1
'Tis Heav'n's all ruling power
That checks the rising sigh;
Yet let me still adore
And think an angel by:
While thus each charm and beauteous line,
With more than human lustre shine.
2
Zebul: O spare your daughter!
Sorge: Spare my child.
Hamor: My love.
Jephta: Recorded stands my vows in Heav'n above.
Sorge, Hamor, Zebul: Recall the impious vow e'er 'tis too late,
And think not Heav'n delights
In Molock's horrid rites.
Jephta: I'll hear no more, her doom is fix'd as Fate.
3
Laud her all ye virgin train
In glad songs of choicest strain.
Ye blest angels all around,
Laud her in melodious sound.
Virtues that to you belong,
Love and truth demand the song.
4
| (Recitative:) Frondi tenere, e belle del mio platano amato, per voi risplenda il fato. Tuoni, lampi e procelle non v'oltraggino mai la cara pace, nè giunga a profanarvi rapace. | Fair tender leaves of my beloved sycamore, may fate shine brightly on you. May thunder, lightning and storms never violate your precious peace, nor hot south wind ever profane you. |
| (Larghetto:) Ombra mai fù di vegetabile cara ed amabile soave più. | Never did a plant ever have a dearer or more sweetly lovable shade. |
5
| Ah! stigie larve, ah! scelerati spettri, che la perfida donna ore ascondete, perchè al mio amor offeso al mio giusto furor non la rendete? | Ah, Stygian monsters, ah, evil specters, who hide the faithless woman now, why do you not give her back to my offended love, to my just fury? |
| (Andante) Ah! misero e schernito, l'ingrata già m'ha ucciso! Sono lo spirto mio da me diviso, sono un ombra, e qual ombra adesso io voglio varcar la giù ne' regni del cordoglio! Ecco la stiglià barca; di Caronte a dispetto già solco l'onde, gia solco l'onde nere. Ecco di Pluto le affumicate soglie, e l'arso letto! Già latra Cerbero, gia latra Cerbero, e gia dell' Erebo ogni terribile squalida furia sen viene a me, sen viene a me, sen viene a me! | Ah me, wretched and mocked, the ungrateful woman has slain me already! My spirit has departed from me, I am a shade, and now I wish to transfer that shade below, down in the realms of sorrow! Here is the boat on the Styx; in despite of Charon, I am already cleaving the waves, I am already cleaving the black waves. Here are the smoky thresholds of Pluto, his burning bed! Cerberus is barking already, Cerberus is barking, and every ugly terrible fury is rising from Erebus and coming to me. |
| Ma la furia, che sol mi die mortoro, dov'è? Questo è Medoro! A Proserpina in braccio vedo che fugge, or a strapparla io corro – | But the only fury that buried me, where is he? This is Medoro! I see he flees on Proserpina's arm, and I rush to save her – |
| (Adagio) Ah! Proserpina piange? Vien meno il mio furore, se si piange all' inferno anco d'amore! | Ah, does Proserpina weep? My rage subsides, if even in Inferno they still weep for love! |
| (A tempo di Gavotta) Vaghe pupille, no, non piangete, no, non piangete, no, no, | Lovely eyes, no, weep not, no, no, |
| (Larghetto) che del pianto ancor nel regno puo in ogn' un destar pietà, può destar, destar pietà | for from weeping, even in the kingdom [of Hades], pity may arise in everyone. |
| (A tempo) Vaghe pupille, no, non piangete, no, no, non piangete, no! Ma sì, sì, sì, pupille, sì, sì, sì, piangete, sì, che sordo al vostro incanto, che sordo vostro incanto ho un core d'adamanto, nè calma il mio furor, no, no, no, non calma il mio furor, che sordo al vostro incanto, che sordo al vostro incanto, ho un core d'adamanto, nè calma il mio furor, no, no, nè calma il mio furor. Ma sì, pupille, sì, sì, sì, pupille, sì, sì, piangete, sì, sì, sì, pupille, sì, sì, piangete, sì. | Lovely eyes, no, weep not, no! But yes, eyes weep, for deaf to your charm, I have a heart of steel and my rage does not subside. |
6
Let me wander, not unseen
By hedgerow elms, on hillocks green;
There the ploughman, near at hand,
Whistles over the furrow'd land,
And the milkmaid sings its blithe
And the mower whets his scythe;
And every shepherd tells his tale
Under the hawthorn, in the dale.
7
| Cielo! se tu il consenti, deh! fà che nel mio seno passa anche il ferro entrar! Perchè a un si rio dolore dal misero mio core sappia col ferro almeno, l'uscita ritrovar. | Heavens! if you permit it, ah, have the iron also enter into my breast! So that with the iron I may at least find the way out of this woeful sorrow of my wretched heart. |
8
| Lascia ch'io pianga mia cruda sorte e che sospiri la libertà. Lascia ch'io pianga la dura sorte e che sospiri la libertà. Il duolo infranga questa ritorte dé miei martiri sol per pietà! | Let me weep my harsh fate and sigh for liberty. Let me weep hard fate and sigh for liberty. May sorrow break these chains of my sufferings, only for pity's sake! |
9
Kind Heaven, if virtue be thy care,
With courage fire me, or art inspire me,
To free the captive fair!
On the wings of the wind I will fly,
With this princess to live, or this Christian to die.
10
Wide spread his name, and make his glory
Of endless fame the lasting story.
11
Sweet rose and lily, flow'ry form,
Take me your faithful guard:
To shield you from bleak wind and storm
A smile be my reward.
12
To thee, thou glorious son of worth,
(To thee whose virtues suit thy birth)
Be life and safety given
(Be every blessing given).
I hope again to meet on earth
But sure shall meet in heaven.
13
Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon King.
And all the people rejoic'd, and said:
"God save the King, long live the King, may the King live for ever!
Amen, Hallelujah!"
14
The King shall rejoice in thy strength, oh Lord!
Exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation.
Glory and worship hast thou laid upon him.
Thou hast prevented him with the blessings of goodness,
and hast set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
Alleluja!
15
Let thy hand be strengthen'd, and thy right hand be exalted.
Let justice and judgment be the preparation of thy seat!
Let mercy and truth go before thy face.
Hallelujah.