NORMA and PRIESTESSES
Chaste goddess, who dost bathe in silver light
These ancient, hallowed trees,

Turn thy fair face upon us,
Unveiled and unclouded...
Temper thou the burning hearts,

The excessive zeal of thy people.
Enfold the earth in that sweet peace
Which, through Thee, reigns in heaven....


NORMA
The holy rites are ended.

From the sacred wood
Let every unbeliever go.
When God, in his dark anger,

Shall demand the Romans' blood,
Then from the Druid temple
My voice will thunder forth.


ALL
Let it thunder, and not one of the cursed race

Shall escape the holy slaughter.
And first to fall before our wrath
Shall be the Proconsul of Rome.


NORMA
Yes, he shall fall. I can punish him --

(But my heart can never do it.
Ah! bring back to me
The beauty of our first love.

Then, against the world itself
I shall be your defence.
Ah! Bring back to me

The peace and warmth of love,
And in that love I shall find again
Life, fatherland and heaven itself!)


CHORUS
But a wrathful god is hastening

To condemn the power of Rome.

NORMA

(Ah, be once more as you were
When first I gave my heart to you!)


CHORUS
But the wrathfuI day is near,
Which will condemn the power of Rome.