Old Woman Yes, my darling.

Papageno and Tamino
Papageno Why do you look at me like that?
Tamino I’m not sure you’re really a man at all.
Papageno Why not?
Tamino Just look at all those feathers: you look more like ….
Papageno Like one of my birds? Be careful what you say, my friend: I have the strength of a
Giant! (aside) I hope he falls for it, or else I’ll have to run away!
Tamino The strength of a Giant? So you killed the serpent and saved my life?
Papageno Serpent? Aargh! Is it alive?
Tamino No, you killed it… didn’t you? How did you do it? You don’t have any weapons.
Papageno Who needs weapons with hands like mine?
Tamino You strangled it?
Papageno Strangled it! Sometimes I just don’t know my own strength.
3 Ladies Papageno!
Papageno That’ll be for me.
Tamino Who are these ladies?
Papageno I don’t know them personally, it’s just a business transaction: every day I give them my
birds and they give me wine, bread and fruit.
3 Ladies Papageno!
Papageno (aside) Oops, what have I done to make them cross with me? Dear, beautiful ladies,
here are your birds!
Papageno and Papagena
Papageno You can’t even get a drink around here. (Old woman gives drink) Is that for me?
Old Woman Yes, my darling.
Papageno This is water! What a dull place this is. Here, Grandma, come and sit next to me.
How old are you?
Old Woman Eighteen years and two minutes.
Papageno Eighty years?
Old Woman Eighteen years …. and two minutes.
Papageno Ha, ha, ha! Do you have a sweetheart?
Old Woman Of course I have!
Papageno And is he as young as you are?
Old Woman Not quite, he’s a little older.
Papageno So what’s your sweetheart’s name?
Old Woman Papageno.
Papageno Papageno? Ha ha ha! Papageno? Where is your Papageno?
Old Woman Right here, my darling.
Papageno Then who are you?
Old Woman My name is ….. (thunder)
Papageno Uh oh! I must keep my mouth shut.
Sarastro
Sarastro We have dedicated ourselves to improve the future of mankind. Prince Tamino now
waits to prove himself worthy to be one of us, by completing the trials we have each

come through in the past. We will watch over him and offer the hand of friendship.
Priest Is he virtuous?
Sarastro He is virtuous.
Priest Can he keep secrets?
Sarastro He can keep secrets.
Priest Is he charitable?
Sarastro Yes, he cares for others. If he is worthy, give him the sign of acceptance. (Trumpets)
The Gods have chosen the gentle Pamina for Tamino. This was the reason I took her
from her mother. That evil woman tries to dazzle and delude the people with her
superstitious nonsense. She tries to destroy our temple of truth and wisdom. Let
Tamino become one of us and be united with the Queen’s daughter Pamina. Together,
we will overcome the darkness of superstition, promoting the cause of truth and light.
Queen
Queen Away with you!
Pamina Mother, my mother!
Monostatos Mother?
Queen Where is the young man I sent to find you?
Pamina He has joined Sarastro in the temple.
Queen What? Then you are lost to me for ever.
Pamina No, mother, no! Let us fly away together. Nothing can harm me if I'm protected by your
power.
Queen (shakes her head) My power ended when your father died. He gave the sevenfold shield
of the sun to Sarastro, who keeps it with him at all times, so I cannot reclaim it. But there
may still be a way. I sharpened this dagger especially for Sarastro: take it, kill him, and
the shield will be ours!
Pamina But mother! ….
Queen Not a word!
Pamina and Monostatos
Pamina Kill Sarastro? I can’t do it …. I can’t!
Monostatos I heard everything and I will tell Sarastro. There’s only one way to save yourself, and
your mother.
Pamina What is it? Tell me what I have to do!
Monostatos You must love me… yes or no?
Pamina Never!
Monostatos No? Then you must die! (Sarastro intervenes) My Lord, I am innocent.
Sarastro I know the truth. Go!
Monostatos If I can’t have the daughter, I’ll go try the mother!
Pamina Please, do not punish my mother: think of the grief she has suffered.
Sarastro I know everything. You will see how I take revenge on your mother for her scheming,
evil ways.