Qual mesto suon

English Libretto or Translation:

Scene 7
The sound of drums can be heard. The guards present themselves. Hervey and the courtiers.

ANNA:
(shaking herself)

What is that gloomy sound?... what do I see?...
Hervey, the guards?

(observes them attentively. Awakes from her trance)

HERVEY:
(to the guards)

Go, let the prisoners
be brought from their cells.

ANNA:
Oh! You shake me from my trance
at such a moment, O Heaven!
To what are you awakening me…

(From various prisons come Rochefort, Percy and then finally Smeton.)

ROCHEFORT and PERCY:
Anna!

ANNA:
Brother!
And you, Percy! for me, for me you are dying!

SMEATON:
I alone ruined you, curse me…

(coming forward and kneeling at Anna's feet)

ANNA:
Smeton!

(he draws back as if terrified and covers his face with his cloak)

PERCY:
Wretch!

SMEATON:
Ah yes…I am…let me go down
into the shadows with that name, I let myself
be seduced by the King. I accused you believing
I would save your life, and I was pushed to lie
by an insane desire, a hope, which I have held
repressed in my heart for a whole year.
Curse me.

ANNA:
Smeton! Come here.
Get up, what are you doing? Why don't you tune your harp?
Who cut its cords?

(Smeton is still on his knees; she raises him.)

ROCHEFORT:
Anna.

PERCY:
What is she saying?

LADIES:
She returns to her delirium.