“Norma”

Characters

Norma (daughter of Oroveso; High Priestess of the Druids) — Soprano Pollione (Roman proconsul in Gaul) — Tenor Oroveso (chief of the Druids; Norma's father) — Bass Adalgisa (a young priestess) — Soprano Clotilde (Norma's confidante) — Soprano Flavio (Pollione's companion) — Tenor Druids, bards, Gallic priests, warriors, and soldiers Place: Gaul, during the Roman occupation Time: About 50 BC

Overture

ACT ONE

Scene One

Sacred forest of the Druids OROVESO To the hills, O Druids, to watch over the Heavens; when the new moon reveals her silver disk, with the first smile of her virgin face, let the mystic priestly gong sound its triple signal. DRUIDS Will Norma come to cut the sacred mistletoe? OROVESO She Norma will come. Yes. Yes. DRUIDS Norma will come. OROVESO and CHORUS OF DRUIDS Inspire her, O terrible God, with thy prophetic spirit; inspire her, O Irminsul, with hate and anger against the Romans,

that this peace, fatal to us, may be broken, yes. OROVESO Yes, God will speak in anger, from these ancient oaks; he will free this land of the hated Roman eagles. OROVESO and CHORUS OF DRUIDS The sound of his mighty shield, like the crash of thunder, in the city of Caesar shall echo at last. O moon, hasten, rise! Norma will come to the altar. POLLIONE The voices have died away. The path now is free through the fearsome wood. FLAVIO In this forest lurks Death. Norma told you so. POLLIONE You have spoken a name which chills my heart. FLAVIO What are you saying? Your beloved, the mother of your children!

POLLIONE There is no reproach which you can make me that I do not already feel. But in my heart the flame is dead, extinguished by a god who is the foe of my peace. At my feet I see the abyss, and therein I cast myself. FLAVIO Do you love another? POLLIONE Speak softly! Ah yes, another – Adalgisa! You will see her – innocent and laughing with sweetness and love. She is a priestess in the temple of this blood-maddened god – yet she seems like starlight in a troubled sky. FLAVIO My wretched friend! And does she love you as you do her? POLLIONE I am sure she does. FLAVIO Do you not fear the wrath of Norma?

POLLIONE It will be terrible, as my remorse already shows me. In a dream FLAVIO Tell me. POLLIONE Even recalling it, I tremble! Adalgisa was with me, in Rome, at the altar of Venus, dressed in pure white with flowers in her hair. As I heard the hymns of Hymen and breathed the holy incense, my senses were enraptured with the joy of love... Suddenly between us there descended a horrible shadow, and the great Druidic mantle enfolded her like a cloud of smoke. Lightning flashed on the altar, and the day was veiled in darkness. Silently, all around, rose a tomb-like horror. The beloved maiden was no longer at my side. From afar I heard her sob, mingled with the weeping of my children. Then a monstrous voice echoed through the temple, saying: “This is the vengeance of Norma upon her faithless lover!”

FLAVIO Do you hear? Norma is coming from the temple to perform her rites. VOICES (distant) The moon has risen, O Druids! Let none stay here, unless he believe. FLAVIO Come. POLLIONE Let me be. FLAVIO Listen to me. POLLIONE Barbarians! FLAVIO Let us go. POLLIONE I shall defeat their plans! FLAVIO Come, let us go. Here they will find you! POLLIONE The barbarians are plotting against me, but I shall defeat their plans.

FLAVIO Oh, come, let us go. If found here we are both lost. POLLIONE A power greater than they protects me, defends me. It is the thought of her, it is Love itself, which inflames me! I shall burn the evil forests of that god who would take her from me, and I shall destroy his blasphemous altars! (They hurry away. Enter druids, priestesses, warriors, bards and sacrificers, with Oroveso in the middle.) CHORUS Norma comes now, her hair girt with the mystic verbena; in her hand, shining like the crescent moon, gleams the golden sickle. She comes: and the star of Rome veils itself in terror; Irminsul courses the fields of heaven, like a comet, the prophet of doom. NORMA Are there those who dare to raise seditious voices, warlike voices, before the altar of God? Who dares to question the inspired words of prophetic Norma, seeking to hasten the fate of Rome? That will not come through human efforts.

OROVESO How long, then, must we remain oppressed by Rome? Have not the Roman eagles sullied enough our native shores, our ancestral temples? Brenno’s sword can remain no longer idle. ALL Let that sword, for once, be brandished! NORMA And broken, if one of you should draw it before the destined time. Not yet is the moment of our vengeance. The Roman spears are still stronger than the Druids’ axes. ALL What command has God given you? What prophecy? NORMA I have read the secret books of Heaven; on the page of deaths is written the name of proud Rome. One day she shall die; but not at your hands. She will die through her own vices, as if consumed by them. Await that hour,

that fatal hour decreed by God. And meanwhile, peace! I cut the sacred mistletoe. NORMA and PRIESTESSES Chaste goddess, who dost bathe in silver these ancient, hallowed trees, turn thy fair face upon us, unveiled and unclouded... Temper thou the burning hearts, the excessive zeal of thy people. Enfold the earth in that sweet peace which, through thee, reigns in Heaven. NORMA The holy rites are ended. From the sacred wood let unbelievers go. When God, in his dark anger, shall demand the Romans’ blood, then from the Druid temple my voice shall thunder forth. ALL Let it thunder, and not one of the cursed race shall escape the holy slaughter, and first to fall before our wrath shall be the Proconsul of Rome. NORMA Yes, I can punish him (but my heart can never do it. Ah! bring back to me the beauty of our first love.

Then, against the world itself I shall be your defence. Ah! Bring back to me the peace and warmth of love, and in that love I shall find again life, fatherland and Heaven itself!) CHORUS But a wrathful god is hastening to condemn the power of Rome. NORMA (Ah, be once more as you were when first I gave my heart to you!) CHORUS O day of vengeance, the God who condemned Rome will hasten your coming. ADALGISA The rite is finished, the sacred wood is empty. Now I can sigh, unseen at last, here where first he came to me, my fatal Roman whose love made me a traitor to my vows, to my God. Had that first time been the last! A vain desire for I am powerless before that force. My heart feeds on the sight of him, and the breeze repeats to me the sound

of his dear voice. Ah, protect me, God, for I am lost great God, take pity, for I am lost. POLLIONE (There she is. Go, now: leave me. I can no longer listen to reason.) ADALGISA You – you here? POLLIONE What is this? Were you weeping? ADALGISA I was praying. Ah, leave me now. Let me pray. POLLIONE You pray to an atrocious god, foe of your desire, and of mine. O beloved, your god should be the God of Love. ADALGISA Love! Ah, be silent. I shall listen to you no more. POLLIONE You shun me? Where can you flee that I shall not find you?

ADALGISA To the temple, to the holy altar whose sworn bride I am. POLLIONE The altar? And our love? ADALGISA Ah, forgotten! POLLIONE Go, cruel woman, shed my blood as offering to your heartless god; all my blood may be spilt, but I can never leave you, no, no, I can never leave you. You were but promised to your god: your heart you really gave to me. Ah, you do not know what it would cost me, ever to have to renounce your love. ADALGISA And you, you do not know the pain which loving you has cost me. Happy and innocent was I, destined to the altar which I have profaned. My thoughts rose up to Heaven, into the very presence of God. Now for me, guilty violator of my oath, both heaven and God are veiled from sight. POLLIONE A purer heaven and holier gods I offer you, in Rome. I am going there now.

ADALGISA You are leaving? POLLIONE At dawn! ADALGISA You are leaving! – and I? POLLIONE You will come with me. Love is more sacred than your rites. Yield to Love, ah, yield to me! ADALGISA Do not say it! POLLIONE I shall say it, so many times that you will listen... ADALGISA Ah, leave me! POLLIONE No, yield, yield to me. ADALGISA Ah, I cannot; just Heaven, protect me! POLLIONE Can you abandon me like this? Abandon me like this, Adalgisa?

Come with me to Rome, O my love, for there is love, and joy, and life; we shall vie with each other to know the greater joy in life. Do you not hear a voice in your heart which promises eternal happiness? Ah! Have faith in that sweet voice and take me, as husband, to your heart! ADALGISA (Heavens! Thus I hear his voice always, everywhere, even in the temple his eyes, his face – his image I see even upon the altar. He triumphs over my tears, he conquers my sorrow. God, take away from me this delight or else forgive my sin.) POLLIONE Adalgisa! ADALGISA Have pity! Spare me further pain! POLLIONE Adalgisa! You will not leave me? ADALGISA I...Oh no, I cannot – I shall come.

POLLIONE Here – tomorrow – at this same hour you will come? ADALGISA I promise you. POLLIONE Swear! ADALGISA I swear! POLLIONE Oh joy! You will remember ADALGISA I shall remember, my God I shall renounce, but to you I shall be always faithful. POLLIONE Your love gives me courage and I shall dare to defy your God. ADALGISA Yes, to you I shall be always faithful.

Scene Two

Outside Norma’s house NORMA Go, now – hide them both. I tremble tonight to embrace them. CLOTILDE What strange fear troubles you, that you send your children away? NORMA I do not know. Many passions torture my soul. I love and yet I hate my children! I suffer when I see them, I suffer when I do not. I feel pain together with joy, as never before, in being their mother. CLOTILDE Are you their mother? NORMA If only I were not! CLOTILDE What an evil strife! NORMA Which no one can imagine. O Clotilde! Pollione has been recalled to Rome.

CLOTILDE Are you leaving with him? NORMA He keeps his thoughts a secret. Oh, if he tried to flee– leaving me here? If only I could forget these sons of his! CLOTILDE Do you think he will? NORMA I dare not. It is too much – such a doubt is too horrible. Someone is coming. Go – hide them now! Adalgisa! ADALGISA (Be brave, my heart!) NORMA Come here, my child, come. Why are you trembling? They told me you had a secret to tell me. ADALGISA Yes – but oh, look upon me without this priestly austerity which shines in your eyes. Give me courage, that I may reveal my heart wholly to you.

NORMA Come, embrace me and speak. What is it? ADALGISA Love do not be angry – I fought long to stifle it. It conquered all my strength, all remorse. Ah! You do not know the oath I swore just now! To flee from the temple, to betray the altar to which I am sworn, to leave my fatherland. NORMA Ah, unhappy girl! The morning of your life is already clouded! How and when did this love come to you? ADALGISA At the first glance, at the first sigh, in the sacred wood, before the altar, as I was praying. I trembled – my prayers fell mute on my lips. Lost in beholding his beauty, I seemed to find a new Heaven in his face. NORMA (Oh what memories! I too felt that when I first saw his face.)

ADALGISA But you are not listening to me? NORMA Yes, go on. ADALGISA Secretly, alone at the temple I often waited for him. Every day the fire of love burned with a greater flame. NORMA (I too felt that: I recall it. She is bewitched as I was.) ADALGISA “Come,” he would say, “let me throw myself at your feet. Let me breathe the breath of your sweet sighs, give me the curls of your hair to kiss.” NORMA (Oh dear words! So my lover spoke to me opening the way to my heart.) ADALGISA His words were sweet to me as the music of a harp; in his eyes I thought to find a new, a lovelier sun.

NORMA (Her enchantment is like mine.) ADALGISA I was lost, I still am lost. NORMA Ah, do not weep. ADALGISA I need your forgiveness. NORMA I shall have pity. ADALGISA Ah, you are my staff, my guide. NORMA Ah, do not weep. ADALGISA Comfort me or reproach me, save me from myself, save me from my own heart. NORMA Ah, do not weep: you are not yet bound to the altar by an eternal knot. ADALGISA Repeat, oh Heaven, repeat the joyous words!

NORMA Yes, take heart, embrace me. I forgive you and weep for you. From your vows I free you, I break the sacred bonds. You shall live happy, forever, close to the man you love. ADALGISA Repeat, oh heaven, repeat the joyous words: through you is quieted the terrible torment. You have given me life again, if my love is not a sin. NORMA You shall live happy, forever. But tell me: the youth you love which one of us is he? ADALGISA He is not a Gaul his country is Rome. NORMA Rome! Who is he? Tell me ADALGISA You see him now. NORMA He – Pollione!

ADALGISA Why are you angry? NORMA You say you love him? Have I understood you? ADALGISA Ah, yes! POLLIONE Wretched girl! What have you done? ADALGISA I NORMA (to Pollione) You are trembling! For whom? For whom are you trembling? Do not tremble, faithless man, no, not for her she is not to blame, the guilty one is you. Tremble for yourself, traitor for your children – for me ADALGISA What are you saying? (to Norma) Ah! speak! (to Pollione) You are silent. You draw back? Alas!

NORMA What a cruel, infamous deception has entrapped you! It would have been far better to die than ever to have known him. The source of eternal tears he opened, too, to you; just as he deluded my heart, the wretch betrayed your heart, as well. POLLIONE Norma, do not wound me with your scorn. Let there be peace for this troubled girl. Hide from that pure soul our shame, as if with a veil. Let Heaven alone be judge of whose is the greater fault. ADALGISA What a ghastly mystery! My heart quakes to ask you, my heart fears to know the truth. Heartbroken, now I understand the full depth of my misfortune, my boundless misery, if he has so deceived me. NORMA Traitor! POLLIONE Enough now!

NORMA Stop! POLLIONE Come! ADALGISA Leave me – go away you are a faithless husband. POLLIONE What I was, I have forgotten ADALGISA Leave me! Leave me! POLLIONE But now I am your lover. ADALGISA Go now, traitor! POLLIONE It is my fate to love you, it is my fate to leave her. NORMA Accept your fate, then – go! Follow him! ADALGISA Ah no – I should rather die.

NORMA Leave me, yes, worthless man! Forget your children, your promises, your honour. Cursed by my disdain, you will find no joy in your sinful love. Over the seas, borne on the winds, my burning hatred will pursue you. Night and day my fury will rage around you. POLLIONE Hate me if you will. Let your fury invoke eternal anguish upon me! The love which is now my master is greater than you or I. No god could ever fashion greater suffering than mine. Cursed was I that day when fate gave me to you. ADALGISA Never allow that I may be the cause of such pain in your heart. Seas and mountains forever will divide me from the traitor. I shall stifle my cries and swallow my anguish; I shall die to bring back this cruel man to his children and to you. NORMA Cursed by my disdain, etc.

CHORUS Norma, to the altar! The voice of Irminsul has thundered. Norma, to the sacred altar! NORMA Ah, the sound of death, go, it is ready for you here! ADALGISA Ah, the sound of death calls you, go, it is ready for you here! Fly! POLLIONE Ah, that sound! Yes, I defy death, but first your god shall fall at my feet.

ACT TWO

Scene One

In Norma’s house. Night Introduction

NORMA They are both asleep. They will not see the hand which strikes them. No remorse, O my heart; they must not live. Anguish here – in Rome, abuse far worse than anguish slaves of a stepmother. Ah no, never! They must die. I cannot go nearer: a chill seizes me, my hair stands with fright. To kill my children! Tender babies, until now the joy of my life – they, in whose smile I seemed to see Heaven’s pardon, can I kill them? What guilt have they? They are the children of Pollione: that is their crime! For me, they have already died; let them die for him, too. May his anguish be greater than any other. Strike! – Ah no! They are my children, mine! Ho there, Clotilde! Come – quickly! Bring Adalgisa to me.

CLOTILDE She is nearby, walking alone, weeping and praying. NORMA Go! Let my sin be mended – and then, to die. ADALGISA Were you calling me, Norma? How pale and sad your face! NORMA The pallor of death! I must confess my shame to you. I ask one thing, which you will do if my present grief and my grief to come deserves pity. ADALGISA I promise to do anything. NORMA Swear! ADALGISA I swear! NORMA Then hear me. I have resolved to cleanse this earth of my existence. I cannot take these poor children with me: I entrust them to you. ADALGISA Oh Heaven! To me? NORMA Take them to the Roman camp, to him whom I dare not name. ADALGISA What are you asking?

NORMA May he be less cruel a husband to you. I forgive him, and now I shall die. ADALGISA Husband! Ah, never! NORMA For his children’s sake, I beg you. Ah, take them with you, succour them, protect them. I do not ask for glory and honours that will be for your own sons. I ask only that my children be not abandoned to wretchedness and slavery. Remember that it was for you that I was betrayed and cast aside! Adalgisa, oh, let the fierce torment in my heart move you. ADALGISA Norma, ah Norma! for me you will always be a beloved mother. Keep your children. May I never leave this land. NORMA You swore. ADALGISA Yes, I swore but only to do good for you. Now I shall go to the Roman camp and assail him with your laments.

The compassion you have stirred in me will speak out in sublime tones. Do not despair – you will see love and nature reawakened in him. I am sure I know his heart and Norma, there, shall reign again! NORMA I should beg him? Ah no – never. ADALGISA Norma – do not resist. NORMA I no longer hear you – go now, go! ADALGISA No, never! See, O Norma, at your knees, these dear, dear children. Let pity for them move you, if you feel no pity for yourself... NORMA Ah, why do you try to weaken me with such soft feelings? Such illusions, such hopes are not for one about to die. ADALGISA Relent, ah yield! NORMA Ah, leave me. He loves you.

ADALGISA And already he repents. NORMA And you? ADALGISA I loved him – now I feel nothing but friendship. NORMA Child – what will you do? ADALGISA Return to you what is yours, or hide myself, with you, from God and man. NORMA You have won – embrace me. I have found my friend again. NORMA and ADALGISA For the rest of my life I shall always stay with you. The earth is big enough to shelter us both. Together with you, courageously, I shall fight outrageous Destiny, as long as in thy breasts my loving heart shall beat.

Scene Two

Sacred forest of the druids GALLIC WARRIORS – CHORUS I Has he gone? CHORUS II He is still in the camp, to judge from the signs: the warlike chants, the noise, the clang of arms, the banners waving in the breeze. ALL This slight delay must not disturb us nor hold us back. Let us wait, in silence let our hearts prepare fulfilment of our mighty task. OROVESO Warriors! I had hoped to come as bearer of better news. The unselfish ardour, the anger seething in your breasts, I had hoped to second – but God’s will is different. CHORUS What! The hated Proconsul still does not leave our land? He is not returning to Rome? OROVESO A fiercer, more cruel Roman will succeed Pollione in command.

CHORUS Does Norma know this? Does she still speak to us of peace? OROVESO In vain I studied Norma’s thoughts. CHORUS What must we do now? OROVESO Submit to Fate: disband, without revealing to anyone the failure of our plan. CHORUS Always to pretend? OROVESO Cruel law! I feel it too. Ah! I too chafe beneath the Roman yoke and long for battle. But heaven is against us. Pretence is advisable. CHORUS Yes – pretence if pretence serves us, but keep our anger burning in our breasts. OROVESO Let us keep our hatred covered until the Romans think it dead. The day will come when it will blaze forth to burn with a fiercer flame. Yes, we must pretend, pretence is advisable. The day will come, etc. CHORUS Woe to Rome when the holy altar gives the signal to take up arms! Yes, but let us pretend, etc. OROVESO Let us pretend, yes, it is wise to pretend. CHORUS We shall pretend, for the pretence serves us.

Scene Three

The temple of Irminsul NORMA He will return. Yes, I have faith in Adalgisa. He will return, repentant, suppliant, my lover again. This thought cleaves the black cloud which weighed upon me, and the sun breaks through, bright as on the first day of love. Clotilde! CLOTILDE O Norma! Be brave! NORMA What are you saying?

CLOTILDE Alas! NORMA Speak! CLOTILDE In vain Adalgisa spoke to him and wept. NORMA Why did I trust her? She left me and, made lovelier by her grief, she went to him. She betrayed me! CLOTILDE She is coming to the temple. Sad and anguished, she begs to offer up her vows. NORMA And he? CLOTILDE And he has sworn to carry her off, even from the altar of God. NORMA The traitor would go too far. But my vengeance will strike first – and blood – Roman blood – shall flow like water! CHORUS The sacred gong has sounded!

OROVESO and CHORUS Norma, what has happened? The shield of Irminsul has sounded. What meaning does it have? NORMA War, plunder and death! OROVESO and CHORUS But only a few hours ago your lips bound us to peace. NORMA And now to anger to rage, to battle, to their death! O brave men, raise up the hymn of battle! ALL To battle! to battle! In the forest of Gaul brave warriors outnumber the trees. As hungry wolves fall upon the flock, we shall strike at the soldiers of Rome. Blood! Blood! The Gallic axes are bathed in the blood of the Romans. Over the impure waters of the Liguri it gushes with deathly sound. Slaughter, extermination and vengeance already begin and will soon be fulfilled. Like grain mowed down by the sickle, the Roman legions shall fall. With proud wings clipped, with talons drawn,

behold the mighty eagle on the ground! And God will come on the rays of the sun to behold the triumph of his men. And God will come on the rays of the sun to behold the triumph of his men. OROVESO Will you not fulfil the rite now, O Norma? Will you not tell us who the victim is to be? NORMA The victim will be here. The awful altar has never lacked for victims. But what is that disturbance? CLOTILDE Our temple has been desecrated by a Roman: he has been captured in the sacred cloister of the virgins. ALL A Roman? NORMA (Who can it be? If it were he?) ALL They are bringing him here. NORMA (It is he!) OROVESO and CHORUS It is Pollione!

NORMA (Now I am avenged.) OROVESO Blasphemous enemy – who led you to violate the fearful threshold, to challenge the wrath of Irminsul? POLLIONE Kill me! But do not question me. NORMA It is I who must strike. Make way. POLLIONE What do I see? Norma! NORMA Yes, Norma. ALL Strike with the holy dagger. Avenge our God! NORMA Yes, I shall strike. ALL You tremble! NORMA (Ah, I cannot!) OROVESO What is it? Why do you hesitate?

NORMA (Can I feel pity now?) CHORUS Strike him! NORMA I must question him – to know what accomplice, what insidious priestess, spurred this infidel to the worst of crimes. Leave me for a moment. OROVESO and CHORUS (What is her plan?) POLLIONE (I am trembling.) NORMA At last you are in my hands. No one else can break your bonds. I can. POLLIONE But you must not. NORMA I shall. POLLIONE How can you?

NORMA Listen to me: for the sake of your god, your children, you must swear that forever you will avoid Adalgisa you will not take her from the altar then I shall grant you life and I shall never see you again. Swear it! POLLIONE No: I am not such a coward! NORMA Swear it, swear it! POLLIONE First I would rather die! NORMA Do you not know my fury is greater than yours? POLLIONE I am waiting for it to strike. NORMA Do you not know that I, with this dagger, your children POLLIONE Oh God! What are you saying?

NORMA Yes: I raised it over them. See, see what I have become! I did not strike – but soon – now I shall commit the fearful excess. In an instant I could forget I am a mother. POLLIONE Cruel woman, it is into the father’s breast that you must plunge the dagger. Give it rather to me. NORMA To you! POLLIONE Then I alone shall die. NORMA You alone? All the Romans, by the hundreds, shall be mown down, destroyed and Adalgisa POLLIONE Alas! NORMA ...having violated her vows... POLLIONE Yes, cruel woman?

NORMA Adalgisa shall be punished; she will die in the fire. POLLIONE Oh! Kill me, kill me, but on her have pity. NORMA At last you are pleading? Too late I’ll strike your heart through hers. Already, in your eyes, I feed upon your anguish for her death; at last I can make you as unhappy as I am! POLLIONE Be satisfied with my terror: I am weeping at your feet. Vent your fury on me, but spare an innocent girl. Let it suffice, for your vengeance, that I kill myself now before you. NORMA I’ll strike your heart through hers. POLLIONE Be satisfied with my terror. NORMA No, through her heart...

POLLIONE No, cruel one! NORMA ...I’ll strike at yours. POLLIONE Vent your fury on me, but spare an innocent girl. NORMA Already in your eyes, etc. POLLIONE You are cruel! NORMA At last I can make you, at last I can make you as unhappy as I am, etc. POLLIONE Let my grief be enough for you, that I die here before you, let it suffice for your vengeance, etc. POLLIONE Give me the dagger! NORMA How dare you? Stand back. POLLIONE The dagger, the dagger!

NORMA Ho, there: ministers, priests, come here now! To appease your wrath, I announce a new victim. A perjured priestess has broken her holy vows, has betrayed her nation and our fathers’ gods. ALL A crime! Oh, what wrath! Tell us all. NORMA Yes – but prepare meanwhile the pyre. POLLIONE Again I beseech you, Norma – have pity! ALL Who is she? NORMA Hear me! (Shall I, so guilty, accuse her of my own sin?) ALL Speak: who is she? POLLIONE Do not tell them. NORMA It is I!

OROVESO and CHORUS You, Norma! NORMA Yes, I. Build the pyre. ALL (I am frozen with horror!) POLLIONE (My heart fails me.) ALL You – a traitress! POLLIONE Do not believe her. NORMA Norma does not lie. OROVESO and CHORUS Oh, what shame! NORMA The heart you betrayed, the heart you lost, see in this hour what a heart it was. In vain you sought to flee from me; cruel Roman, at last you are with me. A God, a fate stronger than you,

wills us together in life and death. On the same pyre which consumes me, and in the earth, I shall be with you. POLLIONE Too late, too late I have realised what a sublime woman you are! I have lost you. NORMA The heart you betrayed, the heart you lost, see in this terrible hour what a heart it was. POLLIONE With my remorse, love is reborn, a more raging, more desperate love. Let us die together, yes, let us die: my last word will be that I love you. But you, in dying, must not hate me. Before you die, forgive me.

NORMA See in this terrible hour, etc. POLLIONE Do not hate me, etc. OROVESO, CHORUS Oh, be your true self again, reassure us: see, an aged father beseeches you. Say you were speaking false, it is not true, that the words you spoke were wild. The austere God who hears you now is silent and holds back his thunder. This is a sign, the clearest sign, that he will not punish, ah no, that God will not punish you! CHORUS Norma, ah Norma, vindicate yourself! You are silent? You scarcely heed us! NORMA Heavens! And my children? POLLIONE Poor children! What anguish! NORMA Our children? POLLIONE What anguish! CHORUS Norma – are you guilty? Speak!

NORMA Yes – beyond any mortal power to say. OROVESO and CHORUS Sinner! NORMA Do you hear me? OROVESO Away! NORMA Ah, hear me! OROVESO What sorrow is mine! NORMA I am a mother. OROVESO Mother! NORMA Be calm – Clotilde has my children. Take them – save them together with her – from the barbarians. OROVESO No, now go – leave me. NORMA Ah, father! One last request –

OROVESO and CHORUS Oh, what horror! NORMA Oh, do not let them be victims of my cruel mistake oh, do not cut them down in the innocence of childhood. Remember that I am your blood, have pity on my children. Oh father, have pity, have pity on my children. CHORUS She weeps! She prays – but what hope has she? Her prayers will be rejected. Tear from her brow the sacred wreath, place upon her the veil of death! NORMA Father, you weep... OROVESO My heart is oppressed! NORMA You weep, you forgive. OROVESO Love conquered! POLLIONE Oh, heaven!

OROVESO Yes; ah, what grief! NORMA Ah, you forgive me, your tears have told me. NORMA, POLLIONE I ask no more – I am happy, and gladly I shall ascend the pyre! CHORUS Yes, she weeps, etc. POLLIONE I ask no more, Heaven! NORMA Father, ah father! OROVESO No more, wretched girl! NORMA You promise me? OROVESO I promise you, yes. NORMA Ah, you forgive me! Your tears tell me, etc.

CHORUS Go now to the pyre, and may your sacrifice cleanse the altar and the temple, O you who shall be cursed in death! OROVESO Go, wretched child! NORMA Father – goodbye! POLLIONE Your pyre, O Norma, is mine. There beyond, holier, begins eternal love! OROVESO Break forth, at last, O tears! You are a father’s right. END