Jacopo Cassetti, text for Vivaldi’s Juditha triumphans

Original text and translations

Pars prima

Arma, cædes, vindictæ, furores

Latin text English translation

CHORUS (militum pugnantium in acie cum CHOIR (of soldiers fighting on the battlefield,
timpano bellico) with battle drums)
Arma, cædes, vindictæ, furores, Weapons, carnage, vengeance, fury,
angustiæ, timores famine and fear:
precedite nos. precede us!
Rotate, Encircle,
pugnate give battle,
O bellicæ sortes, oh fates of War:
mille plagas, a thousand wounds,
mille mortes a thousand deaths,
adducite vos. inflict.

Felix en fausta dies

HOLOFERNES
Felix et fausta dies
o magnanimi eroes et fortunati:
prospera vobis sors, sydera, cælum:
et post sæcula tandem
venit optata lux, lux suspirata,
qua magni in vestro Duce,
qua Dux Magnus in vobis:
cunctis æqua
erit tandem Victoria,
et vestro invicto Regi
honor, et gloria.
Nil arma, nil bella,
nil fiamma furoris
si cor bellatoris
est cadens in se.
HOLOFERNES
[It is a] splendid and joyous day,
you noble and fortunate heroes!
The fate, the stars, the heaven are on your side:
After so many centuries
has the long-awaited light come, which was
long-desired,
by which you will be great through your leader
and your leader great through you.
Equally yet today
shall you share the victory
and with your undefeated king,
honour and glory
Nothing are the weapons, the battles,
nothing the flame of raging war
if the warrior's heart
Si pugnat sperando, has sunk.
iam virtus pugnando He who fights with hope
vigescit in spe. shall find in hope
yet the strength to fight.
VAGAUS
Mi Dux, Domine mi… VAGAUS
My commander, my Lord…
HOLOFERNES
Et quid ne petis? HOLOFERNES
What do you want?
VAGAUS
Felicitatis tuæ Nuncius accedo. VAGAUS
I come as the bearer of your good fortune.
HOLOFERNES
Quidne fausti tu refers? HOLOFERNES
What good news do you bring?
VAGAUS
Nil nisi Gloriæ tuæ grande incrementum, VAGAUS
et vere oculis tuis dulce portentum. Nothing but a great addition to your glory,
and, truly, a sweet portent to your eyes.
HOLOFERNES
Dic. HOLOFERNES
Speak.

Matrona inimica/Huc accedat Matrona

VAGAUS VAGAUS
Matrona inimica A noble lady of the enemy
te quærit ad arma is asking of you to the guards,
dux magne Holofernes. mighty lord Holofernes.
Et cito deh, credas, And soon, believe me,
tibi erit amica she will be yours
si lumina cernes. if you just set your gaze upon her.

HOLOFERNES
Huc accedat Matrona,
et sit armorum Marti ebrea Bellona.
In Bethulia vilescunt
hostes miseri geni: undique luctus
sævus undique clamor.
Hic anhelat,
hic gemit, ille plorat,
dolent omnes;
nil nisi timor, nil nisi mærentium
HOLOFERNES
Let the noble lady through,
and may she be the Hebrew Bellona to the
armies of Mars.
In Bethulia have become weak
the armies of th[is] miserable people;
everywhere is mourning
and everywhere wild raging.
There one gasps for breath,
there another groans, another weeps,
ignavia, desperatio, afflictio, inopia,
et lacrimarum copia.
Veni fœmina illustris
VAGAUS
Veni fœmina illustris,
pulchra bellatrix huc,
lumine, et pede
videntes feri,
et generosa accede.
JUDITHA
Quocum patriæ me ducit amore
libertatis dulcissima spes,
summo ductus a cæli fulgore
tuto pergat per classica pes.
ABRA
Ne timeas non, lætare
casta Vidua dilecta
certa virtutis tuæ munera expecta.
Vultus tui vago splendori
cedit ira ridet amor.
Ac tui numinis honori
lætus plaudit omnium clamor;
vide, humilis prostrata
in vultus tui nitore,
quam estatica sit gens tanta armata.
JUDITHA
Nil moræ. Ad Holofernem
me ducite benigni
duces bellici honoris,
pacis en nuntia venio, et non furoris.
O quam vaga, venusta, o quam decora
all suffer.
Nothing but fear, nothing but sorrow,
despondency, despair, pain, poverty,
and many tears are shed.
VAGAUS
Come, illustrious lady,
beautiful warrior, come near;
with your eyes and bearing
you bring close to you all who observe,
approach, noble one.
JUDITH
Wherever the love of my fatherland
and sweetest hope of freedom lead me,
as I'm guided by the highest rays of heaven,
may I walk safely among these throngs
MAID
Do not fear, be glad,
virtuous and esteemed widow,
be certain that you shall receive
[rewards worthy of your virtue.
Through the dazzling countenance of your face
anger fades away, and smiles love.
And in honour of your spirit
all cry with shouts of joy.
Hark, humbly prostrated
before the glory of your face
lie these well-armed people.
JUDITH
No more! To Holofernes,
please, guide me now,
valiant leaders of battles.
I come as a harbinger of peace, not of the rage
of war.
VAGAUS et CHORUS
O quam vaga, venusta, o quam decora,
ospes nostræ victoriæ unica, et vera.
Tentoria vultu tuo ducis honora
et cuncta ab Holoferne attende, et spera.
Quem vides prope
VAGAUS
Quem vides prope, aspectu
terribili, et suavi,
quem quæris, ipse hic est: amore, et fide,
in ipso pulchra Sion spera, et confide.
Quamvis ferro, et ense gravis
dulcis tamen et suavis
pro te Dux erit, o bella.
Tibi tua tu sors et fatum,
nec per te fremit iratum,
tua pupilla fit tua stella.
HOLOFERNES
Quid cerno! Oculi mei
stupidi quid videtis!
solis, an cæli splendor!
ah summæ prolis
vincunt lumina sua lumina solis.
Sistite, viatrici!
preparate trophea, spargite flores,
et obvient Divæ suæ teneri Amores.
Summe Rex, strenue miles
JUDITHA
VAGAUS and CHOIR
How lovely, fair, how pretty you are,
our only and true hope of victory!
Honour the tent of the leader with your gaze,
and place your hope in Holofernes.
VAGAUS
He whom you see close-by, whose countenance
is terrifying yet charming,
is the one whom you seek; with love and faith,
in him, fair Zion, place your trust, and have
confidence.
Though is sword is made of heavy iron,
a sweet and gentle
leader he shall be for you, comely one.
Yours are your fate and destiny,
and he shan't tremble with rage fore you;
may your eye be your guiding star.
HOLOFERNES
What do I see? My baffled eyes,
what did you see?
The sun, the splendor of heaven!
Ah, best of beings,
your eyes shame the sun's light!
Stay put, merchant-ladies!
Prepare tributes, spread flowers
and may tender cupids come meet their
goddess.
JUDITH
Summe Rex, strenue miles,
nabuc Regis cor, cuius in manu
stat suprema potestas, nutui cuius
fortuna, et sors obedit,
et cuncta iura sua gloria concedit.
HOLOFERNES
O quam pulchrior in pulchro
virtus est ore sonans! Quidnam petis,
suavissima supplex?
Non mihi, patriæ meæ
JUDITHA
Non mihi, patriæ meæ
spem salutis exoro,
et sic Bethuliæ a te pacem imploro.
Quanto magis generosa,
plus victori gloriosa
venia victo magis cara.
O quam pulchra tua potentia
illustrata tua clementia!
parce Dux, ac tolle amara.
Magna, o fœmina petis
HOLOFERNES
Magna, o fœmina petis,
quæ maxima, si dentur!
majora sed a me tibi debentur.
O timpana silete,
recedite o Phalanges,
cedite amori meo, cedite invictæ
faces, tela, sagittæ,
et vos bellica in campo impia tormenta
estote in gaudio meo nova contenta.
Hic sede amica mea.
JUDITHA
Greatest king, valiant soldier,
heart of king Nebuch, in whose hands
rests supreme power, whose will fate
and fortune obey
and whose glory ensures all justice.
HOLOFERNES
Oh, how much prietter sounds virtue
when spoken by a pretty mouth! What do you
seek,
most charming of supplicants?
JUDITH
Not for me, [but] for my homeland
I beg for the hope of salvation,
and thus I implore you to give peace to
Bethulia.
How much more magnanimous,
how much more glorious to the conquerer
how much dearer [is] mercy to the conquered.
How greater [would] your power be
[if] shown by your mercy!
Spare [us], Lord, and ease our bitter condition.
HOLOFERNES
You ask great things, woman,
yet even bigger you'd be given, if you asked
them!
But I owe you even more.
Be silent, drums,
move back, phalanxes,
yield to my love, yield to the undefeated
countenance, spears, arrows,
and you, wicked engines of war on the
battlefield,
find new fulfillment in my joy.
Sit here, my love.
Non tantus honor
tuæ famulæ donetur. JUDITH
Such great honour
HOLOFERNES shouldn't be given to your servant.
Tu me honoras.
HOLOFERNES
JUDITHA You bring me honour.
Te colo.
JUDITH
HOLOFERNES I am your servant .
Sedeas hic.
HOLOFERNES
JUDITHA Be seated here.
Non debeo, non.
JUDITH
I shouldn't, no.

Sede, o cara

HOLOFERNES HOLOFERNES
Sic jubeo, et volo. That's what I command, and wish.

Sede, o cara, Sit, my dear,

dilecta speciosa my beloved beautiful
mea vivida rosa, lively rose,
mea fulgida fax. my shimmering flame.
Tu Marti triumphanti, To Mars in his triumph,
tu bellico amanti to the warring lover
pulcherrima Pax. most beautiful peace.

JUDITHA JUDITH
Tu Judex es, tu Dominus, tu potens You are judge, commander, and powerful
in exercitu tanto, et tuæ dextræ victrici of such a mighty army, and your victorious
semper aspectu sint astra felici. right arm
always bless the stars.
HOLOFERNES
Felix per te, HOLOFERNES
magisque felix ero, I am happy because of you,
si dum sepulta manet and shall be even happier,
lux Apollinis unda, if, while buried under the sea
me te dignum remains Apollo's light,
in convivio tu reddas, you shall do me the honour
ut melius pacis nostræ amatæ, et caræ, of joining me for supper,
solemnia tecum possim celebrare. so that better our loved and cherished peace
 may I solemnly with you celebrate.
JUDITHA
Inter convivia, et dapes JUDITH
torpescent labia mea During feasts and banquets
in jeiunio assueta: my lips become numb
tristis, nec unquam læta as I am used to fasting:
in eduliis astricta saddened, never pleased
nescia est delitiæ tantæ anima afflicta. by food,
my afflicted sould knows not such pleasures.

Agitata infido flatu

JUDITHA JUDITH
Agitata infido flatu Tossed around by the treacherous wind
diu volatu in its long flight,
vagabundo the wandering
mæsta hirundo sad swallow
it plorando goes weeping,
boni ignara. remembering no good.

Sed impulsu auræ serenæ
tantæ cito oblita pœnæ
in dilecta
dulcia tecta
gaudii ridet haud avara.
But propelled by the force of a fair breeze,
suddenly forgetting such sorrow,
in its delightfully
tender nest
it laughs joyfully, desiring no more.

In tentorio supernæ

HOLOFERNES HOLOFERNES
In tentorio supernæ In my tent let it be
sint in ordine cœnæ. served a superb supper.
Quid, quid natat in Ponto, Whatever flies in the Pontus,
quid, quid in cælo, whatever [is] in the sky,
et terra nutrit and [whatever] earth nourishes
ne sit legere grave. shall not be hard to obtain.
Hinc nostræ Reginæ, Here, to our queen,
cui Vagæ, tu deservies, whom you, Vagaus, will serve,
sit cretensis Lyei donum suave. be given the sweet gift of the Cretan Lyaeus
(Dionysius).

O servi volate
VAGAUS VAGAUS
O servi volate, Servants, fly
et Domino meo and for my Lord
vos mensas parate prepare supper,
si proxima nox. as night fast approaches.
Invicto Holoferni To the undefeated Holofernes
cantemus alterni, let us sing in alternate verses;
honoris, amoris to honours and love-making
sit consona nox. may the night be propitious.

CHORUS CHORUS
Honoris, amoris, To honours and love-making
sit consona vox. may our voices be propitious.

VAGAUS VAGAUS
Tu quoque hebraica ancilla And you as well, Hebrew handmaid,
in nostro gaudio tanto shall find, amidst our great joy,
eris in corde tuo læta, et tranquilla. gladness of heart, and peace.

ABRA
Quam audacter discurrit
non minus servus suo Domino nequam.
Properemus Juditha: ubique semper
tecum sperans in cælis
ero Dominæ meæ socia fidelis.
MAID
With what audacity speaks
the servant, never to be outdone by his Lord.
Let's hurry, Judith: everywhere and always,
as you, confident in the heavens
shall I be, a faithful companion to my mistress.

Veni/Venio

JUDITHA JUDITH
Veni, veni, me sequere fida Come, come, follow me, my faithful
Abra amata, beloved maid,
sponso orbata. deprived of your husband.
Turtur gemo ac spiro in te. Like a turtle-dove I hoot and sigh with you.
Diræ sortis tu socia confida In this dire fate you are my trusted companion,
debellata and when we'll have fulfilled
sorte ingrata, our ungrateful destiny,
sociam lætæ habebis me. you shall have me also as a joyful companion.

ABRA MAID
Venio Juditha, venio: animo fave, I come, Judith, I come: have courage,
amori crede tuo nil erit grave. there shall be no ill consequence to your love.
Fulgeat sol frontis decoræ,
et afflictæ abeat Auroræ
rosa vaga tua pupilla.
Ama, langue, finge ardere
nostræ sorti si favore
potest una tua favilla.
In Urbe interim pia
incertas audi voces, aura levis
fert murmur voti
et gloriæ, credo, tuæ.
Gemunt et orant una
virgines Juda, incertæ sortis suæ.
Mundi Rector de cælo micanti
CHORUS (virginum psalentium in Bethulia)
Mundi Rector de cælo micanti
audi preces, et suscipe vota
quæ de corde pro te dimicanti
sunt pietatis in sinu devota.
In Juditha tuæ legi dicata
flammas dulcis tui amoris accende
feritatis sic hostis domata
in Bethuliæ spem pacis intende.
Redi, redi iam Victrix pugnando
in cilicio in prece revive
de Holoferne sic hodie triumphando
pia Juditha per sæcula vive.
sponsor
May the sun shine to deck your face,
and may the sad dew of dawn
disappear from your beautiful eyes.
Love, languish, feign to be burning for him,
if our destiny can be favoured
by a single spark from you.
Meanwhile in our holy city
I hear confused voices, a light breeze
brings murmurs of your vow
and, I believe, of your glory.
As one cry and pray
the maidens of Judah, uncertain of their destiny.
CHORUS (of maidens singing psalms in
Bethulia)
Ruler of the world and of the sparkling heaven,
hear the prayers and accept the offerings
that to you are offered with devotion
by faithful hearts devoted to you.
In Judith, who is consacrated to your law,
light the fire of your sweet love,
so that, once the savage enemy is tamed,
the hope of peace return to Bethulia.
May she return victorious from battle,
find strength in penitence and prayer
and, defeating Holofernes in triumph today,
may devout Judith forever live.
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