“Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three

ACT ONE

Scene 1

In the grounds of the castle

NORMANNO
Scour the grounds nearby...

CHORUS
We'll scour the grounds nearby...

NORMANNO
...the sprawling ruins of the tower:

CHORUS
...the sprawling ruins of the tower:

NORMANNO
...tear the veil from so vile a secret,
honour expects, demands it.

CHORUS
...tear the veil from so vile a secret,
honour demands it.

NORMANNO and CHORUS
The hateful truth will shine out
like a lightning-flash through clouds of horror,

the hateful truth will shine,
etc.

tear the veil from so vile a secret,
etc.

...honour expects it.
(The retainers leave. Enrico and Raimondo enter.)

NORMANNO
(to Enrico)

You are troubled!

ENRICO
And with good reason. You know
that the star of my fortunes has waned -
while Edgardo - that mortal enemy
of my family, looks down haughtily
from his ruined retreat, and mocks me!
Only one hand can restore me
and my tottering power...Lucia
dares to reject that hand! Ah, she is
no sister of mine!

RAIMONDO
Unhappy girl, mourning at the fresh grave
of her dear mother, how can she
think of marriage? Let us respect a heart
which, grief-stricken, is averse to love.

NORMANNO
Averse to love? Lucia is aflame with love.

ENRICO
What are you saying?

RAIMONDO
(aside)
I fear his words!

NORMANNO
Hear me: she was wandering along the deserted
avenue in the park, where her mother
is buried...A raging bull
suddenly rushed at her...
when a shot rang out
in the echoing air, and the beast
suddenly sank to the ground.

ENRICO
And who fired the shot?

NORMANNO
A man who kept his name a secret.

ENRICO
And Lucia...?

NORMANNO
Fell in love with him.

ENRICO
So she saw him again?

NORMANNO
Every morning at dawn.

ENRICO
And where?

NORMANNO
In that avenue.

ENRICO
Rage chokes me! And you did not identify the seducer?

NORMANNO
I only have a suspicion.

ENRICO
Ah, tell me!

NORMANNO
He is your enemy.

RAIMONDO
(aside)
Oh heaven!

NORMANNO
You detest him.

ENRICO
Could it be - Edgardo?

RAIMONDO
(aside)
Ah!

NORMANNO
You are right.

ENRICO
A cruel, deadly frenzy
you have roused in my heart!
Too, too horrible
is this fatal suspicion!
I freeze and tremble,
and my hair stands on end, ah!
etc.
So shameful is she
who was born my sister!

NORMANNO
Cherishing your honour,
I had to be cruel to you.

RAIMONDO
(aside)
Your clemency I implore;
say that it is not so, oh heaven!

ENRICO
Ah, rather than see you guilty
of so perfidious a love,
if you were struck by a thunderbolt,
my grief would be less bitter,
etc.

NORMANNO and RAIMONDO
Oh heaven!

NORMANNO
I had to be cruel to you.

RAIMONDO
Say that it is not so, ah heaven!

RETAINERS
(rushing to Normanno)
Your doubt is now confirmed.

NORMANNO
(to Enrico)
Do you hear?

ENRICO
Tell me.

RETAINERS
Oh, sad day!
As, overcome with weariness,

after long searching round about,
we rested in the crumbling
hall of the tower:
suddenly a pale-faced man
came silently through.
As he drew near
we recognised the stranger:
on his swift steed,
he was soon out of sight...
a falconer
told us his name.

ENRICO
What is it?

RETAINERS
Edgardo.

ENRICO
So it is he!
Oh, the burning rage that inflames me
is more that human heart can bear.

RAIMONDO
Ah, no, do not believe it,
no, no...

ENRICO
No, it is more than human heart
can bear!
etc.

RAIMONDO
Ah! come, do not judge...she...ah!

ENRICO
No, no!

RAIMONDO
Hear me!

ENRICO
I will not.
In vain your pity
leads you to plead for her...
speak to me of revenge
and I will hear you.
Wretched pair! The storm
of my terrible fury is upon you,
the evil flame that consumes you,
I shall quench with blood!
etc.

RAIMONDO
No, he cannot,
etc.

CHORUS
Ah, yes quench!
etc.

Scene 2

The park

(The fountain of the Siren, a spring once sheltered by
an imposing edifice showing the typical adornments of
Gothic architecture, but now in ruins. It is twilight.
Lucia, much agitated, enters with Alisa.)

LUCIA
He still has not come?

ALISA
Rash girl! What have you brought me to?
Daring to come here, now your brother knows
the spot, is madness.

LUCIA
You are right! But Edgardo must know
of the horrible danger that threatens us.

ALISA
Why do you look about
so fearfully?

LUCIA
That fountain...ah...I never
see it without shivering. You know the tale:
A Ravenswood, mad with jealousy,
stabbed his sweetheart here
and the poor girl fell
into the water, which became her tomb:
I have seen her ghost...

ALISA
What are you saying?

LUCIA
Listen.
At dead of night,
in the silent darkness...
a pallid ray of eerie moonlight
fell upon the fountain...
when a low moan
was heard on the breeze,
and there on the verge, ah!
the spectre appeared to me...Ah!

I saw her lips moving
as if she were speaking,
and with her lifeless hand
she seemed to beckon me to her;
for a moment she stood motionless,
then suddenly vanished...
and the waters, so clear before,
reddened as with blood.
Yes, so clear before,
etc.

ALISA
Oh God, in your story, clear and grave
are the omens I see!
Ah, Lucia, Lucia, abandon
this terrifying love.

LUCIA
He brings light to my days,
and solace to my suffering.
When, lost in ecstasy
of ardent passion,
with the language of the heart,
he swears eternal love,
etc.
I forget my sorrows
and joy dries my tears,
and it seems that when I am near him,
heaven opens for me,
etc.

ALISA
Ah, days of bitter weeping
are in store for you, yes, yes,
etc.
Ah, Lucia, give him up.

LUCIA
Ah...When, lost in ecstasy,
etc.

ALISA
He is coming... I shall keep
watch nearby.
(She leaves. Edgardo enters.)

EDGARDO
Lucia, forgive me for asking to see you
at this unusual hour: it is for a very important
reason. Before dawn whitens the morning sky
I shall be far from
my native land.

LUCIA
What are you saying?

EDGARDO
I am to set sail for France's
friendly shores: there I must work
for Scotland's future.

LUCIA
And you leave me
here to weep?

EDGARDO
Before leaving you,
I must see Ashton... I will offer him
the hand of peace, and ask your hand
in marriage to seal our pact.

LUCIA
What do I hear?
Ah, no...let our love remain
a secret for now.

EDGARDO
I understand! The evil persecutor
of my family is not satisfied
with my misfortunes! He robbed me of my father,
my ancestral heritage. Is that not enough?
What more does he want, that bloodthirsty villain?
My utter ruin?
My life?
How he hates me!...

LUCIA
Ah, no...

EDGARDO
He loathes me.

LUCIA
Oh heaven, calm his mad fury.

EDGARDO
A searing flame writhes in my heart!
Listen to me.

LUCIA
Edgardo!

EDGARDO
Hear me and tremble!
Over the tomb where
my betrayed father lies,
in my rage, I swore to wage
eternal war on your kin.

LUCIA
Ah!

EDGARDO
But I saw you and another emotion
stirred in my heart, and anger fled.
But that vow is not broken,
I could well fulfil it yet!

LUCIA
Come, calm your anger; control yourself.

EDGARDO
Ah, Lucia!

LUCIA
A single word can betray us!
is my suffering not enough?
Do you want me to die of fright?

EDGARDO
Ah, no!

LUCIA
Banish all other feelings
save love from your heart;
a nobler, holier vow
than any other is pure love,
ah, only love,
etc.
Yield, yield to me, yield to love.

EDGARDO
But that vow is not broken,
etc.

I could well fulfil it yet!

(with sudden resolution)

Here, pledge yourself eternally
before Heaven to be my bride.

God hears us, God sees us;
church and altar is a loving heart;

(solemnly placing a ring on Lucia's finger)

to your destiny I link mine...
I am your betrothed.

LUCIA
(in her turn giving a ring to Edgardo)

And I yours.

EDGARDO and LUCIA
Ah, only icy death
can quench our passion.

LUCIA
I call on Love, I call on Heaven
to witness my vows,
etc.

EDGARDO
I call on Heaven to witness my vows,
etc.

We must part now.

LUCIA
Oh, how I dread those words!
My heart goes with you.

EDGARDO
My heart stays here with you,
etc.

LUCIA
Oh, Edgardo, Edgardo!

EDGARDO
We must part now.

LUCIA
Ah, if sometimes you think of me
and send me a letter,
fresh hopes will fortify
my fleeting life.

EDGARDO
I shall always cherish
vivid memories of you, dearest.

LUCIA
Ah!...
On the breeze
will come to you my ardent sighs,
you will hear in the murmuring sea
the echo of my laments.
When you think of me
living on tears and grief,
then shed a bitter tear
on this ring,
ah, on this ring,
etc.

EDGARDO
On the breeze will come to you,
etc.

LUCIA and EDGARDO
Ah! On the breeze will come to you,
etc.

EDGARDO
Remember, Heaven has joined us!

EDGARDO and LUCIA
Farewell!

libretto by Gwyn Morris

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three