Va crudele al Dio spietato

English Libretto or Translation:

POLLIONE
Go, cruel woman, shed my blood
As offering to your heartless god;
All my blood may be spilt,
But I can never leave you,
No, no, I can never leave you.
You were but promised to your god:
Your heart you really gave to me.
Ah, you do not know what it would cost me,
Ever to have to renounce your love...

ADALGISA
And you, you do not know the pain
Which loving you has cost me.
Happy and innocent was I, destined
To the altar which I have profaned.
My thoughts rose up to heaven,
Into the very presence of God.
Now for me, guilty violator of my oath,
Both heaven and God are veiled from sight

POLLIONE
A purer heaven and holier gods
I offer you, in Rome. I am going there now.

ADALGISA
You are leaving?

POLLIONE
At dawn -

ADALGISA
You are leaving! - and l?

POLLIONE
You will come with me.
Love is more sacred than your rites ?
Yield to Love, ah, yield to me!

ADALGISA
Do not say it!

POLLIONE
I shall say it,
So many times that you will listen...

ADALGISA
Ah, leave me!

POLLIONE
No, yield,
Yield to me.

ADALGISA
Ah, I can not;
Just Heaven, protect me!

POLLIONE
Can you abandon me like this?
Abandon me like this, Adalgisa?
Come with me to Rome, O my love,
For there is love, and joy, and life;
We shall vie with each other
To know the greater joy in life.
Do you not hear a voice in your heart
Which promises eternal happiness?
Ah! Have faith in that sweet voice
And take me, as husband, to your heart!