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“Faust” by Charles Gounod libretto (English)
| Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four; Act Five |
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The fair One of the town gates. On the left an inn with the sign of Bacchus sitting astride a barrel Burghers, students and soldiers are enjoying themselves. FIRST STUDENTS Wine or beer, Beer or wine, May my glass Ever be full! Unashamedly, Glass after glass, A drunkard Drinks everything! WAGNER Youthful addict Of the barrel Nought but water Must be barred from it! May your glory, Your heart's desire Be to drink Now and forever! FIRST STUDENTS Youthful addict, etc. They toast and drink SOLDIERS Girls or fortresses, It's all one, by God! Old citadels and young mistresses Are fair game for us! Whoever is clever And unscrupulous enough, Forces them to surrender And pay a ransom! BURGHERS On Sundays and holidays I like to talk of war and battles, While distant peoples Are cracking each other's pates. I go and sit on the banks Which overlook the stream And watch the boats float past As I empty my glass! YOUNG GIRLS Look at these bold fellows |
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Coming over there; We must not be too cruel, Let's walk slower. SECOND STUDENTS Look at their impudent miens And victorious looks! Friends, we must he on our guard And hold fast to our hearts! MATRONS Look at those gentlemen Rushing after these hussies! Aren't we just as fine as they, Not to say much handsomer? YOUNG GIRLS They would like to bewitch, But they try in vain. We have nothing to fear From your wrath. A lowering brow Merely grows redder! Should a lad want me, I take him at his word. One must surely trust All your fine speeches! Should a lad, etc. MATRONS You want to bewitch, It's plain to see. What a fine notion! Be as shameless As they are tasteless. One must be a fool, I do declare, To pride oneself On such suitors. One must be a fool, etc. BURGHERS Come, neighbour, let us empty A glass of wine. My wife scolds About everything. She must always be right. My wife scolds, etc. SECOND STUDENTS Let us see this thing |
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Through to the end. See how cross they are, See how they behave Their brows are lowering, They have good taste! Let us wager I am accepted At the very first word. Let us wager, etc. FIRST STUDENTS Hooray for wine! Wine or beer, Beer or wine, May my glass Ever be full! Unashamedly, Glass after glass, A drunkard, Drinks everything! Youthful addict Of the barrel, Nought but water Must be barred from it! May your glory, Your heart's desire, Be to drink Now and forever! SOLDIERS Hurray for war, This godly calling! No proud beauties for us! We know how to please them In the twinkling of an eye! Let's go about our task, With neither fear nor shame, Let's attack on all sides! From that firm precept A soldier excludes No woman nor castle, And basking in glory He celebrates victory To the sound of the drums. From that firm precept, etc. VALENTIN walks in at the back, a small medal in his hand O holy medal, Which my sister gave me, On the day of battle Remain on my heart |
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To ward off Death! WAGNER Ah! Here is Valentin, looking for us no doubt! VALENTIN A last glass, gentlemen, and we must be off! WAGNER What is wrong with you? What regrets sadden our leave?taking? VALENTIN Like you, I am going away for a long time; Marguerite stays behind and to look after My mother is no longer alive! SIEBEL More than one faithful friend Will take your place at her side! VALENTIN pressing his hand Thank you! SIEBEL You can rely on me! STUDENTS Rely on us too! VALENTIN Before I leave this town, My forefathers' native place, To you, Lord and King of Heaven, Do I entrust my sister. I beg you to defend her From every peril, My beloved sister. Freed from this harrowing thought, I shall seek glory in the enemy's ranks, The first, the bravest, in the thick of the fray, I shall go and fight for my country. And if God should call me to his side, I shall faithfully watch over you, O Marguerite. Before I leave, etc. O King of Heaven, hear my prayer And defend Marguerite, O King of Heaven. WAGNER |
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Come now, friends, discard these idle fears! No tears must be mixed with this good wine! A drink, a toast and a merry ditty To cheer us up! STUDENTS A drink, a toast and a merry ditty To cheer us up! WAGNER mounting on a stool A rat, more cowardly than brave, More repellent than handsome, Lived deep down in a cellar, Underneath an old barrel. A cat... MEPHISTOPHELES appearing suddenly I beg your pardon! WAGNER Eh? MEPHISTOPHELES I crave that you will allow me to take a place In your midst. First, your friend must finish his song! I promise you several in my own style! WAGNER stepping down One is quite enough, provided it is good! MEPHISTOPHELES I shall try my hardest not to bore anyone! The golden calf is still standing, His might Is celebrated From one end of the world to the other! Nations and kings mix together To hail the infamous idol And to the sinister clink of coins They whirl in a frenzied ring Round and round his pedestal! And Satan leads the dance! ALL And Satan leads the dance! MEPHISTOPHELES |
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The golden calf triumphs over the gods; Basking in His preposterous glory The base monster insults Heaven! He looks down, ? O strange madness! ? On the human race at his feet Sallying forth, sword in hand, Through blood and filth, Where the burning metal is shining! And Satan leads the dance! ALL And Satan leads the dance! We thank you for your song! VALENTIN aside What an odd fellow! WAGNER handing a glass to Mephistopheles Will you do us the honour of drinking with us? MEPHISTOPHELES With pleasure! He takes Wagner's hand and studies it Ah! This makes me grieve for you! Do you see this line? WAGNER Well? MEPHISTOPHELES An ill-boding sign! You will be killed in an attack! Wagner withdraws his hand. SIEBEL Are you a wizard, then? MEPHISTOPHELES taking his hand Just enough of a wizard To read in your hand That fate condemns you Never to touch a flower again But it withers. SIEBEL hastily withdrawing his hand |
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Me! MEPHISTOPHELES No more nosegays for Marguerite! VALENTIN My sister! Who told you her name? MEPHISTOPHELES Take heed, my fine fellow, You shall be killed by someone I know! taking the glass from Wagner's hand Your health! He throws the wine away Pshaw! Your wine is revolting! Allow me to offer you some from my own cellar! He raps on the barrel of the inn?sign. Ho there, lord Bacchus, wine please! Wine gushes from the barrel. To the students Come nearer! Everyone to his taste! Let's drink the health you mentioned But a moment ago, friends: to Marguerite! VALENTIN knocking the glass out of his hand Enough of that! Upon my life I shall silence you here and now! The wine from the barrel bursts into flames. Valentin and Wagner unsheathe their swords. WAGNER Ho there! STUDENTS Ho there! MEPHISTOPHELES Why do you quake as you threaten me? He draws a circle round himself with his sword. Valentin tries to attack him. His sword falls to pieces. VALENTIN Amazing! My sword Breaks in the air! ALL We cannot repulse the spells Of hell, come to blunt our weapons! |
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VALENTIN But since you can break swords ... ALL But since you can break swords ... VALENTIN Look! ALL Look! VALENTIN taking his broken sword by the blade and showing it crosswise to Mephistopheles It is a cross which protects us from hell! ALL It is a cross which protects us from hell! As he sees the cross Mephistopheles draws back. The crowd leaves the stage. MEPHISTOPHELES sheathing his sword We shall meet again, friends! Your servant! FAUST entering What is wrong with you? MEPHISTOPHELES Nothing' Now, to the point, dear doctor, What do you expect me to do? What shall I begin with? FAUST Where is the fair girl hiding Whom your arts showed me? Was it mere witchcraft? MEPHISTOPHELES Not at all! But her virtue defends her from us And Heaven itself protects her! FAUST No matter! I want to see her! Come! Lead me to her side Or I shall part company with you! MEPHISTOPHELES Enough said! I am too keen on my new office |
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To let you doubt my zeal for a moment! Let's wait! In this very spot, at this merry call, The fair and chaste maid will come before you. Arm in arm, students and young girls rush onto the stage. They are followed by burghers and before tbm prance fiddlers. CHORUS Just as the light breeze Blows up into thick whirling clouds The dust of the furrows, Let the waltz carry us away! Make the whole plain resound With the clamour of your songs! MEPHISTOPHELES to Faust See these charming lasses! Will you not Offer your arm To the fairest among them? FAUST No, pray desist from jeering And leave my heart to its dream! SIEBEL as he returns Marguerite must walk through here! YOUNG GIRLS sidling up to Siebel Must a girl invite you to dance? SIEBEL No, no, I have no wish to dance! CHORUS Just as the light breeze, etc. Marguerite walks in. FAUST Here she is! This is she! MEPHISTOPHELES Well, then, accost her! SIEBEL starting towards Marguerite Marguerite! MEPHISTOPHELES |
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I beg your pardon! SIEBEL aside Curse that man! Here he is again! MEPHISTOPHELES What, my friend, are you here? Ah, well and truly, my friend, here you are! FAUST stepping up to Marguerite My lovely young lady, will you not allow me To offer you my arm and escort you on your way? MARGUERITE No thank you, sir: I am neither a lady, nor lovely, And I really have no need for a supporting arm! She walks past Faust and disappears. FAUST looking after her By Heaven, such grace and such modesty! O fair maid, I love you! SIEBEL She has gone! MEPHISTOPHELES to Faust Well? FAUST Well, I am repulsed! MEPHISTOPHELES laughing Come, dear doctor, I see that I must Foster your love affairs! He and Faust go out the same way as Marguerite has gone. YOUNG GIRLS What is it? ... OTHER YOUNG GIRLS Marguerite Who has declined this fine lord's company! |
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ALL Let's waltz again! Let's waltz for ever! Just as the light breeze Blows up into thick whirling clouds The dust of the furrows, Let the waltz carry us away! Make the whole plain resound With the clamour of your songs! Until they are gasping for breath, Until they are dying, A god drags them in his wake, The god Pleasure! The earth is spinning And flying away from them! What a noise, what bliss In every eye! The earth is spinning, etc. |
| Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four; Act Five |