"Stirb Ungeheu’r! Durch unsre Macht!"

Die, monster, by our power!

THE THREE LADIES
Die, monster, by our power!
Victory! Victory! It is accomplished,
The heroic deed. He has been freed
by the valour of our arms.

FIRST LADY
A fair youth, tender and beautiful!

SECOND LADY
Such beauty as I’ve never yet seen!

THIRD LADY
Yes, yes, truly as pretty as a picture.

THE THREE LADIES
If I were to devote my heart to love,
It would have to be this young man.
Let us hurry to our queen,
And convey this news to her.
Perhaps this handsome man
Can restore her lost repose.

FIRST LADY
Then go and tell her,
I’ll stay here in the meantime.

SECOND LADY
No, no, you go then,
I’ll watch over him here!

THIRD LADY
No, no, that cannot be!
I’ll protect him myself.

FIRST LADY
I’ll stay here in the meantime.

SECOND LADY
I’ll watch over him here!

THIRD LADY
I’ll protect him myself.

FIRST LADY
I’ll stay!

SECOND LADY
I’ll watch him!

THIRD LADY
I’ll protect him!

THE THREE LADIES
Me! Me! Me!
(To themselves)
I should go? That’s a fine thing!
They’d like to be alone with him!
No, no, that cannot be!
(One after the other, then together)
What wouldn’t I give
If I could live with this youth!
I would have him all to myself!
But no-one’s leaving, it cannot be,
It would be best then for me to go.
(To Tamino)
You beautiful and tender youth,
You beloved youth, farewell,
Until I see you again.

The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

After being chased by a serpent, Prince Tamino falls unconscious. Three ladies enter and kill the snake. Tamino comes to, assuming the snake was killed by Papageno, a bird catcher, who has just appeared. When Papageno does nothing to disabuse this misapprehension, the three ladies reappear and padlock his lips to stop him lying anymore. They show Tamino a portrait of Pamina, the beautiful daughter of their mistress, the Queen of the Night. Pamina, they tell him, has been kidnapped by the evil magician Sarastro. The Queen appears and asks the love struck Tamino to rescue Pamina. He agrees and sets off with Papageno, whom the ladies have freed and given a magic set of bells. They also give Tamino a magic flute. Pamina is being guarded by the villainous Monostatos, who is trying to seduce her when Papageno enters. Frightened, Monostatos runs off, leaving Papageno to tell Pamina that her rescuer is close by.
Three boys lead Tamino through Sarastro’s realm to three temple doors. He is twice turned away; at the third door, a priest greets him and reveals the Queen is the evil one from whom Sarastro was trying to save Pamina. Tamino leaves to find Pamina; a moment later, she and Papageno enter, chased by Monostatos. Papageno saves them by playing his magic bells. Sarastro arrives and declares Pamina is free to marry but not to return to her mother. Tamino is brought in by Monostatos, who demands a reward from Sarastro, who instead punishes him.
Sarastro tells the priests Tamino will undergo initiation rites. Monostatos tries to kiss the sleeping Pamina but is surprised by the Queen of the Night. The Queen gives her daughter a dagger, ordering her to murder Sarastro.
Sarastro consoles the desperate Pamina, explaining he does not want vengeance. Tamino and Papageno are told they must remain silent and not eat, a vow Papageno breaks when he accepts some water from a flirtatious old lady. She vanishes when asked her name. The three spirits appear to guide Tamino and tell Papageno to be quiet. Tamino remains silent even when Pamina appears. Misunderstanding this for coldness, she is heartbroken. Tamino has only two more trials to complete. Papageno longs for a wife instead. He eventually settles for the old lady, who turns into a beautiful young Papagena but then disappears. Pamina and Tamino are reunited and face the ordeals of water and fire together, protected by the magic flute.
Papageno tries to hang himself but is saved by the three spirits, who remind him his magic bells will find him true happiness. When he plays the bells, Papagena appears. The Queen of the Night, her three ladies, and Monostatos attack Sarastro’s temple but are defeated and banished. Sarastro blesses Pamina and Tamino as all join in hailing the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom.

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