Lucia - coloratura soprano Lord Enrico Ashton, Lord of Lammermoor; Lucia's brother - baritone Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood - tenor Lord Arturo Bucklaw, Lucia's bridegroom - tenor Raimondo Bidebent, a Calvinist chaplain - bass Alisa, Lucia's handmaid - mezzo-soprano Normanno, huntsman; a retainer of Enrico - tenor Retainers and servants, wedding guests. Place and time: Scotland, Late 16th century Prelude Scene 1 In the grounds of the castle NORMANNO Scour the grounds nearby... CHORUS We'll scour the grounds nearby... NORMANNO ...the sprawling ruins of the tower: CHORUS ...the sprawling ruins of the tower: NORMANNO ...tear the veil from so vile a secret, honour expects, demands it. CHORUS ...tear the veil from so vile a secret, honour demands it. NORMANNO and CHORUS The hateful truth will shine out like a lightning-flash through clouds of horror, the hateful truth will shine, etc. tear the veil from so vile a secret, etc. ...honour expects it. (The retainers leave. Enrico and Raimondo enter.) NORMANNO (to Enrico) You are troubled! ENRICO And with good reason. You know that the star of my fortunes has waned - while Edgardo - that mortal enemy of my family, looks down haughtily from his ruined retreat, and mocks me! Only one hand can restore me and my tottering power...Lucia dares to reject that hand! Ah, she is no sister of mine! RAIMONDO Unhappy girl, mourning at the fresh grave of her dear mother, how can she think of marriage? Let us respect a heart which, grief-stricken, is averse to love. NORMANNO Averse to love? Lucia is aflame with love. ENRICO What are you saying? RAIMONDO (aside) I fear his words! NORMANNO Hear me: she was wandering along the deserted avenue in the park, where her mother is buried...A raging bull suddenly rushed at her... when a shot rang out in the echoing air, and the beast suddenly sank to the ground. ENRICO And who fired the shot? NORMANNO A man who kept his name a secret. ENRICO And Lucia...? NORMANNO Fell in love with him. ENRICO So she saw him again? NORMANNO Every morning at dawn. ENRICO And where? NORMANNO In that avenue. ENRICO Rage chokes me! And you did not identify the seducer? NORMANNO I only have a suspicion. ENRICO Ah, tell me! NORMANNO He is your enemy. RAIMONDO (aside) Oh heaven! NORMANNO You detest him. ENRICO Could it be - Edgardo? RAIMONDO (aside) Ah! NORMANNO You are right. ENRICO A cruel, deadly frenzy you have roused in my heart! Too, too horrible is this fatal suspicion! I freeze and tremble, and my hair stands on end, ah! etc. So shameful is she who was born my sister! NORMANNO Cherishing your honour, I had to be cruel to you. RAIMONDO (aside) Your clemency I implore; say that it is not so, oh heaven! ENRICO Ah, rather than see you guilty of so perfidious a love, if you were struck by a thunderbolt, my grief would be less bitter, etc. NORMANNO and RAIMONDO Oh heaven! NORMANNO I had to be cruel to you. RAIMONDO Say that it is not so, ah heaven! RETAINERS (rushing to Normanno) Your doubt is now confirmed. NORMANNO (to Enrico) Do you hear? ENRICO Tell me. RETAINERS Oh, sad day! As, overcome with weariness, after long searching round about, we rested in the crumbling hall of the tower: suddenly a pale-faced man came silently through. As he drew near we recognised the stranger: on his swift steed, he was soon out of sight... a falconer told us his name. ENRICO What is it? RETAINERS Edgardo. ENRICO So it is he! Oh, the burning rage that inflames me is more that human heart can bear. RAIMONDO Ah, no, do not believe it, no, no... ENRICO No, it is more than human heart can bear! etc. RAIMONDO Ah! come, do not judge...she...ah! ENRICO No, no! RAIMONDO Hear me! ENRICO I will not. In vain your pity leads you to plead for her... speak to me of revenge and I will hear you. Wretched pair! The storm of my terrible fury is upon you, the evil flame that consumes you, I shall quench with blood! etc. RAIMONDO No, he cannot, etc. CHORUS Ah, yes quench! etc. Scene 2 The park (The fountain of the Siren, a spring once sheltered by an imposing edifice showing the typical adornments of Gothic architecture, but now in ruins. It is twilight. Lucia, much agitated, enters with Alisa.) LUCIA He still has not come? ALISA Rash girl! What have you brought me to? Daring to come here, now your brother knows the spot, is madness. LUCIA You are right! But Edgardo must know of the horrible danger that threatens us. ALISA Why do you look about so fearfully? LUCIA That fountain...ah...I never see it without shivering. You know the tale: A Ravenswood, mad with jealousy, stabbed his sweetheart here and the poor girl fell into the water, which became her tomb: I have seen her ghost... ALISA What are you saying? LUCIA Listen. At dead of night, in the silent darkness... a pallid ray of eerie moonlight fell upon the fountain... when a low moan was heard on the breeze, and there on the verge, ah! the spectre appeared to me...Ah! I saw her lips moving as if she were speaking, and with her lifeless hand she seemed to beckon me to her; for a moment she stood motionless, then suddenly vanished... and the waters, so clear before, reddened as with blood. Yes, so clear before, etc. ALISA Oh God, in your story, clear and grave are the omens I see! Ah, Lucia, Lucia, abandon this terrifying love. LUCIA He brings light to my days, and solace to my suffering. When, lost in ecstasy of ardent passion, with the language of the heart, he swears eternal love, etc. I forget my sorrows and joy dries my tears, and it seems that when I am near him, heaven opens for me, etc. ALISA Ah, days of bitter weeping are in store for you, yes, yes, etc. Ah, Lucia, give him up. LUCIA Ah...When, lost in ecstasy, etc. ALISA He is coming... I shall keep watch nearby. (She leaves. Edgardo enters.) EDGARDO Lucia, forgive me for asking to see you at this unusual hour: it is for a very important reason. Before dawn whitens the morning sky I shall be far from my native land. LUCIA What are you saying? EDGARDO I am to set sail for France's friendly shores: there I must work for Scotland's future. LUCIA And you leave me here to weep? EDGARDO Before leaving you, I must see Ashton... I will offer him the hand of peace, and ask your hand in marriage to seal our pact. LUCIA What do I hear? Ah, no...let our love remain a secret for now. EDGARDO I understand! The evil persecutor of my family is not satisfied with my misfortunes! He robbed me of my father, my ancestral heritage. Is that not enough? What more does he want, that bloodthirsty villain? My utter ruin? My life? How he hates me!... LUCIA Ah, no... EDGARDO He loathes me. LUCIA Oh heaven, calm his mad fury. EDGARDO A searing flame writhes in my heart! Listen to me. LUCIA Edgardo! EDGARDO Hear me and tremble! Over the tomb where my betrayed father lies, in my rage, I swore to wage eternal war on your kin. LUCIA Ah! EDGARDO But I saw you and another emotion stirred in my heart, and anger fled. But that vow is not broken, I could well fulfil it yet! LUCIA Come, calm your anger; control yourself. EDGARDO Ah, Lucia! LUCIA A single word can betray us! is my suffering not enough? Do you want me to die of fright? EDGARDO Ah, no! LUCIA Banish all other feelings save love from your heart; a nobler, holier vow than any other is pure love, ah, only love, etc. Yield, yield to me, yield to love. EDGARDO But that vow is not broken, etc. I could well fulfil it yet! (with sudden resolution) Here, pledge yourself eternally before Heaven to be my bride. God hears us, God sees us; church and altar is a loving heart; (solemnly placing a ring on Lucia's finger) to your destiny I link mine... I am your betrothed. LUCIA (in her turn giving a ring to Edgardo) And I yours. EDGARDO and LUCIA Ah, only icy death can quench our passion. LUCIA I call on Love, I call on Heaven to witness my vows, etc. EDGARDO I call on Heaven to witness my vows, etc. We must part now. LUCIA Oh, how I dread those words! My heart goes with you. EDGARDO My heart stays here with you, etc. LUCIA Oh, Edgardo, Edgardo! EDGARDO We must part now. LUCIA Ah, if sometimes you think of me and send me a letter, fresh hopes will fortify my fleeting life. EDGARDO I shall always cherish vivid memories of you, dearest. LUCIA Ah!... On the breeze will come to you my ardent sighs, you will hear in the murmuring sea the echo of my laments. When you think of me living on tears and grief, then shed a bitter tear on this ring, ah, on this ring, etc. EDGARDO On the breeze will come to you, etc. LUCIA and EDGARDO Ah! On the breeze will come to you, etc. EDGARDO Remember, Heaven has joined us! EDGARDO and LUCIA Farewell! Scene 1 Enrico Ashton's apartments in the castle (He is seated at a table with Normanno.) NORMANNO Lucia will come to you soon. ENRICO I nervously await her. To honour our distinguished marriage, already in the castle have assembled my noble kinsmen; Arturo will be here soon... And if she stubbornly dares to refuse? NORMANNO Do not fret...your enemy's absence, his letters we intercepted, and the false report that he is afire with a new flame, will stifle the blind love in Lucia's heart. ENRICO She is coming. Give me the forged letter. (Normanno hands him the letter.) Now ride out to the highway leading to Scotland's royal city, and amid cheers and joyful shouts escort Arturo here. (Normanno leaves. Lucia enters and lingers near the door; her pallor, the bewildered expression all point to her suffering and to the beginnings of a mental derangement.) ENRICO Come nearer, Lucia. I hoped to see you happier today, this day when Hymen's torches are lit for you. You look at me and say nothing? LUCIA This mortal pallor which horribly masks my face mutely blames you for my grief and anguish. May God forgive you for your inhuman cruelty, may God forgive you, etc. ...for my grief. ENRICO I was made justly harsh by your unworthy passion; but enough of the past, I am still your brother. I have cooled my anger, now cool your insane love, I have cooled my anger, etc. A noble husband... LUCIA Stop, I beg you! ENRICO Why? LUCIA I am promised to another. ENRICO You cannot be... LUCIA Enrico! ENRICO (angrily) You cannot be. LUCIA I gave a solemn promise to another. ENRICO Enough. (giving her the forged letter) This letter gives you ample proof of your lover's cruel villainy. Read it. LUCIA (Lucia reads: surprise, then great anxiety are etched on her countenance, and a tremor shakes her from head to foot.) Ah!...My heart falters! ENRICO (running to her aid) You are giddy! LUCIA Oh, misery! Alas, a fatal bolt from the blue! I suffered in tears, I languished with grief, my hopes, my life, I pledged to one heart, the moment of death is upon me! He gave his faithless heart to another! ENRICO A mad, evil love consumed you, you betrayed your kin for a vile seducer. LUCIA Oh, God! ENRICO But heaven gave you just reward: he gave his fickle heart to another. LUCIA Alas! The terrible moment has come for me, yes, he gave his fickle heart to another, etc. ENRICO A mad, evil love consumed you, etc.. He gave his fickle heart to another, etc. (Festive music is heard in the distance.) LUCIA What can it be? ENRICO Joyous music for his arrival! LUCIA What? ENRICO The bridegroom is coming. LUCIA A shudder courses through my veins! ENRICO The marriage-bed awaits you. LUCIA The tomb, the tomb awaits me! ENRICO This is the crucial hour! LUCIA A mist is before my eyes! ENRICO Listen to me. William is dead - we shall see Mary upon the throne... prostrate in the dust is the party I supported... LUCIA Ah, I tremble! ENRICO From ruin Arturo can rescue me, and only he... LUCIA But how can I... ? ENRICO You must save me. LUCIA Enrico! ENRICO Come to your husband! LUCIA I have sworn to wed another! ENRICO You must save me. LUCIA But... ENRICO You must! LUCIA Oh, heaven! Oh, heaven! ENRICO If you betray me, my fate is sealed for ever... you rob me of honour and life and deliver me to the executioner's axe. In your dreams you will see me, an angry, menacing spectre! That bloody axe will always be before your eyes, etc. LUCIA (with tearful eyes, appealing to Heaven) You who see my tears, you who read what is in my heart, if my grief is not ignored in Heaven, as it is on earth, Take, Eternal God, this hopeless life of mine, I am so wretched that death will be a boon for me, etc. ENRICO That bloody axe will always be before your eyes, etc. Scene 2 The grand hall of the castle. (The scene is ready for the reception of Arturo. Enrico, Arturo, Normanno, knights and ladies, relations of Ashton, pages, equerries, inhabitants of Lammermoor and servants) CHORUS For you, all around we join in rousing jubilation, because of you, we see reborn the day of hope, here friendship guides you, here love leads you, new life is all around, here love leads you, like a star on a treacherous night, like laughter in sorrow. like a star, etc. ARTURO Your fortune's star has suffered a brief eclipse, I shall see it rise again brighter and more splendid. Give me your hand, Enrico, and accept my cordial greeting, I come to you as friend, brother and protector. CHORUS Ah!...For you we join in jubilation, etc. ARTURO I come to you as friend, etc. ...brother and protector, etc. CHORUS ...like a star on a treacherous night, etc. ...brother and protector, etc. ARTURO Where is Lucia? ENRICO She will be here now. (aside to Arturo) If she is bowed down by sorrow, you must not be surprised. Crushed and numb with grief, she mourns her dead mother. ARTURO I know, yes, yes, I know. ENRICO Overcome with sorrow, she mourns her mother. ARTURO Now settle a doubt. Rumour has it that Edgardo has rashly dared to look upon her... such effrontery! ENRICO Yes, it is true, that madman dared, but... ARTURO Ah! CHORUS Lucia is coming, she is coming. ENRICO (to Arturo) She weeps for her dead mother. (Lucia enters despondently, supported by Alisa and Raimondo.) ENRICO (presenting Arturo to Lucia) Here is your husband-to-be. (Lucia shrinks from Arturo. Enrico whispers warningly to her.) Be careful! Do you want to ruin me? LUCIA (aside) Oh, God! ARTURO I pray you accept the vows of my tender love for you. ENRICO (going to the table for the marriage contract, and breaking into Arturo's words; to Lucia) Be careful! (to Arturo) It is the time to sign the marriage-contract. LUCIA Oh God! ENRICO Come. ARTURO A most pleasant invitation! (He signs the contract and Enrico adds his own signature. Meanwhile Raimondo and Alisa lead the trembling Lucia to the table.) LUCIA (aside) I must go to the sacrifice! What misery! ENRICO (to Lucia) Do not hesitate! Sign! RAIMONDO (aside) Sustain, o Lord, this poor girl. ENRICO Sign! (Lucia signs the contract.) LUCIA (aside) I have signed my death-warrant! ENRICO (aside) I breathe again! LUCIA (aside) I freeze and burn. I feel faint. (A noise is heard at the door as if someone is trying to force his way in.) ALL What a commotion! Who is it? (Edgardo enters wrapped in a cloak.) EDGARDO Edgardo! ALL Edgardo! Day of terror! LUCIA Edgardo! What a bolt from the blue! EDGARDO (aside) Who curbs me at such a moment, who stemmed the flood of my anger? Her grief, her terror, are the proof, are the proof of her remorse! But like a withered rose, she hovers between death and life! I surrender, I am touched, I love you, heartless girl, I love you still! ENRICO (aside) Who checks my fury and the hand which darted to my sword? I heard within me a plea for the unhappy girl! She is my kin! I have betrayed her! She hovers between death and life! Ah, I cannot quell the remorse in my soul! LUCIA (aside) I hoped that terror would cut short my life, but death will not help me... I must live on in anguish! The veil fell from my eyes. I was betrayed by earth and Heaven! I would weep, but I cannot, even tears have forsaken me. RAIMONDO (aside) What a terrible moment! I cannot find words to say! A dense cloud of terror seems to dim the sun's rays! Like a withered rose, she hovers between death and life, whoever does not feel for her, has the heart of a tiger. ENRICO She is my kin. I have betrayed her, etc. EDGARDO Who curbs me at such a moment? etc. ALISA, CHORUS Like a withered rose, etc. ARTURO What a terrible moment, etc. ENRICO Ah, she is my kin, etc. LUCIA I would weep...but I cannot, etc. RAIMONDO Whoever does not feel for her, etc. EDGARDO Ah, I surrender, I am touched, etc. ARTURO and ENRICO Begone, you wretch, (drawing their swords) or your blood shall be shed. CHORUS Begone, you wretch... EDGARDO (drawing his sword) I shall die, but other blood shall flow with mine. RAIMONDO (intervening commandingly) Respect in me the awful majesty of God. In His name I command you to lay down your anger and your swords. Peace, peace...He abhors a murderer, and it is written: He who harms his brother by the sword, shall perish by the sword. (They all put up their swords.) Peace, peace. ENRICO (advancing towards Edgardo) You madman! What brings you here? EDGARDO My destiny and my right. ENRICO Scoundrel! EDGARDO Yes. Lucia swore to marry me. RAIMONDO Ah, forget this ill-fated love - she is another's... EDGARDO Another's? No... RAIMONDO (showing him the contract) Look! EDGARDO (reading, then fixing his gaze on Lucia) You are trembling...confused... Is this your hand? Answer me! (pointing to the signature) Is this your signature? Answer! LUCIA (sobbing) Yes. EDGARDO (throwing the ring towards her) Then take back your ring, false heart. LUCIA Ah! EDGARDO Give me mine. LUCIA At least... EDGARDO Return it. LUCIA Edgardo! Edgardo! (In utmost confusion she returns the ring.) EDGARDO You have betrayed Heaven and love. Accursed be the moment, when I first fell in love with you, evil, abominable brood, I should have fled from you, abominable, accursed, I should have fled from you. LUCIA Ah! EDGARDO Ah, may God destroy you! ENRICO Insane presumption! Begone! Begone! RAIMONDO Insane presumption! Peace! CHORUS Mad presumption! etc. ARTURO, ENRICO and CHORUS Be gone, escape, the fury which inflames me, its full force will only be checked for a moment, but soon, more terrible, more fierce, it will fall on your loathsome head, but soon, etc. RAIMONDO Unhappy man! Come, save yourself! Your own life, her well-being respect... Live on...maybe your grief will pass, the mercy of God lightens all burdens. LUCIA (falling to her knees) God, save him at this cruel moment, hear the plaint of an unhappy girl. And the prayer of boundless grief that finds no hope on earth, is my heart's plea which will linger on my dying lips, is my heart's last plea, etc. EDGARDO (flinging his sword away) Kill me, and bridesman to the marriage shall be the sacrifice of a betrayed heart. The threshold bathed in my blood will be a sweet sight for the wench! Over my bloodless corpse she will tread more gaily to the altar, over my bloodless corpse, etc. ENRICO, ARTURO and CHORUS Begone! go! Go, the stain will be cleansed with your blood, so black a stain of outrage! Go, fly, my burning fury refrins one moment from striking. Before long, stronger and fiercer, it shall fall on the heads of thos is abhors. ALISA, RAIMONDO andCHORUS Ah! Save yourself! Unhappy man! Flee, make haste! Your own life, her well-being respect... Live on...maybe your grief will pass, the mercy of God lightens all burdens. How often does one single torment become replaced by a thousand joys. (Raimondo supports Lucia, whose grief is now extreme; Alisa and the ladies surround them. The others pursue Edgardo to the door as the curtain falls.) 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 |