“Madama Butterfly” by Giacomo Puccini libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two

ACT ONE

A hill near Nagasaki
A Japanese house, with terraced garden. At back,
below, the harbour and the city. Goro is showing the
house to Pinkerton, who goes from one surprise to
another.

PINKERTON
And ceiling and walls...

GORO
Go back and forth at will,
so that you can enjoy
from the same spot
different views to the usual ones.

PINKERTON
Where is
the nuptial nest?

GORO
Here, or there...depending...

PINKERTON
It has false ends,, too!
And the living room?

GORO (indicating the terrace)
There it is!

PINKERTON
In the open air?

GORO
One side slides along...

PINKERTON
I understand!
Another one...

GORO
...glides along!

PINKERTON
And this ridiculous little place...

GORO
Solid as a tower,
from floor to ceiling.

PINKERTON
...is a concertina house.

GORO
(claps his hands and two men and a woman enter and
kneel before Pinkerton.)
This is the maid
who was your bride's
faithful servant before.
The cook. The manservant. They are embarrassed
by the great honour.

PINKERTON
Their names?

GORO
"Miss Light Cloud."
"Ray of the Rising Sun."
"The Aromatic One."

SUZUKI
Your Honour is smiling?
Laughter is fruit and flower.
The wise Ocunama has said:
"A smile breaks through
a web of trouble.
It opens the shell for the pearl,
to man it opens the gates
of Paradise.
Perfume of the gods...
fountain of life... "
The wise Ocunama has said:
"A smile breaks through a web of troubles."
(Goro realizes that Pinkerton is bored. He claps his
hands. The three servants run back into the house.)

PINKERTON
By her chattering
she seems just like all woman the world over.
What are you looking at?

GORO
To see if the bride's coming yet.

PINKERTON
Is everything ready?

GORO
Everything.

PINKERTON
Priceless pearl of a marriage-broker!

GORO
The Registrar,
the relations,
your Consul and the bride
will all come here.
You'll sign the documents here,
and you'll be married.

PINKERTON
And are there many relations?

GORO
The mother-in-law, the grandmother,
her uncle the Bonze (who won't
honour us with his presence),
and her male and female cousins...
Let's say, with ancestors
and contemporaries, about two dozen.
As for descendants...
Your Grace and the pretty Butterfly
will take good care of that.

PINKERTON
You priceless pearl of a marriage-broker!

VOICE OF SHARPLESS
You sweat and climb,
puff and stumble!

GORO
The Consul's coming up.

SHARPLESS (appearing, out of breath)
Those stones
have reduced me to a jelly!

PINKERTON
Welcome!

GORO
Welcome!

SHARPLESS
Uff!

PINKERTON
Quick, Goro,
some refreshments.

SHARPLESS
It's high up, here!

PINKERTON
But, it's beautiful!

SHARPLESS
Nagasaki, the sea, the harbour...

PINKERTON
And a little house
that works by magic.

SHARPLESS
Is it yours?

PINKERTON
I've bought it for nine hundred
and ninety-nine years,
with the right, every month,
to cancel the agreement.
In this country
houses and contracts
are equally elastic.

SHARPLESS
And the clever man makes the most of it.

PINKERTON
Certainly.
(Goro hurries from the house, followed by two servants
bearing glasses, bottles, plates, cutlery and two wicker
chairs. They lay two places at a little table, and return
to the house.)
Everywhere in the world
the roving Yankee
takes his pleasure and his profit,
indifferent to all risks.
He drops anchor
at random...
(He breaks off to offer a drink to Sharpless.)
Milk punch or whisky?
...He drops anchor
at random
till a sudden squall wrecks
the ship, hawsers rigging and all...
He's not satisfied with life
unless he makes his own
the flowers of every shore...

SHARPLESS
It's an easy-going creed.

PINKERTON
...the love of every pretty girl.

SHARPLESS
...an easy-going creed
that makes life delightful
but saddens the heart.

PINKERTON
If beaten,
he tries his luck again.
He follows his bent
wherever he may be.
So I'm marrying
in Japanese fashion
for nine hundred and
ninety-nine years. With the right
to be freed every month!

SHARPLESS
It's an easy-going creed.

PINKERTON
"America for ever!"

SHARPLESS
"America for ever!"
And is the bride pretty?

GORO (overhearing, comes forward.)
A garland of fresh flowers,
a star with golden rays...

And for next to nothing: only a hundred yen.
If your Grace wishes
I have a good selection.

PINKERTON
Go and fetch her, Goro.

SHARPLESS
What madness has got hold of you!
Are you completely
infatuated?

PINKERTON
I don't know! It depends
on the degree of infatuation!
Love or passing fancy -
I couldn't say.
She's certainly bewitched me
with her innocent arts.
Delicate and fragile as blown glass,
in stature, in bearing
she resembles some figure on a painted screen,
but as, from her background of glossy lacquer,
with a sudden movement
she frees herself; like a butterfly
she flutters and settles
with such quiet grace
that a madness seizes me
to pursue her,
even though I might
damage her wings.

SHARPLESS
The day before yesterday she came
to visit the Consulate.

I didn't see her myself
but I heard her speak.
The mystery of her voice
touched me to the heart.
True love surely
speaks like that.
It would be a great sin
to strip off those delicate wings
and perhaps plunge a trusting heart into despair.
That heavenly, meek, pretty, little voice
shouldn't utter a note of sadness!

PINKERTON
My dear Consul,
don't worry! It's usual
at your age to take a pessimistic view.
There's no great harm done
if I want those wings
to be spread in love's tender flight!
Whisky?

SHARPLESS
Another little glassful.
Here's to your family at home.

PINKERTON
And to the day when I shall get married
in real earnest
to a real American bride.

GORO (re-enters at a run)
Here they come! They've reached
the top of the hill.
You can already hear the swarm

of women rustling like
leaves in the wind!

GIRLS' VOICES
Ah! Ah!
What an expanse of sky!
What an expanse of sea!

VOICE OF BUTTERFLY
Just one more step now...

GIRLS' VOICES
How slow you are!

VOICE OF BUTTERFLY
Wait.

GIRLS' VOICES
Here we are at the summit!
Look, just look at all the flowers!

VOICE OF BUTTERFLY
Over land and sea there floats
a joyous breath of spring.

SHARPLESS
Oh, the gay chatter of youth!

VOICE OF BUTTERFLY
I am the happiest
girl in Japan,
or rather,in the whole world.
Friends, I have come
at the call of love...

I have come to the portals of love
where is gathered the happiness
of all who live and die.

GIRLS' VOICES
Joy to you, sweet friend,
but before crossing
the threshold which draws you,
turn and look at
the things which you hold dear,
look at all that sky,
all those flowers and all that sea!

BUTTERFLY
We have arrived.
(She sees the group of men and recognises Pinkerton.
She closes her parasol smartly, and points Pinkerton
out to her friends.)
B. F. Pinkerton. Down.

GIRL FRIENDS
Down.

BUTTERFLY
Good luck attend you.

GIRL FRIENDS
Our respects.

PINKERTON
The climb is
rather difficult?

BUTTERFLY
To a court bride
impatience is more trying.

PINKERTON
A very rare complement.

BUTTERFLY
I know some even prettier ones.

PINKERTON
Real gems!

BUTTERFLY
If you like, this very instant...

PINKERTON
Thank you...no.

SHARPLESS
Miss Butterfly. A pretty name -
it suits you to perfection.
Do you come from Nagasaki?

BUTTERFLY
Yes, sir. From a family
which at one time was quite well-to-do.
(to her friends)
Isn't that so?

GIRL FRIENDS
It is!

BUTTERFLY
No one ever admits
he was born in poverty.
There's not a beggar
who, to hear him, doesn't
come of high lineage. All the same,
I have known riches.
But storms uproot
the sturdiest oaks...
and we became geishas
to support ourselves.
(to her friends)
That's so, isn't it?

GIRL FRIENDS
It is!

BUTTERFLY
I don't hide it,
neither do I feel hard done by.
Why do you laugh?
It's the way of the world.

PINKERTON
With those childlike ways,
when she talks she sets my blood on fire.

SHARPLESS
And have you any sisters?

BUTTERFLY
No, sir. I have my mother.

GORO
A noble lady.

BUTTERFLY
But without wronging her,
very poor, too.

SHARPLESS
And your father?

BUTTERFLY (abruptly)
Dead.

SHARPLESS
How old are you?

BUTTERFLY
Guess.

SHARPLESS
Ten.

BUTTERFLY
Make it more.

SHARPLESS
Twenty.

BUTTERFLY
Make it less.
Just exactly fifteen;
I'm already old.

SHARPLESS
Fifteen!

PINKERTON
Fifteen!

SHARPLESS
The age for games...

PINKERTON
...and wedding cake.

GORO
The Imperial Commissioner,
the Registrar,
the bride's family.

PINKERTON
Get on with it quickly.
(Goro runs into the house. Pinkerton talks apart to the
Consul.)
What a farce, this parade
of my new relations,

COUSIN and RELATIONS
He's not handsome, truly.
He's not handsome.

BUTTERFLY
He's so handsome
one just couldn't imagine anything better!

MOTHER and FRIENDS
He seems like a king to me.
He's worth a fortune.

COUSIN (to Butterfly)
Goro offered him to me too,
but he has got no for an answer!

BUTTERFLY
Of course, you would!

RELATIONS (to cousin)
Her looks have already faded.
He'll divorce her.

COUSIN and RELATIONS
I hope so.
UNCLE YAKUSIDE
Is there any wine here?
Let's have a look.
I've just seen some the colour of tea,
and some red!

GORO
For goodness sake, keep quiet!
Sh! Sh! Sh!

SHARPLESS
My lucky young friend!
Lucky Pinkerton,
on whom Fate has bestowed
this newly opened flower!

PINKERTON
Yes, it's true, she's a flower, a flower!
Her exotic fragrance
has turned my head.

COUSIN and RELATIONS
He offered him to me too,
but I answered I don't want him!

MOTHER and FRIENDS
He's too handsome, he seems like a king to me!
I wouldn't have answered no,
I would never have said no!

SHARPLESS
No lovelier girl have I ever seen
than this Butterfly.
And if you don't take this contract
and her trust seriously...

COUSIN and RELATIONS
Without looking too hard
I've found better,
and I shall roundly tell him no!

MOTHER and FRIENDS
No, my dears, I didn't think so,
he's a real gentleman,
and I would not say no!

BUTTERFLY
Attention, listen to me.

PINKERTON
Yes, it's true, she's a flower, a flower,
and, upon my honour, I've plucked her!

SHARPLESS
...Beware! She believes in them!

BUTTERFLY
Mother, come here.
Listen to me:

attention, come now,
one, two, three,
and everybody down.
(They all bow low in front of Pinkerton and Sharpless.
Pinkerton takes Butterfly's hand.)

PINKERTON
Come, my love,
do you like our little house?

BUTTERFLY
Mr. B. F. Pinkerton, excuse me...
I would like.. a few woman's possessions...

PINKERTON
Where are they?

BUTTERFLY
They're here...you don't mind?
(She produces various small objects from the capacious sleeves of her kimono.)

PINKERTON
Why ever should I, my pretty Butterfly?

BUTTERFLY
Handkerchiefs. Pipe.
A sash. A little clasp.
A mirror. A fan.

PINKERTON
What's that pot?

BUTTERFLY
A jar of rouge.

PINKERTON
Oh dear!

BUTTERFLY
Don't you like it?
(She throws it away.)
A way with it!

PINKERTON
And that?

BUTTERFLY
My most sacred possession.

PINKERTON
And mayn't one see it?

BUTTERFLY
There are too many people.
Forgive me.

GORO (whispering to Pinkerton)
It's a present from the Mikado
to her father...inviting him to...
(He imitates the gesture of hara-kiri.)

PINKERTON
And her father?

GORO
Obeyed.

BUTTERFLY
(taking some statuettes from her sleeve)
My Ottoke.

PINKERTON
These puppets? You said?

BUTTERFLY
They are the spirits of my ancestors.

PINKERTON
Oh! My respects.

BUTTERFLY
Yesterday I went, alone
and in secret, to the Mission.
With my new life
I can adopt a new religion.
My uncle, the Bonze, doesn't know,
neither do my people.
I follow my destiny
and, filled with humility,
I kneel before
Mr. Pinkerton's God.
It is my fate.
In the same little church,
beside you on my knees,
I will pray to the same God,
and to please you I may perhaps be able
to forget my own people.
My dearest love!

GORO
Quiet, everybody!

COMMISSIONER
It is permitted to the herein named
Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton,
Lieutenant in the warship Lincoln,

United States Navy,
North America,
and to Miss Butterfly
of the Omara district of Nagasaki,
to be united in matrimony,
the first by right
of his own wish
and she by consent of her relations
here witness to the contract.

GORO (with ceremony)
The bridegroom.
Then the bride.
And everything's concluded.

FRIENDS
Madam Butterfly!

BUTTERFLY
Madam B. F. Pinkerton.

COMMISSIONER
My best wishes.

PINKERTON
Many thanks.

COMMISSIONER
Are you going, sir?

SHARPLESS
I'll go along with you.
(to Pinkerton)
See you tomorrow.

PINKERTON
Capital.

OFFICIAL REGISTRAR
May you have many descendants.

PINKERTON
I'll try.

SHARPLESS (going, to Pinkerton)
Have a care!
(Sharpless, the Rigstrar and the Commissioner leave.)

PINKERTON(to himself)
And here we are in the family circle!
Let's get rid of all these people
as soon as we decently can.
(He raises his glass.)
Hip! Hip!

RELATIONS
O Kami! O Kami!

PINKERTON
Let's drink to the new ties.
(Suddenly a terrifying character appears. It is the
Bonze, who comes forward in a rage; holding his hand
out towards Butterfly, he threatens her.)

BONZE
Cho-Cho-San! Abomination!

BUTTERFLY and RELATIONS
Our uncle the Bonze!

GORO
Confound the spoilsport!
Who will rid us
of such nuisances?

BONZE
Cho-Cho-San! What were you up to
at the Mission?

ALL
Answer, Cho-Cho-San!

PINKERTON
What's that madman shouting about?

BONZE
Answer, what were you about?
What, can your eyes be dry!
So then, these are the fruits?
She has renounced us all.

ALL
Oh, Cho-Cho-San!

BONZE
I tell you she has renounced
our ancient faith.

ALL
Oh! Cho-Cho-San!

BONZE
Kami sarundasico!
What torments
threaten your lost soul!

PINKERTON
Hey, that's enough, I say!

BONZE
Come, everybody!
Let us go!
You have renounced us and we
renounce you!

PINKERTON
Get out of here at once.
I'll have no shindy in my house
and none of this bonzing!

ALL (leaving)
Oh! Cho-Cho-San! Kami sarundasico!
Oh! Cho-Cho-San! We renounce you!

PINKERTON
Dear child, don't cry
over that croaking of frogs.

RELATIONS (far off)
Oh! Cho-Cho-San!

BUTTERFLY
They're still howling!

PINKERTON
The whole tribe of them
and all the bonzes in Japan
aren't worth a tear
from your sweet, pretty eyes!

BUTTERFLY
Really? Then I won't cry any more.
And I scarcely mind
their repudiation
because of your words
which echo so sweetly in my heart.
(She kisses his hand.)

PINKERTON
What are you doing? My hand?

BUTTERFLY
I've been told that over there
among well-bred people
it's a sign
of the greatest respect.

SUZUKI (from inside the house)
Izaghi, Izanami sarundasico,
Kami, Izaghi,
Izanami sarundasico, Kami.

PINKERTON
Who's that muttering in there?

BUTTERFLY
It's Suzuki saying
her evening prayers.

PINKERTON
Night is falling.

BUTTERFLY
And darkness and peace.

PINKERTON
And you are here alone.

BUTTERFLY
Alone and renounced!
Renounced and happy!

PINKERTON
(claps; the servants run out.)
Come here and close up the house.

BUTTERFLY
Yes, yes, we are all alone...
and the world shut outside...

PINKERTON
And the furious Bonze.

BUTTERFLY
Suzuki, my clothes.
(Suzuki goes to a chest and gives Butterfly her night
clothes.)

SUZUKI
Good night.

BUTTERFLY
I long to take off
this ceremonial sash,
let the bride be dressed
in pure white.
Whispering to himself
he smiles and watches me.

If I could only hide!
It makes me blush so!
And still the angry voice
is cursing me...
Butterfly renounced,
renounced... and happy.

PINKERTON
With squirrel-like movements
she shakes the knots loose and undoes them!
To think that this little toy
is my wife! My wife!
But she displays such grace
that I am consumed
by a fever
of sudden desire!
(Pinkerton approaches Butterfly, who has finished
dressing.)
Dear child, with eyes full of witchery,
now you are all mine.
You're dressed all in lily-white.
I love your dark tresses
amid the white of your veils.

BUTTERFLY
I am like the moon-goddess,
the little goddess of the moon,
who comes down at night
from the bridge of heaven.

PINKERTON
And captivates all hearts...

BUTTERFLY
...and takes them and folds them
in a white cloak.
And carries them away
to the higher regions.

PINKERTON
But meanwhile, you haven't told me yet,
you haven't told me you love me.
Does that goddess know the words
that satisfy burning desire?

BUTTERFLY
She does. Maybe she's unwilling
to say them for fear of dying of it,
for fear of dying of it!

PINKERTON
Foolish fear -
love does not kill,
but gives life and smiles
for heavenly joy,
as it does now
in your almond eyes.

BUTTERFLY
For me you are now
the eye of heaven.
And I liked you from the first moment
I set eyes on you.
You are tall and strong.
You laugh out so heartily.
And you say things
I've never heard in my life before.
I'm happy now, so happy.

Love me with a little love,
a child-like love,
the kind that suits me.
Love me, please...
We are a people used to small,
modest, quiet things,
to a tenderness gently caressing,
yet vast as the sky
and as the waves of the sea.

PINKERTON
Give me your dear hands
and let me kiss them!
My Butterfly!
How aptly you were named,
fragile butterfly!

BUTTERFLY
They say that overseas
if it should fall into the hands of man
a butterfly is stuck through
with a pin
and fixed to a board!

PINKERTON
There's some truth in that;
and do you know why?
So that it shouldn't fly away again.
I've caught you...
Quivering, I press you to me.
You're mine.

BUTTERFLY
Yes, for life.

PINKERTON
Come along, come...
Cast all sad fears
out of your heart!
The night is clear! See,
all things sleep!
You are mine! Oh, come!

BUTTERFLY
Oh, lovely night! What a lot of stars!
Never have I seen them so beautiful!
Every spark twinkles and shines
with the brilliance of an eye.
Oh! What a lot of eyes fixed and staring,
looking at us from all sides!
In the sky, along the shore,
out to sea...the sky is smiling!
Oh, lovely night!
In a ecstasy of love
the sky is smiling!

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two