Other “Die Zauberflöte” libretti [show] |
• German
• English • French |
Line-by-line [show] |
• German
• French |
“Die Zauberflöte” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart libretto (English)
Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two |
The scene is a rocky area, here and there overgrown with trees, on both sides are smallish hills; there is also a round temple. (Tamino descends from a rock to the right, in splendid Japanese hunting-costume, carrying a bow but no arrows; a serpent pursues him.) No.1: Introduction TAMINO Help me! oh, help me! or I am lost, condemned as sacrifice to the cunning serpent – Merciful gods! It’s coming closer! Ah! save me, ah! defend me! (He faints; immediately the door to the temple opens; three veiled ladies come out, each carrying a silver spear.) THE THREE LADIES Die, monster, by our power! |
Victory! Victory! Accomplished is the heroic deed! He is free, thanks to our bravery. FIRST LADY (observing him) A pleasing youth, gentle and fair! SECOND LADY The fairest I have ever seen. THIRD LADY Yes, that’s true, pretty as a picture. ALL THREE If I ever gave my heart away, it could be to none but this youth. Let us hasten to our Queen and report this news to her. Perhaps this handsome man can restore her peace of mind. FIRST LADY You go and tell her, then; meanwhile, I’ll stay here. – SECOND LADY No, no, you go ahead; I’ll keep watch over him! THIRD LADY No, no, that may not be; I’ll protect him! FIRST LADY Meanwhile, I’ll stay here... |
SECOND LADY I’ll keep watch over him... THIRD LADY I’ll protect him myself... FIRST LADY ...I’ll stay... SECOND LADY ...I’ll keep watch... THIRD LADY ...I’ll protect him... FIRST LADY ...I! SECOND LADY ...I! THIRD LADY ...I! ALL THREE (each to herself) Then I must go! Aha, very nice! They want to be alone with him. No, no, that’s out of the question! What would I not give to live with this youth! If only I had him to myself! Still no one goes; it is not to be. I had better go. O youth so fair and loveable, |
O faithful youth, farewell until I see thee again. (The Ladies depart. Tamino comes to, and sees the dead serpent at his feet; but hearing someone else approach, he hides. Enter Papageno, dressed in a coat of feathers, bearing large bird cage on his back and carrying a panpipe.) No.2: Aria PAPAGENO The birdcatcher am I – and always merry, tra la la! As the birdcatcher I am known by old and young throughout the land. I know how to set decoys and whistle just like my prey! So merry and carefree can I be, knowing all the birds belong to me. The birdcatcher am I – and always merry, tra la la! As the birdcatcher I am known by old and young throughout the land. I wish I had a trap for girls – I’d catch them by the dozen then. I’d keep them in a cage at home, and all the girls would be mine alone. If all the girls were mine alone, some I’d trade for high-grade sugar, then to the one I liked the best I’d give all the sugar she wanted. |
And if she then kissed me tenderly, she’d be my wife and I her husband. She would sleep beside me and I would rock her like a child. (As Papageno is setting down his bird cage, Tamino steps forward, and learns that Papageno is a simple fellow, whose awareness of the world is confined to his little straw hut and his livelihood – he exchanges the birds he catches for food and drink brought him by three Ladies of the Queen of the Night, whose realm this is. Tamino, on the other hand, is a prince, whose father rules many lands and peoples. Papageno, really terrified at the sight of the dead serpent, pretends to have slain it, until the Ladies enter, masked, to punish him. They give him water instead of wine, a stone instead of sugarloaves, and a lock over his mouth in place of figs. They give Tamino a portrait of the Queen’s beautiful daughter, and promise that happiness can be his if he can love her; they go, followed by Papageno, leaving Tamino alone, gazing at the portrait.) No.3: Aria TAMINO This portrait is bewitching, no eye has ever seen its like before. I feel as if this angelic picture were filling my heart with a new emotion. This something I cannot name, but I feel it burning here. Can this sensation be love? Yes, yes! This can only be love. |
Oh, if only I might find her! If only she stood before me! I would – would warmly – chastely – what would I do? I would, in ecstasy, press her to my ardent heart, and she would be mine forever! (He is about to go when the Ladies return, announcing the arrival of their Queen. She has observed his emotions, and commissions him to rescue her daughter from captivity by Sarastro, High Priest of Isis and Osiris. Darkness; the Queen appears from beneath the mountains amid thunder and lightning.) No.4: Recitative and Aria QUEEN O tremble not, beloved son, you are guiltless, wise and good – A youth such as you can best console this overburdened maternal heart. – I am condemned to grief, for my daughter has been taken from me. With her, all my happiness was lost; a villain abducted her. I can see her trembling with fearful agitation, shaking with fear, feebly struggling. I saw her taken from me. “Ah, help me!” was all she could say – |
but her appeals were in vain, for my aid was not strong enough. You shall go to set her free, you shall be my daughter’s saviour. And if you succeed, she shall be yours forever. (She disappears amid more rolls of thunder, with her Ladies. The light is restored. Tamino is about to depart when Papageno stops him, pointing sadly to the padlock on his mouth.) No.5: Quintet PAPAGENO (pointing sadly to the padlock on his mouth) Hm! hm! hm! hm! TAMINO The poor fellow can well speak of punishment when it has robbed him of the power of speech! PAPAGENO Hm! hm! hm! hm! TAMINO I can do nothing but sympathise, for I am powerless to help! FIRST LADY The Queen has had mercy on you, and she sent me to release you. – (She takes the padlock from Papageno’s mouth.) |
PAPAGENO Now Papageno can chatter again! SECOND LADY Chatter yes – but never lie again! PAPAGENO I will never tell another lie, no, never! LADIES Let this lock be a warning to you! PAPAGENO Let that lock be a warning to me! ALL If only every liar had a lock like this upon his mouth: then would hate, calumny and rancour be replaced by love and brotherhood! FIRST LADY O Prince, accept this gift sent to you by our Queen. (gives Tamino a golden flute) This magic flute will protect you even in the gravest misfortune. LADIES This flute will confer great power upon you, to transform the sorrows of mankind; the mourner will become merry, the bachelor a lover. ALL A flute like this is worth |
more than gold or crowns, for by its power will human joy and contentment be increased. PAPAGENO Now, fair ladies, will you excuse me? If so, I take my leave. LADIES You may certainly depart, but our lady has chosen you to accompany the prince immediately to Sarastro’s castle. PAPAGENO No! I thank you very much. You yourselves have told me that he is as fierce as a tiger. Sarastro, I’m sure, would not hesitate to have me plucked and roasted and thrown to the dogs. LADIES The Prince will protect you, trust him, so then you will be his servant. PAPAGENO (aside) The Prince can go to the devil. I value my life, and now, by my honour, it’s likely he will steal away from me like a thief. – FIRST LADY (gives Papageno a chest of bells) Here, take this treasure, it is yours. |
PAPAGENO Aha! What can it be? – LADIES There are bells inside it! PAPAGENO And shall I be able to play them? LADIES Oh, certainly! yes, certainly! ALL Silver bells and magic flute are needed for your/our protection! Farewell! We must leave now! Farewell! – till we meet again. (All turn to go.) TAMINO But tell me, fair ladies... PAPAGENO ...how shall we find the citadel? TAMINO and PAPAGENO ...how shall we find the citadel? LADIES Three boys, young, fair, gentle and wise, will appear to you on your journey. They will be your guides; follow their counsel and theirs alone. |
TAMINO and PAPAGENO Three boys, young, fair, gentle and wise, will appear to us on our journey? – LADIES They will be your guides; follow their counsel and theirs alone. TAMINO and PAPAGENO So farewell! we must leave now; farewell, farewell, until we meet again! ALL So farewell! we must leave now; farewell, farewell, until we meet again! (Change of scene: a splendid chamber in the Egyptian style.) (Two slaves carry in beautiful cushions and an elaborate Turkish table and spread carpets upon the floor. Monostatos enters, followed by Pamina who is led by slaves.) No.6: Terzetto MONOSTATOS My fine little dove, step inside. PAMINA Oh, what suffering! What pain! MONOSTATOS You are doomed to die. |
PAMINA Death does not frighten me, I only worry about my mother; she will surely die of grief. MONOSTATOS Hey, slaves, bind her in chains; my hate will be your ruination! (Pamina is put in chains.) PAMINA O let me rather die, for nothing will move you, you barbarian. (She falls unconscious on the sofa.) MONOSTATOS Get out, now, get out! Leave me alone with her. (The slaves hurry away. Papageno outside at the window, without at first being seen.) PAPAGENO Where am I? Wherever am I? Aha! someone’s there. Courage! I’ll go in. (He enters.) Pretty maiden, young and fair, whiter than chalk... (Papageno and Monostatos see one another – each frightens the other.) PAPAGENO and MONOSTATOS Oo! – – that must be – the devil himself! Have pity – spare me – Oo – Oo – (They flee in opposite directions. As Pamina regains consciousness, Papageno returns and identifies her. He tells her that a handsome prince |
loves her and is being sent by her mother to the rescue. The delighted Pamina commiserates with the bird-catcher, who has not yet found a wife to love him.) No.7: Duet PAMINA A man who can feel love must have a good heart. PAPAGENO To share the sweet emotion is woman’s foremost duty. BOTH Gladly we rejoice in love and live by love alone. PAMINA Love sweetens every trouble; all creatures sacrifice to her. PAPAGENO She seasons our daily lives and helps Nature’s wheels go round. BOTH Her higher purpose is our guide, and nothing is nobler than Wife and Man. Man and Wife, and Wife and Man, attain divinity. (They both leave.) (The scene changes to a grove. Right at the back of the stage is a beautiful temple, upon which are inscribed these words: “Temple of Wisdom”; this temple leads via pillars to two other temples, the one on the right bearing the inscription “Temple of Reason”, the one on the left “Temple of Nature”.) (Three boys lead in Tamino, each bearing a silver palm frond.) |
No.8: Finale THE THREE BOYS This path will lead you to your goal, but, youth, you must strive like a man. So give heed to our teaching: be steadfast, patient and discreet! – TAMINO Gracious boys, tell me first: shall I be able to rescue Pamina? – THE BOYS That we may not divulge. Be steadfast, patient, and discreet; remember this; in short, be a man. – Then, youth, you will strive manfully. (They leave.) TAMINO May the wise teaching of these boys be engraved forever upon my heart. Where am I now? – What will happen to me? Is this the domain of the gods? – These portals, these columns prove that skill, industry and art reside here. Where action rules and idleness is banned, |
vice cannot easily retain control. I will pass boldly through that portal; my task is noble, straightforward and pure. Tremble, cowardly villain! My duty is to save Pamina! (He goes to the door on the right and opens it; as he is about to enter, a distant voice is heard.) FIRST VOICE Go back! TAMINO Go back? go back? – then I will try my luck here. (He goes to the door on the left.) SECOND VOICE (from within) Go back! TAMINO Here too they say “go back”? (He looks around.) One door still remains. Perhaps I may enter there. (He knocks; an old priest appears.) SPEAKER Where would you enter, bold stranger? What do you seek in this holy place? – TAMINO Whatever belongs to Love and Virtue. SPEAKER Your words are lofty – but how do you expect to find these? You are not guided by Love and Virtue |
but goaded by Death and Vengeance. TAMINO Vengeance only against the villain. SPEAKER You will find no such person among us. TAMINO Does Sarastro rule here? SPEAKER Yes, indeed, Sarastro rules here. TAMINO But not in the Temple of Wisdom? – SPEAKER He rules in the Temple of Wisdom! – TAMINO Then all this is hypocrisy! – SPEAKER Do you wish to go on your way? TAMINO Yes, I shall go, happy and free – never to see your temple! – SPEAKER Explain yourself further; some deceit has misled you! – TAMINO Sarastro resides here, that is quite enough for me! – |
SPEAKER If you value your life, say so and stay! – Do you hate Sarastro? TAMINO I shall hate him forever! – SPEAKER Give me your reasons then! – TAMINO He is inhuman, a tyrant! – SPEAKER Has what you say been proved? TAMINO By an unhappy woman, oppressed by sorrow and pain! SPEAKER Has a woman so deceived you? – A woman does little, gossips much; you, youth, believe in wagging tongues? – If only Sarastro could reveal to you the purpose of his stratagem. – TAMINO His purpose is all too clear! Did not the robber snatch Pamina pitilessly from her mother’s arms? – SPEAKER Yes, young man, what you say is true! – |
TAMINO Where is she whom he stole from us? Perhaps she has been already sacrificed? – SPEAKER To tell you this, dear son, is not for me to say at present. – TAMINO Explain your riddle, don’t deceive me! SPEAKER Oath and duty bind my tongue! TAMINO When will this darkness be cast aside? – SPEAKER As soon as friendship’s hand has led you into the shrine for everlasting union. (He leaves.) TAMINO O endless night! When will you vanish? When shall my eyes see light? – PRIESTS (from within) Soon, youth, or never! TAMINO Soon, you say, or never? – You unseen voices, tell me: is Pamina still alive? – PRIESTS Pamina is still alive! |
TAMINO Alive! She is alive! Thank you for that news. (He takes out his flute.) Oh, would that I could thank you for that news. Almighty One, honour thee and show how every note stems (pointing to his heart) from the gratitude in my heart. (He plays. Wild beasts of all kinds come forth and listen to him. He ceases, and they depart. Birds sing to his playing.) How powerful is your magic music, sweet flute, for when you sound even wild beasts feel joy. Yet Pamina stays away. Pamina! Pamina! hear me! – In vain, in vain! – Where, ah, where shall I find you? – (Papageno answers with his pipes.) Ha! That was Papageno’s call! – Perhaps he has already seen Pamina! – Perhaps she is hastening here with him! – Perhaps the sound will lead me to her! (He leaves.) PAMINA and PAPAGENO Swift feet and ready courage protect us from the craft and rage of enemies. If only we could find Tamino, or else we may be captured yet! |
PAMINA Gentle youth! – PAPAGENO Hush, hush, I have a better way! – (Papageno plays on his pipes; Tamino answers from within on his flute.)p> PAMINA and PAPAGENO What joy could be greater than this? Friend Tamino has already heard us; we heard his flute reply. What happiness to find him. We must hurry, hurry! (are about to enter) MONOSTATOS (mocking them) You must hurry, hurry... Ha! I’ve caught you now! Bring me swords and fetters; just wait, I’ll teach you manners! I’ll teach you to trick Monostatos! – Bring me chains and ropes, hey, you slaves, come here! – PAMINA and PAPAGENO Ah, now we’re done for! MONOSTATOS Hey, you slaves, come here! (Slaves enter with chains.) |
PAPAGENO He who dares much has much to gain! Come, my pretty set of chimes, let your bells ring out, ring out, so that their ears sing. (He plays upon his instrument.) MONOSTATOS and SLAVES That sounds so pretty, that sounds so fine! La ra la la la la la ra la la la la ra la. Never did I hear and see anything like it! La ra la la la la la ra la la la la ra la. (They exit, marching.) PAMINA and PAPAGENO (laughing) If every good man could find such bells, he could easily dispose of his enemies, and, without them, lead a peaceful life. Only friendship’s harmony eases all hardships, and without this sympathy there is no joy on earth. ATTENDANTS (from within) Long live Sarastro! Sarastro, all hail! – PAPAGENO What can that mean? I’m shivering and shaking! – PAMINA Oh, my friend, now we’re finished! This announces Sarastro’s approach! |
PAPAGENO If only I were a mouse, how I’d hide myself – if only I were tiny as a snail, I’d creep into my house! – My child, what shall we say? – PAMINA The truth – the truth, even though it be a crime! – (A procession of attendants; Sarastro enters last in a triumphal chariot drawn by six lions.) ATTENDANTS Long live Sarastro, Sarastro all hail! To him we consecrate ourselves with joy! May he always enjoy his sage’s life! – He is the master to whom we are dedicated! PAMINA (kneeling) My lord! I have transgressed! – I wished to escape from your power. – Yet the guilt is not mine! The wicked Moor demanded love, and therefore, my lord, I ran away! – SARASTRO Arise, be of good cheer, beloved one, for even without questioning you I know more from your very own heart: you love another deeply. I will not force your affection, yet I will not grant you freedom either. |
PAMINA I am bound by filial duty, because my mother – SARASTRO lies in my power. Your happiness would be destroyed forever if I delivered you into her hands. – PAMINA How sweet the name of mother sounds. She is – she is – SARASTRO she is an arrogant woman. – A man must guide your heart, for without that, every woman tends to overstep her natural sphere. MONOSTATOS Now, proud youth, come here! Here is Sarastro, our master! – PAMINA It is he, TAMINO It is she, PAMINA I can hardly believe it, TAMINO it is she, |
PAMINA it is he. TAMINO I’m not dreaming. PAMINA and TAMINO I shall embrace him/her, even if it means my death! ATTENDANTS What are they thinking of? MONOSTATOS What impertinence! Keep quite apart, you go too far! (He separates them and then kneels.) Your slave lies at your feet: let the rash wanton be punished! Think how bold the boy is! With the help of this strange bird’s cunning, he meant to steal Pamina away, and I alone succeeded in tracking him. You know me! – my vigilance – |
SARASTRO merits that laurel-leaves be strewn before you! Ho! Give unto the worthy man at once – MONOSTATOS Your favour already makes me rich! – SARASTRO only seventy-seven strokes on his feet. MONOSTATOS Ah, sir! I wasn’t expecting a reward. SARASTRO Do not thank me! It is my duty! (Monostatos is led away.) ATTENDANTS Long live Sarastro, the divinely wise, he rewards and punishes in equal degree. SARASTRO Take these two strangers into our temple of trial; cover their heads – for first they must be purified. (Two priests bring in a kind of sack and cover the heads of the two strangers.) ATTENDANTS If virtue and righteousness pave the Great Path with honour, then earth will be a paradise and mortals resemble gods. |
Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two |