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Don Geronio, a Neapolitan gentleman - bass Fiorilla, his wife - soprano Selim, the Turk - bass Narciso, in love with Fiorilla - tenor Prosdocimo, a poet - baritone Zaida, a Turk - mezzo-soprano Albazar, a Turk - tenor Gypsies, Turks, people - Chorus Time: 18th Century Place: In and around Naple Scene One A solitary spot outside Naples, on the seashore. A hill on one side scattered with farmhouses in the distance, and with tents kept by gypsies. On the other side a part of Don Geronio's house. (A band of gypsies is on is on the hill, another group on the plain, all busy with different occupations.) CHORUS The whole world is our home; and others' gullible ignorance lets us live and revel in the lap of luxury. ZAIDA All of them have happy hearts, I'm the only wretched one! I have lost my beloved, and cannot find him again. ALBAZAR Cheer up, just this once; enjoy yourself with us. Come...take heart! Now you must begin a song. (The poet enters.) POET I'm obliged to write a farce, and I cannot find a subject! This one is too sentimental, this other seems to me insipid. CHORUS The whole world is our home; and others' gullible ignorance let us live and revel in the lap of luxury. POET What's this? Gypsies! By heaven! Joy! Singing! All together! What a splendid introduction could be fashioned out of this! ALL The whole world is our home, etc. (They withdraw, singing.) POET Ah! if the arrival of these gypsies could just cause some incident, if it could just offer me enough intrigue for a whole play! I'd write a good piece, drawn from life. I must let my thoughts wander over the fair Fiorilla's caprices: already poets of every description have created dramas about the foolish husband and the crazy wife. Here's Geronio now, who is addicted to having his fortune told. I'll run and prepare the gypsies. (The poet climbs the hill and points out Geronio to the gypsies. He enters from the opposite direction.) GERONIO I'm hunting for a gypsy who can tell my fortune: Who can tell me privately if - with time and patience - I'll be able to cure my wife's mind. But the gypsy that I want is impossible to find. For the brain of my wife is formed of such material that even an astrologer can't tell how it works. (Meanwhile the gypsies come down with Zaida, and surround Geronio on the plain.) CHORUS Who wants his fortune told? GERONIO Here, as a matter of fact, is a band of gypsies near me. CHORUS We can tell your destiny, we can read the stars: who wants his fortune told? GERONIO Gypsies! CHORUS Hold out your hand. GERONIO Wait... CHORUS Hurry... GERONIO Just a moment. ZAIDA You were born... GERONIO Yes, but what day? ZAIDA The sun was in Capricorn. GERONIO Am I a bachelor or married? ZAIDA Show me your forehead. Married. GERONIO When? How can you tell? ZAIDA Under the sign of Aries. ZAIDA and CHORUS The wretch! GERONIO What is it? ZAIDA and CHORUS What a fatal trick! GERONIO What is it? ZAIDA and CHORUS The sign of the Ram! GERONIO Hey! get out of my way! Get out of here! Ah, my wife, even the gypsies in the street know who I am; if you continue with your folly, the whole world will know. ZAIDA and CHORUS (What a fatal constellation! The Ram!...Ha, ha, ha!) GERONIO Hey! get out of my way! Get out of here. (They all leave. Fiorilla enters with girl friends, on their way back from a stroll.) FIORILLA There is no greater madness than to love one alone: everyday pleasures bring us boredom, not delight. The bee, the breeze, the brook never love just one flower; with fickle heart and nature that's how I want to love, I want to change like that. There is no greater madness than to love one alone: everyday pleasures bring us boredom, not delight. (Meanwhile a ship is seen passing by; it puts down a boat, as it lies at anchor. The small boat approaches the shore, bringing Selim and with him a suite of Turks.) CHORUS Row, row. On, on to the land. FIORILLA A vessel! It looks Turkish. CHORUS From the trials we've had at sea here we can find rest. FIORILLA We'll stand a little apart to observe who lands. (Fiorillo retires, then the boat lands and Selim disembarks.) CHORUS And the sky of Italy will make us forget all our ills. SELIM Beautiful Italy, at last I see you! I greet you, friendly shores; the air, earth, flowers, waves - all laugh and speak to the heart. Ah! by heaven and earth itself, lovely Italy, you are loved. (Fiorilla reveals herself with her friends.) FIORILLA What a handsome Turk! Let's draw nearer. SELIM How many lovely damsels! FIORILLA Turks, too, don't displease me. SELIM And Italian girls are beautiful. FIORILLA I want to speak to him. SELIM I want to get closer. FIORILLA and SELIM And I want to amuse myself. FIORILLA Your servant, sir... SELIM Your servant... FIORILLA (He's quite polite.) SELIM (Oh, what a pretty little face!) I'm really very lucky to have met such a charming thing. FIORILLA Rather, the luck is all mine to have met a great Lord so full of civilities. SELIM (I'm surprised.) FIORILLA (He's already smitten.) SELIM (What charm!) FIORILLA (He's in my net.) SELIM Madam, I like you. FIORILLA Don't tease me. SELIM Truthfully. FIORILLA (With a bit of modesty, I know well what can be done.) SELIM (Her loveable modesty makes her even sweeter.) FIORILLA Good-bye, sir... SELIM You're leaving? FIORILLA I'm going for a little stroll. SELIM Would you care for me to join you? FIORILLA It's too great an honour. SELIM (What fire!) FIORILLA Ah! SELIM My dear! you're sighing? FIORILLA You are, too. SELIM Yes, I, too. FIORILLA and SELIM Why? SELIM Because an unaccustomed flame I feel raging within me. (Fiorilla holds out her hand, which Selim presses tenderly.) FIORILLA and SELIM Dear hand, clasped to my breast; I don't want ever to let you go. (It isn't so heard after all to win over these Turks/women.) (They leave; enter Don Geronio, Narciso, and the poet.) GERONIO Friends...help me, counsel me... I'm beside myself NARCISO Why? Whatever's happened? POET What is it? GERONIO In this spot I saw my wife with a Turk. POET A Turk! NARCISO (The faithless one!) GERONIO She's taking him to my house to have coffee. A curse on all the Turks in the world. POET This is a moment to do oneself proud. GERONIO I do not care to have in my house the bejewelled turban of Selim Damelec. POET (leaps for joy) What! Selim! Really! The gypsy's lover! By heaven! This sudden arrival is a fine unexpected scene... The play is made. I thank you, Apollo. NARCISO He's mad. GERONIO He's mad. POET A foolish husband! A capricious wife! No: there's nothing better. GERONIO (angry) Sir, what joke is this? Show me some respect, or else someone will break your head. POET A gallant swain replaced by a handsome Turk in love! Oh! what a plot this is! NARCISO (scornful) Of whom do you think you're speaking? Don't you start insulting us, or you'll have to deal with me. POET (first to one, then the other) But, sir, why grow so heated? But sir, who's enflaming you? I want to choose for my play the story that I please. GERONIO Choose a story, if you will, that's not suited to those like me and that doesn't mistreat husbands who can make themselves respected. NARCISO And leave gallant swains alone, disregard their condition; or I'll introduce into the play a poet that is beaten up. POET Act One - the husband and the friend... Scene One - Wife...Turk...shouts...husband... No: this is the best yet. GERONIO and NARCISO Act One, Scene One - the poet, for his plot, from the husband and the friend will receive a beating. Scene Two Apartment elegantly furnished in the house of Don Geronio. A sofa, small table, chairs, etc. (Fiorilla enters, accompanied by Selim. She gives orders to a servant who is leaving.) FIORILLA You there: the coffee, quickly. Be seated. SELIM (sits down) In this boudoir I admire the rich furnishing; but for a beauty as great as yours a temple is required, and you'd have a magnificent one in Turkey. FIORILLA Some harem, perhaps? Is it true that Turkish men are so jealous? SELIM Ah! if they possessed such a treasure their jealousy would be excusable; they would love you more than you can believe. FIORILLA Here is the coffee. SELIM (I can't bear it any longer.) FIORILLA (pouring, handing him the cup) Here. SELIM (What a dainty hand!) FIORILLA Is there enough sugar? SELIM (What elegant manners! What beautiful eyes, and what fire sparkles in them!) FIORILLA What are you thinking of? SELIM I'm thinking of Fiorilla. FIORILLA (The Turk is caught.) How many women have you loved, how many would you want to have? SELIM One I loved. And wanted to love no other. But when I'm near you, I feel that I must burn with love again. Ah! If you will welcome my love you will be the beloved flame of my heart. FIORILLA You're a Turk; I don't believe you: you've a hundred women around you: you buy them and you sell them when your passion dies. SELIM Ah, my dear, even in Turkey whoever owns a treasure doesn't change it or leave it; the Turks, too, are true in love. (Enter Don Geronio.) GERONIO There they are, the two alone! What do I have to bear? Allow me? May I come in? Can I hope for such a favour? SELIM What does this foolhardy one want? FIORILLA Calm yourself: it's my husband. SELIM (leaps up and unsheathes a dagger) Husband...away...quickly. GERONIO What?...alas... What's happening? SELIM Her husband! away... GERONIO Help! FIORILLA Have pity on him: he's come, poor thing, to honour you. SELIM I don't trust him. GERONIO Yes, sir. (Narciso enters, but stays behind.) NARCISO (Heaven, what's this I see? The fickle girl is already the Turk's beloved.) FIORILLA And to ask the favour of kissing... GERONIO Yes, sir. FIORILLA Your coat...poor thing... GERONIO Your coat, yes sir, quickly, quickly, quickly here. (Fiorilla forces her husband to kiss the Turk's coat.) SELIM I'm amazed. This astounds me. These Italian husbands are far more polite than Turks; they are full of kindness. FIORILLA (Oh, what a scene!) You're right: (the old fool!) these husbands (I'm enjoying this) are polite. They are full of kindness. NARCISO Ah, I see that my misfortunes, unlucky me, are complete. Just Love, ah, see punished these wrongs being done to me. GERONIO (A curse on him!) He's right (ah! the cat!) these husbands (I'm bursting, dying) are polite; they are full of liberty. NARCISO (comes forward and says to Geronio) What! Can you bear peacefully such a grave insult? SELIM What does this upstart want of you? GERONIO Nothing. FIORILLA What does he want? GERONIO Nothing. FIORILLA What does he mean? SELIM I don't want him in my presence. GERONIO Tact!...Prudence. NARCISO Listen. SELIM Here. FIORILLA Now then, go. GERONIO Now I've had enough; I can stand no more. SELIM (says to Fiorilla aside) I'd like to speak to you; I'll wait for you on the beach. (These men are mocking me; better get out of here.) (He starts to leave, then returns.) SELIM (to Fiorilla, whispering) But before I leave you deign at least to show me an eye that's serene, a look full of love. (Those two bores are still besieging her.) FIORILLA (to Selim, whispering) But before you leave me deign at least to show me an eye that's serene, a look full of love. (I hope those two bores eat out their hearts.) NARCISO (to Geronio, whispering) You should show yourself a bit less weak, at least: look at me; I'm filled with blushes for you. (My soul is torn in shreds by scorn and by love.) GERONIO (to Narciso, whispering) I can't explain to you the wrath in my breast: I'm all venom, I'm all fury. (But still fear of the Turk is calming me down.) (Selim, Fiorilla, and Narciso leave. Geronio, left alone, walks up and down. The poet enters.) GERONIO (An old man can commit no greater folly than to take a young wife.) Poet, doesn't it seem to you that I deserve pity? I surprised her here being courted by the Turk, and the great beast wanted to kill me. POET Fine! GERONIO What are you saying? To calm him, she forced me to kiss his garment. POET Oh! what a lovely trio! GERONIO And he'd be here still if Don Narciso hadn't arrived in time and assumed the just defence of an outraged husband. POET What a scene! What an invaluable quartet! GERONIO But what do you keep talking about? I don't understand you. POET Forgive me: I was outlining a farcical play. Now what are you thinking of saying to your wife? GERONIO Oh, if only she were docile as my first wife was! I could impose my reasons on her; but this one is the other side of the coin. POET She's that way because she finds that you're a straw man. (The poet leaves.) GERONIO The poet is right. Patience is the jackass's virtue. I'm the one after all who commands in my own house. Either that Turk or my wife has got to go... (Fiorilla enters.) FIORILLA (Geronio's still here! An unfortunate meeting! I'll be forced for a quarter of an hour to listen to moral precepts.) GERONIO (Here she is. Seriousness!) FIORILLA (Let him preach as he will: he'll have to be silent after.) GERONIO How many bitter pills I'm made to swallow! FIORILLA With whom are you angry? GERONIO With a crazy woman, bizarre and capricious, who unfortunately is Don Geronio's wife. FIORILLA My complaint about you is also that you have changed. GERONIO I! FIORILLA I'll prove it to you. You're not as sweet as I used to find you. GERONIO (sarcastically) And to please Madame I'd like to know what I must do. FIORILLA You should always be silent, and never suspect anything. GERONIO But if I listen... FIORILLA You must play deaf. GERONIO But if I see... FIORILLA You must play blind. GERONIO No, Madam, I don't agree, I want to see and speak. FIORILLA You'll make a fool of yourself; you'll be laughing stock. GERONIO In brief, in my house I want no Turks or Italians, or I'll let fly... FIORILLA (sarcastically) What madness! GERONIO Something from my hands... FIORILLA (pretending tenderness) Come, dear, calm yourself! GERONIO What! You tease me still? FIORILLA No, my life, my treasure, everyone knows how I adore you. Cruel one, you wrong me! You offend me! GERONIO (Courage, farewell.) FIORILLA You can see how I'm weeping and have no pity on me. GERONIO No, Fiorilla, I love you too. Just the same. Everyone knows it. FIORILLA And you dare to threaten me, mistreat me, frighten me! GERONIO Forgive me... FIORILLA Leave me. GERONIO Fiorilletta! FIORILLA I'll have revenge! GERONIO Fiorillina! FIORILLA Get out of here. To punish you I want to have a thousand lovers always by me, to act crazy night and day. Amuse myself at liberty. (With a husband made like this, here is what you have to do.) GERONIO Ah, I say she was born mad, and she'll die madder still. (They leave.) Scene Three The seashore, etc. as in the first scene. (The gypsies are busy with various occupations.) CHORUS Great wonders unknown under the sun; Who wants to hear them? Who wants to see? ZAIDA The past and the future - who wants to penetrate them? There's no mystery so dark that I can't unveil it. CHORUS Great wonders, etc. (Selim enters, then the poet.) SELIM All is ready for our flight; the wind is good, the sea is calm; I'm standing here, impatient, to wait for my beautiful one. POET (Here's Selim! Without recognising him, Zaida is approaching him.) ZAIDA Who wants his fortune told by the gypsy clairvoyant? SELIM Come forward, gypsy girl: what do the planets say to you? ZAIDA Ah that voice!...that countenance! I haven't the strength to speak. POET (Now comes the recognition scene; and there'll be fainting-fit; I'll go prepare a chair.) SELIM What does my destiny tell you that's so dire and so hard so that in your eyes I see tears about to fall? ZAIDA I see, through unwarranted jealousy, Zaida condemned to death; yet she loves you, and only longs to be able to go back to you. SELIM Where does the unhappy girl live? But...I'm not mistaken...lovely Zaida! ZAIDA Yes. my lord, I am she. SELIM Come to me my beloved. ZAIDA and SELIM Here's the end of my sufferings, my only happiness! POET (Here's the chair, yet no fainting; this is against the regulations.) (Narciso enters, then Fiorilla, her face covered by a veil, and finally Geronio.) NARCISO Why, if I am betrayed, cruel Love, inflame my heart? Give me back my love at last or give me my liberty. CHORUS Long live Love's vital flame, the heart's delight, the world's pleasure. FIORILLA Let him who longs not to serve Love go away from me, for Love's with me: to dominate a haughty heart Love gave me his bow and torch. SELIM What a lovely song! What an appearance! GERONIO Here my wife must come; I want to do...to say... If I find her, she'll hear something. FIORILLA Fair and loveable stranger! SELIM Lovely nymph! GERONIO (Who's this approaching?) NARCISO (She looks like Fiorilla.) GERONIO (It's she; it's she!) POET (Here's Geronio and here's the swain.) SELIM Ah, reveal your lovely face. ZAIDA (We're back where we started; he's already changed.) SELIM Reveal yourself. FIORILLA Faithless, worthless! Is this how you love me? Look. (She removes the veil, and all who had come to look, shout.) ALL Ah! FIORILLA, ZAIDA, GERONIO, NARCISO Ah, my heart did not deceive me; my wrongs are now all certainties. I feel myself, beneath her gaze, torn by my contempt. SELIM Ah, my heart did not deceive me; she was observing my footsteps; beneath her gaze, I'm so ashamed that I dare not raise my eyes. POET This scene was only lacking to fill out my verses: there's surprise for five or six; a grand finale can be made. ZAIDA (turns to Fiorilla) Go away, and take care not to come after my beloved. FIORILLA This gentleman is not yours. I want to remain here with him. SELIM But listen...calm yourselves. NARCISO What do you say? You're not speaking? GERONIO Home! Go home at once! ALBAZAR What is this confusion? POET Oh, what an unusual scene! ZAIDA We'll see, we'll see... FIORILLA Both of us will see. ZAIDA Madam, I'm not afraid of you. FIORILLA Flirts of your sort... ZAIDA Cats of your sort... FIORILLA and ZAIDA ... I know how to punish well. (They almost come to blows.) ZAIDA What! What! To me! Cat! FIORILLA (Oh, good heavens! To me! Flirt!) ZAIDA You're the only cat... FIORILLA You're the only flirt FIORILLA and ZAIDA Silly, foolish, impertinent... What a way to talk! SELIM (separates them) What are you doing? Hey, calm down! GERONIO What contempt...what fury! NARCISO Why, Fiorilla, for shame... Zaida, well! aren't you blushing? Come, talk politely to each other. Don't start battling. POET Go on...on...excellent girls... here...there...fine, that's the way... scuffle, wrestle, scratch...bite...I'm enjoying it... What an end... a grand finale! What a sensation this will make! ALL THE OTHERS When the wind starts suddenly puffing, shakes the woods and strips off the leaves, when the stormy sea is roaring, foams, boils, and beats on the shore, they make less din than two women when they are rivals in love. 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 |