Bajazet Libretto

SCENA 3 SCENE 3
BAJAZET
Come, Asteria, tu a’ piè di Tamerlano?
Sorgi, non s’ha da veder prostrata
davanti al suo nemico una mia figlia.
TAMERLANO
Bajazet, l’ira mia non ha più freno.
Sappi, che non più solo sei mio nemico,
Bajazet ed Asteria sian trascinati alle mie mense:
seco venga Andronico, e miri
in Asteria i suoi scorni.
Se poi tal piace, all’amor suo ritorni.
Barbaro traditor,
privo d’amor, di fe’,
temi del mio furor:
amor tu nieghi a me?
No, trionfar non dei,
sarò sì qual tu sei,empio tiranno.
Odio, furor, velen,
per te sol nutro in sen
premio al tuo inganno.
BAJAZET
Asteria, what are you doing kneeling at Tamerlane’s feet?
Get up: no daughter of mine should be seen
prostrate before her enemy.
TAMERLANO
Bajazet, my fury now knows no bounds.
I tell you, you are no longer my only enemy,
Let Bajazet and Asteria be dragged to my banquet hall;
Andronicus shall go with them
to watch Asteria’s humiliation. If he still finds her
attractive after that, he can go back to his love.
Barbarous traitor,
I have lost both love and hope:
beware my fury.
Would you deny me love?
No, you shall not triumph.
I shall become like you: an evil tyrant.
For you, I harbour in my breast
only hatred, rage and venom:
the reward for your deception.
SCENA 4 SCENE 4
ANDRONICO
Spesso tra vaghe rose
di verde e molle prato
angue crudel s’ascose,
e il passaggier da quello
invan tentò scampar.
Tal io fuggir non posso,
l’amore e la pietà,
furore e crudeltà.
E pur contento io sono
lasciar grandezze e trono,
cara, per te adorar.
ANDRONICO
Often among the fair roses
of the gentle, verdant meadow
a cruel snake lies hidden;
and he who passes by
tries in vain to escape.
I too am trapped, unable to flee
from love and pity,
anger and cruelty.
And yet I am content
to leave behind greatness and kingship
for love of you, my beloved.
SCENA 5 SCENE 5
TAMERLANO
Eccoti, Bajazette,
dell’angusto ritiro
in cui t’avea già l’ira mia ristretto,
innanzi allo splendor delle mie mense.
Ne venga Asteria, e intenda
dal vincitor offeso il suo destino.
TAMERLANO
Bajazet, you have been brought here
from the narrow cell
where my anger had you confined:
you stand before the splendour of my table.
Let Asteria be brought here, to learn
her fate from the insulted conqueror.
ASTERIA
Eccomi: che si chiede?
ASTERIA
Here I am, what is your will?
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