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OI^ANl)   OPK»^A   SEASON    1918-1910 

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 


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) 

Mmes.  Mnzio.  Roselle,  Egener,  Arden, 
^lattfeld.  _ 

Didur.  Bada.  Aiidisio. 

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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 

Vocal  Score  (Italian  Text) $5.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (French  Text) 6.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (German  Text) 5.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (Spanish  Text) 5.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (English  Only) 2.50  net 

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 

G.  RICORDI  &:  COMPANY 

M  EAST  43d  STREET,  NEW  YORK 


MODERN  ITALIAN  OPERAS 

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 

Vocaf  Score  (English  and  Italian),  Cloth 5.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (Italian  Text)  5.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (French  Text) 6.00  net 

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 

Vocal  Score  (English  and  Italian)  Cloth 6.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (Italian  Text) 5.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (French  Text) 6.00  net 

Vocal  Score  (German  Text) 6.00  net 

Piano  Score 2.00  net 

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

Love  and  Music  (Song) 60 

When  The  Stars  Were  Brightly  Shining  (Song) 60 

Q.  Ricordi  &  Company 

14  East  43d  Street 
NEW  YORK 


CRISTOFORO 


COLOMBO 


LYRIC  DRAMA 


Italian  Libretto  by 

LUIGI  ILLICA 

English   Version  by 

R.  H.  ELKIN 

Music  by 

ALBERTO   FRANCHETTI 


Price ^  35  Cents 

No.  116035 


Q.  RICORDl  &  CO. 

14  EAST  43rd   STREET 
NEW  YORK 

Milan         Rome         Naples         Palermo        London         Paris        Leipzig        Buenos-Ayres 


ITALIAN  TEXT.  COPYRIGHT  1893.  by  G.  RICORDl  &  CO. 
ENGLISH  TEXT.  COPYRIGHT  1913,  by  G.  RICORDl  &  CO. 


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Hardman  Tone 

s  the  superlative  quality  that  has  made  this 
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Hardman,  Peck  &  Company 

Founded   1842 

Hardman  House,  433  Fifth  Avenue 
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Chicago  Store, 

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