Non piu di fiori

English Libretto or Translation:

Recitative

VITELLIA
Now is the moment, O Vitellia,
to test your firmess: will you have
sufficient courage to look upon
your faithful Sextus lifeless? Sextus, who loves you
more than his own life, who for your sake
committed a crime, who obeyed you, cruel one,
and adored you, unjust as you are;
who in the face of death remains so true to you,
while you, aware of this, calmly go
to Caesar's bridal bed? Ah, I should always see
Sextus near me and fear the breezes and the stones
might speak
and betray me to Titus.
Let me go and confess all at his feet.
Let Sextus's crime,
If it cannot be forgiven, be lessened through my guilt.
Ah farewell, hopes of dominion and marriage!

Aria

VITELLIA
No more
shall Hymen descend
to weave
fair garlands of flowers.

Bound in harsh,
cruel chains,
I see death
advance towards me.

O wretched me! How horrible!
Ah, what will be said of me?
Yet he who could see my distress
would have pity on me.

Exit