Dove guardi splendono

English Libretto or Translation:

DISTANT VOICES
Whereso’er you turn your gaze
light shines, hearts are afire,
whereso’er you walk cascades
of blossoms fill the air.
Here among lilies and roses,
as if to an altar chaste,
fathers, children and matrons,
come with serenades.

IAGO (in an undertone as before)
Here she comes... Observe her well!


(Desdemona reappears in the garden, on the
far side of the great central arch; she is
surrounded by women of the island, children
and Cypriot and Albanian sailors, who approach to offer
flowers, branches of blossom and other gifts. Some
accompany their own singing on the ‘‘guzla’’, a kind of
mandolin, others play on small harps which hang
around their necks.)

GROUP AROUND DESDEMONA
Whereso’er you turn your gaze
light shines, hearts are afire,
whereso’er you walk, cascades
of blossoms fill the air.
Here among lilies and roses,
as if to an altar chaste,
fathers, children and matrons
come with serenades.

CHILDREN
We proffer lilies, tender flowers,
by angels borne to heavenly bowers,
which ornament the gleaming mantle
and gown of the Madonna gentle
and her holy veil.

MEN AND WOMEN
While on the breezes wing
aloft the accents gay,
the nimble mandolin
accompanies the lay.

SAILORS
(offering trinkets of coral and pearl to Desdemona)
For you these shells and pearls and dyes
we culled from caves beneath the brine.
Desdemona with our gifts would we
bedeck like an image in a shrine.

CHILDREN AND WOMEN
While on the breezes, etc.

WOMEN (scattering leaves and flowers)
Take this flowery harvest we strew
from our kirtles upon the ground for you,
in showers upon the ground.
The April air the bride’s golden hair
doth in a shimmering aura of dew,
sunlit, surround.

CHILDREN, MEN
While on the breezes wing, etc.

ALL
Whereso’er you turn your gaze,
light shines, hearts are afire;
whereso’er you walk, cascades
of blossoms fill the air.
To this bower of lilies and roses,
as if to an altar chaste,
fathers, children and matrons
come with serenades.