SCENE IX
 
 
Giunia, then Cecilio.
 
 
Recitative
 
 
Giunia
 
 
What did I hear, eternal gods? What sinister
 
 
and dreadful secret lay behind his words?
 
 
I shall not die alone? What meanest thou thereby,
 
 
barbarian?… Ah me! Whom do I see?…
 
 
My betrothed?… What was it?… What has befallen?…
 
 
Whither, thoughtless man, goest thou?
 
 
Surely thou knowest that within these walls
 
 
thy life is in jeopardy! And dost thou not fear
 
 
to breathe the air
 
 
that is thine enemies’? At this very moment
 
 
did the tyrant depart. I tremble… I beg thee, flee…
 
 
Oh should the tyrant's eye…
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
’Tis thy peril, Giunia, that is my greatest fear.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Oh Mercy! Turn back
 
 
if thou dost love me, my dearest. Oh return
 
 
to the gloomy refuge. To see thee,
 
 
oh what torment 'tis for me!
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Thy fear, my love,
 
 
shall not embitter
 
 
my sweet joy.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
O'ershadowed joy,
 
 
because she leaves my heart with icy fear
 
 
and may decide upon thy fate
 
 
determine. Conceal thyself! Ah, in all my life,
 
 
never such affliction…
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Thou wouldst have me leave thee to be that coward's prey?
 
 
I know that this guilt-ridden tyrant,
 
 
unjustly and with force,
 
 
before the Senate will take thee to the altar. And I who love thee,
 
 
far from thy side,
 
 
how could I not die of care? If vainly they
 
 
search for an arm, for steel
 
 
to spill the blood of that brutal one,
 
 
here is the steel and here the arm!
 
 
Giunia
 
 
What art thou thinking of?… Expose thyself?…
 
 
Alone to face the utmost danger?…
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Thou art full of fears, I tremble at naught.
 
 
Restrain thy fear, o thou my hope, and remember this –
 
 
excess of fear in a Roman heart
 
 
may bear the name of cowardice.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
But all too great a daring
 
 
may be foolhardiness. Conceal thyself,
 
 
I beg thee, my beloved, and increase not through danger
 
 
the weeping of these eyes.
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Eternal gods! Flee from thee?
 
 
Abandon thee? Leave thee
 
 
to the insidious infamy, the wrath
 
 
of that traitor who seeks to wed thee?
 
 
Giunia
 
 
What canst thou fear, when
 
 
steadfastness and love remain with me? Haste,
 
 
haste, to whence thou camest!
 
 
Free this heart that honours thee
 
 
from its pain and fear.
 
 
If thou dost not, then I must command thee.
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Who will keep guard on this dreadful day
 
 
if I am hidden from the tyrant,
 
 
to protect thee, Giunia?
 
 
Giunia
 
 
The heaven.
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Oh that the gods…
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Whither doth
 
 
this blind rage lead thee? Despite
 
 
my anxieties thou art still at my side.
 
 
Wilt thou not go? Then I will rush to die, ungrateful one!
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Stay!… Listen!… Oh gods!
 
 
Thou wilt not leave me thus? Is this your wish?…
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Beware of following
 
 
my steps!
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
How to die, that will I know,
 
 
but not how to leave thee.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(Oh heaven!
 
 
I lose him! What shall I do?)
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
My love, thou weepest…
 
 
Ah, how thy weeping…
 
 
Giunia
 
 
In sooth, for the sake of these tears,
 
 
for these eyes that are destitute of hope,
 
 
go, go from me! Hide! Live!
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
To what dost thou compel me!
 
 
Giunia
 
 
At last,
 
 
dost thou give me through this token
 
 
a proof of thy inmost love?
 
 
How dost thou answer, my life?
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
I give thee my vow.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Fly then, beloved, thou fearest without need
 
 
when thou art afraid for me. Consider
 
 
that heaven protects the righteous and that I
 
 
will never belong to another. Here, my hand to pledge
 
 
the steadfast love
 
 
that I promised thee,
 
 
and that doth the vile traitor despise to the death.
 
 
Accompanied Recitative
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Who knows whether it is riot
 
 
the last time, oh God! that I clasp thee to my breast,
 
 
most precious one, the nobler part of me,
 
 
that art the embodiment of unblemished loyalty?
 
 
Giunia
 
 
My own one, fear not.
 
 
Love me,
 
 
begone and be hopeful.
 
 
No. 14 Aria
 
 
Cecilio
 
     
 
    Alas, if cruel fate
 
 
summons me to death,
 
 
as faithful, guardian shade
 
 
I shall forever be beside thee.
 
     
 
    I would fain give proof of steadfastness,
 
 
dearest, at this parting,
 
 
but now that I leave you, oh God,
 
 
my footsteps falter.
 
 
(Exit.)
 
 
SCENE X
 
 
Giunia, then Celia.
 
 
Recitative
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Why dost thou bound within my breast,
 
 
my timorous heart?
 
 
Why, when now I see not my betrothed at my side,
 
 
do the tears flow coursing down my face?
 
 
Celia
 
 
Heavens, in tears
 
 
thus mourning do I find thee? May thy stubborn spirit
 
 
yield at last to destiny.
 
 
And Rome shall see thee as her ruler's wife.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Calm yourself, I beg thee.
 
 
Celia
 
 
Did Cecilio in harsh exile die,
 
 
why dost thou for him cherish
 
 
such vain constancy?
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(How his name
 
 
doth chill my heart.)
 
 
Celia
 
 
Thou dost not look at me
 
 
and, with sobs and sighs, thy pale lips keep silence.
 
 
Follow my counsel.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Peace, I pray thee.
 
 
Celia
 
 
I long to see thee happy. My brother
 
 
will today make me happy also:
 
 
he has promised me
 
 
Cinna's hand. Oh you know
 
 
that I adore him faithfully. No more shall I recall
 
 
the torments I have endured,
 
 
once the tyrannical course of the stars changes at last.
 
 
No. 15 Aria
 
 
Celia
 
     
 
    When upon the parched fields
 
 
summer's rain falls,
 
 
the leaves, the flowers revive,
 
 
forest and meadows
 
 
are beautified
 
 
and once again grow green.
 
     
 
    So likewise this loving soul
 
 
in its sweet hope
 
 
after its long torments
 
 
begins to breathe anew.
 
 
(Exit.)
 
 
SCENE XI
 
 
Giunia alone.
 
 
Accompanied Recitative
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Oh, how a single moment
 
 
has heightened my fear!
 
 
What a baneful presentiment
 
 
of my misfortune! Perchance my incautious bridegroom
 
 
is no longer concealed
 
 
from the wicked tyrant.
 
 
He has already condemned him to death. In my fear,
 
 
in my extremest grief,
 
 
what shall I do? What thoughts are these?… Hapless one, I tremble!
 
 
But no, I may no longer delay,
 
 
I will go before the Senate. At their feet
 
 
I will beg for pardon and mercy
 
 
for my faithful betrothed. It they refuse it,
 
 
let heaven be besought. If heaven has ordained
 
 
this day to be my adored bridegroom's last,
 
 
let the sword which pierced him, likewise pierce me.
 
 
No. 16 Aria
 
 
Giunia
 
     
 
    I go, I hasten; but thus
 
 
breaks my heart, my soul departs.
 
 
I feel the approach of death, and yet I cannot die;
 
 
I pine and shudder, I weep and I suffer.
 
 
Alas, could I but
 
 
die of grief so great!
 
     
 
    But to increase my torment
 
 
death itself today scorns
 
 
a loving soul
 
 
bowed down with care.
 
 
(Exit.)
 
 

The Capitol.
 
 
SCENE XII
 
 
Silla enters, with Aufidio, followed by senators, people and soldiers while the following chorus is sung.
 
 
No. 17 Chorus
 
 
Chorus
 
     
 
    Even as fame surrounded thy head
 
 
when thou stoodst in combat against a thousand armies,
 
 
so let love here crown
 
 
the redoutable brow.
 
 
Part of the chorus
 
     
 
    May that unvanquished arm embrace
 
 
the one thou dost adore.
 
 
The entire chorus
 
     
 
    Let the warrior's wreath of laurel
 
 
with myrtles be enhanced.
 
 
(Giunia enters among the senators.)
 
 
Recitative
 
 
Silla
 
 
Patrician and Senators, I who have fought for Rome,
 
 
I who have conquered for Rome,
 
 
I who by my valour stifled
 
 
the torch of civil strife, I who through my works now behold peace
 
 
reign along the Tiber,
 
 
I desire some reward for all my triumphs.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(Help, eternal gods!)
 
 
Silla
 
 
You surely know
 
 
the former baneful hate
 
 
which prevailed betwixt Marius and Silla. This is the day
 
 
on which I forget it all. With his daughter
 
 
may the sacred bond unite me. And this sweet covenant
 
 
may soothe the father's shade. A ruler,
 
 
a Roman, in spite of glory and the laurel wreath,
 
 
seeks only this reward for all his toil.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(The Senate keeps silent and with its silence approves
 
 
the will of the tyrant.)
 
 
Silla
 
 
Senators, I do perceive
 
 
in your countenances
 
 
common consent.
 
 
The joyful cries that echo round about
 
 
are a sure token of public opinion.
 
 
Follow me, now, to the altar…
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Forbear, wretch!
 
 
Do Rome and the Senate stoop
 
 
to such cowardice? Does some rascally, insane
 
 
fear compel you to favour the shameful villainies
 
 
of a godless man? No, none among you,
 
 
not one
 
 
who has a Roman heart in his breast…
 
 
Silla
 
 
Be silent. 'Twere wiser to give me thy hand.
 
 
Aufidio
 
 
That is the desire of all the people.
 
 
I speak on their behalf.
 
 
Silla
 
 
Come, follow me…
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(Makes to stab herself.)
 
 
Approach me not,
 
 
else this iron shall pierce my breast.
 
 
Silla
 
 
Take from this proud woman
 
 
the blade and she shall do my bidding.
 
 
SCENE XIII
 
 
Cecilio with drawn sword; the aforementioned.
 
 
Recitative
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
My bride, have no fear.
 
 
Silla
 
 
(Whom do I see?)
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(Oh God!)
 
 
Aufidio
 
 
(Cecilio?)
 
 
Silla
 
 
In this wise
 
 
am I betrayed by you? In defiance of my ban
 
 
and the laws
 
 
Cecilio has returned, and with Giunia at his side
 
 
he ventures to seek the ruler's life.
 
 
Bind that criminal!
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(Imprudent one!)
 
 
My lord…
 
 
Silla
 
 
Be silent! Wretch!
 
 
I feel only rage.
 
 
(To Cecilio.)
 
 
At sunrise,
 
 
traitor, shalt thou die.
 
 
SCENE XIV
 
 
Cinna with drawn sword; the aforementioned.
 
 
Recitative
 
 
Silla
 
 
What? Cinna?
 
 
With drawn sword,
 
 
confused and undecided?…
 
 
Cinna
 
 
(Oh heaven! All is lost.
 
 
Some way I seek
 
 
out of this disastrous plight.) To my astonishment
 
 
did I see how Cecilio, with drawn sword,
 
 
did make his way
 
 
through the throng. His proud,
 
 
threatening eye, his fury caused me
 
 
to fear treachery.
 
 
Thee from this murderous hand to deliver and to defend
 
 
did I draw my sword.
 
 
Silla
 
 
Go, friend, to discover
 
 
if other faithless…
 
 
Cinna
 
 
Upon my loyalty depend,
 
 
o master. Fear naught.
 
 
(Nearly did I lose myself in the violent encounter.)
 
 
(Exit.)
 
 
Silla
 
 
Bring here the traitor,
 
 
Aufidio, disarm him.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Oh God! Withhold.
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
So long I have the sword,
 
 
so long I know what makes thee tremble.
 
 
Silla
 
 
Is this the measure
 
 
of thy arrogance?
 
 
Giunia
 
 
(Oh gods!)
 
 
Silla
 
 
Surrender thy sword
 
 
else I…
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Thou dost hope in vain.
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Surrender it, o dearest one.
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Doth my bride instruct me
 
 
to be cowardly?
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Defy him not!
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
What wilt thou?…
 
 
Giunia
 
 
A proof
 
 
of thy regard.
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
Must I?…
 
 
Giunia
 
 
Thou needs must
 
 
place thy trust in my constancy and heaven's favour,
 
 
and hope. Shouldst thou still cherish doubt, my love,
 
 
thou dost offend the righteous gods
 
 
and thy bride.
 
 
Cecilio
 
 
(Rage consumes me.)
 
 
(To Giunia.)
 
 
Content thyself.
 
 
(He drops the sword.)
 
 
Take it! – Barbarian.
 
 
Silla
 
 
Into the darkest dungeon
 
 
cast him! But a brief while yet
 
 
shall I suffer thee to breathe the vital breath
 
 
which thou hast forfeited.
 
 
In chains
 
 
thou too, deceitful jade,
 
 
shalt rue thy bold treason.
 
 
No. 18 Trio
 
 
Silla
 
     
 
    This criminal temerity
 
 
I shall know today how to subdue.
 
 
Cecilio
 
     
 
    Give over thy hope, villain,
 
 
thus would I act at any time again.
 
 
Giunia
 
     
 
    Here, o my husband, a pledge
 
 
that I shall die at thy side.
 
 
Silla
 
     
 
    Godless pair, your hands
 
 
are fit for chains alone.
 
 
Giunia and Cecilio
 
     
 
    If my dearest treasure loves me,
 
 
I shall walk gladly to my death.
 
 
a tre
 
 
Silla
 
     
 
    This constancy undaunted,
 
 
this love so true,
 
 
maddens my heart,
 
 
inflames me.
 
 
Giunia and Cecilio
 
     
 
    My constancy undaunted,
 
 
my love so true,
 
 
sweetly comforts my heart
 
 
and leaves me free of fear.
 
 
 
 
End of the second act.