Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

“Bella figlia dell’amore” (Fairest daughter of love) This is the famous quartet. The Duke is singing to Maddalena. Gilda sees this happen through a window and is heartbroken. Rigoletto tells his daughter what a bad man her “true love” is (and that he’ll do something about it).

DUKE (to Maddalena) DUKE (to Maddalena) Bella figlia dell’amore, Fairest daughter of love, schiavo son dei vezzi tuoi; I am a slave to your charms; con un detto sol tu puoi with but a single word you could le mie pene consolar. relieve my every pain. Vieni e senti del mio core Come, touch my breast and feel il frequente palpitar. how my heart is racing.

MADDALENA (to Duke) MADDALENA (to Duke) Ah! ah! rido ben di core, Ah! Ah! That really makes me laugh; che tai baie costan poco, talk like that is cheap enough. quanto valga il vostro gioco, Believe me, I know exactly mel credete, so apprezzar. what such play-acting is worth! Sono avvezza, bel signore, I, my fine sir, am quite accustomed ad un simile scherzar. to foolish jokes like this. Si si! Yes yes!

GILDA GILDA Infelice cor tradito, O wretched heart betrayed, per angoscia non scoppiar. do not break for sorrow. (repeated) (repeated) No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

RIGOLETTO (to Gilda) RIGOLETTO (to Gilda) Ch’ei mentiva sei sicura. You are now convinced he was lying. Taci, e mia sarà la cura Hush, and leave it up to me la vendetta d’affrettar. to hasten our revenge. Pronta fia, sarà fatale, It will be quick, it will be deadly, io saprollo fulminar I know how to deal with him.