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“Der fliegende Holländer” by Richard Wagner libretto (English)
Contents: Characters; Act One; Act Two; Act Three |
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 |