University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

—Festal Hall in the Villa Andréa—In the back ground a terrace, at the foot of which runs the Brenta—on the O. P. side a large staircase and gallery, leading to the apartments of Catarina—and on the P. S. the balcony to the terrace which overlooks the surrounding country—two large doors O. P. and P. S. chair on P. S.
Enter Catarina down the stairs O. P.
Recitative.
There is a fond delight much dearer far
Than all our other raptured moments are;
'Tis when we picture more than we possess,
And fancy coming joys can ne'er be less:
When hope unto our earliest feelings brings
That charm to which the heart with fervor clings,
And which, when broken other ties it nurst,
It owns the longest, as it knew the first.
That hope is mine, for Adolphe here to-day,
My vows with vows as faithful will repay;
And on the holy shrine that pledge renew,
By him declared, by me received, as true.

Ado.
(exclaiming outside the balcony)
Catarina.

Cat.
'Tis he!

Adolphe
singing without.
Serenade.
There's sunlight in heaven,
There's calm on the sea;
Perfume on the flower,
And bloom on the tree:
With nature as beaming,
As beauty can be,
And all around smiling,
Oh smile thou on me!
“With fondness unfading,
“With pinion as free
“As bird that hath wandered
“Flies home o'er the lea:
“With spirit as ardent,
“As feeling can be;
“And its passion renewing,
“I come love to thee.”

Catarina,
running up to Adolphe, who enters at the P. S. door.
Recitative.
Adolphe! mine own Adolphe—

Ado.
—My best beloved,
From whom one thought an instant ne'er hath roved;
My bosom's hope, my heart's delight and pride,
With whom each wish alone I would divide.

Cat.
Adolphe! my husband—

Ado.
—Ah! unto my heart,
That sacred name a transport doth impart,
The joy 'tis linked with through my soul doth thrill,
And all its vows I hasten to fulfil.

Duet. (Ensemble)
Be this moment the brightest,
That love hath yet known;
And its sorrows the lightest
O'er love that have flown.
Thou art mine! thou art mine!
As mine arms round thee twine,
“Oh! whose wish would not give for
“Such treasure a throne;
“When we feel that we live for
“One fond heart alone.
“Thou art mine! thou art mine!”

Ado.
The hour is come that union now to see,
Which makes us happy while it leaves us free;
Free to select a home, to bid farewell
To one I seek no longer in to dwell;
Where plots by tyranny at freedom hurled,
Have rendered Venice hateful to the world.

Cat.
(with a feeling of reproof)
My Adolphe, bear in mind this spot of earth,
Is that which gave thy Catarina birth.

Ado.
Thy land no longer! mine with open arms
Would give full welcome to such priceless charms—
France now adopts thee.—

Cat.
—Cans't thou then forget
The scenes we've lived in, and where first we met;
The place—with spell to me all spell above—
Where first I listened to thy words of love?

Cavatina.
Ado.
As the fair world I traversed,
The same 'twere to me,
What the peril surrounding
Where honor might be:
And thus, guided by Fortune.
Thy young cavalier,
Though he sought glory elsewhere,
Found happiness here.
The chain thy beauty's weaving,
The sigh thy breast is heaving,
The look so bashful shining
Which yields without repining,
Despite thy vain endeavour,
Make thee mine, and for ever.

Solo.
Cat.
The home I loved so, leaving,
O'er those I loved there grieving,
I quit with fate unshrinking,
Of that tie only thinking
Which, while fate cannot sever,
Make thee mine, and for ever!

Solo.
Ado.
Ah! the bright land I cling to
Will welcome me more,
When this treasure I bring to
Her well-beloved shore.
For, thus guided by Fortune,
Her young cavalier,
Though he sought glory elsewhere,
Found happiness here.

Cat.
Can deed or language bind me more to thee?

Ado.
My happiness and fame shall thine achievement be.

Cat.
(Ensemble)
The home I loved so leaving,
O'er those I loved there grieving,
I quit with faith unshrinking.
Of that tie only thinking,
Which, while fate cannot sever,
Makes thee mine and for ever.

Ado.
(Ensemble)
The chain, her beauty's weaving,
The sigh her breast is heaving,
The look so bashful shining,
Which yields without repining,
Despite her vain endeavour,
Make her mine, and for ever.

At the end of this ensemble, enter Andréa at O. P. door, who crosses, and comes between Adolphe and Catarina.
And.
(to Adolphe)
My noble Adolphe, whom this morning's rite
Will with those honors which are mine unite;
I bid thee welcome here— (then to Catarina)
my much loved child,
Around that cheek, which long hath sweetly smiled,
Now smiles, as charged with peace and beauty play,
In fond approval of this joyous day.

Ado.
When once my name with thine allied shall be,
For all thou dost confer,
My arm, my blood, my life, I give to thee—
My hand and heart to her.

Trio.
Ado. & Cat.
(to Andréa) (Ensemble)
To those whose wisdom is the guiding star
Of this happy day,
Two hearts with gratitude o'erflowing are
A tribute to pay.

And.
(Ensemble)
To thee who looketh from thy realm, afar
On this happy day,
My thoughts with gratitude o'erflowing are
All homage to pay.

[In the execution of this trio Andréa crosses to P. S., and Adolphe and Catarina get towards O. P., during the last few bars, Moncenigo has ascended the Terrace, and taken up a fixed position near the P. S. column.
And.
(aside, and alarmed at seeing Moncenigo.)
One of the Council placed within my halls!
His hated presence every sense appals—
Some strange mysterious purpose brings him here,
To awe with wonder, or to chill with fear.
(turns to Adolphe)
Now, haste thee, Adolphe—hasten to complete
This day's great purport—we again will meet
Beneath this roof, and consecrate a scene
Bright as have any in its annals been.
(to Catarina)
Go, gentle girl, and standing by thy side
Him of whose house thou long hast been the pride,
Thou shalt in all his tried affection see,
Confirming acts but promised yet to thee.

[Adolphe conducts Catarina to the O. P. staircase, by which she returns to her apartments, and he, wrapping his cloak around him, exit at P. S. door, when Moncenigo comes down the stage to Andréa.
Mon.
Are we alone?

And.
We are—your purpose speak—
And why unbidden thus my halls you seek?

Mon.
Here from the secret Ten, assembled now,
I come—their stated object to avow—
To give a message sent by their decree,
Alike important to the state and thee!

And.
(aside, in alarm)
The ten in council! horror chills my veins,
Whose heart no more its wonted calm sustains.
(to Moncenigo)
Proceed!

Mon.
Adolphe de Courcy, to your niece they say
Betrothed is, and will wedded be—

And.
To-day.

Mon.
Wilt thou obey the council? second, too,
The lofty projects which they have in view?
To the republic such assistance lend,
As Venice looks for when she needs a friend?

And.
I hear you, sir—

Mon.
—then acting with the law,
Which holds her subjects, as her foes, in awe;
And speaking firmly, Venice, by my voice,
Bids thee annul this marriage of thy choice!

And.
Ah! do I hear aright? or do I dream
Of things which, waking, I should madness deem?
Annul this marriage, violate that bond,
Which given once, I prize my life beyond?
All ties of feeling thus asunder tear,
And bring down hearts, now happy, to despair!
To heap upon these hairs—

Mon.
—The state demands
This sacrifice—a great one—at thy hands!
To her thine honour doth belong, of right,
As doth thy life blood in the hour of fight.

And.
And wouldst thou have me violate a vow
By me and others sacred held till now;
With shame my cheek, with grief my soul to charge,
And make me hated by the world at large?
Never! such outrage Venice would disown;
My life is her's—mine honor is mine own.

[Andréa crosses to P. S. and leans on the back of the arm-chair.
Mon.
In lieu of a stranger, a young knight of France,
Who neither thy fortune nor state can advance;
An offer so brilliant as that which I bring,
Thy pride cannot question—

And.
—I would, wert a King!

Mon.
(coldly)
'Tis a King—

And.
—What word now breaks upon mine ear?
One, but for other views, 'twere pride to hear.
An empire at my feet, my name enrolled
With lofty lineage, and achievement bold;
But 'tis a vain regret, and why repine
O'er dreams of greatness which can ne'er be mine?

Mon.
The task, however sad or stern,
'Tis mine to speak,
Thine is, the end proposed to learn—
The truth to seek.
Listen!
Cyprus has chosen from her shores to chase
The high descendant of her kingly race—
And Venice ready, in the hour of need,
To crush the wrong and bid the right succeed,
Would fain the cause of Lusignan espouse
In the last scion of that mighty house.

And.
Well!—

Mon.
—Though proscribed by them, yet we have shown
A fixed resolve to keep him on the throne,
And with intent their malice to defeat,
That compact of alliance to complete,
And bind each state together, Venice now
Hath chosen him a wife, upon whose brow
The crown of Cyprus once again shall blaze
In all the splendour of its brightest days;
And having deemed thee loyal, found thee frank,
It is THY NIECE she raises to this rank!

And.
Can it be possible?

Mon.
On thy consent
The council are, in full reliance, bent.

And.
(aside)
The wife of Lusignan! of Cyprus' King!
Ne'er on my house may chance such grandeur bring!

Mon.
(solemnly to Andréa)
Relying on thy prudence, now I go,
Soon to return, thy choice, and fate, to know—
Reflect, while Venice seeks to make thee great,
She can revenge an insult to her state:
Think not my words are of unmeaning breath—
One hour resolves thy glory—or—thy death!

[Moncenigo exit at the P. S. door, and Andréa takes C. of stage.
And.
What's to be done? on one side glory stands,
To welcome me and mine with open hands;
The power, however fleeting, of a throne,
Splendour, my house, though noble, ne'er hath known.
Upon the other seems a gulph to yawn,
For two young hearts, whose hopes are in their dawn
A length'ning sorrow, undefined despair,
At once, and ever, 'tis their doom to bear:
While in the distance, fixed upon my fate,
The council now their victim's answer wait.
Here two Pages enter on the terrace by the P. S. stairs.
This way the crowd are bending, come to see
How happy hearts, without a grief, can be;
Hence let me fly, and let me keep unshewn
To others anguish felt by me alone!

[Andréa exit by the P. S. door, while the Pages make a sign for the company to enter by the P. S. staircase, viz. the Ladies of the Corps de Ballet, who immediately range themselves on the P. S. side, up to the great staircase there —then Noblemen, and Vassals who take up a position behind the Ladies, Esquires, attended by their Grooms, occupy the terrace, one passing down to place the arm chair in order on the P. S. side—the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, friends of Andréa, enter at the same time by the P. S. door, and station themselves, on that side the stage. Four Pages enter from Catarina's apartment O. P. and place themselves each side of the staircase there—when Catarina, attended by her Bridesmaids, enters therefrom, and descends the staircase.
Chorus,
on the entry of Catarina.

[These ladies remain on the O. P. while Catarina, crossing to the Nobles on the P. S. side, makes them a profound reverence, which they return, when she crosses back to the Bridesmaids. Adolphe, accompanied by his noble friends, enters by the P. S. staircase, preceded by the Banner of De Courcy.
Chorus,
on the entry of Adolphe.

[Adolphe, then presenting her to his friends who again return her curtsey, he conducts her to the chair placed for her on the P. S. side—her ladies follow her and stand around; she being seated. Adolphe's friends surround him, he being seated on Catarina's right—the four Pages remain on the O. P. staircase, and the others place themselves by the two large columns—the ladies of the Corps de Ballet present Catarina with bouquets, which are taken by her and her Bridesmaids—passing behind the gentlemen on the O. P. and then in front of those on the P. S. and regaining their original places. When all are grouped at the end of this second chorus, begins. THE DIVERTISSEMENT. And as soon as the Divertissement is finished, an Officer of the Household is seen to make his way from the P. S. stairs through the crowd, and to come down the stage.
Officer
(to Adolphe and Catarina.)
The altar is prepared, the incense burns,
And to the shrine the bidden beadsman turns.

[Exit Officer at P. S. stairs.
Full Chorus.
Let every voice swell high
To the realms of the vaulted sky!

Chorus of Men.
And the hearts of the brave shall be
Enrolled in the cause of chivalry.

Chorus of Women.
While love's more gentle lay
It's melody shall play!

Full Chorus.
May Fortune's star preside
O'er the chieftain and his bride!

Quartette.
Happy hearts, fond and fair
Be your young days!
May ye ne'er feel the care
Which the world sways!
And when Time plumes his flight
O'er ye at last,
May his wing sweep as light
As if ne'er past!

And should grief ever mar
Scenes that so lovely are,
Hope shall still dash afar
Clouds o'er ye cast!
(Ensemble)
Happy hearts, fond and fair
Be your young days!
May ye ne'er feel the care
Which the world sways!

Ado.
(offering his hand to Catarina)
Mine own beloved one, let us not delay
One moment more the rapture of this day.

Cat.
(with uneasiness)
But where is Andréa?—one to both so dear!
Our joy were wanting, unless he were here.

Ado.
(to Catarina)
Perchance this moment at the holy shrine,
True to his word, he waits to make thee mine.

Full Chorus.
“Ah, well 'twere for Venice, if Venice could see
“Each home of her beauty thus happy and free.
“Where feelings have power
“All envy above;
“And the heart they respond to
“Breathes nothing but love.
“Blest be the hand which unites them for ever,
“And curst who the bonds of that union would sever.
“There is no human tie
“So full of love and truth,
“As that one which awakes
“The first fond vows of youth.
“And well 'twere for Venice, if Venice could see
“Each home of her beauty thus happy and free!

[Adolphe takes the hand of Catarina, and preceded by the Pages, who have left the O. P. staircase, and followed by the Bridesmaids, Nobles, and the body of guests, has passed round the stage, and is about to go off by the P. S. side, when Andréa, pale and agitated, enters on the terrace by the P. S. staircase.
FINALE.
And.
Hold! stop this marriage; by the words now heard
It is my will these rites shall be deferred.
(then aside)
Deferr'd! this brain will burst, this heart will break,
While thus its feelings to their centre shake;
(aloud)
No! not deferred, for every word I spoke,
The pledge I gave ye, I do now revoke.

[General movement of the whole group. Catarina, her Maids, and sundry Nobles take up a position on the O. P. side; Adolphe and his friends on the P. S.; Andréa between Catarina and Adolphe; the other Ladies, Nobles, and Pages in the back ground; alarm of all.
Solo.
Adolphe, Catarina, and Chorus.
What mean these words? break off the rites prepared?
Defeat the hopes by all so deeply shared?
Refuse the vows of honor to maintain,
And life's fond ties dissolve at once in twain?
To know the cause we seek—
Let him speak! let him speak!

[Andréa remains silent and absorbed, when Adolphe advances from the P. S. towards him.
Ado.
Without reproach, or angry thought,
Which justly might arise,
With mind, a moment overwrought,
That now I tranquilize.
By friendship's bonds remembered well,
By those more dear I feel,
The pangs which thus thy bosom swell,
In faith to me reveal.

And.
'Twere fruitless here such question to resolve,
For word and promise, I alike dissolve;
Adolphe, farewell, forgive me, and forget
The strife we part in, and that e'er we met.

Cat.
That fate which made thee mine,
The tie can sever;
Heaven may the knot untwine,
But man shall—never!

[With this emphatic exclamation, Catarina rushes across to P. S. by the side of Adolphe.
Ado.
If in some petty plot or state intrigue
Thy soul, once noble, condescends to league—
If for some shameful motive, unexplained,
My country's honor and mine own be stained—
That deep affront I will upon this day—
Meant to be one of happiness—repay.

And.
Take all I own, my wealth, my rank, my life,
All, saving her, I cannot make thy wife.

Ado.
And canst thou thus thy solemn oath forswear?

Cat.
(taking Andrea by her right hand, and pointing to Heaven with her left in a solemn manner.
The oath delivered here is sacred there.

And.
Oh! spare this torture, words are idle all,
Vows once inviolate I now recall—
A duty both beyond control and will,
Whate'er the issue, I must yet fulfil.

[At these words Adolphe and his party cross the stage to O. P. leaving Catarina and, her maids on the P. S. The Ladies who had been on the O. P. side ascend the stage and some the O. P. staircase, while the Nobles of Andréa's party, who had been on the O. P. cross over to the P. S., those in the back ground advance two steps. Andréa still keeps in the C.
Ado.
(to Andréa) (Ensemble)
Nought can my fury now assuage—
This perjured act to me,
Despite my feelings and thine age,
Shall soon resented be,

Ladies & Nobles
(to Andréa) (Ensemble)
No words can calm our pride or rage
Such perjured act to see,
And never doubt, despite thine age,
It will resented be.

Cat.
(Ensemble)
Though hearts by honor held in gage
No perjured act can free,
Better by death this storm assuage,
Than thus its victim be.

Adolphe's party
(to Andréa) (Ensemble)
Nought can our fury now assuage
This perjured act on thee,
Despite all feeling, and thine age,
Shall soon resented be.

Cat.
(with great dignity)
Where is thy right, and from what claim derived,
To act this part by scheme or fraud contrived?
Here before Heaven, whose light doth o'er us shine,
Break thine own oath, but bid me not break mine!

And.
(impressively)
The right which thou wouldst question is that power
Thy parent gave me in her dying hour;
Though from thy mind thou wouldst at once efface
All thoughts of him who fills that parent's place,
There is a duty which by her was left
For thy protection, when of her bereft;
And knowing well the web around thee spun,
And danger near, that duty shall be done!

Andréa, delivering this, firmly towards Catarina.
Adolphe and Chorus.
False as thyself thy tale,
This cheat shall not prevail.

Ado.
This outrage upon me
Shall we resented be.

Chorus.
By us resented be!

Cat.
(to Andréa)
Aria.
From all around apart,
Oh, for my sake,
On this distracted heart
Some pity take!
Do not in wilder fears
My feelings steep,
But dry the burning tears
You see me weep.
Think how in early days
In love we dwelt;
And how, with speechless praise,
That love I felt!
Oh, from these streaming eyes
Turn not your sight,
Nor let the peace you prize
Be broken quite!

And.
(aside)
Oh, grief beyond enduring,
When while her life assuring,
I rend its dearest tie!
Than their regard requiting
By their hearts disuniting,
'Twere better far to die.

And. and Cat.
(Ensemble)
Oh, grief beyond enduring,
When while my/her life assuring,
I rend/He rends its dearest tie!
Than his/their regard requiting,
By our/their hearts disuniting
'Twere happier/better far to die.

Reprise.
Ado.
(Ensemble)
Nought can my fury now assuage—
This perjured act to me,
Despite my feelings and thine age,
Shall soon resented be.

Cat.
(Ensemble)
Though hearts by honor held in gage
No perjured act can free,
Better by death this storm assuage,
Than thus its victim be!

Ladies and Nobles.
(Ensemble)
No words can quell our pride, or rage,
Such perjured act to see;
And never doubt, despite thine age,
It will resented be!

Adolphe's friends
(to Andréa) (Ensemble)
Nought can our fury now assuage,
This perjured act on thee,
Despite all feeling, and thine age,
Shall soon resented be.

Towards the last bars of the Finale, when the Music becomes animated, the friends of Adolphe, and the partizans of Andréa, are about to rush upon each other sword in hand, when the Ladies from the back ground interfere between them, keeping back those on the O. P. side, while Catarina restraing those on the P. S. Adolphe prepares to leave the hall, and Catarina, in the agony of her feelings, falls at the feet of Andréa, who turns aside to conceal his tears.
TABLEAU.