“Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two

ACT ONE

Scene One

A café
(Don Alfonso, Ferrando and Guglielmo)

No. 1. Trio

FERRANDO
My Dorabella couldn’t;
heaven made her faithful as she is beautiful.

GUGLIELMO
My Fiordiligi is unable to betray me;
I believe that her constancy and beauty are equal.

DON ALFONSO
I have grey hair already; I speak ex cathedra;
but let such arguments end here.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
No, you’ve said to us that they can be untrue;
you must prove it to us, if you’re honest.

DON ALFONSO
Let us forget such proof...
(Ferrando and Guglielmo grip their swords.)

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
No, no, we want it, or else
draw your sword and we’ll break off our friendship.

DON ALFONSO (aside)
O mad wish, to attempt to discover the evil
which makes us wretched, when found.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
A man who utters a word that wrongs them
touches me on the raw.

Recitative

GUGLIELMO
Draw your sword: choose whichever of us youprefer.

DON ALFONSO
I am a man of peace and I fight no duels,
except at table.

FERRANDO
Fight, or else say at once why you suspect our
mistresses capable of infidelity.

DON ALFONSO
Beloved simplicity! How I like you!

FERRANDO
Stop joking, or I swear by heaven...

DON ALFONSO
And I swear by the earth, I’m not joking, my
friends. Only I would like to know what species of
animal these beauties of yours are, if – like all of
us – they have flesh, bones, skin, if they eat like
us, if they wear skirts, in short, if they are
goddesses or women...

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
They’re women, but such women...

DON ALFONSO
And you insist on finding faithfulness in women?
Ah, how I like you, simplicity!

No. 2. Trio

DON ALFONSO
Women’s faithfulness
is like the Arabian phoenix.
Everyone says it exists,
where it is no one knows.

FERRANDO
Dorabella is the phoenix.

GUGLIELMO
Fiordiligi is the phoenix.

DON ALFONSO
Neither this one nor that one is;
it never existed and never will.
Women’s faithfulness, etc.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
The phoenix, etc.

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
Poets’ nonsense!

GUGLIELMO
Old men’s foolishness.

DON ALFONSO
Very well, listen...but without flying into a
rage...what proof do you have that your mistresses
are always constant? Who guaranteed you that
their hearts are not fickle?

FERRANDO
Long acquaintance...

GUGLIELMO
Their noble background...

FERRANDO
Their elevated mentality...

GUGLIELMO
Compatibility of temperament...

FERRANDO
Selflessness...

DON ALFONSO
Tears, sighs, caresses, fainting-fits.
Allow me to laugh a little...

FERRANDO
God! Stop mocking us!

DON ALFONSO
Just a moment. What if I give you tangible proof
today that they are like other women?

GUGLIELMO
That cannot be.

FERRANDO
That isn’t so.

DON ALFONSO
Let us wager.

FERRANDO
Let us wager.

DON ALFONSO
A hundred gold pieces.

GUGLIELMO
A thousand, if you like.

DON ALFONSO
Your word?

FERRANDO
Our word.

GUGLIELMO (to Ferrando)
And what shall we do with the hundred gold pieces?

No. 3. Trio

FERRANDO
A lovely serenade I want
to arrange for my goddess.

GUGLIELMO
In honour of Venus
I want to give a banquet.

DON ALFONSO
Will I be among the guests?

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
You shall be, yes, sir.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
And how many repeated toasts
we want to propose to the god of love!
(They go out.)

Scene Two

Garden near the sea
(Fiordiligi and Dorabella are gazing at the portraits
of their lovers in the lockets they wear.)

No. 4. Duet

FIORDILIGI
Ah, look, sister!
Can a handsomer mouth,
a more noble appearance
be found?

DORABELLA
Observe for a moment,
observe what fire in his glance:
doesn’t it seem to shoot
flames, or arrows?

FIORDILIGI
One sees a countenance
of a warrior and a lover.

DORABELLA
One sees a face
that delights and threatens.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
I am happy!
If this heart of mine ever changes its desire,
may Love make me suffer while I live.

Recitative

FIORDILIGI
I feel this morning I’d gladly play the madcap. I feel
a certain fire, a certain ticklishness in my veins...
(Don Alfonso comes in.)

FIORDILIGI
There they are.

DORABELLA
It’s not they; it’s Don Alfonso, their friend.

FIORDILIGI
Welcome, Signor Don Alfonso.

DON ALFONSO
My respects.

DORABELLA
What is it? Why are you here alone? You weep?
Speak, for pity’s sake! What has happened? My beloved...

FIORDILIGI
My idol...

DON ALFONSO
Barbarous fate!

No. 5. Aria

DON ALFONSO
I’d like to speak, but I haven’t the heart:
my lip stammers.
My voice cannot emerge,
but remains in my throat.
What will you do? What shall I do?
Oh what a great catastrophe!
There can be nothing worse.
I feel pity for you and for them.

Recitative

FIORDILIGI
Heavens! For mercy’s sake, Signor Alfonso, don’t
make us suffer.

DON ALFONSO
My children, you must arm yourselves with
constancy. A royal command summons them to the
field of battle.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Alas, what do I hear? And are they leaving?

DON ALFONSO
The unhappy men haven’t the courage to see you;
but if you wish it, they are ready...

DORABELLA
Where are they?

DON ALFONSO
Come in, friends.
(Ferrando and Guglielmo come in, in travelling clothes.)

No. 6. Quintet

GUGLIELMO
Oh God, I feel that this foot of mine
is reluctant to come before her.

FERRANDO
My trembling lip
can utter no word.

DON ALFONSO
The hero displays his manliness
in the most terrible moments.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Now that we have heard the news,
you have left the lesser duty:
take heart, and plunge your swords
into both our hearts.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
My idol, blame fate
that I must abandon you.

DORABELLA
Ah no, you shall not leave...

FIORDILIGI
No, cruel one, you shall not go...

DORABELLA
First I want to tear out my heart.

FIORDILIGI
First I want to die at your feet.

FERRANDO (softly to Don Alfonso)
What do you say to that?

GUGLIELMO (softly to Don Alfonso)
You realise?

DON ALFONSO (softly)
Steady, friend, finem lauda.

ALL
Thus destiny defrauds
the hopes of mortals.
Ah, among so many misfortunes,
who can ever love life?

DORABELLA
Ah no, no, you shall not leave...

FIORDILIGI
No, cruel one, you shall not go...

DORABELLA
First I want to tear out my heart.

FIORDILIGI
First I want to die at your feet.

FERRANDO (softly to Don Alfonso)
What do you say to that?

GUGLIELMO (softly to Don Alfonso)
You realise?

DON ALFONSO (aside)
Steady, friend, finem lauda.

ALL
Destiny, etc.

Recitative

GUGLIELMO
Don’t cry, my beloved!

FERRANDO
Don’t despair, my darling wife!

DON ALFONSO
Allow them that comfort. They have only too much
reason to weep.

FIORDILIGI
Who knows whether I shall see you again.

DORABELLA
Who knows whether you will come back.
(They embrace tenderly.)

FIORDILIGI
Leave me this sword: may it give me death, if a
cruel fate should, in this dear bosom...

DORABELLA
My grief would kill me...
I should not need a sword.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Do not utter, my dearest, such unhappy forebodings;
he gods will preserve your peace of mind
as long as I live.

No. 7. Duet

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
These lovely eyes
command to fate:
love protects them,
and the cruel stars
dare not disturb
their repose.
Turn towards me, my love,
a peaceful brow.
I hope to return,
happy, to your side.

Recitative

DON ALFONSO (aside)
The play is charming, and both men act their parts
well.
(A drum-roll is heard off-stage.)

FERRANDO
0 Heaven! This is the fatal drum that comes to
separate me from my beloved.

DON ALFONSO
Friends, here is the boat.

FIORDILIGI
1 faint.

DORABELLA
I die.

(A military march is heard from a distance; a boat
arrives at the shore.)

No. 8. Chorus

CHORUS
Beautiful military life!
You change place every day,
much today, tomorrow little,
now on land and now on sea.
The din of trumpets and fifes,
the firing of muskets and bombs
increases the strengths of the arm and the spirit,
which dreams only of winning.
Beautiful military life!

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
There is no more time, friends; you have to go
where destiny, or rather, fate summons you.

FIORDILIGI
My heart...

DORABELLA
My idol...

FERRANDO
My love...

GUGLIELMO
My life...

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Embrace me, my idol!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
I die of grief!

No. 8a. Quintet

FIORDILIGI
Write to me every day...
Swear, my life...

DORABELLA
And you...write to me...twice
...if you can...

GUGLIELMO
Don’t doubt...my love...

FERRANDO
Be sure...o beloved...

DON ALFONSO (aside)
If I don’t laugh, I’ll split.

FIORDILIGI
Be true to me alone.

DORABELLA
Keep faithful.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Farewell, farewell!
My heart is breaking,
my lovely idol!
Farewell, farewell!

DON ALFONSO (aside)
If I don’t laugh, I’ll split.

No. 9. Chorus

CHORUS
Beautiful military life, etc.
(As the chorus is repeated, Ferrando and Guglielmo
get into the boat, which then moves off. The soldiers
leave, followed by the men and women.)

Recitative

DORABELLA
(as if waking from a daze)
Where are they?

DON ALFONSO
They have gone.

FIORDILIGI
Oh most cruel, bitter departure!

DON ALFONSO
Take heart, my dearest children. Look...from the
distance your beloved husbands are waving to you.

FIORDILIGI
Good journey, my life!

DORABELLA
Good journey!

FIORDILIGI
Ye Gods! How swiftly that boat goes away! It’s
disappearing already! Already it can be seen no
longer! Ah, may Heaven grant it a fortunate voyage.

DORABELLA
May it reach the battlefield with good luck.

DON ALFONSO
And may it save your lovers, and my friends.

No. 10. Trio

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DON ALFONSO
May the wind be gentle,
may the wave be calm,
and may every element
respond benignly
to our wishes.
(Fiordiligi and Dorabella leave.)

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
I’m not a bad actor, all right; the two champions of
Venus and Mars will be awaiting me at the place
we agreed upon. Now it’s best to join them without
delay...All those grimaces!...all those clowning
tricks! So much the better for me: they will fall
more easily. This kind of person is the quickest to
change mood. Oh, poor men, to gamble a hundred
gold pieces for a woman?
“The man who bases his hopes
on a woman’s heart
is ploughing the sea
and sowing in the sand,
and hoping to catch in a net
the fickle wind.”
(He leaves.)

Scene Three

A room with three doors
(Despina arrives with chocolate on a tray.)

Recitative

DESPINA
What an accursed life it is to be a chambermaid!
From morning to evening you’re busy, you sweat
and work, and then of all the things that are done
nothing is for us. I’ve been beating for half an
hour, the chocolate is ready, and is it my lot to
stand and smell it with a dry mouth? Isn’t my
mouth perhaps like yours?
O amiable ladies, who gave the substance to you,
and the aroma to me? By heaven, I want to taste
it. How good it is! Someone’s coming! Oh, Heaven,
it’s my mistresses!
(Fiordiligi and Dorabella come in.)
Ladies, here is your lunch.
(Dorabella brushes everything to the floor.)
Goodness! What are you doing?

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Ah! Ah!

DESPINA
What has happened?

FIORDILIGI
Where is there a sword?

DORABELLA
Where is there a poison?

DESPINA
Mistresses, I say...

DORABELLA
Ah, away with you! Fear the dire effect of a
desperate love! Close those windows! I hate the
light...I hate the air I breathe...I hate myself. Who
mocks my grief? Who consoles me? Ah, flee, for
mercy’s sake! Leave me alone.

No. 11. Aria

DORABELLA
Implacable longings that stir me,
do not cease in this soul of mine
until anguish makes me die.
If I remain alive, I’ll give the Furies
a wretched example of doomed love
with the horrible sound of my sighs.
Implacable longings, etc.
(Both sisters collapse in their chairs.)

Recitative

DESPINA
Signora Dorabella, Signora Fiordiligi, tell me: what
has happened?

FIORDILIGI
Our lovers have left Naples.

DESPINA
Is that all? They’ll come back.

DORABELLA
Who knows?

DESPINA
What do you mean, who knows? Where have they gone?

DORABELLA
To the field of battle.

DESPINA
All the better for them: you’ll see them return
laden with laurels.

FIORDILIGI
But they can also die.

DESPINA
In that case...all the better for you.

FIORDILIGI
Foolish girl, what are you saying?

DESPINA
The plain truth: you lose two, you have all the
others left. Other men have everything these men
have. Now you love one man; you will love another.
One is worth the other, because none is worth anything.

DORABELLA
Don’t offend thus those lovely souls, examples of
faithfulness and immaculate love.

DESPINA
Come, come! The time is past when these tales
could be passed off on children.

No. 12. Aria

DESPINA
To hope for faithfulness
in men, in soldiers?
Don’t let people hear you, for heaven’s sake!
All men are made of the same stuff;
the swaying boughs, the fickle breezes
have greater stability than men have.
Lying tears, false looks,
deceitful voices, lying charms –
these are their outstanding qualities.
In us they love only their pleasure,
then they despise us and deny us affection,
nor does it avail to ask pity of the cruel ones.

O women, let us pay with the same token
this maleficent, indiscreet species.
Let us love for our convenience and for vanity.
La ra la, la ra la, la ra la la.
Let us love for our convenience, etc.
(All leave. Don Alfonso enters.)

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
What silence! What an air of sadness these rooms
breathe! Poor girls, they’re not completely wrong:
they must be consoled. Now while the two
credulous husbands go to disguise themselves, as
I told them, let us think what can be done...
I’m a little afraid of Despina...That minx might
recognise them, she might upset my machinations.
We shall see...If there should be need, a timely
little present, a little gold piece, is a great charm
for a maid. But, to be safe, one could let her in on
the secret. The plan is excellent. This is her room.
Despinetta!

DESPINA
Who’s knocking?

DON ALFONSO
Oh!

DESPINA
Eee!

DON ALFONSO
My dear Despina, I need you.

DESPINA
And I don’t need you at all.

DON ALFONSO
(showing her a gold coin)
Speak softly and observe. You know that your
mistresses have lost their lovers.

DESPINA
I know.

DON ALFONSO
You also know of all their lamenting and their spasms.

DESPINA
I know all about it.

DON ALFONSO
Now, then, if by chance, to console them a little,
and, as they say, to let one nail drive out another,
you could find the way to introduce into their favour
two attractive men who would like to try...You
understand me already...There’s a tip for you of
twenty crowns, if you help them succeed.

DESPINA
Where are they?

DON ALFONSO
They are out there; may they come in?

DESPINA
I’d say yes.
(Ferrando and Guglielmo come in, disguised.)

No. 13. Sextet

DON ALFONSO
My friends, I introduce you
to the beautiful Despinetta;
the consolation of your hearts
depends on her alone.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
By the hand, which I happily kiss,
by those eyes, filled with grace,
make the lovely eyes of my beloved
look upon me serenely.

DESPINA (aside)
What faces! What clothes!
What appearances! What moustaches!
I don’t know if those men
are Wallachians or Turks!

DON ALFONSO (softly to Despina)
What do you think of their looks?

DESPINA
To speak to you quite frankly,
they have an unusual face,
the very antidote of love.
What appearances! What moustaches! etc.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
(aside)
Now the affair is completely settled.
If she doesn’t recognise us/them
there is no longer any fear.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA (off-stage)
Eh, Despina! Hola, Despina!

DESPINA
My mistresses!

DON ALFONSO (to Despina)
Now’s the moment!
Act artfully; I’ll hide here.
(He withdraws. Fiordiligi and Dorabella come out of
their rooms.)

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Arrogant girl!
What are you doing there with such people?
Have them leave at once,
or I’ll make you regret it, with them.

DESPINA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
(all three kneeling)
Ah, forgive us, ladies!

See, languishing at your lovely feet,
two wretches, swains
who worship your merit.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Just Gods! What do I hear?
Who was the unworthy author
of this enormous betrayal?

DESPINA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Ah, calm that scorn!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Ah, I can restrain myself no more!
My soul, in my breast, is filled
with anger and terror.

DESPINA (aside)
That anger and that fury
arouse a little suspicion in me.

DON ALFONSO (from the door)
That anger and that fury
arouse a little suspicion in me.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
What joy to my breast
from that anger and that fury!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA (aside)
Ah, forgive me, my handsome love!
This heart is innocent.
My soul, in my breast, is filled, etc.
Ah, I can restrain myself no more! etc.

Recitative

DON ALFONSO (entering)
What murmuring! What din! What is all this
confusion? Are you mad, my dear girls? Do you
want to rouse the neighbourhood? What’s wrong?
What’s happened?

DORABELLA
Oh heaven! Look: men in our house.

DON ALFONSO
What harm is there in that?

FIORDILIGI
What harm? On this day?
After the dire event?

DON ALFONSO
My stars? Am I dreaming, or awake? My friends,
my very dear friends? You here? How? Why?
When? In what way? Goodness! How pleased I am!
(aside to Ferrando and Guglielmo)
Back me up.

FERRANDO
My friend, Don Alfonso!

GUGLIELMO
My dear friend!
(They embrace enthusiastically.)

DON ALFONSO
Oh, what a lovely surprise!

DESPINA
Do you know them?

DON ALFONSO
Do I know them? These are the dearest friends I
have in this world, and they will be yours, too.

FIORDILIGI
And what are they doing in my house?

GUGLIELMO
At your feet, behold, ladies, two culprits, two
criminals! Love...

DORABELLA
Gods! What do I hear?

FERRANDO
Love, the all-powerful deity brings us here,
on your account.

GUGLIELMO
As soon as we saw the light of your gleaming
eyes...

FERRANDO
...with their lively sparks...

GUGLIELMO
...like butterflies, dying with love...

FERRANDO
...we fly before you...

GUGLIELMO
...and at your sides, and behind you...

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
...to implore mercy in plaintive measure!

FIORDILIGI
My stars! What daring!

DORABELLA
Sister, what shall we do?

FIORDILIGI
Rash men! Leave this place!
(Frightened, Despina goes out.)
And let the dire breath of such infamous words not
profane our hearts, our ears, and our loves! It is
vain for you, for others, to try to seduce our souls.
We will keep intact until death the faith we pledged
our dear lovers, despite the world and destiny.

No. 14. Aria

FIORDILIGI
As the rock remains unmoved
against the winds and the storm,
so this spirit is still strong
in its faith and in its love.
That torch was born in us,
which pleases and consoles us;
and death alone will be able
to make our heart change its affection.
As the rock, etc.
Oh ungrateful spirits, respect
this example of constancy,
and let no barbarous hope
make you bold again!
(The women start to leave.)

Recitative

FERRANDO (to Fiordiligi)
Ah, don’t go away!

GUGLIELMO (to Dorabella)
Ah, cruel one, remain!
(aside to Don Alfonso)
What do you think?

DON ALFONSO (aside to Guglielmo)
Wait.
(to the sisters)
For mercy’s sake, girls, don’t put me in a more
awkward position.

DORABELLA
And what do you expect?

GUGLIELMO
Open your hearts, o beauties, to this soft glow;
or you will see the most faithful lovers die before you.

No. 15. Aria

GUGLIELMO
Don’t be shy, charming little eyes,
send two amorous flashes here for a moment.
Make us happy. Be loving with us,
and we will also make you very happy.
Look at us, touch us, observe us completely;
we’re two loveable madmen,
we’re strong and well-built,
and as all can see – whether through merit or chance –
we have a fine foot, a fine eye, a fine nose...
Look: a fine foot, observe: a fine eye,
touch: a fine nose.
Observe everything:
and these mustachios might be called
the triumph of men, plumes of love.
(Fiordiligi and Dorabella leave. Ferrando and
Guglielmo, as soon as they are alone with Don
Alfonso, laugh.)

No. 16. Trio

DON ALFONSO
And you laugh?

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Of course we laugh.

DON ALFONSO
But what’s come over you?

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Now we know.

DON ALFONSO
Laugh quietly.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
You speak in vain.

DON ALFONSO
Laugh quietly.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
You speak in vain.

DON ALFONSO
If they should hear you,
if they should discover you,
the whole matter would be ruined.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Ah, from this laughing,
I feel my soul splitting,
ha, ha, ha,
I feel my soul splitting, my insides bursting!

DON ALFONSO
This laughter of theirs
is laughable,
but I know it must end in weeping.

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
May I know the reason for your laughter?

GUGLIELMO
Oh, God, don’t you think that we have every
reason, my dear sir?

FERRANDO
How much will you pay if the bet is off?

GUGLIELMO
Pay half.

FERRANDO
Just pay twenty-four gold pieces.

DON ALFONSO
You poor little innocents! Come here, I’ll put my
little finger in your mouth.

GUGLIELMO
And you still have the courage to open your mouth?

DON ALFONSO
We’ll speak again before evening.

FERRANDO
When you wish.

DON ALFONSO
Meanwhile: silence and obedience until tomorrow morning.

GUGLIELMO
We are soldiers, and we like discipline.

DON ALFONSO
Now then: both of you go and wait for me a little in
the garden; I’ll send you my orders there.

GUGLIELMO
Aren’t we going to eat today?

FERRANDO
What’s the use? When the battle is over, our
supper will be more tasty.

No. 17. Aria

FERRANDO
An amorous breath of our beloved
will offer a sweet refreshment to the heart,

to the heart which, nourished on love’s hope,
does not need a better bait.
An amorous breath, etc.
(Ferrando and Guglielmo leave.)

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
And how do you think the affair will turn out? Can
we hope they will come to their senses?

DESPINA
I would; and whereas they weep, I’d laugh.
To choke back tears of despair because your lover
abandons you? What is love? Enjoyment,
convenience, pleasure, joy, amusement,
recreation, gaiety. It’s no longer love if it becomes
inconvenient: if, instead of pleasure, it brings pain
and torment.
I’ll wait for you in my room. If you do all I tell you,
before tomorrow your friends will celebrate victory;
then they will have their wish and I the glory.
(They leave.)

Scene Four

The garden of the sisters’ house
(Fiordiligi, Dorabella)

No. 18. Act One Finale

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Ah, how all in a moment
my fate was changed.
Ah, a sea filled with torment
is life for me now.
As long as the unfriendly stars
left my beloved with me,
I didn’t know what griefs were,
I didn’t know what it is to suffer.
Ah, how all in a moment, etc.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (off-stage)
Let us die, yes, let us die,
to appease the ingrates!

DON ALFONSO (off-stage)
There is one hope still;
don’t do it! Oh God, don’t do it!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Heavens! what horrible cries!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Let me go!

DON ALFONSO
Wait!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Let me go!

DON ALFONSO
Wait!

(Ferrando and Guglielmo, each carrying a phial,
come in, followed by Don Alfonso.)

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Let arsenic deliver me
from such cruelty.
(They drink, then throw away the phials.
Turning, they see the two women.)

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
My stars, was that a poison?

DON ALFONSO
A poison, right and proper,
which in a few minutes
will take life from them.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
The tragic sight
makes my heart freeze.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Cruel ones, approach:
see the dire effect
of a desperate love,
and have pity at least.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
The tragic sight
makes my heart freeze!

ALL
Ah, the sun’s ray
becomes dark for me.
I tremble, I seem to feel

my soul, my fibre fail,
nor can my tongue or lip
utter a word.
(Ferrando and Guglielmo fall on the grassy banks.)

DON ALFONSO
Since those wretches
are close to dying,
try to show
pity to them at least.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Somebody! Come quickly! Somebody!
Oh God, nobody hears us!
Despina! Despina!

DESPINA (off-stage)
Who calls me?

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Despina! Despina!
(Despina comes in.)

DESPINA
What do I see?
I believe the wretches are dead,
or close to expiring.

DON ALFONSO
Ah, alas, it’s true.
Raving, desperate,
they poisoned themselves!
Oh, remarkable love!

DESPINA
To abandon the poor men
would be shameful for you;
they must be helped.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DON ALFONSO
Whatever can we do?

DESPINA
They still show signs of life;
with pitying hands
support them for a little while.
(to Don Alfonso)
And you, come quickly with me:
let us fly to seek
a doctor, an antidote.
(Despina and Don Alfonso leave.)

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Gods, what a trial this is!
A more dire event
couldn’t have been found!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
A finer comedy
couldn’t have been found!
(aloud)
Ah!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
The unhappy men are sighing.

FIORDILIGI
What shall we do?

DORABELLA
What do you say?

FIORDILIGI
In such grievous moments
who could abandon them?

DORABELLA
What interesting appearances!

FIORDILIGI
We can move a little closer.

DORABELLA
His head is very cold.

FIORDILIGI
This one’s head, too, is very cold.

DORABELLA
And his pulse?

FIORDILIGI
I can’t feel it.

DORABELLA
This one’s beating very slowly.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Ah, if help delays longer,
there is no more hope of life.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
Both have become
tamer and more pliant;
we’ll see that their pity
will end in love.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Poor things! Their death
would make me weep.
(Enter Despina, disguised as a doctor, with Don
Alfonso.)

DON ALFONSO
Here is the doctor, lovely ladies.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
Despina disguised, what a terrible sight!

DESPINA
Salvete amabiles bones puelles.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
He speaks a language that we don’t know.

DESPINA
Let us speak then as you command.
I know Greek and Arabic,
I know Turkish and Vandalic,
and I also know how to speak
Swabian and Tartar.

DON ALFONSO
Save all those languages for yourself:
for the present observe those wretches.
They’ve taken poison.
What can be done?

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Doctor, what can be done?

DESPINA
(feeling the pulse and the forehead,
first of one, then the other)
First I must know the cause,
then the nature of the potion;
whether hot or cold,
whether small or large,
whether in one dose, or in several.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DON ALFONSO
They’ve taken arsenic, Doctor;
they drank it here.
The cause is love,
and they swallowed it in one gulp.

DESPINA
Don’t be worried, don’t be upset;
here is a proof of my power.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DON ALFONSO
He has taken an implement in hand.

DESPINA
This is that piece of magnet,
Mesmer’s stone,
that originated in Germany,
then was so famous
there in France.

(With part of the magnet she touches the heads of
Ferrando and Guglielmo, then draws it gently along
their bodies.)

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DON ALFONSO
How they move, writhe, stir!
Soon they will strike their skulls on the ground.

DESPINA
Ah, hold their foreheads up.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Here we are, ready!

DESPINA
Hold on tight. Be brave!
Now you are freed from death.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DON ALFONSO
They look around, they recover strength.
Ah, this doctor is worth a fortune.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (standing up)
Where am I? What place is this?
Who is he? Who are they?
Am I before Jove’s throne?
Are you Pallas, or Venus?
No, you are my heart, my goddess;
I recognise your sweet face
and the hand that now I well know
and which is my only treasure.
(They tenderly embrace the girls
and kiss their hands.)

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
These are still effects of the poison.
Have no fear.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
That may be true, but all these grimaces
are harmful to our honour.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
From my desire to laugh
my lungs are about to burst.
(to the women)
Have mercy, my lovely idol!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
I can resist no longer!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Turn your happy eyes towards me.

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
These are still effects of the poison.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
I can resist no longer!

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
Very soon you will see

that by virtue of the magnetism
the spasms will end,
and they will be their former selves.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
From my desire, etc.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
I can resist, etc.

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
These are still effects of the poison.
Have no fear, etc.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Give me a kiss, o my treasure,
a single kiss, or I’ll die here.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Heavens! A kiss?

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
Humour them, out of kindness.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Ah, too much is asked
of an honest, loyal mistress;
my faithfulness is outraged,
this heart is outraged.

DESPINA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
(aside)
A jollier little picture
was never seen in this world.

The thing that makes me laugh the most
is that anger and that rage, etc.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Desperate, poisoned,
go to the devil, one and all!
Later you will truly be sorry,
if my fury increases! etc.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
But I do not know if that anger
and rage is feigned or real.
Nor would I like all that fire
to end in the fire of love, etc.

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO (aside)
I well know that all that fire
will change into the fire of love, etc.

libretto by William Weaver, 1963

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two