So funny: this blind fiddler in the inn

Was playing the "voi che sapete". Wondrous!

I couldn't keep myself from bringing him

To treat you to his art. Entrez, maestro!

(Enter a blind old man with a violin.) Some Mozart, now!

(The old man plays an aria from Don Giovanni; Mozart

roars with laughter.)

Salieri

And you can laugh?

Mozart

Ah, come,

Salieri, aren't you laughing?

Salieri

No, I'm not!

How can I laugh when some inferior dauber

Stains in my view the great Raphael's Madonna;

How can I laugh when some repellent mummer

With tasteless parodies dishonors Dante.

Begone, old man!

Mozart

Hold on a moment: here,

Take this to drink my health.

(The old man leaves.) You, my Salieri,

Seem squarely out of sorts. Well, I'll come back

Some other time.

Salieri

What did you bring me?

Mozart

This?

No, just a trifle. Late the other night,

As my insomnia was full upon me,

Brought some two, three ideas into my head;

Today I jot them down... O well, I hoped

To hear what you may think of this, but now