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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow SCENE I.—: A room in the Ducal Palace. Doors right and left and one in front. On one side the portrait of the Duke, on the other side that of the Duchess. A table, arm-chair, &c. Enter the Duke, much agitated. - Rigoletto: An Opera in Four Acts

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Subject Area: Music
Topic: Opera and Liberty

SCENE I.—: A room in the Ducal Palace. Doors right and left and one in front. On one side the portrait of the Duke, on the other side that of the Duchess. A table, arm-chair, &c. Enter the Duke, much agitated. - Giuseppe Verdi, Rigoletto: An Opera in Four Acts [1851]

Edition used:

Rigoletto: An Opera in Four Acts, words by Victor Hugo (New York: Fred Rullman, n.d.). Metropolitan Opera House, Grand Opera, Libretto.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


SCENE I.—

A room in the Ducal Palace. Doors right and left and one in front. On one side the portrait of the Duke, on the other side that of the Duchess. A table, arm-chair, &c. Enter the Duke, much agitated.

They robbed me of my love!

When! At the moment

A voice within my heart

Did call me back to her!

I found the door wide open; the house deserted.

And where now can that dearest angel be

Who first within my heart

Awoke such flames of love;—

That soul, whose magic charms

Would almost draw me back to virtue’s path?

They tore her from her home;

But he who dared so much shall soon repent.

The grief of my beloved demands revenge.

Methinks I see a tear,

That’s starting to her eyes,

Which ’midst the grief and fear

Of such a sad surprise,

In fond remembrance said

Ah! Walter, lend me aid.

But I was far away;

Thou had’st no help from me.

Yet, willingly my life

I would have lost for thee!

No bliss on earth—no bliss above—

Can equal thy sweet love!