All translations (and errors) are my own. See separate postings for other tracks.
Translation is not always literal -user 'Snezhika' noted the changes/errors so with their agreement, I've added their translations after mine /.... and in italics throughout. Sometimes words in parenthesis indicate a deeper inference that is not always easy to translate. On occasion I've chosen to use older ways of speech for Dracula, I did so to indicate that he'd been around for centuries; sorry if it causes a bit of confusion for some unfamiliar with it. French original, then follows my English version:
After the introduction by the Narrator, explaining the cruelty of the warrior Prince of Wallachia, and how the King of Hungary gave his daughter to the Prince in marriage - how Dracula's heart was entirely bewitched by her mysterious beauty, Elhemina sings a snatch of a traditional wedding song: 'The Brier Bush' I believe -
The words are Ukrainian I think - [thanks to user 'Sesin' for translating it for me]
Цвіте терен, цвіте терен, а цвіт опадає
Хто з любовю не знається, той горя не знає
Цвіте терен, цвіте терен, а цвіт опадає
Цвіте терен, цвіте терен, а цвіт опадає
Blackthorn is blooming, blackthorn is blooming, and flowers are withering
The one who doesn't know love doesn't know grief
Blackthorn is blooming, blackthorn is blooming, and flowers are withering
Blackthorn is blooming, blackthorn is blooming, and flowers are withering.......
Then begins -
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1:5: Cruelle Et Tendre Mina
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Dracula:
Que le ciel s'ouvre et qu'il me donne
Ma raison d'etre sur la Terre
Qu'il me donne et qu'il pardonne
Au guerrier d'avoir fait la guerre
Que le ciel s'ouvre et qu'il m'envoie
Celle a que j'ai dédié ma vie
Pour qu'elle aime enfin Dracula
Et qu'elle se couche dans mon lit
Elhemina:
Prince ne parle pas au ciel
Ce n'est pas ta voix qu'il entend
Lui qui sur ma bouche de miel
A déposé le gout du sang
Duo :
Amour de ma vie je m'abandonne
Entierement a nos prières
Que le ciel s'ouvre et nous pardonne
D'avoir jeté l'amour aux fers
Dracula :
Elhemina que le silence
Recouvre tes paroles
Que notre règne commence
Ailleurs qu'au pays du sheol
Aussi puissant que tous les dieux
Je sais ce que je dois savoir
Et je sais tout ce que je veux
Je suis le prince aux mille pouvoirs
Elhemina :
Femme promise a votre puissance
Mon prince je vous aime déjà -
Depuis le jour de ma naissance
J'étais destinée a vos bras
Dracula :
Alors que brillent les étoiles
Et dis-moi que nous serons heureux
Elhemina :
Je te le jure, mais le mal
Deja s'élève entre nous deux
Dracula :
Que dis-tu la Elhemina
On croirait entendre une folle
Aucun mur ne séparera
La poésie de la parole
Elhemina :
Je porte en moi un lourd secret
Je suis la reine d'un empire
Qui ne vivra jamais en paix
Et qui vous mènera au pire
Duo :
Amour de ma vie je m'abandonne
Entierement a nos prieres
Que le ciel s'ouvre et nous pardonne
Elhemina :
Deja je vois l'éternité
Où vous entrez dans la légende
Seigneur mon maitre bien aime
Deja je suis cruelle et tendre
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1: 5. Cruel and Tender Mina
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Note: I have changed this in places, hopefully keeping the meaning intact. The phrase 'reason d'etre' has been adopted in English. The phrase le 'que ciel s'ouvre' - Let heaven open - is a poetic appeal to receive the forgiveness and grace from God.
** can be rendered more colloquially - 'That's crazy talk'.
It is clear that Dracula and Elhemina are not always referring to the same thing, while Dracula speaks of heaven and sanction he believes it has given him as a warrior Prince, Elhemina refers to darker things......Elhemina is a vampire, and once her song is over, she bites Dracula and infects him and the Nation of Wallachia with her dread disease.....
Dracula:
Heaven has opened and given me /Let heaven open and give me
My reason d'etre on earth
It gives, and it forgives /Let it give, and let it forgive
this warrior for having made the war
For heaven has opened and sent me /Let heaven open and send me
A cause to which I can dedicate my life /That [woman] to whom I dedicated my life
For she loves Dracula at last, /Let her love Dracula at last,
And lays down upon my bed. /And let her lay down upon my bed
Elhemina:
Prince, do not speak to Heaven
That is not the secret voice you hear /It is not your voice he hears
But he who has left upon my honey lips
The taste of blood.
Duet:
Love of my life, I abandon myself
Entirely to our prayers;
Let heaven open and forgive us
For casting our love into hell [hellfire]
Dracula:
Elhemina may the silence
Conceal your words,
Let our reign begin
Beyond the land of the dead.
As powerful as all the gods /[Aussi : likewise, also i.e: 'Also as']
At last I know what I must know / I know all that I should to know
And I know what it is I desire, / I know all that I want to know
I am the Prince with a thousand powers
Elhemina:
Betrothed to you, my powerful Prince
I already love you -
Since the day of my birth,
I was destined for your arms.
Dracula:
Then let the stars shine
To tell me we will be happy / Tell me we will be happy
Ehemina:
I swear to you we will be,
but already an evil rises between us.
Dracula:
What are you saying Elhemina,
You speak as one gone mad,
Not even walls can separate us,
From the poetry of our oath
Elhemina:
I carry within me a heavy secret
I am the Queen of an empire
Which will never live in peace,
And will lead to your destruction
Duet:
Love of my life, I abandon myself
Entirely to our prayers
Let heaven open and forgive us.
Elhemina:
Already I see eternity
Where you enter into legend,
Sire, Master, my only love
Already I am cruel and tender