A5 - Alfredo – Un di felice, eterea
ALFREDO
For more than a year.
One happy day
You flashed lightly into my life;
And since then I lived
In tremulous possession
Of that unspoken love,
The pulse of the whole world,
Mysterious, unattainable,
The torment and delight of my heart.
VIOLETTA
If that is true, then leave me.
Friendship is all I can offer you.
I don’t know how to love,
I couldn’t feel so great an emotion.
I’m being honest with you – sincere…
You should look for someone else,
Then you wouldn’t find it hard
To forget me.
GASTON
(appearing at the centre doorway)
Well now! What he devil are you up to?
VIOLETTA
We are taking nonsense.
GASTON
Ha, ha! Splendid! Go on!
VIOLETTA
(to Alfredo)So no more about love.
Is that a promise?
ALFREDO
I’ll do as you say, I’ll go.
(He turns away.)
VIOLETTA
So its come to that already!
(She takes a flower from her corsage.)
Take this flower.
ALFREDO
Why?
VIOLETTA
So that you can bring it back to me.
ALFREDO
(turning back)
When?
VIOLETTA
When it’s withered.
ALFREDO
You mean…. tomorrow?
VIOLETTA
Very well, tomorrow.
ALFREDO
(rapturously taking the flower)
I’m happy..
Oh, so happy!
VIOLETTA
Do you still say you love me?
ALFREDO
(about to go)
How much, how much I love you!
I’m happy.. oh, so happy
VIOLETTA
You’re going?
ALFREDO
(coming back to kiss her hand)
I’ll go now.
VIOLETTA
Good-bye then.
ALFREDO
I ask for nothing more.
Good-bye.
(He goes out.)
(All others come in from the ballroom flushed with dancing.)
ALL
The dawn is breaking in the sky
And we must take our leave;
Thank you, dear lady
For such a splendid party.
The town is still a-revelling;
Pleasure rolls on its way.
In slumber we’ll store up again
The zest for further joys.
(They got out, right.)