Julius Caesar Handel opera aria “L’angue offeso mai riposa”
Listen to this recitative and aria from Handel’s opera Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar in Egypt).
Max Emanuel Cencic, countertenor
Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, conducted by Ottavio Dantone.
Salle Métropole, Lausanne, Switzerland, May 12, 2008.
Recitative: Figlio non è, chi vendicar non cura
Aria: L’angue offeso mai riposa
from Act II, Scene 6 of the Italian opera, Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt)
Libretto: by Nicola Francesco Haym, after Giacamo Francesco Bussani.
Original Text
Recitative:
Figlio non è, chi vendicar non cura
del genitor lo scempio.
Su dunque alla vendetta
ti prepara, alma forte,
e prima di morir altrui dà la morte!
Aria:
L’angue offeso mai riposa,
se il veleno pria non spande
dentro il sangue all’offensor.
Così l’alma mia non osa
di mostrarsi altera e grande,
se non svelle l’empio cor.
Translation
Recitative;
There is not a son who is not concerned
With avenging his father’s murder.
Up then, prepare yourself for revenge,
Brave soul, and, before dying,
Cause another’s death!
Aria:
The offended serpent will not rest
Until it has spent its venom
In the blood of its offender.
Thus my soul does not dare
To lay claim to greatness and pride
Until the villain’s heart has been torn from his breast.
