Menzogna!

Menzogne come up in Greek a lot. It's not a word I'd use much otherwise - it's a slightly more poetic way of saying 'lie'. Hence the Muses tell Hesiod: We know menzogne which are similar to the truth; when we will, we also know things which are true.

Anyway, whenever I hear the word, a little voice in my head shouts 'Menzogna!' I thought this was strange until I realised that it's Cavaradossi's voice from Tosca. It's grim, but the interrogation scene is one of my favourite parts. The only problem I have with Tosca is that I don't like Tosca. Actually, that's quite a big problem.

Music was essentially the reason I wanted to study Italian. It's almost a guilty pleasure, since opera is such an inherent class symbol.. but come on, I lived in a trailer for two years and grew up in clothes the neighbours didn't want.

You can listen to it here. The passage below begins at 5.40, and 'Menzogna!' is at 6.57. (Incidentally, this interrogation just reminds me of oral exams. To summarise what's going on, Cavaradossi is a painter, and Tosca's lover. Angelotti, a political prisoner, escapes from prison, and they give him food, and hide him in a well. Inevitably they get caught, and Cavaradossi denies all knowledge, refusing to give away Angelotti's hiding place. Scarpia has Cavaradossi tortured, and Tosca, hearing his screams, betrays Angelotti, who kills himself rather than be captured. Scarpia, who's already been trying to convince Tosca that Cavaradossi is unfaithful to her, declares that if she sleeps with him he'll arrange a mock execution. Tosca agrees, but once he sends the order, she kills him with a hidden knife. Meanwhile Cavaradossi sings a sad song about how he has never loved life so much as this - and yet he has to die. The next morning, he has his mock execution, and Tosca cheerily consoles him - until it turns out that Scarpia double-crossed her and the guns do indeed have bullets in them. C. dies, and Tosca jumps off the ramparts.

Scarpia: Introducete il Cavaliere. (Spoletta esce) (a Sciarrone) A me Roberti e il Giudice del Fisco. (Sciarrone esce. Scarpia siede di nuovo a tavola.) Spoletta e quattro sbirri introducono Mario Cavaradossi.  Cavaradossi (altero, avanzandosi con impeto) Tal violenza!... Scarpia (con studiata cortesia) Cavalier, vi piaccia accomodarvi... Cavaradossi Vo' saper... Scarpia (accennando una sedia al lato opposto della tavola) Sedete... Cavaradossi (rifiutando) Aspetto. Scarpia E sia! (guarda fisso Cavaradossi, prima di interrogarlo) V'è noto che un prigione... (odesi la voce di Tosca che prende parte alla Cantata) Cavaradossi (commosso) La sua voce!... Scarpia (che si era interrotto all'udire la voce di Tosca, riprende) ... v'è noto che un prigione oggi è fuggito da Castel Sant'Angelo? Cavaradossi Ignoro. Scarpia Eppur, si pretende che voi l'abbiate accolto in Sant'Andrea, provvisto di cibo e di vesti... Cavaradossi (risoluto) Menzogna! Scarpia (continuando a mantenersi calmo) ... e guidato ad un vostro podere suburbano... Cavaradossi Nego. - Le prove? Scarpia (mellifluo) Un suddito fedele... Cavaradossi Al fatto. Chi mi accusa? (ironico) I vostri sbirri invan frugâr la villa. Scarpia Segno che è ben celato. Cavaradossi Sospetti di spia! Spoletta (offeso, interviene) Alle nostre ricerche egli rideva... Cavaradossi E rido ancor! Scarpia (terribile, alzandosi) Questo è luogo di lacrime! (minaccioso) Badate! (nervosissimo) Or basta! Rispondete! (irritato e disturbato dalle voci della Cantata va a chiudere la finestra: poi si rivolge imperioso a Cavaradossi:) Dov'è Angelotti? Cavaradossi Non lo so. Scarpia Negate avergli dato cibo? Cavaradossi Nego! Scarpia E vesti? Cavaradossi Nego! Scarpia E asilo nella villa? E che là sia nascosto? Cavaradossi (con forza) Nego! nego! Scarpia (quasi paternamente, ritornando calmo) Via, Cavaliere, riflettete: saggia non è cotesta ostinatezza vostra. Angoscia grande, pronta confessione eviterà! Io vi consiglio, dite: dov'è dunque Angelotti? Cavaradossi Non lo so. Scarpia Ancor, l'ultima volta: dov'è? Cavaradossi Nol so!

Scarpia: Bring him in! (Spoletta leaves) (to Sciarrone) Get me Roberti and the Giudice del Fisco. (Sciarrone leaves. Scarpia sits back down at the table.) Spoletta and four officials bring in Mario Cavaradossi.   Cavaradossi (furious, pushing forward) This is an outrage!... Scarpia (with studied politeness) Sir, if you would care to sit... Cavaradossi You want to know... Scarpia (indicating a chair on the opposite side of the table) Please, sit. Cavaradossi (refusing) I'll wait. Scarpia So be it! (he stares at Cavaradossi before interrogating him) Are you aware that a prisoner... (they hear the voice of Tosca, singing outside) Cavaradossi (moved) Her voice!... Scarpia (picks up where he left off when interrupted by Tosca's voice) ... are you aware that a prisoner escaped this morning from Castel San'Angelo? Cavaradossi No. Scarpia And yet, we understand that you met him in Sant'Andrea, supplied him with food and clothes.. Cavaradossi (firmly) That's a lie! Scarpia (remains unruffled) ... and took him to your house... Cavaradossi I deny it. - What's your proof? Scarpia (smoothly) A reliable informer... Cavaradossi Of course. Who's accusing me? (mockingly) Your men searched my house and found nothing. Scarpia It shows he's well hidden. Cavaradossi You think I'm a spy! Spoletta (interjects, offended) He was laughing at our inquiries. Cavaradossi And I'm still laughing! Scarpia (thunderous, getting up) This is a place of tears! (threatening) Watch yourself! (irritably) Now enough! Tell me! (annoyed by the voices of the Cantata, he goes to shut the window: then he turns imperiously to Cavaradosi:) Where is Angelotti? Cavaradossi I don't know. Scarpia You deny giving him food? Cavaradossi I deny it! Scarpia And clothes? Cavaradossi I deny it! Scarpia And refuge in your home? And that he's hidden there? Cavaradossi (emphatically) I deny it! I deny it! Scarpia (almost paternally, calming) Come, sir, think about it: this stubbornness isn't going to help. Out with it now, and you can avoid later torment. I advise you to tell me where is Angelotti? Cavaradossi I don't know. Scarpia Again, for the last time: where is he? Cavaradossi I don't know!

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