Lesson 35: The Magic Flute - Act II. Scenes IX-XI.
by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartPerformer: United States Army Band
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
Astrofiammante, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.
PAMINA, her daughter.
PAPAGENO, a bird-catcher.
TAMINO, a handsome Egyptian prince.
MONOSTATOS, chief slave of the temple.
SARASTRO, high priest of Isis.
PAPAGENA.
Three Ladies-in-Waiting to the QUEEN OF THE NIGHT; Three Youths of the Temple; Priests, Priestesses, Slaves, etc.
ACT II. SCENE IX.
The Old Woman, and PAPAGENO.
Woman.
I am here. I am here, my love!
PAPAGENO.
You! [With surprise.]
Woman.
Yes, my dearest.
PAPAGENO.
[Aside.] Now am I finally off.
Woman.
Come, give me your hand.
PAPAGENO.
Gently, gently, softly, no hurry. We must think about it.
Woman.
Your hand, or off to prison.
PAPAGENO.
Either the one or the other, say you!
Woman.
Yes, and there you shall see no more ladies, but be doomed to live upon bread and water.
PAPAGENO.
Here is my hand.
Woman.
Will you prove a good husband?
PAPAGENO.
Oh, a most tender one, till death does us part.
Woman.
Swear it.
PAPAGENO.
I swear it by the supreme pleasure of a hearty meal. [The Old Woman is transformed into a beautiful young woman dressed like Papagena.] How happy am I! Oh Pa-pa-pa-pagena! [Offers to embrace her with ridiculous gestures.] Alas! I fall, I die!
[The earth opens and Papageno sinks.]
ACT II. SCENE X.
A Garden. The three Boys.
Finale.
The sun in radiant glory beams,
Already on the path of Heaven.
Soon all clouds and storms will vanish,
And the wise man conqueror be.
Oh heavenly quiet, now descend,
Return into the hearts of men.
Then will the earth be Heaven indeed,
And mortals like to gods.
[The go on one side.]
ACT II. SCENE XI.
PAMINA, with a dagger.
PAMINA.
Oh dagger! thou art my bridegroom!
By thee alone I'll end my care.
THE BOYS.
Oh woe! what said Pamina there?
And see, she is to madness near.
PAMINA.
Patience, beloved, I am thine,
Soon shall we now united be.
THE BOYS.
How darkly clouded is her brow.
Madness rages in her heart.
Gracious maiden, here behold us!
PAMINA.
I wish to die, since the man.
Whom I never can hate,
This faithful heart will thus desert.
Ah! thou wilt be my savior!
THE BOYS.
Ah, dread the wrath of heaven.
PAMINA.
This, oh mother, was thy gift,
The lightnings flash, the thunders roar.
In vain I fly, oh mother! [Looking at dagger.]
Thy voice urges me ever on.
THE BOYS.
Lady, wilt thou go with us?
PAMINA.
The measure of my grief is full.
Faithless mortal, fare thee well!
Ah! Pamina dies through thee.
Thy desertion murders me.
[Tries to stab herself.]
THE BOYS.
Hold, unhappy one and hear!
Could Tamino see thee thus.
He with sorrow would expire.
For he fondly loveth thee.
PAMINA.
[Recovers herself.]
What, did he feel responding love,
And yet concealed his feelings from me?
Turned his countenance away!
Nor even one word of comfort spoke?
THE BOYS.
This, alas, we must not tell.
But we will show him now to thee.
And with wonder thru wilt see,
That his heart is thine alone.
And for thee his life he'd give.
PAMINA.
Lead me forth! I wish to see him!
ALL.
Come, we him forthwith will seek.
Two hearts that with true love are burning.
Can human weakness never part.
Vain are the efforts of their foes.
The gods themselves protect them.
[Exeunt.]
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