Dispel the empty fancies. Beaumarchais

Used to instruct me: "Listen, old Salieri,

Whenever black thoughts come into your head,

Uncork yourself another Champagne bottle

Or reread 'Le mariage de Figaro.'"

Mozart

Yes! I remember, you were boon companions

With Beaumarchais; you wrote "Tarare" for him --

A glorious thing. It has one melody...

I keep on singing it when I feel happy...

La la la la... Ah, is it right, Salieri,

That Beaumarchais could really poison someone?

Salieri

I doubt he did: too laughable a fellow

For such a serious craft.

Mozart

He was a genius,

Like you and me. While genius and evildoing

Are incompatibles. Is that not right?

Salieri

You think so?

(Throws the poison into Mozart's glass.)

Well, now drink.

Mozart

Here is a health

To you, my friend, and to the candid union

That ties together Mozart and Salieri,

Two sons of harmony.

Salieri

But wait, hold on,

Hold on, hold on!.. You drank it!.. Without me?

Mozart

(throws his napkin on the table)

That's it, I'm full.