Fidelio Opera by Ludwig van Beethoven Libretto

ACT ONE  Overture  FIRST SCENE  Marzellina, Jaquino.  No. 1 - Duet  JAQUINO  Now, Sweetheart, at last we are alone  Let us have now a quiet chat.  MARZELLINA  It cannot be all that important,  I must go on, with my work.  JAQUINO  One word, you obstinate girl!  MARZELLINA  Go on then, I'm listening to you.  JAQUINO  If you don't look friendlier at me  I shall not be able to talk.  MARZELLINA  Put up with me as l am,  Or else I shan't Iisten at all.  JAQUINO  One minute, please, hear what I say,  Thereafter I'll leave you in peace.  MARZELLINA  You never will leave me in peace,  Let hear me what you've got to say.  JAQUINO  I've chosen you for my wife,  You understand?  MARZELLINA  This is quite clear.  JAQUINO  And if you did only consent -  You follow?  MARZELLINA  We're husband and wife.  JAQUINO  We could within very few weeks -  MARZELLINA  How nicely you've worked it all out.  JAQUINO  To Hell with this continuous knocking!  MARZELLINA  At last he will leave me in peace.  JAQUINO  I was getting so nicely along -, -  Again she has slipped through my net.  MARZELLINA  His love, how sad does it make me,  The hours seem never to end.  I know that the poor devil suffers  And I am so sorry for him.  Fidelio's the one I have chosen,  To love him makes happy my life.  JAQUINO  Where was I - she's looking away.  MARZELLINA  Here he is - he'll start it again.  JAQUINO  When will you give me your consent?  It easily could be today.  MARZELLINA  Oh dear, he embitters my life.  Once and for ever, no!  JAQUINO  Your heart is as hard as a stone!  Unmoved by my wishes, my prayers.  MARZELLINA  I must be so cruel with him,  Not give him a glimmer of hope.  JAQUINO  Is there nothing that would change your mind?  Do tell me!  MARZELLINA  Please, leave me alone.  JAQUINO  To look at you, you can't forbid me,  Or will you?  MARZELLINA  Stay here, if you want to!  JAQUINO  How often you've given your promise -  MARZELLINA  My promise? No, this goes too far!  JAQUINO  To Hell with this continuous knocking!  MARZELLINA  At last he will leave me in peace!  JAQUINO  She really seemed quite concerned,  Who knows, I might win her at last.  MARZELLINA  How welcome this sound is to me,  I almost got frightened to death.  ROCCO  Jaquino, Jaquino!  MARZELLINA  Listen, Father is calling!  JAQUINO  I'm coming! I'm coming!  MARZELLINA  Poor Jaquino, I'm sorry for him. I used to be quite fond of him. But then Fidelio came into our house, and since then everything around me and within me has changed.  SECOND SCENE  Marzellina alone  No. 2 - Aria  MARZELLINA  I wished we were united yet  And I could husband call you!  A girl may never what she thinks,  Tell anyone aloud.  But when I never have to blush  From kisses of a loving heart,  When nothing ever will us part -  And hope already swells my chest  With untold sweet desire,  How happy shall I be then!  In peace and quiet homeliness  I'll wake up every morning,  We greet each other tenderly,  Hard work dispels anxiety.  And when the day's work has been done,  The gentle night will quietly fall,  Then we shall rest from all our toil.  And hope already swells my chest  With untold sweet desire,  How happy shall I be then!  THIRD SCENE  Marzellina, Rocco, Jaquino.  ROCCO  Good morning, Marzellina. Has Fidelio not returned yet?  MARZELLINA  No, Father!  ROCCO  I'm waiting for him with impatience.  MARZELLINA  Here he is, here he is!  FOURTH SCENE  The former, Leonora.  ROCCO  Well, Fidelio?  LEONORA  The blacksmith took so much time over mending the chains. Here is the receipt.  ROCCO  Very good, you buy much cheaper than I.  LEONORA  I'm trying my best.  ROCCO  Yes, you are good and you shall have your reward.  LEONORA  Please, do not believe it is because of a reward that I …  ROCCO  Hush! Do you think I could not see into your heart?  No. 3 - Quartet  MARZELLINA  A feeling never known,  It tightly grips my heart,  He loves me, it is clear,  Happy I shall be.  LEONORA  How great the danger is,  The rays of hope so weak!  She loves me, it is clear,  My sufferings never end.  ROCCO  She loves him, it is clear;  Yes, girl, he will be yours.  A couple, young and good,  Happy they will be.  JAQUINO  My hair, it stands on end,  The father will consent;  A feeling never known,  There's nothing I can do.  ROCCO  Listen, Fidelio, as soon as the governor has departed for Sevilla, I shall make you my son-in-law. The day after I shall join you in wedlock.  MARZELLINA  The day after his departure? Oh yes, dear Father!  ROCCO  Well, my children, you love each other, don't you? But for good housekeeping one also needs …  No. 4 - Aria  ROCCO  Unless there is gold to live on,  Quite happy you will never be;  Sadly life will carry on,  Many a sorrow will set in.  But if in the pockets it tinkles and rolls,  The fate you will have at your mercy,  And gold will provide you with power and love,  Will still your boldest desires.  You pay for luck to serve you well,  It is a wonderful thing, the gold.  If nought and nought is put together,  The total is and will be small;  If you find only love at table,  You'll be hungry afterwards.  So may fortune prove to you gracious and kind  And bless and guide your striving;  The beloved at your side, the gold in your purse,  For many a year you may live thus.  You pay for luck to serve you well,  It is a mighty thing, the gold.  LEONORA  It is for you to say this, Father Rocco, but I maintain that the union of two like-minded hearts is the fount of true happiness in marriage. There is, however, something no less dear to my heart.  ROCCO  And this is?  LEONORA  Why do you not allow me to accompany you into the underground vaults?  ROCCO  You know that I have the strictest orders not allow anyone near the prisoners of state.  MARZELLINA  But you work yourself to death, dear Father.  ROCCO  Yet, Fidelio, there is one prison into which I shall probably never be allowed to take you.  MARZELLINA  Probably where the prisoner is ...  ROCCO  Yes, yes  LEONORA  I believe it must be a long time since he has been taken prisoner?  ROCCO  More than two years.  LEONORA  Two years, you said? He must be a great criminal?  ROCCO  Or he must have great, enemies. He cannot last much longer. Now, on Pizarro's orders, he gets no more than a little bread and water, no light, no straw, nothing.  MARZELLINA  Dear Father, please, don't lead Fidelio to him. He could not stand his sight.  LEONORA  Why not? I have courage and strength.  No. 5 - Terzetto  ROCCO  Good, my lad, good,  Courageous you must be,  Then you will master life;  The heart grows hard  If you can face  The horrors of this world.  LEONORA  Courage I possess!  With cold blood  Boldly I'll go down:  For high reward  Love will be able  To suffer greatest pain.  MARZELLINA  Your kind heart  Will many a pain  Suffer in those vaults;  Thereafter will return  Happiness of love  And many untold pleasures.  ROCCO  You'll build your fortune on firm ground.  LEONORA  In God and justice faith I'll have.  MARZELLINA  Why don't you look me into the eyes,  The power of love is by no means small.  Yes, happy we shall be.  LEONORA  Yes, happy I can still be.  ROCCO  Yes, happy you will be.  The governor shall today permit  That you share all my work with me.  LEONORA  You'll deprive me of all my peace  If till tomorrow you did wait.  MARZELLINA  Yes, dearest Father, ask him now,  Married we could then shortly be.  ROCCO  I soon shall be the prey of the grave,  I need assistance, this is true.  LEONORA  How long I've been the prey of grief!  Oh hope, do give me strength.  MARZELLINA  Father, dear, what did you say?  Our friend and councillor you must remain.  ROCCO  Be on your toes, then all ends well,  Your longing will be stilled.  Both take your bands, united be  In sweet tears of joy.  LEONORA  You are so good, give courage me,  My longing will soon be stilled …  aside  I gave my hand to the tender tie,  It costs me bitter tears.  MARZELLINA  Oh have courage! Oh what fire!  Oh what deep desire!  Firm be the tie with heart and hand,  Oh sweet, sweet tears!  No. 6 - March  FIFTH SCENE  Rocco, Pizarro, Officers, Guards.  PIZARRO  Captain! Three guards on the rampart, six men on the drawbridge, and anyone approaching the fortress will be brought to me at once. Rocco!  ROCCO  Sir?  PIZARRO  Where are the dispatches?  ROCCO  Here they are, Sir.  PIZARRO  Well - Always recommendations or reproaches. I know this hand-writing: "I wish to tell you that the Minister has learned that the state prisons illegally detain a number of victims. He will depart tomorrow for a surprise inspection." If he found that man Florestan whom he believes to be dead. But there is a way out - a courageous deed …  No. 7 - Aria with Chorus  PIZARRO  Ah, time has come now!  Revenge I'll take on him,  Your fate is calling you!  I shall probe his heart,  Oh joy, oh great delight!  I almost was in the dust,  At the sneering scoffer's mercy,  Knocked miserably down.  But come has now my chance,  To be the, murderer's slayer;  In his final hour,  The steel deep in his wound,  To shout into his ears:  Triumph! Victory is mine!  CHORUS OF THE GUARDS  He speaks of death and wounds!  Let's go on our rounds,  How important it must be!  He speaks of death and wounds!  Look out, when on your rounds!  How important it must be!  PIZARRO  Captain, these are my orders: Watch the road from Seville continuously and with the greatest care. As soon as you see a coach approaching, the bugler will sound the signal. Man your posts! - Rocco!  ROCCO  Sir!  No. 8 - Duet  PIZARRO  Old man, we've got to hurry,  A fortune will be yours,  A rich man you will be;  Take this for a start!  ROCCO  Please, tell me in a hurry  What I shall have to do.  PIZARRO  A man of cold blood are you,  Fearless and courageous  Years of service have made you.  ROCCO  What's my duty? Tell me!  PIZARRO  ***!  ROCCO  What?  PIZARRO  Listen to me now!  You're trembling! Are you a man?  No time is to be lost;  In the interest of the state  The criminal subject must  Quickly be removed.  ROCCO  Sir ...  PIZARRO  Why hesitate?  He must no longer live,  My ruin it would be.  Pizarro were afraid?  You'll die - and I shall live.  ROCCO  Trembling I am all over;  How could I do such a thing?  I shall not take his life,  Whatever may happen to me.  No, Sir, committing ***,  My duty this is not.  PIZARRO  Then I myself shall do it  If you the courage lack;  Now hurry at this instant  To that man down below -  You know .  ROCCO  Who hardly lives  And like a shadow looks?  PIZARRO  To him, to him go down!  I'll wait not far away  Whilst you dig in the cistern  Very quickly a grave.  ROCCO  And then?  PIZARRO  Then I shall in disguise  Quietly enter the dungeon -  One stroke - and he'll,be dead!  ROCCO  Starving in his fetters  He suffered endless pains,  To kill him means salvation,  The dagger'll make him free.  PIZARRO  He die now in his fetters,  Too short his suffering was,  His death alone can save me,  I shall be quiet then.  Old man, we've got to hurry,  Have you understood me?  You give the signal!  Then I shall in disguise  Quietly enter the dungeon -  One stroke - and he'll be dead!  ROCCO  Starving in his fetters  He suffered endless pains,  To kill him, means salvation,  The dagger'll make him free.  PIZARRO  He die now in his fetters,  Too short his suffering was,  His death alone can save me,  I shall be quiet then.  SIXTH SCENE  Leonora alone.  LEONORA  No. 9 - Recitativo and Aria  You monster! Where will you go?  What have you planned in cruel fury?  The call of pity, the voice of mankind,  Will nothing move your tiger's wrath?  Though surge like ocean's waves  Ire and anger in your heart,  A rainbow on my path still shines,  Which brightly rests on sombre clouds:  It looks so calmy, peacefully at me,  Of happier days reminding me  And soothes thus my troubled heart.  Come hope, let not the last bright star  In my anguish be obscured!  Light up my goal, however far,  Through love I shall still reach it.  I follow my inner calling,  Waver I shall not,  Strength I derive  From faithfulness and love.  Oh you -,- for whom I bore so much,  If I could penetrate  Where malice has imprisoned you  And bring to you sweet comfort!  I follow my inner calling,  Waver, I shall not,  Strength I derive  From faithfulness and love.  SEVENTH SCENE  Marzellina, Jaquino.  JAQUINO  But Marzellina! Once I was your dear, good Jaquino, but since this Fidelio ...  MARZELLINA  I do not deny ...  EIGHTH SCENE  The former, Rocco, Leonora.  ROCCO  What have you two got to quarrel again?  MARZELLINA  Father, he keeps on following me. He wants that I should marry him.  ROCCO  No, Jaquino, there is no question of your marrying her now. I have other things in mind.  MARZELLINA  I understand, father, Fidelio…  LEONORA  Father Rocco, several times I have asked you to allow the poor prisoners into the fortress garden. Today the weather is so beautiful.  ROCCO  Without the governor's permission?  MARZELLINA  But he talked to you so long, perhaps ...  ROCCO  You are right, Marzellina, I can risk it. Come along, Jaquino and Fidelio, open the lighter prisons.  NINTH SCENE  Prisoners' Chorus.  No. 10 - Finale  PRISONERS' CHORUS  Oh what joy, in the open air  Freely to breathe again!  Up here alone is life!  The dungeon is a grave.  FIRST PRISONER  We shall with all our faith  Trust in the help of God!  Hope whispers softly in my ears!  We shall be free, we shall find peace.  ALL THE OTHERS  Oh Heaven! Salvation! Happiness!  Oh Freedom! Will you be given us?  SECOND PRISONER  Speak softly! Be on your guard!  We are watched with eye and ear.  ALL  Speak softly! Be on your guard!  We are watched with eye and ear.  Oh what joy, in the open air  Freely to breathe again!  Up here alone is life.  Speak softly! Be on your guard!  We are watched with eye and ear.  TENTH SCENE  Rocco, Leonora.  Recitativo  LEONORA  How did it go?  ROCCO  Quite well, quite well.  All my courage I plucked up  And put it all to him.  And would you believe it,  What he replied to me?  The marriage and that you help me, he will permit;  Today already I shall lead you down into the dungeon.  Duet  LEONORA  Today! Today!  What happiness, what great joy!  ROCCO  I can see your joy,  It'll only be one moment  And 'We shall go together -  LEONORA  Where?  ROCCO  To that man down below  To whom I gave for weeks  Less and less to eat.  LEONORA  Ah! - Will he be released?  ROCCO  Oh no!  LEONORA  Do speak!  ROCCO  Oh no, oh, no!  We have to - how shall'I say - free him,  He must within one hour -  No one else may know -  Be burried by us both!  LEONORA  So he is dead?  ROCCO  Not yet, not yet.  LEONORA  To kill him, is your duty this?  ROCCO  No, my deat boy, don't be afraid;  For *** Rocco won't be hired.  The governor himself comes down,  We two, we only dig his grave.  LEONORA  To dig perhaps the husband's grave,  Is there anything more cruel?  ROCCO  I'm not allowed to give him food,  The grave will be relief for him. -  We have to go to work at once,  You must assist me, come with me;  Hard is the jailer's life.  LEONORA  I follow you, were it to my death.  ROCCO  In the crumbling cistern  We easily dig the grave,  Believe me, I am loath to do it;  You, too, are shuddering, it seems.  LEONORA  I only am not used to it.  ROCCO  I wished, I could have spared you this,  For me alone it gets too much,  And so severe our master is.  LEONORA  Oh, what great grief!  ROCCO  I think, he's crying.  No, you stay here - I'll go alone,  I'll go alone.  LEONORA  Oh no, oh no!  I must see him; see the poor man,  If I should perish over this.  ROCCO, LEONORA  So let's no longer hesitate,  We have to do our cruel work.  ELEVENTH SCENE  The former, Jaquino and Marzellina.  MARZELLINA  Quick, Father, quick!  ROCCO  What is it now?  JAQUINO  No longer wait!  ROCCO  What's happened now?  MARZELLINA  Pizarro follows me furiously!  He's threatening you.  ROCCO  Keep calm, keep calm!  LEONORA  Hurry along!  ROCCO  Just tell me this:  He knows it all?  JAQUINO  Yes, he knows it all.  MARZELLINA  The officer  Told him what we  Have the prisoners allowed.  ROCCO  Let quickly all of them return.  MARZELLINA  We've seen him rage before  And know his anger well.  LEONORA  My heart is full of rage,  Indignant is my blood.  ROCCO  My heart, it gives me right,  May the tyrant rage.  TWELFTH SCENE  The former, Pizarro, later on the prisoners.  PIZARRO  Insolent old man! By what rights  Have you assumed such frivolous behaviour?  Does it befit a hired servant  To give the prisoners free?  ROCCO  Oh Sir!  PIZARRO  Speak up!  ROCCO  The spring's arrival,  The bright and warm sunshine,  And: Have you ever thought of it,  It might acquit me of my guilt?  His Majesty's birthday is today,  We celebrate it in this way.  The one below die - but let the others  Walk gaily to and fro;  For him be all your hatred spared.  PIZARRO  So hurry up and dig his grave,  Up here I will have strictest peace.  Lock the prisoners up again,  May you never be insolent!  THE PRISONERS  Farewell, warm sunshine,  Too quickly we must leave you;  Already night is falling down  From which so soon no morrow dawns.  MARZELLINA  How gaily did they greet the sun  And now they part so sadly.  The others whisper to themselves,  This is no place for joy and pleasure.  LEONORA  You heard the word, don't hesitate,  Return into your prisons now.  Anxiety makes me tremble,  Is there no justice for the wicked?  JAQUINO  You heard the word, don't hesitate,  Return into your prisons,  They whisper to each other,  I cannot hear what they all say.  PIZARRO  Now Rocco, no longer hesitate,  Descend down to the dungeon.  No sooner you'll return,  Ere I have judgement passed on him.  ROCCO  No, Sir, I shall not hesitate,  I'll hurriedly go down.  Trembling I am all over,  Oh dreadful, cruel duty!  ACT TWO  FIRST SCENE  Florestan (alone).  No. 11 - Recitativo and Aria  FLORESTAN  God! what darkness this! What terrifying silence!  I'm living in a desert. Death only reigns down here.  How hard my trials! -  But just is the Lord's pleasure!  I don't complain! What I've to suffer, You decree.  In the spring days of my life  Happiness deserted me!  Truth I dared to utter boldly  And the chains are my reward.  Willingly I bear my tortures,  End in ignomy my life;  To my heart this is sweet solace:  My duty I have always done!  And do I not feel soft whispering air?  What brightness shines into my grave?  I see how an angel fragrant like a rose  Comforting stands by my side,  An angel, Leonora, my wife so alike  To lead met to freedom, to the kingdom of God.  SECOND SCENE  Florestan, Rocco and Leonora.  No. 12 - Melodrama and Duet  Melodrama  LEONORA  How cold it is in this underground vault!  ROCCO  This is only natural; it is so deep.  LEONORA  I thought we should never find the entrance.  ROCCO  Here it is.  LEONORA  He seems quite motionless.  ROCCO  Perhaps he is dead.  LEONORA  Do you think so?  ROCCO  No, no, he is asleep. - We ought to make use of this and commence work at once; we must not lose any time.  LEONORA  It is impossible to make out his face. - God help me, if it is he!  ROCCO  Here, underneath this rubble there is the cistern I was telling you about. - There is no need to dig much to get at the opening. Give me a pick-axe and you stay here. You are trembling, are you afraid?  LEONORA  Oh no, it only is so cold.  ROCCO  Get on with it, when working you'll get warm.  Duet  ROCCO  Be quick and let us dig the grave,  It won't be long and he'll arrive.  LEONORA  You shall not have to complain of me,  You shall be satisfied with me.  ROCCO  Come, help to lift this stone with me -  Look out! Look out, it weighs a lot!  LEONORA  I help you - do not be afraid;  I promise you to do my best.  ROCCO  A little morel  LEONORA  Be patient!  ROCCO  It moves.  LEONORA  A little more!,  ROCCO  Hard work it is!  ROCCO  Be quick and let us dig the grave,  It won't be long and he'll arrive.  LEONORA  Let me regain a little strength,  We'll soon have finished our work.  By God! His prey you shall not be!  I surely will undo your chains,  And make you free, you poor, poor man.  ROCCO  Why hesitate about your work?  LEONORA  My Father, I'II go on with it.  ROCCO  Be quick and let us dig the grave,  It won't be long and he'll arrive.  LEONORA  You shall not have to complain of me,  Let me regain a little strength,  No work will be too much for me.  LEONORA  He's waking up!  ROCCO  He is waking up, you said?  LEONORA  Yes, he lifted his head.  ROCCO  I must talk to him alone. Well, have you been resting again for a few moments?  FLORESTAN  Resting? How could I find rest?  LEONORA  If I could- only see his face for one moment - God, it is him!  FLORESTAN  Tell me at last, who is the governor of this prison?  ROCCO  The governor of this prison is Don Pizarro.  FLORESTAN  Pizarro! Send someone to Seville as soon as possible and ask for Leonora Florestan, tell her that I am imprisoned here.  ROCCO  It is impossible, I tell you. I should ruin myself without accomplishing anything for you.  FLORESTAN  If it is my destiny then to end my life, do not let my slowly die of thirst. Give me just one drop of water.  ROCCO  All I can offer you is a drop of wine which I have left in my jar. Fidelio!  LEONORA  Here it is, here it is!  ROCCO  How agitated you are, Fidelio!  LEONORA  Who should not be? You yourself,  Master Rocco -  ROCCO  It is true, this voice -  LEONORA  Yes, it penetrates into the depth of the heart.  No. 13 - Terzetto  FLORESTAN  Reward be yours in better worlds,  You have been sent to me by God.  Oh thanks, you've sweetly me refreshed;  Your kindness I cannot repay.  ROCCO  I refreshed him gladly,  the poor man,  It will be over soon with him.  LEONORA  How furiously throbs my heart,  In joy it surges and stinging pain,  FLORESTAN  This youth I see so deeply moved,  Compassion also shows this man,  Oh God, fresh hope you've given me,  May it become true in the end.  LEONORA  The great and anxious hour nears,  Which brings salvation me or death.  ROCCO  I always act in duty bound,  But also hate all cruelty.  LEONORA  This piece of bread - yes, for two days  I've carried it around with me.  ROCCO  I want to, but believe you me,  This is to venture a great deal.  LEONORA  This poor man gladly you refreshed.  ROCCO  This cannot be, this cannot be.  LEONORA  It will be over soon with him.  ROCCO  So be it - yes, so be it - you may do it.  LEONORA  Here, take the bread - you poor, poor man!  FLORESTAN  Oh thanks to you! Oh thanks! Oh thanks!  Reward be yours in better worlds,  You, have been sent to me by God.  Oh thanks! You've sweetly me refreshed,  Your kindness I cannot repay.  LEONORA  May Heaven grant salvation you,  Then high reward will come to me.  ROCCO  Your suffering has often moved me,  But I've not been allowed to help.  I refreshed him gl adly, the poor man,  It will be over soon with him.  LEONORA  Oh, this is more than I can bear!  FLORESTAN  Oh that I can give you no reward!  ROCCO  Everything is ready. Fidelio, you stay here, I shall go to give the governor the signal.  FLORESTAN  Where does he go? Does this mean that my end has come?  LEONORA  Be calm and do not forget that there is providence everywhere - yes, there is a providence!  THIRD SCENE  The former, Pizarro.  PIZARRO  Is everything ready?  ROCCO  Yes, the cistern has only to be opened.  PIZARRO  Alright, the boy shall go away.  ROCCO  Go, Fidelio. - Shall I take the chains off the prisoner?  PIZARRO  No, but detach him from the stone. -There is no time to be lost.  No. 14 - Quartet  PIZARRO  He die - But first he shall be told  Who'll tear to pieces his proud heart.  The dark veil of revenge be torn.  Look here! Deceive me you could not!  Pizarro, whom you hoped to bring to fall,  Pizarro, whom you ought to fear,  As avenger he faces you.  FLORESTAN  A murderer faces me!  PIZARRO  Once more you shall recall  What you have done to me;  Only one short moment  And this steel -  LEONORA  Stand back!  FLORESTAN  Oh God!  ROCCO  What's up?  LEONORA  Pierce  You must first my heart;  Death I have sworn to you  For your murderous mind.  PIZARRO  Madman!  ROCCO  Stop it!  PIZARRO  Punished he shall be!  LEONORA  Kill first his wife!  ROCCO, PIZARRO  His wife?  FLORESTAN  My wife?  LEONORA  Yes, see here Leonora!  FLORESTAN  Leonora!  LEONORA  I am his wife, I vowed  Him help and death to you!  PIZARRO  What unheard-of courage!  FLORESTAN  My heart stops over-joyed!  ROCCO  My heart stops out of fear.  LEONORA  I shall defy his wrath.  PIZARRO  Shall I a woman fear?  LEONORA  I have sworn you death.  PIZARRO  Both shall my hatred's victims be.  LEONORA  This heart you must pierce first!  PIZARRO  You have shared your life with him,  You shall now share his death with him.  LEONORA  One more word - and you'll be dead!  Ah! You are saved! Great God!  FLORESTAN  Ah! I am saved! Great God!  PIZARRO  Ah! The Minister! Hell and Death!  ROCCO  Oh! What is this! Gracious God!  FOURTH SCENE  The former, Jaquino, soldiers  JAQUINO  Father Rocco, the Minister is arriving, his retinue is at the castle-gates already.  ROCCO  The Lord be praised! We are coming, yes, we are coming at once. And our men shall come down to accompany the governor up.  LEONORA / FLORESTAN  The hour of vengeance has come.  This means you shall be saved;  Our love, it will in union  With courage make you free.  PIZARRO  Damned be this fateful hour!  The traitors laugh at me;  Dispair, it will in union  With my revenge now be.  ROCCO  Oh hour full of horror!  Oh God, what's awaiting me?  I will not be in union  With this villain any more.  FIFTH SCENE  Leonora, Florestan.  FLORESTAN  My Leonora, what have you done for me!  LEONORA  Nothing, my Florestan!  No. 15 - Duet  LEONORA  Oh what boundless happiness!  My husband in my arms!  FLORESTAN  Oh what boundless happiness!  Leonora in my arms!  BOTH  After untold sorrows  Such unbelievable joy!  LEONORA  I hold you in my arms again!  FLORESTAN  Oh God, how great your mercy is!  BOTH  My wife, I hold her in my arms!  My husband I hold in my arms!  We thank you, Lord, for this great bliss!  FLORESTAN  You here!  LEONORA  I'm here!  FLORESTAN  Oh heavenly delight!  Leonora!  LEONORA  Florestan!  BOTH  Oh what boundless happiness!  My wife, I hold her in my arms!  My husband I hold in my arms!  We thank you, Lord, for this great bliss!  SIXTH SCENE  The Prisoners, Don Fernando, Pizarro, Marzellina and Jaquino.  No. 16 - Finale  CHORUS  of the prisoners and of the people  Blessed the day, blessed the hour,  We've been longing for with little hope,  Justice with graciousness in union  To the gate of our graves has come!  FERNANDO  Our gracious Majesty's will and pleasure  Has sent me here to you poor men,  That I disclose the crimes of darkness  Which, has enveloped all of you.  No longer kneel like slaves before me,  Tyrant's grimness I detest.  A brother's come to seek his brethren,  And can he help, he gladly helps.  CHORUS,  Blessed the day, blessed the hour!  FERNANDO  A brother's come to seek his brethren,  And can he help, he gladly helps.  SEVENTH SCENE  The former, Rocco, Leonora, Florestan.  ROCCO  Well, Sir, you help now! Help the poor!  PIZARRO  What do I see?  ROCCO  Are you moved now?  PIZARRO  Away! Away!  FERNANDO  No! Speak up!  ROCCO  All your mercy  Be given to this pair.  Don Florestan -  FERNANDO  Whom we thought dead,  The noble man who fought for truth?  ROCCO  And sufferd tortures numberless.  FERNANDO  My friend! My friend! He is alive?  In chains and pale he faces me.  ROCCO, LEONORA  Yes, Florestan, you see him here.  ROCCO  And Leonora -  FERNANDO  Leonora?  ROCCO  The best of wives I bring you here.  She came to me -  PIZARRO  Two words allow me -  FERNANDO  Be quiet!  She came -  ROCCO  There to my door,  So that my servant she became,  And worked so loyally for me  That I made her my son-in-law.  MARZELLINA  Dear me, what do I have to hear!  ROCCO  This villain, in this very hour  He meant to *** Florestan.  PIZARRO,  With his support!  ROCCO  With our help!  Your arrival only called him away.  CHORUS  Punished be the villain now  Who innocence oppressed.  Justice holds for punishment  The sword of vengeance up.  Pizarro is lead away  FERNANDO  You unlocked this brave man's grave,  Now take his chains off him -  But no! You, noble lady alone,  You have the right to make him wholly free.  LEONORA  Oh Lord! - What a moment this!  FLORESTAN  Oh unspeakable happiness!  FERNANDO  Just, oh Lord, your judgement is.  MARZELLINA, ROCCO  You try us, you desert us not.  ALL  Oh Lord! - What a moment this!  Oh unspeakable happiness!  Just, oh Lord, your judgement is,  You try us, you desert us not.  CHORUS  Who calls a faithful wife, his own,  Join in our song of joy!  Never be it praised too highly  Your husband's saviour to become.  FLORESTAN  My life your faithfulness has saved,  Virtue makes the villain fear.  LEONORA  Love alone my efforts guided,  Real love is not afraid.  CHORUS  Praise with greatest joy and warmth  Leonora's noble mind.  FLORESTAN  Who calls such, a wife his own,  Join in our song of joy!  Never be it praised too highly  The husband's saviour to become.,  LEONORA  Love alone has given me  To liberate you from your chains.  Lovingly I sing with joy:  Florestan is mine again!  CHORUS  Who calls a faithful wife his own,  Join in our song of joy!  Never be it praised too highly  Your husband's saviour to become.  LEONORA  Lovingly I sing with joy:  Florestan is mine again!  ALL  Never be it praised too highly  Your husband's saviour to become.