“Il trovatore” by Giuseppe Verdi libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four

ACT THREE

Scene One

A military camp. On the right, the Count of
Luna's tent, over which flies the commander's
pennon. Squads of soldiers are everywhere.
Others are gambling; still other are strolling.
Then Ferrando comes out of the Count's tent.

SOME SOLDIERS
Now we're dicing, but ere long
we'll play a quite different game;
this sword, now wiped clean of blood,
will soon be bathed in blood again!
(Other soldiers arrive.)
The reinforcements asked for!
They look brave enough!
May the attack on Castellor
no longer be put off.
May the attack, etc.

FERRANDO
Yes, brave friends, at dawn
the captain plans to attack
the fort on every side.
There rich booty
we'll surely find, beyond our hopes.
Conquer then, and it's ours.

SOLDIERS
You're inviting us to a party.

ALL
Let the warlike trumpet sound and echo,
call to arms, to the fray, the attack;
may our flag be planted tomorrow
on the highest of those towers.
No, victory has never smiled
on happier hopes than ours!
There glory awaits us - and the needful.
There wait spoil, booty and honour.
Let the warlike trumpet, etc.
No, victory has never smiled etc.
(They disperse. The Count comes out of his tent.)

COUNT
In my rival's arms!
This thought pursues me everywhere
like a persecuting demon.
In my rival's arms!
But as soon as dawn breaks, I'll run,
I'll run to separate you.
Oh Leonora!
(Ferrando enters.)
What is it?

FERRANDO
Near the camp
a gypsy was wandering:
surprised by our scouts,

she started to flee; rightfully
fearing the wretch was a spy,
they followed her.

COUNT
Did they overtake her?

FERRANDO
She's been taken.

COUNT
Have you seen her?

FERRANDO
No. The commander of the patrol
gave me the news.
(Noises are heard.)

COUNT
Here she is.
(Azucena is dragged before the Count.)

SOLDIERS
Forward, you witch, forward!
Forward! Forward!

AZUCENA
Help! let me go! Ah, you raving men!
What have I done wrong?

COUNT
Approach.
Answer me,
and don't dare lie to me!

AZUCENA
Question me.

COUNT
Where are you going?

AZUCENA
I don't know.

COUNT
What?

AZUCENA
It's the gypsy's custom
to move her wandering steps
without any plan;
the sky is her roof,
and the world is her country.

COUNT
Where have you come from?

AZUCENA
From Biscay, whose barren mountains
received me until now.

COUNT
(From Biscay!)

FERRANDO
(What do I hear! Oh, what a suspicion!)

AZUCENA
I lived days of poverty,
yet happy in my condition,

my only hope was my son.
The ingrate left and forgot me!
Abandoned, I wander about,
hunting for that son,
for that son who cost my heart
horrible pangs!
The love I feel for him
no other mother on earth has felt!

FERRANDO
(Her face!)

COUNT
Tell me: did you stay a long time
in those mountains?

AZUCENA
Yes, a long time.

COUNT
Can you remember a child,
a Count's son, stolen from his castle
fifteen years ago, and brought thither?

AZUCENA
You... speak... who are you?

COUNT
The stolen boy's brother!

AZUCENA
(Ah!)

FERRANDO
(Yes!)

COUNT
Did you ever hear the story?

AZUCENA
Not I! Let me
follow my son's footsteps.

FERRANDO
Wait, foul wretch!

AZUCENA
(Alas!)

FERRANDO (to the Count)
You see who committed
the horrible, ghastly deed.

COUNT
Go on.

FERRANDO
She's the one!

AZUCENA
Be silent!

FERRANDO
She's the one who burned the child!

COUNT
Ah, monster!

SOLDIERS
She's the one!

AZUCENA
He's lying!

COUNT
Now you won't escape your fate!

AZUCENA
I beg you!

COUNT
Tie those knots tighter!

AZUCENA
Oh God! Oh God!

SOLDIERS
Go ahead and shout!

AZUCENA
Why don't you come, Manrico,
O my son?
Won't you aid
your wretched mother?

COUNT
Manrico's mother!

FERRANDO
Quake!

COUNT
Oh luck! She's in my power!

FERRANDO
Quake! Quake!

COUNT
Oh, luck!

AZUCENA
Ah!
Pray, loosen, barbarians,
the chains that bite me so.
This cruel torture
is like a drawn-out death!
Oh wicked son, worse
than your wicked father,
beware! God protects the helpless,
and God will punish you!

COUNT
Your brood, foul gypsy,
he? That seducer?
With your torture then
I can wound his heart!
Joy floods my breast,
which words cannot express!
Ah, through me, my brother's ashes
will have complete vengeance!

FERRANDO and SOLDIERS
Wretch, you'll see a pyre
rise here in a little while.

Nor will the earthly fire
be your only punishment!
The flames of hell for you
will be an eternal stake!
There your soul will have
to suffer and to burn!

AZUCENA
Pray loosen, barbarians,
the chains that bite me so.
This cruel torture
is like a drawn-out death!
O wicked son, worse
than your wicked father,
beware! God protects the helpless,
God protects the helpless,
beware! There is a God,
and God will punish you, ah yes, ah yes, etc.

COUNT
Your brood, foul gypsy,
he? That seducer?
Through me, my brother's ashes
will have complete vengeance! etc.

FERRANDO and SOLDIERS
The flames of hell for you
will be an eternal stake!
There your soul will have
to suffer and to burn! etc.
(At a sign from the Count, the soldiers drag
Azucena away.)

Scene Two

A hall at Castellor, with a balcony at the back.
Manrico, Leonora, and Ruiz.

LEONORA
What was that sound of arms I heard a moment ago?

MANRICO
The danger is great:
no use to disguise it!
At dawn tomorrow
we'll be attacked.

LEONORA
Alas! What are you saying?

MANRICO
But we will vanquish
our enemies. Our daring,
our arms, and our courage
are equal to theirs.
(to Ruiz)
Go. During my short absence,
I commit to your care
the warlike work.
Let nothing be missing.
(Ruiz leaves.)

LEONORA
What a grim light
shines on our wedding!

MANRICO
Ah, me dear, rid yourself
of any gloomy forebodings!

LEONORA
How can I?

MANRICO
Let love, sublime love, at this moment
speak to your heart.
Ah yes, my love, when I'll be
yours, and you'll be mine,
my spirit will be more fearless,
my arm will be stronger.
And yet, if on the page
of my destiny it's written
that I must be among the victims,
pierced by the foe's steel,
as I draw my last breath,
my thoughts will come to you,
and death will seem to me
only preceding you to heaven.
And death will seem to me, etc.
(The chapel organ is heard.)

LEONORA and MANRICO
The wave of holy sounds
descends, pure, into our hearts!
Come, the altar opens to us
the joys of unspoiled love!
Ah! the joys of unspoiled love! etc.
(Ruiz runs in.)

RUIZ
Manrico?

MANRICO
What is it?

RUIZ
The gypsy... come... in irons... look...

MANRICO
Oh God!

RUIZ
Those barbarians' hands
have already lighted the pyre...

MANRICO (approaching the balcony)
Heaven! My legs fail me,
my eyes are clouding over!

LEONORA
You're raging!

MANRICO
I should!
Learn then: I am -

LEONORA
Who?

MANRICO
Her son!

LEONORA
Ah!

MANRICO
Ah, cowards! This wicked sight
almost takes away my breath!
Get our men together! Hurry
Ruiz! Go, go... And fly back!
(Ruiz leaves.)
The horrible blaze of that pyre
burns, enflames all of my being!
Monsters, put it out; or very quickly
I'll put it out with your blood!
Before I loved you, I was yet her son;
your suffering cannot restrain me...
Unhappy mother, I hasten to save you,
or at least, hasten to die with you!

LEONORA
I cannot bear such deadly blows.
Oh, how much better to die!

MANRICO
The horrible blaze of that pyre, etc.
(Ruiz comes back with the soldiers.)

RUIZ and SOLDIERS
To Arms! To arms!
Here we are, ready to fight with you,
or die with you!
To arms, etc.

MANRICO
Unhappy mother, I hasten to save you,
Or at least hasten to die with you! etc.
To arms! To arms! To arms!
(They leave.)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four