SCENE VIII
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Giunia enters with her train of young women and nobles. Sadly they sing the following chorus.
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No. 6 Chorus
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Chorus
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From these sorrowing urns
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step forth, ye venerated souls,
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and wrathfully avenge
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the freedom of Rome.
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Giunia
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O beloved shade of my father,
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that thou dost waft about me,
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may my tears, my sighs
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move thee to pity!
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Chorus
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Let the proud one who upon the Capitol
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holds the reins of Rome in his hand,
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this day be buried from his throne,
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as fitting example to all the ages.
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Accompanied Recitative
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Giunia
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O father, since the godless Silla
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aroused thy hatred while thou wast alive,
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Giunia now stands, because she is thy daughter
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and because Roman blood throbs in her veins,
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with supplication before thy urn.
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Thou too, adored shade
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of my departed love, wend hither and aid
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thy faithful bride. Far from thee
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she loathes the doom-fraught air
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of this bitter existence…
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SCENE IX
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Cecilio and the aforementioned.
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Cecilio
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Here am I, dearest one!
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Giunia
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||
Oh stars!… I quake!… What do I see?
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Is it thou?… Is this perchance some fever?…
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A ghost maybe, or truly thou?… Ye gods!
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Dost thou deceive me, light of my eyes?…
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Alas, could I but know
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whether I am victim of some sweet illusion!…
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So… is it thou?…
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Cecilio
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Thy faithful bridegroom. It is I.
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No. 7 Duet
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Giunia
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In Elysium await me,
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shade of my dear love,
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so that heaven soon, oh God, soon
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may unite me to thee.
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Cecilio
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Adored, dear bride,
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||
in thy sweet countenance alone
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||
my faithful soul finds
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||
sweet Elysium again.
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Giunia
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||
My bridegroom… Ye gods! Thou art yet alive?
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Cecilio
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Entire in faith and love.
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Giunia and Cecilio
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Joyous my sighs,
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joyous my grief.
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(Joining hands.)
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Giunia
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||
Dear hope!
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Cecilio
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Beloved treasure!
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Giunia and Cecilio
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Now that upon my breast,
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o Love, thou art,
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||
the weeping of my eyes
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teaches me rather
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that joy too
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||
has her tears.
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(Exit.)
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End of the first act.
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