“Manon Lescaut” by Giacomo Puccini libretto (English)

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

ACT THREE

LE HAVRE

A square near the harbour
(The harbour is in the background. Part of the stern of a
warship is visible. To the left, the corner of a barracks
with a barred window on the front. The main entrance
facing the square is guarded by a sentry. On the right is
a house and a narrow street with an oil lamp burning
dimly at the corner. It is just before dawn. Des Grieux
and Lescaut are standing opposite the barracks where
Manon is imprisoned.)

DES GRIEUX
Eternal, cruel anxiety.

LESCAUT
Be patient still.
Soon the archer I have bribed
will mount guard over there.
Be patient yet.

DES GRIEUX
The waiting tortures me!
(indicating the barred window)
My life, my soul – it is all there!

LESCAUT
Manon already knows
and awaits my signal to come to us.
Meanwhile I with my friends
will try to rescue her!
At dawn I will make her free!
(He hides his face with his cloak and retires cautiously
to the back to watch the prison window.)

DES GRIEUX
Ashen-pale I trudge in search of my destiny,
and walk on night and day.
And an illusion torments me, excites me!
Though it seems near, it disappears when I grasp at it!
Paris and Le Havre – fierce sad agony!
Oh, the lingering torture of my life!

LESCAUT (approaching Des Grieux)
They’re coming!
(A picket of soldiers, led by a sergeant, marches out of
the prison for the changing of the guard.)

DES GRIEUX
At last!

LESCAUT
(pointing out one of the soldiers)
There’s my man – that one!
(The relieved picket enters the barracks.)
Le Havre is asleep!
The hour has come!
(Lescaut signals to the sentry, who moves away. He
then goes to the barred window and taps cautiously on
the bars. Des Grieux watches, motionless. The window
opens and Manon appears and Des Grieux speeds
toward her.)

DES GRIEUX
Manon!

MANON
Des Grieux!
(She stretches out of her hands and Des Grieux kisses
them feverishly.)

LESCAUT (to himself)
To the devil with America!
Manon shall not go!

MANON
You, my love?
In my shame you have not deserted me?

DES GRIEUX
Desert you? Never!

MANON
My beloved!

DES GRIEUX
If I have followed you this long way...

MANON
Love!

DES GRIEUX
...it was because in my heart I remained ever faithful.

MANON
Beloved!

DES GRIEUX
Soon you will be mine!

MANON
Yours soon! Soon, yours!

DES GRIEUX
(interrupting her as a lamplighter enters the square)
Hush! Hush!

LAMPLIGHTER
(taking down the lamp)
And Kate replied to the King:
“Why tempt a poor maid’s heart?
The Lord made me beautiful for husband!”
(extinguishing the light)
The King laughed, then gave her jewels and gold
and a husband who won her heart.
(The lamplighter goes on his way. Dawn begins to
break.)

DES GRIEUX
‘Tis dawn! O my Manon,
be ready at the entrance to the courtyard.
Lescaut is there with loyal men.
Go there and you will be saved!

LAMPLIGHTER (in the distance)
And Kate replied to the King –
The King laughed, then gave her jewels and gold.

MANON
I tremble, I am afraid for you!
I tremble. I am anxious but know not why!
Oh, I feel a baleful threat!
I tremble at a peril I do not know.

DES GRIEUX
Manon, my plea is desperate!
Anguish chokes my words.
Do you want me to kill myself here?
I entreat you, Manon, ah, come!
Let us save ourselves!
(pointing to the street)
Come, I beseech you!
Ah, come! Let us fly!

MANON
So be it! I’ll do all you ask!
I’m yours, wait for me, my love!
(Des Grieux clasps Manon’s hands and, reassuring her,
points again to the street. Manon throws him a kiss
and withdraws from the window. Suddenly a shot is
heard; Des Grieux, startled, runs towards the street.)

VOICES (in the distance)
To arms! To arms!

LESCAUT (running in from the street, sword drawn)
The game’s up!
Chevalier, Let’s run for our lives!

DES GRIEUX
What happened?

VOICES (as before)
To arms!

LESCAUT
Hear how they’re shouting!
Our plan has failed!

WOMEN’S VOICES (as before)
Ah!

DES GRIEUX (drawing his sword)
Let death come!
Ah, fly? Never!

LESCAUT (restraining him)
Ah, you must be mad!

MANON (reappearing at the window, distraught)
If you love me, in the name of God
escape, my love!
(She leaves the window abruptly.)

DES GRIEUX
Ah, Manon!

LESCAUT (dragging Des Grieux away)
A bad business!
(Attracted by the shot and the alarm, townspeople rush
into the square in utter confusion.)

TOWNSPEOPLE (to each other)
Ah!
Did you hear? What’s happened?
What was it? An abduction? A revolt?
A woman escaping?
Did you hear? What happened? What was it?
A woman was escaping.
The dense gloom over there
hid the kidnappers. etc.
More than one woman –
(A roll of drums; the barracks gate opens. A sergeant
and escort come out with a dozen women in chains.
Manon is among them.)

SERGEANT (to the crowd)
Make way there!
(The commander of the warship comes ashore with a
squad of marines.)

COMMANDER (to the sergeant)
The ship is ready.
Speed the roll-call!

TOWNSPEOPLE
Silence!
They’re beginning the roll-call now!
(The sergeant calls the names from a list, the women,
in turn, cross to where the marines stand while the
Commander enters the names in a register)

SERGEANT
Rosetta!
(Rosetta passes defiantly)

TOWNSPEOPLE
Oh, what an air!
She’s a poppet!

SERGEANT
Madelon!
(Madelon crosses, nonchalant and laughing)

TOWNSPEOPLE
Ah, you’ve come to a bad end! Ha, ha! –
What a saucy laugh!

SERGEANT
Manon!
(Manon walks slowly past, her eyes downcast.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
Who can she be? – A seduced girl!
She’s really lovely!

LESCAUT
That one? There lies a mystery!

MEN
Seduced? Betrayed?

TOWNSPEOPLE
My lady is sad! Ha, Ha!
I’ faith, what sorrow!

LESCAUT
The girl was torn
from the love of a handsome youth!

SERGEANT
Ninetta!
(Ninetta crosses the square.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
What bearing!
(Des Grieux approaches Manon and tries to get behind
her.)

MANON
Des Grieux, soon I shall be far away.

MEN (to Lescaut)
What infamy! What horror!

SERGEANT
Caton!
(Caton stalks majestically by.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
She’s a goddess!

MANON
This is my destiny.
And I shall have lost you for ever!
My supreme love! Farewell!

LESCAUT
Snatched from her wedding
and cast to foul caresses!

MEN
She rouses compassion!
It’s always the way!

SERGEANT
Regina!
(Regina struts coquettishly across, some laugh.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
You’ve come to this!
I’d like this one!
What an insolent laugh!

MANON
Return home!
Farewell! Farewell!

LESCAUT
For the pleasure of a day
of an old gentleman
who, once satisfied, turned her out!

MEN
What infamy! Horrible! Pitiful!
Ah, she rouses compassion, pity!

LESCAUT (pointing to Des Grieux)
See that pale young man
standing near her?

SERGEANT
Claretta!
(A blond passes briskly.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
Ha, ha! What a blonde!

MANON
You must forget Manon!

DES GRIEUX
Ah, look at me and see
how I sink under this bitter anguish!
ah, each thought dissolves in tears!

MANON
Maybe I did not love you enough;
this is my remorse!
But forgive me, my beloved,
ah, my dearest love, farewell!

LESCAUT
The bridegroom is that poor fellow
standing near her! Do you see?

MEN
Indeed, she awakens pity! The horror of it!

TOWNSPEOPLE
What a fine collection!

SERGEANT
Violetta!
(A brunette with a brazen air crosses.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
What a dark beauty!

MANON
Now you must return to your father,
you must forget Manon!

DES GRIEUX
Ah, in my soul I have only hatred
for mankind and God!

LESCAUT
Thus, he returns and sees his bride in chains,
trampled in the mire, torn from him!

MEN
What infamy! Oh, horror!
Indeed, she rouses pity!
Infamy and horror!
She awakens compassion, pity!

SERGEANT
Nerina!...
Elisa!
(They cross the square.)

TOWNSPEOPLE
What splendid beauty-spots!
Not a beauty among them!
What a fine collection!

SERGEANT
Ninon!
(She hides her face in her hands as she passes.)

MANON
My love, farewell!

SERGEANT
Giorgetta!
(Giorgetta crosses.)

TOWNSPEOPLE (severally)
Shame! Horror! ha, ha, ha!

SERGEANT (to the women prisoners)
Quickly! In line! March!
(seeing Manon motionless near Des Grieux)
You still here?
We’ll put an end to that!
(He grasps Manon roughly by the arm and pushes her
into line.)

DES GRIEUX (wrenching Manon free)
Stand back!

SERGEANT (to Des Grieux)
Be off with you!

MEN (egged on by Lescaut)
Courage!

DES GRIEUX
Ah, woe to anyone who touches her!
Manon, hold tight to me!

MEN
That’s the way! Bravo!

COMMANDER
What’s going on?

DES GRIEUX
Ah, don’t come any nearer!
For, while I live,
no one shall snatch her away from me!
(Seeing the captain, he is overcome with emotion and
relaxes his grip on Manon.)
No! I am crazy! Look at Me!
(to the captain)
How I weep and implore you,
how I weep, look at me,
how I plead for pity!
Hear me! Take me on as a cabin boy
or in some even meaner duty
and I shall come gladly!
Please take me!
Ah, see how I weep and implore you!
Take my blood – my life!
I implore you, I beg for compassion!
I shall not be ungrateful!
(He falls to his knees.)

COMMANDER
(smiling kindly at Des Grieux kneeling before him)
Ah! So you want to populate America
do you, young man?
Well then – so be it!
Come on, cabin boy, look lively!
(Des Grieux cries out with joy and kisses the
Commander’s hand. Manon turns, sees and
understands. She stretches out her arms to Des Grieux
who runs to her. Lescaut, watching, shakes his head
and walks away.)

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