eyn kik of dir, mayn tayerer!
iz shoyn genig, mayn tayerer!
du host gevenen shoyn, dayn emes fardintn loyn,
un du vest zayn fun mayn hartsn der kroyn.
ikh veys az undz beydn, tayerer,
vet men tsesheydn, tayerer!
dokh blaybt mir, heylik der moment,
ven ikh hob zikh mit dir bakent.
eyn kik af dir iz shoyn genug mayn tayerer!

du host gevenen shoyn, dayn emes fardintn loyn,
un du vest zayn fun mayn hartsn der kroyn.
ikh veys az undz beydn, tayerer,
vet men tsesheydn, tayerer!
dokh blaybt mir, heylik der moment,
ven ikh hob zikh mit dir bakent.
eyn kik af dir iz shoyn genug mayn tayerer!

 

GENERAL VITALIN:
Ever since I first noticed you,
something strange has happened.
What it is I stand here and contemplate.
I’ll tell you simply:
Everybody knows that because of you,
I’m a changed man.
You have thrown a spark into me, and it glows.
You have now utterly disrupted my spirit.

ESTHER:
I cannot understand it,
how it could happen.
And it amazes me without end
that I, a poor Jewish girl
with an old, ragged dress,
should make such an impression on you.
You always keep company only
with rich, beautiful ladies.
How is it you suddenly think of me?

BOTH:
Just one look at you,
is enough, my dear!
You have already won my true love,
and you will remain the crown of my heart.
I know, my dear, that they
will separate the two of us.
But still the moment I first met you
will remain sacred to me.
Just one look at you …