“Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti libretto (English)

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

ACT THREE

Scene 1

The great hall of the castle
(Wedding festivities are in progress. The sounds of
merry dance music emanate from adjoining rooms.
Pages and inhabitants of the Castle of Lammermoor fill
the rear of the scene. Still others, ladies and knights,
join the happy throng which now launches into song.

CHORUS
Let us raise our voices
in wild jubilation,
to rouse Scotland
from shore to shore
and warn our
perfidious enemies
that fortune smiles
on us again.
We are happier
and more fearsome,
favoured by
a powerful protector,
and warn our
perfidious enemies,
etc.

RAIMONDO
(out of breath, advancing with uncertain steps)
Ah!...
Stay, cease your revels!

CHORUS
You are pale as death!

RAIMONDO
For pity's sake, cease!

CHORUS
Oh, heaven! What has happened?

RAIMONDO
A tragic event!

CHORUS
You freeze us with terror!

RAIMONDO
Ah!...
(beckoning to the others to gather round him)
From the apartments where
I had left Lucia with her husband,
came a moan, a cry,
as from a man in his death-throes!
I ran into the room.
Oh, what a terrible calamity!
Arturo was lying on the floor,
mute, cold, covered with blood!
And Lucia was clutching a dagger
which belonged to the murdered man!

She fixed her eyes on me.
"Where is my husband?" she asked me,
and a smile flitted across
her pallid face!
Unhappy girl! She had lost
her reason.
Unhappy girl! She had lost,
etc.
Ah!

CHORUS
Oh, what a tragedy!
A numb terror paralyses us all!
O night, shroud the cruel mishap
with your dense, sombre veil.

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah, may that blood-smirched hand
not bring upon us Heaven's wrath.

RAIMONDO
She fixed her eyes on me
and clutched the dagger!

CHORUS
And she still clutched the dagger!

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah, may the blood-smirched hand
not bring upon us Heaven's wrath,
etc.
(Lucia enters, garbed simply in white, her hair
dishevelled, a pallor of death on her face, giving her a
ghostly appearance. Her stony stare, convulsive
movements and bitter smile disclose not only a violent
insanity, but also that death for her is imminent.)

RAIMONDO
Here she comes!

CHORUS
Oh, merciful Heaven!
She looks as if she has risen from the grave!

LUCIA
I was stirred
by the sweet sound of his voice! Ah, that voice
won this heart of mine!
Edgardo, I am yours again,
Edgardo, ah, my Edgardo!
Yes, I am yours again,
I escaped from your enemies.
An icy shiver creeps in my bosom.
Every nerve quivers! My step falters!
Sit with me a while near the fountain.
Alas! The terrible spectre rises
and parts us! Alas!
Alas! Edgardo! Edgardo! Ah!
The spectre...parts us!
Here let us hide, Edgardo, at the foot of the altar.
it is strewn with roses! Celestial harmony,
do you not hear it? Ah, strains
of our wedding-hymn! The ceremony
awaits usL.Oh, how happy I am!
Edgardo, Edgardo, how happy I am!
Oh, joy that I feel but cannot express!
The incense is burning - the sacred
torches are glowing all around!
Here is the minister! Give me
your hand...Oh, happy day!
At last I am yours, at last you are mine,
God has given you to me.

NORMANNO, RAIMONDO and CHORUS
What a cruel plight!
Take pity on her, Lord.

LUCIA
Every rare pleasure
I shall share with you.
Life for us will be
a gentle smile from heaven.
(Enrico enters.)
Shed bitter tears
on my earthly garment,
while in Heaven above
I will pray for you.
Only when you join me,
will Heaven be blissful for me,
ah yes, for me,
etc.

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
It is impossible
to hold back the tears,
etc.

ENRICO
Remorse will bring me
days of bitter weeping,
etc.

LUCIA
Ah! shed bitter tears,
etc.

Scene 2

Cemetery of Ravenswood Castle
(Tombs of the Ravenswood family. It is night

EDGARDO
Tombs of my fathers,
last son of an unhappy race,
receive me, I implore you. My anger's
brief fire is quenched...I will fall on
my foe's sword. For me, life
is a horrible burden! The whole universe
is a desert for me without Lucia!
Yet the castle
gleams with torches...Ah, the night
was too short for the revels! Heartless jade!
While I pine away in hopeless tears,
you laugh and gloat
by your happy consort's side!
You amid joys, I near to death!
Soon this neglected tomb
will give me refuge.
A compassionate tear
will not fall upon it...ah!
Alas, for wretched me not even
the solace of the dead.
You too, forget
that despised marble tombstone!
Never visit it, o cruel one,
by your husband's side.
Ah, respect at least the ashes
of him who dies for you,
etc.
Never visit it,
forget it exists,
respect at least the one who died for you,
etc.

Oh, cruel one! Respect,
etc.

(A train of mourners comes from Lammermoor Castle.)

CHORUS
Oh, poor creature! Oh, horrible fate!
It is useless to hope, now!
She will never see the close
of this dawning day.

EDGARDO
Great heaven, tell me, tell, ah!

CHORUS
Oh poor creature!

EDGARDO
Whom do you mourn?
Answer, answer, for pity's sake.

CHORUS
Lucia.

EDGARDO
Lucia, you said?

CHORUS
Poor creature...

EDGARDO
Come, tell me.

CHORUS
Yes, the poor girl is dying.

EDGARDO
Ah!

CHORUS
The marriage was a tragic blow for her,
love robbed her of her reason.
She is near her last hour,
and moans and asks for you.

EDGARDO
Ah, Lucia is dying! Lucia, ah!

CHORUS
She will never see the close
of this dawning day!
love robbed her of her reason,
etc.

EDGARDO
Will my Lucia never see
the close
of this dawning day?

CHORUS
Love for you,
etc.

EDGARDO
Ah!

CHORUS
The death-knell is tolling already.

EDGARDO
That sound pierces my heart!
My fate is sealed!

CHORUS
Oh, God!

EDGARDO
I must see her again.

CHORUS
What madness, rash man,
ah, stay, ah, return to sanity!

EDGARDO
See her again and then...

(Raimondo enters.)

RAIMONDO
Where are you hurrying, wretched man?
She is no longer on earth.

EDGARDO
Lucia!

RAIMONDO
Unhappy man!

EDGARDO
She is no longer on earth? Then she...

RAIMONDO
Is in Heaven.

EDGARDO
Lucia is no more!

CHORUS
Unhappy man! Unhappy man!

EDGARDO
You who spread your wings to Heaven,
o sweet loving heart,
look down on me serenely,
and let your true love soar up to join you.
Ah, though mortal's fury
so cruelly assailed us,
though we were parted on earth,
may God unite us in Heaven,
O sweet, loving heart,
may God unite us,
etc.
(drawing his dagger)
I will follow you...

RAIMONDO
Madman! Madman!

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah, what are you doing?

EDGARDO
I want to die!

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Come to your senses.

EDGARDO
No, no, no!

(He stabs himself.)

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah!

RAIMONDO
What have you done?

EDGARDO
I come to you... o dear heart...

RAIMONDO
Wretched man!

EDGARDO
...look down, ah, on your true love.

RAIMONDO
Think of Heaven.

EDGARDO
Ah, if mortal's fury...

MOURNERS
Oh, horror! oh, horror!

EDGARDO
...so cruel a war.
O dear heart, may we be united by God in Heaven,
o sweet loving heart,
etc.
May we be united by God in Heaven!

RAIMONDO
Oh God, forgive...
Think of Heaven...
God, forgive, such a horrible deed.

CHORUS
Oh terrible, oh black fate!
God, forgive such a horrible deed.
(All kneel. Edgardo dies.)

libretto by Gwyn Morris

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