from Act II, Scene 3 of the Italian opera
Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel
Libretto: Nicola Haym
Role: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt
Voice Part: soprano Fach: dramatic coloratura
Setting: Palace of the Goddess of Virtue, Alexandria, Egypt, 48 B.C.
Synopsis: Caesar has run outside to fight against Tolomeo's soldiers who are trying to take his life. Inside, Cleopatra finds that she now loves Caesar instead of just pretending to love him so that she would be favored above Tolomeo. She still hopes that Caesar will be able to gain revenge on Tolomeo.