La Gerusalemme liberata - 耶路撒冷易手 - Jerusalem Delivered
The story of Armida, a Saracen sorceress and Rinaldo, a soldier in the First Crusade, was created by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso. In his epic Gerusalemme liberata, Rinaldo is a fierce and determined warrior who is also honorable and handsome. Armida has been sent to stop the Christians from completing their mission and is about to murder the sleeping soldier, but instead she falls in love. She creates an enchanted garden where she holds him a lovesick prisoner. Eventually two of his fellow Crusaders find him and hold a shield to his face, so he can see his image and remember who he is. Rinaldo barely can resist Armida’s pleadings, but his comrades insist that he return to his Christian duties.
Rinaldo and Armida
by Francois Boucher, 1734;
this painting gained Boucher entrance to the Academie (Louvre Museum)
Lyrics in Italian
Lascia ch'io pianga mia cruda sorte, E che sospiri la libertà! E che sospiri, e che sospiri la libertà! Lascia ch'io pianga mia cruda sorte, E che sospiri la libertà!
Il duolo infranga queste ritorte de miei martiri sol per pietà, de miei martiri sol per pietà.
Lascia ch'io pianga mia cruda sorte, E che sospiri la libertà! E che sospiri, e che sospiri la libertà! Lascia ch'io pianga mia cruda sorte, E che sospiri la libertà!
English Translation
Let me weep over my cruel fate, And that I long for freedom! And that I long, and that I long for freedom! Let me weep over my cruel fate, And that I long for freedom!
The duel infringes these images of my sufferings I pray for mercy. for my sufferances. I pray for mercy.
Let me weep over my cruel fate, And that I long for freedom! And that I long, and that I long for freedom! Let me weep over my cruel fate, And that I long for freedom!