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“Manon Lescaut” by Giacomo Puccini libretto (English)
| Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four |
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IN AMERICA A desert plain on the borders of New Orleans (The ground is bare and undulating, the horizon boundless, the sky cloudy, It is early evening. Manon and Des Grieux come into sight. They are ragged and destitute. Manon, pale and exhausted, leans on Des Grieux, who seems scarcely able to support her.) DES GRIEUX Put all your weight on me, O my weary beloved. The dusty road, the cursed road will soon end. MANON Onward, ever onward! The air around us is getting darker. DES GRIEUX Lean on me! MANON The breeze roams over the great plain and day is dying! Onward, onward! No – (She falls.) DES GRIEUX Manon! |
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MANON I am finished! Forgive me! You are strong, I envy you; a woman, weak, I give up. DES GRIEUX Are you in pain? MANON Horribly! (Manon tries to reassure him.) No! What am I saying? Vain, foolish words. Oh, take comfort! I ask but a brief rest – only a moment. My sweet lover, come closer to me! DES GRIEUX Manon, listen, my love! You don’t answer, dearest? Look, it is I who weep, I who implore you, I who caress and kiss your golden hair! Oh, Manon! Manon, answer me! Silence! Curses! (touching her brow; to himself) A cruel fever grips her. Desperate, I am haunted by a sense of misfortune, a sense of darkness and fear! (to Manon) Answer me, my love!... Still silent...Manon, won’t you answer me? |
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MANON (reviving gradually as Des Grieux raises her) Is it you weeping? Is it you imploring? I hear your sobs, and your burning tears bathe my face. Ah, is it you weeping and imploring? My love, help me! DES GRIEUX Oh beloved! Oh, Manon! Ah, Manon my love! MANON Love! Love, help me! DES GRIEUX Oh, my Manon! MANON Thirst is destroying me – darling, help me! DES GRIEUX All my blood I would give for your life! (He runs off to scan the horizon.) Nothing to be seen! Nothing! Barren land, and not a trace of water – O motionless sky! O God, to whom as a child I also raised my prayer, give us your help! |
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MANON Yes, help! You can save me! Listen, I will rest here! You scan the hazy horizon and look for hill or cabin. Push forward and then return with joyful words and glad tidings! (Des Grieux, doubtful whether to leave her, walks slowly away, looks back once, then with sudden decision, hurries off.) Alone, lost, abandoned in this desolate land! Oh, horror! The sky is darkening around me. Alas, I am alone! And in the depths of the desert I meet my end, cruel torment, ah, alone, forsaken, I am a deserted woman! Oh, I do not want to die! So all is over. This seemed a peaceful land to me! Oh, my fatal beauty kindles a new anger – they wanted to tear me from him; now all my horrible past rises again and comes to life before my eyes. Ah, it is stained with blood! Ah, all is ended! Now I invoke the tomb as a haven of peace. No, I do not want to die! My love, help me! No! (Des Grieux returns.) In your arms, beloved, for the last time! Do you bring good news! |
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DES GRIEUX I found nothing, the horizon revealed nothing to me, in vain I gazed into the distance. MANON I am dying: the shadows are closing in; night is descending upon me. DES GRIEUX (passionately trying to comfort her) A fatal delirium assails you. Rest here on my throbbing heart and regain your strength! MANON I love you so much – and I am dying! Already I can hardly speak, but I can tell you about how much I love you! Oh, my love, heavenly delight, ineffable rapture! Oh, my supreme desire, I love you, love you so much! DES GRIEUX (touching her cheek – to himself) The chill of death! God, my last hope is shattered. MANON My sweet love, you weep. This is the hour for kisses, not for tears; time is flying – kiss me! |
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DES GRIEUX Oh, my greatest joy, flame of love eternal. MANON The flame is dying – speak, oh speak – alas! DES GRIEUX Manon! MANON I can no longer hear you – alas! I want your face here, close to me, so, so, kiss me – close to me, once more I can feel you – Alas! DES GRIEUX Without you...I am lost – I will follow you. MANON (with a last dying effort) I forbid it! Farewell – dark is the night – I’m cold. Was your Manon loving? Do you remember? Tell me – the splendour of my youth? And I shall never see the sun again! DES GRIEUX My God! |
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MANON My faults will be – forgotten, but my love – will never die. (Manon dies and Des Grieux, crazed with grief, falls senseless over her body.) END |
| Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four |