O Don Fatale  "Don Carlos" by Giuseppe Verdi

Picture

Princess Eboli, lady-in-waiting to Elisabeth de Valois, Queen of Spain, has betrayed her mistress.  She throws herself at Elisabeth's feet to confess two transgressions:  that she has aroused Philip's suspicions because of her own jealousy, and that she herself has committed the adultery of which she suspected the Queen, having had an affair with the king.  Elisabeth offers her the choice of being exiled or becoming a nun.  Eboli laments the misery her fatal beauty has wrought.


Oh fateful gift, O cruel gift that in its ire heaven gave me!
You that makes us so vain and proud, I curse you, O my beauty!
I can shed, only shed tears;  I have no hope, I must suffer!
My crime is so terrible that I can never erase it!

O my queen, I sacrificed you to the foolish error of this heart.
Only in a cloister, from the world anymore must I hide my suffering!

Oh heaven!  And Carlo?  Put to death tomorrow... Great God!  To his death I'll see him go!
Ah!  One day remains to me, hope smiles on me!
May heaven be blessed!  I'll save him!