Bajazet Libretto

ATTO TERZO
ACT THREE
SCENA 1 SCENE 1
BAJAZET
Figlia, siam rei: io di schernito sdegno,
tu d’amore sprezzato.
Vorrà il nostro nemico
vendicarsi dell’uno e placar l’altro.
ASTERIA
Tutta la colpa mia è una vendetta ch’ha fallito il
segno.
BAJAZET
Vedi, quest’è veleno,
dei miei vasti tesori unico avanzo.
Te ne fo parte, e perché l’usi ardita
il mio intrepido cor teco divido.
ASTERIA
Dono gradito, e caro,
ch’esci di mano al genitor, ti bacio.
Ma nei temuti mali
la vostra morte, o genitor, non serve
a nulla più ch’a far la mia funesta.
BAJAZET
Tu, figlia, al primo insulto
che tenta il Tamerlano lo bevi e muori,
e me vedrai al primo
infausto avviso
precedere o seguir
il tuo destino.
ASTERIA
Padre, al tuo gran voler la fronte inchino.
BAJAZET
Veder parmi, or che nel fondo
giù precipiti di Stige,
sangue illustre ed innocente,
gonfie andar le rapid’onde
abbattendo argini e sponde
all’orror di crudeltà.
Nel mirar sì ingiuste merci
già s’infuria e l’onda estolle
e di sdegno e d’ira bolle.
Assorbir bensì vorria,
e star seco in compagnia
chi nemico è di pietà.
BAJAZET
My daughter, we are both guilty: I, of mocking his anger,
you of despising his love.
Our enemy will want to have
vengeance on one, and to appease the other.
ASTERIA
The blame for this failed revenge is mine alone.
BAJAZET
Look, I have poison here:
all I have left of my vast store of treasures.
I will share it with you. And to give you the courage to use it,
I will give you half of my fearless heart.
ASTERIA
This is a welcome and precious gift,
coming from the hand of my father; this kiss is my thanks.
But in the dreadful ordeals that await me,
your death, father, would only serve
to make mine more grim.
BAJAZET
My daughter, at Tamerlane’s first attempt
to abuse you, drink it and die.
And at the first sign of his cruelty,
you will see me
take that deadly path before you –
or else I shall follow after.
ASTERIA
Noble father, I bow to your wishes.
BAJAZET
Now that you, in your innocence
and nobility, are about to plunge
to the depths of the Styx, I think I see
its swift-flowing waters rising in horror
at such cruelty, swollen into a flood
that sweeps all before it.
Seeing such virtue submitted to such injustice,
the river is enraged, the waters rise,
seething with contempt and fury.
How much more willingly would they
take into their embrace
one who was an enemy of mercy.
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