Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti libretto (English)

Roles

Lucia - coloratura soprano
Lord Enrico Ashton, Lord of Lammermoor; Lucia's brother - baritone
Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood - tenor
Lord Arturo Bucklaw, Lucia's bridegroom - tenor
Raimondo Bidebent, a Calvinist chaplain - bass
Alisa, Lucia's handmaid - mezzo-soprano
Normanno, huntsman; a retainer of Enrico - tenor
Retainers and servants, wedding guests.

Place and time: Scotland, Late 16th century

Prelude

ACT ONE

Scene 1

In the grounds of the castle

NORMANNO
Scour the grounds nearby...

CHORUS
We'll scour the grounds nearby...

NORMANNO
...the sprawling ruins of the tower:

CHORUS
...the sprawling ruins of the tower:

NORMANNO
...tear the veil from so vile a secret,
honour expects, demands it.

CHORUS
...tear the veil from so vile a secret,
honour demands it.

NORMANNO and CHORUS
The hateful truth will shine out
like a lightning-flash through clouds of horror,

the hateful truth will shine,
etc.

tear the veil from so vile a secret,
etc.

...honour expects it.
(The retainers leave. Enrico and Raimondo enter.)

NORMANNO
(to Enrico)

You are troubled!

ENRICO
And with good reason. You know
that the star of my fortunes has waned -
while Edgardo - that mortal enemy
of my family, looks down haughtily
from his ruined retreat, and mocks me!
Only one hand can restore me
and my tottering power...Lucia
dares to reject that hand! Ah, she is
no sister of mine!

RAIMONDO
Unhappy girl, mourning at the fresh grave
of her dear mother, how can she
think of marriage? Let us respect a heart
which, grief-stricken, is averse to love.

NORMANNO
Averse to love? Lucia is aflame with love.

ENRICO
What are you saying?

RAIMONDO
(aside)
I fear his words!

NORMANNO
Hear me: she was wandering along the deserted
avenue in the park, where her mother
is buried...A raging bull
suddenly rushed at her...
when a shot rang out
in the echoing air, and the beast
suddenly sank to the ground.

ENRICO
And who fired the shot?

NORMANNO
A man who kept his name a secret.

ENRICO
And Lucia...?

NORMANNO
Fell in love with him.

ENRICO
So she saw him again?

NORMANNO
Every morning at dawn.

ENRICO
And where?

NORMANNO
In that avenue.

ENRICO
Rage chokes me! And you did not identify the seducer?

NORMANNO
I only have a suspicion.

ENRICO
Ah, tell me!

NORMANNO
He is your enemy.

RAIMONDO
(aside)
Oh heaven!

NORMANNO
You detest him.

ENRICO
Could it be - Edgardo?

RAIMONDO
(aside)
Ah!

NORMANNO
You are right.

ENRICO
A cruel, deadly frenzy
you have roused in my heart!
Too, too horrible
is this fatal suspicion!
I freeze and tremble,
and my hair stands on end, ah!
etc.
So shameful is she
who was born my sister!

NORMANNO
Cherishing your honour,
I had to be cruel to you.

RAIMONDO
(aside)
Your clemency I implore;
say that it is not so, oh heaven!

ENRICO
Ah, rather than see you guilty
of so perfidious a love,
if you were struck by a thunderbolt,
my grief would be less bitter,
etc.

NORMANNO and RAIMONDO
Oh heaven!

NORMANNO
I had to be cruel to you.

RAIMONDO
Say that it is not so, ah heaven!

RETAINERS
(rushing to Normanno)
Your doubt is now confirmed.

NORMANNO
(to Enrico)
Do you hear?

ENRICO
Tell me.

RETAINERS
Oh, sad day!
As, overcome with weariness,

after long searching round about,
we rested in the crumbling
hall of the tower:
suddenly a pale-faced man
came silently through.
As he drew near
we recognised the stranger:
on his swift steed,
he was soon out of sight...
a falconer
told us his name.

ENRICO
What is it?

RETAINERS
Edgardo.

ENRICO
So it is he!
Oh, the burning rage that inflames me
is more that human heart can bear.

RAIMONDO
Ah, no, do not believe it,
no, no...

ENRICO
No, it is more than human heart
can bear!
etc.

RAIMONDO
Ah! come, do not judge...she...ah!

ENRICO
No, no!

RAIMONDO
Hear me!

ENRICO
I will not.
In vain your pity
leads you to plead for her...
speak to me of revenge
and I will hear you.
Wretched pair! The storm
of my terrible fury is upon you,
the evil flame that consumes you,
I shall quench with blood!
etc.

RAIMONDO
No, he cannot,
etc.

CHORUS
Ah, yes quench!
etc.

Scene 2

The park

(The fountain of the Siren, a spring once sheltered by
an imposing edifice showing the typical adornments of
Gothic architecture, but now in ruins. It is twilight.
Lucia, much agitated, enters with Alisa.)


LUCIA
He still has not come?

ALISA
Rash girl! What have you brought me to?
Daring to come here, now your brother knows
the spot, is madness.

LUCIA
You are right! But Edgardo must know
of the horrible danger that threatens us.

ALISA
Why do you look about
so fearfully?

LUCIA
That fountain...ah...I never
see it without shivering. You know the tale:
A Ravenswood, mad with jealousy,
stabbed his sweetheart here
and the poor girl fell
into the water, which became her tomb:
I have seen her ghost...

ALISA
What are you saying?

LUCIA
Listen.
At dead of night,
in the silent darkness...
a pallid ray of eerie moonlight
fell upon the fountain...
when a low moan
was heard on the breeze,
and there on the verge, ah!
the spectre appeared to me...Ah!

I saw her lips moving
as if she were speaking,
and with her lifeless hand
she seemed to beckon me to her;
for a moment she stood motionless,
then suddenly vanished...
and the waters, so clear before,
reddened as with blood.
Yes, so clear before,
etc.

ALISA
Oh God, in your story, clear and grave
are the omens I see!
Ah, Lucia, Lucia, abandon
this terrifying love.

LUCIA
He brings light to my days,
and solace to my suffering.
When, lost in ecstasy
of ardent passion,
with the language of the heart,
he swears eternal love,
etc.
I forget my sorrows
and joy dries my tears,
and it seems that when I am near him,
heaven opens for me,
etc.

ALISA
Ah, days of bitter weeping
are in store for you, yes, yes,
etc.
Ah, Lucia, give him up.

LUCIA
Ah...When, lost in ecstasy,
etc.

ALISA
He is coming... I shall keep
watch nearby.
(She leaves. Edgardo enters.)

EDGARDO
Lucia, forgive me for asking to see you
at this unusual hour: it is for a very important
reason. Before dawn whitens the morning sky
I shall be far from
my native land.

LUCIA
What are you saying?

EDGARDO
I am to set sail for France's
friendly shores: there I must work
for Scotland's future.

LUCIA
And you leave me
here to weep?

EDGARDO
Before leaving you,
I must see Ashton... I will offer him
the hand of peace, and ask your hand
in marriage to seal our pact.

LUCIA
What do I hear?
Ah, no...let our love remain
a secret for now.

EDGARDO
I understand! The evil persecutor
of my family is not satisfied
with my misfortunes! He robbed me of my father,
my ancestral heritage. Is that not enough?
What more does he want, that bloodthirsty villain?
My utter ruin?
My life?
How he hates me!...

LUCIA
Ah, no...

EDGARDO
He loathes me.

LUCIA
Oh heaven, calm his mad fury.

EDGARDO
A searing flame writhes in my heart!
Listen to me.

LUCIA
Edgardo!

EDGARDO
Hear me and tremble!
Over the tomb where
my betrayed father lies,
in my rage, I swore to wage
eternal war on your kin.

LUCIA
Ah!

EDGARDO
But I saw you and another emotion
stirred in my heart, and anger fled.
But that vow is not broken,
I could well fulfil it yet!

LUCIA
Come, calm your anger; control yourself.

EDGARDO
Ah, Lucia!

LUCIA
A single word can betray us!
is my suffering not enough?
Do you want me to die of fright?

EDGARDO
Ah, no!

LUCIA
Banish all other feelings
save love from your heart;
a nobler, holier vow
than any other is pure love,
ah, only love,
etc.
Yield, yield to me, yield to love.

EDGARDO
But that vow is not broken,
etc.

I could well fulfil it yet!

(with sudden resolution)

Here, pledge yourself eternally
before Heaven to be my bride.

God hears us, God sees us;
church and altar is a loving heart;

(solemnly placing a ring on Lucia's finger)

to your destiny I link mine...
I am your betrothed.

LUCIA
(in her turn giving a ring to Edgardo)

And I yours.

EDGARDO and LUCIA
Ah, only icy death
can quench our passion.

LUCIA
I call on Love, I call on Heaven
to witness my vows,
etc.

EDGARDO
I call on Heaven to witness my vows,
etc.

We must part now.

LUCIA
Oh, how I dread those words!
My heart goes with you.

EDGARDO
My heart stays here with you,
etc.

LUCIA
Oh, Edgardo, Edgardo!

EDGARDO
We must part now.

LUCIA
Ah, if sometimes you think of me
and send me a letter,
fresh hopes will fortify
my fleeting life.

EDGARDO
I shall always cherish
vivid memories of you, dearest.

LUCIA
Ah!...
On the breeze
will come to you my ardent sighs,
you will hear in the murmuring sea
the echo of my laments.
When you think of me
living on tears and grief,
then shed a bitter tear
on this ring,
ah, on this ring,
etc.

EDGARDO
On the breeze will come to you,
etc.

LUCIA and EDGARDO
Ah! On the breeze will come to you,
etc.

EDGARDO
Remember, Heaven has joined us!

EDGARDO and LUCIA
Farewell!

ACT TWO

Scene 1

Enrico Ashton's apartments in the castle
(He is seated at a table with Normanno.)


NORMANNO
Lucia will come to you soon.

ENRICO
I nervously await her.
To honour our distinguished marriage,
already in the castle
have assembled
my noble kinsmen;
Arturo will be here soon...
And if she stubbornly dares to refuse?

NORMANNO
Do not fret...your enemy's
absence, his letters
we intercepted, and the false report
that he is afire with a new flame,
will stifle the blind love
in Lucia's heart.

ENRICO
She is coming. Give me
the forged letter.
(Normanno hands him the letter.)
Now ride out to the highway
leading to Scotland's royal city,
and amid cheers and joyful shouts
escort Arturo here.

(Normanno leaves. Lucia enters and lingers near the
door; her pallor, the bewildered expression all point to
her suffering and to the beginnings of a mental
derangement.)


ENRICO
Come nearer, Lucia.
I hoped to see you happier today,
this day when Hymen's torches
are lit for you. You look at me and say nothing?

LUCIA
This mortal pallor which horribly
masks my face
mutely blames you
for my grief and anguish.
May God forgive you
for your inhuman cruelty,
may God forgive you,
etc.

...for my grief.

ENRICO
I was made justly harsh
by your unworthy passion;
but enough of the past,
I am still your brother.
I have cooled my anger,
now cool your insane love,
I have cooled my anger,
etc.

A noble husband...

LUCIA
Stop, I beg you!

ENRICO
Why?

LUCIA
I am promised to another.

ENRICO
You cannot be...

LUCIA
Enrico!

ENRICO
(angrily)
You cannot be.

LUCIA
I gave a solemn promise to another.

ENRICO
Enough.
(giving her the forged letter)

This letter gives you ample proof
of your lover's cruel villainy.
Read it.

LUCIA
(Lucia reads: surprise, then great anxiety are etched on
her countenance, and a tremor shakes her from head

to foot.)
Ah!...My heart falters!

ENRICO
(running to her aid)

You are giddy!

LUCIA
Oh, misery!
Alas, a fatal bolt from the blue!
I suffered in tears, I languished with grief,
my hopes, my life, I pledged to one heart,
the moment of death is upon me!
He gave his faithless heart to another!

ENRICO
A mad, evil love consumed you,
you betrayed your kin for a vile seducer.

LUCIA
Oh, God!

ENRICO
But heaven gave you just reward:
he gave his fickle heart to another.

LUCIA
Alas!
The terrible moment has come for me, yes,
he gave his fickle heart to another,
etc.

ENRICO
A mad, evil love consumed you,
etc..
He gave his fickle heart to another,
etc.
(Festive music is heard in the distance.)


LUCIA
What can it be?

ENRICO
Joyous music
for his arrival!

LUCIA
What?

ENRICO
The bridegroom is coming.

LUCIA
A shudder courses through my veins!

ENRICO
The marriage-bed awaits you.

LUCIA
The tomb, the tomb awaits me!

ENRICO
This is the crucial hour!

LUCIA
A mist is before my eyes!

ENRICO
Listen to me.
William is dead - we shall see
Mary upon the throne...
prostrate in the dust
is the party I supported...

LUCIA
Ah, I tremble!

ENRICO
From ruin Arturo can rescue me,
and only he...

LUCIA
But how can I... ?

ENRICO
You must save me.

LUCIA
Enrico!

ENRICO
Come to your husband!

LUCIA
I have sworn to wed another!

ENRICO
You must save me.

LUCIA
But...

ENRICO
You must!

LUCIA
Oh, heaven! Oh, heaven!

ENRICO
If you betray me,
my fate is sealed for ever...
you rob me of honour and life

and deliver me to the executioner's axe.
In your dreams you will see me,
an angry, menacing spectre!
That bloody axe
will always be before your eyes,
etc.

LUCIA
(with tearful eyes, appealing to Heaven)
You who see my tears,
you who read what is in my heart,
if my grief is not ignored in Heaven,
as it is on earth,
Take, Eternal God,
this hopeless life of mine,
I am so wretched that death
will be a boon for me,
etc.

ENRICO
That bloody axe
will always be before your eyes,
etc.

Scene 2

The grand hall of the castle.
(The scene is ready for the reception of Arturo. Enrico,
Arturo, Normanno, knights and ladies, relations of
Ashton, pages, equerries, inhabitants of Lammermoor
and servants)


CHORUS
For you, all around
we join in rousing jubilation,
because of you, we see
reborn the day of hope,
here friendship guides you,
here love leads you,

new life is all around,
here love leads you,
like a star on a treacherous night,
like laughter in sorrow.
like a star,
etc.

ARTURO
Your fortune's star has suffered
a brief eclipse,
I shall see it rise again
brighter and more splendid.
Give me your hand, Enrico,
and accept my cordial greeting,
I come to you as friend,
brother and protector.

CHORUS
Ah!...For you we join in jubilation,
etc.

ARTURO
I come to you as friend,
etc.

...brother and protector,
etc.

CHORUS
...like a star on a treacherous night,
etc.

...brother and protector,
etc.

ARTURO
Where is Lucia?

ENRICO
She will be here now.
(aside to Arturo)
If she is bowed down by sorrow,

you must not be surprised.
Crushed and numb with grief,
she mourns her dead mother.

ARTURO
I know, yes, yes, I know.

ENRICO
Overcome with sorrow,
she mourns her mother.

ARTURO
Now settle a doubt.
Rumour has it that Edgardo
has rashly dared
to look upon her...
such effrontery!

ENRICO
Yes, it is true, that madman dared, but...

ARTURO
Ah!

CHORUS
Lucia is coming, she is coming.

ENRICO
(to Arturo)
She weeps for her dead mother.
(Lucia enters despondently, supported by Alisa and
Raimondo.)

ENRICO
(presenting Arturo to Lucia)

Here is your husband-to-be.

(Lucia shrinks from Arturo. Enrico whispers warningly
to her.)

Be careful! Do you want to ruin me?

LUCIA
(aside)

Oh, God!

ARTURO
I pray you accept the vows
of my tender love for you.

ENRICO
(going to the table for the marriage contract, and
breaking into Arturo's words; to Lucia)

Be careful!

(to Arturo)
It is the time to sign the marriage-contract.

LUCIA
Oh God!

ENRICO
Come.

ARTURO
A most pleasant invitation!
(He signs the contract and Enrico adds his own
signature. Meanwhile Raimondo and Alisa lead the
trembling Lucia to the table.)


LUCIA
(aside)
I must go to the sacrifice! What misery!

ENRICO
(to Lucia)
Do not hesitate! Sign!

RAIMONDO
(aside)

Sustain, o Lord, this poor girl.

ENRICO
Sign!
(Lucia signs the contract.)

LUCIA
(aside)
I have signed my death-warrant!

ENRICO
(aside)
I breathe again!

LUCIA
(aside)
I freeze and burn. I feel faint.
(A noise is heard at the door as if someone is trying to
force his way in.)

ALL
What a commotion! Who is it?
(Edgardo enters wrapped in a cloak.)

EDGARDO
Edgardo!

ALL
Edgardo! Day of terror!

LUCIA
Edgardo! What a bolt from the blue!

EDGARDO
(aside)
Who curbs me at such a moment,
who stemmed the flood of my anger?
Her grief, her terror, are the proof,
are the proof of her remorse!
But like a withered rose,
she hovers between death and life!
I surrender, I am touched,
I love you, heartless girl, I love you still!

ENRICO
(aside)

Who checks my fury
and the hand which darted to my sword?
I heard within me a plea
for the unhappy girl!
She is my kin! I have betrayed her!
She hovers between death and life!
Ah, I cannot quell
the remorse in my soul!

LUCIA
(aside)
I hoped that terror
would cut short my life,
but death will not help me...
I must live on in anguish!
The veil fell from my eyes.
I was betrayed by earth and Heaven!
I would weep, but I cannot,
even tears have forsaken me.

RAIMONDO
(aside)
What a terrible moment!
I cannot find words to say!
A dense cloud of terror
seems to dim the sun's rays!

Like a withered rose,
she hovers between death and life,
whoever does not feel for her,
has the heart of a tiger.

ENRICO
She is my kin. I have betrayed her,
etc.

EDGARDO
Who curbs me at such a moment?
etc.

ALISA, CHORUS
Like a withered rose,
etc.

ARTURO
What a terrible moment,
etc.

ENRICO
Ah, she is my kin,
etc.

LUCIA
I would weep...but I cannot,
etc.

RAIMONDO
Whoever does not feel for her,
etc.

EDGARDO
Ah, I surrender, I am touched,
etc.

ARTURO and ENRICO
Begone, you wretch,
(drawing their swords)
or your blood shall be shed.

CHORUS
Begone, you wretch...

EDGARDO
(drawing his sword)

I shall die, but other blood
shall flow with mine.

RAIMONDO
(intervening commandingly)
Respect in me
the awful majesty of God.
In His name I command you
to lay down your anger and your swords.
Peace, peace...He abhors
a murderer, and it is written:
He who harms his brother by the sword,
shall perish by the sword.
(They all put up their swords.)
Peace, peace.

ENRICO
(advancing towards Edgardo)

You madman! What brings you here?

EDGARDO
My destiny and my right.

ENRICO
Scoundrel!

EDGARDO
Yes. Lucia swore to marry me.

RAIMONDO
Ah, forget this ill-fated love -
she is another's...

EDGARDO
Another's? No...

RAIMONDO
(showing him the contract)
Look!

EDGARDO
(reading, then fixing his gaze on Lucia)
You are trembling...confused...
Is this your hand? Answer me!
(pointing to the signature)
Is this your signature? Answer!

LUCIA
(sobbing)
Yes.

EDGARDO
(throwing the ring towards her)
Then take back your ring, false heart.

LUCIA
Ah!

EDGARDO
Give me mine.

LUCIA
At least...

EDGARDO
Return it.

LUCIA
Edgardo! Edgardo!
(In utmost confusion she returns the ring.)

EDGARDO
You have betrayed Heaven and love.
Accursed be the moment,
when I first fell in love with you,
evil, abominable brood,
I should have fled from you,
abominable, accursed,
I should have fled from you.

LUCIA
Ah!

EDGARDO
Ah, may God destroy you!

ENRICO
Insane presumption! Begone! Begone!

RAIMONDO
Insane presumption! Peace!

CHORUS
Mad presumption!
etc.

ARTURO, ENRICO and CHORUS
Be gone, escape, the fury which inflames me,
its full force will only be checked for a moment,
but soon, more terrible, more fierce,
it will fall on your loathsome head,
but soon,
etc.

RAIMONDO
Unhappy man! Come, save yourself!
Your own life, her well-being respect...

Live on...maybe your grief will pass,
the mercy of God lightens all burdens.

LUCIA
(falling to her knees)
God, save him at this cruel moment,
hear the plaint of an unhappy girl.
And the prayer of boundless grief
that finds no hope on earth,
is my heart's plea which will linger
on my dying lips,
is my heart's last plea,
etc.

EDGARDO
(flinging his sword away)

Kill me, and bridesman to the marriage
shall be the sacrifice of a betrayed heart.
The threshold bathed in my blood
will be a sweet sight for the wench!
Over my bloodless corpse she will
tread more gaily to the altar,
over my bloodless corpse,
etc.

ENRICO, ARTURO and CHORUS
Begone! go!
Go, the stain will be cleansed with your
blood, so black a stain of outrage!
Go, fly, my burning fury
refrins one moment from striking.
Before long, stronger and fiercer,
it shall fall on the heads of thos is abhors.

ALISA, RAIMONDO andCHORUS
Ah! Save yourself! Unhappy man!
Flee, make haste!
Your own life, her well-being respect...

Live on...maybe your grief will pass,
the mercy of God lightens all burdens.
How often does one single torment
become replaced by a thousand joys.
(Raimondo supports Lucia, whose grief is now extreme;
Alisa and the ladies surround them. The others pursue
Edgardo to the door as the curtain falls.)

ACT THREE

Scene 1

The great hall of the castle
(Wedding festivities are in progress. The sounds of
merry dance music emanate from adjoining rooms.
Pages and inhabitants of the Castle of Lammermoor fill
the rear of the scene. Still others, ladies and knights,
join the happy throng which now launches into song.


CHORUS
Let us raise our voices
in wild jubilation,
to rouse Scotland
from shore to shore
and warn our
perfidious enemies
that fortune smiles
on us again.
We are happier
and more fearsome,
favoured by
a powerful protector,
and warn our
perfidious enemies,
etc.

RAIMONDO
(out of breath, advancing with uncertain steps)
Ah!...
Stay, cease your revels!

CHORUS
You are pale as death!

RAIMONDO
For pity's sake, cease!

CHORUS
Oh, heaven! What has happened?

RAIMONDO
A tragic event!

CHORUS
You freeze us with terror!

RAIMONDO
Ah!...
(beckoning to the others to gather round him)
From the apartments where
I had left Lucia with her husband,
came a moan, a cry,
as from a man in his death-throes!
I ran into the room.
Oh, what a terrible calamity!
Arturo was lying on the floor,
mute, cold, covered with blood!
And Lucia was clutching a dagger
which belonged to the murdered man!

She fixed her eyes on me.
"Where is my husband?" she asked me,
and a smile flitted across
her pallid face!
Unhappy girl! She had lost
her reason.
Unhappy girl! She had lost,
etc.
Ah!

CHORUS
Oh, what a tragedy!
A numb terror paralyses us all!
O night, shroud the cruel mishap
with your dense, sombre veil.

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah, may that blood-smirched hand
not bring upon us Heaven's wrath.

RAIMONDO
She fixed her eyes on me
and clutched the dagger!

CHORUS
And she still clutched the dagger!

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah, may the blood-smirched hand
not bring upon us Heaven's wrath,
etc.
(Lucia enters, garbed simply in white, her hair
dishevelled, a pallor of death on her face, giving her a
ghostly appearance. Her stony stare, convulsive
movements and bitter smile disclose not only a violent
insanity, but also that death for her is imminent.)


RAIMONDO
Here she comes!

CHORUS
Oh, merciful Heaven!
She looks as if she has risen from the grave!

LUCIA
I was stirred
by the sweet sound of his voice! Ah, that voice
won this heart of mine!
Edgardo, I am yours again,
Edgardo, ah, my Edgardo!
Yes, I am yours again,
I escaped from your enemies.
An icy shiver creeps in my bosom.
Every nerve quivers! My step falters!
Sit with me a while near the fountain.
Alas! The terrible spectre rises
and parts us! Alas!
Alas! Edgardo! Edgardo! Ah!
The spectre...parts us!
Here let us hide, Edgardo, at the foot of the altar.
it is strewn with roses! Celestial harmony,
do you not hear it? Ah, strains
of our wedding-hymn! The ceremony
awaits usL.Oh, how happy I am!
Edgardo, Edgardo, how happy I am!
Oh, joy that I feel but cannot express!
The incense is burning - the sacred
torches are glowing all around!
Here is the minister! Give me
your hand...Oh, happy day!
At last I am yours, at last you are mine,
God has given you to me.

NORMANNO, RAIMONDO and CHORUS
What a cruel plight!
Take pity on her, Lord.

LUCIA
Every rare pleasure
I shall share with you.
Life for us will be
a gentle smile from heaven.
(Enrico enters.)
Shed bitter tears
on my earthly garment,
while in Heaven above
I will pray for you.
Only when you join me,
will Heaven be blissful for me,
ah yes, for me,
etc.

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
It is impossible
to hold back the tears,
etc.

ENRICO
Remorse will bring me
days of bitter weeping,
etc.

LUCIA
Ah! shed bitter tears,
etc.

Scene 2

Cemetery of Ravenswood Castle
(Tombs of the Ravenswood family. It is night

EDGARDO
Tombs of my fathers,
last son of an unhappy race,
receive me, I implore you. My anger's
brief fire is quenched...I will fall on
my foe's sword. For me, life
is a horrible burden! The whole universe
is a desert for me without Lucia!
Yet the castle
gleams with torches...Ah, the night
was too short for the revels! Heartless jade!
While I pine away in hopeless tears,
you laugh and gloat
by your happy consort's side!
You amid joys, I near to death!
Soon this neglected tomb
will give me refuge.
A compassionate tear
will not fall upon it...ah!
Alas, for wretched me not even
the solace of the dead.
You too, forget
that despised marble tombstone!
Never visit it, o cruel one,
by your husband's side.
Ah, respect at least the ashes
of him who dies for you,
etc.
Never visit it,
forget it exists,
respect at least the one who died for you,
etc.

Oh, cruel one! Respect,
etc.

(A train of mourners comes from Lammermoor Castle.)

CHORUS
Oh, poor creature! Oh, horrible fate!
It is useless to hope, now!
She will never see the close
of this dawning day.

EDGARDO
Great heaven, tell me, tell, ah!

CHORUS
Oh poor creature!

EDGARDO
Whom do you mourn?
Answer, answer, for pity's sake.

CHORUS
Lucia.

EDGARDO
Lucia, you said?

CHORUS
Poor creature...

EDGARDO
Come, tell me.

CHORUS
Yes, the poor girl is dying.

EDGARDO
Ah!

CHORUS
The marriage was a tragic blow for her,
love robbed her of her reason.
She is near her last hour,
and moans and asks for you.

EDGARDO
Ah, Lucia is dying! Lucia, ah!

CHORUS
She will never see the close
of this dawning day!
love robbed her of her reason,
etc.

EDGARDO
Will my Lucia never see
the close
of this dawning day?

CHORUS
Love for you,
etc.

EDGARDO
Ah!

CHORUS
The death-knell is tolling already.

EDGARDO
That sound pierces my heart!
My fate is sealed!

CHORUS
Oh, God!

EDGARDO
I must see her again.

CHORUS
What madness, rash man,
ah, stay, ah, return to sanity!

EDGARDO
See her again and then...

(Raimondo enters.)

RAIMONDO
Where are you hurrying, wretched man?
She is no longer on earth.

EDGARDO
Lucia!

RAIMONDO
Unhappy man!

EDGARDO
She is no longer on earth? Then she...

RAIMONDO
Is in Heaven.

EDGARDO
Lucia is no more!

CHORUS
Unhappy man! Unhappy man!

EDGARDO
You who spread your wings to Heaven,
o sweet loving heart,
look down on me serenely,
and let your true love soar up to join you.
Ah, though mortal's fury
so cruelly assailed us,
though we were parted on earth,
may God unite us in Heaven,
O sweet, loving heart,
may God unite us,
etc.
(drawing his dagger)

I will follow you...

RAIMONDO
Madman! Madman!

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah, what are you doing?

EDGARDO
I want to die!

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Come to your senses.

EDGARDO
No, no, no!

(He stabs himself.)

RAIMONDO and CHORUS
Ah!

RAIMONDO
What have you done?

EDGARDO
I come to you... o dear heart...

RAIMONDO
Wretched man!

EDGARDO
...look down, ah, on your true love.

RAIMONDO
Think of Heaven.

EDGARDO
Ah, if mortal's fury...

MOURNERS
Oh, horror! oh, horror!

EDGARDO
...so cruel a war.
O dear heart, may we be united by God in Heaven,
o sweet loving heart,
etc.
May we be united by God in Heaven!

RAIMONDO
Oh God, forgive...
Think of Heaven...
God, forgive, such a horrible deed.

CHORUS
Oh terrible, oh black fate!
God, forgive such a horrible deed.
(All kneel. Edgardo dies.)
libretto by Gwyn Morris 

 

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