Libretto Romeo e Giulietta Francese

8/2/2019 Libretto Romeo e Giulietta Francese

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Charles Gounod,Romeo et JulietteLibretto freely translated with references to the original Shakespeare.By James Meena

Prologue Two households, both alike in dignity

The Montagues. The Capulets.Their endless feud, fatal to them both,

Made civil hands unclean.

As a ray of light in a stormy sky,Juliet appeared, and Romeo loved her.

They forgot the names that outraged them,

And equal hearts equal love did share.Fatal destiny! Blind passions!

These star-crossed lovers paid with their lives,

Ending the ancient grudge that gave birth to their love.

Act I; scene ii

A grand ball at the home of the Capulets.

Chorus The hour flies in wild merriment,

Gather the roses that bloom before us in joyful pleasure.Magic chorus of love hidden beneath the velvet mask,

Your empire entices us with a smile.

As accomplice, the heart glides at the whim of chance.

Night of rapture! Night of madness!

They pursue us.

The least amorous will be ensnared in our net!She who calls him must reveal her charms.

The hour flies in wild merriment.

Gather the roses that bloom before us,In joy and pleasure.

Tybalt How now, my dear Paris!What think you of Capulets feast?

Count Paris Riches and beauty join as host in this palace.

Tybalt Yet, you do not see the one treasure unique and without equal,

That is destined for happy Paris!It shall awaken your heart, I swear.Look there!

The marvel is accompanied by her father.

Capulet Be welcome, friends, in my house.

On this family feast, joy is in season!My heart recalls just such a day, when my daughter was born!

But, do forgive this tender indiscretion:


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I present my Juliet!

Welcome her with an indulgent eye.

Chorus Men Ah! How lovely she is.

As a new flower that blooms in the morn.

Ah! She is lovely.Destinys favors seem to grace her.

Ah! How lovely she is.

Juliet But hear!

The sound of joyous instruments calls and invites us.

An entire world of enchantment appears before my eyes.

Everything bids me welcome!And my delighted soul leaps into life,

As a bird would fly to the heavens.

Capulet Come on, you young men and ladies!

Such flaming, youthful eyes are for the most zealous!

A plague on those who do grumble without end.For youth is in favor!

Now make room for dancing!

Yes! A plague on those who do grumble without end.

We celebrate youth!And make way for dancing!

Mercutio My friends, we are alone, at last!For an instant, if you will, permit us to unmask.

Romeo No, no! Promised to be cautious here!

Let us leave before we confront the Capulets.

Mercutio Should the Capulets be annoyed,

twould cowardice be to hide ourselves.

For we all have the means to take care of them!

Men Yes! We shall take care of them!

Romeo Twould have been better to have avoided these festivities.

Mercutio And why?

Romeo I have dreamed a troublesome dream.

Mercutio Oh! Presage of doom!Twas Queen Mab that has visited you!

Mercutio Aria Mab, illusions queen over dreams reigns.Swifter than the deceiving winds,

She passes through space, through night, and vanishes!


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Drawn by a team of little atomies, her chariot drags through the air,

From an empty nutshell, twas made by an earthworm,

The cover of the wings of grasshoppers;The harness of delicate lace,

Her coachman -- a gnat;Her whip -- of crickets bone.

Whose white lash by Phoebe twas fashioned from a moonbeam.

And in this state she gallops night by night through lovers brains,And there they dream of love.

At her approach, the coquette dreams of finery;

The courtier bows, the poet rhymes his verse;

To the miser, she opens treasure numberless,And freedom laughs in the dark at the prisoner.

The soldier dreams of cutting throats;Of ambushes, of Spanish blades.

She pours him glassfuls with which his laurels are sprinkled.

And you, virgins, whom a sigh frightens when resting on your bed,She lightly touches your lips and makes you dream of kisses.

Mab, illusions queen over dreams reigns.

Swifter than the deceiving winds,She passes through space, through night, and vanishes!

Romeo Well said!Yet, whether from Mab or another,

I feel some consequence hanging in the stars.

Mercutio Your melancholy, I think comes from longing for Rosaline!A hundred others shall make you forget such mad love.Come!

Romeo Ah! Behold!

Mercutio What now?

Romeo That heavenly beauty.A sunbeam in the night!

Mercutio And the imposing beauty with her is of more modest quality!Romeo Treasure too dear for earth!

What brightness opens my eyes?

Did my heart love till now?Forswear it, sight!

For I neer saw true beauty till this night.

Mercutio Good! The devil take your Rosaline!

Yet, we did foresee this long ago.


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She is dismissed without further concern,

And the comedy comes to an end!

Chorus Men She is dismissed without further concern,

And the comedy comes to an end!

Juliet What is it nurse? Speak quickly!

They do wait for me.

Gertrude Calm yourself, child.

Do you run from me, or are you seeking Count Paris?

Juliet Why he?

Gertrude He shall be the pearl of husbands.

Juliet In truth, I do think about marriage.

Gertrude By my virtue, I was already married at your age.

Juliet No, no! I will listen no more!

Leave my soul to its springtime!

Juliet Aria I wish to live only in this intoxicating dream.

Sweet flame, my heart holds you as a treasure.

The flame of youth, alas, burns but a day.The time to weep comes, and the heart surrenders to love.

And joy flies off forever!Ah! I want to remain in this intoxicating dream.

Sweet flame of youth, my heart holds you as a treasure.Far from snowy winter, do not wake me today,But let me breathe in the rose, before it withers.

Romeo Who is this fair maid?

Gregorio Know you not? It is Gertrude!

Gertrude Your will, sir?

Gregorio Gracious lady; they call you to supper.

Gertrude Indeed! Let us go, then.

Juliet Yes, I will follow.

Romeo Pray, stay a moment.

Madrigal


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Romeo If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims,Ready stand to smooth that rough touch

With a tender kiss.

Juliet Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows is this:For saints have hands that pilgrims hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmers kiss.

Romeo Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

Juliet Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

Romeo Oh, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;

Juliet Saints do not move, though grant for prayers sake.

Romeo Then move not. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purgd.

Juliet Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

Romeo Sin from my lips?

Oh trespass sweetly give me my sin again.

Juliet No! I have taken it, leave it with me.

Romeo Someone approaches.

Juliet Tis my cousin, Tybalt.

Romeo Thou art

Juliet The daughter of lord Capulet.

Romeo God!

Tybalt Your pardon, cousin.

Our friends shall desert the feast if you thus avoid them Come, then.

Who is he who masked himself so quickly?

Juliet I know not.

Tybalt Twould seem he avoids me!

Romeo God keep you, sir.


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Tybalt Ah! This by his voice should be a Montague!

Tis he! Romeo!By the honor of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin.

Juliet Twas Romeo.Ah! Too early seen unknown, and known too late.

My only love sprung from my only hate.

My grave is like to be my wedding bed.Tybalt There! Romeo!

Romeo My very name a crime to her!

Oh, the pain of it.Capulet is her father

And I love her.

Mercutio See what furious look Tybalt turns upon us!

A storm is in the air!

Tybalt I do shake with fury!

Capulet What! You leave so soon?

But stay awhile.For a joyful supper awaits us.

Tybalt Patience! For this insult, Romeo,I swear, will suffer the punishment.

Mercutio See how they watch us!

Let us not wait for something terrible to happen.

Capulet Let the feast continue!

Let us drink and dance.

I vow, we did dance more bravely in olden days!

Chorus Yes! Let the feast continue!

Let us drink and dance!

For pleasure lasts but one moment.

Act I; scene iiThe garden under Juliets balcony.

Romeo Oh night, shelter me under your dark wings.

Tis Mercutio! He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

Chorus Mysterious and dark;

Romeo does not hear us.


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Love delights in the shadows,

May love guide his steps!

Romeo Love! Love!

Yes, its ardor troubles my being.

But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!

Romeo Aria Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.Who is already sick and pale with grief.

Arise, fair sun.

Arise, pure and enchanting one.

She is dreaming.

She loosens a lock of hair that falls to caress her cheek.

Oh Love,Send my vow to her.

She speaks, yet she says nothing.

Her eye discourses, I will answer it.

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.

Who is already sick and pale with grief.

Arise, fair sun.Arise, pure and enchanting one.

Juliet Alas! To hate him!Blind, cruel hatred.

Oh Romeo! Tis but they name that is my enemy;Deny thy father and refuse thy name,

Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn by loveAnd Ill no longer be a Capulet.

Romeo I take thee at thy word;

Call me but love,Henceforth I never will be Romeo!

Juliet What man art thou, that so stumblest on my counsel?

Romeo By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am.

Juliet Art thou not Romeo?My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself.

Because it is an enemy to thee;

So that I may love thee, let me be reborn as another!

Juliet Ah! Thou knowst the mask of night is on my face,

Else would a maiden blush paint my cheek.It would bear witness to the purity of my heart.


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Now, away with useless evasions

Dost thou love me?

I know thou wilt say ay;Oh swear not by the inconstant moon

For at loves perjury, they say Jove laughs.

Oh gentle Romeo, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfullyAnd my honor I entrust in thine,

Oh my lord, as thou canst trust in me.

But pardon me; and do not impute this yielding to light love;

Which the dark night hath so discovered.

Romeo Before God who hears me, to thee alone I shall be true.

Juliet Listen! Someone approaches!

Soft! Hasten away!

Gregorio No one! The page must have fled.

The devil take him!For the devil is his aid!

Gertrude Who do you berate?

Gregorio A page of the Montagues.

Who with his master crossed our threshold

As insult to my lord Capulet.

Gertrude Are you in jest?

Gregorio No! By my faithA Montague, with his friends, did come to our feast!

Gertrude This very night?

Gregorio This very night!

Gertrude Was it not for your lovely eyes that he thus dared?

Let him return, then! And upon my head, he shall not like my eyes so well!I shall cure him; hell not return again!

Gregorio Of that we are sure, dear nurse!Good night, charming nurse.

And add forgiveness to your virtues.

May heaven bless you, and confound the Montagues.

Gertrude Blessd be the stick that avenges me on those rascals!

Juliet Is that you, Gertrude?


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Gertrude Yes, my lovely angel.

At this hour, how is it you are not in bed?

Juliet You were not here.

Gertrude Come along, then.

Juliet No need to scold me.

Romeo O blessed, blessed night!

I am afraid, being in night,

All this is but a dream,

Too flattering sweet to be substantial.

Juliet Romeo.

Romeo Sweet love.

Juliet Three words, dear Romeo, and goodnight indeed.Send me word tomorrow by one that Ill procure to come to thee.

If that thy purpose be honorable marriage;

Say where and at what time thou wilt perform the rite;

And all my fortunes at thy foot Ill lay,And follow thee, my lord, throughout the world.

But, if thou meanst not well

I do beseech thee to cease thy suit,And leave me to my grief.

Romeo Ah! I have told thee of my love,

Be for me the dawn to which my heart and eyes do turn!As queen, dispose of my life,And fill my soul with the light of heaven.

Juliet She is calling!

Romeo Ah! So soon?

Juliet Go! I fear she will discover us.

Romeo A moment more!

Juliet Softly!

Romeo No! No one is calling!

Juliet Speak softly.

Together Ah! Linger yet a moment!

Allow my hand to forget itself in thine.


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Ah! They may surprise us.

Allow my hand to escape from thine.

Goodnight.Parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I would say goodnight till it be morrow.

Romeo A thousand times goodnight!

Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!

Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!May a childs smile sweetly light upon thy lips.

And may the evening breeze bring thee this kiss

As it whispers in thine ear;

I love thee.

Act II, scene i

The Chapel of Friar Lawrence.

Romeo Good morrow, holy Father.God keep you.

Friar Benedicte!

Lawrence The day scarcely has dawned and sleep eludes you?

What amorous concern brings you to me?

Romeo You perceive it rightly, Father.

Tis love.

Friar God pardon sin!Lawrence Wast thou with Rosaline?

Romeo I have forgot that name, and that names woe!Then plainly know my hearts dear love is set

On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.

Friar What! Juliet Capulet?

Lawrence

Romeo She is here!

Juliet My soul doth call you, but my mouth is mute.

Holy Father, behold my bridegroom.You know the heart that to him I offer,

To his love, my life I give.

Before heaven, let us be united.

Friar Ay! In one respect Ill thy assistant be;

Lawrence For this alliance may so happy proveTo turn your households rancor to pure love.


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Romeo Nurse, keep watch at the door.

Friar May the Lord be witness to thy promise,Lawrence And guardian of thy tenderness;

Kneel thou before Him.

Lord, who didst make man in Thine own image,

And of his flesh and blood didst create woman,

And uniting her to man through marriage,Didst consecrate from Zion their inseparable union,

Look upon Thy creature with a favorable eye,

As he prostrates himself before Thee.

Romeo & Oh Lord, we vow to obey Thy law.

Juliet

Friar Hearken to my fervent prayer,

Lawrence Cause the yoke of Thy handmaid to be of love and peace,

May virtue be her wealth,That she arm her heart with duty, to endure her weakness.

Romeo & Oh Lord, be Thou my servant and my hope.

Juliet

Friar May they be blessed in their old age,

Lawrence That they see their childrens children walk in Thy path.

Romeo & Oh Lord, be Thou my protector from sin.Juliet

Friar That this chaste couple, united in life eternal,Lawrence Come to Thee in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Romeo & Oh Lord, cast down Thine eye upon our love.Juliet

Friar Romeo, dost thou take Juliet as wife?

Lawrence

Romeo Yes, holy Father.

Friar Dost thou take Romeo as husband?

Lawrence

Juliet Yes, holy Father.

Friar Before God, who knoweth thy hearts,Lawrence I unite you.


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All Oh blissful hour.

Oh joy immense.

Heaven itself seals our (their) loving bond.Lord of all goodness and mercy,

May our loving hearts honor Thee.

Act II, scene ii

A square in the city.

Stefano In vain I have sought my master since yesterday!

Is he still within Capulets palace?

Lets see if his servantsWill appear at the sound of my voice!

Strefano Aria What are you doing, white turtledove,In the nest of vultures?

Soon, you will fly after love.

For the vultures seek battle!To parry and thrust, their beaks are sharpened!

Leave these birds of prey, white turtledove,

Who takes her joy from loving kisses!

Guard the fair one well!

He who lives shall see.

Your turtledove shall escape from you!

A ring-dove, far from his woodland home,By love is drawn to this savage nest.

Ah! He did sigh!The vultures, eager to pounce on their preyFill the air with their wretched song!

Yet, in their sweet embraces,

Our lovers coo under the stars.

Guard the fair one well!

He who lives shall see.

Your turtledove shall escape from you!Yes, guard her well!

Lest your turtledove escape!

scene Aha! My song struck a chord!

Gregorio By the devil!Who comes cooing before our gate?

Stefano My song displeases them!


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Gregorio Hey! By Jove!

Is this not the knave we chased off yesterday?

Chorus Men Yes, the same audacious youth!

Stefano Guard the fair one well!He who lives shall see.

For your turtledove shall escape from you!

Gregorio Do you serenade us to begin a quarrel, young friend?

Stefano I am fond of music!

Gregorio Tis clear. Yet, your guitar

May be smashed across your back for this prank.

Stefano Then I would play my sword!

Gregorio By God! For such music I shall repay you with like song.

Stefano Come then, and receive your lesson!

Gregorio Have at thee!

Chorus Men Let us hear how well they sing!

What rage! Bless my soul!Courage and fair play!

See how this boy defends himself against a man!He is a fine swordsman, and fights like a soldier!

Mercutio To attack a boy By Jove!Tis a disgrace worthy of a Capulet!

Like master, like servant!

Tybalt You have a ready tongue, sir!

Mercutio Less so than my sword!

Tybalt Indeed! That is what we shall see!

Mercutio Indeed! That is what you shall see!

(Tybalt and Mercutio being fighting, more playful and joking at first)

Romeo Cease this contest!

Tybalt Romeo! His demon that hath sent him to me!Permit me to finish him off before thee!

How now, vile Montague!


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Unsheathe thy sword Defend thyself!

Thou who mocked us at our feast.

Tis time to pay the price for such indignity!Thou who dared to whisper to Juliet with thy cursed lips!

The hate I bear thee can afford no better term than this --

Thou art a villain!

Romeo Thou knowst me not, Tybalt.

All thy insults are in vain.The reason I have to love thee,

Doth excuse thy rage.

Villain I am none, therefore farewell.

Tybalt Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries thou hast done.

Turn and draw!

Romeo I do protest I never injured thee, Tybalt.

But love thee better than thou canst devise.

Mercutio Oh calm dishonorable, vile submission!

I tell thee, if thine arm thus fails in this task,

It shall fall to me, to uphold our honor!

Romeo Gentle Mercutio, put up thy sword!

Mercutio No! I shall avenge this insult!Miserable Tybalt Defend thyself!

I am at thy disposal.

Tybalt Very well! We shall entrust our souls in his!

Chorus Men Montague Thou filthy race!

Capulet Thou filthy race!

Tremble with terror!And may Hell be our second in this hatred and fury!

(Tybalt and Mercutio resume their fight, but in earnest. As Romeo attempts to

stop them, Mercutio is fatally wounded)

Mercutio Ah! I am wounded!

A plague on both your houses.Why the devil came you between us

I was hurt under your arm.

Romeo Oh fate, barren of pity! Help him!

Mercutio Hold me up.

Romeo Ah! Away with heavens leniency!


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Fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!

It shall my only law be!

Tybalt! None is villain but thee!

(Romeo and Tybalt fight. Romeo strikes a fatal blow. Lord Capulet enters)

Capulet Great God! Tybalt!

Benvolio His wound is fatalWhy dost thou stay?

Romeo Ah! What have I done?

I flee, to be cursed by her!

Benvolio Tis death that awaits you!

Romeo Let it be so, then.

Tybalt One last word.And upon my soul, heed my last request.

(whispers in Capulets ear)

Capulet On my honor, I swear!It shall be obeyed.

Chorus What has happened? Tybalt!women

Chorus His death is before us!

Capulet No, come back to us.

Chorus Oh day of mourning. Oh day of tears!

Blind revenge hath bloodied our hands.And misfortune hovers over us.

(trumpets announce the entrance of the Duke)

The Duke! Justice!

Capulet Tybalt. My nephew killed by Romeo!

Romeo He did first strike down Mercutio!

I have avenged my friend,I shall answer with my life!

All Justice!


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The Duke What? Always blood?

Will nothing allay the fury of your inhuman hearts?

Will nothing disarm your warring houses?Will I, myself, fall prey to your quarrel?

(to Romeo)

For thy offense, the forfeit of our law is death!

But, as thou wast not the aggressor.Thou art banished!

Romeo Heaven!

The Duke (to all)

And both your housesWhose hatred maintains fear in the city

Take now, all of you, a solemn oath

To obey the laws of thy Prince.And of thy God!

Romeo Ah! Day of mourning, of horror, and alarm.

My heart falls in its pain and despair!Unjust decree that disarms me too late,

You crown the events of this woeful day.

Every hope, every desire,Every vow doth perish in blood.

All Ah! Day of mourning, of horror, and alarm.

My heart falls in its pain and despair!Unjust decree that disarms us too late,You crown the events of this woeful day.

We see our blood flow with theirs,

Our hearts shall not forget our duty and our honor.

The Duke Be thou gone from the city ere dawn!

Romeo Oh despair! Exile!Though death be my reward,

I shall see her once more.

All Peace? No! Never!

Act III, scene i

Juliets bedchamber.

Juliet Dear Romeo!

Tybalt sought thy life, and I forgive thee for taking his.


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For if not him, thou wouldst have died!

Away with sorrow and remorse!

He did hate thee!And I love thee.

Romeo Ah! Yet again repeat those words so sweet.

Juliet I love thee, Oh Romeo. My husband.

Romeo & Night of marriage, Oh, sweet night of love,

Juliet To thee my destiny is bound forever.

Glowing in emotion, the joys of heaven are ours.

I give thee my soul, always, to thee alone.

Juliet Romeo; what is it?

Romeo But hear, love.

The lark so soon announces the day!

Juliet No! It was the nightingale, and not the lark

That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear.

It was the lark, the herald of the morn.

Romeo What envious streaks

Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:

Nights candles are burning out,And day stands tiptoe on the misty mountaintops.

Juliet No! Yon light is not daylight, I know it.

Tis but the pale reflection of nights stars.Therefore, stay yet.

Romeo Let me be put to death.

Here I stay!

Juliet Ah! Tis true, tis the day.

Oh now be gone, more light it grows!

Romeo No! Yon light is not daylight!

Nor the larks morning call.

Tis the sweet nightingale, loves accomplice.

Juliet It was the lark, alas.

The herald of the morn.Go! Beloved my life!

Romeo Yet a kiss, and I go!

Juliet Cruel and spiteful law!


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Romeo Ah! Stay yet awhile longer entwined in my arms.

One day, it shall be sweet for our love to recall such torment.

Romeo & Leave these arms which clasp thee,

Juliet And tear thyself from this blissful passion.I must leave the arms which clasp me,

And tear myself from this blissful passion.

How much more cruel than death is this fate that separates us!

Romeo Farewell, my Juliet.

Juliet Farewell.

Romeo & To thee, always!

Juliet

Julist Farewell, my soul.

Farewell, my life.Angels in heaven!

To you I entrust him.

Gertrude Juliet! Heaven be praised, your husband hath left.Your father approaches.

Juliet Heaven! Does he know?

Gertrude No, I hope. Friar Lawrence is with him.

Juliet Oh Lord, protect us.

Capulet What, daughter?

Night is barely over and I find thee awake?

Alas! Our sorrow is of a kind.Evermore weeping for your cousins death.

Capulet Aria Let the wedding hymn succeed the cries of alarm!

Faithful to Tybalts last wish,Receive from him the husband he named for you,

And smile amid your tears.

Juliet And this husband, who is he?

Capulet The most valiant of all.Count Paris!

Friar Keep silent. Calm yourself.Lawrence


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Capulet The altar is prepared, my word to Paris is given.

Be you united, without delay, by tomorrow.

And may the spirit of Tybalt be present at the wedding,To appease and console you.

The last wish of the departed, as those of God Himself,

Are a sacred bond; a supreme law.May our respect for his wish, grant him peace.

Friar Lawrence shall instruct you in your duty.

I leave you to his care, as I must attend to our guests.

Juliet Holy Father! I am overwhelmed!

All is lost!

I obediently remained silent, concealing my despair,And concealing the truth;

Tis on you I rely to wrest me from this fate!

Speak, Friar! Or better to pray for death!

Friar And so, death holds no more terror for thee?

Lawrence

Juliet No! Rather death than this infamous deception!

Friar Drink thou of this vial,Lawrence Through all thy veins shall a cold and drowsy humour:

For no pulse shall progress.

Very soon; the roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade,

Thy eyes windows fall, like death.In vain will break out the cries of alarm:

She is no more!Shall thy companions declare in tears.Yet the angels shall reply:

She but sleeps.

Then, within a day, thy body and soul

As a flame from embers,

Shall awaken from their heavy sleep.

Protected by the night, thy husband and IShall watch over thy awakening,

Then flee this place, in the arms of thy beloved.

Do you hesitate?

Juliet No! I confide my life to thy keeping.

Friar For one day.

Lawrence

Juliet Yes, for one day.


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Juliet aria God! What is this fear that overcomes me?

Should this potion not work at all!Vain fears! I shall not belong to Paris against my will!

This dagger shall guard my vow! Come!

Love, restore my courage, and banish fear from my heart.

To hesitate is an outrage to love

To tremble in fear is to betray my vows! Never!Pour thyself this potion!

Oh my Romeo! I drink to thee.

But, if tomorrow I were to awake before his return,Heavenly powers!

This horrid thought chills my blood.

What will befall me in that dark abode of death?That the centuries have filled with bones?

Where Tybalt, bleeding still from his wounds,

Close to me, sleeps in the darkness of death! God!My hand touching his!

What is that shade of death that has escaped its resting place?

Tis Tybalt! He calls me to leave the one I love!He unsheathes his fatal sword!

No! Disperse dread phantom!

Vanish fatal dream!May the dawn of happiness rise above the shadow of torment!

Come, love, restore my courage and banish fear from my heart.

To hesitate is an outrage to loveTo tremble is to betray my vows! Never!Pour thyself this potion!

Oh Romeo, I drink to thee!

Act III, scene ii

The tomb.

Romeo Tis here!

Hail! Oh tomb, dark and silent.

Tis but a tomb?No! Tis an abode more beautiful than the heavens.

Hail! Oh palace, resplendent and radiant.

There she rests.Come, thou mournful light!

Come, that I may see her again.

Romeo aria Oh my love! My wife!

Death that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,


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Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.

Thy beauty, calm and pure, seems to reign in eternity.

Ah, why art thou yet so fair?

Is it to swiftly draw me to thine embrace?

This is the happiness my heart doth seek,And thy prey, oh death, this day shall I be.

Death! I gaze upon thee without fear,

For here with my love, I shall remain.Arms, take your last embrace!

And lips -- seal with a kiss a bargain to engrossing death!

To my love!

(drinks poison. Juliet begins to wake)

Juliet Where am I? My head reels!

Romeo Tis a dream! Did she speak?Yet, my fingers did feel warmth in hers,

Her gaze falls on me

She is rising!

Oh, Almighty God! Juliet lives!

Juliet Whose voice do I hear? Calling so sweetly?

Romeo Tis thy husband who trembles at thy feet with joy,

Who recalls all the joy of our love, and of Heaven.

Juliet Ah! Tis you!

Romeo Come! Let us away!

Romeo & Come! Flee to the ends of the earth!

Juliet Come! Together in joy!Lord of all goodness and mercy,

May our loving hearts honor Thee.

Romeo Our kinsmens bowels are of stone!

Juliet What are you saying?

Romeo And neither tears, nor prayers can move them!

At heavens gate, Juliet, I approach,

And then, to die!

Juliet To die? What fever overcomes you?

My love! Clear thy senses!


22/22

Romeo Alas! I thought thee dead, and in despair

I drank of this poison!

Juliet Poison! Merciful Heaven!

Romeo Be consoled, poor heart.Our dream was all too fair!

Our love, as a celestial flame, survives even the grave.

It lifts the tombs portal and is blessed by the angels,As a light, it is one with the infinite.

Juliet Oh despair and anguish!

Romeo But hear, love, the lark announces the day.

No! It was not the lark so early calling,

Twas the sweet nightingale, loves accomplice!

Juliet Oh! Cruel husband!

Drink all, and leave no friendly drop to help me after?Oh happy dagger.

This thy sheath, there rest and let me die.

Romeo What has thou done?

Juliet Ah! Sweet moment of infinite and supreme joy.

To die with thee!Come! Yet a kiss!

I love thee.

Romeo & Oh Lord!Juliet Grant us Thy forgiveness.

Documents

Libretto Romeo e Giulietta Francese