All
Oh chieftain!
Veterans
Oh horrible condemnation!
People
Oh fatal day!
All
Is this the reward of thy victory!
Enter Alamiro
Alamiro
Do you sorrow, oh my friends!
You weep for Belisarius! Ah! then the report was false
That the emperor had commuted into an exile
The sentence of death passed upon Belisarius!
A cruel sentence, suggessted by malice,
And not by justice, to the Senate.
Chorus
You have heard the truth! But as yet the report
Of the worst has not reached you; listen!
Alamiro
I tremble!
Chorus
It was ordained by the emperor that Belisarius
Should never more look on him;
Eutropio, inspired by a fiend, through a sanguinary fraud,
Perverted the order.
Alamiro
What did the monster attempt?
Chorus
He deprived the warrior of his eye-sight.
Alamiro
[Struck with horror, covers his face with both his hands.]
My heart is filled with dismay at this fatal intelligence!
Astonishment and grief dry the sources of my tears!
May daylight vanish from by eyes
And the dark nightwhich surround him,
Envelope me also in its gloom
That I may not witness the painful sight of the brave warrior!
Chorus
His daughter approaches!
Alamiro
How unhappy she looks~
Enter Irene, Eudora and Ladies.
Alamiro
You grief and despair indicate you
know about the atrocious event.
Irene
Alas! But too well!
Alamiro
Who will guide the steps of the wounded
And betrayed man to his exile?
Irene
Myself!
Alamiro
Let it be so!
Another duty devolves on me, and it shall be fulfilled.
(It was not in vain that Belisarius gave me this sword!
I shall revenge the trecherous plot, and his unjust banishment.)
Fatherless daughter, Irene, farewell: speak often of me to your father
(Her sufferings add to my own,
Her tears break my heart.)
Tremble, Byzantium! A war of extermination
Shall level thy walls ot the ground
And torrents of blood shall atone
For every tear of the unfortunate man!
Irene
Ah, your very presence, o, wretched father,
Will break my heart!
Chorus
He must be a tiger, or be destitute of feeling
Who does not pity the forlorn creature.
[Alamiro exits]
Irene
My friends, we must part! I trust
My mother to your care..
Do not weep: my situation will require courage,
When I shall be far from you!
May the remembrance of my misfortunes
Cause you to shed a tear of affection for me.
[she embraces them]
May heaven prove friendly to you.
[to all who depart in tears. She remains
for a moment in mournful silence,
Until the clash of the iron gates of the prison
start her from her reverie.]
The mournful gates open.
Who comes? Oh, cruel sight!
[steppiing backward, in dismay.]
Enter Belisarius, Eusebio and Guards.
Belisarius
Here I breathe a purer air! Ah I am
Then taken out of my dungeon.
[his eyes are covered with a black band.]
Irene
(Ah! I dare not look at him!)
Eusebio
A troop of soldiers is here at hand
To escort you to the northern borders.
[Irene give a paper to Eustabio, who reads it with surprise.]
Beliasrius, a person has been sent,
by royal command to accompany you to your exile.
(My heart is moved with pity, sorrow and astonishment!
Ah! heaven sent child!)
[leaves]
Belisarius
Oh! You who are to be the guiding star in the dark gloomy night
Which forever closes my eyes.
Approach.
Irene
(Heavens!)
Belisarius
Where are you?
[Irene gives him her hand.]
Will you then follow me in my exile? Ah!
Know doubt you much likewise be happy
Since you feel for me!
Irene
(My supresses tears
Prevent the utterance of speech!)
Belisarius
Hasten to my dwelling;
I shall wait here for your speedy return.
Oh! God to see her!
My lips, my very lips cannot express the harshness of my sentence.
If I am not allowed to see my daughter for the last time.
I wish to listen to the sound of her voice.
Lead her here
That I may press her to my bosom!
Let it not be forbidden
For a father to bless his miserable child.
Irene
(Ah! who for pity's sake=97who assists=97
Who supports me in this fatal hour?
I faint=97the excess of grief overpowers me
Ah! my life will be
A life of wretchedness.)
Belisarius
Go, guide her to my arms
[She kisses his hand and bathes it with her tears.]
What! Do you weep?
Irene
Father! [Falling on her knees.]
Belisarius
Oh God! Her voice
Irene
Ah! Father!
Belisarius
Is it my daughter?
Irene
At your feet.
Belisarius
Arise, Irene, embrace your father. Can it be true?
Irene
It is I=97
Belisarius
With me! Ah! if I could weep
My tears would not flow from grief; I would shed those of joy!
I am no longer miserable,
Oh my daughter! Near you.
Irene
I wish to follow you=97to share your cruel fate,
The sufferings of the exile, the fatigues of the journey,
And sink into the grave with you, oh, my father!
Belisarius
But you will often be exposed to penury,
And destitute of food and home,
If you follow your unfortunate father.
Irene
A cavern will shelter me=97
The fruit of the forest will be my food=97
The fountain shall quench my thirst!
Belisarius
But alone through dreary deserts!
Irene
Am I not with you?
Belisarius
If more oppressed by sorrow than by age,
IThe old man should die?
Irene
I shall then emplore the father of orphans
Belisarius
Come then!. You are the angel [moved]
You are the guide of my days!
You admidst the darkness that surround me
Are the light of the betrayed father, and dearer to me than life.
Irene
Oh God! Who affords consolation [turning up her eyes to heaven]
To those who suffer unjustly,
Send down a ray of celestial favor upon us;
For my father I implore you,
Oh God of peace and love.
[they depart, under the escort of the Guards.]