“Il turco in Italia” by Gioachino Rossini libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two

ACT TWO

Scene One

Room in an inn.
Little tables with lamps, etc.
(Don Geronio and the poet are seated. They are
drinking. Selim enters.)

SELIM
How a propos, my friend,
without much hunting
I find you here.
I have great things to say to you.

POET
(A new intrigue.)

GERONIO
And, in point of fact, I too
had great things to say to you.

POET
(I'll withdraw
to avoid any involvement,
and to note down everything.)
(He withdraws.)

SELIM
I'm listening.

GERONIO
Speak.

SELIM
Well, we can be seated.
How many years has it been
since you and Donna Fiorilla
were joined in matrimony?

GERONIO
It will be six.
(Be calm, Geronio.)

SELIM
Love that lasts more than half a decade
must be very tiring.

GERONIO
In fact, I am tired,
very tired.

SELIM
And for your people matrimony
is a great burden.

GERONIO
Anyone who feels it on his back
knows this.

SELIM
Friend, I've come
to offer you a remedy
that will get you out of this spot;
and you answer
won't cost you much effort.

GERONIO
But...how...explain yourself.

SELIM
Hear me.

GERONIO
I'm listening.

SELIM
Perhaps you've heard some news
of a fine Turkish custom:
when a wife becomes a burden
her husband turns salesman.

GERONIO
The custom may be excellent,
but the Italian one is better:
here the husband almost always
punches the customer in the nose.

SELIM
That, also, may be fine,
but it needn't apply to us.

GERONIO
On the contrary, the latter
is the custom I'd uphold.

SELIM
But why?

GERONIO
I like to maintain
our way of life.

SELIM
(He isn't, after all, so stupid
as they make him out to be.)

GERONIO
(Use your judgement, brain of mine!)

SELIM and GERONIO
Prudence and courage are required.

SELIM
If you want to sell Fiorilla,
without any further parley,
I'll buy her and pay enough
for you to buy three more.

GERONIO
Sir Turk, I've said and I repeat:
I'm not selling anyone my wife,
she may be good, or may be bad,
but I...my wife I'll keep for myself.

SELIM
(Curses!) But think...

GERONIO
I've already thought

SELIM
You're growing heated.

GERONIO
I surely am.

SELIM and GERONIO
(I'll bet there isn't in the world
a stranger or a harder head.)

SELIM
You don't want to?

GERONIO
No, by heaven.

SELIM
You refuse?

GERONIO
Yes, I refuse.

SELIM
I'll have her despite you.

GERONIO
You won't have her.

SELIM
I know another custom.

GERONIO
What's that?

SELIM
To kidnap her,
and instead of paying
the fool that opposes me,
kill him, to save time.

GERONIO
But you should fear
that instead of killing him,
it might happen...that you'd
end up being killed.

SELIM and GERONIO
We'll meet in another place.
And there we'll have knifings,
and musket-shooting,
and you'll see that I cannot
be frightened by threatening.
(They exit by opposite doors. Fiorilla enters with the chorus.)

CHORUS
There's no perfect pleasure
not procured by Love.
Of sporting and delight
love's the progenitor.

FIORILLA
If the zephyr rests
to caress a flower,
if from lily to rose
flits the fair butterfly,
butterfly and zephyr both
are moved buy the power of love.

CHORUS
Of sporting and delight
love's the progenitor.

FIORILLA
When in the springtime
the first dawn smiles,
when all of nature
is dressed in her best;
it's the air of delight
that love spreads on earth.

CHORUS
Of sporting and delight
love's the progenitor.

FIORILLA
That impertinent Turkish girl!
Daring to vie for Fiorilla's lover!
I'll get even with her:
I want her to be present
at my triumph. At any cost,
I'll humble the silly thing's pride,
she can have her Turk
since I don't want him.
I've had her invited to this inn
in Selim's name; let her come
and we'll see which
of us will be the winner.
(Zaida is about to enter.)

ZAIDA
Excuse me...my mistake...

FIORILLA
Come in, come in:
it was I who invited you.

ZAIDA
(comes in)
You!

FIORILLA
Yes; in a few moments
you'll see Selim here.
I don't want your absence
to give me any advantage
over his heart.
Now we can vie for him
in peace: he'll choose between us
the one he like best.

ZAIDA
Choosing is useless
where duty speaks,
and love.

FIORILLA
Everything, everything,
we know, gives in to love.
Here comes Selim now.
(Enter Selim.)

SELIM
I had thought to see you alone
at last, beautiful Fiorilla.
But you can't be
alone a minute.

FIORILLA
You'll be happier
when you have observed
all of the guests.

SELIM
Zaida!

ZAIDA
Faithless!

SELIM
But...how...in this inn...
What does this mean?

FIORILLA
She honours this inn
with her fair presence
to see whether you prefer
me or her.
Decide.

ZAIDA
Speak.

SELIM
You put me in a great conflict.

ZAIDA
Unfaithful! Ah, I understand!
I came here to witness
my own wrongs.

SELIM
Ah, no!
(laida leaves.)

FIORILLA
Why don't you go with her!

SELIM
Farewell...
(She lets me go!)

FIORILLA
(He's really leaving!)

SELIM
(This takes tact.)

FIORILLA
(This takes artfulness.)

SELIM
(as if speaking to himself)
Believe then in women
who say that they love you!
They scorn you for nothing,
and threaten to leave you.
The love of a woman
is a fire that dies out
as soon as it's lighted.

FIORILLA
(as if speaking to herself)
Believe then in men
who cluster around you!
They sight for all women,
and love but a day.
They're the breeze of summer
you can't find again
once it is past.

SELIM
It's not fair to complain
when you've scorned a faithful heart.

FIORILLA
(drawing slightly closer)
A fine thing! To go away
rather than admit you're unfaithful.

SELIM
I am not.

FIORILLA
I'm not speaking to you.

SELIM
What?

FIORILLA
No.

SELIM
It seemed as if you were.

FIORILLA
Certainly in Italy
they don't make love like this.

SELIM
Definitely not in Turkey
they don't make love like this.

FIORILLA and SELIM
(But if the argument continues
he'll/she'll fire up and leave.
Let's discuss it politely,
and then he'll/she'll calm down.)

SELIM
Then I cannot hope!

FIORILLA
Then I am spurned!

SELIM
Your hand...
(He offers to kiss it.)

FIORILLA
I cannot.

SELIM
My idol, forgive me.

FIORILLA
Do you deserve it?

SELIM
I love you.

FIORILLA
Will you keep on loving me?

SELIM
Always.

SELIM and FIORILLA
You love me, I see it;
I trust and believe you;
but come, my life,
and tell me again,
if ever I'm faithless,
if ever I leave you,
may peace be forever
alien to my heart.

(They leave. Don Geronio enters, followed by the poet,
then Narciso, aside.)

POET
Stop.

GERONIO
What is it?

POET
Great news.

GERONIO
Explain yourself.

POET
My friend, a kidnapping
has been prepared.

GERONIO
What are you saying?
Is this the truth I hear?

NARCISO
(Fiorilla's gone; they are here!
What are they doing?
I'll listen a bit.)

POET
Fiorilla is to go
to a party: there Selim
awaits her, in disguise,
hoping to convince her
to leave with him for Turkey.

NARCISO
(What's this I hear?)

GERONIO
Unhappy me! O my wife!

POET
Listen, I hurried to tell
everything to Zaida.
She'll go to the party, too.
Dressed in the same way,
so that with her face masked
she will seem to be Fiorilla.
And you must go as a Turk.

GERONIO
And then?

POET
And then, deceiving Fiorilla,
you can...

GERONIO
I understand...let's go...
let's lose no more time.

POET
Ah! never fear. Selim
will be the last to arrive:
he'll find on his way
many of our friends
who'll keep him busy.
Meanwhile go and procure
your mask and costume.

GERONIO
I'll run.
(He leaves.)

POET
(The play is already done.)

Scene Two

Hall brilliantly lit for a ball
Masked men and women dancing.
(Fiorilla enters.)

FIORILLA
No sign of Selim!
Still among all these people
I can't find him...
Where can he be?
(Narciso enters.)

NARCISO
(That's Fiorilla.)

FIORILLA
Oh, here he is now.
Selim

NARCISO
Fiorilla...

FIORILLA
Why did you keep me
waiting so long?

NARCISO
Forgive me...

FIORILLA
Give me your arm,
and stroll with me.
(They lose themselves in the throng.
Zaida enters, followed by Selim.)

SELIM
My dear Fiorilla,
why are you silent?
Perhaps you're angry
because I came a bit late?
I found a thousand maskers
all around me...

ZAIDA
You could have freed yourself
a little more quickly at least.

SELIM
Come, forgive me...
Fiorilla...

ZAIDA
(Ah, the traitor!
I'm all aflame.)

SELIM
Take my arm,
and let's stroll a bit
(They, too, lose themselves.)

GERONIO
Here I am. This is the first time
that I've ever worn a mask
to a party.
Poor Don Geronio!
Cursed be love, and matrimony.
(Fiorilla returns with Narciso.)

But, what's this I see?
Fiorilla's already arrived
and Selim's with her already.
(From the other side laida and Selim arrive.)
But, what's this? I see another
Selim here, and that girl also
looks like Fiorilla to me...
What mix-up is this?
Which of them is my wife?
Oh, what a mishap!
I can't recognise my wife any more!
Similar Turks, similar clothes,
all alike...what shall I do?

NARCISO
No, I cannot leave here
without you, my Fiorilla.

ZAIDA
But I cannot understand
what my destiny will be.

GERONIO
I can't recognise my wife any more!
What shall I decide, what shall I do?

SELIM
Ah, follow me to Turkey,
and I'll make you my wife.

FIORILLA
My heart wants to convince me,
but I can't make up my mind.

GERONIO
I can't recognise my wife, etc.

SELIM
(Pitying Love, ah, assist
the fair wishes of my heart.)
Ah, if I am dear to you,
I can long for nothing else.

NARCISO
(Pitying Love, ah, assist
my innocent deception.)
Ah, if I am dear to you,
I can long for nothing else.

FIORILLA and ZAIDA
(Ah, restrain, pitying love,
all the emotions in my heart.)
Ah, if I am dear to you,
I can long for nothing else.

GERONIO
I'm a fine husband, truly,
I can't make out any more
which of the two is my wife;
should I speak? Yes or no?

SELIM and NARCISO
Then follow me.

GERONIO
I'm dumfounded.

FIORILLA and ZAIDA
All right, I'm with you.

GERONIO
I must be going blind.

SELIM, NARCISO, FIORILLA, ZAIDA
Let's go.

GERONIO
They're leaving.
Stop there. Halt!

SELIM
What's he asking?
What does he want?

ZAIDA
Let him mind his own business.

NARCISO
That's Geronio: come quickly.

FIORILLA
Ha, ha! I understand; it's my husband.

GERONIO
Here you'll stay. You will not leave.
I want my wife and she is here.

FIORILLA and ZAIDA
His wife is here?

SELIM, NARCISO, FIORILLA, ZAIDA
He's going mad!

GERONIO
I want my wife
and she is here.

CHORUS
What a brawl!

ALL
You'll find her
somewhere else.

GERONIO
Halt! Nobody
is leaving here!

SELIM, NARCISO, FIORILLA, ZAIDA
This cursed old man
could make us look suspicious;
let's go outside very quietly
before there's a fight.

GERONIO
Ah! cursed Turk!
I rage with wrath and scorn!
But listen to me, gentlemen,
allow me to speak.

CHORUS
Quiet! quiet! go outside;
don't stay here and insult us.
(The two couples try to leave, but Don Geronio, beside
himself, hurls himself in their midst to stop them.)

SELIM, NARCISO, FIORILLA, ZAIDA
He's mad...you hear him?
(We'd do well to run away.)
Ah! stop him...prevent him...
(My idol, have no doubts.)
She's not this one or that...
You're mistaken; it's your mind
that fancies' she's among them.

GERONIO
I'm not mad! but hear me...
You want to murder me...
I want my wife, understand...
But allow me to speak.
She may be this one or that one...
this; that...my mind
can't choose between them.

CHORUS
You're mad...but listen...
don't come bothering us...
You're mistaken; it's your mind
that fancies she's among them.
(Selim and laida leave by one side, Narciso and Fiorilla,
the other. Then the chorus goes off leaving Don
Geronio alone.)

Scene Three

A beach, as in the first act.
In the background Turkish sailors are seen preparing
for the departure.
(Fiorilla enters, then Don Geronio with the poet.)

FIORILLA
Yes, I must go away.
I haven't the courage to face him.
My misdeed is serious.
This beach here by the port,
remote, is always full of boats
that come and go
between Naples and Sorrento...
And here...that is Selim's ship.
Ah, had you never landed
on this shore, fatal ship!

POET
Look at her: she's sighing.

GERONIO
She's repentant,
she really is.

POET
Didn't I tell you?
Why do you hesitate?
Go forward!

FIORILLA
Geronio! How did he come here?
It looks as if he's approaching.

GERONIO
Poor little Fiorilla!

FIORILLA
He looks at me and comes nearer.

POET
She's seen you,
she's gazing at you.

FIORILLA
(Who knows? Perhaps his former love
is speaking on my behalf.)
I'm the vine, withering in the field
for the lack of its dear support.

GERONIO
I'm the elm that was robbed
of its vine, and remained bare.

POET
And I'm the good-hearted farmer
who can join them together again.

FIORILLA, GERONIO, POET
Wind around me/Wind around each other
look at me/look at each other, and sigh.
Let us go forward
repentant she seems/calmed down he seems.

GERONIO
Dear vine...

FIORILLA
Beloved elm...

POET
What a beautiful allegory!

GERONIO
To my trunk...

FIORILLA
To my shade...
you can return

POET
The ending can't miss.

FIORILLA, GERONIO
Yes, return to these arms.

FIORILLA
Dear elm, to bloom.

GERONIO
Dear vine, to bloom.

POET
Excellent, may this do you good!
Nothing's lacking in this play.
(Enter Selim, laida, gypsy men and women, Turks and,
finally, Narciso.)

CHORUS
May heaven serenely smile on you,
may the winds for you be fair,

and carry you, contented,
to breathe again your native air.

SELIM
Dear Italy, I leave you now,
but you'll always be in my heart.
And I'll remember every day
that I owe my happiness to you.

ZAIDA
Fiorilla's coming. Don Geronio
has already made his peace with her.

POET
Here's the Turk... I shouldn't like...
I don't care for this encounter.

FIORILLA (softly, to Geronio)
I can't bear to see him again...

GERONIO (softly, to Fiorilla)
Just a polite good-bye...
then we can leave them here.

SELIM
Forgive our mistakes.

ZAIDA, GERONIO, FIORILLA
You're already forgiven.

NARCISO
Permit me, gentlemen,
also to ask forgiveness!
Ah, the example that you give me
will be good to correct me.

POET
The plot is completed,
my play has a happy ending.
And perhaps the audience
will be as happy as I am.

ALL
Remain content:
live happily,
and teach everyone
that slight is the error
if afterwards Love
is reborn, more beautiful.
(Selim and laida, with the others waving, go down to
the shore to embark. Meanwhile the curtain falls.)

END

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two