Oh! la saria da ridere

English Libretto or Translation:

THIRTEENTH SCENE
Don Alfonso, later Despina

Recitative

DON ALFONSO
It's quite absurd! There are
So few constant women in this world,
And here are two of them!
It can't be.
enter Despina
Come here, diild, and tell me
Where your mistresses are and what they're doing.

DESPIN
The poor fools
Are standing in the garden
Bewailing the loss of their lovers
To the breezes and the mosquitos.

DON ALFONSO
And how do you think
This will end? Can we hope
They'll come to their senses?

DESPINA
Well, I would;
Where they weep, I'd laugh.
To choke with despair
Because a lover goes away!
Have you ever seen such folly!
If one goes, take two others.

DON ALFONSO
Well said! that's sense.
to himself
I'd better compliment her.

DESPINA
It's a law of nature, and not
Merely sense.
What is love?
Pleasure, convenience, taste,
Enjoyment, amusement,
Pastime, fun, it's no longer love
If it becomes a burden and
Instead of pleasure brings pain and torment.

DON ALFONSO
But meanwhile our sillies ...

DESPINA
They'll do
What we say.
It's good that they should know
They're loved by them.

DON ALFONSO
They know it.

DESPINA
Then they'll re?admit them,
They'll spin the usual tale,
And devil take the hindmost!

DON ALFONSO
But how can you bring them back
Now they've gone, and make
These tiger?cats of yours
Listen to them again and let themselves be tempted?

DESPINA
Leave me the bother
Of running the show.
When Despina runs something
It can't fail: I've already led
A thousand men by the nose:
I should know how to manage two women.
Are your two whiskered monsieurs rich?

DON ALFONSO
Rolling in it.

DESPINA
Where are they?

DON ALFONSO
In the street,
Waiting for me.

DESPINA
Then off you go
And bring them to me here
By the little door;
I'll wait for you in my room.
If you'll do all I tell you,
Before tomorrow your friends
Will win the day: they'll have their way,
And I'll have the glory.

Exeunt.