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“La clemenza di Tito” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart libretto (English)
Contents: Cast; First Act; Second Act |
Libretto: Caterino Tommaso Mazzolà (after Pietro Metastasio). Premiere: 6 September 1791, Prague (Gräflich Nostitzches Nationaltheater). |
A pleasant apartment in the imperial palace on the Palatine FIRST SCENE Annius, Sextus Recitative ANNIUS Sextus, the Emperor did not perish, as you thought. Calm your sorrow; at this moment he is returning, unharmed, from the turmoil. SEXTUS O merciful gods! O dear prince! O sweet friend! Ah, let me clasp you ... But you are not deceiving me? ANNIUS Do I deserve so little faith? Then you yourself hasten to him, and you will see him. SEXTUS I present myself to Titus after having betrayed him? ANNIUS You betrayed him? SEXTUS I was the instigator of the tumult. ANNIUS Sextus disloyal! |
SEXTUS My friend, a moment undid me. Farewell! I fly my country for ever. Remember me. Defend Titus from new plots. I will wander the woods in sorrow, to lament my crime. ANNIUS Stay! O heavens! Let us think ... Many blame accident for this fire;so far conspiracy is not certain ... SEXTUS Well, what would you? ANNIUS Do not go yet. No. 13 - Aria ANNIUS Return to Titus's side; return, and make amends for past error with repeated proofs of loyalty. Your bitter grief is an obvious sign that the image of virtue remains in your heart. Return to Titus's side, etc. Exit |
SECOND SCENE Sextus, then Vitellia Recitative SEXTUS Should I go or stay? I am in no state to take a decision. VITELLIA Sextus, fly: save your life and my honour. You are lost if anyone finds you, and if you are found my secret will become public. SEXTUS It will remain buried in my heart. No one knew it. I shall die concealing it. |
THIRD SCENE Publius with guards, and the same Recitative PUBLIUS Sextus! SEXTUS What do you want? PUBLIUS Your sword. SEXTUS And why? PUBLIUS The one who, clad in regal attire, fell wounded to the ground before your eyes, and whom, misled by his appearance, you took for Titus, was Lentulus; the blow did not deprive him of life. The rest you know. Come. VITELLIA (O fatal blow!) SEXTUS surrendering his sword So at last, tyrant ... PUBLIUS Sextus, we must go. The Senate is already assembled to hear you, and I cannot delay conducting you there. SEXTUS Farewell, ungrateful woman |
FOURTH SCENE No. 14 - Trio SEXTUS If ever you feel a light breeze playing on your face, that breath will be my dying sighs. VITELLIA (Through me he is being taken to his death; ah, wherever can I hide?‑ Very soon my crime will be known to the world.) PUBLIUS Come ... SEXTUS to Publius I follow you ... to Vitellia Farewell. VITELLIA to Sextus Listen ... I am lost ... O god! to Publius How cruel! SEXTUS to Vitellia, as he is going Remember the one who loves you still, even in this plight. Let your pity at least be solace for my pain. VITELLIA Remorse, horror and fear rend my heart! What I feel in my soul will make me die of grief.) PUBLIUS (The stinging, bitter tears that pour from her eyes move my soul, but pity is useless!) Exeunt Publius and Sextus with the guards; exit Vitellia on the opposite side. |
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FIFTH SCENE A great hall designed for public hearings. A throne, chair and small table Titus, Publius, patricians, Praetorian Guard and populace No. 15 - Chorus CHORUS Ah, let us render thanks to the supreme Creator who in Titus preserved the glory of the throne. TITUS Ah no, I am not so unfortunate if my lot finds sympathy in Rome, if prayers are still offered up for Titus. CHORUS Ali, let us render thanks, etc. Recitative PUBLIUS The people are all assembled there at the festive arena, and nothing is lacking but your presence. TITUS We will go soon, Publius. I could not rest if I did not first know Sextus's fate. The Senate will now have heard his defence; it will have found, you will see, that he is innocent; and the verdict should not be long delayed. Go, ask What is happening, what they are waiting for. I wish to know all before leaving. |
PUBLIUS I go, but fear I shall not return the bearer of happy tidings. TITUS Can you believe Sextus disloyal? I measure his feelings by my own; and it seems an impossibility to me that he could have betrayed me. PUBLIUS But my lard, not all have hearts like Titus. No. 16 - Aria PUBLIUS He is late to notice betrayal who has never known what it is to be disloyal. It is no wonder if a true heart, full of honour, believes all other hearts incapable of disloyalty. He is late, etc. Exit |
SIXTH SCENE Titus, then Annius Recitative TITUS No, I do not believe my Sextus so wicked. A heart could not change so greatly. Annius, what do you bring? Sextus 's innocence? Reassure me. ANNIUS My lord, I come to beg mercy for him. |
SEVENTH SCENE The same, Publius carrying a piece of paper Recitative PUBLIUS Caesar, did I not say so? Sextus was the author of the cruel plot. TITUS And is this true, Publius? PUBLIUS Only too true: he admitted everything with his own lips. The Senate has condemned him, with his accomplices, to be thrown to the wild beasts. Here is the terrible, but just, decree; giving the paper to Titus only the Emperor's name, my lord, is lacking. TITUS throwing himself into a chair Almighty gods! PUBLIUS kneeling Ah, merciful sovereign... TITUS Annius, for the moment leave me in peace. PUBLIUS You know that the people are now assembled for the great show... TITUS I know. Leave me! ANNIUS Oh, forgive me if I speak on behalf of a madman. He is the brother of my dear bride. |
No. 17- Aria ANNIUS You were betrayed: he deserves to die,but yet Titus's heart allows room for hope. Ah, take counsel, my lord, of your heart: deign to look upon our grief. Exeunt Publius and Annius. |
EIGHTH SCENE Titus alone, seated Accompanied Recitative TITUS O horror! What treachery! What black disloyalty! To pretend friendship and be always at my side; at every moment exacting from me some token of love, and meanwhile plotting my death! And I still delay the punishment and do not sign the sentence? He takes the pen to sign, then pauses. Ah yes, let the miscreant die! He shall die ... but am I sending Sextus to his death without hearing him? Yes; the Senate has already heard enough. Yet suppose he had some secret to reveal to me? Ho there! He puts down his pen; a guard enters (Let him be heard, and then he can go to execution.) Bring Sextus to me. Exit guard How unhappy is the fate of those who reign! To us is denied what is given to the lowliest. That needy peasant in the depths of the woods, whose rough sides are clad in coarse wool, whose shapeless hovel is an unreliable shelter from the inclement elements, sleeps peacefully, passes his days in tranquillity. He asks little: he knows who hates him, who loves him: in company or alone he goes safely to the forest and to the mountain, and sees everyone's hearts mirrored in their faces. |
NINTH SCENE Titus, Publius, Sextus and guards Sextus has barely entered when he halts. No. 18 - Trio SEXTUS (Is that the face of Titus? Ah, ye stars, where has his usual mildness gone? Now he makes me tremble!) TITUS (Eternal gods! Are these then the features of Sextus? O how a crime can transform a face!) PUBLIUS (A thousand conflicting emotions are at war within Titus. If he feels such torment, he still loves him.) TITUS Draw near! SEXTUS (O voice that weighs so heavy on my heart!) TITUS Do you not hear? SEXTUS (O heaven, I feel myself bathed in sweat! O god! A dying man could not suffer more.) TITUS and PUBLIUS (The traitor trembles and dares not raise his eyes.) Exeunt Publius and the guards |
Recitative TITUS Hear me, Sextus; we are alone; your sovereign is not present. Open your heart to Titus; confide in your friend. I ask this at least in return for friendship, SEXTUS (Here is a new kind of torment! Either displease Titus or accuse Vitellia.) TITUS beginning to grow uneasy Do you still doubt? SEXTUS My lord ... know then ... TITUS Speak,then: what did you wish to tell me? SEXTUS That I am the object of the gods' wrath; that I no longer have the strength to face my fate; that I confess myself a traitor, call myself a villain; that I deserve death and desire it. TITUS Ungrateful wretch! And you shall have it! to the guards, who have entered Guards, take the culprit out of my sight! SEXTUS One last kiss on that invincible hand. TITUS without looking at him Go; it is too late; now I am your judge. SEXTUS Ah my lord, let this be your last favour. |
No. 19 - Rondo SEXTUS Ah, for this single moment remember our former love, for your anger, your severity, make me die of grief. Unworthy of pity, it is true, I ought only to inspire horror. Yet you would be less harsh if you could read my heart. In despair I go to death, but dying does not affright me. The thought that I was a traitor to you tortures me! (A heart can suffer such anguish and yet not die of sorrow!) Exit |
TENTH SCENE Titus alone Recitative TITUS Where was more insolent disloyalty ever heard? I must avenge his disregard and scorn for my clemency. Avenge! ... Can the heart of Titus nurture such feelings? ... Well, let him live ... Then do the laws mean nothing? He sits down Sextus is guilty: Sextus shall die. He signs But then I do violence to my feelings. Shall I at least be sure that others will approve? Ah, let me not forsake my usual path ... tearing up the sheet Let my friend live, though he is faithless. And if the world wants to accuse me of some failing, let it accuse me of mercy, throwing away the torn sheet not of harshness. |
ELEVENTH SCENE Titus, Publius Recitative TITUS Publius! PUBLIUS My Emperor? TITUS Let us go to the people, who are waiting. PUBLIUS And Sextus? TITUS And let Sextus, too, come to the arena. PUBLIUS Then his fate ...? TITUS Yes, Publius, it is already decided. PUBLIUS (O wretched man!) No. 20 - Aria TITUS If a hard heart is necessary to a ruler, ye benevolent gods, either take the empire from me or give me another heart. If I cannot assure the loyalty of my realms by love, I care not for a loyalty that is born of fear. If a hard heart is necessary, etc. Exit, followed by Publius |
TWELFTH SCENE Vitellia, and then Servilia and Annius from opposite sides Recitative SERVILIA Ah, Vitellia! ANNIUS Ah, princess! SERVILIA My poor brother ... ANNIUS My dear friend ... SERVILIA ... is being taken to his death. VITELLIA But what can I do for him? SERVILIA Everything: at your pleas Titus will pardon him. ANNIUS He cannot refuse it to his new Empress. VITELLIA Annius, I am not the Empress yet. ANNIUS Before the sun sets, Titus will be your husband. just now, in my presence, he gave orders for the festivities. VITELLIA (Then Sextus kept silent! What love! What faith!) Annius, Servilia, let us go. (But where can I go like this without thought?) leave me, friends, I will come. |
No. 21 - Aria SERVILIAIf you do nothing for him but shed tears, all your weeping will be of no avail. Oh, how like to cruelty is this useless pity that you feel. If you do nothing for him, etc. Exit |
THIRTEENTH SCENE Vitellia alone No. 22 - Accompanied Recitative VITELLIA Now is the moment, O Vitellia, to test your firmess: will you have sufficient courage to look upon your faithful Sextus lifeless? Sextus, who loves you more than his own life, who for your sake committed a crime, who obeyed you, cruel one, and adored you, unjust as you are; who in the face of death remains so true to you, while you, aware of this, calmly go to Caesar's bridal bed? Ah, I should always see Sextus near me and fear the breezes and the stones might speak and betray me to Titus. Let me go and confess all at his feet. Let Sextus's crime, If it cannot be forgiven, be lessened through my guilt. Ah farewell, hopes of dominion and marriage! No. 23 - Rondo VITELLIA No more shall Hymen descend to weave fair garlands of flowers. Bound in harsh, cruel chains, I see death advance towards me. O wretched me! How horrible! Ah, what will be said of me? Yet he who could see my distress would have pity on me. Exit |
FOURTEENTH SCENE A splendid scene showing a vast amphitheatre. Already in the arena can be seen the accomplices in the plot, who have been condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts. During the following chorus Titus enters, preceded by lictors, surrounded by the Praetorian Guard. After him, Annius and Servilia. No. 24 - Chorus CHORUS That you are the care, the darling of heaven and of the gods, great hero, has been shown in the brief course of this day. But there is no cause for wonder, fortunate Augustus, that the gods thus watch over one so like them. |
FIFTEENTH SCENE Titus, Publius and Sextus between lictors, Annius and Servilia, and then Vitellia Recitative TITUS Sextus, you know the range of your crimes and what punishment is due to you. Rome in turmoil, majesty offended, laws affronted, friendship betrayed ‑ the world and heaven call for your death. Yet you know that I am the sole object of your treachery: now listen. VITELLIA entering hastily Here, mighty Emperor, kneeling here at your feet is the most troubled ... TITUS Ah, rise! What are you doing? What do you desire? VITELLIA I bring before you the author of the wicked plot. TITUS Where is he? Who ever planned such threats to my life? VITELLIA You will not believe it. |
TITUS Why not? VITELLIA Because it is I. TITUS You too? SEXTUS and SERVILIA Ye stars! ANNIUS and PUBLIUS Ye gods! TITUS And how many are there, however many to betray me? VITELLIA I am the most guilty of all! I conceived the plot. I seduced from you your most faithful friend: I took advantage of his blind love for me. TITUS But what was the cause of your anger? VITELLIA Your goodness. I thought that this was love. I hoped for your hand and the throne as a gift from you, and then I was repeatedly passed over, and sought revenge. |
No. 25 - Accompanied Recitative TITUS But what a day this is! At the very moment that I absolve one wrongdoer, I discover another? When, just gods, shall I find a loyal soul? I believe the stars conspire to oblige me, despite myself, to turn cruel. No: they shall not have this satisfaction. My strength is already pledged to continue the contest. Let us see whether others' perfidy or my clemency will be the more enduring. Ho there! Release Sextus: Lentulus and his followers shall again enjoy life and liberty.Be it known in Rome that I am the same, that I know all, forgive everyone and forget it all. |
No. 26 - Sextet with Chorus SEXTUS You forgive me, Caesar, it is true; but my heart, that will lament its error as long as memory lasts, does not forgive me. TITUS The true repentance of which you are capable is worth more than a truly constant fidelity. VITELLIA, SERVILIA, ANNIUS O generous and noble soul! Who ever attained such heights? His supreme goodness draws tears from my eyes. TUTTI and CHORUS (except TITUS) Eternal gods, watch over his sacred days: preserve in him Rome's happiness. TITUS Cut short, eternal gods, cut short my days on that day when the good of Rome ceases to be my care. |
Contents: Cast; First Act; Second Act |