Vanne la tua meta gia vedo

English Libretto or Translation:

IAGO
(Cassio walks away. Iago watches him.)
Go to it! Your end I see already.
You are driven by your daemon
and I am that daemon,
and I am dragged along by mine,
the inexorable God
in whom I believe.
(walking away from the terrace without another glance
at Cassio, who has now vanished among the trees)
I believe in a cruel God
who created me in his image
and who in fury I name.
From the very vileness of a germ
or an atom, vile was I born.
I am a wretch because I am a man,
and I feel within me the primeval slime.
Yes! This is my creed!
I believe with a heart as steadfast
as that of the widow in church,
that the evil I think
and that which I perform
I think and do by destiny’s decree.
I believe the just man to be a mocking actor
in face and heart;
that all his being is a lie,
tear, kiss, glance,
sacrifice and honour.
And I believe man the sport of evil fate
from the germ of the cradle
to the worm of the grave.
After all this mockery then comes Death.
And then?... And then?
Death is nothingness,
heaven an old wives’ tale.