Albee, Edward: 1928 - 2016

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1962 - Latin Quotes

  • As Martha talks about their son, George recites a traditional Christian prayer for the dead. He makes a religious hand sign as he says, "Kyrie eleison, Christe, eleison," which means "Lord have mercy." This is the exorcism, as George tries to rid their marriage of its demons—its illusions.
    from Course Hero
  • All the Latin quotes are spoken by George in act 3.
            
    Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omni vinculo delictorum.    Absolve, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of transgression.
            
    Et gratia illis succurrente, mereantur evadere judicum ultionis.    And by grace helping them, they deserve to escape the judgment of vengeance.
            
    In memoria aeterna erit justus: ab auditone mala non timebit.    He will be righteous in eternal memory: he will not be afraid of hearing evil.
            
    Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in die illa tremenda: Quando caeli movendi sunt et terra: Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem. Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo, dum dicussio venerit, atque ventura ira. Quando caeli movendi sunt et terra. Dies illa, died irae, calamitatis et miseriae; dies magna et amara valde. Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Libera me Domine de morte aeterna in die illa tremenda: quando caeli movendi sunt et terra; Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.    Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death, in that terrible day: When the heavens and the earth are to be moved: While you come to judge the world by fire. I have become trembling, and I am afraid, until the argument comes, and the wrath to come. When the heavens and the earth are moved. Those days, the day of anger, calamity and misery; a great and very bitter day. Until you come to judge the world by fire. Give them eternal rest, O Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon them. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death on that terrible day: when the heavens and the earth are to be moved; Until you come to judge the world by fire.
            
    Kyrie, eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.    Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.