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Juliette - soprano Roméo, son of Montaigu - tenor Frère Laurent - bass Mercutio, Romeo's friend - baritone Stéphano, Romeo's page - soprano, (trouser role) Count Capulet - bass Tybalt, Lady Capulet's nephew - tenor Gertrude, Juliet's nurse - mezzo-soprano The Duke - bass Pâris, a young count - baritone Grégorio, Capulet's servant - baritone Benvolio, Montague's nephew - tenor Frère Jean - bass Male and female retainers and kinsmen of the Houses of Capulet and Montague, maskers Overture PROLOGUE CHORUS Verona, of old, saw two rival families, the Montagues and Capulets, in their endless feudings, fatal to them both, staining with blood the thresholds of their palaces. Like a rosy ray gleaming in a stormy sky, Juliet appeared, and Romeo loved her! And both of them, forgetting the name that outraged them, were fired by a selfsame love! Fatal destiny! Blind passions! These star-crossed lovers paid with their lives for the ending of the century-old hatreds that witnessed the birth of their love! The Capulets’ Ball (A brilliantly lit gallery in the house of the Capulets. Lords and Ladies in dominoes, and masked.) No.1 Introduction CHORUS The hour flies past in wild merriment, we must seize it as it goes by! Let us gather the roses that have bloomed for us in joy and delight. (the Men) Fantastical chorus of love, behind the velvet mask your empire entices us with a smile, with a glance! And, a willing accomplice, the heart glides [hither and thither] at the whim of chance! (the Ladies) Night of madness! Night of rapture! They beset us, they pursue us! The least susceptible will surrender and be taken in our snares! Of the fair lady who invites him everything reveals the charms! (All) The hour flies past, etc. (Tybalt and Paris enter, carrying their masks.) TYBALT Well, dear Paris, what think you of the Capulets’ feast? PARIS Wealth and beauty conjoined are the guests of this palace. TYBALT You do not see its marvel, the unique and priceless treasure destined for the lucky Paris. The unique treasure destined for the lucky Paris. Look, look! Here she is, accompanied by her father. (Capulet enters leading Juliet by the hand. At sight of him, everyone unmasks.) CAPULET Be you welcome, friends, in my house! On this family occasion joy is in season, joy is in season! Just such a day as this saw the birth of my daughter! My heart still beats with pleasure when I think of it! But excuse my indiscreet show of affection! (presenting Juliet) This is my Juliet! Greet her with an indulgent eye. THE MEN (admiringly) Ah, how beautiful she is! Ah, how beautiful she is! You’d think her a flower new-bloomed at morning! THE LADIES Ah, how beautiful she is! Ah, how beautiful she is! She seems to carry within her all the favours of destiny. ALL Ah, how beautiful she is! (The opening measures of a dance-tune are heard.) JULIET Hark, hark! ’Tis the sound of merry instruments that summons and invites us! Ah! – A whole enchanted world seems to rise up before my eyes! Everything bids me welcome. and elates me, and my delighted soul leaps forward into life as a bird wings off into the skies! CAPULET Come on, you young men! Come on, you fair ladies! To the most zealous these glowing eyes! A plague on the killjoys who endlessly chide! Give a welcome to youth and make way for the dancers! Who remains in his place and does not foot it, makes silent admission of some secret shame. Who remains in his place, etc. O utmost regret! When I was younger I myself used to lead your joyful revels! Soft words cost me nothing! What frivolous confessions I remember! O the wild years swept away by Time! O springtime flowers for ever faded! Come on, you young men! etc. A plague on the killjoys! etc. CHORUS A plague on the killjoys who endlessly chide! Let’s give welcome to youth and make way for the dancers! (Everyone withdraws and circulates in the adjoining galleries. Juliet goes out on Paris’s arm, followed by Capulet and Tybalt, chatting together. Romeo and Mercutio appear with their friends.) MERCUTIO At last we’re alone, friends! Allow us, if you will, to unmask for a moment. ROMEO No!...No! You gave your promise; let us be cautious! Here no one must recognise us! Let’s leave this house without confronting the master. MERCUTIO Bah! If the Capulets are fellows to take offence ’tis cowardice to conceal ourselves. (tapping his sword) For we all have something here that’ll take care of them! (with chorus) Yes, we all have something here that’ll take care of them! ROMEO It might have been better not to involve ourselves in the festivities! MERCUTIO Why? ROMEO (mysteriously) I have dreamed a dream! MERCUTIO (in a comic show of terror) O alarming portent! Queen Mab has been with you! ROMEO (startled) What?... No.2 Ballad of Queen Mab MERCUTIO Mab, queen of illusions, presides over dreams; more fickle than the deceiving wind; through space, through the night, she passes and is gone! Her chariot, drawn through the limpid ether by swift atomies was made from an empty nutshell – an earthworm was the cartwright! The harness, a delicate lacework, has been cut from the wing of some green grasshopper by her coachman, a gnat! A cricket’s bone serves as the handle of her whip, whose white lash is fashioned from a moonbeam shed by Phoebe assembling her court! Nightly in this equipage Mab visits, on her rounds, the husband dreaming of widowerhood and the lover dreaming of love! At her approach the coquette dreams of finery and dresses, the courtier bows and scrapes, the poet rhymes his verse! To the miser in his gloomy lodging she discovers treasures without number, and freedom smiles in the dark at the prisoner loaded with chains. The soldier dreams of ambuscadoes, of battles and surprise attacks, she pours out for him the bumpers of wine with which his laurels are sprinkled. And you, o virgin whom a sigh startles, as you lie abed she lightly touches your lips and makes you dream kisses! Mab, queen of illusions, etc. No.2a Recitative and Scene ROMEO Well!...whether the warning comes to me from Mab or another, beneath this roof which is not our own I feel troubled by a black presentiment! MERCUTIO (teasing him) Your melancholy, as I devise, comes from not finding your Rosaline here; a hundred others at the ball will make you forget your mad schoolboy love! Come along! ROMEO (glancing outside) Ah! look! MERCUTIO What now? ROMEO This celestial beauty who seems like a sunbeam in the night! MERCUTIO The imposing dame with her is of more modest beauty... ROMEO (passionately) O treasure worthy of the heavens! What sudden light has opened my eyes! I did not know true beauty! Did I love till now? Did I love?... MERCUTIO (laughing, to Benvolio and the other young men) Good! So to the devil with Rosaline! And – we had foreseen this! ROMEO’S FRIENDS We had foreseen this! MERCUTIO She’s been dismissed without further concern, and thus the comedy comes to an end! ROMEO’S FRIENDS She’s been dismissed, etc. (Mercutio hurries Romeo away, just as Juliet appears, attended by Gertrude.) JULIET See, nurse, they’re waiting for me! Speak quickly! GERTRUDE Draw breath a moment! (maliciously) Is somebody dodging me, or is it Count Paris she’s looking for? JULIET (offhandedly) Paris? GERTRUDE You will have in him, they say, a pearl among husbands. JULIET (laughing) Ha! ha! Truly I do think of marriage. GERTRUDE By my virtue, I was married at your age! JULIET No, no! – I’ll not listen to you any longer – leave my heart to its springtime! No.3 Arietta JULIET Ah! – I want to live in this intoxicating dream! This day still, gentle flame, I keep you in my heart like a treasure! I want to live, etc. This intoxication of youth alas! lasts but a day! Then comes the time when one weeps, the heart surrenders to love and happiness flies off for ever! Ah! – I want to live, etc. Far from sullen winter let me slumber and breathe the rose, breathe the rose before despoiling it. Ah! – Ah! – Ah! – Gentle flame, stay in my heart like a sweet treasure for a long while yet. Ah! – like a treasure for a long while yet! No.3a Recitative (Gregorio appears at the back and encounters Romeo.) ROMEO (to Gregorio, pointing out Juliet to him) The name of this fair child? GREGORIO Know you not? It is Gertrude. GERTRUDE (turning round) What’s that? GREGORIO (to Gertrude) Most gracious lady! I think they require you to attend to the supper. GERTRUDE (impatiently) Very well! Here I am! JULIET Go! (Gertrude goes out with Gregorio. Romeo stops Juliet just as she is leaving.) ROMEO For pity’s sake, stay! No.4 Madrigal (for two voices) ROMEO Adorable angel, my guilty hand profanes, by daring to touch it, the divine hand which I imagine no one has the right to approach! Here, I think, is the penance proper to impose on me – it is that I efface the unworthy trace of my hand by a kiss! JULIET Calm your fears! These handclaspings of the pilgrim on his knees even the saints – provided that he loves – have pardoned in advance; (She withdraws her hand.) but the hand that he touches to his lips ought prudently to refuse that enchanting caress he implores in a kiss! ROMEO Yet the saints have rosy lips... JULIET Only for praying with! ROMEO Do they not hear the voice whichcounsels them a more merciful decree? JULIET Their hearts remain unmoved by the prayers of love even as they grant them. ROMEO Then do you grant mine, and keep unmoved your blushing face. (He kisses Juliet’s hand.) JULIET (smiling) Ah! I could not help it! I have taken the sin upon myself! ROMEO To allay your anxiety would you like to give it back to me? JULIET No! I have taken it! Leave it with me! ROMEO You have taken it away! Give me back my sin! JULIET No! I have taken it! Leave it with me! etc. ROMEO You have taken it away! Give me back my sin! etc. No.5 Finale ROMEO Someone comes! (He replaces his mask.) JULIET It’s my cousin Tybalt. ROMEO Ah! what’s this? You are... JULIET My lord Capulet’s daughter. ROMEO (aside) God! TYBALT (coming forward) Your pardon, coz!... Our friends will desert our festivities if you shun them like this! Come then! Come then! (under his breath) Who is this fine gallant who so quickly masked himself when he saw me coming? JULIET I know not! TYBALT (scornfully) You’d say he’s avoiding me! ROMEO God keep you, sir. (He goes out.) TYBALT Ah! I recognise him by his voice!... by my hatred! It’s he! It’s Romeo! JULIET (with consternation) Romeo! TYBALT ’Pon my honour, I shall punish the traitor and his death is certain! (He goes out.) JULIET (terrified) It was Romeo! (absorbed and staring fixedly) Ah, too early seen unknown! Hatred is the cradle of this fatal love! It is all over! If I may not be his, let the grave be my wedding-bed! (She goes out slowly: the guests begin to drift back. – Tybalt comes in from one side with Paris. Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio and their friends, masked, enter from the other.) TYBALT (catching sight of Romeo) Here he is! Here he is! PARIS (coming up with Tybalt) What is it? TYBALT (indicating Romeo) Romeo!!! PARIS Romeo! (Tybalt moves as though to rush upon the group; Capulet, with an imperious gesture, enjoins silence upon him.) ROMEO (aside) My very name is a crime in her eyes! O the pain of it! Capulet is her father, and I love her! MERCUTIO (to Romeo) See! See what a furious look Tybalt turns upon us! A storm is in the air! TYBALT I’m shaking with rage! CAPULET (to his guests) What! You are going already? Stay awhile! Stay awhile! A trifling foolish banquet is towards! TYBALT Patience! give me patience! For this mortal insult Romeo, I swear, shall suffer punishment! MERCUTIO We’re being watched, keep quiet! We must use caution! Let’s not foolishly wait for something disastrous to happen. CAPULET (to his guests) Let the festivities proceed! Let us all drink and dance! In the old days, I vow, we danced more bravely! We danced, etc. CHORUS Let the festivities proceed! Let us all drink and dance! Pleasure is fleeting! Let us end the night gaily! Pleasure, etc. (Mercutio hurries Romeo away; they are followed by Benvolio and their friends.) Juliet’s garden (A garden – On the left the apartments occupied by Juliet. – On the first floor a window with a balcony. – In the background a balustrade overlooking other gardens.) No.6 Entr’acte and Chorus (Stephano, leaning against the balustrade at the back, holds a rope ladder and helps Romeo to scale the balustrade; then he withdraws, taking the ladder with him.) ROMEO (alone) O night, shelter me beneath thy dark wings! MERCUTIO (calling from outside) Romeo! Romeo! ROMEO It’s Mercutio’s voice! He jests at scars that never felt a wound! CHORUS (Mercutio, Benvolio and their friends) Mysterious and gloomy, Romeo does not hear us! Love delights in the darkness; May love guide his steps! (The voices die away in the distance.) No.7 Cavatina ROMEO Love! Love! Ay, its intensity has disturbed my very being! (A light comes on in Juliet’s window.) But what sudden light through yonder window breaks? ’Tis there that by night her beauty shines! Ah, arise, o sun! Turn pale the stars that, unveiled in the azure, do sparkle in the firmament. Ah, arise! Ah, arise! Appear! Appear, thou pure and enchanting star! She is dreaming, she loosens a lock of hair which falls to caress her cheek. Love! Love, carry my vows to her! She speaks! How beautiful she is! Ah, I heard nothing. But her eyes speak for her and my heart has answered! Ah, arise, o sun! turn pale the stars, etc. ...come thou, appear! No.8 Scene and Choruses (The window opens. Juliet appears on the balcony, and leans upon it dejectedly.) JULIET Alas! I – to hate him! Blind, cruel hatred! O Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Refuse that fatal name which divides us or I’ll refuse mine. ROMEO (coming forward) Is it true? Did you say it? Ah, dispel the doubt in a too happy heart! JULIET Who listens to me and surprises my secrets in the darkness of night? ROMEO I dare not, by naming myself, tell you who I am. JULIET Are you not Romeo? ROMEO No! I’ll no longer be he if this detested name keeps us apart! That I may love you, let me be born again in some other self than mine! JULIET Ah! – you know that the night hides my face from you! You know it! If your eyes could see its blushes they would bear witness to you of the purity of my heart! Away with useless evasions...do you love me? I can guess what you will answer: but make no promises! Phoebe, I fancy, with her inconstant rays lights up false oaths and laughs at lovers! Dear Romeo! Tell me honestly “I love you!” and I’ll believe you; and my honour will entrust itself to yours, o my lord, as you can trust in me! Do not accuse my heart, whose secret you know, of wantonness, because it could not keep silent... but accuse the night whose indiscreet veil has betrayed the mystery. ROMEO (ardently) Before God who hears me. I pledge you my troth! JULIET Hark!...someone comes...peace!... be gone! (Gregorio and the servants enter carrying dark lanterns.) GREGORIO, THE SERVANTS No-one’s here! No-one’s here! The page must have fled!... The devil can have him! The devil’s for him! The devil can have him. etc. The knave, the traitor was waiting for his master! Jealous destiny snatches him from our blows, and tomorrow perhaps he will laugh at us! And tomorrow perhaps, etc. The knave! The traitor! etc. No-one’s here! No-one’s here! The page must have fled! etc. GERTRUDE (entering) Whoever are you talking about? GREGORIO A page of the Montagues!...Master and servant by crossing our threshold have dared to offer insult to my lord Capulet! GERTRUDE You’re jesting? GREGORIO No, by my head! One of the Montagues has allowed himself to come with his friends to our feast! GERTRUDE A Montague?... GREGORIO A Montague. CHORUS (maliciously) Is it for the sake of your pretty face that the traitor has come? GERTRUDE Let him come back! And upon my head I’ll send him packing so smartly for you that he’ll have no desire to try it again! GREGORIO We believe you! CHORUS (laughing) As for that, nurse, we believe you! Goodnight, charming nurse, add forgiveness to your virtues! May Heaven bless you and confound the Montagues! (Gregorio and the servants withdraw.) GERTRUDE Blessed be the cudgel that sooner or later avenges me on these rascals! JULIET (appearing in the doorway of her apartments) Is it you, Gertrude? GERTRUDE Yes, my pretty angel! Why are you not abed at this hour? JULIET I was waiting for you! GERTRUDE Come on in! JULIET Don’t scold! (She glances round about her, and goes back into her apartments followed by Gertrude. Romeo reappears.) No.9 Duet ROMEO O divine night, I implore you! Leave my heart to its enchanted dream! I fear to awaken and still dare not believe in its reality! JULIET (reappearing in the doorway of her apartment, in an undertone) Romeo! ROMEO (turning) Sweet love! JULIET (stopping him with a gesture, and remaining in the doorway) One word only...then farewell! Tomorrow someone will come to find you! (solemnly) Upon your soul. if you want me as your wife send word to me what day, at what hour, in what place our union may be blessed in the sight of God! Then, o my lord, be my sole law! To you will I yield up my whole life, and I’ll renounce all that is not you! But...if all your love intends is to trifle with me... ah, then I beg you by this hour of rapturous delight, see me no more, see me no more and leave me to the grief which will fill my days. ROMEO (on his knees before Juliet) Ah, I have told you I adore you! Dispel my night! Be the dawn, to which my heart and eyes turn! Queenlike, dispose of my life, pour into my unsatisfied soul all the light of the heavens! GERTRUDE (outside) Juliet! JULIET Someone calls me! ROMEO (rising to his feet and seizing Juliet’s hand) Ah, already! JULIET Begone! I am terrified that someone may see us together! GERTRUDE (spoken) Juliet! JULIET I’m coming... ROMEO Listen to me! JULIET Softer! ROMEO (drawing Juliet to him and leading her forward) ...No, no, no-one calls you! JULIET Softer! Softer! Speak softer! ROMEO Ah, do not go yet! Let my hand forget itself in yours! JULIET Ah, someone might surprise us! Let my hand slip from yours! Goodnight! ROMEO Goodnight! JULIET Goodnight! ROMEO, JULIET Goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I would say goodnight till it be tomorrow! Parting, etc. JULIET My belov’d, I now implore thee, go! ROMEO Ah! how cruel! JULIET But why did I recall thee? O, my folly! For hardly art thou return’d than my heart forgets it wholly! I would, thou wert gone! Yet not too far away, but like a captive bird by childish hand confined, held by a silken thread restraining, that scarce begins to fly, and would wing away, the sky regaining, than the child draws him down joyfully so loving jealous he, the captive may’nt go free! ROMEO Stay but a little longer! JULIET Alas! I must go! ROMEO Stay but a little longer! JULIET Alas! I must go! Farewell! ROMEO Farewell! JULIET, ROMEO Of this farewell, so tender is the morrow, that I were fain to say farewell until the dawn! JULIET A thousand times goodnight! (She slips out of Romeo’s arms and returns into her apartments.) ROMEO (alone) Go, rest peacefully! Slumber! May a child’s smile come gently to rest on your ruby lips! And still whispering “I love you!” into your ear, may the night breeze bear you this kiss! (He goes off.) Scene One Friar Laurence’s cell No.10 Entr’acte and Scene ROMEO Father! God keep you! God keep you! FRIAR LAURENCE Eh, what’s this! Day has scarce dawned, and sleep eludes you? What distemperature leads you to me? What lover’s care brings you? ROMEO You have guessed right, Father, it is love! FRIAR LAURENCE Love! Still the unworthy Rosaline? ROMEO What name is this you utter? I know it not! Does the eye of the elect opening upon the divine light still remember the shadows of this earth? Does one love Rosaline, having seen Juliet? FRIAR LAURENCE What, Juliet Capulet? (Juliet appears, followed by Gertrude.) ROMEO Here she is! JULIET (rushing into Romeo’s arms) Romeo! ROMEO My soul was calling you! I see you! My mouth is dumb! JULIET (to Friar Laurence) Father, this is my bridegroom! You know the heart I give to him! To his love I surrender myself, unite us before Heaven! FRIAR LAURENCE Ay, though I should face a blind rage I will lend you my help. May the ancient hatred between your houses be extinguished in your young love! ROMEO (to Gertrude) Do you keep watch without! (Gertrude goes out.) FRIAR LAURENCE The witness of your promises, the guardian of your love, may the Lord be with you! Kneel down! (gravely) Kneel down! No.11 Trio and Quartet FRIAR LAURENCE O God who madest man in Thine own image and of his flesh and blood created woman, and, joining her to man in wedlock, from Zion’s summit consecrated their inseparable union! Look with a favourable eye upon Thy miserable creature who prostrates himself before Thee! JULIET, ROMEO Lord, we promise to obey Thy law. FRIAR LAURENCE Hear Thou my fervent prayer: Ordain that the yoke of Thy handmaiden may be a yoke of love and peace! Let virtue be her wealth, to strengthen her weakness may she arm her heart with duty! JULIET, ROMEO Lord, be Thou my support, be Thou my hope! FRIAR LAURENCE May their happy old age see their children walking in Thy way and their children’s children! JULIET, ROMEO Lord, from darkest sin it is Thou who dost protect us! FRIAR LAURENCE May this chaste and faithful couple, united in the life eternal, come at last to the Kingdom of Heaven! JULIET, ROMEO Lord, deign to look down upon our love! FRIAR LAURENCE (to Romeo) Romeo, dost thou choose Juliet for thy wife? ROMEO I do, Father. FRIAR LAURENCE (to Juliet) Dost thou take Romeo for thy husband? JULIET I do, Father. (They exchange their rings.) FRIAR LAURENCE (placing Juliet’s hand in Romeo’s) Before God who reads into your hearts I unite you! Now rise to your feet. (They stand. Gertrude enters.) JULIET, GERTRUDE, ROMEO, FRIAR LAURENCE O happiness unalloyed! O immense joy! Heaven itself has received our/their loving vows! God of goodness! God of mercy! Be Thou blessed by two happy hearts! etc. (Romeo and Juliet separate. – Juliet goes off with Gertrude, Romeo with Friar Laurence.) Scene Two A street. – On the left, the Capulets’ house. No.12 Song STEPHANO (alone) Since yesterday have I sought my master in vain! (studying the balcony of Capulet’s house) Is he still with you, my lords Capulet? (arrogantly) Let’s just see if your worthy servants will dare to show themselves this morning at the sound of my voice! (He pretends to strum on his sword like a guitar.) What are you doing, white turtledove, in this nest of vultures? Some day, spreading your wings, you will follow love! With vultures, there must always be fighting, in order to cut and thrust their beaks are whetted! Have done with these birds of prey, turtledove who tak’st thy joy from loving kisses! Guard her well, the fair lady! Who lives will see! – your turtledove will escape from you! etc. A ring-dove, drawn far away from the greenwood by love, I think has sighed round about this savage nest! The vultures are at the quarry, their songs, that Cytherea* flees from, re-echo loudly! Meanwhile in their sweet infatuation our lovers tell their love to the night-stars! Guard her well, the fair lady! Who lives will see! etc. No.13 Finale STEPHANO Haha! Here are our men! GREGORIO Who the devil comes away from our gate cooing like this? STEPHANO (aside, laughing) The song displeases them! GREGORIO (to the other servants) Ah, why, of course! Isn’t this the fellow we chased away yesterday, dagger in hand? THE SERVANTS The very one! He’s an impudent rogue! STEPHANO Guard her well, the fair lady...etc. GREGORIO Is it to flout us, my young friend, that you regale us with this serenade? STEPHANO I dote on music! GREGORIO It’s clear that in some similar jape you’ve had your guitar smashed across your back, my lad! STEPHANO For guitar I have my sword and I know how to play more than one tune upon it. GREGORIO Ah, by God, for this kind of music we can give you the reply! STEPHANO (drawing his sword) Then come and take a lesson from it! GREGORIO (drawing his) On guard! THE SERVANTS (laughing) Let’s listen to their nonsense! What fury! Bless my soul! Take heart! And play fair! See how this boy defends himself against a man! A skilled swordsman, ’pon my soul! He fights like a soldier! (Mercutio and Benvolio enter.) MERCUTIO (as he enters, indignantly) To set upon a boy! ’Zounds! ’Tis a shameful deed worthy of the Capulets! (He draws his sword and hurls himself between the combatants.) Like masters. like servants! (Tybalt, followed by Paris and a few friends, enters and takes up the insult.) TYBALT (insolently) You have a ready tongue, sir! MERCUTIO Not so ready as my arm! TYBALT We must see about that! MERCUTIO And that you shall! (Mercutio and Tybalt cross; at the same moment, Romeo hurries up and dashes between them.) ROMEO Stop! MERCUTIO Romeo! TYBALT (vengefully) Romeo! His demon leads him to me! (to Mercutio, with ironic politeness) Permit me to give him precedence over you! (to Romeo, haughtily) Come on, vile Montague! Out with your sword! Unsheathe! You who insulted us in our very house, ’tis you who will pay the penalty for this unworthy treachery! You whose accursed lips forbidden to Juliet did dare, I think, to whisper low, – (scornfully) hear the one word my hatred suggests to me! Thou’rt naught but a coward! (Romeo’s hand goes quickly to his sword. After a moment’s hesitation he taps it down into its scabbard.) ROMEO (restrained and dignified) Come now!...you do not know me, Tybalt, and your insult is useless! I have in my heart reasons to love you which despite myself come to disarm me! I am no coward! Farewell! (He moves as though to go.) TYBALT You think perhaps to obtain pardon for your injuries, traitor? ROMEO I have never injured you, Tybalt; the time for hatred is past! MERCUTIO Will you suffer this name of coward, 0 Romeo? Did I hear you aright? Very well then, if your arm is to fail in its task henceforward the honour belongs to me! ROMEO Mercutio! – I entreat you! MERCUTIO No! I shall avenge your insult! Tybalt, you rat-catcher, on guard and defend yourself! TYBALT I am for you! ROMEO Listen to me! MERCUTIO No, let me be! CHORUS (Montagues) Excellent, in faith! (Capulets) I trust in him! STEPHANO, BENVOLIO Capulets! Capulets! Foul brood! Shake with terror! And may hell assist his hatred and his fury! ROMEO Hatred, hatred fruitful in miseries! Must you always through your fury give to the world a spectacle of horror? TYBALT, PARIS, GREGORIO Montagues! Montagues! Foul brood! Shake with terror! And may hell assist my/his hatred and my/his fury! CHORUS Capulets! Capulets! Foul brood! Montagues! Montagues! Foul brood! Shake with terror! And may hell assist his hatred and his fury! (Tybalt and Mercutio begin to fight.) MERCUTIO Ah! I am hurt!... ROMEO Hurt!... MERCUTIO A plague o’ both your houses! Why came you between us? ROMEO O pitiless fate! (to his friends) Help him! MERCUTIO (staggering) Hold me up! (Mercutio is carried away, and dies. Romeo, having gazed after him for a few moments, comes back downstage and, giving himself up wholly to his rage, cries:) ROMEO Ah! Now away back to heaven, infamous caution! And thou, fire-ey’d fury, be my conduct now! (drawing his sword) Tybalt! – there’s no other coward here but you! (They cross swords.) ROMEO (to Tybalt, as he thrusts at him) For you! (Tybalt is hit and staggers; Capulet enters, runs up to him and supports him in his arms. The fighting stops.) CAPULET Great God! Tybalt! BENVOLIO (to Romeo) His wound is mortal! Escape without losing a moment! ROMEO (aside) Ah, what have I done? I – to flee – cursed by her! BENVOLIO ’Tis death that awaits you! ROMEO (in despair) Let it come, then, I summon it! TYBALT (to Capulet, in a dying voice) One last word!...and upon your soul...fulfil my wishes! CAPULET (solemnly) You shall be obeyed. I give you my solemn word! (A crowd of townspeople have invaded the stage.) CHORUS What’s this then? What’s this then? – It’s Tybalt! He is dying! CAPULET (to Tybalt) Come to yourself! STEPHANO, BENVOLIO, ROMEO, PARIS, GREGORIO, CHORUS O day of mourning! O day of tears! An unreasoning anger stains our weapons with blood! And misfortune hovers above us! O day of mourning, etc. (Trumpets are heard.) CHORUS The Duke! The Duke! (The Duke enters followed by his retinue of gentlemen and pages carrying torches. Capulet turns towards the Duke.) CAPULET Justice! ALL THE CAPULETS Justice! CAPULET (pointing to Tybalt’s body) It’s Tybalt. my nephew, slain by Romeo! ROMEO He had struck down Mercutio first! I avenged my friend, let my fate take its course! STEPHANO, ROMEO, BENVOLIO, PARIS, GREGORIO, CAPULET, THE MONTAGUES, THE CAPULETS Justice! Justice! THE DUKE What’s this? Always blood! Nothing will still the criminal furies in your hearts! Nothing will make the weapons drop from your hands and I myself shall be touched by your quarrels! (to Romeo) According to our laws your crime has merited death. But you are not the aggressor...I exile you! ROMEO O heaven! THE DUKE (to the Montagues and Capulets) And you whose hatred, fertile in pretexts, maintains discord and fear in the city, take before me, all of you, the solemn oath of obedience to the laws of your prince and of heaven! ROMEO Ah, day of mourning and horror and alarms, my heart is breaking, distraught with grief! Unjust decree which disarms us too late, you set the crown on this day of woe! I see perish in blood and tears all the hopes and desires of my heart! THE DUKE Ah, day of mourning and horror and alarms, I see both my blood and theirs flowing! Too just decree by which their weapons are blunted, you come too late on this day of woe! By drowning it in blood and tears ’tis the city you strike in my heart! ROMEO Day of horror and alarms, my heart is breaking, distraught with grief! etc. CAPULET Day of mourning and horror and alarms, my heart is breaking, distraught with grief! Unjust decree which disarms us too late, you set the crown on this day of woe! I see perish in blood and tears all the hopes, all the desires of my heart! STEPHANO, THE MONTAGUE RETAINERS Ah, day of mourning and horror and alarms, my heart is breaking, distraught with grief! Unjust decree by which their weapons are blunted. you come too late on this day of woe! I see perish in blood and tears, together with the laws, our homeland and our honour! BENVOLIO, PARIS, THE CAPULET RETAINERS Ah, day of mourning and horror and alarms, my heart is breaking, distraught with grief! Unjust decree that disarms us too soon, you set the crown on this day of woe! No, no! Our hearts ’mid the blood and the tears will not forget their duty and their honour! THE DUKE You will leave the city this evening. ROMEO O despair! Exile! Exile! No! I shall die but I will see her again! CAPULET, CHORUS Peace? No! no! no! no! no, never! Scene One Juliet’s room (It is still night. The stage is lit by a torch.) No.14 Duet (Juliet is seated; Romeo is at her feet.) JULIET Come, I have forgiven you. Tybalt desired your death; if he had not died, you would have done so yourself! Away with sorrow! Away with remorse! He hated you...and I love you! ROMEO Ah, say it again, that word so sweet! JULIET I love you, o Romeo! I love you, o my husband! JULIET, ROMEO O bridal night! O sweet night of love! Destiny binds me to you for ever. O sheer delight in living, O all-powerful charms! Your gentle gaze fills me with rapture, your voice ravishes my senses! Beneath your ardent kisses Heaven is radiant within me. 1 have given you my heart; it is yours, yours for ever. O sheer delight in living, o all-powerful charms, etc. O bridal night! etc. (The first glimmers of day lighten the windowpanes. – A lark is heard singing.) JULIET What is it, Romeo? ROMEO (rising) O Juliet, listen! Already the lark is telling us it’s day! JULIET No, no! It is not morn, ’tis not the lark whose song hath pierc’d the fearful hollow of thine ear, it is the nightingale, love’s confidant! ROMEO It is the lark, alas, herald of morn! See those envious streaks gliding the horizon; night’s candles are burnt out and the dawn breaks smiling in the mists of the east! JULIET No, no, it is not morn, that fatal gleam is but the soft reflex of the moon! Stay! O stay! ROMEO Ah, come then, death! I will stay! JULIET Ah, you are right: it is morn! Flee! You must leave your Juliet! ROMEO No, no, it is not day! ’Tis not the lark! It is the gentle nightingale, love’s confidant! JULIET Alas, it is the lark, herald of morn! Go now, my life! ROMEO One kiss and I’ll be gone! JULIET O cruel decree! cruel decree! ROMEO Ah, stay, stay awhile in my entwining arms! Stay awhile! One day it will be sweet for our true love to recall its past torments. JULIET Alas, you must go! You must leave these arms in which I clasp you and tear yourself from this passionate joy. JULIET Alas, we must part! You must leave these arms in which you clasp me, and tear yourself from this passionate joy! Ah, how much more cruel and barbarous than death is the fate which severs me from you! etc. ROMEO Alas, we must part! I must leave these arms in which I clasp you, and tear myself from this passionate joy! Ah, how much more cruel and barbarous than death is the fate which severs me from you! etc. ROMEO Farewell, my Juliet, farewell! JULIET Farewell! ROMEO, JULIET Ever thine! JULIET Farewell, my soul, farewell, my life! Angels in heaven, to you, to you do I confide him! No.15 Quartet GERTRUDE (entering in great agitation) Juliet! (recovering herself) Ah, heaven be praised, your husband has gone! Here is your father! JULIET God! Can he know? GERTRUDE Not a thing, not a thing, I hope! Friar Laurence is with him! JULIET Lord, protect us! (Enter Capulet accompanied by Friar Laurence.) CAPULET What, my daughter! Night is scarce done and your eyes are open, and here you are already risen! Alas, our anxiety, I see, is of a kind and the same regret speeds our awakening! Let the wedding hymn succeed the cries of alarm! Faithful to Tybalt’s last wish, receive from him the husband he named for you; smile in the midst of your tears! JULIET This husband...who is he? CAPULET The most valiant of all, Count Paris! JULIET (aside) Oh, God! FRIAR LAURENCE (under his breath, to Juliet) Silence! GERTRUDE Compose yourself! Compose yourself! CAPULET The altar is prepared, the groom hath approbation, be ye united now nor invite more delay! May Tybalt’s wand’ring shade, approving us today, be laid then, be laid in final consolation! The will of the dead like that of God himself is a sacred law, a supreme law! We must respect the will of the dead! JULIET Fear thee not, Romeo, my heart is faithful still! GERTRUDE Let them slumber, may the dead rest in peace! FRIAR LAURENCE She is trembling and my heart sad forebodings now fill. CAPULET Friar Laurence will be able to dictate your duty to you. Our friends will be coming; I go to receive them. (He goes out, followed by Gertrude.) No.16 Scene JULIET (to Friar Laurence) Father! Everything overwhelms me! All is lost! In obedience to you, I have concealed my despair and my guilty love. It is for you to help me, for you to rescue me from my miserable fate! Speak, Father, else I am ready to die! FRIAR LAURENCE So then, death does not trouble your conscience? JULIET No! No! Rather death than this vile deception! FRIAR LAURENCE Then drink this potion: and from your limbs to your heart will suddenly spread a cold and drowsy humour in a false likeness of death. Suddenly the blood will stop coursing in your veins, presently a ghastly pallor will efface the roses in your lips and cheeks; your eyes will close as though in death! In vain, then, will the cries of alarm break out: “She is no more,” your weeping companions will say. And the angels in heaven will make reply: “She is asleep.” Then will it be that after one day your body and soul, like a spent fire bursting into flame again, will come out of this heavy sleep. Protected by the darkness your husband and myself will watch over your awakening, and you will fly into the arms of the one who loves you. Do you hesitate? JULIET (taking the phial) No! No! Into your hands I commend my life. FRIAR LAURENCE Till tomorrow! JULIET Till tomorrow! No.17 Scene and Air JULIET Heav’n! What a chill doth overrun me! What if this potion work not at all? Idle terrors! They cannot make me wed the count ’gainst my will! No! no! For this poignard shall be the guard of my vow! Come! Come! O love, revive my fond devotion, and from my heart banish dismay! Now to doubt, that were to disown thee, to fear were my love to betray, never! Never! Rather for dead may he bemoan me! Ah! for dead bemoan me! O, my belov’d, I will obey! But, if tomorrow morn, ere he return, I waken, amid the lonely chill of the tomb? Heavenly Pow’rs! This horrible conceit chills the blood in my veins! What should I do, lone and forsaken, if in yon abode of death, none near to heed my moans, that the centuries past have replenish’d with bones? And wherein bloody Tybalt, fest’ring yet is lying, close at hand, in the gloom espying, I should view. Heav’ns! And if his hand were touching mine! (in bewilderment, as if seeing Tybalt’s ghost) What is this shade, from the tomb grimly gazing? It is he! It is Tybalt! He calls me to depart from the one whom I love, his fatal blade upraising. No! Ye phantoms! Vanish away! Vanish away, oh vision frightful! Now dawn, oh morn of joy delightful above the gloom of woes gone by! Come! Oh love! Revive my fond devotion, and from my heart banish dismay! Now to doubt, that were to disown thee! To fear, were my love to betray! Never! never! Rather for dead may he bemoan me! Ah! for dead bemoan me! O my belov’d, I will obey! Ballet Scene Two No.18 Wedding Procession A gallery in the palace. At the back, the doors of the chapel (An organ prelude is heard; the chapel doors open; a procession of choirmen and boys comes into view.) No.18a Epithalamium JULIET Heart-rending power, heart-rending power! Ah! I tremble! Woeful hour! Hear-rending power! Woe, ah, woe is me! They have taken him, my treasure! Oh, heart-rending power! Ah, woe is me! In him was all my pleasure, my life was he, yet fortune unkind holds him apart from me! GERTRUDE Heart-rending power, heart-rending power! Woe, ah, woe is me! Oh fairest Juliet! Woeful hour! Oh, heart-rending power! Ah, woe is me! From thy bosom hope is banish’d, yet tho’ joy be vanish’d, resigned be! What fate hath in store, our hearts can ne’er foresee! PARIS, CAPULET, MANUELA, PEPITA, ANGELO,CHORUS Oh fairest Juliet! Joyful hour! My/his heart owns thy power Of fairest Juliet! Joyful hour! Now my/his heart owns thy power. and glows for thee! Since of Heaven ’tis the pleasure rejoice in the treasure confided thee! My/his heart for aye to thine shall united be! FRIAR LAURENCE O fairest Juliet! Thy heart yet may trust in me! O fairest Juliet! Joyful hour! Tho’ darkness may lower, yet trust in me! Since of Heaven ’tis the pleasure, ah! rejoice in the treasure confided thee! Thy heart yet may trust in me for Heav’n shall protect and shall watch over thee! CHORUS O fairest Juliet! Joyful hour! His heart own thy power! His heart shall for aye to thine united be! Chorus and Dance CHORUS Let joyful songs rend the air, wedding songs! Away with anxious frowns on this fair day! Let joyful songs, etc. We read in your eyes your good fortune. Let joyful songs rend the air, and rise to the heavens! Let joyful songs, etc. No.19 Finale CAPULET My daughter, yield to the wishes of the bridegroom who loves you! Heaven is about to unite you by eternal bonds! Of this blest marriage now is the supreme moment! Happiness awaits you at the foot of the holy altars! (Paris steps forward and prepares to slip his wedding- ring on to Juliet’s finger.) JULIET (withdrawing her hand, and in an undertone, as though in a dream) Hatred is the cradle of this fatal love! Let the grave be my wedding-bed! (She lifts her hand to her head and unfastens her bridal chaplet; her hair comes undone and tumbles down about her shoulders.) CAPULET Juliet! Come to yourself! JULIET Ah, support me! I am falling! (People surround her and hold her up.) What is this darkness enclosing me? And what this voice calling me? Is this death? I am afraid! Father! Farewell! (She falls senseless into the arms of those round about her.) CAPULET (bewildered) Juliet! My daughter! Ah! (horror-struck) Dead! GERTRUDE, PARIS, CHORUS Dead! CAPULET (despairingly) Dead! ALL Righteous God! Scene One An underground crypt No.20 Entr’acte No.20a Scene FRIAR LAURENCE ’Tis you! Hath Romeo my note? FRIAR JOHN His page, set upon by the Capulets, was wounded there, and borne away, into the house of his master, failing so to deliver your message. Here is the letter! FRIAR LAURENCE Oh! untoward return! Let one this very night bear him the fatal letter! Away! ’tis a perilous plight! The sooner he is gone, the better! Scene Two The Tomb No.21 Juliet’s Sleep No.22 Scene and Duet (After a while, the sound of a crowbar breaking open the door is heard. The door gives way noisily. Romeo appears.) ROMEO This is the place!... (with a feeling of terror) Hail, gloomy and silent tomb! A tomb? No, no! O resting place morebeautiful than the heavenly mansion itself! How bright thy front! A palace it outvies! (catching sight of Juliet, and starting forward towards the tomb) Ah, there she is! It is she! Come, mournful light, come show her to me. (taking up the funeral lamp) O my wife! O my beloved! Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath hath had no power yet upon thy beauty! No! No! That beauty I worship on your calm, pure countenance still seems to reign and to smile to Eternity! (He sets down the lamp upon the tomb.) Why do you give her back to me so beautiful, o ghastly death? Is it to throw me more swiftly into her arms? Come! This is the only happiness for which my heart is eager! And today your prey shall not escape you. (looking about him) Ah, I contemplate you without fear, you tomb where at last I shall rest beside her! (bending towards Juliet) O my arms, give her your last embrace! My lips, give her your last kiss! (He kisses Juliet; then, drawing a little metal flask from his breast and turning towards Juliet:) To you, my Juliet! (He empties the flask at a draught and throws it away.) JULIET (gradually awakening) Where am I? ROMEO (turning his eyes towards Juliet) O, my head reels! Is this a dream? Her lips murmured! (seizing Juliet’s hand) My trembling fingers felt in hers the warmth of her blood! (Juliet turns a bewildered look upon Romeo.) She looks at me and raises herself! JULIET (sighing) Romeo! ROMEO Lord God Almighty! She lives! She lives! Juliet is alive! JULIET (gradually coming to her senses) God! What voice is that whose sweetness enchants me? ROMEO It is I! it is your husband who, trembling with happiness, embraces your knees! Who brings back to your heart the intoxicating light of love and of heaven! JULIET (throwing herself into Romeo’s arms) Ah! ’Tis thou! ROMEO Come! Come! Let us flee together! JULIET O happiness! JULIET, ROMEO Come! Let us flee to the ends of the earth! Come! Let us be happy, let us flee together. God of goodness! God of mercy! Be Thou blessed by two happy hearts! ROMEO (staggering) Ah, but all our kinsmen have bowels of stone! JULIET What are you saying, Romeo? ROMEO Neither tears nor entreaty, nothing, nothing can soften them! To the gates of heaven, Juliet, to the gates of heaven and to die! JULIET To die! Ah, fever bewilders you! What delirium seizes upon you? My beloved, come to your senses! ROMEO Alas! I thought you dead and I drank this poison! JULIET Poison! Just heaven! ROMEO (clasping Juliet in his arms) Console yourself, poor heart, the dream was too beautiful! Love, a celestial flame, survives even the tomb! It raises the stone and, by the angels blest, like a wave of light loses itself in the infinite. JULIET (distraught) O anguish! O torture! ROMEO (in a voice grown weaker) O Juliet, listen! Already the lark is telling us it’s morn! No! No, it is not day, ’tis not the lark! It is the gentle nightingale, love’s confidant! (He slips from Juliet’s arms and falls down on the steps of the tomb.) JULIET (picking up the flask) Ah, cruel husband! You have not left me my share of this poison. (She throws away the flask, and carrying her hand to her bosom comes upon the dagger she had hidden in her dress, and in a swift movement draws it forth.) Ah, happy dagger, your help remains! (She stabs herself.) ROMEO (half rising) God! What have you done? JULIET (in Romeo’s arms) Ah! this moment is sweet! (She drops the dagger.) O infinite, supreme joy of dying with you! Come! One kiss! love you! JULIET, ROMEO (half-raising themselves with a last effort) Lord, Lord, forgive us! (They die.) |
| libretto by Joseph Allen, 1969 |