No. 13: Finale, Act I
Flourish. Enter Chorus of Girls, running.
GIRLS. | |||
Come, and take your places all, | |||
The show is just beginning; | |||
Don’t you hear the trumpet’s call, | |||
And the drummer’s dinning? | |||
Come, and take your places all, | |||
The show is just beginning; | |||
Don’t you hear the trumpet’s call, | |||
And the drummer’s dinning? | |||
Frolic, fun, and flummery — Magic, mirth, and mummery — (That’s the showman’s summary) |
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Set us all a-grinning! |
Come, and take your places all, | |||
The show is just beginning; | |||
Don’t you hear the trumpet’s call, | |||
And the drummer’s dinning? | |||
Frolic, fun, and flummery — Magic, mirth, and mummery — (That’s the showman’s summary) |
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Set us all a-grinning! |
Frolic, fun, and flummery — Magic, mirth, and mummery — (That’s the showman’s summary) |
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Set us all a-grinning! |
During this ALFREDO has entered, followed by TERESA, who expresses heart-broken passion in gesture. Enter ULTRICE and ELVINO, who carries a theatrical cloak, sword, hat, and lady’s train.
ULTRICE (recit.) Allow me, madam, if you’ve quite done with him. |
ALFREDO (leaving TERESA). Good morning, miss! |
TERESA (enraged — aside). Oh, some day I’ll be one with him! |
[Exit TERESA. |
ELVINO (to ALFREDO). | |||||
Allow me. ’Twill assist your
Grace If on your noble brow I place |
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This hat and feather. [ALFREDO puts them on. | |||||
(to ULTRICE.) | The Duchess, p’r’aps, will
kindly deign To wear these jewels and this train — |
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They go together. [ULTRICE puts them on. |
ALFREDO and ULTRICE walk pompously to seats that are placed for them in front of the Inn door, the Chorus curtseying with mock humility.
CHORUS. | ||
Your Graces, as you wend, We humbly bow and bend. |
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You look, we’re quite aware, A most imposing pair! |
ELVINO. | GIRLS. | ||||
Your Graces, as | |||||
you wend, | Your Gra- | ||||
ces, as | |||||
We hum- | you wend, | ||||
bly bow | |||||
and bend. | We hum- | ||||
bly bow | |||||
You look, | and bend. | ||||
as we're | |||||
aware, | You look, | ||||
as we're aware, | |||||
A most imposing pair! | A most imposing pair! |
Enter procession of Tamorras, disguised as Dominican monks; ARROSTINO as Prior. The Girls, believing the Monks to be genuine, all kneel.
CHAUNT.
MOCK MONKS. | Attamen ex cunctis supra reliquisque notandum — | |
ARROSTINO. | Omne quod exit in um (hoec verba, I don’t understand ’em). | |
MOCK MONKS. | Esse genus neutrium — sic invariabile nomen — | |
ARROSTINO. | Which is Greek to most of us here, | |
And perhaps Double-Dutch to the showmen. |
The Tamorras throw off their hoods and reveal themselves.
GIRLS. | ||||
Oh, you wicked, | ||||
Base — deceiving — | ||||
It’s distressing! | ||||
It’s degrading! | ||||
We are trickèd | ||||
Through believing, | ||||
Never guessing | ||||
Masquerading! | ||||
Friars mocking! | ||||
Goodness gracious! | ||||
What a wrong, sir! | ||||
Why, how dare you? | ||||
It is shocking! | ||||
It’s audacious! | ||||
Go along, sir! | ||||
I can’t bear you! |
TENORS. | It is wicked — ha! ha! ha! |
BASSES. | They are trickèd — ha! ha! ha! |
ALL. | ||
This disguising Is surprising, Friars mocking, It is shocking — It is blameful — It is shameful — It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! | ||
It is blameful — It is shameful — It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! | ||
This disguising Is surprising, It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! | ||
This disguising Is surprising, It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! |
Enter MINESTRA, disguised as a very old woman.
MINESTRA. | ||
Come and listen, pretty ladies — Cross my hand with maravedis — For to prophesy my trade is, |
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And my prophesies are sound. | ||
Fear no trick or double dealing I am clever at revealing, Neither good nor ill concealing. |
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So, my pretties, gather round. |
The Girls gather round to have their fortunes told. MINESTRA throws off her hood and reveals herself.
MINESTRA. | |
Ha! ha! ha! ha! |
GIRLS. | ||||
Oh, you wicked, | ||||
Base — deceiving — | ||||
It’s distressing! | ||||
It’s degrading! | ||||
We are trickèd | ||||
Through believing, | ||||
Never guessing | ||||
Masquerading! | ||||
Ladies mocking! | ||||
Goodness gracious! | ||||
What a wrong, sir! | ||||
Why, how dare you? | ||||
It is shocking! | ||||
It’s audacious! | ||||
Go along, sir! | ||||
I can’t bear you! |
TENORS. | It is wicked — ha! ha! ha! |
BASSES. | They are trickèd — ha! ha! ha! |
ALL. | ||
This disguising Is surprising, Ladies mocking, It is shocking — It is blameful — It is shameful — It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! | ||
It is blameful — It is shameful — It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! | ||
This disguising Is surprising, It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! | ||
This disguising Is surprising, It is shameful — |
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Ha! ha! ha! |
During the above PIETRO has brought on BARTOLO and NITA made up as wax-work figures of Hamlet and Ophelia.
PIETRO. | |
Now, all you pretty villagers who haven’t
paid, stand you aside, And listen to a tragic tale of love, despair, and suicide. The gentleman’s a noble prince — a marvel of ventriloquy — Unhappily afflicted with a mania for soliloquy. The lady is a victim of the God of Love tyrannical — You see it in her gestures, which are morbidly mechanical; He’s backed himself at heavy odds, in proof of his ability That he’ll soliloquize her into utter imbecility. She wildly begs him to desist — appeals to his humanity, But all in vain — observe her eyes a-goggling with insanity. He perseveres, improving the occasion opportunatic — She sticks straws in her hair — he’s won his wager — she’s a lunatic! |
During this, BARTOLO and NITA have gone through the movements described in a ridiculously jerky and mechanical fashion.
Enter TERESA.
ALL. | ||
Astonishing, | ||
What science can contrive! | ||
In everything | ||
You'd think they were alive. | ||
Her lovely face — | ||
Her eloquent despair! | ||
His princely grace, | ||
His beautiful black hair! |
CHORUS. | TERESA (to ALFREDO). | ||||
Astonishing, | To thee I cling, | ||||
What science can contrive! | To gain thy love I strive; | ||||
My heart | |||||
In everything | you wring, I shall not, | ||||
You'd think | I shall not long survive! | ||||
they were alive. | To thee I cling, | ||||
TERESA. | ULTRICE. | ||||
To gain thy love I strive; | From his embrace, Thyself | ||||
directly | |||||
My heart you wring, | tear, Or I'll | ||||
I shall not long survive! | deface Thy beautiful black hair! |
TERESA. | ULTRICE. | CHORUS. | |||
To thee I cling, | From his embrace | Her lovely face — | |||
To gain thy love I strive; | Thyself directly tear, | Her eloquent despair! | |||
My heart you wring, | Or I'll deface | His princely grace, | |||
I shall not long survive! | Thy beautiful black hair! | His beautiful black hair! |
ALFREDO. | ||
Appreciation of such skill | ||
Should not be shown by stealth. | ||
In bumpers round (I’ll pay the bill) | ||
We’ll drink the showman’s health. |
This wine-skin I devote to you, | ||
We’ll drink it till it’s dry. | ||
I’m sure that’s what the Duke would do, | ||
Were he as pleased as I! | ||
ALL. | ||
I’m sure that’s what the Duke would do, | ||
Were he as pleased as I! |
PIETRO (horrified). | |||
Beware! | |||
That wine is mine, | |||
You must not drink it. | |||
ALFREDO. | |||
Forbear! | |||
I pay my way! | |||
You may not think it! | |||
[Gives money to Pietro. |
PIETRO. | |||
Take care! | |||
The wine is poisoned, on my word rely, And he who drinks in agony will die! |
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Commencing with a gentle pain | |||
Scarce worth a question, | |||
It grows apace, till you complain | |||
Of indigestion. | |||
Then follows an internal fire | |||
That scorns emulsions, | |||
Until, ere nightfall, you expire | |||
In fierce convulsions! | |||
ALFREDO. | |||
Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! | |||
An idle tale we think it! | |||
ALL. | |||
Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! | |||
We saw you freely drink it! |
During this ALFREDO has filled a number of goblets with wine from the wine-skin, and handed them round to ARROSTINO and the Male Chorus.
ALFREDO. | |
It can’t be worse than ’Vino’s
wine accurst — If we’re to die of it, be thou the first! |
Draws sword and offers cup to PIETRO. During this the two figures express galvanic agitation.
PIETRO. | I can’t obey you! | |
ALL. | Drink! | |
ALFREDO. | Come, why delay you? | |
ALL. | Drink! | |
PIETRO. | I beg — I pray you! | |
ALL. | Drink! | |
ALFREDO. | Quick, or I’ll slay you! | |
ALL. | Drink! |
During this ELVINO has poured the wine down PIETRO’s throat. PIETRO immediately begins to feel the effect of the wine, which he has described as poison, and which has become poison to him.
ALFREDO. | ||
Oh, ye who are weary of life, Don’t trifle with pistol or knife — |
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This potion is far from amiss; | ||
If you’ve ducats of gold in your
purse, Why, then, you may surely do worse |
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Than die of such poison as this! Than die of such poison as this! |
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Why, then, you may surely do worse | ||
Than die of such poison as this! |
TERESA and MINESTRA. | NITA and BARTOLO. | ULTRICE. | ALFREDO, ARROSTINO and ELVINO. | PIETRO. | CHORUS. | ||||||
Amo! Amas! |
Tho' but a mass |
Clodhop- per crass |
Oh ye who are wea- | A poi- soned glass! |
Be warned if you care | ||||||
my/her last appeal | of spring and wheel, | Her last appeal |
The pain I feel |
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I pray you hear! | And other gear | Decline to hear; | ry of life |
Is most sev-ere. | for your life, |
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Or soon, alas, |
Our grief, alas, |
'Twill come to pass |
Don't tri- fle with pis- |
That pain, alas, |
And the girl who will soon | ||||||
You'll sadly kneel | We can't con-ceal | You'll gladly kneel | I can't con-ceal: | ||||||||
Beside my/her bier! | We feel it here! | Beside her bier! | tol and knife. |
I feel it here! |
be your wife! |
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This potion is far from amiss |
I'm sure there is something amiss; | ||||||||||
My/Her last appeal | We're spring and wheel, | Her last appeal | The pain I feel |
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If you've | That | ||||||||||
ducats of gold in your purse, |
wine may be doctor'd or worse, | ||||||||||
I pray you hear! | And other gear! | Is most sev-ere. | |||||||||
Or soon you'll sadly kneel, |
Our grief we can't conceal. |
You'll gladly, gladly kneel, |
Why, then you may surely do worse | That pain I can't conceal. |
It may acrry some horrible curse! | ||||||
sadly kneel | We feel | you'll kneel | Than die of | I feel | Don't die of | ||||||
Beside my/her bier! | it, feel it here! |
Beside her bier! |
such poison as this! | it, feel it here! |
such poison as this |
CHORUS. | ||
If you’ve ducats of gold in your
purse, Why, then, you may surely do worse If you’ve ducats of gold in your purse, Why, then, you may surely do worse |
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Than die of such poison as this! |
During this, TERESA has
pretended to fall insensible at ALFREDO’s feet.
He supports her, and supposing that she has fainted,
pours some wine
down her throat. All the others (except Chorus of
Girls) raise the
cups to their lips, and drink as the Act Drop falls.