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

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two

ACT TWO

Scene One

A room in the sisters’ house
(Fiordiligi, Dorabella and Despina)

Recitative

DESPINA
Go on, what a strange couple of girls you are!

FIORDILIGI
Good gracious, what should we do?

DESPINA
What you like. Are you made of flesh and blood, or
what are you?

No. 19. Aria

DESPINA
A woman, at the age of fifteen,
must know what’s what,
where the devil hides his tail,
what is good and what is bad.
She must know the cunning ways
that make lovers fall in love,
feign laughter, feign tears,
invent fine excuses.
In a single moment, she must
pay attention to a hundred men,
with her eyes
talk with a thousand,
encourage everyone,
handsome or ugly,
know how to hide
without embarrassment;
without blushing
know how to lie,
and like a queen from her lofty throne,
with “I can and I will”,
make herself obeyed.
(aside)
It seems that they like
this doctrine.
Long live Despina,

who knows how to serve.
In a single moment, etc.
(She leaves.)

Recitative

FIORDILIGI
Sister, what do you say?

DORABELLA
I’m stunned by the infernal spirit of that girl.

FIORDILIGI
But believe me: she’s mad. Do you think we’re in a
position to follow her advice? What about our hearts...?

DORABELLA
They remain what they are. Enjoying ourselves a
little and not dying of melancholy isn’t betraying
our word, sister. For the rest, listen, so we
understand each other clearly: which of the two
Narcissuses do you want to choose for yourself?

FIORDILIGI
You decide, sister.

DORABELLA
I’ve already decided.

No. 20. Duet

DORABELLA
I’ll take the little dark one,
who seems wittier to me.

FIORDILIGI
And, meanwhile, with the blond one
I want to laugh and joke a little.

DORABELLA
I’ll jokingly answer
the sweet words of the former.

FIORDILIGI
Sighing, I’ll imitate
the sighs of the latter.

DORABELLA
He’ll say to me: My love, I die!

FIORDILIGI
He’ll say to me: My lovely treasure!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
And meanwhile what delight,
what amusement I’ll feel!

DORABELLA
I’ll take the little dark one, etc.

FIORDILIGI
And, meanwhile, with the blond one, etc.
(They leave.)

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
Ah, hurry along to the garden, my dear girls; what
fun, what music, what singing, what a dazzling
show, what magic! Be quick, run!

DORABELLA
What the dickens can it be?

DON ALFONSO
You’ll soon see.
(They all leave.)

Scene Two

Garden at the seashore
(At the landing stage there is a boat gaily decorated
with flowers, in which are Ferrando and Guglielmo,
with a band of singers and musicians. In the garden,
Despina, Fiordiligi, Dorabella and Don Alfonso)

No. 21. Duet with chorus

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Assist, friendly breezes,
assist my desires;
and bear my sighs
to the goddess of my heart.

You, who have heard a thousand times
the strains of my woes,
repeat to my beloved
all you heard then.

CHORUS
Assist, friendly breezes,
the wishes of such lovely hearts.
(Ferrando and Guglielmo alight with garlands of
flowers: Don Alfonso and Despina lead them into
the presence of the two ladies, who are struck
dumb with astonishment.)

Recitative

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
What is this masquerade?

DESPINA
Take heart. Courage! Have you lost the power of
speech?
(The boat moves away from the shore.)

FERRANDO
I tremble and shake from my head to the soles of my feet.

GUGLIELMO
Love binds the limbs of the true lover.

DON ALFONSO (to the women)
Encourage them, like good girls.

FIORDILIGI (to Ferrando and Guglielmo)
Speak!

DORABELLA
Say freely what you wish.

FERRANDO
Madame...

GUGLIELMO
Or rather, Mesdames...

FERRANDO
You speak then.

GUGLIELMO
No, no, you speak.

No. 22. Quartet

DON ALFONSO
(taking Dorabella by the hand)
Give me your hand,
and move a little!
(Despina takes Fiordiligi’s hand.)
If you won’t speak...
(to Ferrando and Guglielmo)
I’ll speak for you.
A trembling slave
asks your forgiveness;
he offended you, he sees it,
but only for a moment;
now he suffers, but is silent...

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
He’s silent...

DON ALFONSO
Now he leaves you in peace...

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
In peace...

DON ALFONSO
He can’t have what he wants,
he’ll want what he can have.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
He can’t have what he wants,
he’ll want what he can have.

DON ALFONSO
Come now, answer!
You look and laugh?

DESPINA
I’ll give them the answer
for you.
(to the ladies)
What has been, has been;
let us forget the past.
Let that bond be broken now,
a symbol of servitude.
Give me your arm,
and sigh no more.

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO (aside)
For heaven’s sake let’s leave;
we’ll see what they can do.
I respect the girls more than
the devil if they don’t fall now.

(Despina and Don Alfonso leave. Guglielmo arm in
arm with Dorabella; Fiordiligi walks with Ferrando
but without offering her arm.)

Recitative

FIORDILIGI
Oh, what a beautiful day!

FERRANDO
A bit warm rather than not.

DORABELLA
What charming trees!

GUGLIELMO
Yes, yes, they’re beautiful;
they have more leaves than fruit.

FIORDILIGI
How pretty those paths are.
Would you like to stroll?

FERRANDO
I am ready, o beloved, to obey your every hint.

FIORDILIGI
You are too kind!

FERRANDO (to Guglielmo as he passes)
Here we are at the crunch!

FIORDILIGI
What did you say to him?

FERRANDO
Oh, I urged him to amuse her well.
(Fiordiligi and Ferrando stroll off.)

DORABELLA
Let us stroll, too.

GUGLIELMO
As you like. Alas!

DORABELLA
What’s wrong?

GUGLIELMO
I feel so ill, so ill, my soul,
that I feel as if I were dying.

DORABELLA (aside)
He won’t achieve anything at all.
(to Guglielmo)
These must be after-effects of the poison you drank.

GUGLIELMO (aside)
Is she joking or speaking in earnest?
(to Dorabella)
Condescend to accept this little gift.

DORABELLA
A heart?

GUGLIELMO
You accept it?

DORABELLA
I accept it.

GUGLIELMO (aside)
Unhappy Ferrando!
(to Dorabella)
Oh, what joy!

No. 23. Duet

GUGLIELMO
I give you my heart,
my lovely idol;
but I want yours, too,
come, give it to me.

DORABELLA
You give me it, I take it;
but I won’t give you mine.
You ask for it in vain,
it’s with me no longer.

GUGLIELMO
If you don’t have it with you,
why is it beating here?

DORABELLA
If you give it to me,
what is leaping there?

GUGLIELMO
Why is it beating here?

DORABELLA
What is leaping there?

DORABELLA, GUGLIELMO
It’s my little heart
that is with me no longer;
it went to be with you,
and it beats like that.

GUGLIELMO
(wants to put the heart where
she has the portrait of her lover)
Let me put it here.

DORABELLA
It can’t stay here.

GUGLIELMO
I understand you, sly one.
(He gently turns her face away, takes out the
portrait and puts the heart in its place.)

DORABELLA
What are you doing?

GUGLIELMO
Don’t look.

DORABELLA (aside)
I feel as if I have
a Vesuvius in my breast.

GUGLIELMO (aside)
Wretched Ferrando,
it doesn’t seem possible.
(to Dorabella)
Turn your eye to me.

DORABELLA (to Guglielmo)
What do you wish?

GUGLIELMO
Look again, look again:
could anything go better?

DORABELLA, GUGLIELMO
Oh happy exchange
of hearts and affections,
what new delights,
what sweet suffering!
Oh happy exchange, ecc.
(They go off, arm in arm. Fiordiligi and Ferrando enter.)

Recitative

FERRANDO
Cruel one, why are you fleeing?

FIORDILIGI
I’ve seen an asp, a hydra, a basilisk!

FERRANDO
Ah cruel girl, I understand you! The asp, the hydra,
the basilisk, and the fiercest creatures the Libyan
deserts possess you see in me alone.

FIORDILIGI
It’s true, it’s true! You want to rob me of my peace.

FERRANDO
But to make you happy.

FIORDILIGI
Stop molesting me.

FERRANDO
I ask only a glance from you.

FIORDILIGI
Leave!

FERRANDO
Don’t hope for that, if first you don’t cast your eyes
on me less fiercely. O heaven! You look at me, and then you sigh?

No. 24. Aria

FERRANDO
Ah, I see that your lovely soul
cannot resist my tears;
it is not capable of rebelling
against feelings of loving sympathy.
In that look, in those dear sighs,
a sweet ray of hope lights up my heart.
You are responding to my warm desires,
you are yielding to such tender love.
Ah, I see that your lovely soul, etc.
But do you shun me pitilessly, do you stay silent,
and can you let me languish?
Ah, cease, false hopes,
cruelly she condemns me to die.
(Ferrando leaves.)

Recitative

FIORDILIGI
He’s going...Listen!...Ah no! Let him go. Let the
dire object of my weakness be removed from my
sight. In what conflict the cruel man has placed
me...This is the well-earned reward of my misdeeds!
At such a time should I listen to the sighs of a new
lover? Should I make a game of others’ plaints?
Ah, you condemn this heart rightly, o just love! I
burn, and my ardour is no longer the effect of a
virtuous love: it is rage, suffering, remorse,
repentance, fickleness, perfidy and betrayal!

No. 25. Rondo

FIORDILIGI
Have pity, my love, forgive
the error of a loving spirit;
among these shadows and these trees,
oh God, it will always remain hidden.
My courage, my constancy
will sever this wicked desire;
it will lose the memory
that shames and horrifies me.
Have pity, etc.
To whom did this vain, ungrateful heart
fail in faithfulness?
Beloved, your purity
deserved a better reward.
Have pity, etc.
(She leaves. Enter Ferrando and Guglielmo.)

Recitative

FERRANDO
Friend, we’ve won!

GUGLIELMO
A double, or a triple?

FERRANDO
A quintuple, friend.
Fiordiligi is chastity personified.

GUGLIELMO
Just that?

FERRANDO
Absolutely: pay attention and listen well. She
rebutted me haughtily, she spurned me, she fled
me, giving me a pledge and the message that she
is a woman without peer.

GUGLIELMO
Good for you, good for me, good for my Penelope!
Allow me to embrace you for such happy tidings, o
my trusty Mercury!

FERRANDO
And my Dorabella? How did she behave? Ah, I
have no doubt about it. I know well that sensitive
soul. She loves, adores no one but me.

GUGLIELMO
Certainly! In fact, to prove her love, her
faithfulness, she gave me this handsome little portrait.

FERRANDO
My portrait! Ah, faithless woman!
(He starts to go.)

GUGLIELMO
Where are you going?

FERRANDO
To tear the heart from that wicked breast,
and to avenge my betrayed love.

GUGLIELMO
Stop.

FERRANDO
No, let me go!

GUGLIELMO
Are you mad? Do you want to ruin yourself for a
woman who isn’t worth tuppence?
(aside)
I wouldn’t want him to do anything foolish!

FERRANDO
Gods! All those promises, and tears, and sighs,
and oaths...How could the wicked girl forget them
in such a few moments?

GUGLIELMO (to Ferrando)
By God, I don’t know.

FERRANDO
What must I do now? What course, what idea
should I seize upon! Have pity on me. Give me advice.

GUGLIELMO
Friend, I wouldn’t know what advice to give you!

FERRANDO
Cruel, ungrateful girl! In a day...In a few hours!

GUGLIELMO
Certainly, this is a situation that amazes one!

No. 26. Aria

GUGLIELMO
My dear women, you take in so many men
that, if I must tell you the truth,
when lovers complain
I begin to sympathise with them.
I’m fond of your sex;
you know it, everyone knows it;
I prove it to you every day,
I give you proof of my friendship.
But this taking in so many men
depresses me, to tell the truth.
A thousand times I’ve drawn a sword
to save your honour;
a thousand times I’ve defended you
with my mouth and, more, with my heart.
But this taking in so many men
is an irritating little habit.
You are charming, you are loveable,
Heaven gave you many treasures
and the graces surround you
from head to foot.
But, you take in so many men
that it isn’t credible.
I’m fond of your sex, etc.

But you take in so many men
that, if lovers cry out,
they surely have good reason.
Ah, you take in so many men, etc.
(He leaves.)

Recitative

FERRANDO
In what fierce conflict, in what confusion of
thoughts and affections I find myself!
So new and unusual is my situation that neither
others nor myself are sufficient to counsel
me...Alfonso, Alfonso, how you will want to laugh
at my stupidity!
But I’ll avenge myself, I’ll be able to erase that
wicked woman from my breast...Erase her? Oh
God, this heart of mine speaks to me for her too much.

No. 27. Cavatina

FERRANDO
Betrayed, scorned
by that treacherous heart,
I feel that still
this soul of mine adores her.
I hear speaking for her
the voice of love.
Betrayed, scorned
by that treacherous heart,
(Don Alfonso enters and listens.)
I feel that still, etc.

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
Bravo, there’s constancy.

FERRANDO
Go away, you cruel man, you are the cause of my misery.

DON ALFONSO
Come now, if you behave yourself I’ll restore your
old tranquillity. Listen. Fiordiligi has been faithful to
Guglielmo, but Dorabella has betrayed you.

FERRANDO
To my shame!
(Guglielmo comes in.)

GUGLIELMO
Dear friend, one must differentiate in everything:
do you think a betrothed could fail one such as
Guglielmo? If we do a little comparison between us
– I don’t say this in boast – you see, friend, that I
am worth a little more.

DON ALFONSO
Eh! I agree with that!

GUGLIELMO
Meanwhile you will give me fifty zecchini!

DON ALFONSO
Gladly: but before paying up, I think we should try
another experiment.

GUGLIELMO
What?

DON ALFONSO
Be patient. Till tomorrow you are both my slaves:
you gave me your word as soldiers to do what I tell
you. Come, I hope to show you clearly that it’s a
crazy brain which counts its chickens before they
are hatched.
(They leave.)

Scene Three

A room in the sisters’ house
(Despina and Dorabella)

Recitative

DESPINA
Now I see that you are a woman of the world.

DORABELLA
Despina, I tried to resist, in vain: that little demon
has an artfulness, an eloquence, a manner that
makes you fall even if you’re made of stone.
(Fiordiligi enters.)

FIORDILIGI
Wretched creatures! See what a state I’m in,
through your fault!

DESPINA
What’s happened, dear miss?

DORABELLA
Do you have some illness, sister?

FIORDILIGI
I have the devil...and may he take me, you, her,
Don Alfonso, the foreigners and all madmen the
world contains.

DORABELLA
Have you lost your mind?

FIORDILIGI
Worse! worse! Be horrified: I am in love, and my
love isn’t only for Guglielmo.

DESPINA
Better, better!

DORABELLA
So, are you too in love,
with the gallant blond?

FIORDILIGI
Ah, alas, for our sake!

DESPINA
Good for you!

DORABELLA
Here: seventy thousand kisses! You have the
blond, I, the dark one. And here both of us are brides!

FIORDILIGI
I’ll be able to control myself.

DESPINA
You won’t be able to do anything.

FIORDILIGI
I’ll show you.

DORABELLA
Believe me, sister, it’s better for you to give in.

No. 28. Aria

DORABELLA
Love is a little thief,
Love is a little serpent.
He gives peace to our hearts
and takes it away, as he pleases.
No sooner does he open a path
to the heart through the eyes
than he puts the spirit in chains
and deprives it of freedom.
Love is a little thief, etc.

He bears sweetness and pleasure,
if you let him have his way;
but he fills you with disgust
if you try to fight him.
He bears sweetness, etc.
Love is, etc.
If he settles in your breast,
if he catches you here,
do everything he asks,
for I shall do so, too.
If he settles in your breast, etc.
(Dorabella and Despina leave.)

Recitative

FIORDILIGI
How everything conspires to seduce my heart! But
now...I don’t want to see that seducer.

GUGLIELMO
(listening with Ferrando and Don Alfonso at the
door, unseen by Fiordiligi)
Excellent! My chaste Artemisia! You hear her?

FIORDILIGI
But could Dorabella, without my knowledge...?
Wait! A thought comes into my mind: many of
Guglielmo’s and Ferrando’s uniforms are still in my
house. I must be bold!
Despina! Despina!

DESPINA (entering)
What is it?

FIORDILIGI
Take this key a moment and without a word,
without a single word, take from the wardrobe and
bring here to me two swords, two hats, and two
suits belonging to our betrothed.
(Despina leaves.)

FIORDILIGI
Ferrando’s clothes will suit me; Dorabella can take
Guglielmo’s. In this guise we’ll join our betrothed,
we can fight at their side, and die, if necessary.

(She takes off her head-dress.)
Go to the devil, fateful adornments, I hate you.

GUGLIELMO (aside)
You must agree this really is love.

FIORDILIGI
Do not hope to return to my brow until I am
reunited with my love. In your place I shall put this
hat; oh, how it transforms my appearance and
features! I hardly recognise myself!

No. 29. Duet

FIORDILIGI
In a few moments I will be
in the arms of my faithful lover;
unknown, in these clothes,
I will come before him.
Oh what joy his noble heart
will feel in seeing me again!

FERRANDO (entering)
And meanwhile, wretched me,
I shall die of grief.

FIORDILIGI
What do I see? I am betrayed!
Ah, leave!

FERRANDO
Ah no, my life!
(taking the sword from the table)
With this sword in your hand
you will wound this heart;
and, oh God, if you haven’t strength,
I will support your hand.

FIORDILIGI
Be silent, alas! I am unhappy
and tormented enough!

FERRANDO
Ah, her constancy now...

FIORDILIGI
Ah, my constancy now...

FERRANDO
...at these looks, at what she says...

FIORDILIGI
...at these looks, at what he says...

FERRANDO and FIORDILIGI
...begins to weaken!

FIORDILIGI
Rise, rise!

FERRANDO
You believe that in vain!

FIORDILIGI
For pity’s sake, what do you ask of me?

FERRANDO
Your heart, or my death.

FIORDILIGI
Ah, no longer am I strong!

FERRANDO
Surrender, beloved.

FIORDILIGI
Gods, counsel me!

FERRANDO
Turn your eyes to me in pity.
In me alone can you find
husband, lover, and more, if you like;
my idol, delay no longer.

FIORDILIGI
Good heavens! Cruel man, you’ve won...
Do with me what you will.
(Don Alfonso restrains Guglielmo from bursting in.)

FIORDILIGI, FERRANDO
Let us embrace, o beloved,
and let suffering with sweet affection
and sighing with pleasure
be a solace for so many griefs.
Let us embrace, etc.
(They go out. Don Alfonso and Guglielmo enter.)

Recitative

GUGLIELMO
Ah, poor me! What have I seen? What have I
heard?

DON ALFONSO
Silence, for heaven’s sake!

GUGLIELMO
I’d peel off my beard, I’d scratch my skin. I’d
knock my horns against the stars. That was
Fiordiligi, the Penelope, the Artemisia of the
century! Minx! Murderess! Wretch! Thief! Bitch...

DON ALFONSO
Let’s let him unburden himself...

FERRANDO (entering)
Well?

GUGLIELMO
Where is she?

FERRANDO
Who? Your Fiordiligi?

GUGLIELMO
My Fior – Fior-de-devil! May he strangle her first
and me afterwards!

FERRANDO
You see now, there are differences in all things, I
am worth a little more.

GUGLIELMO
Ah, stop, stop tormenting me, and let us study a
way to punish them roundly.

DON ALFONSO
I know what that is: marry them. Go on, take them
as they are. Nature couldn’t make an exception,
do you the favour of creating two women of a
different clay, just to suit you. Meanwhile listen to
a rhyme: you’ll be very happy men, if you learn it.

No. 30. Andante

DON ALFONSO
All accuse women,
and I excuse them,
if a thousand times daily
they change their love,
others call this a vice,
others a custom,
and to me it seems a necessity of the heart.
The lover who, at the end,
remains disappointed,
shouldn’t blame another’s error,
but his own.
Since young, and old,
beautiful and ugly –
repeat with me –
All women behave thus.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
All women behave thus.
(Despina enters.)

Recitative

DESPINA
Victory, masters! The dear ladies are disposed to
marry you. Are you happy thus?

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
Very happy.

DESPINA
When Despina takes part in a plan she is never
ineffectual.
(They leave.)

Scene Four

A large, festively decorated room.
A table is set for four.
(Despina and servants are making preparations for
the wedding.)

No. 31. Act Two Finale

DESPINA
Hurry up, o dear friends,
set the torches alight,
and prepare the table
richly and nobly!
The wedding of our mistresses
is already arranged;
(to the musicians)
and you, go to your places
until the bridegrooms come.

CHORUS
Let us hurry, o dear friends,
let us set the torches alight,
and let us prepare the table
richly and nobly.

DON ALFONSO (coming in)
Bravo! Bravo! Excellent!
What abundance! What elegance!
Each of the men will give you
a suitable tip.
Now the two couples are approaching;
applaud their arrival,
let happy song and joyous sound
fill the heavens with merriment.

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
(softly, going out by different doors)
A finer comedy was
never seen nor will be seen!
(Enter Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Ferrando and Guglielmo.)

CHORUS
Blessings on the two husbands
and the charming brides!
May heaven shine on them beneficently,
and, like hens,
may they be prolific, with children
that equal them in beauty.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
How everything here seems to promise
complete joy and complete love!
It will surely be the merit
of our beloved Despinetta.
Redouble the happy sound,
repeat the sweet song,
and we shall sit here meanwhile
in greater joviality.

CHORUS
Blessings, etc.
(The chorus leaves. Four servants remain to wait on
the two couples.)

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Everything, everything, o my life,
now responds well to my ardour!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Through my blood, my happiness
grows, grows and spreads!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
You are so beautiful!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
You are so lovely!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
What beautiful eyes!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
What a handsome mouth!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Toast and drink!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Drink and toast!

FIORDILIGI, FERRANDO, DORABELLA
And in your, in my glass
let every care be drowned,
and let no memory remain
of the past in our hearts.
Ah, no, let no memory, etc.

GUGLIELMO (aside)
Ah, they should drink poison,
these vixens without honour.
(Enter Don Alfonso.)

DON ALFONSO
Ladies and gentlemen, all is done;
the notary is on the stairs
with the marriage contract
and will come here ipso facto.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Bravo! Bravo! Let him come in at once.

DON ALFONSO
I’ll go to call him.
Here he is.
(Enter Despina, disguised as a notary.)

DESPINA
Wishing you every good thing,
the notary Beccavivi
comes to you with his usual
notarial dignity!
And the contract, drawn up
with the ordinary rules
in the legal forms,
first coughing, then sitting down,
he will read out loud and clear.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
Bravo! Bravo! Really!

DESPINA
According to the contract drawn by me,
united in matrimony are
Fiordiligi with Sempronio,
and with Tizio, Dorabella,

her legitimate sister.
The former are Ferrarese ladies;
the latter, Albanian noblemen,
and as dowry and counter-dowry...

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
These things are known!
We believe you, we trust you,
we’ll sign. Hand it over.

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
Bravo! Bravo! Really!
(The contract remains in Don Alfonso’s hand. A loud
sound of a drum is heard.)

CHORUS (within)
Beautiful military life!
You change place every day;
much today, tomorrow little,
now on land, and now on sea.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DESPINA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
What noise, what singing is this?

DON ALFONSO
Be still, I’ll go to look.
(He goes to the window.)
Mercy! God in heaven!
What a horrible occurrence!
I’m trembling! I’m freezing!
Your husbands...

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
My husband...

DON ALFONSO
...have come back at this moment. Oh God! And
they are already landing at the shore.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
What do I hear? Cruel fate!
What’s to be done in such a moment?

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Leave quickly...

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
But if they see them...

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
But if they see us...

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Quickly! Flee!

DESPINA, DON ALFONSO
But if they meet them?

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
But if they meet us?

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
There, hide there, for heaven’s sake.
(Don Alfonso takes Despina into one room, Fiordiligi
and Dorabella take the lovers into another. The
lovers slip out unseen and leave.)
Gods, help us!

DON ALFONSO
Be reassured!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Gods, counsel!

DON ALFONSO
Calm yourselves!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Who will save us from danger? Who?

DON ALFONSO
Trust in me.
All will go well!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
A thousand barbarous thoughts
are tormenting my heart;
if they discover the deceit,
whatever will become of us!
(Enter Ferrando and Guglielmo,
no longer disguised.)

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Safe and sound to the loving embraces
of our most faithful lovers,
we return exultantly joyful,
to reward their faithfulness.

DON ALFONSO
Righteous Gods! Guglielmo? Ferrando? Oh, what
rejoicing! Here! But how? When?

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Recalled by a royal counter-order,
our hearts full of joy and pleasure,
we return to our adorable brides,
we return to your friendship.

GUGLIELMO (to Fiordiligi)
But what is that pallor, that silence?

FERRANDO (to Dorabella)
Why is my idol sad?

DON ALFONSO
Confused and stunned with delight,
they stand there, utterly silent.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA (aside)
Ah, my voice cannot reach my lips;
if I don’t die, it will be a miracle.

GUGLIELMO
Allow us to put
that trunk in that room.
(The servants bring in a trunk.)
Ye Gods! What do I see? A man hidden...
a notary...What is he doing here?
(Despina comes out, without her hat.)

DESPINA
No, sir, he’s not a notary;
it’s Despina in disguise,
since she’s just come back from the ball
and came here to change her clothes.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (aside)
Where will one ever find
a slyboots the equal of this one?

DESPINA (aside)
A slyboots who is my equal –
where will one ever find her?

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Despina? Despina?
I don’t understand what’s happening.
(Don Alfonso carefully drops the contract signed by
the women.)

DON ALFONSO (softly to the two men)
I’ve already dropped the papers.
Pick them up artfully.
(Ferrando picks up the contract.)

FERRANDO
But...what are these papers?

GUGLIELMO
A marriage contract?!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
Good heavens! You’ve signed here:
it’s no use contradicting us now.
Betrayal! Betrayal!

Ah, let the revelation be made,
and in streams, rivers, oceans,
blood will then flow!
(They start to go into the other room; the women
stop them.)

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
Ah, sir, I’m worthy of death,
and death I ask for myself alone;
too late I see my mistake,
wound, with that sword, a breast
that doesn’t deserve mercy!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
What happened?

FIORDILIGI (pointing to Despina and Don Alfonso)
Let the cruel man and the seductress
speak for us.

DON ALFONSO
What she says is all too true,
and the proof is shut in there.
(He points to the room where the lovers entered
earlier. Ferrando and Guglielmo go into the room.)

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
I freeze, I tremble with fear;
why did he ever reveal them?!
(Ferrando and Guglielmo come out of the room, without hats,
without cloaks, and without moustaches, but with the clothes
of their disguise. In a ridiculous fashion
they mock their mistresses and Despina.)

FERRANDO (to Fiordiligi)
Lovely lady, before you bows
the Knight of Albania!

GUGLIELMO (to Dorabella)
Here, my lady, I give you back
the little portrait for the little heart.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO (to Despina)
And to the magnetic Doctor
I give the honour that he deserved.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DESPINA
Heavens! What do I see?!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
They’re dumbfounded!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA, DESPINA
I can’t bear this grief!

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO, DON ALFONSO
They’re half mad!

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
(pointing to Don Alfonso)
Behold there the barbarous man who deceived us!

DON ALFONSO
I deceived you, but my deceit
was undeceiving for your lovers,
who will be wiser now
and will do what I wish.
Give me your hands: you’re bride and groom.

Embrace and be silent.
Now all four of you laugh;
I’ve laughed already and will laugh.

FIORDILIGI, DORABELLA
My idol, if this is true,
with loyalty and with love
I’ll repay your heart.
I’ll adore you forever.

FERRANDO, GUGLIELMO
believe you, o my lovely joy;
but I don’t want to test it.

DESPINA
don’t know if I wake or dream,
I’m confused, I’m ashamed.
At least, if they’ve taken me in,
I, too, take in many others.

ALL
Fortunate is the man who takes
everything for the best,
and in all events and trials
allows himself to be led by reason.
What usually makes others weep
is, for him, a source of laughter,
and in the midst of the world’s whirlwinds
he will find a lovely calm.

End of the opera

libretto by William Weaver, 1963

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two