Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492, Act Iii: No. 21, Sull' Aria... Che Soave Zeffiretto "Letter Duet"
Edith Mathis
3:31If somebody there chanced to be Who loved me in a manner true My heart would point him out to me And I would point him out to you But here it says of those who point Their manners must be out of joint You may not point You must not point It's manners out of joint to point Ah! Had I the love of such as he Some quiet spot he'd take me to And he would whisper it to me And I could whisper it to you But whispering, I've somewhere read Is contrary to etiquette Where can it be? Now let me see Yes, yes It's contrary to etiquette If any well-bred youth I knew Polite and gentle, neat and trim Then I would hint as much to you And you could hint as much to him But here it says in clear as print It's most unladylike to hint You may not hint You must not hint It says you mustn't hint in print Ah! And if I loved him through and through True love, and not a passing thrill Then I could speak of it to you And you could speak of it to him But here I find it doesn't do To speak until you're spoken to Where can it be? Now let me see Yes, yes Don't speak until you're spoken to