Gian Carlo Menotti — Steal Me Sweet Thief

[LAETITIA] (Recitative) What a curse for a woman is a timid man! A week has gone by He's had plenty of chances But he made no advances Miss Todd schemes and labors to get him some money She robs friends and neigbhours, the club and the church He takes all the money With a smile that entrances But still makes no advances The old woman sighs and makes languid eyes All the doors are wide open All the drawers are unlocked! He nеither seems pleased or shockеd He eats and drinks and sleeps He talks of baseball and boxing But that is all! What a curse for a woman is a timid man! (Song Proper) Steal me, oh steal me, sweet thief For time's flight is stealing my youth And the cares of life steal fleeting time Steal me, thief, for life is brief and full of theft and strife And then, with furtive step Death comes and steals time and life O sweet thief, I pray make me glow Before dark death steals her prey Steal my lips, before they crumble to dust Steal my heart, before death must Steal my cheeks, before they're sunk and decayed Steal my breath, before it will fade Steal my lips, steal my heart, steal my cheeks Steal, oh steal my breath And make me die before death will steal her prey Oh steal me! For time's flight is stealing my youth