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LAURA entra in ricca veste da ballo, con perle e gemme ad Alvise Qui chiamata m' avete? ALVISE con affettata cortesia Pur che vi piaccia ... LAURA Mio signor ... ALVISE Sedete! Siedono ai due lati di un ampio tavolo. Bella così, madonna, – io non v' ho mai veduta; Pur il sorriso è languido; – perchè ristarvi muta? Dite: un gentil mistero – v' è grave a me svelar, O un qualche velo nero – dovrò da me strappar? LAURA Dal vostro accento insolito – cruda ironia traspira, Il labro a grazia atteggiasi – e fuor ne scoppia l'ira ... Mio nobile consorte, – non vi comprendo ancora! ALVISE concitato Pur d' abbassar la maschera – madonna, è giunta l'ora. Alzandosi con violenza Giunta è l' ora! – ad altr' uomo rivolto, Donna impura, è il tuo primo sospir ... LAURA Ad altr' uomo? Che dite? Che ascolto! Fra sè (Cielo! orrendo m' imponi martir.) ALVISE Ieri quasi t' ho côlta in peccato, Pur potesti salvarti e fuggir ... Col mio guanto t' ho oggi afferrato, Più non fuggi, – ti è d' uopo morir! La atterra violentemente. Laura getta un grido. LAURA a' piedi di Alvise Morir! è troppo orribile! Aver davanti il ciel ... E scender nelle tenebre D'un desolato avel! Senti! di sangue tiepido In sen mi scorre un rivo ... Perchè, se piango e vivo, Dirmi: tu dêi morir? La morte è pena infame Anche a più gran fallir! ALVISE Invan tu piangi – invan tu speri, Dio non ti può esaudir! In lui raccogli – i tuoi pensieri; Preparati a morir! Un confessore ivi t'attende!
Notes (provided by Laura Prichard): "avel" is a shortened form of “avello” (tomb) ; and "sen" is a shortened form of “seno” (breast, heart, womb, bosom).
Text Authorship:
- by Arrigo Enrico Boito (1842 - 1918)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Amilcare Ponchielli (1834 - 1886), "Qui chiamata m' avete?", first performed 1876, from opera La Gioconda [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "You called me?", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2020-01-01
Line count: 53
Word count: 264
LAURA You called me? ALVISE If it pleases you... LAURA My lord… ALVISE Sit down! This beautiful, my lady, – I've never seen you. Although your smile is languid; – why so silent? Tell me: is it a lovely mystery – something earnest to reveal, Or a black mask – one I must tear away? LAURA From your uncharacteristic tone – blunt irony seeps out, Your lips affect grace – but from them bursts anger … My noble husband, I don't understand you! ALVISE Take off the mask, my lady – the time has come. The time has come! – To another man you have addressed, Impure woman, your first sigh... LAURA Another man? What are you saying? What am I hearing? (Ghastly heaven calls me to be a martyr.) ALVISE Yesterday I almost caught you sinning. But you saved yourself and fled… With my own glove, I caught you today, You can’t flee - you must die! LAURA To die! It's too horrible! To have Heaven before me… And to descend into the darkness Of a desolate tomb! Feel this! A stream of warm blood Flows through my breast … Why, if I were to weep and live, Tell me: would it kill you? Death is an infamous punishment Even for the greatest deceit! ALVISE In vain you cry – in vain you hope. God cannot answer you! For Him collect your thoughts; Prepare to die! A confessor awaits you there!
Translator's note: "O un qualche velo nero" - "velo" can refer to a mask that obscures the face or a long, heavy veil or caul, such as that worn by a nun.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2020 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Arrigo Enrico Boito (1842 - 1918)
This text was added to the website: 2020-01-01
Line count: 45
Word count: 241