDO Where am I!... ARMIDA At my side. RINALDO Oh blessed am I! ARMIDA My fair treasure! RINALDO If you call me yours... ARMIDA Dear one, if you love me,

ARMIDA and RINALDO I defy all the harshness Of fate. ARMIDA My beloved, this upon which you tread Is called the Isle of Fortune, Known to me alone. Here let all our past bitterness Be laid aside, And here let all breathe peace and love. Desire to see you again, Hope to possess you, made me yield To others’ will—not cruel intent. I feigned with the Frankish leader Against my will, and your blade, Breaking the chains, Punished the plot Of my followers, of Idraote and myself.

RINALDO See if my heart loves you: Let all be forgotten; only Idraote I deem guilty. Now let us not think Of anything but our mutual love... But as a prisoner, Why lead me into a dreadful forest? ARMIDA No; this is the realm of Love, Behold the center of pleasure. (At Armida’s signal, the scene transforms into the interior of a magnificent palace. Spirits in the form of genii, nymphs, cupids, and pleasures fill the stage, forming various groups.)

CHORUS Yes, this is the realm of Love, This is the center of delight. ARMIDA and RINALDO [(To that/this soul such a wonder Seems a flattering dream. At so strange and joyful an event Its thought is confounded.) ARMIDA, RINALDO and CHORUS Yes, this is the realm of Love, This is the center of delight.]

SOME NYMPHS Songs of love, Festive dances, Sing, form yourselves, Followers of Love. ALL THE NYMPHS Songs of love, Festive dances, Let us sing, let us form, Followers of Love. (Dances follow, from time to time interwoven with song. Cupids present to Rinaldo garlands of flowers.)

ARMIDA To Love’s sweet dominion Nature ever yields. Where is that daring soul That does not value Love? He who, wretched, does not feel Its powerful flame, Has a heart of stone in his breast, Or never had a heart at all. CHORUS Where is that daring soul That does not value Love?

ARMIDA Birds among the branches Express love in song; Even the mute dwellers Of the waters love. Savage beasts love There in the Hyrcanian forests, Even the plants themselves Are made fruitful by love. CHORUS Where is that daring soul That does not value Love?

ARMIDA Youth swiftly fades, Beauty is but a flash, For both are consumed By devouring time. Therefore, lovers, enjoy Your happy moments, Now that upon your faces smiles The flower of youth. (Armida sits beside Rinaldo.) CHORUS Ah! yes, lovers, enjoy Your happy moments, Now that upon your faces smiles The flower of youth.

Armida, in order to extinguish in Rinaldo’s heart every remnant of martial ardor, and instead awaken that of love, causes a spirit to appear in the form of a young warrior, surrounded by graceful nymphs, who strive in turn to seduce him. He tries to resist their charms; but pleasure, gradually taking hold of him, makes him finally allow his martial insignia to be taken away, replacing them with wreaths and garlands of flowers.

DANCE and GENERAL CHORUS All that appears of Armida breathes Peace, love, delight, and joy. All is subject to Armida’s realm, All yields where beauty reigns.

libretto by Dmitrii Murashev