Flight

Kadidja:

In the starless firmament

The moon extinguishes its rays.

Night lends us its veil,

Let us flee, let us flee!

Ahmed:

Don't you fear the anger

Of your insolent brothers?

Your father's despair?

Your father with his white eyebrows?

Kadidja:

What do I care about scorn, blame,

Dangers or curses?

It is in you that my soul lives.

Let us flee, let us flee!

Ahmed:

My heart is faltering, I tremble,

And in my breast penetrated

By their kandjar (an Oriental dagger) I seem

To feel the icy touch...

Kadidja:

Born in the desert, my mare

Over wheat, through the fields

Would fly, rivalling the winds.

Let us flee! Let us flee!

Ahmed:

To the boundless desert

Without a parasol to cast

A little shade on the sand,

Without a tent to shelter me...

Kadidja:

My eyelashes will make you shade

And at night we will sleep

Under my hair, a dark tent.

Let us flee, let us flee!

Ahmed:

If the illusory mirage

Were to hide the real path,

Without food, without water to drink,

We would both of us die tomorrow.

Kadidja:

My heart bends under my happiness,

If the stations lack water,

Drink the tears of my joy.

Let us flee! Let us flee!