from Prologue, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Attila by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Temistocle Solera

Role: Odabella, the Lord of Aquileia's daughter

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic coloratura

Setting: The main square of Aquileia, a Roman city, 5th century

Synopsis: After being overrun by the Huns, the surviving Aquileians are rounded up and brought before Attila. After Attila questions why some women have been spared against his orders, he is told that the Aquileian women fight beside their men and thus had been spared. Odabella steps out to speak valiantly to Attila and he is so impressed that he gives her one request. She asks for a sword and, upon receiving Attila's sword, she sings of how she will return divine justice upon the Huns and their king for oppressing her country.