from Act I, Scene 2 of the Italian opera
L'Italiana in Algeri by Gioacchino Rossini
Libretto: Angelo Anelli
Role: Isabella, an Italian lady
Voice Part: mezzo-soprano Fach: lyric mezzo
Setting: The shore of Algeria, early 19th century
Synopsis: Isabella has come to Algeria to find her love Lindoro. However she has been in a shipwreck and the Algerian pirates are planning to take her to become part of the harem of the Bey of Algiers. She comments that she is only in this danger because of her great love for Lindoro, but she goes on to state that the pirates are only men and therefore, no challenge to her wits.