Don Pasquale

English text example:

NORINA, after delving into sentimental fiction, gives a candid self-appraisal: (reading) Glowing like coals that smolder, Her burning eyes grow bolder; He, reaching out to enfold her, Cries, "I'm your cavalier!" His eyes profess with such fervor A gallant desire to serve her, His lips do not offend her. She indicates surrender With gesture shy and tender, Laced with a furtive tear..... Ha ha! Ha ha! A sly coquette Goes out to get A repertoire of ruses; With graceful art She plays a part That changes as she chooses. An arching glance From eyes that dance, A tear that rarely loses; With light finesse A hint of yes That sets the heart astir. If I may be quite candid, A blush is heavy-handed. A wan nuance of nonchalence The wise and fair prefer. A strategem that I condemn Without the right inflexion Is pining and whining: They soon become a bore. A sultry mood while being wooed A man cannot ignore, But pining and whining Will only shut the door..... NORINA and DR. MALATESTA conspire to outwit the Don: NORINA By love inspired, ever inside me, Ah, beloved! Your fire will guide me. I shall dance and play the devil; Plots and pranks will be a revel. Love will tell me what to do When the uncle starts to woo. MALATESTA My regard for you and Ernesto, My fond affection requires no manifesto. As you dance to my direction Don Pasquale plays buffoon. Turn the fiction to perfection For Pasquale's honeymoon. Out to save you and Ernesto. Time is short, the beat is presto.... After "marriage", Norina puts her new husband in his place: NORINA To bed now, dear husband, My stern little tyrant. Surrender, be tender, Compliant, remember your gout. To bed now, be docile, My darling old fossil; May ague not plague you -- Your wife's going out! PASQUALE Divorce! I'll divorce you! What gout and what ague? Not bedtime, instead time To force you about. (As total disaster What wife has surpassed her?) The devil may take you -- I'm down but not out!

PASQUALE conspires with DR. MALATESTA to get even:
PASQUALE Gift unexpected, Handed with pleasure! Measure for measure, Sweet the revenge is: Swift, undetected, Closer and closer. Till the flame singes-- Now for the jump! MALATESTA This poor old devil Dreams of revenges: Little he guages What's on the fringes. In vain he rages: Fortune has tricked him, Picked him the victim Of his own trap.