(Moderation)

ACT THREE

The royal garden

FIRST SCENE

Ilia alone

Recitative

ILIA

Friendly solitude, amorous breezes, blossoming plants and lovely flowers, 

hearken to the laments of an unhappy lover who, forsaken, confides in you.

How much it costs my afflicted heart to keep silent

and pretend, when close to him who conquered it!

No. 19 - Aria

ILIA

Gently caressing zephyrs,

oh fly to my beloved

and tell him I adore him

and to keep his heart true to me.

And you plants and tender flowers

which my bitter tears water,

tell him that you never saw

a love more rare beneath the sky.

Recitative

ILIA

He himself is coming … O heaven! …

Shall I speak or be silent?

Shall I remain, or leave, or hide? …

Ah, I cannot decide! I am confused!

SECOND SCENE

Idamante, Ilia

Recitative

IDAMANTE

Do I hear aright? Or does my hearing only imagine what it longs for? 

Or does my ardent passion excite my senses so that a sweet dream

flatters my oppressed heart?

ILIA

Ah, why did I not perish before disclosing my passion? 

My soul is overwhelmed with remorse. My sacred duty, my honour, my country, my kinsmen's blood still hot, 

oh how they reproach the rebellious love in my heart! …

But what can I do? Now that I see you in deadly danger, my dearest,

and only I can save you, hear me, I tell you again:

I love you! I adore you! And if you wish to die,

grief will already have killed me before you can do so.

No. 20a - Duet

IDAMANTE

If I do not die at these words

it is not true that love can kill

and that joy oppresses the heart.

ILIA

No more grief, no more lamenting!

I will be constant and true to you;

you are my only treasure!

IDAMANTE

You shall be ...

ILIA

As you desire me.

IDAMANTE

My bride ...

ILIA

Will you be my bridegroom?

IDAMANTE, ILIA

Let love speak!

Ah, our joy banishes

the cruel torments we have suffered;

our love is all‑conquering.

THIRD SCENE

Idomeneo, Elettra and the previous

Recitative

IDOMENEO

aside

Heavens! What do I see?

IDAMANTE

Then I must go! ... But whither? ...

O Ilia! ... O father!

ILIA

resolutely

I desire to follow you, beloved, or to die.

IDAMANTE

Oh remain here, my dearest, and live in peace.

Farewell!

No. 21 - Quartet

IDAMANTE

I will go on my wanderings alone,

seeking death elsewhere until I find it.

ILIA

You will have me as a companion in your grief

wherever you go, and where you die I too will die.

IDAMANTE

Ah, no!

IDOMENEO

Pitiless Neptune!

Who, in mercy, will take my life?

ELETTRA

aside

When shall I be avenged?

IDAMANTE, ILIA

to Idomeneo

Calm your angry brow!

IDOMENEO, IDAMANTE, ILIA

Ah, my heart is breaking.

ALL

To suffer more is impossible.

Such great grief

is worse than death.

No one ever suffered

a harsher fate

or greater punishment,

Idamante leaves in sorrow.

FOURTH SCENE

Arbace, Idomeneo, Ilia, Elettra

Recitative

ARBACE

Sire, at your palace a vast crowd is gathered, 

loudly clamouring for you to speak.

ILIA

aside

Prepare yourself, my heart, for some new distress.

IDOMENEO

aside

My son is lost!

ARBACE

The High Priest of Neptune is at their head.

IDOMENEO

aside

Alas, the situation is desperate!

to Arbace

I understand, Arbace,

ELETTRA

aside

What new disaster?

ILIA

aside

Are the people rebelling? ...

IDOMENEO

I go now to hear them.

He leaves, confused.

ELETTRA

I will follow you!

Exit

ILIA

I will go with you too.

Exit

(Moderation)

Recitative

IDOMENEO

My son! My dear son! ...

Forgive me: this dreadful task is not my choice, but ordained by fate ...

barbarous, inhuman fate! ... 

Ah no, I cannot raise the brutal axe against my innocent son;

strength fades from every fibre of my being,

and dark night clouds my eyes ... O my son! ...

IDAMANTE

wearily, then with resolution

O father! … Do not let useless pity stop you,

nor the vain fondness of love beguile you. 

Let the blow fall that will relieve both of us from our distress.

IDOMENEO

Ah, that nature opposes and repels me

IDAMANTE

Remember your duty. 

If one son you lose, a hundred Gods you will have as friends. 

Thy son, thy peoples are. 

But if in my stead you long for someone who will obey you, and love you, 

who will be near you, and bear the burden of your care, 

I commend to you Ilia; grant me a son, who in death begs, and counsels: 

if she is not my wife, let her be your daughter. 

But why delay further? I am ready; make the sacrifice, fulfil the vow.

Nr 27a Aria

No, I do not fear death, if for the fatherland, for the fruitful parent, O Gods! 

your love for and peace in the beautiful siren. 

Recitative

IDAMANTE

But what’s the delay?

Here I am, ready to make the sacrifice, the vow

IDOMENEO

Oh, how I feel unwonted strength in every vein ...

Now I am resolved ... receive my last embrace ... and die.

IDAMANTE

O Father!...

IDOMENEO

O son!...

IDAMANTE, IDOMENEO

O God!

IDAMANTE

aside

Alas, Ilia!

to Idomeneo

Live happily,

IDAMANTE, IDOMENEO

Farewell.

TENTH SCENE

Ilia in haste, Elettra and the previous

ILIA

running to restrain Idomeneo

Stop, sire! What are you doing?

IDOMENEO

I must sacrifice the victim I promised to Neptune.

IDAMANTE

Ilia, be calm ...

HIGH PRIEST

to Ilia

Do not disturb the sacrifice ...

ILIA

In vain that axe seeks to wound another's breast. 

Here is mine, sire; I am your victim.

ELETTRA

Aside

O what a contrast

ILIA

Idamante is innocent, he is your son, and is the kingdom’s hope, 

tyrants the gods are not, you are all false interpreters of the divine will. 

The sky wants to clear Greece of enemies, not of children. 

Although I too am innocent, although now a friend, I am the daughter of Priam, 

and Phrygia was born by nature an enemy to the Greek name. 

Now pass me off. 

IDAMANTE

Ah too much, Ilia, you are generous; 

a precious victim the parent did not promise to Neptune, fate chose me; 

Phrygia still lives in you: who knows to what end heaven keeps you alive, 

and Greece in your breast?

ILIA

In vain thou allure me. 

IDAMANTE

In vain do you presume to die. 

IDOMENEO

Ah, that I am out of my mind. Succour, O Gods!

ARBACE

Oh, heaven, what will it be? My heart is bursting…

ELETTRA

In my heart I feel such burning rage and fury!

ARBACE

Sire, are you resolved now?

IDOMENEO

But you are not the one…

ILIA

A willing victim is always more pleasing to the gods.

IDAMANTE

My beloved! Ah, give me a last pledge of your love.

ILIA

I offer my blood.

IDAMANTE

Ah no, leave me the glory of dying in peace for my country.

ILIA

I am the appointed one ...

IDAMANTE

O God! My duty calls!

ILIA

My gratitude is great, but my love reprieves you.

Neptune, here is my blood!

She runs to the altar and is about to kneel.

IDAMANTE

holding her back

Either live and go now, or we will die together.

ILIA

No, I wish to cross the threshold alone.

Now, holy priest …

She kneels before the High Priest.

A loud noise is heard underground,. Neptune's statue shakes; 

(Moderation)

No. 29 - Recitative

IDOMENEO

O merciful heaven! ...

IDAMANTE

Ilia ...

ILIA

Idamante, did you hear?

ARBACE

O joy! What love, ye gods!

ELETTRA

O madness! Ye furies ...

Despairing Elettra.

Must I see Idamante in my rival's arms?

Ah no, let me follow my brother Orestes into the hollow abyss.

Now you will have me for companion in Hades,

in eternal woe, in endless lamenting.

No. 29a - Aria

ELETTRA

Within my breast I feel the torments of Orestes and of Ajax;

Alecto's torch brings me death.

Tear out my heart, you horned serpents,

or a sword shall end my pain.

(Moderation)

FINAL SCENE

Idomeneo, Idamante, Ilia, Arbace, retinues of Idomeneo, Idamante and Ilia; populace

No. 30 - Recitative

IDOMENEO

My people! Idomeneo gives you his last command as king. I announce peace.

The sacrifice is completed, my vow redeemed.

Behold the royal bride! 

Behold in this handsome pair a gift bestowed on you by heaven. 

You have so much to hope for!

O fortunate Crete! What happiness for me!

There follows the coronation of Idamante and Ilia

No. 31 - Chorus

CHORUS

Descend, Love and Hymen,

descend, June, to the royal pair;

benign goddess, now instil

the peace of your spirit in their breasts.