Alcione Acte II Scène 2: Prélude lentement
Cyril Auvity Lyrics
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(Sans apercevoir Phorbas et Ismène)
Dieux cruels, punissez ma rage et mes murmures.
Frappez, Dieux inhumains, comblez votre rigueur.
Vous plaisez-vous à voir dans mes injures
L’excès du désespoir où vous livrez mon cœur ?
Je touchais au moment où la beauté que j’aime
M’eût rendu plus heureux que vous.
Et vous vous en vengez par un supplice extrême.
Mes maux sont aussi grands que mon espoir fut doux.
(Il aperçoit Phorbas et Ismène qui s’approchent)
In this poignant excerpt from Cyril Auvity's "Alcione," the character Ceix presents a vivid expression of existential despair and frustration while addressing the deities that govern his fate. His opening lines, "Dieux cruels, punissez ma rage et mes murmures," demonstrate a direct confrontation with divine forces, suggesting a belief that these gods not only have the power to inflict suffering but also are indifferent to the earnest human experiences of pain and emotion. Ceix's invocation feels almost like a desperate plea for acknowledgment as he grapples with feelings of betrayal and abandonment. His tone is accusatory, questioning the motivations of the gods as he interprets their actions as cruel and unjust, suggesting that they derive pleasure from his torment.
As Ceix delves deeper into his emotional turmoil, he articulates the clash between his profound longing for love and the relentless suffering that has befallen him. The line, "Je touchais au moment où la beauté que j'aime, M’eût rendu plus heureux que vous," reveals his anticipation of happiness—an imminent connection with the beloved that was cruelly thwarted. This moment of longing reflects a universal human condition where love and desire stand at the precipice of realization yet remain just out of reach. The gods’ jealousy, he claims, is the driving force behind his misery, portraying them as entities that revel in the thwarting of human joy, highlighting a theme of cosmic injustice that resonates throughout much of literature and opera.
Ceix's lament embodies a deeper philosophical exploration of fate versus free will. He recognizes the ephemeral nature of happiness, stating that "Mes maux sont aussi grands que mon espoir fut doux." This profound observation reveals the twin edges of hope and despair—how the sweetness of longing can intensify the bitterness of loss. It underscores the tragic irony that often accompanies human pursuits of love, where the greater the hope, the more profound the potential for anguish when desires are unfulfilled. This interplay of emotions reveals the precarious balance of human experience, where elation and despair are often inextricably linked.
As Ceix shifts focus to the entrance of Phorbas and Ismène, there is a transition from his introspective soliloquy to the impending interaction with other characters. This transition compounds the emotional weight of his monologue; while he is caught within the throes of his inner turmoil, external forces in the form of these characters are approaching. It serves as a reminder that while one’s internal struggles can feel overwhelmingly isolating, the world continues to move forward, filled with its own complexities and interactions. The presence of Phorbas and Ismène may bring new elements to Ceix’s tale, potentially influencing his fate and emotional landscape, yet the lyrics strongly encapsulate a moment frozen in despair, where he confronts not only the gods but also his own heartache in the face of life's uncertainties.
Line by Line Meaning
Dieux cruels, punissez ma rage et mes murmures.
O merciless deities, manifest your wrath upon my anguish and whispered complaints.
Frappez, Dieux inhumains, comblez votre rigueur.
Strike me down, inhumane gods, fulfill your relentless severity upon my soul.
Vous plaisez-vous à voir dans mes injures
Are you entertained by witnessing the venom of my curses and resentments?
L’excès du désespoir où vous livrez mon cœur ?
Do you take pleasure in the depths of despair to which you have condemned my heart?
Je touchais au moment où la beauté que j’aime
I was on the verge of achieving that moment when the beauty I adore would be within my grasp.
M’eût rendu plus heureux que vous.
It would have granted me a happiness greater than what you, the gods, can offer.
D’un extrême bonheur, Dieux ! Vous étiez jaloux.
Of an unparalleled joy, gods! You were envious of what I could attain.
Et vous vous en vengez par un supplice extrême.
And you exact your revenge through a punishment that is profoundly agonizing.
Mes maux sont aussi grands que mon espoir fut doux.
My suffering is as immense as the sweetness of the hope I once held dear.
(Il aperçoit Phorbas et Ismène qui s’approchent)
(He sees Phorbas and Ismène approaching, indicating a shift in focus from his anguish to others.)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Marin Marais
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind