"Suoni la tromba"
Sound the trumpet
The daughter of a Puritan lord, Elvira, is distraught at the impending death of her beloved, the Cavalier Lord Arthur Talbot, who has been arrested and condemned to die. Puritan soldiers, Sir George Walton (Elvira's uncle) and Sir Richard Forth (who loves her), are both moved by her distress. Even so, as they face the prospect of meeting their enemy in battle at dawn the next day, they pledge to fight together, bravely and honourably, for their cause. Should Arthur somehow take to the battlefield, he will die.
GEORGE
Riccardo! Riccardo!
May the grief in my heart
Move your noble soul.
RICHARD
Your tears have won me over
See, I am also moved to tears.
GEORGE, RICHARD
Whoever truly loves his homeland
Honours mercy!
GEORGE, RICHARD
Sound the trumpet,
I/ you will fight hard and bravely;
It is a fine thing to face death
Shouting: freedom!
Let the fearless love for our homeland
Win blood stained laurels,
Then may mercy wipe away
our noble sweat and tears.
At dawn!
Let the fearsome cry be:
Homeland, victory, victory, honour.
GEORGE
It is a fine thing to face death
Shouting: freedom!
GEORGE, RICHARD
Sound the trumpet,
I will fight hard and bravely;
It is a fine thing to face death
Shouting: freedom!
Let the fearless love for our homeland
Win blood stained laurels,
Then may mercy wipe away
our noble sweat and tears.
GEORGE, RICHARD
At dawn!
RICHARD
It is a fine thing to face death
Shouting: freedom!
GEORGE
Sound the trumpet,
I will fight hard and bravely;
RICHARD
Perhaps at dawn
The enemy will attack us.
Should he be there ...
GEORGE
He will die.
RICHARD
Let the fearsome cry be:
Homeland, victory, victory.
GEORGE, RICHARD
Sound the trumpet,
I will fight hard and bravely;
It is a fine thing to face death
Shouting: freedom!
Let the fearless love for our homeland
Win blood stained laurels,
Then may mercy wipe away
our noble sweat and tears.
GEORGE, RICHARD
At dawn!
It is a fine thing to face death
Shouting: freedom!
Let the fearsome cry be:
Homeland, victory, honour!
I Puritani by Gaetano Donizetti
Set during the English Civil War, The Puritans is a story of love and seeming betrayal across family, religious and political lines. Charles l's widow, Queen Henrietta is imprisoned in a fortress governed by the Puritan Lord Walton. Despite the politics of the time, his daughter Elvira is betrothed to a Cavalier, Lord Arthur Talbot. When Arthur helps the queen escape, disguised in Elvira's bridal veil, Elvira goes mad, believing herself betrayed.
Elvira’s uncle, George, brings news of Elvira’s descent into madness. Sir Richard Forth, a Puritan who also loves Elvira, announces that Arthur has been sentenced to death by Parliament. Elvira arrives, lamenting her lost love. George urges Richard to save Arthur's life for Elvira’s sake. Richard concedes reluctantly, but nonetheless they agree Arthur will face death should he take part in battle the next day, as they will fight side by side for their cause.
Arthur seeks out Elvira, who is still distraught that he may desert her again. Richard arrives with a group of Puritan soldiers and pronounces Arthur's death sentence. Elvira is restored to sanity, united with Arthur in what seem to be their last moments. However, the end of the war is declared and a universal pardon proclaimed, leaving Arthur and Elvira free to marry.