“Der fliegende Holländer” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

(A part of the Norwegian coast with steep and rocky cliffs in the foreground. A violent storm is raging out to sea but between the rocks it is calmer except for intermittent squalls. Daland, the Norwegian capitain, has just anchored his ship close to the shore and the sailors are busy furling sails, throwing out ropes atc. Daland has gone ashore; he has scaled a cliff in an attempt to recognize the country inland)

SAILORS
(at work)
Hojohe! Hallojo!
Hojohe! Hallojo! Ho! He!
Ho! He! Ja! Ho! Hallojo!
Ho! Johe! Hallohe! Hallohe!

DALAND
(descending to the shore)
No doubt! Seven miles the storm
has blown us from the safety of port.
So near our goal after a long voyage
and now this ill-luck!

STEERSMAN
(on board, shouting
through cupped hands)

Ho! Capitain!

DALAND
How's everything on board?

STEERSMAN
All's well, Capitain. We're safe afloat.

DALAND
Sandwike it is. I know the bay well.
Confound it! On shore I saw my home.
Senta, my child, I seemed to embrace:
then this devilish gale blew up!
Who trusts the wind, trusts Satan's mercy!

(going aboard)

What's the good? Patience! The storm is abating;
Raging so, it cannot last.

(on board)

Ho, lads! Your watch was long.
Rest now! I have no fear!

(The Sailors go below)

Now, helmsman, you'll take the watch for me?
There's no danger but you'd better stay awake.

STEERSMAN
Rest easy! Sleep in peace. Capitain!

(Daland goes into his cabin. The Steersman is alone on deck. The storm has somewhat abated; it returns only at sporadic intervals; on the open sea the waves are still rough. The steersman makes his round once more, then sits down near the rudder. He yawns, then rouses himself as sleep comes over him)

STEERSMAN
In gale and storm from far-off seas,
my maiden, I am near you!
Over towering waves from the south,
my maiden, I am here!
My maiden, were there no southwind,
I could never come to you!
Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger!
My maiden longs for me!
Hohojo! Hallohoho!
Jollohohoho! Hohoje!
Hallohoho! ho ho ho ho ho ho!

(A wave rises, violently shaking the ship. The steersman starts up and looks around; having satisfied himself that no harm has been done, he sits down again near the helm and sings, while sleep gradually overcomes him. He yawns)

STEERSMAN
On southern shores, in far-off lands
I thought of you!
Through storms and sea, from Moroccan coast
I have brought you something.
My maiden, praise the south-wind,
I bring you a golden ring.
Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger!
My maiden would like the trinket.
Hoho! Je! holla ho!

(He struggles with his fatigue and finally falls asleep. The storm begins to rage violently again: it grows darker. In the distance appears the ship of the Flying Dutchman, with blood-red sails and black masts. She rapidly nears the shore, on the side opposite the Norwegian ship. With a fearful crash she drops anchor. - Steersman starts up from his sleep; without leaving his place he glances hastily at the beginning of his song)

STEERSMAN
My maiden, were there no south-wind...

(He falls asleep once more. Silently, and without the slightest sound, the spectral crew of the Dutchman furl the sails. The Dutchman goes ashore, wearing black Spanish cloathing)

SCENE TWO

DUTCHMAN
The time is up and seven more years
have gone. Weary of it the sea casts me up
on land. Ha! proud ocean!
Soon you shall bear me again!
Your spite is fitful, but my torment is eternal!
The grace I seek on land never
shall I find! To you, ocean-tides,
I shall be true, until your last wave
breaks, and you are drained dry.
How often into the sea's deepest maw
have I longingly hurled myself,
yet death, ah, I found it not!
There, in the awful tomb of ships,
I drove mine on to the rocks,
but alas, no tomb closed over me!
Mockingly, I defied the pirate,
in fierce combat I hoped for death.
Here - I cried - Show your prowess.
With treasure my ship is filled.
Alas, the sea's barbarous son
crossed himself in terror and fled!
Nowhere a grave! Never death!
This is damnation's dread command!

You I ask, blessed angel of God,
who won for me the terms of my salvation,
was I the sorry plaything of your scorn,
when you showed me the way to redemption?
Vain hope! Terrible, futile folly!
There is no eternal fidelity on earth!
Only one hope is left to me,
only one that is undestroyed:
while Earth's seeds long may thrive
yet one day it must end too!
Day of Judgment! Day of Doom!
When will you dawn and end my night?
When will resound the crack of doom,
rending the earth asunder?
When all the dead rise up,
then shall I fade into the void.
Worlds, end your course!
Eternal destruction, take me!

THE DUTCHMAN'S CREW
(from the hold)

Eternal destruction, take us!

SCENE THREE

(Daland comes out on deck, he takes [the direction] of the wind and notices the foreign ship)

DALAND
(looking around for the steersman)
Hey there! Steersman!

STEERSMAN
(half rising, still dazed with sleep)
It's nothing! It's nothing!
"Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger,
my maiden..."

DALAND
(shaking the steersman)
You see nothing? - Fine watch you keep, don't you, lad?
There lies a ship. - How long have you been asleep?

STEERSMAN
(starting up quickly)
Devil take it! Pardon me, Capitain!

(He takes a megaphone
and calls across)

Who are you?

(Echo is heard;
Long pause)

Who are you?

(Long pause. Echo is heard again)

DALAND
They seem just as lazy
as we are.

STEERSMAN
(as before)
Answer! Your ship and flag?

DALAND
(seeing the Dutchman on shore)
Wait! I think I see the Capitain.

(calling the Dutchman)
Ahoy there! Sailor! Your name! Where are you from?

(Long pause)

DUTCHMAN
(without changing his position)
I come from afar: would you deny me
anchorage in this storm?

DALAND
God forbid!
A sailor is always hospitable!

(going ashore)

Who are you?

DUTCHMAN
A Dutchman.

DALAND
God's greeting! So the storm drove you too
on this barren rocky beach?
I was no luckier: only a few miles
from here is my home: I was almost there
when I had to turn about. Say,
where are you from? Are you damaged?

DUTCHMAN
My ship is strong, she is undamaged.
Driven on by storm and ill winds
I rove the seas -
how long, I can hardly tell;
I no longer count the years.
It is impossible to name
all the lands that I have found:
the only one I long for
I cannot find - my homeland!
Grant me a short stay in your house,
and you won't regret your friendship.
With treasures from every land and zone
my ship is richly laden, if you'll agree,
you'll profit by it.

DALAND
How wonderful! Can I believe you?
Ill-luck seems to have dogged you.
To help you I'll offer what I can:
but - may I ask what your ship holds?

DUTCHMAN
(making a sign to his crew,
two of whom bring
a chest ashore)

The rarest treasures you shall see,
costly pearls, precious stones.

(He open the chest)

Look and satisfy yourself of the value
of what I offer
for a friendly roof.

DALAND
(looking at the contents of the chest
in utter astonishment)

What? Is it possible? This treasure!
Who's rich enough to give a price for it?

DUTCHMAN
The price? I have just named it:
all this for one night's shelter!
Yet what you see is but the smallest part
of what is stowed in my ship's hold.
What use is treasure? I have neither wife
nor child, and my home I shall never find!
All my riches I offer you, if
you give me a new home with your family.

DALAND
What do I hear?

DUTCHMAN
Have you a daughter?

DALAND
Indeed I have, a good child.

DUTCHMAN
Let her be my wife!

DALAND
(joyfully taken aback)
What? Did I hear aright? My daughter his wife?
It is his own suggestion!
I almost fear that if I hesitate
he may change his mind.
I don't know if I am awake or dreaming.
Can there be a more welcome son-in-law?
I'd be a fool to miss this chance!
I'm delighted with my luck!

DUTCHMAN
Ah, no wife, no child have I,

nothing chains me to this Earth!
A pitiless fate pursues me,
torment was my only companion.
I shall never reach my homeland,
what good to me is gain of wealth?
Just consent to our union,
then take my treasure!

DALAND
Yes, stranger, I have a lovely daughter,
devoted to me with the true love of a child:
she is my pride, my greatest blessing,
my comfort in misfortune, my joy in success.

DUTCHMAN
May she always love her father:
True to him, she'll be true to her husband, too.

DALAND
You give jewels, priceless pearls,
but the peerless gem, a true wife...

DUTCHMAN
You give to me?

DALAND
I give you my word.
I am moved by your grim fate; generous as you are
you show a noble heart and mind:
I would like my son-in-law so; and were you
not so rich, I'd still choose no other.

DUTCHMAN
My thanks! Shall I see your daughter today?

DALAND
The first fair wind will take us home,
you shall see her, and if you like her...

DUTCHMAN
She shall be mine...

(aside)

Will she be my angel?
When from my terrible anguish
my longing for grace drives me on,
dare I cling
to the one hope left to me?
dare I cherish the idle fancy
that an angel may pity me?

Of the torments that bemuse my brain,
have I at last reached the end?
Ah, without hope, as I am,
I still give in to hope!

DALAND
Praised be the violent storm
which drove me to this shore!
Truly, I have only to grasp
what he so generously gives me.
You winds who brought him to this coast,
I bless you!
Ha, what all fathers seek,
a rich son-in-law, is mine!
Yes, to a man so rich and noble,
I gladly give my house and daughter.

STEERSMAN
(on board)
South-wind, south-wind!

SAILORS
(waving their caps)
Halloho!

STEERSMAN
Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger!

SAILORS
Hohohe! Halloho!
Hallo ho ho ho ho!

DALAND
You see, fortune favours you.
The wind's set fair, the sea is calm.
We'll weigh anchor now
and speedily sail for home.

DUTCHMAN
Can I ask you to sail on ahead?
The wind is fresh but my crew are weary.
I'll give a short rest and follow on.

SAILORS

Ho! Ho! Hallohe!
Hallohe! Hallohohe!

STEERSMAN
Hallohe! Hallohe!

DALAND
But our wind?

DUTCHMAN
It'll blow from the south a long time!
My ship is fast, we'll overtake you for sure.

DALAND
You think so? Maybe.
Farewell! You may still see my daughter today.

DUTCHMAN
Surely!

DALAND
(boarding his ship)
Ha! How the sails swell already!
Hallo! Hallo!

(he gives a signal on his whistle)

Come on, boys, set to!

SAILORS
(exultantly, as they sail away)
In gales and storm from far-off seas,
my maiden, I am near you! Hurrah!
Over towering waves from the south,
my maiden, I am here! Hurrah!
My maiden, were there no south-wind,
I could never come to you.
Ah, dear south-wind, blow stronger!
My maiden longs for me!

(exultantly, as they sail away)

Hohoho! Johoho!
Hohohohoho!

(The Dutchman goes aboard his ship)

(The curtain falls)

Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three