SCENE XI
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Giunia alone.
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Accompanied Recitative
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Giunia
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Oh, how a single moment
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has heightened my fear!
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What a baneful presentiment
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of my misfortune! Perchance my incautious bridegroom
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is no longer concealed
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from the wicked tyrant.
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He has already condemned him to death. In my fear,
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in my extremest grief,
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what shall I do? What thoughts are these?… Hapless one, I tremble!
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But no, I may no longer delay,
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I will go before the Senate. At their feet
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I will beg for pardon and mercy
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for my faithful betrothed. It they refuse it,
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let heaven be besought. If heaven has ordained
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this day to be my adored bridegroom's last,
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let the sword which pierced him, likewise pierce me.
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No. 16 Aria
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Giunia
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I go, I hasten; but thus
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breaks my heart, my soul departs.
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I feel the approach of death, and yet I cannot die;
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I pine and shudder, I weep and I suffer.
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Alas, could I but
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die of grief so great!
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But to increase my torment
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death itself today scorns
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a loving soul
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bowed down with care.
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(Exit.)
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The Capitol. |
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SCENE XII
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Silla enters, with Aufidio, followed by senators, people and soldiers while the following chorus is sung.
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No. 17 Chorus
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Chorus
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Even as fame surrounded thy head
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when thou stoodst in combat against a thousand armies,
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so let love here crown
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the redoutable brow.
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Part of the chorus
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May that unvanquished arm embrace
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the one thou dost adore.
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The entire chorus
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Let the warrior's wreath of laurel
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with myrtles be enhanced.
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(Giunia enters among the senators.)
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Recitative
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Silla
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Patrician and Senators, I who have fought for Rome,
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I who have conquered for Rome,
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I who by my valour stifled
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the torch of civil strife, I who through my works now behold peace
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reign along the Tiber,
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I desire some reward for all my triumphs.
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Giunia
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(Help, eternal gods!)
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Silla
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You surely know
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the former baneful hate
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which prevailed betwixt Marius and Silla. This is the day
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on which I forget it all. With his daughter
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may the sacred bond unite me. And this sweet covenant
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may soothe the father's shade. A ruler,
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a Roman, in spite of glory and the laurel wreath,
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seeks only this reward for all his toil.
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Giunia
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(The Senate keeps silent and with its silence approves
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the will of the tyrant.)
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Silla
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Senators, I do perceive
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in your countenances
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common consent.
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The joyful cries that echo round about
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are a sure token of public opinion.
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Follow me, now, to the altar…
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Giunia
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Forbear, wretch!
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Do Rome and the Senate stoop
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to such cowardice? Does some rascally, insane
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fear compel you to favour the shameful villainies
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of a godless man? No, none among you,
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not one
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who has a Roman heart in his breast…
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Silla
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Be silent. 'Twere wiser to give me thy hand.
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Aufidio
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That is the desire of all the people.
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I speak on their behalf.
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Silla
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Come, follow me…
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Giunia
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(Makes to stab herself.)
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Approach me not,
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else this iron shall pierce my breast.
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Silla
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Take from this proud woman
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the blade and she shall do my bidding.
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SCENE XIII
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Cecilio with drawn sword; the aforementioned.
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Recitative
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Cecilio
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My bride, have no fear.
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Silla
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(Whom do I see?)
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Giunia
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(Oh God!)
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Aufidio
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(Cecilio?)
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Silla
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In this wise
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am I betrayed by you? In defiance of my ban
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and the laws
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Cecilio has returned, and with Giunia at his side
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he ventures to seek the ruler's life.
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Bind that criminal!
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Giunia
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(Imprudent one!)
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My lord…
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Silla
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Be silent! Wretch!
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I feel only rage.
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(To Cecilio.)
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At sunrise,
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traitor, shalt thou die.
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SCENE XIV
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Cinna with drawn sword; the aforementioned.
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Recitative
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Silla
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What? Cinna?
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With drawn sword,
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confused and undecided?…
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Cinna
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(Oh heaven! All is lost.
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Some way I seek
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out of this disastrous plight.) To my astonishment
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did I see how Cecilio, with drawn sword,
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did make his way
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through the throng. His proud,
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threatening eye, his fury caused me
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to fear treachery.
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Thee from this murderous hand to deliver and to defend
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did I draw my sword.
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Silla
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Go, friend, to discover
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if other faithless…
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Cinna
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Upon my loyalty depend,
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o master. Fear naught.
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(Nearly did I lose myself in the violent encounter.)
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(Exit.)
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Silla
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Bring here the traitor,
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Aufidio, disarm him.
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Giunia
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Oh God! Withhold.
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Cecilio
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So long I have the sword,
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so long I know what makes thee tremble.
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Silla
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Is this the measure
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of thy arrogance?
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Giunia
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(Oh gods!)
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Silla
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Surrender thy sword
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else I…
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Cecilio
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Thou dost hope in vain.
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Giunia
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Surrender it, o dearest one.
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Cecilio
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Doth my bride instruct me
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to be cowardly?
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Giunia
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Defy him not!
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Cecilio
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What wilt thou?…
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Giunia
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A proof
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of thy regard.
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Cecilio
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Must I?…
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Giunia
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Thou needs must
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place thy trust in my constancy and heaven's favour,
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and hope. Shouldst thou still cherish doubt, my love,
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thou dost offend the righteous gods
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and thy bride.
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Cecilio
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(Rage consumes me.)
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(To Giunia.)
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Content thyself.
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(He drops the sword.)
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Take it! – Barbarian.
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Silla
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Into the darkest dungeon
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cast him! But a brief while yet
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shall I suffer thee to breathe the vital breath
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which thou hast forfeited.
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In chains
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thou too, deceitful jade,
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||
shalt rue thy bold treason.
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No. 18 Trio
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Silla
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This criminal temerity
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||
I shall know today how to subdue.
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Cecilio
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Give over thy hope, villain,
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thus would I act at any time again.
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Giunia
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Here, o my husband, a pledge
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that I shall die at thy side.
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Silla
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Godless pair, your hands
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are fit for chains alone.
|
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Giunia and Cecilio
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||
If my dearest treasure loves me,
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||
I shall walk gladly to my death.
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||
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||
Silla
|
||
This constancy undaunted,
|
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this love so true,
|
||
maddens my heart,
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||
inflames me.
|
||
Giunia and Cecilio
|
||
My constancy undaunted,
|
||
my love so true,
|
||
sweetly comforts my heart
|
||
and leaves me free of fear.
|
||
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||
End of the second act.
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