"Vainement, ma bien-aimée"
from Le roi d'Ys
MUSIC: Édouard Lalo
TEXT: Édouard Blau
In the legendary city of Ys, the knight Mylio has won the hand of his beloved Rozenn, one of the king’s daughters, after defeating an enemy army. On the morning of the wedding, he sings to Rozenn outside her door, as he anticipates escorting her to the chapel.
Puisqu’on ne peut fléchir
Ces jalouses gardiennes,
Ah, laissez-moi conter
Mes peines et mon émoi!
Vainement, ma bien-aimée,
On croit me désepérer;
Près de ta porte fermée
Je veux encor demeurer!
Les soleils pourront s’éteindre,
Les nuits remplacer les jours,
Sans t’accuser et sans me plaindre.
Là je resterai, toujours!
Je le sais, ton âme est douce,
Et l’heure bientôt viendra
Où la main qui me repousse
Vers la mienne se tendra!
Ne sois pas trop tardive à te laisser attendrir!
Si Rozenn bientôt n’arrive,
Je vais, hélas, mourir!
Since they will not relent,
these jealous guardians,
ah, let me tell you of
my anguish and emotions!
My beloved, I will not
be driven to despair:
I am determined to stay
by your closed door.
Suns may be extinguished,
nights replace days,
not accusing you, not complaining,
I will stay there forever!
I know that you have a kind heart,
and the hour will soon come
when the hand that now pushes me away
will reach out to mine!
Do not delay too long
in being moved to pity!
If Rozenn does not arrive soon,
alas, I shall die!
"Ah! Fuyez, douce image" from Manon
MUSIC: JULES MASSENET
TEXT: Henri Meilhac
Chevalier des Grieux and Manon had impetuously run off to Paris together, but her desire for luxury led her to move on to a wealthy nobleman. Shattered, the young man decides to enter the priesthood. In the chapel, after delivering a sermon, he realizes that he cannot get Manon out of his mind.
Je suis seul! Seul enfin!
C’est le moment suprême!
Il n’est plus rien que j’aime
Que le repos sacré que m’apporte la foi!
Oui, j’ai voulu mettre Dieu même
Entre le monde et moi!
Ah! fuyez, douce image, à mon âme trop chère;
Respectez un repos cruellement gagné,
Et songez, si j’ai bu dans une coupe amère,
Que mon coeur l’emplirait de ce qu’il a saigné!
Ah! fuyez! fuyez! loin de moi!
Que m’importe la vie et ce semblant de gloire?
Je ne veux que chasser du fond de ma mémoire...
Un nom maudit! ce nom... qui m’obsède et pourquoi?
Mon Dieu! De votre flamme purifiez mon âme…
Et dissipez à sa lueur
L’ombre qui passe encor dans le fond de mon coeur!
Ah! fuyez, douce image, à mon âme trop chère!
Ah! fuyez! loin de moi!
I am alone! Alone at last!
This is my moment of destiny!
There is nothing I love more
than the sacred peace that faith brings me!
Yes, I have tried to put God
between the world and me!
Ah! Leave me, sweet vision, set my soul free;
leave me in peace, so cruelly won,
I have drunk from the bitter cup of my own suffering,
My heart could fill it with the blood it has shed!
Ah! Vanish, go far away from me!
Life and this semblance of glory mean nothing to me.
Just let me erase, from the depths of my memory,
her cursed name! This name that obsesses me...but why?
My God, purify my soul with your flame…
and dispel, by its light,
the shadow that remains in my heart!
Ah, flee, sweet image, too dear to my soul!
Ah, flee, away from me!
