|
Count di Luna, a nobleman in the service of the Prince of Aragon - baritone Manrico, a troubadour and officer in the army of the Prince of Urgel - tenor Azucena, a gypsy, supposedly Manrico's mother - mezzo-soprano Leonora, noble lady, in love with Manrico and courted by Di Luna - soprano Ferrando, Luna's officer - bass Ines, Leonora's confidante - soprano Ruiz, Manrico's henchman - tenor An old gypsy - bass A messenger - tenor Leonora's friends, nuns, the Count's lackeys, warriors, Gypsies Place: Biscay and Aragon (Spain) Time: Fifteenth century. Scene One A hall in the Aliaferia palace; a door on one side leads into the Count of Luna's apartments. Ferrando and a number of the Count's retainers are resting near the door; some soldiers are pacing back and forth in the background. FERRANDO Look sharp there! The Count must be served with vigilance; sometimes, near the house of his beloved, he spends whole nights. MEN Jealousy's fierce serpents are writhing in his breast. FERRANDO In the Troubadour, whose song rises at night from the gardens, he rightly fears a rival. MEN To drive off the sleep that hangs heavy on our eyelids, tell us the real story of Garzia, our Count's brother. FERRANDO I'll tell you; gather around me. OTHERS We, too... Listen then. FERRANDO There lived a happy father of two sons, the good Count of Luna. The second boy's faithful nurse slept next to his cradle. As dawn was breaking one fine morning, she opened her eyes and whom did she find next to that baby? MEN Who? Speak... Who was it? FERRANDO A dark, despicable gypsy crone! Wearing the symbols of a sorceress! And with a sullen face, over the boy she cast her bloody, baleful eye! The nurse is seized with horror; she utters a sharp cry in the still air; and, in less time than it takes to tell, the servants hasten into the room; and with shouts, blows, threats, they expel the wretch who dared enter. MEN Their hearts were moved by righteous scorn; the crazy crone provoked it! FERRANDO She claimed that she wanted to cast the boy's horoscope. The liar! A slow fever began to destroy the poor child's health! Weak, covered with a strange pallor, broken, he trembled at night, and moaned piteously all day long; he was bewitched! The witch was pursued, seized and condemned to the stake; but her cursed daughter was left, to administer a horrible revenge! This criminal committed an unspeakable act! The child disappeared, and they found still glowing embers, on the very same spot where the witch had once been burned! And, alas, a child's skeleton, half-burnt, still smoking! MEN Ah! the wicked unspeakable woman! It fills me with both rage and horror! What about the father? FERRANDO His remaining days were few and sad; yet an undefined presentiment at heart told him that his son was not dead; and when he lay dying, he desired that our master should swear to him not to stop his search. Ah! It was in vain! MEN And was no news ever had of her? FERRANDO No news! Oh! were it granted me to track her down some day! MEN But, could you recognise her? FERRANDO Considering the years that have passed, I could. MEN It would be time to send her to her mother, in hell. FERRANDO In hell? It's common belief that the wicked witch's damned soul still lives in the world, and when the sky is black she shows herself in various shapes. ALL It's true! It's true! It's true! It's true! On the edge of the rooftops some people have seen her! Sometimes she changes into a hoopoe or an owl! Other times, a raven; more often, a civet-owl, flying through the dawn like an arrow! FERRANDO One of the Count's men died of fear because he had struck the gypsy's forehead! He died, died of fear! He died, died of fear! MEN Ah! Ah! He died! Ah! Ah! He died! FERRANDO She appeared to him in the form of an owl, in the deep calm of a silent room! MEN Of an owl! Of an owl! FERRANDO She looked with gleaming eye, looked at the sky, sorrowing, with a bestial cry! MEN She looked! She looked! FERRANDO Midnight was just striking! Ah! MEN Ah! (Midnight strikes.) ALL Ah! A curse on her the infernal witch! Ah! (A drum is heard. The soldiers run to the back. The servants gather at the door.) Scene Two The garden of the palace. At the right, a marble stair leads up to the private apartments. Thick clouds conceal the moon. Leonora and Ines are strolling. INES Why stay here any longer? It's late; come; the queen asked about you; you heard her. LEONORA Yet another night without seeing him! INES You're nursing a dangerous flame! Oh how, where did its first spark strike you? LEONORA At the tourney. There appeared, in black armour and black helmet, with black shield and without crest, an unknown warrior, who won the honours of the arena. On the victor's head I placed the crown. Then civil war raged - I saw him no more! Like the fleeting image of a golden dream! and a long time passed, but then... INES What happened? LEONORA Listen! The serene night was silent and, lovely in the calm sky, the moon happily revealed its silvery and full face! When, resounding in the air which till then had been so quiet, sweet and sad were heard the sounds of a lute, and a troubadour sang some melancholy verses. Verses, beseeching and humble, like a man praying to God: and in them was repeated a name, my name! I ran eagerly to the balcony... There he was; it was he! I felt a joy that only the angels are allowed to feel! To my heart, my ecstatic eyes, the earth seemed like heaven! To my heart, etc. INES What you've told me has filled my soul with anguish! I fear... LEONORA Needlessly... INES A sad, but vague presentiment is stirred in me by this mysterious man! Try to forget him. LEONORA What are you saying? Enough! INES Give way to a friend's advice, do give way! LEONORA Forget him! Ah, you've spoken a word that my soul cannot understand. With such love that words can scarcely tell, of a love that only I know, my heart is intoxicated. My fate can be fulfilled only at his side. If I can't live for him, then for him I'll die. If I can't live for him, etc. (They go up to their rooms. Then the Count of Luna comes in.) COUNT The night is still! The queen is surely immersed in sleep; but her lady is wakeful - Oh! Leonora you're awake; I'm told, from that balcony, by the quivering ray of your night lamp. Ah! the flame of love burns my every fibre! I must see you, you must hear me. I'm coming. This is our supreme moment. (He starts to go up the steps, but stops, hearing a lute.) The Troubadour! I tremble with rage! MANRICO (out of sight) All alone on the earth, at war with his evil fate, his only hope is in one heart, a heart for the Troubadour. COUNT These words! I tremble with rage! MANRICO But he possesses that heart, lovely with its chaste promise, COUNT These words! MANRICO He's greater than any king... COUNT What jealousy! MANRICO He's greater than any king, greater is the Troubadour. COUNT I'm not mistaken... She's coming down! (Leonora comes down into the garden and runs towards the Count.) LEONORA My dearest! COUNT (What shall I do?) LEONORA The hour is later than usual: I counted its instants by the beating of my heart! At last, merciful love leads you to my arms. MANRICO (still among the trees) Faithless! (The moon comes out from the clouds and reveals a man whose face is hidden by his visor.) LEONORA That voice! (Recognising both of them, Leonora throws herself at Manrico's feet.) Ah, the darkness deceived me! I thought that I was speaking to you, not him... To you, that my soul only wants, desires. I love you, I swear it, love you with eternal, immense love! COUNT You dare! MANRICO Ah, I ask no more! COUNT I'm burning with fur y! LEONORA I love! I love you! MANRICO Ah, I ask no more! COUNT If you're not a coward, reveal yourself! LEONORA (Alas!) COUNT Tell me your name! LEONORA (Ah, have mercy!) MANRICO Know me then: I'm Manrico! COUNT You! What? Mad, foolhardy man! A follower of Urgel, sentenced to death, you dare approach these royal gates? MANRICO Why are you delaying? Come, call the guards, and hand your rival over to the executioner's blade! COUNT Your last moment is much nearer, insane man! Come... LEONORA Count! COUNT I must have your blood, victim of my contempt. LEONORA Oh heaven, stop! COUNT Follow me! MANRICO Let's go! LEONORA (What shall I do?) COUNT Follow me! MANRICO Let's go! LEONORA (One cry from me could undo him!) Hear me out! COUNT No! My spurned and jealous love burns in me with a terrible flame! Your blood, wretch, would be hardly enough to put it out! Foolish girl, you dared to tell him, 'I love you'. He can live no longer. You uttered a word that condemned him to die! You uttered a word, etc. LEONORA At least for a moment, let your scorn make room for reasoning: I, and only I, am unfortunately the cause of all your fire! So let your fury, fall on the evil girl who offended you; plunge your sword into this heart that cannot, will not love you. MANRICO The haughty man's wrath is in vain; He'll fall, run through by me; the man who can inspire your love is made by love invaluable. (to the Count) Your fate is already sealed; your hour has struck now! Destiny has given to me her heart and your life! COUNT Foolish girl, you dared, etc. Your blood, wretch, would be hardly enough to put it out! Foolish girl, you dared to tell him 'I love you'. He can live no longer, etc. LEONORA So let your fury fall, fall on the evil girl who offended you; plunge your sword into this heart that cannot, will not love you! etc. MANRICO Your fate is already sealed, your hour has struck now! Destiny has given to me her heart and your life, etc. COUNT Ah! my spurned and jealous love burns in me with a terrible flame! You uttered a word that condemned him to die! etc. (The two men go off, swords in hand. Leonora falls senseless.) Scene One The slopes of a mountain in Biscay. It is dawn. A great fire is burning. Azucena is sitting by the fire. Manrico is stretched out at her side, wrapped up in his cloak. His helmet lies at his feet, his sword is in his hands, and he is staring at it motionlessly. A band of gypsies is scattered around them. GYPSIES See! the heaven's great vault removes its gloomy, night-time tatters! It seems like a widow who takes off at last the dark clothes that enfolded her. To work! To work! At it! Hammer! Who brightens the gypsy man's days? The gypsy maid. (to the women, pausing in their work) Pour me a draught: strength and courage the body and soul draw from drinking. Oh, look, look! A ray of the sun sparkles brighter in my/your glass! To work! To work! Who brightens the gypsy man's days? The gypsy maid! (As Azucena is singing, the gypsies gather around her.) AZUCENA The flame crackles! The unrestrained mob runs to that fire, their faces all happy! Shouts of joy re-echo around; Surrounded by killers, a woman comes forward! Sinister, shining on the horrible faces, the ghastly flame rises, rises towards heaven! The flame crackles! The victim arrives, dressed in black, dishevelled, barefoot! A fierce shout of death is raised, its echo repeated from hill to hill! Sinister, shining, etc. GYPSIES Your song's a sad one! AZUCENA Equally sad as the terrible story that inspired it! Avenge me! Avenge me! MANRICO (That mysterious phrase again!) A GYPSY Companions, day is approaching; to forage for our daily bread, come, come, let's go down to the nearby villages. GYPSIES Let's go! Let's go! Who brightens the gypsy man's days? etc. (They go off, singing.) MANRICO We're alone now. Ah, tell me that terrible story. AZUCENA You? Even you don't know it? But, as a boy, the spur of ambition drove your steps far from here! This is the story of your grandmother's bitter end. A haughty Count accused her of witchcraft, and said that a child, his son, had been bewitched; she was burned where that fire gleams! MANRICO Ah, the wretch! AZUCENA She was led in irons to her terrible fate; with my baby in my arms I followed her, weeping; I tried to make my way to her, but in vain; and in vain the poor woman tried to stop and bless me! Then, amid obscene curses, pricking her with their swords, they forced her to the stake, those horrible killers! - Then, in a broken voice, 'Avenge me', she cried. Those words left in my heart an eternal echo. MANRICO Did you avenge her? AZUCENA I managed to steal the Count's son; I dragged him here with me - the flames were ready, burning. MANRICO The flames? Oh heaven! Did you...? AZUCENA He was racked with sobs; I felt my heart, torn, broken! When, lo, to my weak spirits, as in a dream, appeared the bestial vision of frightful forms! The killers! and the torture! My mother with blanched face, dishevelled barefoot! Her cry! Her cry! I hear the familiar cry! 'Avenge me!' I stretch out my shaking hand... seize the victim, draw him to the fire, and push! The fatal madness ends, the horrible scene disappears; only the flame rages, and destroys its prey! And yet, I look around and before me I see the wicked Count's son! MANRICO Ah! what are you saying? AZUCENA I had burned my own, my own son! MANRICO Ah! How horrible! AZUCENA Ah! My son! My son! I had burned my own son! MANRICO How terrible! Ah! how horrible! AZUCENA I can still feel the hair stand up on my head! MANRICO I'm not your son! Who am I? Who, then? AZUCENA You are my son! MANRICO Yet you said... AZUCENA Perhaps I did. You know how it is... When the ghastly event comes into my mind my clouded spirit sets foolish words on my lips. Haven't I always been a mother, a tender mother to you? MANRICO Can I deny it? AZUCENA If you're still alive, don't you owe it to me? At night, over the battlefields of Pelilla, where the report went that you were dead, didn't I come to give you burial? Didn't I discover your fleeting breath of life? And didn't maternal love hold it in your breast? And what care I showed to heal all those wounds! MANRICO That I bore on that fatal day! But all of them, here, in my chest! Only I, among the retreating thousand, turned my face still towards the foe! The evil Count of Luna fell upon me with his escort: I fell! But I fell like a strong man! AZUCENA That was the thanks for his life, which in that odd duel, the monster was given, by you! Ah, what strange pity for him blinded you? MANRICO Oh mother, I can't explain it to myself! AZUCENA A strange pity! Strange pity! MANRICO Fighting off poorly my fierce attack, he had already fallen to the ground: the thrust that was to pierce him already flashed in the air, when a mysterious feeling stopped my hand, as it descended! Suddenly a sharp chill ran shuddering through my being as a cry came down from heaven, that said to me: Don't strike! AZUCENA But to that ingrate's spirit heaven said not a word! Ah, if fate should drive you to fight with that wretch again, then follow, my son, like a God, follow then what I tell you to do: Strike, plunge up to its hilt that blade in the wicked man's heart! Strike, plunge up to its hilt, etc. MANRICO Yes, I swear it, this blade will plunge into that wicked heart! etc. (A horn is heard.) Ruiz sends the usual messenger! Perhaps... (He replies with the horn that he carries.) AZUCENA 'Avenge me!' (The messenger enters.) MANRICO Come in. Tell me: did more fighting follow? MESSENGER Let this letter I bear you give the answer. MANRICO (He reads.) 'Castellor is in our hands; the Prince's orders are that you shall supervise its defence. When you receive this, hurry here. This evening, deceived by the cry of your death, in the nearby Holy Cross Convent, Leonora will take the veil.' Oh, merciful heaven! AZUCENA What is it? MANRICO (to the messenger) Hurry down the hill, and prepare a horse for me. MESSENGER I'll run. AZUCENA Manrico! MANRICO (to the messenger) Time presses! Fly! Wait for me at the foot of the hill. (The messenger hurries off.) AZUCENA What do you want of hope to do? MANRICO (To lose her! Oh, woe! To lose that angel!) AZUCENA (He's beside himself.) MANRICO (takes his helmet and cloak.) Farewell! AZUCENA No, stop, hear me... MANRICO Let me go! AZUCENA Stop! I'm the one who's speaking to you! To risk yourself, still sickly, over a wild and steep road! Mad boy, you mean to re-open the wounds in your unhealed breast! No, I cannot bear it: your blood is my blood! Every drop you shed of it, you're pressing from my heart! etc. MANRICO A moment can steal from me my love, my hope! No, heaven and earth haven't the strength to stop me. AZUCENA Madman! MANRICO Ah, mother, get out of my way! Woe to you, should I remain here! You would see, at your feet, your son, dead of grief! AZUCENA No, I cannot bear it... MANRICO Woe to you, should I remain here! AZUCENA No, I cannot bear it, your blood is my blood! Every drop you shed of it you're pressing from my heart! MANRICO You would see, at your feet, your son, dead of grief! You would see, at your feet, your son, dead of grief! AZUCENA Stop! Stop! MANRICO Let me go! Let me go! AZUCENA Hear me, ah! hear me! MANRICO To lose that angel! Let me go! Let me go, farewell! etc. AZUCENA Ah! Stop, hear me, I'm the one who's speaking to you! etc. (He leaves.) Scene Two The cloister of a convent in the neighbourhood of Castellor. Night. The Count, Ferrando, and a few retainers enter cautiously, wrapped in their cloaks. COUNT All is deserted; nor has the usual hymn resounded yet on the air. I've come in time! FERRANDO O master, you are undertaking a bold errand. COUNT Bold, yes, it's what furious love and provoked pride demand of me. My rival killed, every obstacle to my wishes seemed to have fallen; now she prepares a new and more powerful one; the altar! Ah no, Leonora shall not belong to others! Leonora is mine! The flashing of her smile is brighter than a star's ray! The splendour of her fair face instils new courage in me. Ah, let the love that inflames me speak to her in my favour! Let the sun of her glance dispel the storm in my heart. Ah, let the love that inflames me, etc. (A bell is heard.) That sound! Oh heaven! FERRANDO Its tolling announces the approaching rite. COUNT Ah, before she reaches the altar, she shall be seized! FERRANDO Take care! COUNT Silence! I hear nothing! Go, and in the shade of those beeches, conceal yourselves. Ah, soon she'll become mine; a fire rages through me! FERRANDO and RETAINERS Courage! let's go, and hide in the shadows, in mystery! Courage! let's go! Silence! His bidding be done! COUNT Hour, fatal for me, speed, speed on your moments; the joy that awaits me is not mortal joy, is not mortal joy, no! In vain a rival God opposes my love, not even a God is able, O woman, to steal you from me, is able to steal you from me! FERRANDO and RETAINERS Courage! let's go, etc. COUNT Hour, fatal for me, etc. FERRANDO and RETAINERS Courage! let's go, etc. COUNT Not even a God is able, O woman, to steal you from me, etc. (The Count hids with the others. Voices of nuns are heard from within.) NUNS Ah! daughter of Eve, if error blinds your eyes, as death nears you'll see that it was a shadow, a dream: nay, but the shadow of a dream is our yearning here below! COUNT No, no, not even a God is able, etc. FERRANDO and RETAINERS Courage! etc. NUNS Come, let the veil hide you from every human eye, no worldly air or thought can live in here any more! Turn to heaven, and heaven will be disclosed to you. COUNT No, no, not even a God is able, etc. FERRANDO and RETAINERS Courage, etc. NUNS Turn to heaven, and heaven will be disclosed to you, etc. (Leonora and Ines enter with a train of women.) LEONORA Why are you weeping? INES Ah, then you are leaving us forever! LEONORA O sweet friends, earth no longer has for me laughter, hope, or flowers! I must turn now to Him, who is the only support of the grieving, who, after my days of penance, can join me to my lost love one day, among the blessed! Dry your eyes, and lead me to the altar! COUNT (bursting in) No, never! INES and WOMEN The Count! LEONORA Merciful heaven! COUNT The only altar for you is the nuptial altar. INES and WOMEN He dared go so far! LEONORA Madman! You've come here? COUNT To make you mine! (The Troubadour appears.) ALL Ah! LEONORA Must I, can I believe it? I see you at my side! This is a dream, an ecstasy, a supernatural enchantment! My heart surprised, transported, cannot bear such joy! Have you come down from heaven, or am I in heaven with you? Have you come down from heaven, etc. COUNT So the dead can leave death's eternal realm! MANRICO Heaven did not hold me, nor did the horrid path of hell. COUNT Hell gives up its prey in order to do me harm. MANRICO Your foul killers struck mortal blows, it's true! COUNT But if it never broke, the thread of your days, if you live and want to live, flee from her, and from me. MANRICO The waves of the rivers have an irresistible force! But a God confounds the wicked! And the God succoured me! LEONORA Or am I in heaven with you? This is a dream, an ecstasy! Have you come down from heaven or am I in heaven with you? etc. INES and NUNS The heaven that you trusted had mercy on you, etc. MANRICO But a God confounds the wicked! And that God succoured me! etc. COUNT If you live and want to live, flee from her, and from me, etc. FERRANDO and THE COUNT'S MEN (to the Count) You're fighting against fate, which is defending her, etc. (Ruiz enters with armed men.) RUIZ and MANRICO'S RETAINERS Long live Urgel! MANRICO My brave fighters! RUIZ Come! MANRICO My lady, follow me. COUNT You dare hope? LEONORA Ah! MANRICO Stand back! COUNT To steal her from me? No! (The Count draws his sword, but is disarmed by Ruiz and his men.) RUIZ and MEN He's raving! FERRANDO and RETAINERS What are you attempting, Sir? COUNT I lost my reason! My heart is raging! etc. LEONORA He terrifies me! etc. INES and WOMEN Ah yes, heaven had mercy on you! - MANRICO May your life be a torment! etc. RUIZ and MANRICO'S RETAINERS Come; Fate smiles on you, etc. FERRANDO and THE COUNT'S RETAINERS Surrender; to surrender now is not cowardice! etc. LEONORA Have you come down from heaven, or am I in heaven with you? with you, in heaven with you? INES and WOMEN - had mercy upon you! MANRICO and RETAINERS Come! ah, come, come, come! COUNT My heart is raging! THE COUNT'S RETAINERS Surrender, ah, surrender, surrender! (Manrico goes off with Leonora. The women take refuge in the convent.) Scene One A military camp. On the right, the Count of Luna's tent, over which flies the commander's pennon. Squads of soldiers are everywhere. Others are gambling; still other are strolling. Then Ferrando comes out of the Count's tent. SOME SOLDIERS Now we're dicing, but ere long we'll play a quite different game; this sword, now wiped clean of blood, will soon be bathed in blood again! (Other soldiers arrive.) The reinforcements asked for! They look brave enough! May the attack on Castellor no longer be put off. May the attack, etc. FERRANDO Yes, brave friends, at dawn the captain plans to attack the fort on every side. There rich booty we'll surely find, beyond our hopes. Conquer then, and it's ours. SOLDIERS You're inviting us to a party. ALL Let the warlike trumpet sound and echo, call to arms, to the fray, the attack; may our flag be planted tomorrow on the highest of those towers. No, victory has never smiled on happier hopes than ours! There glory awaits us - and the needful. There wait spoil, booty and honour. Let the warlike trumpet, etc. No, victory has never smiled etc. (They disperse. The Count comes out of his tent.) COUNT In my rival's arms! This thought pursues me everywhere like a persecuting demon. In my rival's arms! But as soon as dawn breaks, I'll run, I'll run to separate you. Oh Leonora! (Ferrando enters.) What is it? FERRANDO Near the camp a gypsy was wandering: surprised by our scouts, she started to flee; rightfully fearing the wretch was a spy, they followed her. COUNT Did they overtake her? FERRANDO She's been taken. COUNT Have you seen her? FERRANDO No. The commander of the patrol gave me the news. (Noises are heard.) COUNT Here she is. (Azucena is dragged before the Count.) SOLDIERS Forward, you witch, forward! Forward! Forward! AZUCENA Help! let me go! Ah, you raving men! What have I done wrong? COUNT Approach. Answer me, and don't dare lie to me! AZUCENA Question me. COUNT Where are you going? AZUCENA I don't know. COUNT What? AZUCENA It's the gypsy's custom to move her wandering steps without any plan; the sky is her roof, and the world is her country. COUNT Where have you come from? AZUCENA From Biscay, whose barren mountains received me until now. COUNT (From Biscay!) FERRANDO (What do I hear! Oh, what a suspicion!) AZUCENA I lived days of poverty, yet happy in my condition, my only hope was my son. The ingrate left and forgot me! Abandoned, I wander about, hunting for that son, for that son who cost my heart horrible pangs! The love I feel for him no other mother on earth has felt! FERRANDO (Her face!) COUNT Tell me: did you stay a long time in those mountains? AZUCENA Yes, a long time. COUNT Can you remember a child, a Count's son, stolen from his castle fifteen years ago, and brought thither? AZUCENA You... speak... who are you? COUNT The stolen boy's brother! AZUCENA (Ah!) FERRANDO (Yes!) COUNT Did you ever hear the story? AZUCENA Not I! Let me follow my son's footsteps. FERRANDO Wait, foul wretch! AZUCENA (Alas!) FERRANDO (to the Count) You see who committed the horrible, ghastly deed. COUNT Go on. FERRANDO She's the one! AZUCENA Be silent! FERRANDO She's the one who burned the child! COUNT Ah, monster! SOLDIERS She's the one! AZUCENA He's lying! COUNT Now you won't escape your fate! AZUCENA I beg you! COUNT Tie those knots tighter! AZUCENA Oh God! Oh God! SOLDIERS Go ahead and shout! AZUCENA Why don't you come, Manrico, O my son? Won't you aid your wretched mother? COUNT Manrico's mother! FERRANDO Quake! COUNT Oh luck! She's in my power! FERRANDO Quake! Quake! COUNT Oh, luck! AZUCENA Ah! Pray, loosen, barbarians, the chains that bite me so. This cruel torture is like a drawn-out death! Oh wicked son, worse than your wicked father, beware! God protects the helpless, and God will punish you! COUNT Your brood, foul gypsy, he? That seducer? With your torture then I can wound his heart! Joy floods my breast, which words cannot express! Ah, through me, my brother's ashes will have complete vengeance! FERRANDO and SOLDIERS Wretch, you'll see a pyre rise here in a little while. Nor will the earthly fire be your only punishment! The flames of hell for you will be an eternal stake! There your soul will have to suffer and to burn! AZUCENA Pray loosen, barbarians, the chains that bite me so. This cruel torture is like a drawn-out death! O wicked son, worse than your wicked father, beware! God protects the helpless, God protects the helpless, beware! There is a God, and God will punish you, ah yes, ah yes, etc. COUNT Your brood, foul gypsy, he? That seducer? Through me, my brother's ashes will have complete vengeance! etc. FERRANDO and SOLDIERS The flames of hell for you will be an eternal stake! There your soul will have to suffer and to burn! etc. (At a sign from the Count, the soldiers drag Azucena away.) Scene Two A hall at Castellor, with a balcony at the back. Manrico, Leonora, and Ruiz. LEONORA What was that sound of arms I heard a moment ago? MANRICO The danger is great: no use to disguise it! At dawn tomorrow we'll be attacked. LEONORA Alas! What are you saying? MANRICO But we will vanquish our enemies. Our daring, our arms, and our courage are equal to theirs. (to Ruiz) Go. During my short absence, I commit to your care the warlike work. Let nothing be missing. (Ruiz leaves.) LEONORA What a grim light shines on our wedding! MANRICO Ah, me dear, rid yourself of any gloomy forebodings! LEONORA How can I? MANRICO Let love, sublime love, at this moment speak to your heart. Ah yes, my love, when I'll be yours, and you'll be mine, my spirit will be more fearless, my arm will be stronger. And yet, if on the page of my destiny it's written that I must be among the victims, pierced by the foe's steel, as I draw my last breath, my thoughts will come to you, and death will seem to me only preceding you to heaven. And death will seem to me, etc. (The chapel organ is heard.) LEONORA and MANRICO The wave of holy sounds descends, pure, into our hearts! Come, the altar opens to us the joys of unspoiled love! Ah! the joys of unspoiled love! etc. (Ruiz runs in.) RUIZ Manrico? MANRICO What is it? RUIZ The gypsy... come... in irons... look... MANRICO Oh God! RUIZ Those barbarians' hands have already lighted the pyre... MANRICO (approaching the balcony) Heaven! My legs fail me, my eyes are clouding over! LEONORA You're raging! MANRICO I should! Learn then: I am - LEONORA Who? MANRICO Her son! LEONORA Ah! MANRICO Ah, cowards! This wicked sight almost takes away my breath! Get our men together! Hurry Ruiz! Go, go... And fly back! (Ruiz leaves.) The horrible blaze of that pyre burns, enflames all of my being! Monsters, put it out; or very quickly I'll put it out with your blood! Before I loved you, I was yet her son; your suffering cannot restrain me... Unhappy mother, I hasten to save you, or at least, hasten to die with you! LEONORA I cannot bear such deadly blows. Oh, how much better to die! MANRICO The horrible blaze of that pyre, etc. (Ruiz comes back with the soldiers.) RUIZ and SOLDIERS To Arms! To arms! Here we are, ready to fight with you, or die with you! To arms, etc. MANRICO Unhappy mother, I hasten to save you, Or at least hasten to die with you! etc. To arms! To arms! To arms! (They leave.) Scene One A wing of the Aliaferia palace; at one corner a tower with windows. Very dark night. Two people come in, muffled in cloaks: Ruiz and Leonora. RUIZ We've arrived; there's the tower, where the State's prisoners languish. Ah, the hapless man was brought here! LEONORA Go... leave me, and don't fear for me. I can save him, perhaps. (Ruiz retires.) Fear for me?... Sure and ready is my protection. (She looks at a ring on her right hand.) Shrouded in this dark night, I'm near you, and you don't know it! Moaning wind, you who blow here, ah, mercifully take my sighs to him. On the rosy wings of love go, oh mournful sigh; comfort the flagging spirits of the wretched prisoner. Like a breath of hope flutter in that room; waken in him the memories, the dreams, the dreams of love. But, pray, don't imprudently tell him the pangs, the pangs that rack my heart!, etc. MONKS (from within) Have mercy on a spirit approaching the departure which has no return. Have mercy on him, divine Goodness. Keep him from being the prey of hell. LEONORA That sound, those prayers, so solemn and dire, fill the air with baleful terror! The distress that fills me almost deprives my lips of their breath, my heart of its beating! MANRICO (from the tower) Ah! how slow Death is in its coming, to him who longs to die! Farewell, Leonora, Farewell! LEONORA Oh heaven! I feel faint! MONKS Have mercy, etc. LEONORA Over the horrid tower, ah, Death seems with wings of darkness to be poised! Ah, perhaps these doors will be opened for him, only when his corpse is already cold! MONKS Have mercy... have mercy... have mercy... MANRICO I'm paying with my blood for the love I bore you! Don't forget, don't forget me, Leonora, farewell, Leonora, farewell! LEONORA Forget you! Forget you! I feel faint! etc. MANRICO I'm paying with my blood, etc. MONKS Have mercy... have mercy... have mercy... LEONORA How could I ever forget you! You will see that never on earth was there a stronger love than mine; it defeated Fate in violent strife, it will defeat death itself. Either at the cost of my life I shall save your life, or, forever united to you I shall descend into the grave! You will see that never on earth, etc. (Leonora retires. The Count comes out of the palace with some guards.) COUNT Did you hear? As dawn breaks, the son to the block, and the mother to the stake. (The guards go into the tower.) Perhaps I'm abusing the power that the Prince freely gave me! That's what you drive me to, O my fatal woman! Where can she be? When Castellor was retaken, I had no word of her, and all our searching was in vain! Ah, where are you, cruel one? (Leonora reveals herself.) LEONORA Before you. COUNT That voice! What? You, woman? LEONORA As you see. COUNT Why have you come? LEONORA His last hour is approaching, and you ask me? COUNT You dared? LEONORA Ah yes, I ask mercy for him! COUNT What? You're raving! LEONORA Mercy! COUNT You're raving! LEONORA Mercy! COUNT I? Show mercy to my rival? LEONORA A clement God inspire you! COUNT I? Show mercy to my rival? LEONORA A clement God inspire you! COUNT Vengeance is my only god, etc. LEONORA Pity! Pity! I ask pity! COUNT Go... Go!... Go!... LEONORA Look, at your feet I shed a river of bitter tears; Isn't my weeping enough? Then stab me and drink my blood, trample upon my corpse, but save the Troubadour! COUNT Ah! I would like to make worse the unworthy man's fate, make him die a hundred deaths in a hundred horrible spasms. LEONORA Then kill me... COUNT The more you love him, the worse my fury flames up! LEONORA Triumph upon my corpse, but save the Troubadour! COUNT The more you love him, the worse my fury flames up! etc. LEONORA Stab me, stab me, triumph upon my corpse, but save the Troubadour! etc. LEONORA Count! COUNT Won't you stop? LEONORA Spare him! COUNT At no price could you gain that. Move away! LEONORA There is one price, just one; and I'll give it to you! COUNT Explain yourself. Tell me: what is this price? LEONORA Myself! COUNT Heaven! What did you say? LEONORA And I will keep my promise. COUNT Am I dreaming? LEONORA Make way for me within those walls; let him hear me, let the victim flee, and I am yours. COUNT Swear it. LEONORA I swear before God, who can see my whole soul. COUNT Ho there! (A guard appears. While the Count is whispering to him, Leonora sucks the poison concealed in her ring.) LEONORA (You'll have me... but as a cold and lifeless corpse.) COUNT He shall live. LEONORA (He'll live! My joy strips me of words. O Lord, but with its hurried beating my heart renders thanks! Now, fearless, filled with joy I can await the end, dying I can tell him: I have saved you!) COUNT What are you whispering? Turn, turn your words to me again, or it will all seem a dream - what I heard before! LEONORA He'll live! COUNT You're mine! Mine! Repeat it, reassure my doubting heart; ah, I can scarcely believe it, when I hear it from you! LEONORA He'll live! My joy strips me of words, O Lord. Dying I can tell him: I have saved you! I have saved you! Ah! etc. COUNT You're mine, mine, ah! I can scarcely believe it! etc. LEONORA Let us go! COUNT You've sworn - LEONORA Let us go! COUNT Remember! LEONORA My word is sacred! LEONORA He'll live! My joy strips me, etc. COUNT You're mine! You're mine! repeat it, etc. (They go into the tower.) Scene Two A horrible dungeon; in one corner a barred window. Azucena lies on a kind of rough coverlet. Manrico is sitting beside her. MANRICO Mother, can't you sleep? AZUCENA I've invoked sleep time and again, but it flees from my eyes! I'm praying. MANRICO Perhaps the chilly air is painful for your limbs? AZUCENA No, only I would like to flee from this tomb of the living because I feel that my breath is choking me. MANRICO Flee! AZUCENA Don't be sad; the barbarians won't be able to torture me! MANRICO What? AZUCENA You see, the finger of Death has already set on my forehead its dark prints! MANRICO Ah! AZUCENA They'll find a corpse, mute and cold! No, a skeleton! MANRICO Stop! AZUCENA Don't you hear? People are coming... The executioners... They want to drag me to the stake! Defend you mother! MANRICO Nobody, rest assured. AZUCENA The stake - MANRICO Nobody's coming here. AZUCENA The stake! The stake! The stake! That horrible word! MANRICO Oh Mother! Mother! AZUCENA One day a ferocious mob led your grandmother to the stake! Look at the terrible flames! They're touching her already! Her burning hair already send sparks up to heaven! Look at her eyes, hanging out of their sockets! Ah! who will save me from this horrible sight! MANRICO If you love me still, if a son's voice has power in a mother's breast, seek oblivion in sleep from the spirit's terrors, and rest and calm. AZUCENA Yes, weariness overcomes me, my son... I'll close my eyes in peace, but if you see burning the stake's horrid flames, then waken me. MANRICO Rest now, mother, and may God grant less grievous images to your sleep. AZUCENA We'll go back to our mountains, and there enjoy our former peace! You'll sing... with your lute, and I'll sleep serenely. MANRICO Rest, mother. Silent and alert, I'll turn my thoughts to Heaven. AZUCENA You'll sing, etc. MANRICO I'll turn my thoughts to heaven, Rest, mother, etc. (She falls asleep. The door opens and Leonora comes in.) MANRICO What! Does that feeble light not deceive me? LEONORA It's I, Manrico, my Manrico! MANRICO O, my Leonora! Ah! piteous Heaven, do you grant me such a great joy before I die? LEONORA You won't die; I've come to save you! MANRICO What? To save me? Can it be true? LEONORA Farewell! Don't delay! Hurry! Leave! MANRICO And you're not coming? LEONORA I must stay. MANRICO Stay? LEONORA Ah, flee! MANRICO No! LEONORA Woe if you delay! MANRICO No! LEONORA Your life! MANRICO I scorn it! LEONORA Leave! Leave! MANRICO No! LEONORA Your life! MANRICO I scorn it! Still... O woman, look into my eyes! Who gave it to you? And at what price? You won't speak? A terrible thought! From my rival! I understand! This wretch sold her love... LEONORA Oh, how unjust! MANRICO Sold a heart sworn to me! LEONORA Oh, how your wrath blinds you! Oh, how unjust and cruel you are... MANRICO Wretch! LEONORA ... to me! Believe me! Flee! Or you're lost! Heaven itself can't save you! MANRICO This wretch sold her love. LEONORA Oh, how your wrath blinds you! MANRICO Sold a heart sworn to me! LEONORA Oh, how your wrath blinds you! MANRICO Wretch! LEONORA Oh, how unjust and cruel you are to me! Believe me! Flee! Or you're lost! Heaven itself can't save you! MANRICO This wretch sold a love sworn to me! AZUCENA Ah! We'll go back to our mountains, etc. LEONORA Ah flee, flee! Or you're lost! Heaven itself can't save you! etc. MANRICO No! This wretch sold her love, sold a heart sworn to me, etc. (Leonora sinks a Manrico's feet.) MANRICO Go away! LEONORA Don't drive me off! You see? My strength fails, I'm overcome, weak. MANRICO Go! I detest you! My curse upon you! LEONORA Ah stop, stop! Don't curse me; the time has come to pray to God for me! MANRICO A shudder runs through my breast! LEONORA Manrico! MANRICO Woman! Reveal... tell me... LEONORA I have death in my breast! MANRICO Death! LEONORA Ah, the poison's strength was more rapid than I thought. MANRICO Oh, horror! LEONORA Feel...my hand is icy, but here, here a terrible fire is burning! (She touches her chest.) MANRICO Heaven, what have you done! LEONORA Rather than live as another's, I wanted to die yours! MANRICO And I, a madman, dared curse this angel! LEONORA I can't go on! MANRICO Ah, hapless girl! LEONORA The moment has come... I'm dying, Manrico. Father in Heaven, now I beg your forgiveness! MANRICO Heavens! (The Count appears, stopping at the entrance) COUNT (Ah, she wanted to deceive me and die for him!) LEONORA Rather than live as another's, I wanted to die yours! MANRICO And I, like a madman, dared curse this angel, etc. LEONORA Rather than live as another's, I wanted to die yours! etc. COUNT (Ah! she wanted to deceive me and die for him! etc.) LEONORA Manrico! MANRICO Leonora! LEONORA Farewell, I'm dying... MANRICO Ah! Alas, wretched one! COUNT (to the soldiers) Take him to the block! MANRICO (as he is dragged off) Mother! Ah, Mother, farewell! AZUCENA Manrico! Where is my son? COUNT Hastening to his death. AZUCENA Ah, stop! hear me! COUNT (draws her to the window.) See! AZUCENA Heaven! COUNT He's dead. AZUCENA He was your brother! COUNT He! What horror! AZUCENA Mother, you are avenged! COUNT And I still live! END |