Libretto
| Description/Analysis | French Lyrics | English Lyrics |
| PREMIER ACTE SCÈNE 1 |
ACT ONE SCENE 1 |
|
| (Un temple consacré à Diane) | (A temple dedicated to Diane) | |
| Aricie monologue [da capo aria; note that brackets signify no identifying label in 18th century printed score] (in D major; Aricie struggles to win inner peace and composure as she prepares to take her vows in the temple of Diane, as ordered by the Queen. The aria conveys her stirred feelings of regret at having to renounce her love for Hippolyte, but it also highlights the attraction for Aricie of finding peace and tranquility in Diane’s temple, a mood vividly portrayed in the aria’s opening prelude and vocal section. The da capo structure reinforces the appeal of tranquility, allowing Aricie to regain her composure after a more intense middle section, where she explicitly states her regrets. The aria’s key of D major acquires further significance, since it is picked up in the following love scene dialogue for Aricie’s first air.) |
||
| ARICIE (Section A) |
ARICIE (Section A) |
|
| Temple sacré, séjour tranquille, | Sacred temple, tranquil abode, | |
| Où Diane aujourd’hui va recevoir my voeux, | Where Diane this day will receive my vows, | |
| A mon coeur agité daigne server d’asile, | To my agitated heart, deign to give refuge, | |
| Contre un amour trop malherueux! | Against a love that is only too unhappy! | |
| (Section B) | (Section B) | |
| Et toi dont malgré moi je rappelle l’image, | And you, whose image, despite myself, I keep recalling, | |
| Cher Prince, si mes voeux ne te sont pas offerts, | Dear Prince, even if I don’t offer you my vows, | |
| Du moins j’en apporte l’hommage | At least I pay homage | |
| A la Déesse que tu sers. | To the same goddess whom you serve. | |
| (da capo) | (da capo) | |
Audio
Scores
