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Pâle et blonde - part of No. 18, Ballade
from Act IV of the French opera Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas
Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Ophélie, daughter of Polonius
Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura
Setting: A country site near a lake, Denmark, 16th century
Synopsis: Ophélie has gone mad and believes that she is married to Hamlet. She sings a folk song about a siren that lured men into her grasp and wishes that she were her.
Range: Tessitura:
E4 - E6G4 - B5
Translations/Aria Texts:
Translation into English by Ilya Speranza (added 1999-01-18)
Pale et blonde, Ophelie's aria from Hamlet

Et maintenant ecoutez ma chanson!	And now, listen to my song!

Pale et blonde dors sous l'eau profonde Pale and fair, sleeping under the water, 
La Willis au regard de feu!		La Willis, with the firey gaze!
Que Dieu garde celui 			May God protect anyone 
qui s'attarde dans la nuit, 		who loiters at night
au bord du Lac bleu!			by the shores of the blue lake!
Heureuse l'epouse aux bras de l'epoux!	Happy wife in the arms of her groom!
Mon ame et jalouse d'un bonheur si doux! My soul is jealous of such a sweet happiness!
Nymphe au regard de feu, helas! 	Nymph with the firey gaze, alas! 
tu dors sous les eaux du Lac bleu!	you sleep under the waters of the blue lake!
La sirene passe et vous entraine 	The Siren passes and drags you 
sous l'azur du Lac endormi.		under the blue of the sleepy lake.
L'air se voile, adieu! blanche etoile! 	The air is veiled, goodbye, white stars, 
adieu ciel, adieu doux ami!		goodbye sky, goodbye sweet friend!

Heureuse l'epouse aux bras de l'epoux!	Happy wife in the arms of her groom!
Mon ame et jalouse d'un bonheur si doux! My soul is jealous of such a sweet happiness!

Sous les flots endormi, 		Under the sleepy tide, 
ah, pour toujours, adieu, mon doux ami!	ah, forever, goodbye my sweet friend!
Ah, cher epoux, ah, cher amant!		Ah, dearest groom, dearest love!
Ah, doux aveu!, ah, tendre serment!	Ah, sweet vow, tender oath!
Bonheur supreme!			Happiness supreme!
Ah, cruel, je t'aime!			Ah, cruel one, I love you!
Ah, cruel, tu voix mes pleurs!		Ah, cruel one, you see my tears!
Pour toi je meurs!			For you I die!

Translation by Ilya Speranza (ISperanza@aol.com)
Sounds:
none
Sheet Music/Scores:
none
Recordings:
none
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