Translation of the song RV 644 Juditha triumphans 12. Recitatvo: Quid cerno! Oculi mei. artist Antonio Vivaldi
RV 644 Juditha triumphans 12. Recitatvo: Quid cerno! Oculi mei.
RV 644 12. Recitative: What do I see?
OLOFERNE
HOLOFERNES
Quid cerno! Oculi mei
What do I see? My dazzled eyes,
Stupidi quid videtis!
what did you see?
Solis, an caeli splendor!
The sun, the splendor of heaven!
Ah summae prolis
Ah, best of beings,
Vincunt lumina sua lumina solis.
whose eyes shame the sun's light!
Sistite, viatrici
Stay put, travellers!
Preparate Trophea, spargite flores,
Prepare tributes, spread flowers
Et obvient Dive suae teneri Amores.
and may tender cupids come meet their goddess.
GIUDITTA
JUDITH
Summe Rex, strenue miles,
Greatest king, valiant warrior,
Nabuc Regis cor, cuius in manu
heart of king Nebuch, in whose hands
Stat suprema potestas, nutui cuius
rests supreme power,
Fortuna, et sors obedit,
whose fortune and fate obey
Et cuncta iura sua gloria concedit.
and whose glory ensures all justice.
OLOFERNE
HOLOFERNES
O quam pulcrior in pulcro
Oh, how much prietter sounds virtue
Virtus est ore sonans! Quidnam petis,
when spoken by a pretty mouth! What would you
Suavissima supplex?
have of me, most charming of suppliants?
GIUDITTA
JUDITH
Non mihi, Patriae meae
Not for myself, for my homeland
Spem salutis exoro,
I beg for hope of salvation,
Et sic Bethuliae a te pacem imploro.
and thus I implore you to give peace to Bethulia.