DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

Astrofiammante, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.

PAMINA, her daughter.

PAPAGENO, a bird-catcher.

TAMINO, a handsome Egyptian prince.

MONOSTATOS, chief slave of the temple.

SARASTRO, high priest of Isis.

PAPAGENA.

Three Ladies-in-Waiting to the QUEEN OF THE NIGHT; Three Youths of the Temple; Priests, Priestesses, Slaves, etc.



ACT I. SCENE XIII.

PAPAGENO, PAMINA.



BOTH.

Nimble feet, and dauntless courage,

May save us from the foe's dread rage.

Could we but Tamino find,

Else they will surprise us.



PAMINA.

Gracious youth!



PAPAGENO.

Hush! we are not yet out of danger!

[He whistles. Tamino answers with the Flute.]



BOTH.

What joy can be greater?

Friend Tamino already hears us.

This way came the sound of the flute!

Oh what joy. When I shall find him.

Quick! quick! Let us hasten!



ACT I. SCENE XIV.

The same. MONOSTATOS.



MONOSTATOS.

Quick! quick! let us hasten!

Ha, ha! Have I caught you then?

Quickly bind these daring ones.

And now we'll have a word or two.

You shall not deceive me.

Nor lead me by the nose. I promise you.



PAMINA AND PAPAGENO.

Alas! We shall never escape!



MONOSTATOS.

Hither, slaves, and bind them!

[Enter slaves, who bind them.]



PAPAGENO.

Who ventures much, much ofttimes wins

Come, thou magic set of bells,

Let your tiny music sound.

And set their ears a tingling.

[He strikes the instrument. Monostatos and slaves draw back and dance and sing. At the same time, the priests enter and dance and sing also.]



"WHAT MAGIC TONES THRILLING."

Duet and Chorus - MONOSTATOS, PAMINA, PAPAGENO, AND SLAVES.



What magic tones thrilling, are floating around!

La la ra, la la la ra la, la la la ra la.

Whilst pleasure is filling each heart at the sound.

La la la la la la ra la, la la la ra la.

Softly comes the evening hour,

Sweetly scents the jasmine bower,

Love alone asserts his power.

Those we love beside us.

Yet bethink thee, music's tones,

Far as love, shall reach the zones.

Music our companion then shall be,

Teaching us that Heav'n is love.

Pure as yon bright star above.

Oh, as pure and true may be

Those who sit beside us.

[Music behind the scene.]



MONOSTATOS.

Long live Sarastro! Sarastro live forever!



PAPAGENO.

What can this mean? I tremble! Oh, I shudder!



PAMINA.

O friend, we are lost forever,

This announces the great Sarastro.



PAPAGENO.

Oh, were I but a mouse.

That I might hide myself.

Were I a lowly snail.

I'd creep into my house.

My child, what shall we say to him?



PAMINA.

The truth! Although we be in error.



ACT I. SCENE XV.

The same. SARASTRO on a splendid car, followed by a crowd.



CHORUS.

Long live Sarastro! Sarastro live forever!

'Tis he to whom we're all devoted.

May he e'er enjoy life as a wise man!

Our idol he is, to whom all are devoted.

[Sarastro descends from the car.]



PAMINA.

{Kneeling.) Lord! 'tis true I am a culprit,

I wished to escape thy power.

But the guilt is not all mine.

The wicked Monostatos desired my love,

Therefore, oh Sire, I fled from thee.



SARASTRO.

(Raising her.)

Rise and cheer thyself, oh lady,

For, without further question,

I know much about thy heart.

Thou already lov'st another.

To love I never will compel thee,

But I will not give thee freedom.



PAMINA.

Filial duty causeth me to be concerned

For my dear mother!



SARASTRO.

Who is in my power.

Thy happiness would be annihilated

Were I to give thee up to her.



PAMINA.

Let me but my mother find again.



SARASTRO.

She is a haughty woman.

A man should guide your hearts,

For without his wisdom to direct,

Woman steps out of her sphere.



ACT I. SCENE XVI.

The same. MONOSTATOS, TAMINO.



MONOSTATOS.

Thou, proud youth, come hither alone!

This is Sarastro, our lord.



TAMINO AND PAMINA.

'Tis he/she. I can scarcely believe it!

To my bosom! to my arms!

How beats this heart for thee with love!

[They run toward each other.]



ALL.

What does all this mean?



MONOSTATOS.

What hardihood! Part them directly!

[Runs to divide them.]

Thy slave is kneeling at thy feet:

[Kneels before Sarastro.]

This is too much!

Oh, let the impudent culprit atone!

[Pointing to Tamino.]

Think of the cunning of this knave!

By the tricks of his strange bird,

[Pointing to Papageno.]

He sought to rob thee of Pamina.

But I was enabled to find it out.

Thou knowest my vigilance. I thwarted him.



SARASTRO.

For which I will reward thee.

Give to this gentleman at once.



MONOSTATOS.

Thy favor makes me far too rich.

[Rises.]



SARASTRO.

But seventy-seven bastinado stripes!

[To the slaves.]



MONOSTATOS.

Ah, sir! deserved I that reward?

[The slaves lead him off.]



ALL.

Long live Sarastro! The sage divine!

He rewards and chastises alike, justly.



SARASTRO.

Lead these two young strangers

To our temple of probation!

Cover their heads, for they

Must first be purified!

[The priests cover them with a veil, and Pamina and Sarastro ascend the car and depart, surrounded by the suite.



CHORUS.

When virtue joined to justice

Strew the path of the great with fame,

Then is the earth a Heaven indeed.

And mortal men are like to gods.



END OF ACT I.