Dammi tu forza o cielo

Maria Callas as Violetta
in Verdi's Traviata in La Scala
with Giuseppe di Stefano as Alfredo

VIOLETTA
Dammi tu forza, o cielo!
(Siede, scrive, poi suona il campanello.)

ANNINA
Mi richiedeste?

VIOLETTA
Si', reca tu stessa
Questo foglio

ANNINA
(ne guarda la direzione e se ne mostra sorpresa.)

VIOLETTA
Silenzio va' all'istante
(Annina parte.)
Ed ora si scriva a lui
Che gli diro'? Chi men dara' il coraggio?
(Scrive e poi suggella.)

ALFREDO
(entrando)
Che fai?

VIOLETTA
(nascondendo la lettera)
Nulla.

ALFREDO
Scrivevi?

VIOLETTA
(confusa)
Si' no

ALFREDO
Qual turbamento! a chi scrivevi?

VIOLETTA
A te

ALFREDO
Dammi quel foglio.

VIOLETTA
No, per ora

ALFREDO
Mi perdona son io preoccupato.

VIOLETTA
(alzandosi)
Che fu?

ALFREDO
Giunse mio padre

VIOLETTA
Lo vedesti?

ALFREDO
Ah no: severo scritto mi lasciava
Pero' l'attendo, t'amera' in vederti.

VIOLETTA
(molto agitata)
Ch'ei qui non mi sorprenda
Lascia che m'allontani tu lo calma
(mal frenato il pianto)
Ai piedi suoi mi gettero' divisi
Ei piu' non ne vorra' sarem felici
Perche' tu m'ami, Alfredo, non e' vero?

ALFREDO
O, quanto Perche' piangi?

VIOLETTA
Di lagrime avea d'uopo or son tranquilla
(sforzandosi)
Lo vedi? ti sorrido
Saro' la', tra quei fior presso a te sempre.
Amami, Alfredo, quant'io t'amo Addio.
(Corre in giardino.)


VIOLETTA
(sitting down to write)
Heaven, give me strength!
(She rings the bell.)

ANNINA
You want me?

VIOLETTA
Yes,
Deliver this note to yourself...

ANNINA
(surprised at the name on he note)
Oh!

VIOLETTA
Hush! Go a once.
(Annina goes out.)
And now a note to him.
What shall I say?
Who will give me the courage to say it?
(She writes and seals the letter.)

(Alfredo comes in.)

ALFREDO
What are you doing?

VIOLETTA
(folding the letter)
Nothing.

ALFREDO
You were writing?

VIOLETTA
(confused)
Yes... no...

ALFEDO
Why are you confused?
Who were you writing to?

VIOLETTA
To you.

ALFREDO
Give me the letter.

VIOLETTA
No, later.

ALFREDO
I'm sorry,
There's something worrying me.

VIOLETTA
(getting up)
What is it?

ALFREDO
My father's arrived...

VIOLETTA
Have you seen him?

ALFREDO
No.
But he left me an angry letter.
I shall wait for him.
He'll love you when he sees you.

VIOLETTA
(in great agitation)
Don't let him find me here...
Let me go...
You can calm him down...
(near to tears)
I'll throw myself at his feet,
Hw won't want any part of us anymore.
We shall be happy,
Because you love me, Alfredo,
Don't you?

ALFREDO
So very much, but why are you crying?

VIOLETTA
I felt like crying
But I am better now.
(controlling herself)
You see... I'm smiling... you see?
I'm all right now...
I'm smiling,
I shall be there among the flowers,
Always near to you.
Love me Alfredo,
Love me as I love you!
Farewell!
(She runs out to the garden.)

Translation found on: