Quando avran fine omai

English Libretto or Translation:

Recitative

ILIA
When will my bitter misfortunes
be ended? Unhappy Ilia,
wretched survivor of a dreadful tempest,
bereft of father and brothers,
the victims' blood
spilt and mingled
with the blood of their savage foes,
for what harsher fate
have the gods preserved you? ...
Are the loss and shame
of Priam and Troy avenged?
The Greek fleet is destroyed, and Idomeneo
perhaps will be a meal for hungry fish ...
But what comfort is that to me, ye heavens,
if at the first sight of that valiant Idamante
who snatched me from the waves I forgot my hatred,
and my heart was enslaved before I realised
I was a prisoner.
O God, what a conflict of warring emotions
you rouse in my breast, hate and love!
I owe vengeance to him who gave me life,
gratitude to him who restored it …
O Ilia! o father, o prince, o destiny!
Ill‑fated life, o sweet death!
But yet does Idamante love me? …
Ah no; ungratefully
he sighs for Electra; and that Electra,
unhappy princess, an exile from Argos
and the torments of Orestes,
who fled, a wanderer, to these shores, is my rival.
Ruthless butchers,
how many of you surround me?… Then up and
shatter vengeance, jealousy, hate and love;
yes, shatter my unhappy heart!