#fidelio

Would you believe, men of the eighteenth century, that there are damp subterranean prisons where men destined for death are suffocating in the darkness, where executioners torture prisoners at night? Do you know that there are horrible cisterns where henchmen dig graves in the midnight dark? Ravaged homes, where the prosecuted pant in mortal fear under the destroyed furniture? And prison courtyards where tortured lungs beg for air and sunlight and freedom? [...] And when the liberating goodness comes, the Valiant Spouse, the Faithful Friend, and the Just Authority, when Fidelio and the Minister come [...], bearing the royal letter of pardon - do they always come, and to everyone, and if they do, to they come still in time?