1. LOOK
Columbus
My body in pain, my soul bleeding, like a criminal chained in irons and shackles, humiliated, you are dragging me to Spain.
I look down to the ocean whose expanse I opened to Spain. I see reflected the face of my Queen who has forsaken me.
Remember how, with the will of God, I surrendered to your feet those lands. But as thanks, you humiliate me.
Look! Look! these irons. I arrive in Spain being dragged in chains.
2. JERUSALEM
Courtiers (chorus) Ha, ha, ha! the Governor without a throne, the Admiral without a sea. Look at him!
Columbus
I am repentant, Your Highness.
Courtiers
You robbed!
Columbus
Mine were unintended mistakes.
Courtiers
Deshonraste a] Rey! ideshonraste laYou killed! You dishonored the
King! You dishonored the Queen! You
dishonored the Court!
You dishonored God!
Columbus
I promise, my King and my Queen,
with
Franciscan humility
Queen Isabella
What do you promise to do to redeem your
sins?
to open the gates of the
Holy Land. Make true
the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Queen Isabella
Why you?
Columbus
I'm God's chosen.
Queen Isabella
Who sends you?
Columbus
Our God!
Queen Isabella
Where is the proof?
Columbus
Look at the Bible
Queen Isabella
Be more precise!
Columbus
Here it is! "He who frees the islands of the
Ocean ...
Queen Isabella
Your faith, your persistence, and loyalty will give you the victory.
Columbus
... will open the gates of the Holy
City''
Queen Isabella
You found those islands.
Columbus
With help from Providence, allow me a new voyage!
Queen Isabella
You and I are like the dawn, the full river, the fertile valley. You and I are two rich streams whose waters are life and destiny for Humanity Admiral, with God's help, you must repeat your feat and find the Holy Sepulcher and free Jerusalem!
Columbus
I will find the Holy Sepulcher, I will free Jerusalem!
Courtiers
He will free Jerusalem!
3. BELOVED ONES!
Beatriz
Christopher ...
Queen Isabella
Admiral ...
Beatriz
... your beloved one has awaited you all her life in Cordova...
Queen Isabella
... honored for your great accomplishments. 1, your Queen, did ask you and did order you for the welfare of the Indians...
Beatriz
... why did you allow the seas to take you so
far
every day ... ?
Queen Isabella
... of the Indians, inhabitants of the Indies, a mainland, that they shall not be offended or mistreated, and that they should not be enslaved.
Beatriz
Always lonely. My beloved Christopher. All alone I saw the years go by without the warmth of your kisses.
Queen Isabella
Admiral, I have evidence of injustices and abuses done by you. Admiral, sad is my heart due to your disobedience since I have always been your protector and friend.
Beatriz
My beloved one, sad is my heart. Without breath (air) is my sigh. Only grief, only yearnings.
Queen Isabella
From my eternal dwelling I will pray for your soul.
Columbus
My beloved ones!
Queen Isabella
Goodbye Columbus! I die disappointed. I was counting on you and at the end you forgot me. From heaven I will pray for you.
Beatriz;
Christopher, I am left alone. I looked for your gaze, searching through memories. In sorrow and loneliness I lived.
Columbus
4. FORGIVE ME!
Monks (male chorus)
Ave verum corpus, natum de Marķa Virgine, vere passum immolatum in cruce pro homine. Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit et sanguine, esto nobis praegustatum in mortis ex-amine.
Columbus
My God! forgive meal] of you whom I have disappointed. God, everything is in darkness and the rays from the infinite are blinding my pride, and illuminating the misery of my spirit and of my sins.
Forgive me, beloved Beatriz. Forgive me, earth and sun. Forgive me, sea and rivers. Forgive me, air and species. Forgive me Indians, blacks, birds, saints. All of you, all of you and God, to whom I believed I was listening and obeying.
Oh my God, what I have seen for the tomorrows can not be as a result of your wishes but only as punishment for my arrogance. Forgive me, all of you.
In manus tuas Domine commando spiritum meum.