“Manon Lescaut” by Giacomo Puccini libretto (English)

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

ACT ONE

AT AMIENS

A large square near the Paris Gate.
(On the right, an avenue. On the left, an inn with a
portico under which tables are laid out. A small outside
staircase leads to the first floor of the inn. Students,
townspeople and soldiers stroll about the square or
stand talking in groups. Others sit at the tables
drinking or playing cards.)

EDMONDO (in a knot of fellow students)
Hail, gentle evening descending
with your train of zephyrs and stars;
hail, so dear to poets and lovers –

STUDENTS
Ha ha ha!
And to thieves and drunks!
We have cut short your madrigal!

EDMONDO
And I thank you.
Here gaily flocking up the avenue
come our fresh, laughing and pretty
working-girls.

STUDENTS
Now the avenue is brightening up.

EDMONDO
I’ll devise a madrigal,
artful, bold and merry.
They come flocking,
our young working girls –

STUDENTS
Fresh, laughing and pretty.

EDMONDO
I’ll devise a madrigal, artful and merry,
and may my Muse excel in gallantry!
(to some of the girls)
Youth is our name,
Hope is our goddess;
indomitable courage
drags us by the hair.

STUDENTS
Youth is our name!
Hope is our goddess;
indomitable courage
drags us by the hair.
Divine ecstasy!
Now, you laughing girls
made for love, surrender your hearts.

GIRLS
A wave of perfume drifts through the air,
the swallows fly away
and the sunlight dies.

STUDENTS, then TOWNSPEOPLE
Give your lips, give your hearts
to valiant youth.

GIRLS
This is the hour of day-dreams
when hope struggles with sadness.
(Des Grieux enters, dressed as a student.)

STUDENTS
Here is Des Grieux!

EDMONDO (to Des Grieux)
Come and join us, friend, and laugh
and yield to the urge of strange adventure.
What? No reply? Why?
Perhaps for some unattainable lady
a sharp pang of love pierces you?

DES GRIEUX
Love? Love?
Of that tragedy, or rather farce,
I know nothing!
(Edmondo and some of the students talk to Des Grieux.
Others court the girls at the entrance to the avenue.)

STUDENTS
Rubbish! Cautiously, blithely, you are concealing
mysterious conquests.

DES GRIEUX
Friends, you do me too much honour.

EDMONDO and STUDENTS
By jove, we’ve guessed it, friend.
You’re worried over a snub.

DES GRIEUX
No, not yet,
but if it pleases you I’ll humour you –
and at once!
(He approaches a group of girls.)
Among you, dark and fair beauties,
is there hiding a pretty, charming girl
with rosy lips who waits for me?
Is it you, fair star? Tell me!
Show me my destiny
and the divine, ardent face
which shall capture my love,
which I shall gaze upon and adore eternally!
(Edmondo and the other students laugh.)
Among you, dark and fair beauties, etc.
Is it you, slender brunette? Tell me!

EDMONDO and STUDENTS
Bravo! Bravo!

EDMONDO
Take note, companions,
let no-one complain about him any more!

STUDENTS, GIRLS, TOWNSPEOPLE
Bravo!
Let’s celebrate the evening
as is our custom.
Let the glasses ring
with merry music in the toasts
and let the ardent enchantment

of pleasure sweep us away!
Ah! let’s celebrate!
Dances, toasts, mad caprices,
the procession of pleasure
now advances along the streets,
and night will reign;
shining and impetuous,
it is a poem of splendour:
let its light and passion
conquer all.
Shining and impetuous, etc.
(A postilions horn is heard.)
Here comes the coach from Arras!
(The coach stops outside the inn and the crowd
watches the passengers alight. First Lescaut, then
Geronte who helps Manon to the ground.)
Let’s see them getting out!
Elegant travellers – dandies!

STUDENTS (admiring Manon)
Who wouldn’t give that lovely girl
a tender salute of welcome?

LESCAUT
Ho there! Innkeeper!
(to Geronte)
Sir, you are a model of courtesy.
Ho, there! Innkeeper!

INNKEEPER (rushing up, followed by servants)
Here I am!

DES GRIEUX (gazing at Manon)
Heavens, how beautiful she is!

GERONTE (to the landlord)
Tonight, friend, I shall stay here.
(to Lescaut)
Your pardon!
(to the innkeeper)
Landlord, see to my luggage.

INNKEEPER
Very well, sir.
(He instructs the servants to unload the baggage, then
turns to Geronte and Lescaut.)
Pray follow me.
(He goes up the steps followed by Geronte and Lescaut,
who motions to Manon to wait for him.)

DES GRIEUX (to Manon)
Gentle lady accept my plea:
let those sweet lips tell me your name.

MANON
My name is Manon Lescaut.

DES GRIEUX
Pardon my words,
but I am drawn to you
by some mysterious fascination.
I even seem to have seen you before,
and my heart throbs with strange emotions.
Pardon my words!
When do you leave?

MANON
I leave at dawn tomorrow.
A convent awaits me.

DES GRIEUX
And in your face
the springtime blooms forth!
O fair one, what harsh fate dogs you?

MANON
My fate is this:
my father’s firm wish.

DES GRIEUX
Oh, how lovely you are!
Ah, no! It is not a sterile
convent that shall covet you! No!
On your destiny another star is shining.

MANON
My star is sinking!

DES GRIEUX
We cannot talk now.
Come back soon,
and conspiring against fate
we shall triumph.

MANON
So much pity lies in your words!
I want to remember you!
What is your name?

DES GRIEUX
I am René des Grieux.

LESCAUT (from the inn)
Manon!

MANON
I must leave you.
(turning towards the inn)
I’m coming!
(to Des Grieux)
My brother is calling me.

DES GRIEUX
You’ll return?

MANON
No, I cannot! Leave me, please!

DES GRIEUX
O sweet one, I beg.

MANON
You have won me over.
When darkness falls!
(She stops speaking as she sees Lescaut on the balcony
of the inn and hurries to join him.)

DES GRIEUX
Never have I seen such a woman!
To tell her: I love you,
awakens my heart to new life.
“My name is Manon Lescaut.”
How those fragrant words
linger in my spirit
and caress hidden chords.
O gentle murmur, pray never cease! etc.

“My name is Manon Lescaut.”
O gentle murmur, pray never cease!
(Edmondo and the students who have been watching
Des Grieux crowd around him.)

EDMONDO and STUDENTS
Your luck reassures us.
O worthy devotee of Cupid,
the fair and divine angel
has come from heaven for your delight, etc.
(Des Grieux leaves in a huff.)
He’s off. Then he must be in love!
(Edmondo and the students cross to the inn and join a
group of girls.)

STUDENTS
Come, sweet maids!
Bring us good fortune.

GIRLS
Is she fair or is she dark,
the goddess who guides your game?

GERONTE
So your sister is taking the veil?

LESCAUT
On the bad advice of my family.

GERONTE
I take it that you have different ideas?

LESCAUT
Exactly, exactly.
I have more sense than might appear,

though an unsavoury reputation surrounds my exploits.
But I know life, maybe too well.
Paris is a very great school.
Complainingly, I perform my duty
as my sister’s mentor,
like a true soldier.

GIRLS
Your friends faithful for the moment,
do you want a kiss, a sigh, from us?
Ah, we’ll crown the victor –
just ask for a kiss, a sigh!

STUDENTS
Whoever loses, whoever wins,
we all long for you, sweet maids.

LESCAUT
I simply say that in this world
no misfortune befalls us
without some compensation.
And what may your name be, sir?

GERONTE
Geronte di Ravoir.

STUDENTS
Both he who weeps and he who laughs,
mischance casts us down and mocks us;
but the mad eternal song
of love joyfully bursts forth, etc.

GIRLS
We’ll crown the victor,
and the heart of the vanquished

shrouded in gloom
shall rest in the warm aura of soft caresses,
forgetting shame and pain. etc.

EDMONDO (to one of the girls)
Farewell, my star, farewell, my blossom,
pretty sister of the god of love.
My sighs enfold you
and for a day do not deceive me.
(The girl leaves him. Seeing Geronte and Lescaut
talking, he decides to eavesdrop.)

LESCAUT
Are you travelling for pleasure?

GERONTE
No, duty:
the collection of taxes for my
purse, by the King’s grace.

LESCAUT (to himself)
What a crock of gold!

GERONTE
Your sister does not seem happy either.

LESCAUT
Imagine! Eighteen years old!
So many dreams and hopes!

GERONTE
I understand. Poor child!
We must console her.
Will you join me tonight for supper?

LESCAUT
Honoured! Honoured!
(He points to the inn, offering a drink.)
Meanwhile, allow me –

GERONTE
Excuse me, wait for a moment
I must give some instructions to the landlord.
(Lescaut bows and Geronte goes off. It begins to get
dark. Servants bring lamps and candles from the inn
for the gamblers’ tables.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
An ace – a jack.

STUDENTS
A three!

ALL
What a cursed game!

LESCAUT (watching the players)
They’re gambling! Oh, if only I too
could be lucky enough to win!

ALL
Stakes! Cards! An ace!

LESCAUT
(standing behind one of the players and studying his
hand)
An ace? My good sir, a jack!
You’re wrong, you’re wrong!

ALL
That’s right! A jack! You’re a master!

LESCAUT
You’re joking! An amateur.
(He sits down and takes a hand of cards. Geronte
reappears and seeing Lescaut engrossed in the game
calls the innkeeper.)

GERONTE
Friend, I pay in advance and dispense with the talk!
A coach and horses to drive
like the wind – in an hour!

INNKEEPER
Yes, sir!

GERONTE
Behind the inn, in an hour – understand?
A man and a young girl will be there –
and away like the wind, away to Paris.
And remember that silence is golden.

INNKEEPER
I worship gold.

GERONTE
Good, good. Worship it and obey.
(giving him a purse)
Now tell me:
is this the only way out of the inn?

GERONTE
There is another.

GERONTE
Show me where it is.
(They leave.)

GIRLS (from the inn)
Ask for a kiss, a sigh!
CARD-PLAYERS (to Lescaut)
We invite you to hold the bank!

LESCAUT
Cards!

EDMONDO
(after overhearing the exchange between Geronte and
the landlord)
You old lady-killer,
what a powdered Pluto you are!
But maybe your Proserpina
will have the strength to resist you?
(Des Grieux enters.)
(to Des Grieux)
Chevalier, you are foiled!

DES GRIEUX (in surprise)
What do you mean?

EDMONDO
That flower which
smelt so sweetly just now,
torn from its stem, poor flower,
will shortly fade away!
Your damsel, your dove is flying.
The postilion will sound his horn.

come take heart;
an old man is abducting her!

DES GRIEUX
Truly?

EDMONDO
You turn pale?
By God, you’re serious!

DES GRIEUX
I’m waiting for her here, do you understand?

EDMONDO
We are well placed, then!

DES GRIEUX
Help me!

EDMONDO
Help you? Prevent them leaving?
Let’s try! Listen. Maybe I can help you.
The soldier over there is hooked by the game.

DES GRIEUX
And the old man?

EDMONDO
The old man? Oh, he’ll have to reckon with me!
(He goes over to the card-players, whispers to several
of them, and then departs. The game finishes and
Lescaut drinks with the students. Manon appears at
the top of the stairs, looks around, and comes down to
rejoin Des Grieux.)

MANON
You see? I am true to my word.
You asked me to return so fervently
that I have come.
But I think it would be better not to see you again,
and I should have politely
refused your entreaty.

DES GRIEUX
Oh, how grave your words are!
The youth radiant in your face
does not usually reason thus;
this melancholy disdain
ill matches the smile
that shines from your eyes!

MANON
Yet happy, so happy I once was!
Our quiet little home rang
with carefree laughter
and with my merry friends
I often went dancing!
But the heyday of gaiety has fled!

DES GRIEUX
In the brilliant depths of your eyes
the desire for love sparkles –
love now speaks to you!
Ah, give your sweet lips and your heart
to the waves of a new enchantment.
I love you! I love you!
Make this moment
eternal and infinite!

MANON
I am but a poor girl,
no glow of beauty shines upon my face,
my destiny is ruled by sorrow.

DES GRIEUX
Love will conquer sorrow!
Your beauty will grant you
a prosperous future.
O sweet creature, ah, my infinite desire!

MANON
It’s not true, it’s not true!
Ah, tender dream, my infinite desire!

LESCAUT
(rising tipsily and banging on the table)
Is there no more wine?
What? Is the cask empty?
(The students make him sit down, and fill his glass. At
the sound of Lescaut’s voice Manon turns to re-enter
the inn but Des Grieux restrains her.)

DES GRIEUX
I beg you, listen to me!
A vile outrage threatens you,
an abduction!
A bold rake,
the old man who arrived with you,
has laid a plot against you.

MANON
What are you saying?

DES GRIEUX
The truth!

EDMONDO
(coming up to the pair)
The deed is done, the carriage is ready.
What a colossal joke!
Quick! Off with you –

MANON
What? Elope?

DES GRIEUX
Let’s elope! Let’s elope!
Let your abductor be another.

MANON
Ah! No! You’re taking me away?

DES GRIEUX
No, no! Love is taking you away!

MANON
Ah, no!

DES GRIEUX
I implore you!

EDMONDO
Hurry, be off, children!

DES GRIEUX
Ah, let us fly, let us fly!
Manon, I implore you – let us escape!

MANON
No! No! No! No!

EDMONDO
Hurry! Hurry!

DES GRIEUX
Ah, Manon, I implore you,
ah, let us fly, I implore you!
Ah! Let us flee!

MANON
I’ll go with you!

EDMONDO
Oh, what a crazy pair!
(He give Des Grieux his cloak to cover his face, then all
three run off behind the inn. Geronte enters and
notices with satisfaction that Lescaut is still occupied
at cards.)

GERONTE
Now’s the time to seduce the sister!
Come, courage now!
The sergeant is intent on the game.
Let him stay there!
(to the innkeeper)
Hey, I say, supper is ready?

INNKEEPER
Yes, Excellency!

GERONTE
Then tell the young lady that –

EDMONDO (to Geronte)
Excellency, look there!
She has slipped away with a student.

GERONTE
(deeply agitated, hurrying over to Lescaut)
They have kidnapped her!

LESCAUT (still playing)
Who?

GERONTE
Your sister!

LESCAUT
A thousand bombs!

GERONTE
Let’s follow them! It’s a student!
Let’s go after them!

LESCAUT
That’s useless. Let’s ponder.
Do you have horses ready?
(Geronte shakes his head.)
The deed’s done.
To despair is stupid.
I see Manon with her charming graces
has roused in you a father’s affection.

GERONTE
Quite so.

LESCAUT
I know what you mean –
As a dutiful son
I’ll give you some excellent advice:
Paris! Manon is there.
Manon is not really lost.
But a student’s purse
will soon be empty.
Manon does not want poverty,
Manon will gratefully accept
a palace and quit her student.
You will be as a father
to a perfect daughter,
and I, sir, will complete the family.
What the deuce!
One must be calm – philosophical.

EDMONDO and STUDENTS
Fluttering breezes
breathing among scarlet flowers and lilies,
oh tell I faith of strange
and harsh adventure!
Parched lips and a full cup –
wanted to drink and greedily sucked.

LESCAUT
Here is your hat!
And tomorrow we’ll be on our way!
As I was saying:
To supper – give me your arm!
We must be equal to the occasion...
because...
(They disappear into the inn.)

STUDENTS
Fluttering breezes, etc.
To the aged fox
the fresh and velvety grape
will always taste sour.
(They laugh derisively and when Lescaut returns to
threaten them, they scatter, highly amused by the
situation.)

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