Puccini, Giactmo Madama Butterfly. Liteetto. English & Italian ...

MADAM BUTTERFLY 45
BUTTERFLY
(pointing to his features one by one)
What Japanese
Baby was ever born with azure eyes ?
Such lips too ? and such a head
Of golden curls?
SHARPLESS
(more and more moved)
It is his image.
Has Pinkerton been told?
BUTTERFLY
No, I bore him when he
Was far off in his big native country.
(caressing the child)
will write and tell him
But you
There awaits him a son, who has no equal !
And would you tell me then, that he won't hasten
Over land and over sea !
(seats the child on the cushion, and kisses him fondly)
Do you know, my sweet, what that bad man
Had heart to fancy ?
(points to Sharpless)
That your mother should take you on her shoulder
And forth should wander in rain and tempest
Through the town, seeking to earn enough
For food and clothing.
And then, before the pitying people
To dance in measure to her song, and cry out :
"Oh, listen, good people,
"Listen for the love of all
"The eight hundred thousand gods and goddesses of
Japan!"
And there will pass a band of valiant warriors
With their Emp'ror, to whom I'll say :
"Noble Ruler, tarry thy footsteps
"And deign to stop and look
(showing the child and caressing him)
"At these blue eyes, as blue as the azure heaven
"Whence you, Most High, are cornel"
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