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Subject Area: Music
Topic: Opera and Liberty

SCENE XII.— - 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 XII.—

EnterPizarro,two Officers, and Guards.

Piz.

  • Insolent old man! how dar’st thou,
  • In defiance of my will,
  • Thus to usurp my authority,
  • And set the prisoners free?

Roc.

  • [Embarrassed.] Alas!

Piz.

  • Well?

Roc.

  • [Trying to think of an excuse.]
  • Do you think it a crime
  • Your wishes to anticipate?
  • [Collecting himself.
  • I thought it right, on such a day,
  • To alleviate their sufferings.
  • [Doffing his cap.
  • Our gracious King’s birth-day
  • We in this way celebrate.
  • [Low, to Pizarro
  • In obedience to your order,
  • For the condemned prisoner
  • I am now about to dig a grave.

Piz.

  • [Softly] Hasten, then, and quickly do so.
  • And I will, this once, overlook the fault.
  • Shut up the prisoners, and remember,
  • Never again be guilty of a similar indiscretion.

The Prisoners.

  • Farewell, thou warm sun-light!
  • Quickly thou disappearest again from our gaze.
  • Only the night remains for us,
  • From which no morning may ever break again.

Piz.

  • Now, Rocco, no longer tarry,
  • But get thee down to the dungeou, [Softly.
  • And from thence you return not
  • Till I have completed my purpose.

Roc.

  • No, sir, no, I’ll not remain any longer;
  • I will hasten below.
  • My limbs tremble under me. [Aside.
  • Oh, wretched old man! oh, heart-rending duty!

Leo. [To the Prisoners.]

  • You hear the word, then linger not here:
  • Return into the prison. [Aside.
  • Breathless anxiety runs through all my veins.
  • Does no judgment overtake the evil-doer?

Jac. [To the Prisoners.]

  • You hear the word, then linger not here:
  • Return to the prison.
  • [Aside, observing Rocco and Leonora.
  • They are pondering and whispering there—
  • I wish I could hear what they are saying.

Mar. [Looking at the Prisoners.]

  • For a few short moments we see each other in the warm sunshine,
  • Then part again in sorrow.
  • Here freedom must not reign.
  • Alas! no joy must ever enter here.
  • [The Prisoners go into their cells, which Leonara and Jacquino lock after them.

end of act i.

AUFZUG II.

ACT II.