"Meco all'altar di Venere" is an aria from the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, sung by the character Pollione in act 1, scene 2.
——Udia d'Imene i cantici, ——Vedea fumar gl'incensi; ——Eran rapiti i sensi— Di voluttade e amore With me in Rome before the shrine —Was Adalgisa bending; Bound in her locks in hue divine —Rivall'd were lilies blending; Softly her hand she press'd in mine, —Air breath'd with incense around us.
Tempest his legion flames arrayed, —Daylight shrank out all sickly, Hideous, 'mid darkness, thickly —Sepulchred horrors move.
Più l'adorata vergine ——Io non mi trovo accanto, ——N'odo da lunge un gemito, ——Misto de' figli al pianto,— —Ed una voce orribile, ——Echeggia in fondo al tempio: ——"Norma così fa scempio Di amante traditor!"
Mocking my search, a stifled moan —On o'er the night came stealing; While in a deep, mysterious tone, —Re-echo'd thro' the temple: "Norma thus makes example —Of traitors false to love."