Otello - original version - Act 1 - Già nella notte densa (Love Duet)
OTHELLO Now in the dark night Is silenced every noise. Now my throbbing heart Is lulled in this embrace and quieted. Let war thunder and the world be engulfed If after infinite wrath Comes this infinite love!
DESDEMONA
My proud warrior! How many torments, How many sad sighs and how much hope Have led us to these sweet embraces! Oh! How it is sweet to murmur together: Do you remember?
When you recounted the exile of your life And of daring deeds and your long suffering And I listened, with soul rapt In those terrors, and with ecstasy in my heart.
OTHELLO
I told of the clash of arms, the battle And the valiant rush into the mortal breach, The assault, clinging like ivy with out nails On the rampart, and the whistling arrow.
DESDEMONA
Then you led me to the shining deserts, To the burning sands, to your mother soil; And told me of the torments suffered, And the chains and grief of slavery.
OTHELLO
Ennobling my story with your tears On your lovely face, and your lips with sighs There settled on my darkness glory, Paradise, and the stars to bless.
DESDEMONA
And I saw from your dark temples The eternal beauty of your spirit shine.
OTHELLO
And you loved me for my misfortunes And I loved you that you did pity them.
DESDEMONA
And I loved you for your misfortunes And you loved me that I did pity them.
OTHELLO
Let death come! Taking me in the ecstasy Of this embrace The supreme moment!
(The sky is now clear. Stars are visible and, on the rim of the horizon, the blue reflection of the rising moon.)
Such is my soul's joy that I am afraid. I fear that I wll never again be granted This divine moment In the unknown future of my destiny.
DESDEMONA
May heaven drive away all care And Love not change with changing years.
OTHELLO
To this prayer of yours May the heavenly host answer Amen.
DESDEMONA
May it answer Amen.
OTHELLO (leaning against a step of the ramparts) Ah! Joy enuglfs me. So fiercly ... that I lie, breathless ... A kiss ...
DESDEMONA
Othello! ...
OTHELLO
A kiss ... another kiss, (rising and looking at the sky) The burning Pleiades already sink into the sea.