Norma Libretto

LI BRETTO BYFEL I CEROMANI|ENGL I SHSURTI TL ESBYT AYL ORCARNES

ACT I SCENE 1

SCENE 2

Act 1 5:20

Act 1 11:21

OROVESO Now go forth unto the hills Seek in the vast and dark sky… …the first rising of the moon’s silver orb.

With the first smile of her virgin face, The sacred shield of Irminsul will be struck three times.

POLLIONE The voices fade away.

The dark path is now safe.

DRUIDS Will Norma come to lead the ritual?

POLLIONE That name now fills me with dread.

OROVESO Yes, Norma will come.

FLAVIO What are you saying?

Your beloved?

The mother of your children?

DRUIDS Fill her with your prophetic spirit, o god.

Mighty Irminsul, let her call forth… …anger and hate against the Romans, And shatter this peace, so fatal to us.

OROVESO You shall speak through her...

A cry for blood and vengeance…

Freedom from the hated Roman eagle…

OROVESO and CHORUS …and the annihilation of the city of the Caesars.

ALL Oh moon, hasten.

Rise!

Norma will come to save us.

Oh, moon…

Rise!

FLAVIO But death waits here.

Norma warned you.

POLLIONE No reproach is undeserved.

But the flame in my heart for Norma is dead.

Extinguished by a vindictive god.

At my feet, I see an abyss... and I cast myself into it.

FLAVIO Do you love another?

POLLIONE Yes, another.

Adalgisa.

You should see her, innocent and laughing With purity and love!

A priestess in the temple, A ray of sun in a storm-driven sky.

FLAVIO Does she love you too?

POLLIONE I believe it.

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FLAVIO Do you not fear the jealous wrath of Norma?

POLLIONE It will be terrible.

I have seen it already in a dark vision… …in a troubled dream.

It haunts me even now.

Adalgisa was with me in Rome at the altar of Venus.

Dressed in purest white, A veil covering her face.

The sound of wedding hymns…

And the smell of rich incense filled the air.

Passion and love embraced us.

A looming, shadowy figure separated us… …dressed in a great cloak, which entrapped us.

Lightning struck the altar.

The day was plunged into darkness.

The air choked us…breath from an open grave.

My beloved was no longer at my side.

From afar, I could hear her sobs, Mixed with the cries of my children.

Then, a fearful voice echoed through the temple.

“This is Norma’s vengeance upon her treacherous lover!”

FLAVIO Did you hear that?

Norma is coming to perform her rites.

CHORUS The moon has risen.

All who do not believe must be driven out.

FLAVIO Come!

Let me be!

Listen to me.

POLLIONE Barbarians!

Let’s go.

I will destroy you!

FLAVIO Come, let’s go.

Someone may find us.

They plot against Rome.

Come, let’s go.

POLLIONE I rely on a greater power... …the vision of my love, A love that inflames me.

This god would take her from me.

I shall burn his sacred forests And leave his blood-stained altar in ruins.

SCENE 3 Act 1 19:05 DRUIDS Norma approaches.

She brings the sacred mistletoe.

She carries a golden sickle…

Reflecting the brilliance of the moon.

She approaches, and the false glory of Rome…

Is eclipsed in darkness and night.

Irminsul courses through the vaults of heaven…

Like a burning comet, a herald of vast destruction.

SCENE 4 Act 1 22:10 NORMA Seditious voices, Calling for war, Who dares to raise them before the altar?

Who dares to question the inspired words of Norma?

Who dares to hasten the ordained fate of Rome?

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The destiny of Rome lies not within human hands.

OROVESO But must we suffer the scourge of oppression?

Have not our lives, our country, and our honor…

Been corrupted by the brutal Roman armies?

Irminsul’s sacred weapons must not remain idle.

ALL Let them be brandished.

NORMA And shattered.

Yes…shattered if drawn before the destined time.

It is not yet time for our vengeance.

Our weapons are still weaker than the Roman spears.

ALL What has the god revealed to you?

Speak!

What is our fate?

NORMA In the secret depths of my vision…

I see……the name of the proud city of Rome.

I see it lying in ruins...

But not at your hands.

Rome will be consumed by its own corruption.

Wait until that fatal hour, Decreed by Irminsul.

Peace must conquer war.

Let the sacred ceremony…

Begin.

Bring calm, o goddess, Temper the burning hearts...

The wild courage of thy people.

Enfold the earth…

In luminous peace...

Which, through you, reigns in heaven.

NORMA The holy rites have ended.

Let our prayers fly to heaven.

When the dark anger of Irminsul…

Through me demands blood, Then my voice will thunder forth!

ALL Then let not one of the cursed race…

Escape the deserved slaughter.

The first to die shall be the Roman general.

NORMA Yes, he will die!

I will destroy him.

(But… My heart could never do it!

Give me back the beauty of our love!

I shall defend you against the world.

Give me back the peace of your love.

Together, we will find a new life… …together under a radiant sky.)

ALL A wrathful god will break the power of Rome.

NORMA (Return to me as you were, When I first gave you my love.)

NORMA and DRUIDS Chaste goddess, Who bathes in silver light, This sacred grove, Turn your face upon us.

That radiant face, unclouded…unveiled.

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SCENE 5 Act 1 35:50 ADALGISA The sacred wood is deserted.

The holy rite is finished.

Now I can grieve, unseen at last.

Here…he first came to me.

His love made me a traitor to my vows… …to my god.

If only that first time had been the last!

An empty hope!

I am drawn here by an irresistible power.

My heart feeds on the sight of him.

The very breeze echoes the sound of his voice.

O god, protect me!

I am lost.

Irminsul, have pity on me.

I am lost.

SCENE 6 Act 1 40:36 POLLIONE There she is. Go now.

I can no longer listen to reason.

ADALGISA You are here?

POLLIONE Why are you weeping?

ADALGISA I was praying.

Leave me now.

Go and let me pray.

POLLIONE You pray to a hateful god…

Opposed to your desire and mine.

Oh, my beloved!

Our god should be the god of love!

ADALGISA Love? Be silent.

I shall not listen to you anymore.

POLLIONE You want to run from me?

Where can you flee that I shall not follow you?

ADALGISA To the temple, the holy altar whose sworn bride I am.

POLLIONE And our love?

ADALGISA I have forgotten our love.

POLLIONE Go! Sacrifice my body to your god.

Spill my blood on the altar.

But I can never leave you.

I can never leave you.

You were promised to your god, But you gave your heart to me.

You do not know what it would cost me, To ever have to renounce you.

ADALGISA And you…

You do not know the pain Which loving you has cost me.

I was happy and innocent.

Destined to the altar which I have profaned.

Yes, I was innocent.

My thoughts rose to heaven, I saw the god.

Now, I am lost and guilty.

Heaven is veiled from my sight.

POLLIONE But a merciful god awaits you in Rome.

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ADALGISA You are leaving?

POLLIONE At dawn.

ADALGISA And I? POLLIONE You will come with me.

Love is more sacred than your rites.

Give yourself to love and to me!

ADALGISA Do not say that!

Even at the altar, I see him.

He triumphs over my tears.

He conquers my grief.

Take me away from this delight, Or, at least, forgive my sins.)

POLLIONE Adalgisa!

ADALGISA Have pity.

Spare me further pain.

POLLIONE Adalgisa, will you desert me?

ADALGISA I… No, I cannot – I will go with you.

POLLIONE I will say it again and again until you listen to me!

POLLIONE Here? Tomorrow, at this time? You will come?

ADALGISA Please, leave me!

ADALGISA I promise.

POLLIONE Yield to me!

POLLIONE Swear!

ADALGISA I cannot. Heaven, protect me!

ADALGISA I swear.

POLLIONE Can you abandon me like this?

Come with me to Rome, my beloved, Where there is love, joy, and life!

We shall both know the greatest joy in life.

Do you not hear the voice within you…

Which promises eternal bliss?

Have faith in my loving words.

Take me as your husband.

POLLIONE Oh joy! You will remember?

ADALGISA (I hear his voice in everything... …everywhere, even in the temple.

His shining eyes, his radiant face...

ADALGISA I will remember.

To my god, I may be a perjurer, But to you, I shall always be faithful.

POLLIONE Tell me you love me And I shall defy your god.

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SCENE 7 Act 1 53:50 NORMA Go and hide them both.

More then ever, I tremble to embrace them.

CLOTILDE What troubles you so, that you reject your children?

NORMA Many things disturb my soul.

I both love and hate my children.

I suffer when I see them; I suffer when I do not.

I feel both joy and pain… …fear and delight.

CLOTILDE This is the love of a mother.

NORMA If only I were not!

CLOTILDE You are torn.

NORMA Beyond your imagining.

Oh, Clotilde!

Pollione was recalled to Rome.

CLOTILDE Are you going with him?

NORMA He hides his thoughts from me.

If he tried to flee… …and leave me?

Could he forget his children?

CLOTILDE Do you believe this?

NORMA I dare not.

Such doubts would be...

Too desperate.

Someone is coming.

Go, hide them!

Adalgisa!

ADALGISA (My heart, be brave.)

NORMA Come in.

Why are you trembling?

I believe you wish to tell me an important secret.

ADALGISA It is true.

But I fear the calm severity that I see in your face.

Give me courage so that I may reveal everything to you without hiding.

NORMA Embrace me.

Speak.

What is troubling you?

ADALGISA Love.

Do not be angry. I have tried to fight it.

But it conquered my remorse.

You do not know what I swore to him.

To leave the temple, betray the altar to which I am bound, And leave my homeland.

NORMA Unfortunate girl…

So young…yet dark clouds veil your sky.

Tell me, how was this fire kindled?

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ADALGISA At his first glance…his first words…

Alone together in the sacred grove…

Before the altar where I prayed…

I saw him, and my prayers died on my lips.

I was lost in his beauty.

His face was like a vision from heaven.

NORMA (Treasured words… …words my lover spoke, opening the way to my heart.)

ADALGISA His words were as sweet as music.

In his smile, I saw a new, more beautiful sun.

NORMA (Oh, what memories!

I, too, felt that when I first saw his face.)

NORMA (Her enchantment is like mine.)

ADALGISA Do you understand?

ADALGISA I was lost, I still am.

NORMA Go on. I am listening.

NORMA Dry your tears.

ADALGISA Secretly and alone…

I often waited for him at the temple.

The flame of my passion burned brighter every day.

ADALGISA I need your forgiveness.

NORMA (I, too, felt that.)

ADALGISA You hold me and guide me.

ADALGISA “Come,” he would say, I shall throw myself at your feet.”

NORMA Dry your tears.

NORMA (Oh, what memories!)

ADALGISA “Let me breathe…”

NORMA (A love like mine!)

ADALGISA “…in your sweet sighs!

Give me your gentle hands so I can kiss them.”

NORMA I shall show mercy.

ADALGISA Comfort me or reproach me.

Save me from myself.

Save me from my own heart.

NORMA Listen to me…

You are not yet bound by your final vows.

ADALGISA Repeat, oh heaven, Repeat those joyous words!

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NORMA Yes, take heart and embrace me.

I forgive you.

I shall free you from your vows And allow you to break your sacred bonds.

You shall live happily together, Close to the man you love.

You shall live happily together.

ADALGISA Repeat those joyous words!

It was you that relieved my suffering.

You have given me life again.

If my love is not a sin, You have given me life again.

If my love is not a sin.

NORMA But, tell me, the young man you love, What is his name?

ADALGISA He was not born here.

His homeland is Rome.

SCENE 9 Act 1 1:04:10 NORMA Rome? Go on.

ADALGISA There he is!

NORMA He? Pollione!

ADALGISA You are angry?

NORMA You said that you love him?

Did I understand you?

ADALGISA Yes. POLLIONE What have you done?

ADALGISA I… NORMA You are trembling?

For whom?

For whom are you Trembling?

Do not tremble, faithless man!

No, not for her!

She is not to blame.

You are the guilty one!

Fear for yourself, traitor…

Fear for your children…

Fear me!

ADALGISA Stop!

Speak.

You are silent?

You turn away?

NORMA You are a victim of a cruel deception!

Better to die than to ever know this man.

Bitter tears will drown you.

That wicked man betrayed your heart, Just as he did mine.

POLLIONE Norma, do not wound me!

ADALGISA I fear the truth.

I understand it all.

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POLLIONE Hide her from our shame!

Let heaven judge… …whose is the greater sin.

NORMA Traitor!

NORMA Go, leave me, worthless man!

Forget your children and your promises.

Feel my wrath.

You will find no joy in this sinful love.

Leave, worthless man!

Forget your children and your promises.

POLLIONE Enough!

POLLIONE There is no suffering…

NORMA Stop!

ALAGISA I will stifle my tears,

POLLIONE Come.

POLLIONE …greater than mine.

ADALGISA Let me go! Get away from me!

You are an unfaithful husband.

ADALGISA Bury my torment.

POLLIONE What I was, I have forgotten.

ADALGISA Let me go! Go away!

POLLIONE Now I am your lover!

POLLIONE I was cursed when fate brought you to me.

CHORUS Irminsul thunders against the impious Romans.

ADALGISA They shall perish, swallowed up in their own blood.

ADALGISA Go, traitor.

POLLIONE My destiny is to love you And leave her.

NORMA Well then… Do it.

Accept your fate.

Leave. Follow him.

ADALGISA No, never! I would rather die!

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ACT II SCENE 1

SCENE 3

Act 2 0:00

Act 2 7:13

NORMA They are both asleep.

They must not see the hand that strikes them.

No remorse.

They cannot live.

Anguish here.

Disgrace in Rome, Worse than anguish, The dishonor of vile slavery.

No, never!

Better that they die!

I cannot go near them.

I cannot feel… I cannot move…

To kill my children… Innocent children… …the delight of my life.

In their smiles, I saw forgiveness.

Can I kill them? What guilt is theirs?

They are Pollione’s children.

That is their crime.

They are dead to me.

Let them die for him too.

His anguish will be great.

Strike!

They are my children.

Clotilde! Bring Adalgisa to me.

SCENE 2 Act 2 6:40 CLOTILDE She is outside… wandering…weeping.

NORMA Go. I shall atone for my crime…

Then…die.

ADALGISA You called for me, Norma?

Your face is pale and anguished.

NORMA The pallor of death.

I must confess my shame to you.

If my grief deserves your pity...

I ask only one thing of you.

ADALGISA I promise to do anything.

NORMA Swear it.

ADALGISA I swear.

NORMA Listen to me.

I must purge the earth of my presence.

I cannot take these children with me.

I entrust them to you.

ADALGISA To me?

NORMA Take them to the Roman camp…to him.

I will not say his name.

ADALGISA What are you asking?

NORMA May he be a less cruel husband to you.

I will forgive him and die.

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ADALGISA Husband? No, never!

NORMA For the sake of his children, I beg you.

Take them with you.

Defend them and protect them.

I do not expect glory or honors for them…

That will be for your own children.

I only ask you: Do not let my children be sold into abject slavery.

Remember that it was for you That I was betrayed and cast aside.

Adalgisa, let my heart’s torment move you.

ADALGISA Norma, you shall still be a beloved mother to me.

Keep your children.

I will never desert you or them.

NORMA You swore!

ADALGISA Yes, I swore.

But only to do good for you.

I shall go to the Roman camp And confront him with your sorrow.

The pity that you have stirred in me Will inspire my eloquence.

Have hope. You will see love again…

Awakened in him. I am sure…I know him.

Norma will triumph again in his heart!

NORMA I should beg him? No, never!

ADALGISA Norma, please.

NORMA No, I will not listen to you any longer.

Go!

ADALGISA Ah! No, never!

See, Norma…

These dear children.

Let your pity for them move you, Though you have no pity for yourself.

NORMA Why do you try to weaken me…

With such feelings?

No more illusions, no more hope.

Death knows nothing of them.

ADALGISA Yield!

NORMA Leave me!

He loves you.

ADALGISA He is already repenting.

NORMA And you?

ADALGISA I loved him…now, I feel nothing.

NORMA What will you do?

ADALGISA Give you back what is yours…

Or we will hide together from gods and men.

NORMA and ADALGISA You have won. Embrace me!

I have found a friend again.

Yes, for the rest of my life, I shall always be with you.

The earth is large enough...

To shelter us from love’s bitterness.

Together, we shall fight against our destinies.

Our hearts beat as one.

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SCENE 4 Act 2 19:09 1ST CHORUS Have they gone?

2ND CHORUS They are still at the camp.

The signs tell us…

The sounds of trumpets…

The clash of weapons…

The standards waving in the wind...

ALL We can no longer make our secret attack.

Let us wait!

This lost opportunity must not discourage us.

Let our hearts remain resolute…

For the fulfillment of our mighty task.

SCENE 5 Act 2 23:48 OROVESO Warriors! I come to strengthen your courage...

But now I have learned…

That the legions are to be reinforced.

CHORUS What? The hated Pollione won’t be leaving?

OROVESO True, and an even more ruthless general…

Will succeed him.

CHORUS Does Norma know?

Does she still speak of peace?

CHORUS What should we do?

OROVESO Submit to fate and disband…

Without revealing our failed intentions.

CHORUS Always to pretend?

OROVESO Empty destiny!

Suffering beneath the Roman yoke…

I also long for battle.

But heaven is against us.

We must pretend to be submissive.

CHORUS Yes, pretend, if pretending serves us.

But we must keep our anger burning.

OROVESO Let us hide the hatred within our hearts, Until the Romans think it has burned out.

The day will come…

When our hatred will blaze forth with an even fiercer flame.

CHORUS Rome will fall!

We shall pretend. Let us pretend.

SCENE 6 Act 2 27:45 NORMA He will return. Yes. I have faith in Adalgisa.

He will return, Repentant, pleading, loving.

The black clouds that surround me fade away.

OROVESO She reveals nothing.

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The sun breaks through, bright as the first day of our love.

Clotilde!

CLOTILDE Norma, be brave.

NORMA What are you saying?

CLOTILDE Speak.

NORMA It was in vain that Adalgisa spoke to him.

Why did I trust her?

She left me, made lovelier by her tears.

She betrayed me.

CLOTILDE She is coming to the temple, full of regret.

She begs to renew her vows.

NORMA And he?

CLOTILDE He has sworn to carry her off, even from the altar of God. NORMA She would go too.

My vengeance shall stop him.

And blood… Roman blood shall flow!

SCENE 7 Act 2 31:13 CHORUS The summons has sounded!

Norma, what has happened?

The shield of Irminsul has been struck.

What does it mean?

NORMA War! Slaughter! Death!

CHORUS But your words bound us to peace!

NORMA Now I want only fury, slaughter and death.

Raise the battle-cry!

CHORUS To battle! Our warriors outnumber the trees in our vast forest.

Like ravenous beasts, they descend upon the Roman soldiers.

Our weapons reek with steaming Roman blood.

Rotting Roman corpses pollute the land.

War…extermination… vengeance.

The legions are cut down like grain before a scythe.

Its wings ripped and talons clipped, the Roman eagle crashes to the ground.

To behold our triumph, the god will come down in glorious radiance.

OROVESO Will you perform the sacrifice?

Tell us who will be the victim.

NORMA She will be ready.

The dread altar has never lacked victims.

What is that commotion?

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SCENE 8 Act 2 33:58 CLOTILDE The temple has been desecrated by a Roman.

He was captured in the sacred cloister.

ALL A Roman?

NORMA (What do I hear?

Could it be he?)

ALL They are bringing him here.

NORMA (It is he!)

SCENE 9

POLLIONE Whom do I see?

Norma!

NORMA Yes, Norma.

ALL Take your sacred dagger and avenge our god.

NORMA Yes, I shall strike!

ALL You hesitate?

NORMA (Ah, I cannot!)

OROVESO What is it? Why have you stopped?

NORMA (Can I feel pity now?)

Act 2 34:30 CHORUS Strike him!

OROVESO and CHORUS Pollione!

NORMA (Now I am avenged!)

OROVESO Blasphemer!

Who led you to violate this sacred threshold?

To defy the wrath of Irminsul?

POLLIONE Kill me! But do not question me.

NORMA I must question him first…

To find out which priestess…

Spurred this infidel to such a crime.

Leave us.

OROVESO and CHORUS What will she do?

POLLIONE (What will happen?)

NORMA It is I who must strike him. Stand aside!

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SCENE 10 Act 2 36:49 NORMA At last you are in my hands.

No one can break your bonds.

I can.

POLLIONE But you must not.

NORMA I shall.

POLLIONE How can you?

NORMA Listen.

For the sake of your children, You must swear to leave Adalgisa forever.

You will not take her from us.

Then I shall spare your life.

And I shall never see you again.

Swear it!

POLLIONE No, I am not a coward!

NORMA Swear it!

POLLIONE I would rather die!

NORMA My fury is greater than yours.

POLLIONE Strike me then!

NORMA Do you not know that I… With this dagger… your children.

POLLIONE What are you saying?

NORMA Yes, I raised the dagger over them.

Do you see what you have made me into?

I did not kill them…

But soon…I shall commit the fearful deed.

Forgetting…

In an instant…

That I am a mother.

POLLIONE It is into their father that you must plunge the dagger!

Give it to me!

Then I alone shall die!

NORMA You alone?

No... everyone.

Romans by the hundreds will be slaughtered.

And Adalgisa…

Unfaithful to her vows…

POLLIONE Yes, heartless woman?

NORMA Adalgisa will be punished!

She shall perish in the sacrificial flames!

POLLIONE I beg you, take my life instead.

Please have pity on her.

NORMA You are begging at last, Worthless man.

It is too late.

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I will strike your heart through hers.

Already, I feed upon the despair in your eyes.

I can finally make your anguish as deep as mine.

POLLIONE Be satisfied with my defeat… I kneel before you.

Turn all of your fury on me, But spare the innocent.

Let your vengeance be satisfied.

I shall kill myself before you.

Cruel one!

Give me the dagger.

NORMA How dare you?

Stand back!

POLLIONE The dagger!

SCENE 11 Act 2 43:27 NORMA Come quickly!

To satisfy your wrath, I shall reveal a new victim.

A perjured priestess who broke her sacred vows, Betrayed her homeland and her god.

ALL Tell us who she is.

NORMA Yes, prepare the pyre.

POLLIONE I beg you! Norma, have pity!

ALL Who is she?

NORMA Hear me.

(Shall I accuse her of my own sins?)

ALL Who is she?

POLLIONE Do not tell them!

NORMA It is I.

CHORUS You? Norma!

NORMA It is I. Build the pyre.

ALL Has she betrayed us?

POLLIONE (My heart fails me.)

ALL You, a traitor?

POLLIONE Don’t believe her!

NORMA Norma does not lie.

ALL You are a traitor.

NORMA The love that you betrayed…is lost.

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The love that you denied…is lost.

Now you see the truth.

You sought in vain to leave me.

But at last… …you are with me.

A power stronger than you…

Unites us in life and death.

The consuming flame…

That purifies… …joins us forever.

CHORUS Norma, vindicate yourself!

You are silent?

Do you not hear us?

POLLIONE I have come to know you much too late.

Sublime soul, I have lost you.

With my remorse...

NORMA Our children?

NORMA The heart that you betrayed…

POLLIONE …love is reborn.

NORMA …is lost.

POLLIONE Our love is strengthened, our passion rekindled.

Now let us die together.

My last words will be… …that I love you.

But you, in dying, must not hate me.

Before we die, Forgive me!

OROVESO and CHORUS Norma, do not Leave us alone.

Say that you are delirious.

Say that you are lying.

Norma, do not desert us.

The god who hears you now…

Is silent and holds back his thunder.

It is a sign. He will not punish you.

NORMA Heavens! And my children?

POLLIONE Innocent children.

CHORUS Norma, are you guilty? Speak.

NORMA Yes. Guilty…beyond mortal thought.

OROVESO and CHORUS Faithless one!

NORMA Listen to me.

OROVESO Away!

NORMA Please hear me!

OROVESO Oh, my sorrow!

NORMA I am a mother.

OROVESO A mother?

NORMA Listen…

Clotilde has my children.

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Take them, and save them from those who would harm them.

OROVESO No, never, go, and leave me!

OROVESO No more.

NORMA Do you promise me?

NORMA Father!

One last request.

OROVESO Yes, I promise.

OROVESO and CHORUS What grief!

NORMA And you forgive me?

NORMA Please, do not let them be victims of my fatal mistake.

Do not cut them down in the innocence of childhood.

Remember that they are your blood.

Have pity on them!

Father, have pity on my children.

She weeps, she prays.

Father, you are weeping?

OROVESO Yes!

OROVESO and CHORUS My heart is broken.

NORMA Your tears have told me so.

POLLIONE I ask no more of you.

NORMA I am at peace.

POLLIONE We shall gladly ascend the pyre.

NORMA Forgive me.

OROVESO and CHORUS I love you.

CHORUS May your sacrifice cleanse the altar and the temple.

NORMA Ah! You forgive me.

Your tears tell me so.

I ask no more of you.

I am at peace.

I shall gladly ascend the pyre.

POLLIONE I ask no more of you.

NORMA Father, oh father.

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