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OiULjIO OaTTICASAZZA Oener* Manager MONDAY EVENING. APRIL 7TH, AT 8.15 O'CLOCK

L/AMORE DEI TRE RE

OPERA IN THREE ACTS BY SEM BENELLI

(in Italian)

/

MUSIC BY ITALO MONTEMEZZI

AR CH IBALDO

M AN FR EDO

AVITO

FLAMINIO

A YOUTH

FIO R A .

A M A ID

A YOUNG WOMAN

AN OLD WOMAN

A SHEPHERD

JOSE MARDONES

. MILLO PIC CO

GIOVANNI MARTINELLI

ANGELO BADA

GIORDANO PALTRINIERI

CLAUDIA M UZIO

MINNIE EGENER

MARIE TIFFANY

MARIE MATTFELD

CECIL ARDEN

CONDUCTOR . . . ROBERTO MORANZONI

51 5

m

Ml

ONDAY EVENING, MARCH 2 8th AT 8.30 O'CLOCK LAST TIME THIS SEASON MONTEMEZZl's OPERA

L'AMORE DEI TRE RE

(In Italian)

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LAHORE DEI TRE Re'^

OPERA ,N THHKE ACT.s By Skm R -^ V 1^

UN ITALIAN)

ARCIOBALDO ^^^^^ ""'^ ^'^^^O MONTEMEZZI ' *

MANFREDO .

AVITO JOSE MARDONE^

FLAMiNio.. •;;■: Giuseppe danisfI

A YOUTH ,?;.°^^'^^I MARTINmi

^■'iORA ^^^«DANO PALTRINIERI

P^ETRO AUDISIO

FiORA '"

A MAID

A YOUNG WOMAN ~

AN OLD WOMAN

A SHEPHERD

CONDUCTOR

LUCREZIA BORI

-MYRTLE SCHAAfI

•GRACE Anthony!

LOUISE BERAt'

CECIL ARDEN

•ROBERTO MORANZONI

L'AMORE DEI TRE RE

TRAGIC POEM

IN 3 ACTS BY

SEM BENELLI

ENGLISH VERSION BY

R. PI. ELKIN

MUSIC BY

ITALO MONTEMEZZI

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THB ARGUMENT

THE FIRST ACT,

Upon a certain night sleep forsook the old -King Archibaldo's eyes and he could not rest. Ere it was dawn, he had one of his servants lead him to an open place on the battlements between two chambers where a torch burned through the darkness as signal to Manfredo, who might of a sudden return from a siege that he was laj-ing. As they sat in a dis- course there and Archibald© told how first as a young chieftain he had come into Italy, foreboding crept upon him that on that day Manfredo would be again' at the castle. Restless and perturbed he sought his cham- ber. . . . And now as the dawn waxed suddenly, from her chamber, which was over against his, came the young princess, Fiora, and with her the prince, Avito. In each other's arms they told their love; since, afore- time, before the barbarians had taken Fiora, she and Avito had been be- trothed. When they heard a shepherd's pipe and saw that the torch was spent, then did Avito know that the day had come and went his way. But scarcely he had gone before old Archibaldo wandered again to the battlement, and though she was still, yet did he feel Flora's presence. He bade her tell him what she did there when all the castle was still asleep. She evaded and cozened him and lied unfalteringly to him. By the magic of his intuition and by the promptings of his suspicious spirit, he knew that she did not speak the truth and that she had played with a lover there. But for Manfredo's sake and for the pride of his line would he keep the secret. . . . Then of a sudden, out of the distance, gleamed the trailing line of Manfredo's spearmen; soon his trumpet sounded, and now he was upon the battlement in his father's embrace and telling how he had forsaken the siege in longing for Fiora, his wife. Yet when she came from her chamber to greet him she was cold and distant, albeit in a great speech of affection Manfredo spoke his love for her. And as they went again to her chamber, the old man, bitter and troubled, suspecting and fearing, thanked God that he was blind.

THE SECOND ACT.

After Manfredo had tarried many days m (he castle and wooed Fiora in his grave passion, it came to pass that he must go again to the fighting. And when he took leave of her on the great terrace in the warm light of the afternoon, he asked her piteously that she do som.e office of affection. She, relentmg, bade him have his will, and he told her how, as he and his host descended from the castle and wound away into the valley, they could long descry that same terrace. On it should she, Fiora, stand and wave her white scarf to make last glimpse of her to Manfredo's eves and to be token of her affection. She said that she would do all with which he had charged her. Thereupon Manfredo departed as one distraught between lovmg anticipation and haunting dread. Fiora waited until Man- fredo should have gone down into the vallev and until the handmaid had brought her the scarf. Musing sorrowfully, she stood thus upon the highest part of the terrace.

Of a sudden, at the foot of the steps behind her, Fiora heard the voice of Avito calhng her. For he had not quit the castle in that dawn.

and one of the guardsmen, in loyalty to his prince, had harbored him. And Avito entreated Fiora out of his love and despair, while she, feign- ing a cold anger, bade him go his ways, and fell to the waving of her kerchief. Yet still did Avito entreat and cry his passion and kiss the golden fringe that hung from her mantle. For her hand had embroidered it. Then more and more droopingly did she wave the scarf, until at last it was as lead in her hand. 1 hen came she suddenly down from the high place -and fell weeping upon his heait and gave herself utterly to him. In the sunset they sat upon the great stone seat and drank their ecstacy of love, knowing not that old Archibaldo was stealing upon them. Though he was sightless, yet did he hear and know, and a great and bitter lust of vengeance came upon him. But Avito evaded him in his blindness, and Fiora, though she vaunted her lover cruelly to the old man's face, would not say his name. Then the old king, beside himself, seized her by her false throat and strangled her, and she lay dead upon the great seat. . . . As he stood before her body to hide it, Man- fredo came striding out of the gathering night. For when he had seen the kerchief drop from Fiora's hand fear had come upon him that ill had befallen her. His father told him what ill had really befallen and what he had done. _ Hearing, Manfredo cried aloud that there was such love, then, in the girl's heart — a love that was stronger than life — yet she would not give it him. He would fain to know to whom she had given it. Old Archibaldo knew not, and when Manfredo shrank from him, he cast Fiora's body over his shoulder and went his way.

THE THIRD ACT.

In the crypt of the castle, wherein the image of God Himself looked down upon it, was spread Fiora's bier with white flowers all aliout her and white candles at her head and feet. Around her the youth and the old woman of the castle made their moan and the distant choir answered them, praising God, who is Lord of Death as He is of life. Between their chanting, they whispered that Fiora had been slain in vengeance. Then out of the darkness came Avito. By Fiora's bier he knelt and cried for dc?th with her. But when he thought to kiss her cold lips they were hot with a poison that the crafty old king had smeared upon them as a snare wherein to catch him whose harlot she had been. When the poison had spread through Avito's veins and he was like to die, Manfredo came also to the bier. He saw Avito and knew, but he would not slay him, since he, too, had come to die by the poison of a woman's lips. ' Then in the darkness old Archibaldo seized him for Fiora's lover, but when he knew that it was his son who was dead, too, he cried that all were gone where there is only the darkness.

1134592

CHARACTERS

ARCHIBALDO

MANFREDO

AVITO

FLAMINIO

A YOUTH

A BOY CHILD (voice behind the scenes)

A VOICE BEHIND THE SCENES

FIORA

A HANDMAIDEN

A YOUNG GIRL

AN OLD WOMAN

Inhabitants of Altura : Men, Women, Youths and

Old Women.

In the Middle Ages, in a remote castle of Italy; forty years after a barbarian invasion.

NOTE

This part of the Tragic Poem set to music by Maestro Italo Montemezzi seemed to be the most adapted for music, and is a considerable portion of the complete edition of "L'Amore del tre re."

The verses selected have not been tampered with, with the exception of a very few inevitable alterations and abbreviations.

The scenes which, in the original poem, precede the coming of Avito in the last act, have been con- verted by the poet into a Spoken Chorus, which is introduced before the death.

The poet has also written for the music the words of the chorus behind the scenes. These recall ancient sacred hymns.

THE EDITOR.

ATTO PRIMO

Spaziosa sala del Castello. Due archi ben misurati aprono le belle curve alia vista di una terrazza a colonne, e della notte poco innanzi I'alba. Una lanterna, come un segnale, ros- sastramente splende rivolta verso la campagna. Nel buio della sala rilucono i mosaici del soffitto sopra le arcate, sopra le porte di destra e sinistra. Le colonne e i capitelli med- ioevali, incroci bizzarri me armoniosi di stili, s'intrecciano e s'incontrano paurosamente.

(Un po' di silenzio; quindi entra da sinistra Archibaldo vecchio e cieco barone; e condotto da Flaminio sua guida, che indossa il vestito delle guardie del castello.)

(Le vesti di ognuno, ample e lunghe, hanno linee pure, ieratiche.)

ARCHIBALDO

Grazie, Flaminio : guarda quella porta. £ chiusa bene?

FLAMINIO

Accostata; signore...

ARCHIBALDO

Chiudila bene, ma senza rumote...

FLAMINIO

(attraversa la stanza, s'avvicina alia porta di faccia)

ARCHIBALDO .

(pentito; con premura)

No; lasciala! Che credi tu? Che senta?

FLAMINIO Chi, mio signore?

ARCHIBALDO (amaro)

Ma che sei? Stordito dal sonno ? Chi ci dorme m.ai, di la ? . . .

FLAMINIO Fiora ! La sposa del figliuolo vostro !

ARCHIBALDO

Dorma ; dorma: che giovinezza e sogno... Non altro ! A me negato ora e sognare

ACT ONE

Spacious hall in the castle. Through the fine curves of two well- proportioned arches a view of a terrace with pillars, and of the night, just before dawn, is obtained. A lantern, em- ployed as a signal, sheds its reddish light across the country. The mosaics on the ceiling above the arches, and above the doors on the right and left, shine out through the gloom of the hall. The pillars and their mediaeval capitals, twisted in a curious but harmonious style, intersect and cross one an- other gloomily.

(A short silence; then there enters from the left Archibaldo, an old and blind baron; he is led by his guide, Flaminio, who wears the dress of the castle-guards.)

(The garments of both men are full and long, with pure, priestly lines.)

ARCHIBALDO

Thanks, good Flaminio : look at that door. Is it quite shut?

FLAMINIO Not quite, my Lord..,

ARCHIBALDO Then shut it quite, but make no noise...

FLAMINIO

(crosses the room and approaches the door opposite).

ARCHIBALDO

(changing his mind; hastily)

No; leave it so! What dost thou think? or hear?

FLAMINIO

Who, my lord?

ARCHIBALDO

(bitterly)

But what art thou? Art dazed

With slumber? Who is it sleeps in there?

FLAMINIO Flora! your son's wife sleeps there!

ARCHIBALDO

Well, let her sleep: since, youth is but a dream... Naught else! Dreams are denied me

8 ATTO PRIMO

chi il sonno mi tradisce e come un'ape molesta scherza con le mie palpebre, poi che lo sorte m'ha seccato gli occhi... (Dolorosamente)

Flaminio, guarda il cielo; tu che puoi..,

FLAMINIO £ notte ancora; ma I'alba e vicina...

ARCHIBALDO Flaminio, guarda, indaga nella valle. Id sento che Manfredo tornera

FLAMINIO

Non puo darsi, se ancora egli combatte i castelli dei nostri oltre que' monti...

ARCHIBALDO Che dici tu: dei nostri?

FLAMINIO

Si ; dei miei che voi gia soggiogaste. . . lo sono nato suUe cime del colle la d'Altura, dove nacque la nostra principessa. . .

Per aver pace vi donammo Fiora...

Avito il giovane

principe nostro I'avrebbe sposata...

ARCHIBALDO

(con insistenza)

Guarda, Flaminio; guarda nella valle...

FLAMINIO Nessuno, mio signore! Tutto e pace!

ARCHIBALDO

Sono stanco ed il sonno che mi fugge mi lascia ancora piu sperso nel buio...

FLAMINIO

(distrattamente)

Chi non dorme di notte o smania o prega...

ARCHIBALDO

O ricorda ! . . . II pensiero mio stanotte ripercorre solingo la pianura sconfinata del viver mio trascorso...

ACT ONE

Since sleep betrays me and like a buzzing bee

Plays with mine eyelids;

Since fate hath sealed mine eyes...

(mournfully)

Flaminio, look at the sky ; thou that can'st s«e. . .

FLAMINIO 'Tis dark still, but the dawn is nigh...

ARCHIBALDO

Flaminio, look beyond, and scan the valley. I feel that Manfred will return.

FLAMINIO

That cannot be,if he still fights the castles Of our men beyond these mountains.

ARCHIBALDO What say'st thou? Our men?

FLAMINIO

Yes; of my men Whom, long ago, you conquered. . . I was born Upon the hilltops, yonder, of Altura, Where our princess was born...

For sake of peace we gave you Fiora. . .

Avito, our young prince

Was to have wedded her. . .

ARCHIBALDO (insistently) Look out, Flaminio, look into the valley.

FLAMINIO No one, my lord ! All is quiet !

ARCHIBALDO

I'm weary, and the sleep that shuns me Leaves me yet more distracted in the gloom...

FLAMINIO (absently) Who does not sleep at night must either rave or pray.

ARCHIBALDO ...Or else remember!... My thoughts to-night Are wand'ring lonely o'er the boundless plain Of my past life. ..

10 ATTO PRIMO

FLAMINIO Ricordate la vostra giovinezza. , .

ARCHIBALDO Italia! Italia... e tutto il mio ricordo!..=

(Maestoso)

Son quarant'anni che discesi in questa bella serra di fiori ; e sento ancora le mie narici dilatarsi al fiero

ricordo

Era la nostra gioventii ardente, esercitata alia conquista... Ed in noi tutti era la volonta possente come una mazza di ferro.

Tornavano da questra terra alcuni die nostri e, nella lingua scalpitante metallica di nostra gente, ai cieli esaltavano questa preziosa gemma; ed il bel nome d'ltalia a noi squillava forte come la lusinga d'una marcia di guerra...

Finalmente il re nostro di noi scelse i migliorl; ' e movemmo : masnada scintillante argentea verde e d'oro come serpe immane che si desta e si divincola dall'ombra e muove, risuonando, al sole. Tesi nell'acceso impeto i cavalli ; e gli uomini, su loro, i menti aguzzi : tutti sentimmo ai primi aliti italici il caldo aroma della bella preda ! E questa Dea, natante fra due marl,

ci parve sola

E qui con lei sedemmo

e qui giacemmo e qui I'amammo e mai nessun di noi la lascera, I'amante novella, tutta fresca, tutta verde, tutta d'oro ; ed amandola si piange ch'ella ci sia la schiava e non la madre, che, se ci fosse madre, allora si, c'insegnerebbe a dominare il mondo.

(Pausa. A Flaminio) Taci?... Con odio forse tu mi guardi!.

FLAMINIO

(guardando il vecchio cieco ipocritamente)

lo vi son servo ; e voi siete mio re ! (volendo sviare il suo pensiero)

Ma... il cielo imbianca e la lanterna cede al giorno la sua luce.

ACT ONE ii

FLAMINIO Remember your young days...

ARCHIBALDO Italy! Italy ! is all I can remember!

(majestically) 'Tis forty years since first I came into This lovely park of flow'rs ; and still I draw My breath more quickly at the proud

Remembrance

Our youth was ardent And all intent on conquest... And deep in ev'ry breast there was A will of iron. . .

Some of our kinsmen came back from this land, And in the strident tongue that marks our race They praised its wond'rous beauties to the skies; Until the name of Italy rang out As loud and luring as a war march. . . At last The king picked out the best among us; And forth we rode, our cohort glittering Silvery green and golden, like a snake That, being roused, uncoils its monster lengths And drags them from the shadow to the sun. Keen were the horses on the eager charge ; And keen tlie minds of them that rode them : . With the first balmy breeze from Italy We all inhaled the stirring breath of conquest ! And this fair goddess, swimming between two seas, Appeared alone to us...

And here we sat with her; And here we lay ; and here we loved her ; and ne'er Will one of us forsake her, our fair new mistress., So fresh, so green, so golden ; And as we love her, so we weep That she should be the slave and not the mother, Since, if she were the mother, she in truth Would teach us how to dominate the world. (Pause. To Flaminio)

Thou'rt silent? Perchance thou look'st on me with

hatred?

FLAMINIO

(looking at the blind man hypocritically)

I am your servant; and you are my king!

(wishing to turn his thoughts) But now... the sky grows light; our lantern pales Before the daylight...

la ATTO PRIMO

ARCHIBALDO

Adunque, spengila... inutile segnale ! Egli non giunge ! . . .

FLAMINIO (spegne la lanterna sulla terrazza e poi:) Andiamo, allora, mio signore...

(Lontano il suono di un flauto campestre) (Turbato)

Andiamo!. .. (Quasi lo trascina verso le sue stanze, a sinistra)

ARCHIBALDO

Torniamo, si; torniamo nella notte... (Esce guidato da Flaminio.)

(Avito ravvolto in un mantello esce dalla porta di destra. Muove due o tre passi verso la terrazza. Indaga fuori; scruta il ciclo; ascolta, esita un po'. Si riavvicina alia porta d'onde e uscito; ma sulla soglia e apparsa la bianca figura di Fiora: i bei capelli corti inanellati, vivi intorno alia testa. Sul sue corpo snello una toga sottilissima bianca e avorio.)

AVITO

fi ancora notte fonda. Troppo presto Geronte ha dato il segno.

FIORA

Ritorniamo...

AVITO

No: restiamo cosi sul limitare della notte d'amore a dirci addio.

FIORA Si; restiamo cosi. ..

(Avvincendosi a lui)

Come chi appena si sveglia. . . e teme il giorno e aborre il solt.

AVITO (tremante; accenna a sinistra) 2 chiusa quella porta?

FIORA

£ chiusa ; e chiusa. Tu tremi, Avito I E una infinita pace e nel mio petto.. .

ACT ONE 13

ARCHIBALDO

Put out the lantern then. . . A useless signal ! He cometh not !. . .

FLAMINIO

(extinguishes the lantern on the terrace; then:)

Then let us go, my lord. . .

(In the distance the sound of a rustic flute.) (Uneasily)

Let US go ! (Me almost drags him to his apartments on the left.)

ARCHIBALDO Let us go back, then ; 1)ack into the night. . .

(Exit, led by Flaminio.)

(Avito, wrapt in a mantle, comes out from the door on the R. He takes two or three steps towards the terrace. He looks about; looks at the sky; listens; hesitates a little. Again he approaches the door whence he came; but on its threshold has appeared the white figure of Fiora: her lovely short hair hangs in disorder round her face. Her slender figure is draped in a very fine ivory-white garment.)

AVITO

The night is still profound. Too early has Geronte giv'n the signal.

FIORA

Let us go back. . .

AVITO No : let us remain like this, upon the threshold Of this night of love, bidding each other adieu.

FIORA

Yes; let us stay like this.,.

(clinging to him)

Like one who scarce

Has waked. . . and fears the day and loathes the sun.

AVITO

(shuddering; points to the left)

Is that door closed?

FIORA

'Tis closed ; 'tis closed. Thou'rt trembling, Avito ! Infinite peace Is in my breast. . .

14 ATTO PRIMO

AVITO

Fiora, si ; lo sento, ed ho paura di quella tua pace. . .

FIORA

Damml le labbra e tanta ti daro

di questa pace ! . . . E poi la rivorro

implorandola disperatamente,

clie senza le tue labbra non ho pace...

AVITO

Se poi mi renderai tanta dolcezza quanta e quella che dare ti vorrei, struggimi tutto con il fuoco tuo , perche rinascero.

FIORA

Si, mio diletto ! Mio cuore ardente! la tua bocca e un fiore d'ogiii momento... Si; perch'io lo colgo ad ogni istante e sempre rifiorisce. . .

AVITO

(perdutamente, come un fanciullo ammalato)

Si... rifiorisce... Senza te patisce... FIORA

(con lo stesso smarrimento)

E se lo bacio aulisce... E illanguidisce I'anima che stacurva su quel fiore...

Avito ; molle sogno . . .

AVITO

(c. s.)

Eterna febbre!.,.:

FIORA Incanto lungo . . . senza fine ! . . .

(Si stringono perdutamente e si smarriscono nel bacio)

AVITO

(come svegliandosi, si scioglie da lei)

Ahime ! Guarda ; la luce gia comincia, il cielo imbianca...

ACT ONE IS

AVITO Yes, Fiora, I can feel it, And I am frightened at such peace. . .

FIORA Give me thy lips and I will give thee Of this peace!... And then I'll want it back. Beseeching, in despair, That there's no peace for me without thy lips. . .

AVITO

If thou wilt give me of thy sweetness, As much as I should wish to give to thee, Consume me wholly with thy fire That I may come to life again,

FIORA

Yes, my beloved ! My glowing heart ! Thy mouth is as a flow'r That ne'er can die. . . Yes, tho' I pluck it Ev'ry instant, it always flow'rs afresh.

AVITO

(passionately — like a sick child)

Yes... it flow'rs afresh... and droops without thee... FIORA

(in the same rapt manner) And if I kiss thee, it revives. . . The soul that's bending O'er that flow'r is languishing.

Avito ; sweetest dream. .

AVITO

(as above)

Eternal ecstasy !

FIORA Divine enchantment !. . . without end !

(They embrace passionately and are strained, lip to lip, in a long kiss.)

AVITO

(as though awaking, frees himself from her) Alas! See there, the light begins to dawn, The sky grows paler. . .

i6 ATTO PRIMO

FIORA

Tu mi vuoi lasciare...

AVITO

(per fuggira)

fi tardil

(Scorge la lanterna spenta... A.tterrito) Fiora ! Guarda ! La lanterna e stata spenta... Qualcuno e venuto qui, nelia nette...

FIORA

II vento e state .

AVITO

No; die la notte era cheta!... Non rammenti?

FIORA Ascolta!... Corri!...

AVITO

(fugge dalla terrazza verso destra. Fiora lo guarda, lo segue come a proteggerlo, poi corre verso le sue stanze. Ma s' e aperta la porta di sinistra ed e apparso Archibaldo solo).

ARCHIBALDO

Fiora ! Fiora ! Fiora !

(Celandu agli orecchi del vecchio ogni suo movimento, Fiora cerca sparire silenziosa) "

ARCHIBALDO

(pertlnace) Tu sei costa... Ti sento rifiatarc!

Affanni? Affanni?

O Fiora, di': con chi parlavi, tu?

FIORA

(con fermezza nuova)

Con me stessa parlavo ! . . .

ARCHIBALDO

(lentamente s'avvicina a lei) Non fuggire! Resta? Voglio sapere!

(Ghermisce lei che a'e appoggiata ad una colonna. L'attira a si: con la mano le indaga il volt.', la sente fra le sue grandi braccia di vecchie eroe. Con voce placata e con maraviglia:)

ACT ONE 17

FIORA

You want to leave me...

AVI TO (about to fly) 'Tis late!

(He perceives the lantern is extinguished. Terrorstnick) Fiora! look! The light has been Extinguished... Someone has been here In the night. . .

FIORA

The wind has done it...

AVITO

No: The night has been quite calm, hast thou forgotten?

FIORA

Listen! Fly!

AVITO

(escapes from the terrace towards the right. Fiora watches him, follows him as if to protect him, then runs towards her rooms. But the door on the left has opened and Archibaldo has appeared by himself).

ARCHIBALDO

Fiora I Fiora I Fiora !

(concealing every movement from the old man's ears, Fiora tries to escape silently).

ARCHIBALDO

(persisting)

Thou'rt close at hand... I hear thee breathing!... Thou'rt breathless! and excited!

0 Fiora, say: with whom hast thou been speaking?

FIORA

(with new firmness)

1 have been speaking to myself !

ARCHIBALDO

(slowly approaching her)

Do not escape ! Stay! I wish to know!

(He seizes her as she leans against a pillar. He draws her to him, he touches her face with his hand, he ftels her within his fine old arms. In pacified tones and with amazement:)

i8 ATTO PRIMO

Non puo darsi! Tu mentire cosi ! Cosi tradire ! . . .

(Piu amoroso, con la gola quasi stretta da una nascenle bonta paterna, senile)

Tu sei come una bimba... Se mentisci... e per nulla... Chi, adunque, era con te?

FIORA

(con risolutezza continua; senza piegarsi ; rigidamente; ma con Heve tremito)

Nessuno, mio signore !

ARCHIBALDO

(indagando)

Perche tremi, se did il vero ? . . .

FIORA

(subitamente pungendolo)

Ed anche vol tremate e non mentite. . .

ARCHIBALDO

(impetuoso)

Fiora !

(Lieve pausa)

fi vero! Tremo. . . Ma tremo... tremo per la tua menzonga!...

FIORA

(con ingenuita feroce)

To son venuta, qua, sulla terrazza... Non potevo dormire... col pensiero...

ARCHIBALDO

(improvviso, urlando)

Di chi? Di chi?...

FIORA

(con semplicitaj

Del mio sposo Manfredo!...

ARCHIBALDO

Orrore! Orrore! Oh, buio senza fine! Tu sei di f erro ; tu sei di catene intorno alia mia testa!

ACT ONE 19

It cannot be ! That thou should'st lie so ! should'st deceive so !

(More lovingly, almost choked with a growing fatherly and protective

kindness)

Thou'rt like a baby... if thou liest...

'Tis for nothing... Who, then, was with thee?

FIORA

(with unfaltering resoluteness; without bending; rigidly but with a slight tremor)

No one, my lord !

ARCHIBALDO

(feeling her)

Why dost thou tremble, If thou sayest true?...

FIORA

(suddenly touching him)

You also are atremble And are not lying. . .

ARCHIBALDO Fiora !

(slight pause)

'Tis true! I'm trembling... But I am trembling... trembling for thy lie!

FIORA (with fierce ingenuity)

I canle out hither, on the terrace... I could not sleep... for thinking...

ARCHIBALDO

(shouting, suddenly)

Of whom? of whom?

FIORA

(simply)

Of my husband, Manfred...

ARCHIBALDO

O horror! horror! Oh, unending night! Thou'rt made of iron; thou'rt made of chains Inside my head !

a« ATTO PRIMO

FIORA

(riaccostandosi a lui con inganno) Mio signore !. . .

ARCHIBALDO

No! Ferma! Non avvicinarti piu!...

Ho per te come il terrore d'un bimbo...

E la persona tua, che dentro I'ombra

sentivo sorvolare come un'ala

di candore, mi par soffio di gelo,

brivido accusatore ;. . . si che ancora,

mentre sento che tu qui, qui tradivi,

io mi debbro abbracciar la tua menzogna,

e per non arrossire giudicandoti

debbo gridare: "No... No... Non tradiva!. . ."

FIORA Signore ! . . .

ARCHIBALDO

Va : non ti potrei toccarre altro che per ucciderti !. . .

FLAMINIO

(di dentro)

Signore !

(Comparendo dalla terrazza)

Monsignore! Un drappello se'e fermato

sul ponte e m'e sembrato che vi fosse

il barone Manfredo...

(Giungono dal basso del castello squilli di trombe. La luce del giorno e molto cresciuta)

Udite! Udite! Lo salutano !

ARCHIBALDO

(tremante)

fi lui ! Flaminio, va !. . . Corrigli incontro. . .

(Col pianto nella voce)

Io... sono cieco... Va ! FLAMINIO

(esce correndo)

ARCHIBALDO

(a Flora dopo una lunga pausa) Tu... non gli puoi correre incontro... Nol

ACT ONE 21

FIORA

(approaching him deceitfully) My lord!

ARCHIBALDO No! stay where thou art! and come no nearer! I have an almost childish terror of thee. . . And thy person, which I heard gliding Thro' the shadows like a snowy wing, Seems like a frosty breath to me, Coldly accusing:... To that extent, that While I feel that thou were here deceiving, I must myself embrace thy lie. And, so as not to blush while judging thee, I have to cry ; No, she did not deceive me !

FIORA My lord !. . .

ARCHIBALDO

Go: for I could not touch thee Unless it were to slay thee !

FLAMINIO

(from within)

My lord! (appearing on the terrace)

My liege ! a troop of soldiers has drawn up Upon the bridge and I do think the Baron Manfred Is among them ! (Trumpet-blasts sound from the foot of the castle. Daylight has grown much stronger.)

Listen ! listen ! They are saluting!

ARCHIBALDO

(trembling)

'Tis he ! Flaminio, go ! Run forth to meet him. . .

(with tears in his voice)

I. . . am blind. . . go ! FLAMINIO

(runs out).

' ARCHIBALDO

(to Fiora after a long pause) Thou. . . canst not run to meet him. . . No !

22 ATTO PRIMO

FIORA

(tace)

ARCHIBALDO No!... Tu dormivi... Torna nel tuo letto...

FIORA (s'avvia lentamente verso le sue stanze. Un Have sorriso crudele di vittoria e sul suo giovane viso bello... Sparisce).

ARCHIBALDO

(aspetta il figlio dolorosamente immobile...)

Padre !

con te!

MANFREDO

(di dentro) (Apparisce dalla terrazza)

ARCHIBALDO Figliuolo mio ! Giunge la luce

(Si abbracciano)

MANFREDO Troppo era lungo e tedioso I'assedio per la mia brama ardentissima... E son f uggito : e restero con te qualche giorno.

ARCHIBALDO

Potessi tu restare sempre !

MANFREDO Oh, SI ; presto finira la guerra.

(Lieve pausa)

E Flora; dorme?. . .

ARCHIBALDO Dorme.

MANFREDO

Oh, padre mio, questo ritorno m'e caro siccome

un premio lungamente atteso

Nelle guerre

combattute, nel sangue, nella strage,

nell'orgia di vittoria, io sono stato

ferma colonna di virtu, si come

tu m'hai insegnato, padre ! . . . E Fiora, Flora

amare mi sopr4;che tu educata

I'avrai come un'agnella di candore...

ARCHIBALDO ' Godi la giogia tua!... Fiora ti aspetta... Anzi, ella giunge;... sento i pa^si suoi...

ACT ONE 2^

FIORA

(is silent).

ARCHIBALDO Nol Thou wert sleeping... Go back to thy bed...

FIORA

(goes off slowly towards her rooms. A faint cruel smile of victory is on her beautiful young face... She disappears.)

ARCHIBALDO

(awaits his son, sadly motionless)

MANFREDO

(from within)

Father I

(He appears on the terrace.)

ARCHIBALDO

My dearest son! Thou bringest light

With thee!

(They embrace.)

MANFREDO

Too long and wearisome Was the siege for my impatient longing... So I escaped ; and shall remain with thee Some days.

ARCHIBALDO

Would thou could'st stay here Always !

MANFREDO Oh yes! the war will soon be over, (slight pause)

And Flora? Is she asleep?

ARCHIBALDO Asleep.

MANFREDO

O dearest father, This return is dear to me as a reward

That's long expected

Throughout the war,

The fights, the bloodshed and the slaughter, The revelries of victory, untarnished Have I kept my virtue, as thou Hast taught me, father! And Flora, Flora, Will learn to love me: since thou hast Brought her up as spotless as a lamb. ..

ARCHIBALDO Enjoy thy happiness! Flora awaits thee... Hark, she is coming. . . I hear her footsteps. .^

24 ATTO PRIMO

MANFREDO

lo non sento : ella vola. . . (Si rivolge alia porta di destra. Apparisce Fiora) Fiora ! Fiora !

FIORA

(con freddezza crudele, ma simile a bonta) Siete tornato, signer mio? ! Stamani, prima dell'alba mi sono destata e son venuta qui sulla terrazza ; ed ho guardato tanto nella valle. . . Ero certa die voi sareste giunto...

(Ad ArchibaldoJ

£ vero, padre mio? Voi m'aveti nolito? ARCHIBALDO

(tace)

MANFREDO £ vero, padre mio?

ARCHIBALDO

Si, si; rho. . . colta...

(Riprendendosi)

mentr'ella ti aspettava. . .

MANFREDO

Oh ; Fiora ! Fiora ! Piccolo fiore, vieni sul mio petto; qui, qui tra le mie braccia, ch'io ti rechi, come agnella sperduta e mansueta, all'ovile dal mio cuore intessuto.

Oh ; come tremi !

(AvviandosiJ Cosi ti portero nel tuo bel letto davorio. . .

(Al padre) Padre mio, certo tu vedi, ora, che il figlio ha trovato il suo bene!... Certo tu vedi, perche troppa luce esce dal cuore mio che si confonde e si mischia e moltiplica con questa luce odorosa che dal mio tesoro si libera, dal mio tesoro aulente. (Entra nelle stanze di destra con Fiora abbracciata)

ARCHIBALDO

(solo, Pausa) Signore mio, se tu m'hai toho gli occhi, fa ch'io non veda. . . che sia cieco... cieco!..,

(Cala la tela.)

ACT ONE 25

MANFREDO I do not hear: she flies...

(He turns toward the door on the R. Fiora appears)

Flora! Fiora!

FIORA

(with cruel coldness, but with a semblance of kindness) Are you returned, my lord? This morning I awoke before the dawn And came onto this terrace...

And looked so long for you down in the valley... I was so certain you would come...

(to Archibaldo)

'Tis true — father... you ... heard me... ARCHIBALDO

(remains silent).

MANFREDO Is't true, my father?

ARCHIBALDO

Yes, yes — I., caught her., (correcting himself)

While she was waiting for thee.

MANFREDO

Oh, Fiora, Fiora! Come to my breast, my little flower ; Here, here, within mine arms, that I may bear thee. Like to a lost and gentle lamb. Unto the fold and shelter of my heart.

Oh, how you tremble !

(approaching her) Thus let me bear you to your soft White bed...

(to his father) Now, Father mine, you needs must see Your son has found his happiness ! . . You needs must see, because too strong a light Streams from my heart and flashes And multiplies and mingles with this perfumed light Which flows forth from my treasure, From this my fragrant treasure. (With his arm around her he goes into the room on the right.)

ARCHIBALDO

(Alone. Pause) O Lord my God, since thou hast ta'en mine eyes.

Let me not see . . . let me be blind ... be blind ! . . . (The curtain falls.)

ATTO SECONDO

Terrazza sulle alte mura del castello ; una terrazza tondeggiante. In cima al muro die la cinge, smerlato, piu alto d'un uomo, si giunge con una scaletta a meta del fondo. Una panchina di pietra larga un metro, altra fino al ginocchio, gira torno torno, accosto al muro. Si giunge per due portc laterali. Po- meriggio : il cielo scoperto e corso da nubi cangianti, estive. Squilli di tromba chiamano a raccolta.

(Etrano da sinistra Manfredo e Fiora abbracciati. — Flora e adorna sem- plicemente e mirabilmente.)

MANFREDO

(a Fiora) Dimmi, Fiora, perche ti veggo ancora cosi chiusa dinanzi al mio dolore?... lo parte, Fiora, io parto ancora,. . .ancora;... e sono cosi scosso che mi pare per un viaggio eterno, di partire...

FIORA

Mio signore, v'ho detto che la vostra partenza cosi prossima turbo la gioia ch'ebbi dal vostro ritorno... E percio son cosi, senza parole... Io poco vi conosco, che voi siete sempre lontano ; e quando ritornate pur mi dite: fra poco partiro...

MANFREDO

No ; Fiora, Fiora : tu mi parli come ad un nemico che ti chiede pace. Intendi, Fiora? Intendi il mio dolore? O dimmi tu: che cosa t'addolora?

FIORA

Nulla, signore, m'addolora ; solo che voi partiate ;

MANFREDO

Tornero

per te, per te, per la tua cara vita che voglio tutta cingere d'arnore...

(Con altro modo) Oh, Fiora: dammi alcuna cosa tua che mi possa tenere presso al cuore, mentre saro lontano.

FIORA Che volete?

ACT TWO

A circular terrace on the high castle-walls. On the top of the wall which surrounds it, battlemented higher than a man's stature, is a single staircase halfway from the back. A little stone bench, about a yard wide and knee-high, winds round the wall. Two side-doors give access to the terrace. It is afternoon : the sky is covered with changing fleeting clouds. Trumpet blasts sound a retreat.

(Enter from the left Manfredo, his arms round Flora. Fiora is beauti- fully and simply attired.)

MANFREDO

(to Fiora) Tell me, Fiora, why do I see thee Still so reserved before my sorrow? I leave thee, Fiora, once more — once more... And I am moved like this because it seems to me As if I left thee for an eternal journey...

FIORA

My lord, have I not told you how your Speedy parting has cast a gloom Upon the joy your coming brought me... And therefore I am thus, bereft of words... I do not know you well, since you are Always distant; and yet when you return You always say: soon I must leave thee...

MANFREDO No ,■ Fiora, Fiora : You speak to me As to an enemy that sues for peace. D'you hear me, Fiora? Do you grasp my grief? O tell me: what is it that grieves you?

FIORA Nothing, my lord, is grieving me; only That you are going...

MANFREDO

I shall return For thee, for thee, for that dear life of thine That I am longing to surround with love...

1

(In different tones) Oh, Fiora mine, give me some little token That I can keep close to my heart While I am far away.

FIORA What do you want?

s8 ATIO SECONDO

MANFREDO Che scegli tu?

FIORA

(con arcano dolore traboccante)

Volete la mia vita!...

MANFREDO

(con pietosa mansuetudine) Fanciulla, tu non puoi mulla donarmi, per placare il mio ctiore che per ora t'e ignoto ! Solamente io posso chiederti un dono che mi dia per poco pace ; e te lo chieggo.

FIORA

Che?

MANFREDO

(dopo una pausa: dolorosamente)

Suonata e I'ora della partenza. I miei prodi compagni m'aspettano sul ponte : impazienti sono i cavalH ; un f remito di vita e di conquista treniola nell'aria rossa. Si parte. I miei compagni fidi sono lieti. Si Giu, giu per I'ampia valle si scende. Si divincolano i sogni d'ebbrezza dalle lore menti giovani. In mezzo a loro io sono cupo e solo... Dentro mi piange lacrime dogliose tutta I'umanita, perch'io mi dolgo dell'amor mio lasciato e vado solo, senza conforto... Ho perso ogni mio bene, sono forse cacciato dalla gioia... Perche, se tanto amore e dentro me?... E mi volto e riguardo sopra il colle questo castello che rosseggia al sole...

Gill, giij si scende disperatamente. . .

E la valle si snoda e incontra il fiume

che piange e piange e mormora e rimproverta;

e il castello si perde, ... trascolora

fra gli alberi... Soltanto questa torre

si vede, questa dove siamo

Ora, ti prego,

anima mia, mia consolazione,

resta qui un poco, monta q4h^u1 muro,

e col tuo velo manda il tuo salute

ACT TWO 29

MANFREDO What wilt thou choose?

FIORA

(overflowing with secret grief) You want my life !

MANFREDO

(with compassionate gentleness) My child, there's nothing thou can'st give me, That will appease my heart which is as yet Unknown to you ! There's only one gift I can ask Of you, to give me peace awhile; And I do ask it.

FIORA

What?

MANFREDO

(after a pause, sorrowfully)

The hour has struck Of my departure. My brave companions Await me on the bridge: the horses Champ their bits; a thrill of life And conquest pulses through the air. We're going. My trusty companions Are joyful. Down through the open valley We descend. Their youthful minds Are drunk with dreams of prowess. I only in their midst am sad and lone. . . Within me all humanity weeps tears Of grief, because I'm racked with bitter grief At my abandoned love, and go alone... Uncomforted... For I have lost my joy, And am bereft of all my happiness. . . But why, if so much love is in me? And then I turn and look where on the hill This castle crimsons in the evening sun...

Down, down we travel, swift and strenuous...

The valley twists and meets the river

Which weeps and weeps and murnmrs and reproves;

The castle's lost to sight... fading

Among the trees. Only this tower

Where now we stand, can still be seen...

Now, I entreat you,

My dearest love, my consolation,

Stay here a little longer, climb on the wall

And wave a greeting with your scarf

30 ATTO SECONDO

alio sposo che parte e mi parra, ti giuro, anima mia, che tu m'asciughi le lacrime sul mio cuore scoperto... Questo ti chiedo, anima mia; non piu!... (Pausa)

FIORA

(finalmente commossa, con sincera pieta) E questo sara fatto...

MANFREDO

Ora ti lascio. . . E volero, perche quasi m'e caro partire, per vederti salutarmi... Addio, Fiora

(La bacia; si stacca subito dal bacio; fugge quasi volando, poiche il pianto lo punge.)

FIORA

(pur liberata da lui cerca come sciogliersi da queH'abbraccio che le 6 rimasto alia persona... Si avvicina poi al muro smerlato: monta i gradini della scaletta; si sporge... Ma ecco cautamente e come in sogno Avito, da destra. E vestito come Flaminio, come le guardie del castello).

AVITO (si guarda attorno, scorge Fiora lassu...) Oh ! . . . Fiora ! Fiora !

(Ella si volta; prima non lo riconosce con quelle sue vesti.)

Sono Avito ! Avito !

FIORA Ma che?! che?! Forse da quella notte...

AVITO

Fui qui, fui qui, sempre vicino a te

con I'anima e la mente mia che perdesi...

Flaminio m'ha vestito ora cosi

per potermi nascondere. . . e vederti. . ,

FIORA

(con improvvisa disperazione). Non posso pill vederti... Non ti debbo amar piia... La tua voce, oh, non risuoni pill nell'orecchie mie... Ti prego; va...

AVITO

lo non intendo, Fiora! Sei tu, Fiora, Fiora, che parli a me?

FIORA

Si; mille volte; )ri, mille, mille: disperatamente.

ACT TWO 31

To your departing husband ; and I swear 'Twill seem to me, that you are drying The tears upon my heart... I ask you this, my love, no more ! (Pause.)

FIORA (moved at last with sincere pity)

And this shall be done...

MANFREDO

Now I must leave thee. . . And I shall fly, for almost do I love our Parting, to see you wave your greeting... Farewell, my Fiora... (He kisses her; then wrenches himself from her, and rushes off, shaken by sobs.)

FIORA

(freed from him, she tries to shake off the sensation of his embrace... Then she approaches the battlemented wall, ascends the steps of the staircase; stands forth there... But suddenly Avito appears on the R, cautiously and as in a dream. He is dressed like Flaminio, as a castle-guard).

AVITO

(looks about him and sees Fiora up there) Oh ! Fiora ! Fiora !

(She turns; at first she does not recognize him in that garb)

I am Avito ! Avito !

FIORA Why, how is this? Can it be, since that night. . .

AVITO I have been here, here, close to thee, Close with my soul and my tormented mind... Flaminio dressed me thus that I might Hide... and watch thee. . .

FIORA (in sudden desperation)

I cannot see thee any more... I must not

Love thee... Thy voice must never

Sound on my ears again... I beseech thee... go...

AVITO I am bewildered, Fiora! Can it be thou, Thou, Fiora, who art speaking to me?

FIORA

Yes — a thousand times ; Yes, a thousand, thousand, desp'rately.

3c ATTO SECONDO

AVITO Sei tnille volte mia? Che did?

FIORA

No! Silenzio fosco e dentro la mia vita e terrore d'intorno... Vinta, vinta sono dalla pieta,... dalla bonta... Ohime : non senti il mio sposo che parte?..,

AVITO Perche non dici, il mio sposo che giunge?...

FIORA Lasciami in pace. Lasciami al mio pianto...

AVITO Lasciarti, Fiora ! E dove andare, Fiora? Dove vo? Dove cerco la mia vita?...

FIORA Nasconditi. Qualcuno deve giungere.

AVITO

(sempre come trasognato)

Andro; si: fuggiro...

(S' avvia)

FIORA

Fuggi : ti prego !

AVITO

(fugge da destra) (Fiora scende la scaletta. Entra dopo un istante TAncella da sinistra).

ANCELLA

(recando un cofanetto intarsiato)

II barone Manfredo questo dono vi manda, baronessa...

FIORA

(con infinita malinconia)

Metti la!

(Addita la panchina di pietra)

ANCELLA

(posa il cofanetto sulla panchina. Esce)

FIORA

(si approssima al cofano; lo apre lentamente; trae fuori lentissimamente un velo bianco lungo. . . Le braccia le cadono giu come morte; e con esse il velo... Resta un poco immobile, muta, senza pianto e senza vita. Poi si ricoida della promessa e s'accosta, recando il velo, al muro. Monta sulla scaletta; guarda giii; vede nella valle i cavalieri che si allontanano ed agita per la prima volta il velo;... per la seconda ancora; e per la terza ; e sempre il braccio le cade giu stanco.... Ma ritorna Avito).

ACT TWO 33

AVITO Thou'rt mine a thousand times? Is that it?

FIORA

No! A gloomy silence is within my life And terror all around me... I'm conquered, Conquered by kindness,... by compassion... Alas: dost thou not year my husband going?

AVITO Wherefore not say: my husband coming?

FIORA Leave me in peace. Leave me to my sorrow...

AVITO Leave thee, Flora! and whither should I go? Where can I go? Where seek my life?

FIORA Conceal thyself. Someone is coming.

AVITO

(as if in a dream)

Yes, I will go... I will escape... (He goes.)

FIORA Escape ! I beg thee !

AVITO

(escapes on the R.).

(Fiora comes down the staircase. A moment after the handmaid comes in from the L.)

HANDMAID

(handing her an inlaid casket) Baron Manfredo sends you this offering Madam. . .

FIORA

(with intense melancholy)

Place it there!

(The maid places the casket on the bench and goes off.)

FIORA

(approaches the casket; opens it slowly, and very slowly draws forth a long white scarf. Her arms hang down like dead; and the scarf with them... She remains motionless, without tears and life, for awhile. Then she remembers her promise and approaches the wall, with the veil. She ascends the staircase; looks down, sees the horse- men disappearing in the valley and waves the veil for the first time; then the second; then the third; and each time her hand drops wearily;.,. But Avito returns).

34 ATTO SECONDO

AVITO

Addio, Fiora; ho voluto rivederti... Debbo partire; ma senza ritorno... Addio, Fiora ; se non vuoi darmi un bacio che sarebbe principio della vita, fammi toccare quel tuo velo bianco che certo sa la tua molle fragranza... (Cerca prendere il velo di lei.)

FIORA

(che ha ascoltato le sue parole prostrata;. . . ritraendosi)

Non toccarlo !

AVITO Nulla di te piu, dunque, m'appartiene ? . , .

FIORA

(guardandolo compassionevolmente e tutto dimenticando airiniprevvis*... con altra voce:)

Come sei bianco... Come sei disfatto... Sembri un giglio, amorosa creatura...

AVITO II veleno d'amore e assai piia forte del sonno e della fame ; ed oramai pivi forte della vita...

FIORA

Vita tua e vita mia ! Ma che pieta, che arcano gorgo di bene ora m'invade ! . . . Avito, ahime... Tu sei come una frasca troppo esposta ai venti ; il male t'ha stremato, il male ch'io t'ho dato.

AVITO

(avidamente)

E tutto il bene rendimi senza indugio con un bacio ! Oh, Fiora, scendi, scendi...

FIORA

No: non debbo!

(Si ricorda dolorosamente del vote e agita il velo.)

AVITO

(si avvicina a lei).

FIORA Non salire quassu!

ACT TWO 35

AVITO Farewell, Fiora... I wished to see thee once again... For I must go, but I shall not return... Farewell, Fiora... if thou refusest me The kiss which is the source of life, Let me at least caress thy snowy scarf Which has been nestling in thy fragrance... (Tries to take her scarf.)

FIORA (who has been listening to his words wearily, drawing back)

No, do not touch it !

AVITO Is nothing of thee then, belonging to me still?

FIORA

(looking at him compassionately and forgetting all, suddenly, in diff<;rent tones:)

How white thou art... and how distraught... Thou'rt like a lily, amorous creature.

AVITO Love's poison is by far more strong Than sleep and hunger, and now indeed More strong than life...

FIORA Thy life Is my life! But what compassion, what mysterious Wave of kindness has engulfed me!... Avito, Woe is me!... Thou'rt like a branch that's too Exposed unto the winds ; the evil has destroyed thee, The evil I have done thee.

AVITO

(eagerly)

Then give me back The good without delaying, in a kiss ! Come down, O Fiora, come...

FIORA

No I must not! (She sadly remembers her vow, and waves the scarf.)

AVITO

(approaches her).

FIORA You must not come up here !

36 ATTO '5£CCf5;DO

AVITO

Fiora; perche?

FIORA

Non domandarmi . . .

(Agita il velo.)

AVITO

Allora fuggiro... lo sono cosi stance che non posso quasi piu transcinarmi. . .

FIORA

Avito ! Resta...

Non domandare

Avvicinati. . . Bacia la mia veste...

giu sulla balza d'oro... lo I'ho trapunta!...

AVITO

(corre subito. Stringe la sua veste: la bacia). Ah ! Sento le tue dita ancora sopra, accarezzanti il bel ricamo ! lo bacio le tue mani, cosi... Ma stranamente aspri sono i miei baci, quasi che I'ago tu avessi qui lasciato infisso...

(Le sue labbra avidamente si dissetano.)

FIORA

(vuole ancora agitare il velo; ma non puo: le braccia cadono: il capo si piega).

Ah ; tortura ! indicibile contrasto !

AVITO (come un fanciullo) lo non ascolto piu ! Dentro il rosaio ho immerso la mia testa... Nelle orcchie sento i fuchi ronzarmi i loro incanti di vecchi maghi, e il petto mi si plena di liquori olezzanti...

(La stringe a' ginocchi.)

I tuoi ginocchi! A quale scoglio morbido di musco m'aggrappo, dopo tanto navigare, dopo tanto morire !

FIORA

(accasciata, attratta)

Avito, ahime; tu pesi come piombo!... Tu mi trascini !

ACT TWO 27

AVITO Flora, why not?

FIORA Nay, do not ask me...

(waves the scarf)

AVITO Then I will fly from hence... I am so weary that I can hardly Drag myself away...

FIORA

Avito! stay.. Nay — do not ask... Come closer... Kiss my garment... Down on the golden fringe... I embroidered it!

AVITO

(runs hastily to her. Seizes her dress and kisses it) Ah ! still I feel thy fingers on it, Lingering on the broidery. I kiss Thy hands, like this... But strangely stinging Are my kisses, almost as though Thy needle thou had'st left inserted.

(His lips drink kisses greedily.)

FIORA

(wants to wave her scarf again, but cannot; her arms drop; her hea4 droops)

Oh agony ! the dreadful contrast !

AVITO (like a child) I will no longer listen ! I've thrust My head into the rosebush... And in my ears The drones are humming their spells Of ancient magic, my breast is full Of fragrant balm...

(Seizes her knees) Thy knees ! I cling to them, as to a kindly Mossgrown reef, after so much journ'ying, So much dying !

FIORA

(weakening, fascinated) Avito, woe is me, thou art like leadl Thou drag'st me down!

38 ATTO SECONDO

AVITO

Ah! La tua fresca voce ch'io sento costassu, come m'incantal...

FIORA Avito! Avito!

AVITO

lo stringo al petto mio un gran f ascio di fieri soavissimi ! Ma i lunghi steli solamente stringo! Non vorro, dunque, immergere la testa nelle corolle?!

FIORA

Avito! ahime, non sai!

AVITO

Fossi tu pure, non un fascio bello

di fiori ; ma una ruvida f orcata

di spini, che bruciassero lassvi,

vorrei tuffar nel fuoco la mia vita

per trovarvi la morte e la tua boccal!...

FIORA Avito, no!

AVITO

La bocca tua ! La bocca tua, Fiora ! Fiora ! Disperatamente io chieggo la tua bocca !

FIORA

(abbandonandosi, vinta)

Ahime ! Si peiga il voto mio, com'albero pietoso a chi muore di sete...

AVITO

Ho sete! Ho sete!

(Accoglie lei che, scendendo i gradini, cade nelle sue braccia. Si bacian* come fossero moribondi d'amore. Muovono quindi la panchina. — Fiora si abbandona appoggiando la testa sul petto di Avito.)

FIORA (dopo una pausa)

Come tremi, diletto ! . . .

AVITO

L'amor tuo, che mi ricopre tutto, ora mi fa sentire il gelo della solitudine...

ACT TWO 39

AVITO Ah ! Thy fresh voice That's sounding there above, how it enthralls me I

FIORA Avito ! Avito !

AVITO Unto my breast I strain A bunch of sweetest flow'rs ! But 'tis the long stems only that I grasp ! May I not, dearest, plunge my head Into the petals?

FIORA- Avito! woe is me, thou know'st not!

AVITO Oh would to heav'n thou wert, not a fair bunch Of flowers; but a rough clump of thorns. That I might burn upon it. And plunge my life into the fire To find death and thy lips there!...

FIORA Avito ! No !

AVITO

Thy lips! Thy lips, my Fioral Flora! Flora! Desp'rately I crave thy lips!

FIORA

^yielding to him, conquered) Alas ! my will Bows down to thine, as does a kindly tree To one who dies of thirst

AVITO

I'm thirsting — thirsting —

(He receives her, as she, coming down the steps, falls into his arms. They kiss each other as if dying of love. Then they move to the bench. Fiora drops onto it, leaning her head on Avito's breast).

FIORA

(after a pause)

How thou art trembling, dearest!

AVITO Thy love Which wraps me round coinpletely, now lets me Feel the cold of solitude...

4B ATTO SECONDO

FIORA

(carezzosa: tutto dimenticando) Pensando a Fiora, non dormivi piu...

AVITO

(quasi imitanda la sua voce)

Pensando a Fiora, non vivevo piu i. .

FIORA Mio diletto !

AVITO

Guarda in sii. . .

siamo in cielo... Si naviga nel cielo;..« si molleggia sull'eter^...

FIORA (come in sogno)

Nel cielo. ..

AVITO Oh, Fiora, dove siamo? lo mi smarrisco... II viso tuo ; che piu non lo rammento ! . . . (Le prende il volto con dolce furore e lo contempla follemente)

Dh; bello; oh, bello ! Oh; piccola stelluccia! O firmamento, tu che me Thai data, grazie !

FIORA

(con estasi).

Incatenami, dunque. . .

In un occhio si puo chiudere

il cielo... Tu potrai con la tua bocca chiudere la mia vita... Prendi... Prendila...

AVITO Eccoti, Fiora, un bacio bello,... I'ultimo, I'ultimo d'un'infinita di baci,... liprimo, il primo d'un'eternita. . . (Si baciano e restano avvinti perdutamente aboliti nella loro nube amo- rosa.. .)

ARCHIBALDO

(di dentro).

Fiora !

(Subito fuori seguito da Flaminio). Fiora! __ (I due amanti che non hanno sentito il primo grido del vecchio, si sciolgono ora come da un sogno).

AVITO

(appena riacquistata la pienezza delle sue forze, si slancia contro il vecchio, avendo levato il pugnale).

ACT TWO 41

FIORA

(caressingly — oblivious of all) Thinking of Fiora, he no longer slept...

AVITO

(almost imitating her voice)

Thinking of Fiora, I no longer lived...

FIORA My dearest!...

AVITO Look up. .. We are in heaven... We float in heaven... We drift upon the ether. . .

FIORA

(as in a dream)

In heaven.

AVITO Fiora, where are we? I have lost my way... Show me thy face; for I cannot recall it!... (Takes her face in a gentle ecstasy and gazes at it madly) Oh, fair, most fair! Oh, little star of mine! I thank thee, firmament, for this thy gift To me I

FIORA

(ecstatically)

Enchain me, then...

The whole of heaven

Can be held within an eye. . . And thou canst hold my life With thy dear lips... Take... take it...

AVITO

Here, Fiora, is a glorious kiss... the last,

The last of an infinity of kisses,...

The first, the first of an eternity...

(They kiss, and remain locked in each other's arms, and lost to every- thing, in their love-trance.)

ARCHIBALDO

(from within)

Fiora !

(He comes out quickly, followed by Flaminio.) Fiora ! (The two lovers, who did not hear the old man's first call, now start asunder, as if roused from a dream.)

AVITO

(who has hardly recovered his full consciousness, hurls himself on to the old man, with his drawn dagger.)

4« ATTO SECONDO

FLAMINIO

(che segue Archibald© lo ferma col gesto).

FIORA

(rispondendo al vecchio col gesto scongiura Avito di fuggire). Son qua!

ARCHIBALDO

(con ansia e sospetto, a Flaminio)

Guarda, Flaminio, chi c'e ?

FLAMINIO Non c'e nessuno ! . . .

AVITO (esce).

ARCHIBALDO

(che ha sentito il suo passo, amaramente dice:)

Sta bene ! . . . Fiora, dove sei ? . . .

FIORA

Son qua ! . . .

(Ella resta piu indietro a destra. Archibaldo ha la prova del vero: ha udito: ha visto.)

ARCHIBALDO

(violento).

Va via, Flaminio!

FLAMINIO (quasi balbettando).

Udite, Monsignore...

II Barone ritorna: ha rivoltato

il cavallo . . .

(Salta sulla panchina e guarda nella valle).

ARCHIBALDO

(fremente).

Ritorna certamente!... FIORA

(ricordando il suo voto).

Ritorna?!

ARCHIBALDO

Su: Flaminio; vagli incontro... FLAMINIO

(insistendo)

Signore 1 . . .

ARCHIBALDO Va!

FLAMINIO (esce correndo).

ACT TWO 4S

FLAMINIO (wke is following Archibaldo, stops him with a gesture)

FIORA

(replying to the old man, entreats Avito by a gesture to escape)

I am here !

ARCHIBALDO

(anxiously and suspiciously, to Flaminio)

Look, Flaminio, Who is there?

FLAMINIO

No one is there! (Avito goes out.)

ARCHIBALDO

(who has heard his footsteps, says bitterly) 'Tis well!... Fiora, where art thou?

FIORA

I am here!... (She remains a little behind on the right. Archibaldo has proof of the truth; he has heard; he has seen.)

ARCHIBALDO

(with violence)

Be gone, Flaminio !

FLAMINIO

(almost stammering)

Listen, my Lord. .. The Baron is returning: he has turned back His horse. . . (He jumps onto the bench and looks into the valley.)

ARCHIBALDO

(trembling)

In truth, he is returning!...

FIORA (remembering her vow) Returning?

ARCHIBALDO Quick! Flaminio, go to meet him...

FLAMINIO

(urgently)

My lord!

ARCHIBALDO Go!

FLAMINIO

(runs off).

44 ATTO SECONDO

ARCHIBALDO Flora, dove sei tu ? . . .

FIORA Signore ! . . .

ARCHIBALDO

(tremante d'ira e di giustizia).

La tua voce menzognera ancora mi ferisce? !

FIORA Monsignore ! . . .

ARCHIBALDO Chi era qui con te? chl ci tradiva?...

FIORA Nessuno !

ARCHIBALDO Fiora !

FIORA

(accovacciandosi, come per isparire, sulla panchina, accosto al muro).

Nessuno ! Nessuno !

ARCHIBALDO Ho udito il passo suo . . .

(La ghermisce).

FIORA

(improvvisamente ergendosi come la serpe). Allora... Allora... Quello ch'e fuggito era Tamore mio; era il inio bene... E vol, tremendo vecchio, che mi siete adosso come la vendetta, come la morte,... non mi fate piu terrore, ora che penso a lui !

ARCHIBALDO

Dimmi il suo nome! Fa ch'io lo conosca

FIORA

Ch'io parli con Manfredo, che ritorna... La sua bonta!

ARCHIBALDO

(buttandola, con violenza, distesa sulla panchina) No ! No ! Perdonerebbe, e gli ho insegnato io questa virtii senza gioia !

(Ha preso la sua gola) II suo nome ! II nome suo !

ACT TWO _ 45

ARCHIBALBO Fi«ra, where art th®u?

FIORA Sire!

ARCHIBALDO

(trembling with anger and loyaltj) Your lying voice Once more offends me?!

FIORA

My lord!...

ARCHIBALDO Who has been here with thee? Who Betrayed us?

FIORA No one !

ARCHIBALDO Fiora !

FIORA

(cowering down on the seat close to the wall, as if to disappear)

No one ! No one I

ARCHIBALDO I heard his footsteps.

(He seizes hold of her.)

FIORA

(suddenly rearing like a serpent) Well then... well then... He who has fled Was my true lover — my beloved... And you, you dread old man, who dog my Steps like vengeance, or like death. You can no longer fright me, Now that I think of him !

ARCHIBALDO

Tell me his name! Tell me, that I may know him. . .

FIORA Nay, let me speak to Manfred, who's returning... He is so kind !

ARCHIBALDO

(striking her violently, as she lies on the bench)

No! no! He would forgive you; And I myself have trained him to this joyless Virtue !

(He seizes her by the throat.)

His name ! his name 1

4i ATTO SEG«NB®

FIORA

a distesa sulla panca; il vecchio la ricopre con la sua vasta persona. Si sente la sua voce ferma).

Ei non ha nome, poi ch'e piu di tutto...

ARCHIBALDO ,

Traditrice. . . La tua gola 1 oserra questo nome... La mano mia lo stringe... Dillo ! . . . Bada : Manfredo s'avvicina e perdona... Non io, se tu non parli... Dillo; dillo!

FIORA

(chiaramente) Si chiama : dolce morte ! . . .

ARCHIBALDO Ma se tu muori, io lo sapro ghermire I'amor tuo. . .

FIORA

(ergendosi improvvisamente). No ! No ! Allora, f ammi vivere per difenderlo: non per accusarlo...

ARCHIBALDO

(strjngendo la sua gola).

Ah ! gola audace ! Gola menzognera ! . . .

(II vecchio si stacca dal corpo di lei atterrito.) (Pausa orrenda.) Silenzio ! Notte fonda ! La f erocia del sangue mio soltanto alita intorno...

(Con terrore e disperazione.) Ecco!... Giunge Manfredo!... S'avvicina... Enon sa... Teme, il figlio mio perduto... Lo sento... giunge... Corre alia sua gioia... (Ritorna presso il corpo di Fiora come a nasconderlo dietro la sua per- sona: cosi attende il figlio).

(S'avvicina il tramonto. Nel cielo nubi rossastre.)

MANFREDO

(di dentro, a pena, con voce anelante). Fiora! Mia Fiora! Sei caduta, sei?...

(Eccolo.) Padre ! £ caduta f orse giia dal muro. mentre col velo suo m'accarezzava da lontano? Che pivi non I'ho veduta...

ARCHIBALDO

(disperatamente)

La tua spada, perch'io me la conficchi nel peto e cada sopra lei ch'e mortal...

ACT TWO 47

FIORA

(lying full length on the seat; the old man covers her with his huge person. Her voice is heard, firm and steady)

He has no name, since he is more than all...

ARCHIBALDO Traitress. . . 'Tis lurking in your throat This name. . . My hand is clutching it. . . Say it!... Listen: Manfred is nearing And will pardon... Not so I, if you don't speak... Say it ; say it !

FIORA (clearly) His name is: welcome death!

ARCHIBALDO But if thou diest, I shall know how to track him. .. Thy love. . .

FIORA

(suddenly raising herself)

No ! No ! Then let me live To defend him — not to accuse him.

ARCHIBALDO

(throttling her)

Ah ! wicked throat ! ah lying throat !

(The old man recoils from her body in horror.) (A gruesome pause.) Silence around me! Night is falling! The fury Of my blood alone is breathing. . .

(In terror and despair) And here. . . Manfred is coming He nears. . . And does not know... He fears, my poor unhappy son, I feel it. . . he draws nigh. . . he runs to his delight. . . (He goes back near to Flora's body as if to hide it behind his person — thus he awaits his son.)

(Tht suntel approaches. Pale pink clouds in the sky.)

MANFREDO

(from within, panting and calling with difficulty) Fiora! my Fiora ! Hast thou fallen?

(He appears.) Father! Has she perchance fallen from the wall. While she was waving her long veil to me From far? when I no longer saw her...

ARCHIBALDO (desperately) Your sword, that I may plunge it In my breast and fall on her that's dead!

48 ATTO SECONDO

MANFREDO Morta ! Morta !

ARCHIBALDO

Deh ! Non avvicinarti ! lo I'ho uccisa !

MANFREDO

Che dici tu ? Che dici ? !

Morta ella ? ! Non oiu

esistere?! Non piu?! C'e cosi pfrande

orrore che pareggi quest'orrore

della mancanza di lei per il mondo?...

ARCHIBALDO Impura ell'era si come la notte!..

MANFREDO Impura?! Che di' tu? Come ragioni?

ARCHIBALDO

Impura ! Ti tradiva in casa tua.

qui, qui, mentre la mano sua mendace

agitava quel velo che le desti,

la vampata d'amore le lambiva

la veste e nella colpa piu crudele

la trancinava ancora: io I'ho sorpresa!...

MANFREDO

(a se stesso, profondaraente)

Di tanto amore era dunque capace

quel suo cuore f anciullo : e non per me?

ARCHIBALDO Figlio, il tuo cuore e p'm freddo di lei!...

MANFREDO

(con disperazione)

Ed ama tanto ! . . . Ed ama oltre la vita ! . . . Lascia ch'io pianga sopra il petto suo!...

ARCHIBALDO

Tu puoi; tu puoi sposare la tua bocca a quella dell'ignoto predatore? !. . .

MANFREDO (disperatamente)

Ma dimmi, dunque! Dimmi tu: chi era?

ACT TWO 49

MANFREDO Dead! Dead!

ARCHIBALDO Alas ! Do not come nearer ! I have slain her !

MANFREDO

What art thou saying? What?

That she is dead ? Exists

No longer?! No longer?! Is there another horror In the world so great as this one, that she is gone?

ARCHIBALDO She was impure as she was fair !

MANFREDO Impure ? ! What say'st thou ? Art thou raving ?

ARCHIBALDO

Impure ! Betraying thee in thine own house,

Here, here, the while her treach'rous hand

Waved the long veil thou gav'st her ;

The blaze of love enveloped her.

And dragged her down into the cruellest guilt,

I caught her in the act!

MANFREDO

(to himself, in profound thought) Of such great love that child-heart Then was capable, and not for me?

ARCHIBALDO My son, thy heart is colder still than she!

MANFREDO

(brokenly) And she could love so much ! . . Even beyond her life ! . , Then let me weep upon her breast!...

ARCHIBALDO

Thou canst; thou canst unite thy lips To those of the unknown betrayer!

MANFREDO

(brokenhearted)

But tell me then! tell me, who was he?

5« ATTO SECONDO

ARCHIBALDO

(dolorosamente)

Ahime ch'io sono cieco, e non I'ho scorto! Ma, illuminato dalla mia vendetta. io frughero neH'ombra dove il male s'annida e lo vedro e ferocemente. lo ghermiro per la tua gioia !

MANFREDO

(ripreso dal pensiero di Flora, implorando) Padre mio !

ARCHIBALDO

No ! Fermati. Vedresti alia sua gola la collana di morte delle mie dita paterne...

MANFREDO

(indietreggia).

ARCHIBALDO Additami la strada con il suono dei tuoi passi, che poi ti seguiro...

MANFREDO

(esce lentamente da sinistra, muto neH'immenso dolore).

ARCHIBALDO

(si carica sul petto la morta e s'avvia seguendo il figlio). (Cala la tela.)

ACT TWO 51

ARCHIBALDO

(dolorously)

Alack that I am blind and could not see him!

But, lighted by my vengeance,

Among the shadows will I grope; and where the traitor's

Hiding will I see him, and fiercely will I seize him

For thy pleasure!

MANFREDO

(thinking of Fiora again, entreatingly)

My father!

ARCHIBALDO

No ! stay where thou art ! For thou would'st see the collar of death. Around her neck, wrought by thy father's fingers.

MANFREDO

(draws back)

ARCHIBALDO

Show me the way by the sound

Of thy footsteps and I will follow thee...

MANFREDO

(goes out slowly on the left, mute in his intense grief)

ARCHIBALDO

(hoists the dead body across his chest and follows his son out). (The curtain falls.)

ATTO TERZO

La cripta della chiesa del castello. Nel mezzo e Fiora. vestita

di bianco, distesa su di un letto di fiori. Un gruppo di donne velate giovani e vecchie le sta d'intorno,

ma con timorosa distanza. Un gruppo d'uomini e piii in

fondo. DaH'interno della chiesa giunge la voce del Coro.

CORO

Morte in gelido stupore; vita in orrida paura giaceranno quel di che il Creatore trarra dal biiio la sua creatura. Ogni affetto e cosa vana

ogni luce ottenebrata

L'amore nasccra come iontana dal seno della terra liberata il di che il Creatore dara la luce alia sua creatura. (Finita la muta preghiera, le donne rialzano le teste addolorate.)

UNA GIOVINETTA

(si leva di mezzo al grouppo delle donne:)

Venni piangendo in questa strana terra a rivederti, o nostra principessa! Ho trovato di pianto il mondo pieno... Mi vedi? lo torno per la terzavolta.

UOMINI

(dal fondo con voci soavi). Flora, Fiora, non dai tu la risposta?...

UN GIOVANETTO

(levandosi di mezzo al gruppo).

Ella par viva... Stanca, pare...

DONNE

Siamo tutte per la gran doglia perse e morte!...

IL GIOVANETTO Anche prima era un sogno ed era vival!...

UOMINI

Lamento senza fine ! . . . Chi ci rende

il giglio, che venuto e ormai I'autanno. . .

La primavera f u uccisa tra' fiori ! . . .

ACT THREE

The crypt in the castle-chapel. In the centre lies Fiora, robed in white, on a bed of flowers. A group of veiled women, youths and old men, stands round her, but at a timid dis- tance. A group of men further in the background.

From within the chapel the voices of the choir are heard.

CHOIR

In leaden stupor Death shall lie; And Life shall shrink in fright, The day that the Creator calls His creatures from the night. Desire is but an empty thing, All light must clouded be. . . Love like a fountain forth shall spring From out a world set free. The day that the Creator lifts ' His creatures to the light. (After a silent prayer the women raise their sorrowful heads.)

A YOUNG GIRL

(rises from amongst the group of women)

I have come weeping to this foreign land

To see thee, O our princess, once again !

And I have found the whole world weeping. . .

Dost see me? For the third time I'm returning.

MEN

(from the back, with subdued voices)

Fiora, Fiora, wilt thou not answer us? A YOUTH

(rising from the centre of the group)

She seems alive. . . Wear}', she seems. . .

WOMEN

We are distraught And almost dead with such great sorrow !

THE YOUTH At first it was a dream and she was living !. . .

MEN

Oh, endless lamentation ! Who will restore to us The lily, who came among us in the autumn. . . And in the spring was slain among the flow'rs !. . .

54 ATTO TERZO

UNA VECCHIA

(che si sara accostata a Fiora indaganda) (Improvvisa e furibonda).

Alzate, tutti, gli occhi in volto a lei. . . Ella ha sul volto scritta la vendetta !

LE DONNE

(si accostano a Fiora, ei fermano a due passi dalla bara e scrutano la morta).

La vendetta?

Si Si

Parla con gli occhi.., Ci vuol dire che il vecchio...

II vecchio forse... II vecchio certo...

Prima che tornasse Manfredo...

Era gia morta al suo ritorno ! Nef anda impressa !

Orribile delitto !

Reliquia violata ! Cuore inf ranto !

Vendicata ella sia !

Si Fiore ! Fiora

(Si riode improvvisamente il coro sacro dentro la chiesa. Le donne si chetano e si inginocchiano ancora.)

UOMINI Silenzio. Siamo in chiesa...

DONNE

Oriamo. . . (Suon di campane.)

LA VECCHIA

£ I'ora!

Andiamo.

UOMINI

(alzandosi)

DONNE

Si fa notte...

TUTTI

Fiora. addio ! . . .

LA VECCHIA

(che ha scorto Avito che s'avvicina lentamente dalla scala di sinitlra: con aorpresa)

C'e il principe d'Altura...

ACT THREE 55

AN OLD WOMAN

(who has groped her way to Flora's side) (suddenly and frenziedly)

Raise, all of ye, your eyes to Flora's face... For on her face "'revenge" is written clearly !

THE WOMEN

(approach Fiora, stand two steps from the bier and examine the dead woman)

Revenge?

Yes!... Yes!...

Her eyes are speaking... She wants to tell us that the old man. . .

...Perhaps the old man... Undoubtedly the old man. . ,

Before Manfred returned. . . That she was dead e'er he returned. . . Oh wicked deed !

Abhorrent crime !

Atrocious desecration ! Oh broken heart!

We will avenge her! Yes! Fiora! Fiora!

(Suddenly the sacred choir is heard again from the church. The women grow calmer and kneel down once more.)

MEN Silence. We are in church. . .

WOMEN

Let us pray. . .

(Tolling of bells.)

THE OLD WOMAN

It is the hour!

MEN

(rising)

Let us go.

WOMEN The night is falling.

ALL

Fiora, farewell !

THE OLD WOMAN

(has caught sight of Avito, who is approaching slowly from the steps on the left: with surprise)

It is the Prince of Altura. . .

56 ATTO TERZO

DONNE

Avito !

UOMINI

Andiamo. . . Andiamo. Si fa notte...

(escono salendo la scala che mette in chiesa).

AVITL

(timane impietrato presso I'arco d'entrata e, come se nel mausoleo non fosse che una gran fiamma abbagliante, il suo capo e ripiegato, quasi nascosto. Resta immobile, fino a che tutti non sono usciti. Indi s'inoltra. Quando giunge presso la morta:)

Flora, Fiora... fi silenzio: siamo soli... E tu, parlami. Aspetto. lo non ti voglio guardare, prima che tu parli, amata, eletta, sempre viva, anima mia... (Con improvviso pianto). Ahime, no, no ! Tu sei morta ! Tu sei

spenta ! ,

Inganno ! Ed ora tocchero le tue mani che paion morbide di vita ; saranno fredde; baccero la tua; bocca che sembra custodirmi il bacio che tanto tanto sopra v'ho cercato: anch'ella sara fredda, irrigidita. . .

(Con altra voce:) Povera vita mia! Quanto travaglio, per non avere mai tutto per me quel ch'era mio! Si, mia! Dunque. si cara sempre, anche spenta ! Un ultimo sosoiro dell'anima tua bella e certo in te... Fiora lo voglio ! fi sopra la tua bocca : ed e la bocca tua che piu rammenta...

(Piangendo si getta follemente sulla bocca di lei. Dopo un breve istante si rialza.)

Qual effluvio! Oh, miracolo! Mi oerdo dunque con te?! Si; si: perch'io mi sento torcere il cuore ! Ahime !, che piia di tutto il dolore e possente. (Si leva improvviso e fa qualche passo verso I'uscita vacillando, come colpito.)

Oh, giovinezza, sei attaccata forte alia tua roccia!...

(Ode qualcuno avvicinarsi.)

Qualcuno giunge?! Ed io saro scoperto !

(Ecco simile ad un'ombra Manfredo! Giunge da destra, si avvicina ad Avito che non puo fuggire. Lentamente lo scorge.) (Si avvicina il tramonto.)

ACT THREE 57

WOMEN Avito !

MEN

Let us go. . . Let us go. Night is fallirg...

(They go off, mounting the steps leading to the church.)

AVITO

(remains rigid near the vaulted entrance, and, as if the Mausoleum held nothing but a huge dazzling flame, his head remains bowed, almost hidden. Thus he stands motionless till all have gone out. Then he comes forward. When he has come close to the body:)

Fiora, Fiora... Silence surrounds us: we are alone... Speak thou to me, then. I'm waiting. I will not Look at thee, beloved, before thou speakest to me, My soul, my chosen, ever-living...

(with sudden tears) Alas ! No, no ! Thou'rt dead ! Thou art

No more ! —

Delusion ! And now I'll touch thy hands

Which seem to throb with life ;

They will be cold; and I will kiss thy lips

Which seem to guard the kiss I sought

On them so often, ah so often:

And those, too, will be cold and stark...

(in different tones) Oh my poor life ! What agony, No more to have and hold as mine, All that was mine ! Yes mine ! For thou art Ever dear, even tho' dead ! One last sigh Of thy fair soul is surely still within thee... Fiora, I want it ! It lingers o'er thy mouth ; And 'tis thy mouth that doth recall most clearly...

(Weeping, he throws himself beside her desperately and presses his lips on hers. After a brief instant he raises himself again.)

What curious exhalation ! Oh miracle ! Do I then Perish with thee? Yes, yes: I feel my heart Is being wrung! Ah me! How far more powerful Than all is pain ! (He rises suddenly and takes a few tottering steps towards the exit, as if struck.)

Oh youth. How strongly art thou fettered to thy rock! (He hears some one approach.)

Some one approaches?! I shall be discovered!

(Manfred appears like a shadow. He advances from the R. and approaches Avito, who is unable to escape. Slowly he perceives him.) (Sunset approaches.)

S8 ATTO TERZO

MANFREDO Eccoti alfine, si : t'abbiamo colto !

(Riconoscendolo.)

Sei tu, Avito? Tu? Tu, ch'ella adorava.

AVITO

Che vuoi tu? Ma non vedi ch'io non posso quasi parlare ?. . .

MANFREDO

£ bene ! . . . fi bene ! £ bene ! Tu sei gia morto ! Sopra alia sua bocca. per poterti ghermire, fu disteo un veleno possente. . .

AVITO

(atterrito)

No! No! No! Sulla sua bocca

MANFREDO

Tu Thai baciata : tu Thai profanata; e muori ! . . .

AVITO

Questo facesti, tu ?

Tu potesti in questo modo

macchiare la sua bocca sacra?

MANFREDO

lo, no ! Ma fu mio padre che voile sapere chi tu fossi!... Per me,... per la mia gioia!,

AVITO E giusto: godi della morte mia...

MANFREDO

(con disperazione)

Ma dimmi quello, quello ch'io non so ! Dimmi : t'amava ella?

AVITO

Come la vita che le fu tolta... No... di piu;... di piti... Ma se vuoi vendicarti, non tardare che presto io muoio; vendicati, uccidimi... (Vacilla, e per cadere.)

ACT THREE 59

MANFREDO Yes, here thou art at last then: we have caught thee!

(recognizing him)

Is't you, Avito? You? You, whom she adored?

AVITO What do you want? Can you not see that I can scarcely speak ? . . .

MANFREDO 'Tis well... 'tis well! 'tis well! Thou art already dead ! Upon her lips, To track and snare thee, there was spread A powerful poison.,.

AVITO

(terrorstruck)

No! No! No! Upon her lips. . .

MANFREDO Yes, thou hast kissed her, hast profan'd her And thou shalt die !

AVITO

And thou hast done this, thou?

Thou could'st in this wise

Sully her sacred lips?

MANFREDO

No, not I! It was iny father, who would know Who thou wert! For me... and for my pleasure!

AVITO 'Tis just: rejoice then in my death...

MANFREDO

(in desperation)

But tell me this, this that I do not know! Tell me: did she love thee?

AVITO

She loved me as the life That they took from her... No, more, far more... But if you thirst for vengeance, do not delay, For I am nearly dying; avenge yourself and kill me... (He totters and nearly falls.)

6o ATTO TERZO

MANFREDO

(lo sorregge e lo aiuta fino in terra. Poi levando le braccia al cieio:)

Dio mio ! Dio mio ! Perche non posso odiare I

(Si rivolge verso il cadavere di Fiora)

Ma tu, ma tu non mi lasciare al mio

squallore, alia mia fonda solitudine!

Fa ch'io torni con te, ch'io ti raggiunga ! . . .

Fiora, sorreggi me, nell'ora estrema!...

Ch'io torni a te ; ch'io torni a te per sempre!

(Si getta su lei e !a bacia anch'egli sulla bocca e quivi rimane sussultando per la niorte che si spande nelle sue vena. Ma ecco Archibaldo a tastoni nella sua ombra perpetua.)

ARCHIBALDO Un gemito ! T'ho colto predatore !

(Si avvicina alia bara, cerca e sente il corpo di Manfredo. Subito Ic abbranca)

Predatore!... II tuo cuore vo' sentire nella morte !

MANFREDO

(con voce moribonda)

No, padre ! Tu t'ineanni ! ARCHIBALDO

(alzandosi improvviso con tutta la persoua)

Ah ! Manfredo ! Manfredo ! Anche tu, dunque. senza rimedio sei con me nell'ombra !. . .

(Cala la tela.)

ACT THREE 6i

MANFREDO

(supports him and then lays him on the ground. Then, raising his arms to the sky:)

My God ! My God ! Why can't I hate !

(He turns to Fiora's corpse.) But thou, thou can'st not leave me in my Misery, my utter loneliness •

Let me come back to you and join you once again! Fiora, help me in my hour of need ! . . . Let me come back to thee, come back to thee, for ever!

(He throws himself on her and also kisses her on her lips and remains there, quivering, while death slowly creeps through his veins. Archi- baldo now comes groping through his eternal darkness.)

ARCHIBALDO A groan ! Now I have caught thee, thief !

(He approaches the bier, feels for and finds Manfredo's body. He catche.^ hold of it quickly.)

Thief ! I want to feel thy heart In death !

MANFREDO

(with dying voice)

No, father! Thou'rt mistaken! ARCHIBALDO

(suddenly rising to his full height)

Ah ! Manf redo ! Manf redo ! Thou also, then. Art with me past salvation in the shadows !

(The curtain falls.)

MODERN ITALIAN OPERAS

La Boheme

(THE BOHEMIANS)

An Opera in Four Acts

Founded on Murger's "La Vie de Boherae "

Music by Q. PUCCINI

inth English Text by W. GRIST & PERCY PINKERTON

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Piano Score 2.00nct

Piano Selections, arr. by C Godfrey, Jr. $J.OO

As Thro' the Street. D,Eb (Song) 60

Your Tiny Hand Is Frozen. Q D^ (Song) 60

Fantasia, Full Orchestra X50

Fantasia, Small Orchestra 2.00

Selections, FwII Military Band 3.50

Manon Lescaut

A Lyric Drama in Four Acts Bngllih Version by MOWBRAY MARRAS

Music by G. PUCCINI

Vocal Score (with English and Italian words) $3.50 net

Piano Score 3.50 net

Piano Selections, arr. by C. Godfrey, Jr. $J.OO

Never Did I Behold So Fair a Maiden (Song) 60

In Those Soft Silken Curtains (Song) » 60

Speed O'er Summit of the Mountain (Song) .60

These Are Hours of Joys Creating (Song) 60

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M EAST 43d STREET, NEW YORK

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Madam Butterfly

(J. L. Long and D. Belasco) L. ILLICA G. GIACOSA

The Music by G. PUCCINI

English Version by R. H. ELKIN

Voca' Score (English and Italian), Paper $3.50 net

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Vocal Score (German Text) 5.00 net

Vocal Score (Spanish Text) 5.00 net

Piano Score 2.00 net

Piano Selections, arr. by C. Godfrey, Jr $ 1.00

One Fine Day (Song) 60

Selections (Full Orchestra) arr. by E. Tavan 2.00

Selections (Small Orchestra) arr. by E. Tavan 1.50

Tosca

V. SARDOU L. ILLICA G. GIACOSA

English Vefsion by W. BEATTY-KINGSTON

Music by Q. PUCCINI

Vocal Score (English and Italian) $3.50 net

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Vocal Score (Italian Text) 5.00 net

Vocal Score (French Text) 6.00 net

Vocal Score (German Text) 6.00 net

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Love and Music (Song) 60

When The Stars Were Brightly Shining (Song) 60

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COLOMBO

LYRIC DRAMA

Italian Libretto by

LUIGI ILLICA

English Version by

R. H. ELKIN

Music by

ALBERTO FRANCHETTI

Price ^ 35 Cents

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