Aprite presto aprite

English Libretto or Translation:

SUSANNA
at the door of the dressing-room
Open quickly, open;
Open, it's Susanna.
Come out of there ...
You must get away at once.

Cherubino comes out of the dressing-room.

CHERUBINO
Oh dear, what a terrible scene!
What a dreadful thing to happen!

They try first one door, then another, but find them all locked.

SUSANNA
Leave without delay!
That way, that way.

SUSANNA and CHERUBINO
The doors are locked.
Whatever shall we do?

CHERUBINO
We can't give up.

SUSANNA
He'll kill you if he finds you.

CHERUBINO
He'll kill me if he finds me.
Just let me look outside here.
He goes to the window overlooking the garden.
It gives on to the garden.

He is about to jump out; Susanna stops him.

SUSANNA
Stop, Cherubino!
She goes to look, but steps back.
Don't, for pity's sake!

CHERUBINO
Let me go: rather than harm her
I'd leap into the fire.
I embrace her through you.
freeing himself from Susanna.
Farewell; so be it!

SUSANNA
He'll kill himself, for certain.
Stop, for pity's sake!

Cherubino jumps out; Susanna lets out a shriek, sits down for a moment, then goes to the balcony.

Recitative
Just look at the little demon! How he runs!
He's a mile away already.
There's no time to lose, though.
I'll go into the dressing-room:
Let the blusterer come: I'm ready for him.

Susanna goes into the dressing-room and locks the door behind her.