<P> Adalgisa prays at the temple, remembering with some sorrow how she became involved with Pollione . He enters, telling her that she prays to a cruel god and is not trying to invoke the god of love . While she appears to reject him, he declares (Aria: Va crudele / "Go, O cruel one, to your god: make an offering of my blood") but he is convinced that he cannot leave her; he is distraught, but she is equally torn, until the moment when he declares that he must return to Rome the following day . He begs Adalgisa to go with him: (Duet: Pollione, then Adalgisa, then together: Vieni in Roma / "Come to Rome, my darling; Love and joy and life are there"). She resists him, but finally appears to agree that they will leave together the following day . </P> <P> Norma appears to be upset and orders her maid, Clotilde, to take the two children away from her, expressing very conflicted feelings about them . She tells Clotilde that Pollione has been recalled to Rome, but does not know if he will take her or how he feels about leaving his children . As Adalgisa approaches, the children are taken away . </P> <P> Adalgisa tells Norma she has fallen in love with a Roman, whom she does not name . As she describes how she fell in love while waiting at the temple and seeing "his handsome face" appear, Norma recalls (as an aside) her own feelings for Pollione ("my passions, too, burned like this"), and more and more, their experiences of falling in love run parallel: (Norma and Adalgisa, duet: Sola, furtiva al tempio / "Often I would wait for him, At the temple, alone and in secret"). Adalgisa pleads for help and forgiveness, and Norma pledges that she will do that and will also free her from her vows as a priestess: (Norma: Ah! sì, fa core, abbracciami, Perdono e ti compiango / "Yes, take heart, embrace me . I forgive you, and sympathise with you". Adalgisa: Ripeti, o ciel, ripetimi / "Say that again, heavens, say again, Such wonderful words: Through you my long suffering is calmed .") </P> <P> Norma asks Adalgisa to describe the man whom she loves . Responding, she tells her that he is a Roman, and, at that moment, turns to indicate that it is Pollione who is just then entering the room . As Norma furiously turns to confront Pollione, Adalgisa is confused: Norma: Oh! non tremare, o perfido, per lei . Essa non è colpevole, Il malfattor tu sei / "O faithless man, Do not tremble for her . She is not guilty, You are the wicked one ." </P>

What is the plot of the opera norma