Handel Translators: Humphreys, Oldmixon and Anonymous

The librettos of Handel’s London operas were published in wordbooks with Italian text and English translation on facing pages.1 The translator is identified in only eight of these wordbooks – Rinaldo (1711), Venceslao, Poro, Rinaldo (1731), Ezio, Sosarme, Catone and Orlando. The first Rinaldo was translated by Aaron Hill, as his preface explains, but the other seven operas, which were first performed between January 1731 and January 1733, were ‘done into English by Mr. Humphreys’. Samuel Humphreys was also credited by Bernd Baselt with the anonymous translation of Arianna in Creta (January 1734).2