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Subject Area: Music
Topic: Opera and Liberty

SCENE X.— - Ludwig van Beethoven, Beethoven’ s Opera Fidelio. German Text, with an English Translation [1805]

Edition used:

Beethoven’ s Opera Fidelio. German Text, with an English Translation (Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1864).

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 X.—

RoccoandLeonora.

Leo.

  • Now speak—how have you succeeded?

Roc.

  • Why well, very well.
  • I composed my mind,
  • And represented every thing to him;
  • And, would you believe, now, his answer?
  • That he will allow the marriage,
  • And that you shall be my assistant.
  • Even to-day I take you into the dungeons.

Leo.

  • [Joyously.] To-day! What a respite!
  • Oh, what true delight!

Roc.

  • I perceive how glad you are.
  • Stay, however, a moment or two,
  • And then we will both go together.

Leo.

  • Whither?

Roc.

  • Down to that poor man,
  • To whom, for so many months,
  • I have daily given less and less of food.

Leo.

  • O God! is he to be freed?

Roc.

  • Oh no!

Leo.

  • Say not so!

Roc.

  • No! oh no! [With an air of deep secresy.]
  • We must—oh! in what manner!—set him free
  • That is, boy, he must, in an hour,—
  • Your finger on your lip,—
  • Be laid in his grave, and by our hands.

Leo.

  • Ah! then he is dead?

Roc.

  • Not yet, not yet!

Leo.

  • [Starting back.] What! is it thy duty to kill him?

Roc.

  • No, good youth, let not that fear distress you.
  • Rocco does not hire himself to murder!
  • The Governor will himself come down—
  • We two have only to dig the grave.

Leo.

  • [Aside.] Perhaps to dig the grave of my husband!
  • What can be more horrible?

Roc.

  • Any one else at his bidding
  • Is willing to become a murderer.

Duetto.

Rok.

  • Wir müssen gleich zu Werke schreiten,
  • Du musst mir helfen, mich begleiten,
  • Hart ist des Kerkermeisters Brod.

Leo.

  • Ich folge dir, wär’s in den Tod!

Rok.

  • In der zerfallenen Cisterne
  • Bereiten wir die Grabe leicht.
  • Ich thu’ es, glaube mir, nicht gerne,
  • Auch dir ist schaurig, wie mir deucht

Leo.

  • Ich bins nur noch nicht recht gewohnt.

Rok.

  • Ich hätte gerne dich verschont,
  • Doch wird es mir allein zu schwer,
  • Und gar zu streng ist unser Herr.

Leo.

  • O welch ein Schmerz!

Rok.

  • Mir scheint, er weine!
  • Nein, du bleibst hier, ich geh’ alleine.

Leo.

  • Ich muss ihn seh’n, den Armen seh’n,
  • Und müsst ich selbst zu Grunde geh’n.

Rok.

  • So säumen wir nuo länger nicht.

Duet.

Roc.

  • This work of grief you now must aid in;
  • With courage great the deed pursuing,
  • Mark what I do, and follow me

Leo.

  • Yes, father, I will follow thee!

Roc.

  • With noiseless tread, in yonder corner
  • The cistern near, a grave we’ll make;
  • I do it much against my wishes;
  • And thou art shaking, too, with fear.

Leo.

  • I’m quite prepared, confide in me!

Roc.

  • I willingly liad spar’d you this,
  • But, all alone, the work’s too much.

Leo.

  • Oh! cruel fate!

Roc.

  • Methinks he weeps! Nay, stay thou here,
  • And I will go without thee,
  • Whilst thou in peace shalt rest, and wait me here

Leo.

  • Ah, no! I feel an ardor new inspire me;
  • No labor done with thee will tire me;
  • With thee, dear father, will I go.

Roc.

  • Thus, then, we will no longer stay,
  • ’Tis duty calls, and we obey.