Translation of the printed Libretto The Change of Fortune gained with a Crown, or: ALMIRA, Queen of Castile, Presented as an Opera at the Grand Theatre in Hamburg in the year 1704. Persons in the Play: Almira, Queen of Castile, secretly in love with Fernando. Edilia, a princess of royal blood. Consalvo, Prince of Segovia, Almira’s guardian. Osman, his son. Fernando, Secretary to the Queen, a foundling subsequently recognized to be Consalvo’s youngest son. Raymondo, a king from Mauritania. Bellante, Princess of Aranda. Tabarco, Fernando’s servant. Grandees of Castile. The Queen’s bodyguard and her court. Europe, Asia, Africa ‐ with their retinues in a pageant. Dances. Of Spanish Knights and Ladies. The Ball after the Assembly. Of Europeans. Asians. Africans. Of Charlatans and Harlequins. Changes of Scene. In the First Act. I. A splendid amphitheater; nearBy a platform on which the Queen is to be crowned in the presence of the people. There are balconies on either side of the theater. II. A royal garden with statues and trees dispersed around, and a fountain. III. A ine brightly‐lit hall in the Queen’s palace, with staircases and galleries, where a Ball and an Assembly are held. In the Second Act. IV. A magniicent audience chamber with a throne. V. Fernando’s room, with tapestries. VI. A courtyard with buildings of various kinds, and doors in the walls which lead from the Queen’s apartments to others. VII. The Queen’s antechamber. In the Third Act. VIII. A colonnade with various galleries. IX. Part of the Queen’s gardens with various bowers; in the distance Almira’s summer‐house. X. An underground prison. XI. A great hall with a throne. Argument. Alfonso, King of Castile, sent Consalvo to Sicily as his ambassador. He travelled there in the company of his wife, whose name was Almira, and it was there he produced by her a son named Floraldo. On his journey back to Castile his ship was wrecked; Consalvo himself reached land, though not without great danger to his life; but Almira perished, and Floraldo was also thought to be lost as there was no sign of him; he was however caught in his cradle by a isherman and brought up under the name of Fernando. When this boy had grown up, he came to Castile, ignorant of his lineage or rank, and Consalvo, who likewise made no enquiries about his origins, took him into his household out of natural affection, and ensured that nothing was lacking to make him happy; Consalvo eventually brought him with the sons of his irst marriage to court, where he earned the respect of the Crown Princess Almira. In the meantime King Alfonso died, entrusting the administration of the kingdom and the guardianship of his daughter to Consalvo with the proviso that when she should reach her twentieth year he should hand over the government to her, and she on her part should marry one of Consalvo’s sons who were of royal descent, and so forth. ALMIRA SCENE II The same persons. Act I Recitativo (Almira) Posterity will engrave in adamant that your loyalty, SCENE I Consalvo, is worthy of the crown, therefore we are The stage represents a splendid amphitheater in the capital city graciously devoted to you, and take your brave son of Valladolid; nearby a magniicent platform on which the Osman as commander‐in‐chief of the army: you yourself Queen is to be crowned by Consalvo in the presence of the shall be next in rank to us, who, like a Nestor, will people. On either side of the stage are balconies on which faithfully administer my country, and who with wise trumpeters and military drummers are ranked. counsel must lighten the burden of ofice: but Fernando Almira, led by Consalvo, Osman and Fernando, who carry the (who has already fathomed the secret depths of my state regalia; the entire household, bodyguard, soldiers and the heart) shall be my Secretary. people. Consalvo: On my knees I acknowledge your favor. Recitativo (Consalvo) Osman: Most serene highness, the sun’s radiant light must make And I prostrate myself at your feet. this unique day worthy of admiration, this day on which Fernando: the years that have smiled upon your head now number Yes, I have long been your diligent slave, take pity on my twenty; and so I will end the guardianship your father feeble powers. entrusted to me; accept the power of the realm, built Almira: upon humility, from my frail hands. I crown you, and Arise, you are fully worthy of favor: your virtue is throw myself as a vassal at your feet, to salute you as rewarded and honored. queen. Aria (Osman) Ah, if you would bind hearts together forever, do not let Aria (Consalvo) the candles of the eyes be ignited: for to feel lames and Almira shall reign, and bear the scepter with joy and the not to cool them is hellish pain. crown with magnanimity. She shall adorn her father (He leaves.) Alfonso’s glorious throne; as all shall be aware. Recitativo (Fernando) Recitativo (Consalvo) Great queen, you raise me to a position of high esteem, I, Now then! ignite the lash of the thundering guns: let who am a foreigner and a foundling, of parentage and drums and trumpets sound and a cheerful ‘Vivat’ echo race wholly unknown to you; what can your deeply‐ all around. indebted servant offer you? Almira: At this a fanfare of trumpets and drums rings out, and amidst (Your virtue and a charming pair of eyes make your the roar of the guns Almira is crowned by Consalvo with all the noble rank suficiently clear to me.) customary ceremony while the people join in with: Chorus Aria (Fernando) Long live Almira! Long may she live! I know full well that the world does not possess a ruler more worthy than you. My heart shall always be bound After this chorus the Spanish ladies and knights dance. By your great favor. (He leaves.) SCENE III Osman: Almira, Consalvo. (Surely she raves: I must dissemble.) Recitativo (Consalvo) Aria (Osman) Most serene highness, to fulill properly your father’s You are mistaken, my light, that is not what I mean: I last wishes, I hand over to you this sealed paper, in will love you and my heart remains devoted to you which your eyes can see whom he has chosen as a forever; Forgive the jest. worthy husband for you. Almira: Recitativo (Edilia) I respectfully accept it. I am placated; only give me your right hand as a pledge, (Almira reads.) as a sign that your promise is founded on constancy and sincerity, and your heart is bound to my soul. Aria (Consalvo) Osman: Read with diligence, you sparkling eyes, read that with Yes, but in due time. gracious glances you shall bring joy to one of my kin, (He draws back.) read what my delight already knows. Edilia: (He leaves.) Traitor, may storms, tempest and lightning crash down upon your head, and may Zeus with his thunderbolt Recitativo (Almira) rouse your peridious heart! Ah, what anguish! How should I marry into the house of Consalvo? Bewildered heart, has your hope vanished, Aria (Edilia) where will you ind peace? You already love Fernando, You will learn with what fearful arrows the wrath of a but his lineage is no match for yours, and yet he seems betrayed woman is armed. Nobility seen to be scorned sent to you by heaven in addition to scepter, crown and knows how to take swift revenge. throne. Faithful senses, tell me: what shall I now do? (She leaves.) Aria (Almira) Recitativo (Osman) I want to clasp tight to my breast the one who pleases Go on venting your venom and your spite; if all your me most. I feel such ire that my heart is always thinking shameless eye can see is Osman striving solely for the of its radiant beloved. crown, then, impetuous woman, may your pride tumble. SCENE IV Aria (Osman) The scene is the royal garden with statues and trees dispersed Be angry then, may your wounded spirit spit only ire: around, and a magniicent fountain. raging fury will not stop me from obtaining satisfaction. Edilia and afterwards Osman. (He leaves.) Aria (Edilia) SCENE V Loveliest roses and narcissi, in your wondrous Fernando alone. magniicence let me kiss the image of Osman which has made me fall in love: tall lime trees, coming into leaf, Aria (Fernando) and casting gentle shade, trouble yourselves to show me Beloved woods, shady ields, cool my heart’s in your branches whether the noble lower of hope will unspeakable torment: near‐divine rays of golden ever sweeten my suffering? crowns will lash around me; can I protect myself beneath the innumerable trees? Recitativo (Osman) Is that Edilia? Recitativo (Fernando) Edilia: The queen is the target of my love; oh vain enterprise! Yes, yes! Audacious heart, it is too much, you torture yourself Osman: with fear and futile longing. Yet just as I was plucked I will go away. from the wild seas as an infant, not knowing from whom Edilia: I am descended or whence I came: so it is certain that I (Oh what torment!) My Osman, what has happened to live in the hope that heaven has singled me out to you? Must this place, because of me, be unpleasant to administer the kingdom and the government. If the you? queen were now pleased to guide her lovely foot Osman: through these broad lime trees, their wounded barks (Ah what agony she awakes in me.) should declare my love to her, yet keep concealed the Edilia: object of it; Thus then I carve: I LOVE EVEN HER I DARE What tempestuous waves, what monstrous tides lood NOT NAME.