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| Pagliacci
- Full English libretto from this recording |
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TONIO
A word - allow
me! Sweet ladies and gentlemen,
I pray you hear, why I alone appear,
I am the Prologue!
Our author loves the custom of a prologue to his story,
And as he would revive for you the ancient glory,
He sends me before you to speak the prologue
But not to prate, as once of old,
That the tears of the actor are false, unreal
That his sighs and cries, and the pain that is told,
- He has no heart to feel
No! No! Our author tonight a chapter will borrow
From life with its laughter and sorrow.
Is not the actor a man with a heart like you?
So 'tis for men that our author has written,
And the story he tells you is - true!
A song of
tender memories deep in his listening heart
One day was ringing; with trembling heart, he wrote it,
And marked the time with sighs and tears… Come then
Here on the stage you shall behold us, in human fashion,
And see the sad fruits of love and passion!
Hearts that weep and languish, cries of rage and anguish,
And bitter laughter… Ah think then - sweet people,
When ye look on us, clad in our motley and tinsel,
Ours are human hearts, beating with passion,
We all are men like you, for gladness or sorrow,
'Tis the same broad Heav'n above us,
The same wide lonely world before us!
Will ye hear then the story, how it unfolds itself, surely and certain?
Come then! Ring up the curtain!
| ACT
1 - SCENE 1 - BEFORE THE THEATRE |
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OPENING CHORUS
- MEN AND WOMEN
This way they
come,
With pipe and drum,
This way they come,
This way they come,
Here's a pretty Columbine
And Punchinello,
A merry fellow,
With laugh and jest
They come, they come.
Look how sedately
He smiles and passes,
Beating his drum
With a nod to the lasses.
BOYS
Hi there! Harlequin!
Whip up your donkey!
CANIO
Go to the devil
PEPPE
Take that, you monkey!
Keep back! They're coming now,
The waggon's coming!
Oh what an awful row!
Oh what a drumming!
VILLAGERS
Hail, Punchinello!
Long live the merry king,
Who keeps us mellow!
He is the blithest fellow!
Long life to him we sing,
Hail, Punchinello!
CANIO
Thank you!
VILLAGERS
Bravo!
CANIO
Allow me.
VILLAGERS
Now then begin the play!
CANIO (beating
drum)
Gentlemen all.
VILLAGERS
You deafen us. Do stop, I say!
CANIO
A word, a word, I pray!
VILLAGERS
Hush! Hush! Be quiet pray,
Begin and say your say!
CANIO
This evening at seven of the clock I invite you
To see our performance, I know 'twill delight you.
We'll show you the sorrows of poor Punchinello,
And the vengeance he wreaked on a treacherous fellow;
And Tony the clown with his big corporation,
And strange combination of love and of hate.
O come then, and honour us,
You'll all be delighted,
At seven you're invited,
At seven you're invited!
VILLAGERS
With pleasure, with pleasure!
We all are delighted,
At seven we're invited!
At seven we're invited!
(Tonio advances
to help Nedda down from the cart. But Canio boxes his ears.)
CANIO
Get away!
(Lifts Nedda
down)
WOMEN (to
Tonio)
How d'you like it, pretty lover?
BOYS
How d'you like it?
(Tonio shakes
his fist at boys)
TONIO (aside)
Oh he shall pay me, you'll discover!
VILLAGERS
(to Canio)
Say! Wilt drink with me a measure?
They sell good liquor at the tavern yonder.
CANIO
With pleasure!
PEPPE
I say! Wait you two!
I'll come with you!
CANIO
Hi! Tonio, are you coming?
TONIO
I've got to clean the donkey.
I'll soon be after you.
VILLAGERS
(to Canio)
Take care, my master. He waits till you're departed, to go a-courting
Nedda.
CANIO
You think so?
Such a game, believe me, friends, is hardly worth the playing,
Let Tonio ponder what I'm saying.
For the Stage and Life are different, you'll discover;
For if up there (pointing to the Theatre) I caught her - my lady, with
a lover,
I'd preach her a little sermon, and get into a passion,
Then calmly I'd seat me there,
And let her lover beat me there,
While the people would applaud me in the usual silly fashion!
But if Nedda - in earnest should deceive me,
The ending would be different, believe me.
Mark the words I am saying,
Such a game, believe me, friends, is hardly worth the playing!
NEDDA
What can he mean?
VILLAGERS
But surely you cannot suspect her.
CANIO
No, no, of course not. That could not be,
I love her and respect her.
BOYSS
Hark! 'Tis the bagpipes! The pipers coming.
MEN
See where the people churchward are going!
OLD PEOPLE
Hark, to the bagpipes so merrily blowing!
Gaily the couples to vespers are going!
WOMEN
Come away!
The grey twilight falleth,
The angelus calleth!
CANIO
Yes, but remember, pray,
At seven you're invited!
BELL CHORUS
Ding dong! The shadows fall,
Then come, one and all!
To the church come away,
Ding dong! We roam along,
In love's dream so fair.
But mothers have watchful eyes,
Beware! Oh beware!
Soon in the twilight,
Love will be told;
But the old folks are watching,
Be not too bold!
Ding dong! All above,
All around is bright with love.
Ding dong! The shadows fall,
Come, one and all!
NEDDA
How fierce he look and watched me!
I hung my head, fearing lest he should discover
My secret thoughts of my lover.
Heav'ns! If he should suspect me,
With all his brutal ways! No matter! I fear not,
These are but empty dreams and idle fancies.
Shine, O thou glorious sun, upon me!
Every pulse is throbbing, glowing,
Like the tide, my passion flowing,
Oh my heart, my restless heart, where art thou going?
Ah, ye beautiful song-birds! I hear your pinions,
What seek ye? Whither going? Who knows?
My mother knew the meaning of your sweet voices,
And the song she sang me in happy childhood,
Comes back for ever!
High! High
aloft they cry,
Through Heaven's blue ether launched in their flight,
Like arrows of light, in the sky.
The storm clouds and the tempest and the sunlight defying,
For ever flying - through the boundless sky!
Afar, ever they journey! On, upward for ever!
Oh! Wearying never, their fetterless wings unfold,
They have their visions, their tender beautiful visions,
They soar for ever through clouds of gold,
What though the wind howls, and night is dark above them,
Spreading their pinions by planet and star,
No night dismays them, no storm delays them,
They soar for ever o'er sea and scar.
Far! Oh so far they fly on wings untiring,
Seeking sweet regions they may never know,
For what can bar their dreams and their desiring?
'Tis fate that leads them, still on they go!
(Tonio enters)
NEDDA
What? Thou! I thought that thou wast gone to market!
TONIO
The fault lies in thy singing. The song bewitched me.
And I could not leave thee.
NEDDA (Laughing
scornfully)
Ha! Ha! How very poetical.
TONIO
Do not laugh, Nedda.
NEDDA
Go to the tavern.
TONIO
I know that you hate me and laugh in derision,
For what is the Clown? He plays but a part.
Yet he has his dream, and his hope and his vision,
The Clown has a heart.
And ah when you pass me, uncaring, unseeing,
You know not my sorrow, so cruel and sweet,
I give you my spirit, my life, and my being,
I die at your feet.
Ah, hear me then, hear me then,
Let me tell thee -
NEDDA (Interrupting)
- You love me.
'Tis time enough to tell me this evening.
Tonight when you're playing the fool,
With sighs and grimaces,
Why not postpone the confession till then?
TONIO
No, 'tis now I will tell it thee
And thou shalt hear me now.
I love thee, worship and long for thee,
To make thee mine for ever.
NEDDA
Tell me, thou silly varlet,
Do thy shoulders itch for a drubbing?
Or do thy ears want a rubbing?
How shall I teach thee to cool thy love?
TONIO
You mock me? Too long I've borne it.
By the cross of the Saviour, I'll make thee pay,
I've sworn it!
NEDDA
You threaten?
Must I then call Canio to thee?
TONIO
But not before I kiss thee!
NEDDA
Hands off!
TONIO
No! No! Thou shalt me mine.
NEDDA (striking
Tonio with whip)
Unhand me, wretch!
TONIO
By the Holy Virgin of the Assumption, Nedda,
I swear it, I'll be revenged upon thee.
NEDDA
Viper, begone! Thou hast a heart as foul
And ugly as thy body, aye! Fouler still!
SILVIO
Nedda!
NEDDA
Silvio! At this hour. What madness!
SILVIO
Bah! Bah! No danger, dear, I'm thinking,
Canio I left at yonder tavern drinking.
By the pathway that we love, through the bushes I came hither.
NEDDA
A moment sooner and Tonio would have caught thee.
SILVIO
Ha! Ha! The fool?
NEDDA
The fool is to be feared. He loves me.
Just now he told me.
With burning words and brutal fire,
He tried to kiss me in his mad desire.
SILVIO
By heaven!
NEDDA
Nay be not anxious! For such a passion,
A whip's the fashion.
TONIO
Why wilt though live, then, for ever like this, Nedda?
My fate is in thy hands,
Nedda, pit my sorrow,
Tonight the fair is o'er,
Thou wilt be gone tomorrow.
Ah what of me, when thou art departed,
How shall I live apart from thee
And broken hearted?
NEDDA
Silvio!
SILVIO
Nedda, hear, I implore thee!
If for thy husband no passion inspires thee,
If all this roving life sickens and tires thee,
If this great love of thine is not empty delight,
Fly with me, fly with me, dearest, tonight!
NEDDA
Ah, tempt me not! Has not life enough of sadness?
Silvio, tempt me no more. 'Tis folly, 'tis madness!
Have I not given thee my heart? Thou hast my love for aye
Then say goodbye and part. Thou wilt not then betray
Ah tempt me not for pity's sake, my heart will break!
Who knows, dear heart, 'tis best to part!
Tears are vain, all is vain; we must not meet again.
And yet remembering all our love, since first I met thee,
I shall dream of thee, live for thee, never forget thee.
SILVIO
No! You do not love me!
TONIO (watching)
I've caught thee, thou baggage!
NEDDA
I love thee, love thee!
SILVIO
And yet you leave me tomorrow.
Why hast thou taught me love's magic story,
If thou wilt leave me, hopeless alone?
Why press to me thy lips in their glory,
Why fold thy heart into mine own?
If thou forgettest all our caresses,
I still remember that dream divine,
I want thy heart, thy passionate kisses,
I want thy spirit to melt in mine!
NEDDA
Can I forget, as I see thee before me,
The spell of love thy heart has woven o'er me?
By the words thou hast spoken, the ties that have bound me
All I want is thy love, folded around me.
Ah, do not leave me! Wherefore must we never?
Thou hast my heart, and I am thine for ever!
SILVIO
Wilt come?
NEDDA
Yes! Kiss me, love!
SILVIO
Forget the past, think not of tomorrow!
NEDDA
Look in mine eyes, and kiss away my sorrow.
SILVIO
In thy eyes, dear, I kiss away my sorrow.
TONIO (to
Canio)
Tread lightly, lightly, and you will catch them so!
SILVIO
At midnight, dearest, I wait thee below!
Come to me, love, when the starbeams shine.
NEDDA
Tonight, my love, and for ever, I am thine!
CANIO (who
overhears)
Ha!
NEDDA (to
Silvio)
Fly, love!
NEDDA
Ah, Heav'n preserve him now!
TONIO (laughing)
Ha! Ha!
CANIO
Coward! Where art thou?
NEDDA (to
Tonio)
Well done, well done then, Tonio
TONIO
Yes - yes I did it.
NEDDA
Just like you, you coward!
TONIO
But next time, I expect to do better!
NEDDA
You make me hate and loathe you.
TONIO
Love me, or hate me! 'Tis nought to me.
CANIO
So again she's fooled me. Baffled again!
He knows this path too well.
But no matter. This moment you shall tell me
Your lover's name.
NEDDA
Who?
CANIO
You, by Heav'n eternal!
And if here now this moment, I have not cut your throat
(drawing dagger)
'Tis because before I kill thee, and thy blood stains my dagger,
Thou shameless woman, thou shalt tell me
Who is thy lover. Tell me!
NEDDA
Vain are your insults. My lips are sealed for ever.
CANIO
His name, I tell thee. This moment, thou shalt tell me.
NEDDA
No! No! Never will I tell thee.
CANIO
By Heav'n, I'll kill thee.
(Peppe, entering, snatches dagger from Canio)
PEPPE
Ah stay, good master, for the love of Heav'n,
The people! See! They're coming.
Look, where they come from church, to see the play,
Come away. Be calm, I pray.
CANIO
Leave me, I tell thee. His name, then, his name!
PEPPE
Tonio, come here and hold him,
The people come this way. Don't let them see you.
And Nedda, you go hence, I say.
Go hence and dress yourself. You know well, Canio
Is hasty but tender.
CANIO
'Tis shameful, shameful!
TONIO (to
Canio)
Ah! Calm thyself, my master. 'Tis best to make believe!
The gallant will return, I am convinced of it.
Trust me to watch her. Now is it time the play began.
Who knows? Haply the lover will be here tonight,
And will betray it. Come then, we must dissemble
If we would win.
PEPPE (to
Canio)
Come, come, go dress yourself, I pray you
(to Tonio)
And you play up your drum there, Tonio!
CANIO
TO act, with my heart maddened with sorrow,
I know not what I am saying or what I am doing.
Yet I must face it. Courage, my heart!
Thou art not a man! Thou'rt but a jester!
On with the motley, the paint and the powder,
The people pay thee, and want their laugh you know.
If Harlequin thy Columbine has stolen,
Laugh, Punchinello! The world will cry "Bravo!"
Go hide with laughter thy tears and thy sorrow,
Sing, and be merry, playing thy part,
Laugh, Punchinello, for the love that is ended,
Laugh, for the sorrow that is eating thy heart.
| ACT
2 SCENE 1 (Scene as in Act 1) |
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WOMEN (arriving)
Quickly, sweet gossips, come,
The show's beginning.
Hark how they beat the drum,
Oh, what a dinning!
Come quickly, come, I say,
Let's get good places.
TONIO
Walk up and see the play,
All take your places.
SILVIO
Nedda!
NEDDA
Be careful,
He has not seen us!
SILVIO
Tonight, remember, love!
I shall be there!
FULL CHORUS
Now then, begin the play,
Have done your prating!
Why keep us waiting?
Begin, I say!
Time to begin!
Let's make a din!
It's seven o'clock that's certain!
Ring up the curtain!
Silence, you there!
Begin! Begin!
NEDDA (Columbine)
PEPPE (Harlequin) CANIO (Punchinello) TONIO (Taddeo)
COLUMBINE
My husband Punchinello
Comes not till morning; empty lies the street!
Taddeo's at the market - lazy fellow!
All is safe and sweet!
HARLEQUIN
(outside)
O, Columbine, unbar to me
Thy lattice high,
I watch and sigh,
Longing to hear thee,
And be near thee, as the hours go by.
Ah, show thy little face to me,
So dear, thou art,
Thou hast my heart,
Ah, do not vex me,
Tease and perplex me, how can I live
Without thy loving heart?
O, Columbine, then list to me,
Thy door unbar,
Come down, my star!
Come down, and love me,
See, where alone I sigh!
For if thou lov'st me not,
Then let me die!
COLUMBINE
Ah yes! 'Tis now the hour entrancing!
The moment's advancing!
And Harlequin's waiting there!
TADDEO
Behold her!
Ah! How surpassing fair!
Ah, to tell her, rebellious maiden,
Just to tell her the love with which I'm laden!
All safe and clear, now!
No husband near now!
There's no one to suspect me.
Come, Love! Direct me!
COLUMBINE
Well, fool? Is't thou?
TADDEO
Yes, 'tis I.
COLUMBINE
Hast thou seen Punchinello?
TADDEO
He went just now.
COLUMBINE
Come then, what were you sent for?
Where is the fowl you went for?
TADDEO
Low at thy feet it is lying.
See us both
Ah! I implore thee
Luckless couples here before me!
O, Columbine - be mine, be mine!
Hear, O, maiden tender!
From the day -
COLUMBINE
How much, I say?
Your reck'ning render!
TADDEO
(Just one and threepence!) - Hear me say
How I love thee and adore thee!
COLUMBINE
Get away, get away!
TADDEO (to
Columbine)
Pure! Yes, I know thou art,
Pure as the snow flake falling,
Why wilt thou close thy heart
Unto my calling?
Must I leave thee and foresake thee?
HARELQUIN
Yes, or I'll make thee!
TADDEO (to
Harlequin)
Heav'ns! You love her!
Then I must hand her over!
Bless you, my children!
Yonder will I watch o'er you!
COLUMBINE
Dear Harlequin!
HARLEQUIN
Sweet Columbine! Ah, how we've prayed, dear,
And Love has heard our prayer.
COLUMBINE
The supper's laid, dear!
See here, see here, my dearest dear,
The supper that I've bought you!
HARLEQUIN
See here, my love, my dainty love,
The splendid wine I've brought you!
BOTH
For love is very fond of wine,
And partial to the kitchen
HARLEQUIN
My greedy little Columbine!
COLUMBINE
My toper most bewitchin'!
HARLEQUIN
(taking a phial from his breast)
Take then this little philtre fine,
Give it to thy husband,
Pour it in his wine,
And then let's fly, my dear!
COLUMBINE
Yes - give it to me!
TADDEO
Beware! Thy husband is here!
For weapons seeking, with anger stamping,
All's discovered! I'd better be decamping.
COLUMBINE
(to Harlequin)
Fly, then.
HARLEQUIN
(as he enters)
Pour the philtre in his wine love!
COLUMBINE
Tonight, and for ever, I am thine, love!
CANIO
God! Am I dreaming? What she said this morning
Courage! Some one was with you here!
NEDDA
What nonsense! You've been drinking!
CANIO
- Been drinking!…….I think so!
NEDDA
You're back too early.
CANIO
Too early! Thou fearest!
Art sorry, my sweetest, my dearest?
Ah nay, thou wast not lonely.
Who has been with thee here?
NEDDA
The Fool Taddeo - only!
In fact, he's in the cupboard, hiding!
Come out!…….explain!
TONIO
Believe me, sir, thy wife if true. She'd never grieve thee!
Those pious lips of hers would never deceive thee.
CANIO
Do not trifle, false woman,
Dost thou forget that I am also human?
Tell me his name!
NEDDA
Whose name?
CANIO
Tell me then, by God who made me,
Within whose shameless arms thou hast betrayed me?
NEDDA
Punchinello! Punchinello!
CANIO
No! Punchinello no more! I am a man again,
With aching heart and anguish deep and human,
Calling for blood to wash away the stain,
Thy foul dishonour, thou shameless woman!
No! Punchinello no more! Fool that I sheltered thee!
And made thee mine by every tender token!
Of the love that I gave thee, what is there left to me?
What have I now, but a heart that is broken?
WOMEN
Sweet gossip, ah, it makes me weep,
So true it all is seeming.
MEN
Silence down there, quiet keep.
SILVIO
Ah, can it be I'm dreaming.
CANIO
I hoped, in my passion so blindly confiding,
If not for love, for pity sweet,
I loved thee more than God in heav'n abiding,
All my life and my being, I laid at thy faithless feet!
I dreamt thou wast true! I would I ne'er had met thee!
I thought of thee pure and stainless as the morn,
Thou hast broken my heart, I live but to forget thee.
Thou hast my love, but now thou hast my hate and scorn!
AUDIENCE
Bravo!
NEDDA
Well, then, if you deem'st me so unworthy,
Come, let me go and leave thee.
CANIO
No doubt! No doubt! And set thee free,
And let thy lover's arms receive thee!
No! Thou shalt remain, I swear it.
I want thy lover's name - Come then - declare it!
NEDDA
I never knew, my dear, that you,
Were such a tragic fellow,
You here will see no tragedy,
My dearest Punchinello!
The man who's been to sup with me,
And caused you all this bother,
Was only Harlequin you see,
Poor Harlequin, no other!
CANIO
Ah! Dost thou mock me? My rage thou still defiest.
Say who's thy lover - this moment - or thou diest!
NEDDA
No! By my mother's soul, unworthy though thou call me,
I will not tell thee, whatever fate befall me!
VOICES IN
THE CROWD
Are they in earnest? What are they doing?
PEPPE
Let us be going, Tonio!
TONIO
Silence, fool!
PEPPE
I am afraid!
SILVIO
Oh, the play is a strange one,
I can bear it no more!
NEDDA
For thine anger I care not. Love is a weapon stronger!
Thus I defy thee! I fear thee no longer!
CANIO
His name! His name!
NEDDA
No!
SILVIO
What in the devil's name?…..He's in earnest!
CANIO (stabbing
Nedda)
Take that, and that!
In thy last dying agony thou'lt tell!
VOICES IN
AUDIENCE
Stop him!
NEDDA
Help me, Silvio!
SILVIO
Nedda!
CANIO (to
Silvio, as he stabs him)
So! 'Tis you then! 'Tis well!
MEN
Help! Help! Arrest him!
WOMEN
Father of pity!
CANIO
The comedy is ended.
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