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“Rigoletto” by Giuseppe Verdi libretto (English)
| Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three |
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Scene One A magnificent hall in the Ducal Palace, Mantua(Doors at the far end lead to other rooms; all are splendidly illuminated and thronged with a courtly company of knights and ladies in rich attire. Pages pass to and fro. The merrymaking is at its height. From within, the sound of music. The Duke and Borsa emerge from a door at the far end.) DUKE I intend to clinch my affair with that nameless beauty of the bourgeoisie. BORSA The girl you’ve seen in church? DUKE Every feast-day for the past three months. BORSA Where does she live? DUKE In a quiet back-alley; a mysterious man goes there every night. |
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BORSA And does she know who her admirer is? DUKE No, she doesn’t. (A group of ladies with their cavaliers cross the room.) BORSA What a bunch of beauties! Look at them! DUKE But Ceprano’s wife beats them all. BORSA Don’t let the Count hear you, my lord! DUKE What do I care? BORSA He might tell another woman. DUKE That wouldn’t worry me at all. Neither is any different from the rest I see around me; I never yield my heart to one beauty more than another. Feminine charm is a gift bestowed by fate to brighten our lives. And if one woman pleases me today, tomorrow, like as not, another will. Fidelity – that tyrant of the heart – we shun like pestilence. |
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Only those who want to should be faithful; without freedom there is no love. I find the ravings of jealous husbands and the frenzy of lovers ridiculous; once smitten by a pretty face I’d not let Argus’ hundred eyes deter me! (Count Ceprano enters and, from a distance, watches his wife who is on the arm of another man; more ladies and gentlemen enter.) DUKE (to Ceprano’s wife, greeting her with great gallantry) You are leaving us? How cruel! COUNTESS CEPRANO I must go with my husband to Ceprano. DUKE So bright a star should be shedding its brilliance on my court. You would make every heart beat faster here. The fires of passion already flare headily, conquering, consuming my heart. COUNTESS Calm yourself! DUCA The fires of passion already flare, etc. COUNTESS Calm yourself! (The Duke gives her his arm and leads her out. Rigoletto meets Ceprano, then the courtiers.) |
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RIGOLETTO What have you on your head, my lord of Ceprano? (Ceprano reacts with an angry gesture, then follows his wife and the Duke. Rigoletto says to the courtiers:) He’s fuming, did you see? BORSA, CHORUS What sport! RIGOLETTO Oh, yes! BORSA, CHORUS The Duke is enjoying himself! RIGOLETTO Doesn’t he always? That’s nothing new. Gaming and wine, parties, dancing, battles and banquets – anything goes. Now he’s laying siege to the Countess while her husband goes off in a rage. (He leaves the room. Marullo enters excitedly.) MARULLO Great news! Great news! CHORUS What has happened? Tell us! MARULLO This will amaze you! CHORUS, BORSA Tell us, tell us. |
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MARULLO Ah! Ah! Rigoletto... CHORUS, BORSA Well? MARULLO Against all the odds... CHORUS, BORSA He’s lost his hump? He’s no longer a monster? MARULLO Even more extraordinary! The fool has... CHORUS, BORSA Has what? MARULLO A mistress! CHORUS, BORSA A mistress! Who’d ever believe it? MARULLO The hunchback has changed into Cupid. CORO, BORSA That monster? Cupid?...Some Cupid! (The Duke returns followed by Rigoletto, then Ceprano.) DUKE (to Rigoletto) Ah, no one is such a bore as Ceprano! And his dear wife is an angel! |
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RIGOLETTO Carry her off. DUKE Easy to say; but how? RIGOLETTO Tonight. DUKE Have you forgotten the Count? RIGOLETTO What about prison? DUKE Ah, no. RIGOLETTO Well, banish him, then. DUKE Not that either, fool. RIGOLETTO (with a graphic gesture) Well then, his head... CEPRANO (to himself) The black-hearted villain! DUKE (clapping the Count on the shoulder) What, this head? |
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RIGOLETTO Naturally. What else can you do with such a head?...What’s itgood for? CEPRANO (furiously, drawing his sword) Scoundrel! DUKE (to Ceprano) That’s enough! RIGOLETTO He makes me laugh. MARULLO, CHORUS (to each other) He’s furious! DUKE (to Rigoletto) Fool, come here. BORSA, MARULLO, CHORUS He’s in a fury! DUKE You always take a joke too far. The wrath you provoke could rebound upon you. CEPRANO (to the courtiers) Revenge on the fool! RIGOLETTO Who could harm me? I’m not afraid of them. No one dare touch a favourite of the Duke. |
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CEPRANO Which of us nurses no grudge against him? Revenge! BORSA, MARULLO, CHORUS (to Ceprano) But how? CEPRANO Let those with spirit come armed to my house tomorrow. BORSA, MARULLO, CHORUS Yes! CEPRANO After dark. BORSA, MARULLO, CHORUS Agreed. RIGOLETTO Who could harm me? etc. DUCA Ah, you always take a joke, etc. BORSA, CEPRANO, MARULLO, CHORUS Revenge on the fool! Which of us nurses no grudge against him for his cruel ways? Yes, revenge! etc. Yes, revenge! |
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DUKE, RIGOLETTO What gaiety! What a party spirit! (The dancers swirl into the room.) ALL What gaiety! What party spirit! What splendid entertainment! Oh, just look, would you not say that this was the realm of pleasure? (Enter Count Monterone.) MONTERONE Let me speak to him. DUKE No! MONTERONE (coming forward) I shall! BORSA, RIGOLETTO, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS Monterone! MONTERONE (fixing the Duke with a look of fearless pride) Yes, Monterone. My voice, like thunder, shall make you quake wherever you go... RIGOLETTO (to the Duke, imitating Monterone) Let me speak to him. (advancing with mock-solemnity) You did conspire against us, my lord, and we, with royal clemency, forgave you. |
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What mad impulse is this, that night and day you make complaint about your daughter’s honour? MONTERONE (regarding Rigoletto with angry contempt) One more insult! (to the Duke) Ah yes! I shall disrupt your orgies; I shall come here to complain so long as the atrocious insult to my family remains unpunished. And if you give me over to your hangman, I shall haunt you as a terrifying spectre, carrying my skull in my hands, crying to God and man for vengeance! DUKE Enough! Arrest him. RIGOLETTO He’s mad. CHORUS What audacity! MONTERONE (to the Duke and Rigoletto) May both of you be damned! BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS Ah! MONTERONE To unleash your hounds on a dying lion is cowardly, o Duke. |
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(to Rigoletto) and you, you serpent, you who ridicule a father’s grief, my curse upon you! RIGOLETTO (aside, horror-struck) What has he said! Alas! ALL (except Rigoletto) (to Monterone) O you who so daringly disrupt our revels, some demon from hell must have guided you here; no words will avail you, begone from this place, go, greybeard, beware of your sovereign’s wrath. RIGOLETTO Horror! What horror! etc. MONTERONE My curse upon you! And you, you serpent! etc. ALL (except Rigoletto) You have provoked it, all hope is lost, this was a fatal mistake on your part. (Monterone goes out between two halberdiers. The others all follow the Duke into an adjoining room.) |
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Scene 2 The end of a cul-de-sac (Left, a modest house with a small courtyard enclosed by walls. In the courtyard, a large tree with a marble bench beside it; a door in the wall opens on to the street. Above the wall, a terrace over a loggia. From the second storey a door opens on to the terrace, which is reached by a flight of steps in front. To the right of the road, a much higher wall surrounding the garden and one side of the Ceprano palace. It is night. Rigoletto enters, wrapped in a cloak. Sparafucile, a long sword beneath his cloak, follows him.) RIGOLETTO (to himself) The old man cursed me! SPARAFUCILE Signor?... RIGOLETTO Go – I have nothing. SPARAFUCILE And I asked for nothing. You see before you a swordsman. RIGOLETTO A robber? SPARAFUCILE One who can rid you, for a small fee, of a rival, which you have. |
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RIGOLETTO Who? SPARAFUCILE Your woman lives there. RIGOLETTO (to himself) What’s this! (to Sparafucile) And how much would you charge me for a nobleman? SPARAFUCILE I’d demand a higher price. RIGOLETTO How are you usually paid? SPARAFUCILE Half in advance, the rest on completion. RIGOLETTO (to himself) The demon! (to Sparafucile) And how is it that you can work so safely? SPARAFUCILE I either kill in the town or under my own roof. I wait for my man at night; one thrust and he dies. |
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RIGOLETTO (to himself) The demon! (to Sparafucile) And how do you work at home? SPARAFUCILE It’s simple. My sister helps me. She dances in the streets...she’s pretty... she entices the victim, and then... RIGOLETTO I understand. SPARAFUCILE Without a sound... RIGOLETTO I understand. SPARAFUCILE This is my instrument. (indicating his sword) Can it serve you? RIGOLETTO No...not just now. SPARAFUCILE You’ll regret it. RIGOLETTO Who knows? |
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SPARAFUCILE My name is Sparafucile. RIGOLETTO A foreigner? SPARAFUCILE (as he leaves) Burgundian. RIGOLETTO And where, if the need should arise? SPARAFUCILE Here, each night. RIGOLETTO Go! SPARAFUCILE Sparafucile, Sparafucile. (He leaves.) RIGOLETTO (his gaze following Sparafucile) Go, go, go, go. We are two of a kind: my weapon is my tongue, his is a dagger; I am a man of laughter, he strikes the fatal blow! The old man cursed me... O mankind! O nature!It was you who made me evil and corrupt! I rage at my monstrous form, my cap and bells!To be permitted nothing but to laugh!I’m denied that common human right, to weep. |
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My master, young, carefree, so powerful, so handsome, half-dozing, says: “Fool, make me laugh!” And I must contrive to do it! Oh, damnation! My hate upon you, sneering courtiers! How I enjoy snapping at your heels! If I am wicked, the fault is yours alone. But here I become another person! The old man cursed me!...Why should this thought still prey so on my mind? Will some disaster befall me? Ah no, this is folly! (He opens the gate with a key and enters the courtyard. Gilda runs from the house and into his arms.) My daughter! GILDA Father! RIGOLETTO Only with you does my heavy heart find joy. GILDA Oh, how loving you are, father! RIGOLETTO You are my life! Without you, what would I have on earth? Ah, my daughter! |
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GILDA You sigh! What makes you so sad? Tell your poor daughter. If you have secrets, share them with her: let her know about her family. RIGOLETTO You have no family. GILDA What is your name? RIGOLETTO What does it matter? GILDA If you are unwilling to tell me about yourself... RIGOLETTO (interrupting) Never leave this house. GILDA I only go out to church. RIGOLETTO Oh, that is good. GILDA If you will tell me nothing of yourself, let me know at least who my mother was. RIGOLETTO Oh, do not speak to your wretched father of his lost love. |
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She felt, that angel, pity for my sorrows. I was alone, deformed, poor, and she loved me out of compassion. She died...may the earth rest lightly upon that beloved head. Only you are left to this wretch... O God, I thank thee for that! GILDA (sobbing) What sorrow! What can have caused such bitter tears? Father, no more, calm down. This sight tortures me. RIGOLETTO You only are left to this wretch, etc. GILDA Tell me your name, tell me what sorrow so afflicts you. RIGOLETTO What good would it do? None at all! I am your father, let that suffice. Perhaps some people fear me, and some may even hate me. Others curse me... GILDA Country, family, friends, have you none of these? |
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RIGOLETTO Country! family! friends! My faith, my family, my country, my whole world is in you! GILDA Ah, if I can make you happy, then I shall be content! RIGOLETTO My faith, my family, etc. GILDA I have been here for three months now, yet I have never seen the town: if you would let me, now I could... RIGOLETTO Never! Never! Tell me, have you been out? GILDA No. RIGOLETTO Woe betide you! GILDA (to herself) What have I said? RIGOLETTO Make sure you never do! (to himself) They could follow her, carry her off! Here, the dishonouring of a jester’s daughter would be cause for laughter...Oh, horror! |
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(aloud) Hola? (Giovanna comes out of the house.) GIOVANNA Signor? RIGOLETTO Does anyone see me come in? Mind you tell me the truth. GIOVANNA Ah no, no one. RIGOLETTO Good. Is the gate to the street always kept locked? GIOVANNA Yes, always. RIGOLETTO Mind you tell me the truth. O woman. watch over this flower entrusted, pure, to your keeping; be vigilant, that nothing may ever sully its purity. From the fury of the winds that have broken other flowers, protect her, and unstained restore her to her father. GILDA What affection! What concern! What do you fear, my father? |
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In heaven above, at God’s right hand, an angel watches over us. We are shielded from all harm by my mother’s blessed prayers. No hand will ever pluck or crush this flower so dear to you. (The Duke, dressed as a commoner, appears in the street.) RIGOLETTO O woman, watch over this flower, entrusted pure, to your... There is someone outside! (He opens the gate and, as he goes out into the street, the Duke slips into the courtyard and hides behind the tree, throwing a purse to Giovanna to ensure her silence.) GILDA Dear God! Always some new suspicion! RIGOLETTO (returning, to Giovanna) Has anyone ever followed you to church? GIOVANNA Never. DUKE (to himself) Rigoletto! RIGOLETTO If anyone ever knocks, mind you don’t open the gate. |
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GIOVANNA Not even for the Duke? RIGOLETTO Especially not for him. My daughter, good night. DUKE (to himself) His daughter! GILDA Good night, father. RIGOLETTO O woman, watch over this flower, etc. My daughter, good night! GILDA What affection, etc. Good night, father. (They embrace and Rigoletto departs closing the gate behind him; Gilda, Giovanna and the Duke remain in the courtyard.) GILDA Giovanna, I am ashamed... GIOVANNA Whatever for? GILDA I said nothing of the youth who followed us to church. |
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GIOVANNA Why tell him? Do you dislike this young man, then? GILDA No, no, he is too handsome and I could be tempted to love him. GIOVANNA And he seems generous, a fine gentleman. GILDA I hope he’s not a gentleman or a prince; I think I should love him more if he were poor. Sleeping and waking, I call to him, and my soul in ecstasy cries: I lo... DUKE (rushing out and waving Giovanna away, he kneels before Gilda and finishes the sentence for her) I love you! I love you! Speak those dear words once more and a heaven of joy will open before me! GILDA Giovanna? Alas! There is no one here to answer me! Oh, God! No one? DUKE I am here, and my very soul answers you. Ah, two who love are a world in themselves! GILDA Who, whoever brought you here to me? |
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DUKE Whether angel or devil, what does it matter? I love you! GILDA Leave me. DUKE Leave you?...Now?... Now that both of us burn with a single fire! Ah, the god of love has bound our destinies together, inseparably! Love is the sunshine of the soul, ’tis life itself! It’s voice is the beating of our hearts. Fame and glory, power and thrones, are but fragile, earthbound things beside it. One thing alone is unique, divine: ’tis love that bears us heavenwards! So let us love, my angel-woman; you would make me the envy of all mankind. GILDA (to herself) Ah, these are the tender, longed-for words I have heard in my maiden dreams! etc. DUKE Let us love, you would make me the envy of all mankind, etc. You love me, say it once again. GILDA You eavesdropped... DUKE How happy you’ve made me! |
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GILDA Tell me your name... Am I permitted to know it? (Ceprano and Borsa appear in the street below.) CEPRANO (to Borsa) This is the place. DUKE (racking his brains) My name is... BORSA (to Ceprano) Good. (He and Ceprano leave.) DUKE Walter Maldè. I am a student, and poor... GIOVANNA (returning in a state of alarm) I can hear footsteps outside! GILDA My father, perhaps... DUKE (to himself) Ah, if I should catch the traitor who cost me such a chance! GILDA Show him out through the garden gate...Go now... DUKE Tell me, will you love me? |
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GILDA And you? DUKE For the rest of my life...then... GILDA No more, no more...you must go. TOGETHER Farewell...my heart and soul are set on you alone. Farewell...my love for you will last for ever. Farewell, etc. (He leaves, escorted by Giovanna. Gilda stands watching the gate through which he disappeared.) GILDA (alone) Walter Maldè...name of the man I love, be thou engraved upon my lovesick heart! Beloved name, the first to move the pulse of love within my heart, thou shalt remind me ever of the delights of love! In my thoughts, my desire will ever fly to thee, and my last breath of life shall be, beloved name, of thee. In my thoughts, etc. (Taking a lantern, she walks up the steps to the terrace.) Walter Maldè! |
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(Meanwhile, Marullo, Ceprano, Borsa and other courtiers have appeared in the road, armed and masked; they watch Gilda as she enters the house.)Beloved name, etc. BORSA There she is. CEPRANO Look at her! CHORUS Oh, isn’t she lovely! MARULLO She looks like a fairy or an angel. CHORUS So that’s Rigoletto’s mistress! Oh, isn’t she lovely! (Rigoletto enters with a preoccupied air.) RIGOLETTO (to himself) I’ve come back!...Why? BORSA Silence. To work, now...do as I say. RIGOLETTO (to himself) Ah, I was cursed by that man! (brushing against Borsa) Who’s there? |
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BORSA (to his companions) Quiet...It’s Rigoletto. CEPRANO A double victory! We’ll kill him. BORSA No, tomorrow the jest will be even better. MARULLO Leave this to me... RIGOLETTO Who is that speaking? MARULLO Eh, Rigoletto?...Is that you? RIGOLETTO Who is that? MARULLO Eh, don’t snap our heads off! This is... RIGOLETTO Who? MARULLO Marullo. RIGOLETTO It’s so dark I can’t see a thing. |
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MARULLO We’re here for a prank... We’re going to carry off Ceprano’s wife. RIGOLETTO (to himself) Ah, I can breathe again! (to Marullo) How can you get in? MARULLO (to Ceprano) Your key! (to Rigoletto) Don’t worry. We’ve got it all arranged... (giving him Ceprano’s key) Here is the key. RIGOLETTO (feeling it) I can feel his crest. (to himself) Ah, my terror was unfounded! (to Marullo) This is his place. I’m with you. MARULLO We’re masked... RIGOLETTO Then I should be too. Give me a mask. MARULLO Fine, it’s right here. |
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(He puts a mask on Rigoletto, at the same time blindfolding him with a handkerchief, then positions him by a ladder which the others have leant against the terrace.)You shall hold the ladder. RIGOLETTO It’s dark as pitch. MARULLO The cloth has stopped his eyes and ears. CHORUS Softly, softly, the trap is closing; now we shall catch him, all unsuspecting. The mocker so insolent, so unremitting, will soon be a butt of derision himself! Stealthily, stealthily we’ll kidnap his mistress, and in the morning the whole Court will laugh! Stealthily, stealthily, etc. The mocker so insolent, etc. Softly, softly, softly, softly, stealthily, stealthily, stealthily, to work, to work. (Some of the men climb up to the terrace, force the door, open the gate from the inside to admit the others, then emerge dragging Gilda, gagged with a handkerchief. As she is carried off, she drops a scarf.) GILDA (from afar) Help, father! CHORUS (in the distance) Victory! |
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GILDA (from further away) Help! RIGOLETTO They haven’t finished yet!...A good joke this! (touching his eyes) I’m blindfolded! Gilda!...Gilda! (He tears off the mask and the blindfold. By the light of a lantern left by Marullo’s men, he sees Gilda’s scarf, then the open gate. Rushing into the courtyard, he drags out the terrified Giovanna and stares at her, stupefied; speechless, he tears his hair. Finally, after a great struggle, he cries out:) Ah, the curse! (He faints.) |
| libretto by Dale McAdoo, 1956, revised 1989 |
| Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three |