Ombre piante urne funeste

English Libretto or Translation:

Scene VII
Rodelinda, leading Flavio by the hand, and
the aforesaid apart

Ye gloomy groves, and rev`rend shades,
urns, that with terror seem to rise,
ye give no terror, cause no fright,
to Rodelindas inquiring sight.
To me delightful you would prove,
if, as his image I behold,
your marble wombs did but infold
the ashes of the lord I love.
Ye gloomy etc.
Oh shade invisible of him, that once
charmed these fond eyes with greedy gazing at him
and now, perhaps, round this resembling form,
of what thou did`st inhabit, hov`ring fly`st,
behold the tears, that trickle from these eyes,
oh listen to the faithful sighs and groans,
of an afflicted wife and wretched son.

Bertarido
(I can no longer bear it)

Unulfo
(Bridle your passion – curb affections, pray
you)

Rodelinda
Receive these kisses that
we thus and thus –
(Kisses the urn, and makes Flavio do the like.)

Bertarido
I pray you let me - -

Unulfo
It must not be, my lord, indeed, it must not.
Keep silence, and observe.