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The Marquis of Calatrava - bass Leonora, his daughter - soprano Don Carlo di Vargas, his son - baritone Don Alvaro, Leonora's suitor - tenor Curra, Leonora's maid - mezzo-soprano Preziosilla, a young gipsy - mezzo-soprano Mayor - bass Maestro Trabuco, a muleteer and peddler - tenor Padre Guardiano, a Franciscan - bass Fra Melitone, a Franciscan - baritone A surgeon - bass Peasants, servants, pilgrims, soldiers, vivandières and friars Overture Seville A room hung with damask; on the walls, family portraits and coats-of-arms, in eighteenth-century style, but in a bad state of preservation. In the rear wall, two windows; the one on the left is closed, the one on the right is wide open. Through it we see a clear sky in which treetops are sharply silhouetted against the bright moonlight. Between the two windows there is a great wardrobe, closed , containing clothing, linen, etc. Each of the side walls has two doors. (The Marquis of Calatrava, holding a lamp, is bidding goodnight to Donna Leonora, who appears worried. Curra enters from the left.) MARQUIS Goodnight, my child. Goodnight, sweet child. The balcony is still open! (goes to close it) LEONORA (to herself) What anguish! MARQUIS Doesn't your affection give you words? Why are you so sad? LEONORA Father - my lord - MARQUIS The quiet country air once soothed your heart. You have fled here to escape the unworthy foreigner. Leave the future to me. Confide in your father, who loves you so. LEONORA Ah, father! MARQUIS What troubles you? Do not weep. LEONORA (to herself) Oh, remorse! MARQUIS I leave you now. LEONORA (throwing herself into her father's arms) Ah, my father! MARQUIS God bless you. Goodnight. Goodnight. LEONORA Goodnight. (The Marquis kisses her, takes up his lamp and goes off to his room. Curra closes the door after him and then comes back to Leonora, who is in tears.) CURRA I feared he would stay until tomorrow! I'll open the balcony window again. All's ready, let us go. (From the wardrobe she takes a bag, into which she puts linen and gowns.) LEONORA Can so loving a father oppose my wishes so strongly? No, no, I cannot decide. CURRA What are you saying? LEONORA His words were like daggers in my heart. Had he not gone out, I should have confessed all... CURRA (ceasing her work) And then tomorrow Don Alvaro would lie in his own blood or else be imprisoned in Seville, and then, perhaps, hanged. LEONORA Silence! CURRA And all this because he loves one who doesn't care. LEONORA I not love him? You know well how I love him - my country, my family, my father - am I not leaving all for him? Ah, my misfortunes are too great to bear! An orphan and a wanderer, far from my native land, a pitiless fate drives me on, to a foreign shore; tortured by fearful dreams, broken with remorse, this poor one's heart is condemned to eternal weeping, etc. I leave thee, alas, alas, in tears, sweet homeland! Farewell. Alas, so great a sorrow has no end! Farewell. CURRA If you can help me, milady, we can leave sooner. LEONORA And if he doesn't come? (She looks at the clock.) It's late. It's past midnight! (joyfully) Ah no, he will not come! CURRA What's that? The sound of horses' hooves! LEONORA It is he! CURRA I knew he would not fail! LEONORA Heaven! CURRA Don't be frightened. (Don Alvaro enters from the balcony and throws himself into Leonora's arms.) DON ALVARO Ah! forever, now, my angel, heaven has joined us. As I hold you in my arms, heaven itself rejoices with me. LEONORA Don Alvaro! DON ALVARO Heaven, what's the matter? LEONORA It's almost daybreak. DON ALVARO A thousand things have kept me, all night long, from getting to your home. But the charm of so pure a love as ours overcomes all obstacles. It was God who willed that our yearning should bring us to this present joy. (to Curra) Throw these things down into the courtyard... LEONORA (to Curra) Stop! DON ALVARO (to Curra) No, no... (to Leonora) Follow me, leave, at last, your prison... LEONORA On heaven! I cannot bring myself to do it. DON ALVARO Horses are ready below; a priest is waiting at the altar - come, my dear, take shelter in my love, and God, from Heaven, will give us the blessing. And tomorrow, when the sun-god of India - lord of my royal race - bathes the earth again in his splendour, he will shine on our wedded joy. LEONORA It is late... DON ALVARO (to Curra) Come, be quick! LEONORA (to Curra) Wait a moment... DON ALVARO Leonora! LEONORA Tomorrow... DON ALVARO What are you saying? LEONORA I beg you, wait. DON ALVARO Tomorrow! LEONORA Tomorrow we shall leave. Once more I want to see my father, my poor dear father: and you are glad of it, are you not? Yes, because you love me you'll not forbid it... And I too - you know it - I love you so! And that makes me happy, oh heaven, how happy! My heart is bursting with joy! Let us stay - Yes, Alvaro mine, I love you! I love you! (She weeps.) DON ALVARO Your heart is bursting with joy - yet you weep! Your hand is as cold as death! I have understood, my lady! LEONORA Alvaro! Alvaro! DON ALVARO Leonora! I alone shall suffer. God forbid that your weakness lets you follow me. I release you from your promise. To marry would mean death for us - if you love less than I, if remorse... LEONORA I am yours, with all my heart and all my love! I'll follow you to the end, the farthest end of the earth; with you, unafraid, I shall face the evil fate of war, and for me there will be nothing but the constant joy of love. I shall follow you - let us go, for fate shall never, no never, keep us apart. DON ALVARO You are the breath, the light, the soul of this heart which loves you; so long as the breath of life is in me, my sole, unchanging desire shall be to give you your every wish. Follow me - let us go, for fate shall never divide us. (As they approach the balcony, there is heard from the left the sound of a door being opened and closed.) LEONORA That noise! CURRA (listening) They are coming up the stairs! DON ALVARO Let us leave - LEONORA Let us leave. DON ALVARO and LEONORA Follow me/I shall follow you, let us go, for fate shall never, never divide us. LEONORA It is late. DON ALVARO Then we must be calm. CURRA Holy Virgin! LEONORA (to Don Alvaro) Hide in there. DON ALVARO (drawing his pistol) No. I must protect you. LEONORA Put it back. Would you, against my father? - DON ALVARO No, against myself! LEONORA Horror! (After several blows, the door is thrown open. The Marquis of Calatrava enters in a rage, with sword drawn; behind him come two servants bearing lamps.) MARQUIS Vile seducer! Shameless daughter! LEONORA (running and throwing herself at his feet) No, father - MARQUIS I am your "father" no more. DON ALVARO (to the Marquis) I alone am the guilty one. (baring his chest) Strike - have your revenge - MARQUIS (to Don Alvaro) No, your conduct shows the baseness of your origins - DON ALVARO Sir! MARQUIS (to Leonora) Stand aside. (to the servants) Arrest the scoundrel. DON ALVARO (redrawing his pistol) Whoever moves shall die. LEONORA (running to his side) Alvaro - heaven, what are you doing? DON ALVARO (to the Marquis) I yield only to you. Strike! MARQUIS Die by my hand! Such a life as yours is for the hangman. DON ALVARO Signor di Calatrava! Pure as the angels is your daughter - this I swear; the guilt is mine alone. Let any doubt which remains be dispelled by my death. You see me unarmed. (He throws the pistol to the ground; as it strikes, it goes off, mortally wounding the Marquis.) MARQUIS I am dying! DON ALVARO (despairing) Oh, cursed weapon! LEONORA (running to her father) Help! MARQUIS (to Leonora) Away from me! The sight of you sullies my death. LEONORA Father! MARQUIS I curse you! (He falls dead into the arms of his servants.) LEONORA Heaven, have mercy! ALVARO Oh, cruel fate! (The servants bear the body of the Marquis into his rooms, as Don Alvaro leads Leonora towards the balcony.) Scene One The Village of Hornachuelos The large kitchen of an inn. On one side, a long table, on which stands a lantern. (The innkeeper and his wife are busy preparing a meal. The Mayor is seated near the fire; Don Carlo - Leonora's brother, disguised as a student - sits at the table. Some muleteers, including Master Trabuco, and some villagers are on stage.) CHORUS Holà! holà! holà! Welcome here, o muleteer, for a fine night's rest. Holà! holà! holà! Here is the place you'll find a glass to build up your strength once again. (The mistress of the inn sets a great tureen on the table.) MAYOR (seating himself at the table) Dinner is ready. ALL (taking their places at the table) To dinner, to dinner! DON CARLO (to himself) In vain I seek my sister and her seducer... Faithless ones! ALL (to the mayor) You shall bless our meal. MAYOR Let the student say grace. DON CARLO Willingly In nomine patris, et filii, et Spiritus Sancti. ALL (sitting down) Amen. LEONORA (appearing in the doorway, dressed as a man) What do I see! My brother! (She leaves.) (The mistress of the inn has already served the rice and takes her place at table with the others. Trabuco is to one side, still seated on his mule's gear.) MAYOR (tasting) Good. DON CARLO (eating) Excellent. MULETEERS It asks to be eaten. DON CARLO (to the hostess) Tu das epulis accumbere Divum. MAYOR She knows no Latin, but she can cook. DON CARLO Long live our hostess! ALL Hurrah! DON CARLO Aren't you eating, Master Trabuco? TRABUCO It's Friday. DON CARLO You are fasting? TRABUCO Exactly. DON CARLO And that little one who came with you?... (Preziosilla comes in.) PREZIOSILLA Hurrah for the war! ALL Preziosilla! Brava! Brava! DON CARLO and CHORUS Here, next to me... ALL You can tell us our fortunes. PREZIOSILLA Who wants to make his fortune? ALL All of us, all of us! PREZIOSILLA Then go as soldiers to Italy, where war has broken out against the Germans. ALL Death to the Germans! PREZIOSILLA Eternal flail of Italy, and of her sons. ALL We'll all go, we'll all go. PREZIOSILLA And I with you. ALL Hurrah! PREZIOSILLA To the sound of the drum, to the dash of the steed, to the blue swarm of the soldier's steel; to the rustling of the field our thoughts now rise! How beautiful is war! How beautiful is war! Hurrah for war! ALL How beautiful is war! Hurrah for war! PREZIOSILLA (turning first to one, then to another) If you will come, my brother, you shall be made corporal, and you a colonel, and you a general; and the little god with the winged bow will reward you in victory. How beautiful is war, hurrah for war! ALL How beautiful is war! Hurrah for war! etc. DON CARLO (showing his palm) And what is in store for the student? PREZIOSILLA (reading his palm) Ah, you shall pass through most horrible woes - DON CARLO What are you saying? PREZIOSILLA (looking at him intently) My lips have never lied... (then softly) But you, dear lad, I do not believe you... You are no student, I shall not betray you, but no one can make a fool of me, tra la la la! ALL Hurrah for war, etc. (Outside, a band of pilgrims pass.) PILGRIMS (from far off) Eternal Father, Lord, have mercy on us. Holy Son, Lord, have mercy on us. Holy Spirit, Lord, have mercy on us. One and Triune Lord, have mercy on us. ALL (rising and taking off their hats) Who are they? MAYOR Pilgrims on their way to the jubilee. LEONORA(reappearing, in great agitation, at the door) If only I could escape. DON CARLO and MULETEERS Let's wait for them to pass. MAYOR Then let us, too, kneel in prayer. ALL Yes, let us pray. (They leave the table and kneel.) Over us, who humbly pray Thee, extend Thy hand, O Lord; from the suffering of hell, save us in Thy goodness. Lord, have mercy on us! LEONORA(to herself) Ah, save me from a brother thirsting for my blood; if Thou dost not will it, then nought shall save me, O God! Lord, have mercy on us! (Leonora goes back to her room. All go back to their places, and circulate a wine flask.) DON CARLO Hurrah for our goodly company! ALL Hurrah! DON CARLO (lifting his glass) Health to us here, eternal glory later... ALL (toasting) So be it. DON CARLO Are you already with the angels, Trabuco? TRABUCO What - in a hell like this? DON CARLO And the little one who came with you, why? For the Jubilee? TRABUCO I do not know. DON CARLO By the way - a cock or a hen? TRABUCO A traveller's money is all I ever notice. DON CARLO And a wise man you are! (then, to the Mayor) You saw them come. Why didn't the stranger join us for dinner? MAYOR I don't know. DON CARLO They said the stranger asked for vinegar and water. Ha, ha! As refreshment! MAYOR It might be. DON CARLO The stranger is gentle and beardless, right? MAYOR I know nothing, I now nothing. DON CARLO (to himself) He won't talk! (to Trabuco) I'm still speaking to you. The stranger straddled the mule or rode side-saddle? TRABUCO (losing patience) What a bore! DON CARLO And came from where? TRABUCO Sooner or later, I know, I'll get to Heaven. DON CARLO How do you know? TRABUCO Because Purgatory lies in talking with you... DON CARLO Where do you go now? TRABUCO To the stable, to sleep with my mules, who know no Latin, who aren't Bachelors of Arts. (He leaves.) ALL Ha ha! He's escaped! DON CARLO Since the stranger is beardless, let's paint him a moustache - a good joke for tomorrow. ALL Bravo! bravo! bravo! bravo! MAYOR I must protect all travellers; I'm against this joke. Wouldn't it be better if you told us where you come from, where you're going, and who you are? DON CARLO Would you like to know? This is my story. I am Pereda, rich in honours, Salamanca made me a Bachelor; soon I shall be, in utroque, Doctor, for only a few studies are left to be done. Vargas took me from there a year ago and brought me with him to Seville. Pereda refused no challenge, his heart spoke out for his friend. A foreigner, his sister's lover, had murdered his father, and the son, like the brave knight he is, swore vengeance against the killer. We followed them as far as Cadiz but could not find the guilty pair. For his friend, Pereda suffered, for his heart spoke out for him. There, and every place else we went, we heard that the girl had perished with her father, and that in a fight with the servants and guards only the seducer escaped. I then went away from Vargas, while he swore to track down the killer. He sailed then for America and Pereda returned to his books. ALL Pereda's is a grim story, showing his nobleness of heart! etc. MAYOR Well told. PREZIOSILLA (sharply) This Marquis was killed? DON CARLO Well?... PREZIOSILLA And the lover carried off the daughter? DON CARLO Yes. PREZIOSILLA And you, gallant, faithful friend, went to Cadiz from Seville? Ah, no one can make a fool of me - tralalalala! (The Mayor rises and looks at the clock.) MAYOR My children, it is late; let us give thanks to God for our meal and let's be off. PREZIOSILLA, DON CARLO and CHORUS Let's be off, let's be off. Good night, good night. ALL Holà! Holà! Time to go to rest. Good cheer, muleteers! Holà! DON CARLO I am Pereda, rich in honours, etc. MAYOR Well told. PREZIOSILLA Ah, tra la la la! But no one can make a fool of me. ALL Good night. Let's be off. Scene Two Outskirts of Hornachuelos A small, flat space on the slope of a steep mountain. To the right, rocky precipices. Centre, the facade of the church of Our Lady of the Angels; left, the door of the Convent, with a small window; to one side, a bell-rope. Above, a small protruding roof. A bright, clear moon is shining. (Leonora enters, in man's clothing.) LEONORA At last I am here! I give thee thanks, o God! This is my last refuge! I am here! I am trembling! My horrid story is known at the inn - told by my brother! If he had discovered me! Heaven! He said that Don Alvaro has sailed to the west! He did not die that night when I, wet with my father's blood, followed him, only to lose him! And now he leaves me, he flees from me! Alas, I cannot bear this anguish! (She falls to her knees.) Mother, merciful Virgin forgive my sin. Grant that I may cleanse my heart of his memory. In this solitude I shall expiate my sin. Have mercy on me, Lord. Do not forsake me, O my God! (An organ sounds, accompanying the matin-song of the monks.) Ah, this heavenly song... (She rises.) The organ's sweet tones, rising like holy incense to God in Heaven! May this music bring comfort, comfort and peace to my troubled soul! CHORUS OF MONKS (inside) Venite, adoremus etprocedamus ante Deum, Ploremus, ploremus coram Domino, coram Domino qui fecit nos. LEONORA (moving off) Now I shall go to the holy refuge - dare I at this hour? But they might take me by surprise! Oh, wretched Leonora, how you tremble? The pious monk will not refuse you shelter. Do not abandon me, succour me, O Lord, in thy mercy, Ah, do not abandon me! MONKS Ploremus, ploremus coram Domino qui fecit nos. (Leonora rings the monastery bell. The small window opens; the light from a lantern shines out, lighting up Leonora's face. She draws back in fright. Fra Melitone speaks to her from within.) MELITONE Who are you? LEONORA I wish to speak to the Superior. MELITONE The church opens at five o'clock If you have come for the Jubilee. LEONORA The Superior, in the name of mercy. MELITONE What an hour for asking mercy! LEONORA I come from Father Cleto. MELITONE That holy man? And for what reason? LEONORA An urgent one. MELITONE But why? LEONORA An unfortunate soul - MELITONE The same old tune!... but I'll open for you. Come in. LEONORA I cannot. MELITONE No? Are you excommunicated? You had better wait outside. I'll announce you, and if you don't come back, then good night. (He closes the window.) LEONORA But - if he refuses me! He is said to be merciful; he will protect me. Holy Virgin, help me. (The Father Guardiano comes with Melitone.) GUARDIANO Who asks for me? LEONORA It is I. GUARDIANO Speak. LEONORA It is a secret... GUARDIANO Go now, Melitone. MELITONE (muttering as he goes) Always secrets! And only these holy men must know them! We are but so much... GUARDIANO Brother, what are you muttering? MELITONE I was saying that the door is heavy and noisy. GUARDIANO Obey. MELITONE (to himself) We see who's head man here! (He goes back into the monastery.) GUARDIANO Now we are alone... we are alone. LEONORA I am a woman. GUARDIANO A woman at this hour! Great God! LEONORA An unhappy, disappointed, rejected woman, cursed by heaven and earth, who throws herself in tears at your feet and begs you to bring her back from hell. GUARDIANO And how can a poor monk do that? LEONORA Has Father Cleto written to you of me? GUARDIANO You come from him? LEONORA Yes. GUARDIANO (surprised) Then you...are Leonora de Vargas! LEONORA You shudder! GUARDIANO No. Come, trusting, to the Cross. Let the voice of Heaven speak to your heart. (Leonora kneels at the foot of the Cross, kisses it, then returns, somewhat comforted, to Father Guardiano.) LEONORA My soul is now at peace, since coming to this refuge; the fearful ghouls have ceased to war upon me... no longer does the bloodstained ghost of my father haunt my sight; no longer does the frightful curse of a father torture his daughter's mind. GUARDIANO The daring of Satan has always been powerless here. LEONORA That is why I seek my tomb here, among the rocks, where another woman lived. GUARDIANO What! You know of her? LEONORA Cleto told me. GUARDIANO And you wish - LEONORA To give myself to God. GUARDIANO Woe to him who is deluded by a moment's delirium! For one so young as you the punishment would be all the worse. LEONORA Ah, my soul is at peace, etc. GUARDIANO Woe to him who is deluded! Woe! Who can read into the future? And can tell your heart won't change? And your lover? LEONORA Unwillingly, it was he who killed my father. GUARDIANO And your brother?... LEONORA He has sworn I shall die by his hand. GUARDIANO It would be better if you sought refuge within some convent's holy doors. LEONORA A convent? A convent? No! If you send me, repentant, away, I shall wander through the mountains calling for help, asking refuge from the cliffs, food from the woods, and moving the very beasts to pity. Ah yes, here I have heard the voice of Heaven saying "Save your soul at the foot of this Cross" You send me away? You? This is my haven. Who can take this solace from me? GUARDIANO Glory to Thee, o merciful God, Omnipotent Father of the sorrowing, who livest among the spheres! May Thy will be done! Your decision is final? LEONORA It is. GUARDIANO Then God will welcome you. LEONORA Divine goodness! GUARDIANO Only I shall know who you are. Among the rocks you will find a cave; there you will stay. At a nearby spring, each seventh day, I shall leave a frugal meal for you. LEONORA Let us go. GUARDIANO (calling towards the door) Melitone? (to Melitone, as he enters) Let all the brothers come, with lighted candles, to assemble in the temple of the Lord, at the High Altar. (Melitone goes out.) At dawn you will go alone, on foot, to the hermitage; but first let the holy bread bring comfort to your soul. Go now to put on your holy garb, and may your heart be strong, ah! - upon the hard, new road the Lord will send you help. (He enters the monastery and returns, carrying a Franciscan habit which he give to Leonora.) LEONORA Eternal God, thy mercy shines upon the rejected one! A strange new joy has told me - I am blessed once again! Within my breast I feel a new birth of life in my heart; sing praises, o ye heavenly choirs, for the Lord has forgiven me my sin. Thanks to Thee, O Lord. GUARDIANO Go now put on you holy garb, etc. LEONORA Sing praises, o ye heavenly choirs, for the Lord has forgiven me my sin, etc. (They enter the monastery. The great doors of the church open, revealing the high altar lighted by candles. To the sound of organ music, two lines of monks proceed down the sides of the choir, carrying lighted tapers. They kneel on each side of the altar. After them walks Father Guardiano, followed by Leonora in monk's garb. He then leads her out of the church, as the monks group themselves around her. Leonora prostrates herself before him, as he solemnly extends his arms over her, chanting:) GUARDIANO The Holy Name of God our Lord be blessed - CHORUS - be blessed. GUARDIANO A soul has come, repentant of its sin, to seek salvation in these hills. For this soul, we open the holy grotto. Do you know where it is? CHORUS We know it. GUARDIANO That haven is sacred, inviolate. No one shall approach it. CHORUS We shall obey. GUARDIANO Nor shall the humble barrier which separates us from it ever be crossed. CHORUS We shall not cross it. GUARDIANO On him who dares to break this rule or tries to learn the name or secret of this soul - a curse shall fall! CHORUS A curse, a curse shall fall! Let Heaven hurl its thunderbolts to strike such a man to ashes. Let all the elements be loosed upon him, let his vile ashes be scattered in the winds, GUARDIANO (to Leonora) Arise and leave us. No living person will see you again. From your cave the bell will warn us if danger threatens you, or, if your last hour has come... Then, we shall hasten to comfort your soul, before its return to God. CHOIR and GUARDIANO May Our Lady of the Angels shield you beneath Her mantle, and may the Holy Angel of God keep vigil to protect you. LEONORA May Our Lady of the Angels shield me beneath Her mantle, and may the Holy Angel of God keep vigil to protect me. ALL May Our Lady of the Angels, etc. (Leonora kisses the hand of Father Guardiano, and walks alone toward the hermit's cave. The friars, after putting out their candles, retreat into the church. The Father Superior stops at the door, and, extending his arms in the direction where Leonora has disappeared, blesses her.) Scene One Italy, near the Town of Velletri A forest. Pitch-dark night. Don Alvaro, in the uniform of a Captain of the Spanish Royal Grenadiers, comes forward slowly. Voices are heard off-stage. CHORUS Attend to the game, attend to the game... FIRST VOICE An ace to the right. SECOND VOICE I win. FIRST VOICE A three-spot on the right... Five on the left. SECOND VOICE I lose. DON ALVARO Life itself is hell to the sorrowful. I seek my death in vain! Seville! Leonora! Oh, the memory! Oh, night when all I love was torn from me! My sorrow shall have no end - it is written so. My father sought to free his native land from its foreign masters, and, by alliance with the last of the Incas, he hoped to win back his crown - but all in vain! I was born in a prison; the desert was my only school; I am alive today only because my royal birth is known to none! My parents dreamed of a throne; the axe awakened them! Oh, when shall all my sorrows come to an end? O you who dwell among the angels, forever pure, lovely and untouched now by mortal sorrow - do not forget to look down on me, who, exiled and nameless, defying fate, seek battle, like a wretched man, hoping to find there death. Leonora mine, help me, take pity on my anguish! Have pity on me! DON CARLO (from without) Betrayed! CHORUS He shall die! DON ALVARO What shouting! DON CARLO Help! DON ALVARO I am coming. VOICES He shall die! He shall die! (Don Alvaro runs off towards where a sound of swordplay is heard;some officers cross the stage in disorder. Don Alvaro returns, with Don Carlo.) DON ALVARO They have fled! Are you wounded? DON CARLO No. I owe my life to you. DON ALVARO Who were they? DON CARLO Assassins. DON ALVARO Inside the camp? DON CARLO I'll tell you the truth; it was a quarrel over cards. DON ALVARO I see - off there to the right? DON CARLO Yes. DON ALVARO But how did you, so noble of bearing, come to such a den of thieves? DON CARLO I'm new here. I arrived with orders from the general yesterday; without you I should now be dead. Tell me to whom I owe my life? DON ALVARO To chance - DON CARLO First, I shall tell you my name. (to himself) He must not know the truth! (to Don Alvaro) Don Felix de Bornos, aide to the chief. DON ALVARO I am Don Federico Herreros, captain of Grenadiers. DON CARLO The hero of our army! DON ALVARO Sir - DON CARLO I have longed for your friendship - I ask it now, hopefully. DON ALVARO I shall be proud to have yours. (They shake hands.) DON ALVARO and DON CARLO Friends in life and death the world shall see us. United in life and death, men shall know us together. (Shouts and trumpet blasts are heard off stage.) CHORUS To arms! To arms! DON ALVARO and DON CARLO Let us go! - to arms! DON CARLO Going to the field of honour with you, I shall learn from you brave example. DON ALVARO And, as witness of your courage, I shall admire your brave deeds. CHORUS To arms! To arms! (They go out running.) Scene Two A house near Velletri It is morning. A drawing-room in the villa of an officer of the Spanish forces in Italy. The sound of fighting nearby is heard from off-stage. (An army surgeon and soldiers enter the room and run to the window.) SOLDIERS The battle is raging! SURGEON (looking through the spy-glass) Bravo, those grenadiers! SOLDIERS Herreros is leading them... SURGEON My God, he has fallen wounded! - His men are yielding! His aide is rallying them - leading them in a charge! The enemy's on the run! Our men have won! VOICES (outside) Glory to Spain! OTHER VOICES Long live Italy! ALL Victory is ours! SURGEON They're bringing the captain here. (Don Alvaro, wounded and unconscious, is brought in on a stretcher by four grenadiers. At his side is Don Carlo, dusty and sorrowing. A soldier sets a valise down on a table.) DON CARLO Gently - put him here - prepare my bed. SURGEON Silence! DON CARLO Is he in danger? SURGEON I am concerned because of his chest wound. DON CARLO Save him! DON ALVARO (regaining consciousness) Where am I? DON CARLO With your friend. DON ALVARO Let me die. DON CARLO Our care will save you. You will be rewarded with the Order of Calatrava. DON ALVARO Of Calatrava! No, never - DON CARLO (to himself) What! You shudder at the name of Calatrava! DON ALVARO My friend... SURGEON If you speak - DON ALVARO One word only... DON CARLO (to the surgeon) Please, leave us for a moment. (The surgeon withdraws. Alvaro beckons Don Carlo to come closer.) DON ALVARO You must swear to me in this solemn hour, to carry out my wish. DON CARLO I swear, I swear. DON ALVARO Near my heart, look - DON CARLO A key! DON ALVARO (pointing to the valise) There you will find a package. I entrust it to your honour. Within, there is a secret which must die with me. Burn it when I am dead... DON CARLO I swear to do so. DON ALVARO Now I can die in peace. I embrace you with all my heart. DON CARLO My friend, trust in heaven! DON CARLO and DON ALVARO Farewell, farewell, farewell. (The surgeon and soldiers carry the wounded man into the bedroom.) DON CARLO To die! What a tremendous thing! A man of such courage and daring, yet he will die! An extraordinary man! But he shuddered at the name of Calatrava! Does he perhaps know of our dishonour? Heavens! What a thought! If he were the seducer? And in my hands - alive! But if I am wrong? This key will tell me. (Impetuously he opens the valise and draws forth a sealed package.) Here are the papers! What am I doing? (He stops.) And the oath I swore? To him I owe my life? But I saved him, too! And if he were the cursed Indian who soiled my family's honour? I shall break the seal. No one can see me here. No? But I can see myself! (suddenly throwing down the packet) Fatal vessel of my destiny, leave me now; you tempt me uselessly. I came here to redeem my honour - I shall not lose it with this new shame. An oath is sacred to a man of honour; these papers shall keep their secret safe. May the evil thought which spurred me, to an unworthy act be put away forever. But if I might find some other proof? Let us see. (searching in the valise again) Here is a portrait. It has no seal - he did not speak of it - I made no promise - let it be opened, then. Heaven! Leonora! Don Alvaro is the wounded man! Now may he live! Then, by my hand, he shall die! (The surgeon appears at the door.) SURGEON Good, news. He is saved. (He goes out.) DON CARLO He is saved! He is saved! What joy! Ah, he is saved! What great joy I feel in my heart! At last I shall wreak my vengeance on the villain for his betrayal. Leonora, where are you hidden? Tell me - have you followed here the man who reddened your face with the blood of your father? Ah, I should be wholly happy if this sword of mine might dispatch both in a single blow down to the Lord of Hell! (He goes out quickly.) Scene Three A military encampment near Velletri Forward, left, a pedlar's shop to the right, another, where food, drink and fruit are sold. Nearby, tents tradesmen's huts, etc. It is night, the scene is deserted. (A patrol enters cautiously on reconnaissance.) CHORUS Comrades, let us stop here and explore the field. There is no sound, there is no light; everyone is lost in a sound sleep. Comrades, let us move on, and explore the field, for soon comes the call of reveille. (Day breaks gradually. Don Alvaro enters, lost in thought.) DON ALVARO To me it is not given to know a moment of peace; my soul is shattered by the cruel struggle. I pray in vain to Heaven for peace and forgetfulness. (Don Carlo enters.) DON CARLO Captain - DON ALAVARO Who calls me? (recognising Carlo) You, who gave me such good care? DON CARLO Is your wound fully healed now? DON ALAVARO Yes. DON CARLO You are strong? DON ALVARO As before. DON CARLO Could you fight a duel? DON ALVARO But with whom? DON CARLO You have no enemies? DON ALVARO We all have... But I do not understand... DON CARLO No? You've had no message from Don Alvaro, the Indian? DON ALVARO Betrayal! Traitor! The secret, then, your oath, was broken? DON CARLO The papers were never opened - the portrait told me. Tremble, for I am Don Carlo di Vargas. DON ALVARO I am not disturbed by threats. DON CARLO Come out with me. Soon one of us will die. DON ALVARO I am not afraid of death, but it grieves me to fight with one who offered me his friendship. DON CARLO No, no, no, do not profane the name of friendship. DON ALVARO It was not I, but destiny, which killed your father; nor did I seduce that lovely angel. They both look down on us from Heaven, they tell you in your heart that I am innocent. DON CARLO And she? DON ALVARO That fatal night I fell, with a double mortal wound. When I was well, I sought her for a year. Alas, I found that Leonora was dead. DON CARLO You lie, you lie! My sister was with one of our family. I went to her, but it was too late. DON ALVARO And she - DON CARLO - Has fled. DON ALVARO And lives! She lives, thanks be to God! DON CARLO Yes, she lives. DON ALAVARO Don Carlo, my friend, let the joy which moves me now tell you that my soul is incapable of baseness. She lives! Great God, that angel... DON CARLO But soon she will die. She lives, but soon she will die. DON ALAVARO No, let the hope of a marriage seal the bond between us. And she is still alive let us look for her together. I swear that a noble origin makes me your equal, and that my family's crest is resplendent, is resplendent as the sun. DON CARLO Fool! Between us there gapes a bloodied tomb. How, can I greet as a brother the man who took all from me? Whether your origin is noble or base, my duty is to kill you, and, after you, the unworthy woman who betrayed her flesh and blood. DON ALVARO What are you saying? What are you saying? DON CARLO She shall die. DON ALVARO Do not say it. DON CARLO I swear to God, she shall die. DON ALVARO First you shall die in mortal combat. DON CARLO Death! If I do not fall in my own blood I shall find Leonora and I shall kill her with this sword still coloured with your blood. DON ALVARO Death! Yes! With my sword I shall kill an assassin; turn your thoughts to God; your hour has come. DON CARLO To death! Let us go! (They draw swords and duel furiously. A patrol comes from the camp and endeavours to separate them.) CHORUS Halt! Stop! DON CARLO (raging) No. His life - or mine - now. CHORUS Go now, far from here. DON ALVARO (to himself) Perhaps...heaven will aid me now. DON CARLO He shall die! CHORUS (to Don Carlo, who tries to break away) Come! DON CARLO (to Don Alvaro) Murderer of my father! DON ALVARO Now what is left for me? Merciful God, illumine Thou my thoughts. To the cloister, the hermitage, the holy altars, let forgetfulness and peace summon the warrior. (He leaves. All gradually leave. The sun rises. Drums and bugles sound reveille. Gradually the camp awakens to action. Spanish and Italian soldiers of all arms come out from the tents, cleaning their muskets, swords, uniforms and other gear. Vivandieres go about selling drinks, fruit, bread etc. Preziosilla, atop one of the huts, is telling fortunes) CHORUS When the sound of fife and drum deafens the very earth, then we are glad, for war is life and joy to the soldier. A lively, adventurous life; tomorrow, like yesterday, counts for nothing, for every thought of ours is centred on today. PREZIOSILLA (to the women) Come to the fortune-teller, who has come from far away, for she can read the message of the dark, mysterious future. (to the soldiers) Come running, gather round her, reach out your hands to her, for she can tell if sweethearts have been faithful to you. CHORUS Run/Let us run to the fortune-teller, holding out our hands to her, for she will tell if our sweethearts have been faithful to you/us Come on, come on, come on. SOLDIERS Here, girls, a swallow. (The vivandières give them drinks.) A SOLDIER To our health! ALL (drinking) Our health! (The attention of all is drawn to Trabuco, the pedlar, who comes out from the stand at the left. He carries a box of cheap trinkets.) TRABUCO Who wants to buy? My prices are cheap - scissors and pins and wonderful soap. I buy and sell whatever you want, cash on the spot for all kinds of deals. A SOLDIER Here is a bracelet - what will you pay? ANOTHER SOLDIER Here is a necklace. I'll sell if you wish. THIRD SOLDIER Here are some ear-rings, what will you pay? ALL (showing watches, rings, etc.) We want to sell - TRABUCO It looks to me like a lot of trash, a lot of trash. ALL Just like your rascally face. TRABUCO But let's make a deal - for every piece. thirty pennies. ALL We're dealing with a thief! TRABUCO Hey. what tempers! Let's talk about it. Maybe I can add a penny or two. Let me have it, now or never! ALL First, right away, give us the money, shiny and ringing. TRABUCO First the goods, here, that's the way. ALL (giving him the objects) Here you are. TRABUCO (paying as he collects the trinkets) Here you are. Good! ALL (all driving him off) To the devil with you. TRABUCO (to himself, rejoicing) What a deal! What a deal! (loudly) Who wants to buy? My prices are cheap - (He goes to another part of the camp. Some peasants enter, with children at their side, and begging.) PEASANT WOMEN Bread, bread, for charity's sake! The war has destroyed our homes, our fields. We are starving. Give us bread, for mercy's sake. (Several recruits enter, weeping.) RECRUITS Our poor mothers wept as we left them, snatched away by cruel war. They have torn us away from all we love, our only wish is to go home again. VIVANDIÈRES (surrounding the recruits and giving them wine) Weep no more, young men, for your mothers and your sweethearts. We shall love you like sisters, and we know how to make you happy. Don't be frightened - we're not devils. Come now, dry your tears, for now it's plain - it's useless to think about the past. PREZIOSILLA (makes her way among the recruits; takes some by the arm, and says to them jokingly:) Shame on you! Shame on you! Come, be brave! Handsome lads - have you gone mad? If you blubber like babies your comrades will laugh at you. Take a look at what's around you, I'll bet you I can guess - you'll see lots of pretty faces which will comfort you tomorrow. Come now, courage, courage! ALL In war it's only gaiety that can keep our hearts rejoicing; hurrah, then, for this madness which can flourish only here! (The vivandières take the recruits impudently arm-in- arm. Everyone joins in a rapid dance. In a few moments the racket and confusion reach a high pitch. Fra Melitone enters, is caught up in the whirl of the dance, and finds himself cavorting in the arms of the vivandières.. He finally extricates himself and starts to preach.) MELITONE Ho! Ho! What's going on? What an uproar! Fine goings on! And I'm in the midst. I came from Spain to bandage wounds and to salvage souls. And what do I find? Is this a Christian camp, or are you a lot of Turks? Whoever saw such irreverent nonsense on the Holy Sabbath? In this army there are more bottles than battles! And instead of sackcloth and ashes, must we have Venus and Bacchus? The earth has become a house of tears, and every convent the haven of rascals! The sanctuaries have become the lair of cut-throats; and Christ's temples are a sorry sight indeed. Everything's topsy-turvy, topsy-turvy - and do you know why? Pro peccata vestra, because of your sins. SOLDIERS Ah, Holy Brother! MELITONE You profane the Feast Days, you steal, you curse... ITALIAN SOLDIERS Infamous friar! SPANISH SOLDIERS Go ahead, Reverend. MELITONE And all of you are of the same stamp - heretics, the lot of you. All of you, you are sewers of sin. And as long as you befoul the earth the world will know no peace. ITALIAN SOLDIERS (closing in) Give it to him! SPANISH SOLDIERS (defending him) Run away, run away! ITALIAN SOLDIERS Give it to him, on the head! (They try to beat him, but he gets away, still preaching.) PREZIOSILLA (to the soldiers who run off after him) Let him go. Fighting with a monk! What brave sport! They can't hear me? Then the drum must save him. (She picks up the first drum to hand and, with several drummers following, she starts to beat it. The soldiers come running back to gather around her, followed by the crowd.) PREZIOSILLA and CHORUS Rataplan, rataplan, the love of glory burns brighter in the soldier; rataplan, rataplan, the beat of the drum promises victory in battle! Rataplan, rataplan, the ranks are forming; rataplan, and they're off to war! Rataplan, rataplan, the enemy's flag will soon be in retreat! Rataplan, pim pum pum, and fight onward when the foe turns his back and flees; rataplan, your glorious wounds will be rewarded by your triumph. Rataplan, the glory of one's country shines brighter for the soldier's courage! Rataplan, rataplan, our victory will conquer the hearts of all. Rataplan, rataplan, rataplan! (They run out.) In The Neighbourhood of Hornachuelos Scene One Inside the monastery of the Madonna of the Angels. A simple colonnade encloses a small courtyard planted with orange tress, oleanders, jasmines. On the left is the door to the street; on the right another door with a sign over it reading "Clausura" [place for seclusion]. (Father Guardiano is walking about solemnly reading his breviary. From the left enter a crowd of beggars, men and women of all ages, carrying crude bowls, pots and plates.) CHORUS OF BEGGARS Give us charity, we've been waiting an hour! We must be on our way, we must be on our way, give us charity! (Fra Melitone enters from the right, wearing a large white apron, assisted by a lay-brother, carrying a large cooking pot. They put it down in the centre of the yard and the lay-brother departs.) MELITONE What? Do you think you're at the inn? Be quiet... (He begins to ladle out the soup.) BEGGARS (pushing and shoving) Here, quick, give me some, etc. MELITONE Quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet. OLD MEN How many portions they're getting! They want the lot for themselves. Maria's had three helpings already! A WOMAN (to Melitone) Four for me... BEGGARS Four for her! A WOMAN Yes, because I've got six children... MELITONE And why have you got six? A WOMAN Because the good Lord sent them. MELITONE Ah, yes, the good Lord... the good Lord. You wouldn't have them if, like me, you whipped your back with a rough scourge, and spent all your nights reciting rosaries and Misereres... GUARDIANO Brother... MELITONE But these beggars are really dreadfully fertile... GUARDIANO Be charitable. OLD MEN Give us a drop of that swill. MELITONE You rascals, you call this manna from heaven swill? BEGGARS (holding out their bowls) Me, Father, me, me, me... etc. MELITONE Oh, go to perdition, or I'll settle you with a ladle over your heads... I'm losing my patience! etc. GUARDIANO Be kind to them. WOMEN Father Raffaele was kinder to us. MELITONE Yes, yes, but in a week he's had enough of the poor and the soup. He kept to his room and unloaded the burden on to Melitone... And now, how can I treat such a rabble kindly? GUARDIANO The poor suffer so much... Charity is a duty. MELITONE Charity for people who make a living out of it? The sort who'd knock down a church steeple with their fists, who call this manna from heaven swill... Rogues and vagabonds! And who call this manna, etc. WOMEN Oh, Father Raffaele! etc. MEN He was an angel! A saint! etc. MELITONE Don't pester me so! Don't pester me so! BEGGARS A saint! A saint! Yes, yes, yes, yes, a saint! etc. MELITONE (kicking the pot over) Here, take what's left, no more argument, etc. Get out of here, leave me, yes, out you go into the sunshine, leave me alone, etc. You're beggars worse than Lazarus, sacks of wickedness... Away with you, to the devil, you knaves, take yourselves off; you're beggars worse than Lazarus, etc. BEGGARS Oh, Father Raffaele! He was an angel! He was a saint! etc. MELITONE You're beggars worse than Lazarus, etc. BEGGARS Father Raffaele! He was an angel! A saint! etc. MELITONE Get out of here! Leave me alone... out of here, away with you! etc. (In a fury the friar drives them out of the yard. Then he takes a handkerchief out of his sleeve and mops his brow with it. The gate-bell rings loudly.) GUARDIANO Someone has come. Open. (He goes out. Fra Melitone opens the door and returns with Don Carlo, who is dressed in a full cloak.) DON CARLO (disdainfully) Are you the doorkeeper? MELITONE (to himself) A weird one, this! (loudly) I just opened for you; I should think so - DON CARLO Father Raffaele? MELITONE (to himself) Another one! (loudly) We have two Raffaeles - one from Porcuna, fat, deaf as a post; the other is lean, dark, his eyes - (to himself) Heaven! What eyes! (loudly) which one do you seek? DON CARLO The one from Hell. MELITONE (to himself) That's him, that's him! (loudly) And who is calling? DON CARLO A gentleman - MELITONE (to himself) What manner! A nasty kind. (Melitone goes out.) DON CARLO It was useless, Alvaro, to hide from the world and try to shield your villainy in hypocritical robes. Hate and thirst for vengeance showed me the road to this cloister where you hide; no one here shall keep us apart; only blood, your blood, can wash away the stain which outraged my honour: and I shall spill it all, I swear to God. (Don Alvaro enters in monk's robes.) DON ALVARO Brother - DON CARLO Recognise me! DON ALVARO Don Carlo! You - alive! DON CARLO For five years I have followed you, at last ah! at last I've found you... Blood alone can cancel the infamy, your crime; that I should punish you one day was written in the book of Fate. Once you were brave; now, as a monk, you have no sword... But I shall have your blood - choose, for I have two. DON ALVARO Once I lived among men - so I understand; but this monk's habit - the cloister - they bespeak my salvation from sin, the repentance of my heart! Leave me, leave me. DON CARLO Neither that garb nor the hermitage will be able to defend you - coward! DON ALVARO (infuriated) Coward! What a word - (to himself) No, no. Help me, o my Lord! (to Don Carlo) Fierce words and threats, be carried off by the wind. Forgive, have pity, have pity, brother, have pity, have pity! Why offend in this way a man who was only unfortunate? Come, let us bow before fate, brother, have pity, have pity. DON CARLO You soil the very name of pity... Ah! When you went away, my sister remained, abandoned and betrayed, to infamy, to dishonour. DON ALVARO No, she was not dishonoured. It is a monk who gives you his oath. On earth, I adored her as only one in heaven can love. I love her still; if she still loves me, my heart cannot ask for more. DON CARLO My anger will not be quieted by base and cowardly words. Take up you sword, and come. do battle with me, o traitor! DON ALVARO If now it is too late for either remorse or tears to speak for me. You shall see me as none has ever seen me - prostrate at your feet! (He throws himself at Don Carlo's feet.) DON CARLO Ah, the stain upon your crest is proved by this act! DON ALVARO (leaping to his feet in anger) My crest shines brighter than a jewel. DON CARLO It is coloured by your half-breed's blood. DON ALVARO (unable to restrain himself) You lie in your throat! - give me a sword! (He takes a sword.) A sword! Lead on! DON CARLO At last! DON ALVARO No, the devil shall not triumph. Go, leave me. (throwing down his sword) DON CARLO You mock at me? DON ALVARO Go. DON CARLO If now, you coward, you lack courage to measure swords with me, I condemn you to dishonour. (He slaps Don Alvaro's face.) DON ALVARO (furious) Ah, now you have sealed your fate! Death! (He takes up the sword again.) DON CARLO Death to both! DON CARLO and DON ALVARO Ah! Come to your death, come! (They rush out.) Scene Two Outside Leonora's cave A valley crossed by a stream flanked by steep cliffs. To the rear, a cave closed by a door; above it, a bell which can be rung from within. The sun is going down, and the scene gradually darkens; the moon comes out, shining brightly. (Leonora comes out of the cave, pale and distraught.) LEONORA Peace, peace, o my God! Cruel misfortune compels me, alas, to languish; for so many years have I suffered, as bitterly as at first. I loved him, its true! But God had blessed him with such beauty and virtue that I love him still, and never shall I be able to efface his image from my heart. Ah, destiny! destiny! A crime divided us here below! Alvaro, I love you, and in heaven it is written that I shall never see you again! Oh God, God, let me die: for only in death shall I know peace. My soul sought peace in vain in this world, my soul, the prey of eternal sorrow. (She goes to a rock on which Father Guardiano has left food for her.) O wretched bread, which lengthens out this sorry life. But who comes now, daring to profane this sacred refuge? A curse upon him! A curse upon him! (She retreats rapidly into the cave, closing the door behind her.) DON CARLO (off-stage) I am dying! Confession! Save my soul! DON ALAVARO (entering with drawn sword) This, too, is the blood of a Vargas. DON CARLO Confession! - DON ALVARO (throwing down his sword) I am damned; but nearby there is a hermitage... (Alvaro runs to the cave and knocks.) Come quickly, to console a dying man... LEONORA (within) I cannot. DON ALVARO Brother! in the Saviour's name! LEONORA I cannot. DON ALVARO (knocking harder) You must. LEONORA (within, ringing the bell) Help! Help! DON ALVARO Ah, come! (Leonora appears at the door.) LEONORA Rash man, flee from the wrath of Heaven! DON ALVARO A woman! This voice! Ah no, a ghost - LEONORA (recognising Don Alvaro) What do I see! DON ALVARO You - Leonora - LEONORA It is really he... I see you once again - DON ALVARO Do not come near me - these hands are drenched with blood. Away! LEONORA What are you saying? DON ALVARO (pointing to the grove) There a man lies dead. LEONORA You killed him? DON ALVARO I did all I could to avoid fighting. I had left the world for the cloister. He found me, insulted me, I killed him. LEONORA And who was he? DON ALVARO Your brother! LEONORA O God! (She runs towards the grove.) DON ALVARO Cruel destiny, how you mock at me! Leonora is alive, and I must find her only when I have split her brother's blood! LEONORA (crying out, from off-stage) Ah! DON ALVARO What a cry! What has happened? (Leonora, wounded, enters supported by Father Guardiano.) She - wounded! LEONORA (dying) Even in his last hour, he could not forgive. And he avenged our shame with my blood. DON ALVARO Not even with his death was the vengeance of God satisfied! Curses! GUARDIANO Do not curse; humble yourself before Him who is holy and just, who leads us to eternal joys over a road of tears. Do not speak a word of blasphemous wrath and fury. while this angel is leaving us, flying to the throne of God. LEONORA Yes, weep - and pray. I promise you God's pardon. DON ALVARO An outcast, a damned soul am I. A flood of blood surges between us. LEONORA Weep and pray! GUARDIANO Kneel! LEONORA I promise you God's pardon. Pray! DON ALVARO I cannot resist this voice any longer. (He throws himself at her feet.) GUARDIANO Kneel! DON ALVARO Leonora, I am redeemed - Heaven has pardoned me, has pardoned me! LEONORA and GUARDIANO Praise be to thee, o Lord. LEONORA (to Don Alvaro) Joyfully now I go before you, into the Promised Land. There, this strife cannot follow us, and holiness will bless our love. DON ALVARO You condemn me to live on abandoning me here on earth! Only the guilty one, I see, will escape punishment! GUARDIANO Made blessed through her martyrdom, may she now rise to the Lord, and may her death teach you to know what faith means! LEONORA I wait for you in heaven. Goodbye! DON ALVARO Ah, do not leave me, Leonora, do not leave me... GUARDIANO And may her death, etc. LEONORA Ah... I go before you...Alvaro...Ah...Alvar...Ah! (She dies.) DON ALVARO Dead! GUARDIANO She has ascended to God! END |
| libretto by Dale McAdoo, 1954 |