Original subtitles

Go up on to the hill

Look out into the heavens

Watch for the silvery disc of the new moon to appear

And when the first smile on its virginal face appears ...

... sound the ritual gong three times

Will Norma come to gather sacred mistletoe?

Yes, Norma will come

Fearsome god, lend her your gift of prophecy

Irminsul, fire her with such rage and hatred for the enemy...

...that this demeaning truce will be broken

Yes, the word of god will spit from these timeless oaks

Gaul will be cleansed of all trace of the enemy

And the sound of his shield will be like thunder...

... spreading terror across the imperial city

O moon, be quick to rise

Norma will come to the altar

O moon, be quick

Tho voices have died away

We ' re free to enter the fearful wood

Death is lurking there, as Norma told you

That name you spoke chills my ho art

What do you moan?

The woman you love, the mother of your children?

You cannot reproach me any more than I deserve

But the love I once felt has died

A god that gives me no peace destroyed it

I stand on the edge of the abyss ...

... ready to throw myself in

Do you love someone else?

Lower your voice

Yes, someone else, Adalgisa, whom you'll soon see

The picture of innocence, of sincerity and love

She is a priestess of this bloodthirsty god

There she shines like a star in a stormy sky

My poor friend

Does she love you too?

I'm sure she does

Are you not afraid of Norma 's anger?

My remorse is co great that I can imagine all its horror

I had a dream ...

Toll me

Tho memory makes me tremble

Adalgisa was with me in Rome, at the temple of Venus

She was dressed in white with flowers in her hair

I hoard the hymns of Hymen, cow the clouds of incense

I felt swept away by pleasure and love

A terrifying shadow than foll be two on us

A groat druidic cloak weighed on her like a cloud

Lightning struck the altar, the sky won't dark

Everything fell silent in deathly terror

The girl I adore was no longer at my side

Far away I hoard moaning and my children weeping

A fearsome voice rang through the temple

"See how Norma destroys her faithless lover"

Do you hear that?

Norma is leaving the temple to come to perform the ritual

The moon has risen, only the chosen may stay

- Come away - Leave me

- Listen to me - You savages ...

- Let's get away - I shall stop you

Let's go, someone might see you

The savages are plotting, but I shall stop them

I am protected and defended by a greater power

The thought of the woman I adore, the love that set my heart on fire

This god is my rival for the girl I love

I shall burn the evil forests ...

... and overthrow the altar

Norma is coming, crowned in sacred verbena

Tho gold on scythe she carries shines like the sickle moon

When she appears, a shadow falls on the star of Rome

Irminsul crosses the heavens like a comet of ill-omen

Are there these who would call for rebellion and war...

... at the altar of god?

Would come put words into the mouth of the prophetess Norma...

... and hasten Rome's unknown fate?

It does not depend on human might

How long would you have us oppressed?

Have our woods and the temples of our ancestors ...

... not been tainted enough by Roman symbols?

Tho sword of Brennus cannot now lie idle

Raise it up

And it will shatter and fall

Yes, shatter if any one of you tries to unsheathe it before time

Tho time of our revenge has yet to come

Roman spears are still more mighty than the axes of the Sicambri

What has god told you? What is our fate?

I read the secrets in the store

Proud Rome's name is written on the page of death

One day she will die, but not through your doing

She will die eaten away by her own vices

Wait for the fateful hour...

... when this will come to pass

I counsel peace, and gather sacred mistletoe

Chaste goddess, you cast a silver light...

... upon these ago-old, sacred trees

Turn your lovely face to us ...

... unclouded and unveiled

O goddess, calm the fire that burns in these hearts

Calm their fearless zeal

Spread across the earth that come peace ...

...that rules the heavens by your power

Finish the rite and send away the laity

When god in his dark anger calls for Roman blood ...

... my voice will thunder from the druidic shrine

And let not one single Roman escape annihilation

The first man to foll will be the proconsul

He will fall

It is in my power to punish him

(But my heart will not let me)

Be once more the way you were when we were first in love ...

... and I shall stood by you against the whole world

Look at me again the way you used to ...

... and my life and homo will be in your arms

How slow the day of vengeance is to come

But that day will surely dawn when god is roused to anger

The sacred wood is empty, the rite is over

At lost I can sigh unobserved ...

... here where I first saw that fateful Roman ...

... who has taken me away from the temple and god

I wish it had been the last time

But that was not to be

I'm drawn here by a force I can't resist

How I love to gaze upon that beloved face

I hear his voice echo on the breeze

Protect me, god

Protect me, god, for I am lost

Mighty god, have mercy on me, I am lost

There she is. Leave me, I will not listen to reason

You're here

What is this? Were you crying?

I was praying

Go, and leave me to pray

It's a cruel god you pray to, who opposes what we both desire

The god you should invoke is love

Love. I will not hoar on other word

Are you running away from me?

Where can you go where I shall not follow?

The temple, the sacred altars I dedicated my life to

What about our love?

It means nothing to me now

Go to your merciless god and of for him my blood

Let every drop be shod

I can never leave you

You were promised to god but your heart chose me

You do not know what it would cost me to give you up

You too do not know what sorrow you cause me

I once happily approached the altar I have now desecrated

I raised my thoughts to heaven and there I saw my god

Now I have broken my vow, god is hidden from my sight

I can of for greater gods in Rome, where I am going

Are you leaving?

At dawn

What about me?

Come with me

Surrender to a love more holy than your rites

Don't say that

I shall not stop until you listen

Leave me in peace

Surrender to me

I can't. Heaven, protect me

Could you abandon me like this?

Adalgisa

Come to Rome, where there is love and joy and life

Our hearts will rejoice in the happiness that awaits us

Can't you hear your heart promising never-ending joy?

Trust that sweet sound and embrace me as your husband

Wherever I go, even at the temple I hear him talk this way

I see his eyes, I see his face oven on the altar

He triumphs over my tears, conquers my sorrow

Heaven, free me from this spell or at least forgive my sin

Como

Have pity

Come, my darling

Never

How can you leave me?

Let me go, I beg you

Can you forget me like this?

Let me go, I beg you

Adalgisa, do you moan to leave me?

I. ...?

I can't

I ' II come with you

Will you come here at this time tomorrow?

- I promise - Swear it

- I swear - You've made me so happy

- Don't forget - I won't forget

I shall renounce god and be faithful to you

Your love gives me strength and I shall defy your god

I shall be faithful to you

Go and hide them both

I'm more afraid than over to take them in my arms

What sort of fear makes you reject your children?

I don't know, there's a conflict in my heart

I love my children and at the same time loathe them

It pains me to see them, and not to see them

I fool both pleasure and pain to be their mother

That is what you are

If only I weren't

What a terrible conflict

You con not imagine it

Clotilde, Pollione has boon recoiled to Rome

Is he going with you?

He has not said

What if he tries to run away and leave me here?

What if he deserts his children?

Do you think he will?

I do not dare

The suspicion is too painful, too terrible

Someone is coming. Hide them

Adalgisa

(Let me be strong)

Come here, young maiden

Why are you trembling?

I heard you had a grave secret to tell me

Yes ...

... but do not look at me with such severity

Give me the courage to hold nothing back

Embrace me, and speak

What is troubling you?

Love

Don't be angry, I've long battled to suppress it

It conquered all my efforts, all my remorse

You do not know the vow I just mode

To run away from the temple, betray the altar I serve ...

... abandon my country

Poor girl

Have you been robbed of peace so early in your life?

What sparked this love, and when?

A single glance, a single sigh in the sacred wood ...

...while I was praying at the altar

The prayer died on my lips

I was captivated by his beauty

I thought I saw on other heaven ...

... another heaven in him

(The memories return)

(I too was swept away by the more sight of his face)

But you're not listening

Carry on, I'm listening

I often waited for him in secret at the temple

My passion grows with every passing day

(I felt that passion too)

Come, he said, let me foll at your foot

Let me breathe in your sweet sighs

Let me kiss your lovely curls

(He spoke these dear words to me ...

... and found the way into my ho art)

To me his words were as sweet as the sound of a harp

A brighter sun seemed to shine in his eyes

(Like her I was spellbound)

I was lost, and still am

Dry your tears

I need you to forgive me

I shall chow mercy

Support and guide me

Dry your tears

Comfort, or berate me

Save me from myself, save me from my heart

Dry your tears, you are not bound to the altar for ever

Say these comforting words once more

Be comforted, embrace me I feel your pain, and forgive you

I free you from your vows, and break your bonds

You can live in happiness with the man you love

Soy those comforting words once more

You have brought peace to my long torment

You let me live again, if love is not a sin

Tell me which of our young men it is you love

He was not born in Gaul, but in Rome

Rome! Who is he?

You see him there

Him, Pollione?

You're angry

Is this the man?

Is that right?

Yes

What have you done?

Me?

Are you trembling?

For whom?

Don't tremble for her, you traitor

She is not to blame, the villain is you

Tremble for yourself

And for your children

Tremble for me

What is this?

Speak

You coy nothing, you stop back

Alas

You have been co cruelly deceived

It would have been better to die before you ever met him

He will have you weep everlasting tears

Just as who deceived my heart...

... who has betrayed yours

Norma, do not cost your reproaches on me now

- Before you over mot him.... - What a terrible mystery

... it would have been better to die

- Show this poor girl.... - I tremble to ask the truth ...

- ... some compassion -. .. and to hear it

Now I understand my misfortune

Don't let her know our shame

Let only heaven judge which of us sinned the more

There is no and to it if ho has betrayed me this way

Traitor

Enough

Don't go

Come with me

Leave me alone, you unfaithful husband

Forget what I was

I am now your lover

It is my destiny to love you ...

... and to leave her

Very well

Do it

Go

Go with him

No, never, I'd rather die

Go, leave me, forget your children, your promises and honor

Cursed by my rage you ' II not enjoy a sinful love

My rage will pursue you on the waves and the winds

Night and day my vengeance will thunder round your head

Curse me in your rage

Tho love that rules my life is greater than us both

Let the seas and mountains come between me and the traitor

Call down eternal torment on me

Norma, come to the altar

The voice of Irminsul has thundered

They're both asleep

They will not see the hand that strikes them

I must feel no regret, they cannot live

Here they will suffer torture, and in Rome, disgrace

A for worse torture ...

... as slaves of a stepmother

No, never

They must die

I'm rooted to the spot

My blood runs cold and my flesh crawls

I'm killing my own children

My gentle children, only a moment ago my do light

When they smiled, I thought I saw heaven's forgiveness

Am I to spill their blood?

What wrong have they done?

They are Pollione's children, that is their crime

Already dead for me, lot them die for him

Let him suffer as no one ever has before

Strike

No

They are my children

Clotilde!

Run and bring Adalgisa to me

She's wondering nearby, praying and imploring

Go

Let me make amends for my sin ...

... and then die

Did you call me, Norma?

Why is your face so pale?

It is the pallor of death

I shall reveal all my shame to you

Hoar my one request and carry it out...

... if my present and future sorrow ore deserving of pity

I shall do all I can, I promise

Swear to that

I swear

I have decided to cleanse this place of my defiling presence

I con not take these poor children with me

I on trust them to you

To me?

Take them to the Roman camp, to the man I dare not name

What are you asking?

I hope he is a kind or husband to you

I forgive him, and die

A husband? Never

For the sake of his children ...

... I implore you

Take them with you, support them and protect them

I do not ask for honors, these will be for your children alone

I ask only that you do not let mine be enslaved and abandoned

Bo content that it was for you I was scorned and betrayed

Adalgisa, be moved by the anguish in my heart

I shall still love you as a mother

Keep your children, I shall not take them from their homo

You swore ...

Yes, I swore

But only to what would bring you peace

I shall go to the comp and toll that man how you weep

I shall find the words in the pity you have roused in me

Be hopeful that love and nature will be revived in him again

I know that Norma will once more be the queen of his ho art

Am I to bog him?

Never

Relent

I've heard enough, leave me

No, never

Look at these children at your knees

You may have no pity for yourself, but show pity for them

Why appeal to my heart to weaken my resolve?

All hope has fled when death is near

Give way

Leave me, it is you who loves

Not any more

And you?

I loved him, but now I fool only friendship

What do you won't, then?

To restore what is rightly yours ...

... or else I vow to live with you shut off from the world for ever

You have prevailed

Embrace me

I have found a friend once more

We shall be friends until our dying day

This world is big enough to shelter us both together

With you I shall sot my face against the shame that is my fate ...

... as long as I fool your ho art beat against mine

Hos he not left?

He's still in the camp

All the signs are there, the rowdy songs, the sound of arms ...

... and the fluttering flogs

Let's not be put off by a short delay

Let us wait...

... and in silence steel ourselves for the bottle

Fighters, I hoped to come with news of a better future

I hoped to fire your zeal and anger

But god was of on other mind

Is the loathed proconsul not leaving?

Is ho not going back to Rome?

A tougher, more arrogant cap to in is to succeed Pollione

Does Norma know?

Does she still call for peace?

I could not find out what she thinks

What do you think we should do?

Bow to fate, separate ...

... and cover all trace of our foiled plans

And carry on pretending?

I know it is a harsh command

I hoot Roman oppression too and long to throw it off

But heaven's advice is to continue to pretend

Let's do so, if we must, but keep our fury in our hearts

Let's conceal our anger so that Rome thinks it dead

Tho day will come when it will explode with greater violence

Woo to Rome on the day when god gives the sign

Ho will come back

I place my trust in Adalgisa

He ' II come bock begging for forgiveness, full of love

Tho thought drives away the dark cloud that hung over me

Now the sun chines on me as it did when we were first in love

- You have to be brave - What do you mean?

- Alas - Tell me

Adalgisa's words and tears were in vain

Should I have trusted her?

She was plotting to appear pathetic and lovely to him

She has gone back to the temple, begging to take her vows

And him?

Ho has vowed to abduct her

This is too much

My vengeance will stop him

And Roman blood will flow in torrents

The sacred gong is sounding

What is it, Norma?

What does the striking of Irminsul's shield mean for us?

War

Slaughter

Annihilation

But you forced peace upon us

And now anger, death and destruction

Fighters, raise the song of war

War! Find as many fighters as there are trees in our woods

Have them fall on the Romans like wolves on sheep

Let the axes of Gaul be drenched in blood

Let it bubble and stain the waters of the Loire

Start the slaughter, destruction and vengeance

Tho Roman troops will fall, scythed down like corn

Tho Roman eagle is cost down, its wings broken, its claws clipped

God appears on a ray of sunlight to watch his children's victory

Will you not perform the rite or point out the victim?

The altar has never lacked victims, and there is one today

What is that noise?

A Roman broke into our temple

Ho was caught in the virgin novices' cloister

A Roman

What if it is him?

Bring him here

It is him

It's Pollione

Now I om avenged

What drove you to violate this fearful place ...

... and defy the anger of Irminsul?

Kill me, but do not question me

I must strike the blow. Out of my way

You, Norma?

Yes, me

Take the sacred knife and avenge god

Yes, I shall strike

Are you of raid?

(I cannot do it)

What is wrong?

What s stopping you?

(Can I really feel pity?)

Strike him

I have to question him and find out the accomplice ...

... who persuaded him to commit this worst of crimes

Leave me for a moment

(What has she in mind?)

(I tremble)

You are in my hands at last and no one can set you free

Except me

You must not

I want to

How?

Listen

By your god and your children you must swear...

...to leave Adalgisa and not take her from the altar

Then I shall save your life and never see you again

Swear

No, I am not such a coward

Swear

I'd sooner die

Don't you know my rage is greater than yours?

I wait for it to fall on me

And that against our children this knife. ...?

What are you copying?

Yes, I raised it against them

Do you see what I have come to?

I didn't strike, but soon, right now...

... I could take that terrible stop

Just for a moment...

... I con forgot that I'm a mother

It is their father that you should strike

- Hand it to me - To you?

Only I should die

Only you?

Every Roman should be cut down

And Adalgisa...

- ... who broke her vows... - What cruelty are you planning?

Adalgisa must be punished, she will perish in the flames

Take my life, but be merciful to her

At last, you're begging me

You contemptible man, it's too late

I ' II make you suffer by wounding her

How I enjoy seeing the pain in your eyes at her death

At last, I can make you as unhappy as me

Aren't you content to see me weeping at your feet?

Unleash your anger on me but spare an innocent girl

Be satisfied by seeing me kill myself in front of you

Give me that knife

Got out of my way

The knife

Ministers, priests, come here

I have a new victim to reveal to your anger

A dishonest priestess broke her vows

She betrayed our country and offended god

What a crime! Say who she is

Build up the pyre

I bog you again, Norma, be merciful

- Reveal who it is - Listen

(How can I accuse on innocent person of the crime that I committed?)

Who is she?

Don't say

Myself

You, Norma

Me. Build up the pyre

(My blood runs cold with horror)

(My heart has stopped beating)

You, a criminal

Don't believe her

Norma does not lie

See now the heart you betrayed, the ho art you lost

You tried to escape me in vain, now you are here with me

Fate wants us to be together in life and death

On the pyre that consumes me ...

... and in the grave I shall be with you

I have come to know you too late and now I've lost you

Love is reborn with my remorse, more despairing and angry

We shall die together

My last words will be that I love you

Do not die loathing me

Forgive me before you die

Come back to your senses, your aged father begs you

Say this isn't true, these words have no sense

If god, who bears you, does not unleash his anger...

... it is a sign that this must go unpunished

Norma, clear your name

Do you coy nothing?

Are you not listening?

My children

The poor creatures

- Our children? - What pain

Norma, are you guilty?

Yes, more than anyone can understand

- Will you listen to me? - Out of my sight

- Listen to me - Oh, my sorrow

I am a mother

Don't be angry. Clotilde has my children, go and collect them

Take them all away from the enemy

Never, got away from me

Father

One last request

How painful

Don't have them suffer for my fatal mistake

Don't cut short their innocent lives

Remember that they are your blood

Have pity on them

His heart is touched

Are you crying, father?

My heart is heavy

Weep and forgive

Love has prevailed

Your tears toll me that you forgive

I ask for nothing more, my happiness is complete

Without a back word glance I shall mount the pyre

I ask for nothing more

- Father - Do not pain me more

- Do I have your prom ice? - Yes, I promise

Let your death purge the altar and wash the temple clean

Even in death you are accursed