FINAL SCENE
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Cecilio, Aufidio, guards and the aforementioned.
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Recitative
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Giunia
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(My betrothed?)
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Cinna
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(What do I see?)
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Celia
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(What is the secret?)
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Cecilio
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(What is that?)
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Silla
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Let all Rome, the Senate
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and the people hear me. I bring before you
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an banished citizen
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who dared secretly to break the Law.
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He it is, who, armed with a sword,
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before my guards did try at the Capitol
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to murder his ruler.
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He seeks no pardon, indeed fears me not,
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he maligns and hates me. This now is the moment
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that decides his fate. Silla here asserts
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the power that Rome
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invests in him. Giunia shall hear me
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and insult me if she can. This vile Silla,
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proud tyrant, hated by all,
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decrees that Cecilio shall live and be thy husband.
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(He presents him to Giunia.)
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Giunia
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It were true?… My life…
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Cecilio
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Faithful bride… what joy…
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what a transformation is this?
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Aufidio
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(What did occur?)
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Celia
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(The gods be praised!)
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Cinna
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(I stand here full of wonder.)
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Silla
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Patricians and senators. I desire of you now
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that all whose names here stand written –
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(He presents the scheet to a senator.)
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here are contained the names
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of banished citizens –
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may now return to native hearth.
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Cecilio
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Oh, how worthy, now, thou art
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of this high splendour that doth surround thee.
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Giunia
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At last dost thou see me compelled thee to admire.
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Aufidio
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(Alas, certain ruin
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do I see before me.)
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Silla
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Amid
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the general jubilation and so much praise
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sincerely given to Silla from every lip,
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why is Cinna only from me parted,
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sighs and is silent,
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lost in gloomy thought?
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(He wants to embrace him.)
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Faithful friend…
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Cinna
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Oh, cease
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to call me so. You shall know that all the time
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I have concealed the fiercest hatred toward you
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in my breast. Through my labours
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did Cecilio return to Rome. I ran to the Capitol
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to pierce thee through, and armed, not far away,
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a hundred valiant men,
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I alone incited discord,
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was the danger for thee…
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Silla
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Thou hast spoken enough, and all have I comprehended.
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Celia
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(Sweet hope farewell.)
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Silla
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Now dost thou perceive the punishment
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of secret conspiracy:
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Celia, my sister, shall be thy wife.
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Giunia
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(What virtue!)
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Cecilio
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(What a magnanimous heart!)
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Cinna
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Oh righteous heaven, how shameful
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blushes burn my face.
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How can I…
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Silla
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Thy tortures of conscience do suffice me. I forget all.
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Celia
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(How happy am I!)
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(To Cinna.)
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Reward at last
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my constant love! Prove yourself
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worthy of the grace and of the virtue
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and compassion of his manly heart…
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Cinna
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Here is my hand.
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Silla
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Which of my victories
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can compare to this, o eternal gods?
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Aufidio
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Let me at thy feet
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entreat pardon of thee. My counsel,
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the flattering praise
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now do I rue…
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Silla
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Rise, Aufidio! I forgive thee.
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Thus do I crown
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my laudable work. Romans, friends!
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From my head I now remove
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the victorious and honourable laurel wreath:
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No longer am I your ruler, I am become as you.
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(He removes the laurel wreath.)
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Herewith be freedom given
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to our native land. May the people's tears
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be dried. No. Greatness
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is not the highest treasure. It is the mother
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of care, fear,
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deception, betrayal. It often leads
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the blind mortal away from the path
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of mercy and justice.
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I know now
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that innocence and a virtuous heart
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are to the soul more welcome
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than false glory.
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No. 23 Finale with Chorus [Ciaccona]
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Chorus
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Great Silla, before the face of Rome,
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which owes him life and breath,
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stands today as victor
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beyond all praise and fame.
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Giunia and Cecilio
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The fate, bitter for him,
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is bliss for me.
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Cinna and Silla
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And Latium's liberty
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snaps its chains.
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Chorus
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Great Silla stands today
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high above all praise.
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Giunia, Cecilio, [Celia], Cinna, Silla, [Aufidio]
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Virtue and mercy
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have triumphed over a base love.
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Silla [and Aufidio]
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There is no triumph to equal
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the victory over one's own heart.
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Chorus
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Upon the Capitol
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all Rome merrily exults and is jubilant for Silla,
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high above all fame and praise
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he stands today as conqueror.
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End of the opera.
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