“Madama Butterfly” by Giacomo Puccini libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two

ACT TWO

Inside Butterfly's house
(Suzuki is praying in front of a statue of Buddha,
occasionally ringing the prayer-bell. Butterfly is
standing, erect and immobile, by a screen.)

SUZUKI
Izaghi, Izanami,
sarundasico Kami...
Oh, my head!
And thou, Ten-Sjoo-daj,

don't let Butterfly
cry any more, any more.

BUTTERFLY
Fat and lazy
are the gods of Japan.
The American God,
I'm sure,
is much quicker in answering
those who pray to him.
But I'm afraid he may not know
we have our home here.
Suzuki...
how long will it be before we run out of money?
(Suzuki opens a little table, takes out a few coins and
shows them to Butterfly.)

SUZUKI
This is all we have left.

BUTTERFLY
This? Oh! We've been too extravagant!

SUZUKI
If he doesn't come back, and soon,
we shall be in a bad way.

BUTTERFLY
But he will come back!

SUZUKI
He will come back?

BUTTERFLY
Why does he arrange for the Consul
to look after the rent?
Tell me, quick!
Why did he take such care to have
the house fitted with locks
if he didn't mean to come back again?

SUZUKI
I don't know.

BUTTERFLY
You don't know?
I'll tell you then:
in order to keep mosquitos,
relations and troubles outside,
and inside, jealously guarded,
his bride -
his bride - me - Butterfly!

SUZUKI
No one has ever heard
of a foreign husband
returning to his home.

BUTTERFLY
Be quiet, or I'll kill you!
On that last morning,
"Are you coming back, sir?"
I asked him.
With a heavy heart,
trying to hide his unhappiness from me,
smiling he replied:
"Oh, Butterfly,
my dear sweet little wife,

I'll return with the roses
in that happy season
when the robin
builds his nest."
He'll come back.

SUZUKI
Let us hope so.

BUTTERFLY
Say it with me.
He'll come back.

SUZUKI
He'll come back.

BUTTERFLY
You're crying? Whatever for?
Oh, you are lacking in faith!
Listen.
One fine day we'll see
a wisp of smoke arising
over the extreme verge of the sea's horizon,
and afterwards the ship will appear.
Then the white ship
will enter the harbour, will thunder
a salute. You see?
He's arrived!
I shan't go down to meet him.
No, I shall stand there
on the brow of the hill and wait,
and wait a long time,
and I shan't find
the long wait wearisome.

And from the midst of the city crowd
a man - a tiny speck -
will make his way up the hill.
Who can it be?
And when he arrives -
what, what will he say?
He'll call, "Butterfly!"
from the distance.
Not answering, I'll
remain hidden,
partly to tease,
and partly so as not to die
at the first meeting.
And, a trifle worried,
he'll call, he'll call
"My dear little wife,
fragrance of verbena!" -
the names he used to call me
when he came here.
And this will happen,
I promise you.
Keep your fears;
with unalterable faith I shall wait for him.
(She dismisses Suzuki, who leaves. Sharpless and Goro
can be seen entering the garden.)

GORO
She's there. Go in.

SHARPLESS
Excuse me...Madam Butterfly...

BUTTERFLY
Madam Pinkerton, please.
(She turns round.)

Oh! My dear consul,
my dear sir!

SHARPLESS
You remember me?

BUTTERFLY
Welcome to an American house.

SHARPLESS
Thank you.

BUTTERFLY
Your grandparents and ancestors are quite well?

SHARPLESS
I sincerely hope so.

BUTTERFLY
Will you smoke?
(She beckons to Suzuki to prepare the pipe.)

SHARPLESS
Thank you. I have here...

BUTTERFLY
Sir, I see the skies are blue.

SHARPLESS
No thank you. I have...

BUTTERFLY
Perhaps you would prefer American cigarettes?

SHARPLESS
Thank you. I have to show you...

BUTTERFLY (offering Sharpless a light)
Here you are.

SHARPLESS
Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton has written to me...

BUTTERFLY
Really! Is he quite well?

SHARPLESS
Perfectly.

BUTTERFLY
I am the happiest woman in Japan.
May I ask you a question?

SHARPLESS
Certainly.

BUTTERFLY
When do the robins make their nests
in America?

SHARPLESS
What did you say?

BUTTERFLY
Yes...before or after they do here?

SHARPLESS
But...why?

SHARPLESS
My husband promised
to return in that happy season
when the robin builds his nest again.
Here, it has done so
three times already, but it may be
that over there it doesn't nest so often.
Who's that laughing?
Oh, it's the marriage-broker.
A bad man.

GORO
I am enjoying...

BUTTERFLY
Be quiet.
(to Sharpless)
He dared...
No, first answer my question.

SHARPLESS
I'm sorry, but I don't know.
I haven't studied ornithology.

BUTTERFLY
Orni...

SHARPLESS
...thology.

BUTTERFLY
So you don't know, then.

SHARPLESS
No. We were saying...

BUTTERFLY
Ah, yes... Goro, as soon as
B. F. Pinkerton was at sea,
he came annoying me
with gossip and presents,
offering me first this one,
then that one in second marriage.
Now he's promising me riches
from a silly idiot.

GORO
The rich Yamadori.
She hasn't a penny.
Her relations
have all renounced her.
(Beyond the terrace Yamadori can be seen approaching
on a palanquin, surrounded by servants.)

BUTTERFLY
There he is. Look.
Yamadori...
aren't you disillusioned
with love's pains yet?
Do you still intend to cut your veins
if I refuse you a kiss?

YAMADORI
One of the most annoying things
is hopeless sighing.

BUTTERFLY
You've had so many wives by now
you must be used to it.

YAMADORI
I married them, one and all,
and divorce has set me free.

BUTTERFLY
Most obliged.

YAMADORI
But to you I would vow
to be faithful.

SHARPLESS
I'm afraid I shan't succeed
in delivering the message...

GORO
Villas, servants, gold, and at Omara
a princely palace!

BUTTERFLY
My troth is plighted already.

GORO and YAMADORI (to Sharpless)
She thinks she's married.

BUTTERFLY
I don't think so - I am. I am.

GORO
But the law...

BUTTERFLY
I don't know anything about that.

GORO
...for the wife has made desertion
equivalent to divorce.

BUTTERFLY
The Japanese law...
not that of my country now.

GORO
Which country?

BUTTERFLY
The United States.

SHARPLESS
Poor thing!

BUTTERFLY
We're quite aware that to open the door
and chase out the wife
with no further ado
is called divorce here.
But in America you can't do that.
(to Sharpless)
Can you?

SHARPLESS
No. But...

BUTTERFLY
There, a good judge, grave
and upright, says to the husband:

"You want to go away?
Let us hear why?"
"I'm bored
with married life!"
And the magistrate:
"You rascal,
into prison with you, quick!"
Tea, Suzuki.

YAMADORI
You heard?

SHARPLESS
Such utter
blindness grieves me deeply.

GORO
Pinkerton's ship
is already signalled.

YAMADORI
When she sees him again...

SHARPLESS
He doesn't wish to show himself.
I have come expressly
to relieve her of any illusions on that score.

BUTTERFLY
If your Grace will allow...
What tiresome people!

YAMADORI
Farewell. I leave you
with my heart full of grief,
but I still hope...

BUTTERFLY
Please yourself.

YAMADORI
Oh, if only you would...

BUTTERFLY
The trouble is, I don't want to.
(Yamadori leaves. Goro follows him.)

SHARPLESS
Our turn now.
Sit down here.
Will you read
this letter with me?

BUTTERFLY
Give it to me.
(She takes it and kisses it, then gives it back to the
Consul.)
To my lips, on my heart...
You're the kindest man in the whole world.
Please begin.

SHARPLESS
"My dear friend, will you go and see
that pretty flower of a girl... "

BUTTERFLY
Does he really say that?

SHARPLESS
Yes, he does,
but if every moment...

BUTTERFLY
I'll keep quiet, I'll keep quiet.
I won't interrupt any more.

SHARPLESS
"Since that happy time
three years have gone by... "

BUTTERFLY
He's counted them, too!

SHARPLESS
"And perhaps Butterfly
does not remember me any more."

BUTTERFLY
Not remember him?
- Suzuki, tell him.
"Does not remember me any more... "

SHARPLESS
Patience!
"If she still loves me,
if she expects me... "

BUTTERFLY
Oh, what sweet words!
You blessed, blessed letter!

SHARPLESS
"I beg you to be so good as,
with tact, to prepare her gently..."

BUTTERFLY
He's coming.

SHARPLESS
"... for the blow."

BUTTERFLY
When? Quick! Quick!

SHARPLESS (to himself)
This is fine, I must say!
I must break it to her without more ado.
That devil of a Pinkerton!
(to Butterfly)
Well now, what would you do,
Madam Butterfly,
if he were never
to return?

BUTTERFLY
I could do one of two things:
go back to entertaining people
with my songs;
or better, die.

SHARPLESS
It grieves me deeply to rob you
of your illusions.
Accept the proposal
of the wealthy Yamadori.

BUTTERFLY
You! You, sir, tell me this! You!

SHARPLESS
Great God, what am I to do?

BUTTERFLY
Come here quickly, Suzuki.
His Grace is going.

SHARPLESS
Are you turning me out?

BUTTERFLY
Please,
forget what I said.

SHARPLESS
I was brutal,
I don't deny it.

BUTTERFLY
Oh, you hurt me so much,
so much, so very much!
It's nothing, nothing! I thought I was going to die,
but it soon passes like
clouds over the sea...
Has he forgotten me, then?
(Going into the inner room, she returns with a child in
her arms.)
And this? And this?
Can he forget this as well?

SHARPLESS
It is his?

BUTTERFLY
Whoever saw a
Japanese child with blue eyes?
And his mouth?
And his curls of pure gold?

SHARPLESS
It's obvious. And does Pinkerton know?

BUTTERFLY
No, no. The child was born
after he'd gone back
to that great country of his. But you
will write him
that a son without equal
is waiting for him here!
And then you'll see
if he doesn't come hurrying
over the land and sea!
Do you know what that gentleman
had the heart to think?
That your mother would have
to take you in her arms
and in all weathers
walk the city streets
to earn you
food and clothing,
and to the pitying crowd
stretch out a trembling hand,
crying, "Listen, listen
to my sad tale.
Charity for an unhappy mother!
Have pity!"
And Butterfly - oh, horrible fate -
will dance for you!

And as she used to do,
the geisha will sing!
And the gay and merry song
will end in a sob!
Oh no, no, never!
Not that profession
which leads to dishonour!
Rather let me die! To dance no more!
I will cut my life short rather!
Oh, let me die!

SHARPLESS (to himself)
How pitiful!
(to Butterfly)
I must go back now.
Will you forgive me?

BUTTERFLY
You... give him your hand.

SHARPLESS
What pretty fair curls!
What is your name, darling?

BUTTERFLY
Answer:
My name is Sorrow now.
But when you write
to Daddy tell him
that the day he comes back
I shall be called Joy, Joy!

SHARPLESS
Your father shall know it. I promise you.
(He leaves hurriedly.)

SUZUKI (shouting outside)
Serpent! Accursed toad!
(She comes in, dragging Goro by the ear.)

BUTTERFLY
What's happened?

SUZUKI
He buzzes round us,
the vampire! And every day
to the four winds he spreads abroad
that nobody knows
who the baby's father is!

GORO
I only said
that over there in America
when a child is born so unfortunate
he will always be an outcast
among people!

BUTTERFLY
Ah! you lie! you lie! you lie!
Say it again and I'll kill you!

SUZUKI
No!

BUTTERFLY
Get out!
You'll see, my little love,
my sorrow and my comfort,
my little love,
oh, you will see, your avenger will

take us far, far away
to his own country...he'll take us far away.
(A cannon is heard.)

SUZUKI
The harbour gun!
A warship!

BUTTERFLY
It's white... white... the American flag!
with the stars...
Now it's manoeuvring to drop anchor.
(She takes the telescope.)
Steady my hand
so that I can see the name...
the name, the name...
There it is: Abraham Lincoln!
They all lied! The lot of them!
I alone knew...
Only I who love him.
Do you see how foolish your doubts were?
He's come! He's come! He's come!
Just at the very moment
when everybody said:
weep and despair!
My love triumphs, yes, triumphs!
My faith is completely vindicated!
He has come back and he loves me!
Shake that branch of the cherry tree
and rain down
blooms on me.
I want to plunge
my burning brow in its fragrant rain.

SUZUKI
Madam, calm yourself...those tears...

BUTTERFLY
No, no, I'm laughing!
How long shall we have to wait for him?
What do you think? An hour?

SUZUKI
Longer.

BUTTERFLY
Two hours, maybe.
Everywhere
must be full of flowers,
as the night is of stars.
Go and pick the flowers!

SUZUKI
All of them?

BUTTERFLY
All of them, all, all.
Peach blossom, violets, jasmine -
every bush, plant
and tree that's in flower!

SUZUKI
The whole garden will be
as desolate as winter.

BUTTERFLY
I want all the perfume
of spring in here.

SUZUKI
The whole garden will be
as desolate as winter.
Here you are, Madam.

BUTTERFLY
Pick some more.

SUZUKI
You used to come to this hedge
so often to gaze in tears,
far out over the empty expanse.

BUTTERFLY
The long-awaited one has come,
I ask nothing more of the sea,
I gave tears to the soil,
it gives its flowers to me!

SUZUKI
The garden's bare.

BUTTERFLY
Is it? Then come
and help me.

SUZUKI
Roses at the entrance to the threshold.

BUTTERFLY
I want all the perfume of spring
in here.

BUTTERFLY and SUZUKI
Let us sow April all about us.

SUZUKI
Lilies? Violets?

BUTTERFLY
Scatter lilies and violets all about us!
His chair let us twine
with flower garlands!

BUTTERFLY and SUZUKI
By the handful let's scatter
violets and tuberoses,
blossoms of verbena,
petals of every flower!

BUTTERFLY
Now, come and dress me.
But no! First bring me the baby.
I'm no longer what I was.
These lips have breathed too many sighs...
and these eyes have gazed
too hard into the distance.
Give my face
a touch of rouge...
and you too, little one,
so that the long wait
won't leave your cheeks
pale and hollow.

SUZUKI
Keep still,
I have to do your hair.

BUTTERFLY
What will they say now?
And my uncle, the Bonze?

All of them so glad
at my sad plight!
And Yamadori, with his languishing!
Ridiculed, disgraced,
shown up, the unkind creatures!

SUZUKI
I've finished.

BUTTERFLY
The sash I wore as a bride.
Bring it here for me to put on.
I want him to see me dressed
as I was that first day.
And a red poppy
in my hair... like that.
Now we'll make three little holes
in the paper screen to look through,
and we'll stay quiet as mice,
waiting.
(Butterfly leads the baby to the soshi and makes three
holes in it; Suzuki sits on her haunches and looks out.
Butterfly places herself in front of the biggest hole, and
looking outside remains motionless and rigid as a
statue. The baby is between his mother and Suzuki, and
looks outside curiously. Night has fallen. Moon beams
light up the soshi from outside. From far away voices
can be heard humming.)

Humming chorus

It is dawn. Butterfly still stands watching, motionless.
The baby and Susuki are asleep. Sailor's voices are
heard from the harbour below.
SAILORS VOICES (from afar)
Oh eh! Oh eh! Oh eh!

SUZUKI
The sun's up already!
Cho-Cho-San!

BUTTERFLY
He'll come... he'll come, you'll see.

SUZUKI
Go and rest, you're tired out...
When he arrives I'll call you.

BUTTERFLY
Sleep, my love,
sleep on my heart.
You are with God,
and I'm with my sorrow.
On you shine the rays
of the golden stars...
Sleep, my child.

SUZUKI
Poor Butterfly!

BUTTERFLY
Sleep, my love,
sleep on my heart.

You are with god,
and I'm with my sorrow.

SUZUKI
Poor Butterfly!
Who can that be?
Oh!
(Pinkerton and Sharpless enter.)

PINKERTON
Hush! Hush! Don't wake her.

SUZUKI
She was quite worn out!
She has been standing waiting for you
all night long with the baby.

PINKERTON
How did she know?

SUZUKI
For three years now
no ship has put into the harbour
without Butterfly scrutinising
its colour and flag from afar.

SHARPLESS (to Pinkerton)
I told you, didn't I?

SUZUKI
I'll call her...

PINKERTON
No, not yet.

SUZUKI
You see, last night
she insisted on strewing
flowers all over the room.

SHARPLESS
I told you, didn't I?

PINKERTON
This is dreadful!

SUZUKI
Who's that out there in the garden?
It's a woman!

PINKERTON
Hush!

SUZUKI
Who is it? Who is it?

SHARPLESS
Best tell her everything.

SUZUKI
Who is it? Who is it?

PINKERTON
She has come with me.

SUZUKI
Who is it? Who is it?

SHARPLESS
His wife.

SUZUKI
Holy spirits of my ancestors!
For the little one
the sun has gone out!

SHARPLESS
We chose this early hour
in order to find you alone, Suzuki,
and in this hour of trial
to seek some means of consolation
and support with you.

SUZUKI
What's the use? What's the use?

SHARPLESS
I know that for her deep distress
there is no consolation.
But it is necessary to provide
for the child's future.

PINKERTON
Oh, the bitter perfume
of these flowers
is poison to the heart!
The room where we loved
is unchanged...

SHARPLESS
That kind woman
who dares not enter
will care like a mother
for the child.

SUZUKI
Oh, I'm so miserable!
And you want me
to ask a mother...

SHARPLESS
Come, speak to that kind lady
and bring her in here.
Even if Butterfly should see her,
no matter... On the contrary,
better if she should realize
the truth through seeing her.
Come, Suzuki, come...

PINKERTON
But the coldness of death is in here.
My picture!...
Three years have passed,
and she has counted the days
and the hours!
I can't stay here...
Sharpless, I'll wait for you
on the way back...

SHARPLESS
Didn't I tell you so?

PINKERTON
You give her some help...
I am completely crushed by remorse.

SHARPLESS
I told you! Do you remember?
When she gave you her hand,

"Beware!" I said, "she believes in all this!"
and my words were prophetic then!
Deaf to advice,
deaf to all doubts, a victim of scorn,
obstinately waiting,
she fortified her heart.

PINKERTON
Yes, all in an instant
I see how I have sinned
and realise I shall never
find respite from this torture.
Never!

SHARPLESS
Go.
The sad truth
she'll learn alone.

PINKERTON
Farewell, flowery refuge
of happiness and love...
Her sweet face will haunt me ever,
torturing me agonizingly.

SHARPLESS
But by now the faithful heart
maybe half suspects. I told you, etc.

PINKERTON
Farewell, flowery refuge...
I can't bear your desolation...
I must fly! I'm beneath contempt!

SHARPLESS
Go, she will learn the sad truth.
(Pinkerton hurries away as Kate and Suzuki come in
from the garden.)
KATE
Will you tell her that?

SUZUKI
I promise.
KATE
And you'll advise her
to trust me?

SUZUKI
Yes.
KATE
I'll care for him like my own son.

SUZUKI
I believe you. But I must
be quite alone with her...
quite alone in this hour of crisis!
She'll cry so bitterly!

BUTTERFLY
Suzuki! Suzuki! Where are you?
Suzuki!

SUZUKI
Here I am...
I was praying tidying up...

No... no... no...
Don't come in... no... no...

BUTTERFLY
He's here, he's here...
where's he hidden?
He's here... he's here...
There's the Consul...
and where?... where?
He isn't here!
That woman?
What does she want at my house?
Nobody speaks!
Why are you crying?
No, don't tell me anything...
I might fall dead on the spot.
You, Suzuki, who are so good,
don't cry!
You love me so much -
yes or no - whisper...
Is he alive?

SUZUKI
Yes.

BUTTERFLY
But he won't come back any more.
They've told you?
Serpent! Will you answer me?

SUZUKI
Never again.

BUTTERFLY
But he arrived yesterday?

SUZUKI
Yes.

BUTTERFLY
Oh, that woman makes
me feel so afraid,
so afraid!

SHARPLESS
She is the innocent cause
of all your misfortunes.
Forgive her.

BUTTERFLY
Ah! she's his wife!
Everything is finished for me!
Everything is over! Oh!

SHARPLESS
Be brave.

BUTTERFLY
They want to take everything
away from me! My son!

SHARPLESS
Make the sacrifice for his sake.

BUTTERFLY
Oh, unhappy mother!
To be obliged to give up my son!
Very well then!
I must obey him in everything.

KATE
Can you ever forgive me, Butterfly?

BUTTERFLY
Under the great dome of heaven,
there isn't a happier woman than you.
May you always be so...
Don't upset yourself about me...
KATE
Poor little thing!

SHARPLESS
It's a terrible shame!
KATE
And will she give up the child?

BUTTERFLY
I'll be able to give up the child to him,
if he'll come and fetch him.
Return up the hill
in half-an-hour's time.

SUZUKI
Like the wings of a captive fly
her little heart is beating!

BUTTERFLY
There's too much light outside,
and too much spring.
Close the screens to.
Where's the baby?

SUZUKI
He's playing...Shall I call him?

BUTTERFLY
Let him play...
Go and keep him company.

SUZUKI
I'll stay with you.

BUTTERFLY
Go along, I order you to.
(Suzuki goes out, crying. Butterfly lights a taper in
front of the sanctuary, and bows. Then she takes her
father's knife from the wall, kisses it, and slowly reads
the inscription on the blade.)
"He dies with honour
who cannot live with honour."
(As she places the blade against her throat, the door
opens and Suzuki's arm pushes the child towards his
mother. Butterfly drops the knife and rushes to the
child, which she seizes up and kisses passionately.)
You? You? You?
Little idol of my heart.
My Love, my love,
flower of the lily and rose.
Never know that, for you,
for your innocent eyes,
Butterfly is about to die...
so that you may go
away beyond the sea
without being subject to remorse
in later years

for your mother's desertion.
Oh, you who have come down to me
from high heaven,
look well, well
on your mother's face,
that you may keep a faint memory of it,
look well!
Little love, farewell!
Farewell, my little love!
Go and play.
(She picks up the child and sets him down on a mat;
she gives him an American flag and a doll to play with
and gently blindfolds his eyes. Picking up the knife she
goes behind the screen. Then appearing from behind
the screen with the white veil clasped round her
throat, Butterfly staggers across the room towards the
baby, and collapses beside him.)

VOICE OF PINKERTON
Butterfly! Butterfly! Butterfly!
(Pinkerton and Sharpless burst into the room, and run
to her side. With a weak gesture Butterfly points to her
child and dies. Pinkerton kneels down beside her, while
Sharpless goes to pick up the child.)

END

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two