Act 2 - 8: L'horrible mercato!
Tosca Save him! Scarpia I? You! Scarpia My poor dinner has been interrupted. Why so dejected? Come, my lady, sit down. Can't we two find a way to save him? Be seated...let's talk. Have a sip. It's a Spanish wine. A sip will revive you. Tosca How much?			Scarpia The price! It's true, they say I'm corrupt. But I don't sell myself to beautiful women for mere money. If I'm to be disloyal I want another kind of payment. (This is the moment I've waited for! Love for the diva has long consumed me.) But just now, I saw you as I never saw you before. Your tears were like lava on my senses. Your hatred of me has only inflamed my desire! As you clung to your lover, supple as a leopard, in that moment I swore I would have you! Tosca I would rather die, first! Scarpia Mario is still my prisoner. Tosca How repulsive a bargain. Scarpia I won't forcibly detain you. You're free to go. Go. But your hopes will be dashed. The Queen can't pardon a corpse. How you hate me! This is what I desire!			Tosca Don't touch me. I loathe you. Scarpia What does it matter, if you're as passionate in hate as in love? Do you hear? It's the drums. They're taking the condemned on their last journey. Time is passing. Do you know what they're doing? They're building the gallows. At your wish, Mario has only an hour left. [ top ]