Suor Angelica is a one act opera about a convent in Italy where Sister Angelica has been sent to repent for her sins, including an illegitimate son she had seven years ago. Sister Angelica?s aunt comes to the convent to reveal that Angelica?s sister is getting married and Angelica must sign a document renouncing her claim to the family inheritance. Angelica cannot give up everything to the Virgin Mary, because she cannot forget the memory of her son. The Princess then informs Sister Angelica that her son died from a fever two years before. Angelica, distraught, signs the document, and in this song grieves that she was not there for her son when he died.
Sister Angelica makes a poison which she drinks in order to join her son in heaven, though immediately regrets this because suicide is a mortal sin. As the one act opera comes to a close, the Virgin comes to Angelica in a vision, signifying her salvation, and bringing her child, who approaches his mother before she dies at his feet.
Senza mamma, o bimbo, tu sei morto!
Without a mother, oh child, you are dead!
Le tue labbra, senza i baci miei,
Your lips, without my kisses,
scoloriron fredde!
They pale, turn cold!
E chiudesti, o bimbo, gli occhi belli!
And you closed, oh child, your eyes beautiful!
Non potendo carezzarmi,
Not being able to caress you,
le manine componesti in croce!
your little hands composed in a cross!
E tu sei morto
And you are dead
senza sapere quanto t'amava
without knowing how loved you were
questa tua mamma!
by your mother!
Ora che sei un angelo del cielo,
Now that you are an angel in heaven,
ora tu puoi vederla la tua mamma,
now you can see your mother,
tu puoi scendere giù pel firmamento
you can descend downward through the firmament
ed aleggiare intorno a me ti sento.
and hovering around me you I feel.
Sei qui, mi baci e m'accarezzi.
You are here, feel my kisses and my caresses.
Ah! Dimmi, quando in ciel potrò vederti?
Ah! tell me, when in heaven will I see you?
Quando potrò baciarti?
When will I be able to kiss you?
Oh! Dolce fine d'ogni mio dolore,
Oh! sweet end to all my sorrows,
quando in ciel con te potrò salire?
Qhen to heaven with you will I be able to ascend?
Quando potrò morire?
When will I be able to die?
Dillo alla mamma, creatura bella,
Tell your mother, creature beautiful,
con un leggero scintillar di stella.
with a light sparkle of a star.
Parlami, amore!
Speak to me, my love!