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from Act II of the French opera Faust by Charles-François Gounod
Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Mèphistophélès, the Devil
Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass
Setting: A celebration in a public square in a German city, 16th century
Synopsis: Appearing in the midst of a celebration by Valentin, Wagner, and their student friends, Mèphistophélès sings a song about greed and men's susceptibility to it. He finishes by singing that Satan is behind it all.
Range: Tessitura:
C3 - D#/Eb4G3 - D#/Eb4
Translations/Aria Texts:
Translation into English by Lea Frey (added 1997-04-17)
Le veau d’or, Mephistopheles's aria by Faust

Le veau d’or est toujours debout!	The calf of gold is still standing!
On encense sa puissance,		One adulates his power,
On encense sa puissance,		One adulates his power,
D’un bout du monde à l’autre bout!	From one end of the world to the other end!
Pour fêter l’infàme idole,		To celebrate the infamous idol,
Rois et peuples confondu,		Kings and the people mixed together,
Au bruit sombre des écus,		To the somber sound of golden coins,
Danse une ronde folle			They dance a wild round
Autour de son piédestale,		Around his pedestal
Autour de son piédestale,		Around his pedestal
Et Satan conduit le bal, etc, etc. 	And Satan leads the dance, etc, etc.

Le veau d’or est vainqueur des dieux!	The calf of gold is the victor over the gods!
Dans sa gloire dérisoire,		In its derisory (absurd) glory,	
Dans sa gloire dérisoire,		In its derisory (absurd) glory,	
Le monstre abject insulte aux cieux!	The abject monster insults heaven!
Il contemple, ô rage étrange!		It contemplates, oh weird frenzy!
A ses pieds le genre humain,		At his feet the human race,
Se ruant, le fer en main,		Hurling itself about, iron in hand,
Dans le sang et dans la fange		In blood and in the mire,
Où brille l’ardent métal,		Where gleams the burning metal,
Où brille l’ardent métal,		Where gleams the burning metal,
Et Satan conduit le bal,etc.		And Satan leads the dance,etc.	

Word-by-word translation by Lea Frey,  blfrey@earthlink.net
Sheet Music/Scores:
none
Recordings:
none
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