Mirette Libretto

8/13/2019 Mirette Libretto

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MIRETTE

Opera Comique in Three Acts

written by Michel Carre

composed by Andre Messager

the English lyrics by Fred. E. eatherly

the English !ialogue by "arry #reenban$

Characters

#erard

%obinet

&icorin

Francal

%aron 'an Osborn

%ertuccio

Ma(

The %urgomaster

)otary

Mirette

%ianca *daughter o+ 'an Osborn,The Marquise

%ohemians- oldiers- /adies- and #entlemen.

ACT I. 00 A +orest glade in Flanders.

ACT II. 00 "all in the Chateau o+ the Marquise.

ACT III. 00 A 1illage green.

ACT I.

CE)E. 00 A +orest glade in Flanders. As the curtain rises

#I&IE are disco1ered sitting and lying in picturesque attitudes

around a large +ire- which is lighted in the centre o+ the stage2

some are eating and drin$ing- others smo$ing. FRA)CA/ and an old

#ipsy with a grey beard are playing dice on a tree0trun$. &ICORI)

is going gaily +rom one person to another- but is watching

MIRETTE- who is sitting pensi1ely on the grassy hilloc$ at the

+oot o+ a large tree R. %ERT3CCIO is 4ust +inishing a story he is

telling.

C"OR3.

"a5 ha5 ha5 ha5 ha5 ha5

A splendid story5 %ra1o5 %ra1o5 %ertuccio5

"e6s the man to tell a story.

%ra1o5 %ertuccio5

Ah- what wit5 %ra1o5 bra1o5

%ERT3CCIO. hen you61e roamed the world li$e me-

7ou6ll ha1e stories- too- as well-

trange ad1entures you can tell-

Fit +or story and +or song-

8ust to pass the hours along5


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&ICORI) *to MIRETTE,. hy this shadow on your brow-

hy so sad and silent now9

MIRETTE *as i+ wa$ing +rom a dream,.

I9 . . . . 6tis nothing- &icorin.

FRA)CA/. 6Tis only that our little :ueen-

To dreamland sweet awhile is going5

C"OR3. Tell us- Mirette5 Tell us- Mirette5

hat- ah5 what are you dreaming o+9

Is it +ame or +ortune9 Or golden lo1e9

E1er alone you $eep apart-

For our songs and dances you ha1e no heart.

Cannot you trust your +riends- Mirette9

All our +aith+ul lo1e do you +orget9

FRA)CA/. !o you not lo1e old Francal still9

&ICORI). Ah5 1e( her not5 he6s sad to0night5

FRA)CA/. )e1er +ear5 I $now Mirette-

"er little heart is wise and true.

And yet 00 that sad and clouded brow-

Those sweet eyes ga;ing to the blue- "ide some deepening sorrow now5

It will not do5

C"OR3. It will not do5

MIRETTE. )o- no5 my sadness all is gone5

And see 00 I6m smiling.

FRA)CA/. ell then- to show

6Tis really so-

ing us the old- old song- you $now.

C"OR3. 7es- yes5 sing us the song.

FRA)CA/. The old re+rain- the dear old song-

That cheers us as we ro1e along-

The song we lo1e- hurrah- hurrah5

The song o+ old %ohemia5

O)#. 00 MIRETTE.

Roaming e1er- night and day-

"ea16n +or a roo+ o6erhead.

/uc$ to guide us on our way-

Only the earth +or a bed.

Though so +ar the bells may ring-

/ong our way and slow-

ho cares9 Merrily we sing-

Onward as we go.

here we6ll +ind a bed to0night

ho o+ us may $now9

ho cares9 Merrily we sing- Onward still we go5

!ance along with merry- merry song-

Though the way be dar$ and long-

)e6er a resting place ha1e we-

The world is the home o+ the


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)e1er a care ha1e we5

Though the sun be bright on high-

Though the light be low-


Onward as we go5

Though the sun be bright on high-

Though the light be low-


Onward still we go5

!ance along with merry- merry song-


)e6er a resting place ha1e we-

The world is the home o+ the


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be5

All the way- song and play- no thorn 6mid the +lowers-

And ne1er a shadow- a shadow to +all on thee.

/et it pass- thy empty dream-

Things are ne1er all they seem5

Ta$e the shade and sunshine- still there6s light

abo1e

thee5

Thou art ours- and we are thine-

7ou- sir- are a little too tall2

And you- sir- too short and ungainly.

7ou6re too shy- sir2 and you are too bold2

7ou6re too young2 you- too old5

E(cuse me pray- e(cuse me pray- I+ I re+use when such a choice is pro1ided-

%ut i+ the truth I now must say-

I6m undecided- still undecided5

I can6t ma$e up my mind- you see2

I really don6t $now what to do2

%ut- i+ I marry- i+ I marry- i+ I marry-

%ut 00 i+ I marry 00 why 00 it won6t be you5

C"OR3. %ut- i+ she marries- i+ she marries- i+ she marries-

%ut- i+ she marries 00 why 00 it won6t be you5


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FRA)CA/. Come- Mirette- you mustn6t be too particular5 Most

girls would 4ump at the prospect o+ a husband- and be

content to lea1e his si;e and shape to +ortune. 7ou6re

+ar too pretty and bewitching to remain single any

longer. The men will be quarrelling o1er you- and I

don6t want any bloodshed. Ma$e up your mind be+ore we

start to0night.

MIRETTE. I will do as you wish- Francal.

A loud snee;e is heard +rom behind the trees.

A//. ho6s that9 hy- it6s %obinet5

%O%I)ET appears. "e is in a pitiable state- his clothes co1ered

with mud- his wet hair clinging to his +orehead. E1eryone bursts

out laughing as he enters.

C"OR3.

*laughing,. /oo$5 /oo$5 I say- "ere6s %obinet5

Oh5 hat a sight he is5

Oh5 hat a +right he is5

hat can it be-

Is it a plot9

Into some trouble he6s certainly got5

Oh- what an air5

/oo$ at him there5

Oh5 what a picture o+ +right and despair5

"a5 ha5 ha5 ha5 ha5 ha5 ha5 ha5

Come tell us pray-

Come- %obinet-

hat is the mischie+ you61e been in to0day9

Come tell us what

%lunder or plot9

For into some trouble you61e certainly got5

%O%I)ET loo$s at them with imperturbable gra1ity- and then-

without saying a word- produces a duc$ +rom under his coat.

FRA)CA/. A duc$5 And is that all you61e got to show5 I

suppose

you61e been swimming a+ter it9

A// *laughing,. "a5 ha5

%O%I)ET. I6m 00 4ust going 00 to 00 tell you 00 atschi5

*nee;es., %ut gi1e me another coat +irst 00 I6m

shi1ering all down my bac$5 Atschi5 *nee;es., There it is5 00 I61e got it5 Oh5 I ne1er swallowed so much water

in my li+e5 My nose is +ull o+ it 00 my eyes are +ull

o+ it5 and all on account o+ a duc$5 *omeone hands him

a coat., Much obliged5 I shall want a brush and comb 00

but to0morrow will do +or them5 I6m not going into

society this e1ening. Atschi5 *nee;es., There it is5

I61e got it 00 there6s no doubt about that5

FRA)CA/. %ut you ha1en6t told us how it happened.


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%O%I)ET. "ow it happened9 /et me warm mysel+ +irst. *#oes to

the

+ire- re+lecti1ely., "ow it happened9 ell- you $now my

wea$ness +or roast duc$. I daresay it6s +oolish- but

the stu++ing is simply irresistible. "owe1er- I6ll tell

you the whole story.

O)#. 00 %O%I)ET and C"OR3.

I $now a little +arm with stac$s and mows-

ith duc$s- and geese- and pigs- and cows-

And I said to mysel+ as I got to the wall-

?I6ll ha1e that duc$- whate6er be+all5?

o I got to the top-

And down with a +lop-

And into the yard- you see2

hen bow0wow0wow 00

#r0r0r0row- row-

A dog loo$ed out at me5

%ut ?!illy- dilly- dilly-? said I to the duc$-

%ut she would not come 00 not she5 And as I went a+ter the duc$-

00 %ad luc$-

The dog came a+ter me5

C"OR3. ?!illy- dilly- dilly-? said he to the duc$-

%ut she would not come 00 not she5

And as he went a+ter the duc$-

00 %ad luc$-

The dog came 00

%O%I)ET. 00 a+ter me5

Then away went the duc$- and away went I-

3nder the gate- and into the stye2

Till splash5 in the pond with a quac$ she +ell-

And splash5 in the pond went I as well.

And I don6t +orget

That the pond was wet- *snee;ing,

And it6s gi1en me a cold 00 atschi5

%ut I stuc$ to my duc$

ith considerable pluc$-

And that6s how I6m here- you see.

?!illy- dilly- dilly-? it6s a 1ery +ine duc$-

And +ine it ought to be5

For though I61e all o+ the duc$-

00 %ad luc$-

The dog has part o+ me5

C"OR3. ?!illy- dilly- dilly-? it6s a 1ery +ine duc$-

And +ine it ought to be5 For though he6s all o+ the duc$-

00 %ad luc$-

The dog has 00

%O%I)ET. 00 part o+ me5

%O%I)ET sits down.

FRA)CA/. I hope this silly ad1enture won6t lead to the

disco1ery


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o+ our hiding0place9

&ICORI). Captain- I should li$e to spea$ to Mirette.

FRA)CA/. Alone9

&ICORI). Alone.

FRA)CA/. Are you in lo1e with her- li$e all the rest9

&ICORI). &erhaps.

FRA)CA/ *to the #ipsies,. !o you hear that- boys9 "ere6s

&icorin in lo1e with Mirette- and a+raid to admit it.

A//. &icorin 00 in lo1e5

FRA)CA/. Come- %obinet- can6t we put down your name- too9

%O%I)ET *1acantly,. &ut down my name9

FRA)CA/. To be married9

%O%I)ET *not understanding,. To be married9

FRA)CA/. My good %obinet- you must ha1e le+t your brains

behind

you 00 in the pond5 *All laugh.,

%O%I)ET. My brains9

FRA)CA/. )ow- comrades- we61e been idle long enough. It6s

time

to get to wor$ again- and let6s hope business will be

better than it was this morning5 7ou- &icorin- can stay with Mirette and spea$ to her 00 i+ you are success+ul-

so much the better2 and you- %obinet- mount guard o1er

the camp- and mind you $eep a sharp loo$0out. There you

are5 *&uts a gun into %O%I)ET6s hands.,

E(eunt all e(cept MIRETTE- %O%I)ET- and &ICORI).

MIRETTE *aside,. I must obey my destiny5 00 and it is

Francal6s

wish5

%O%I)ET. &icorin9

&ICORI). ell9

%O%I)ET. !o you obser1e that they ha1e le+t us alone9

&ICORI). 7es.

%O%I)ET. I don6t li$e the loo$ o+ it.

&ICORI). 7ou great coward5 )ow listen5 I ha1e something to

say

to Mirette 00 something which doesn6t concern you2 so

$indly mount guard a little +arther o++ 00 *pointing, 0

0 there 00 under the trees.

%O%I)ET. 7ou don6t require my protection9

&ICORI). )o- than$ you.

%O%I)ET. %ut you6re not going to lea1e me alone9

&ICORI) *impatiently,. Oh- run along5

%O%I)ET shoulders his gun and goes to bac$ o+ stage- where he is

seen pacing to and +ro with great deliberation- till at length hehalts at the +oot o+ a tree and is only occasionally seen during

the +ollowing.

MIRETTE. 7ou wanted to spea$ to me- &icorin9

&ICORI). 7es- Mirette- I 00 that is 00

MIRETTE. 7ou need not hesitate. I am ready to listen to all

you

ha1e to say.


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&ICORI). )o- Mirette- I will not spea$ to0day. 7ou seem so

sad-

so unhappy5

MIRETTE *with a +orced smile,. hy should I be unhappy9 I am

going to be married2 surely there is no cause +or

unhappiness in that5

&ICORI). 7ou cannot decei1e me- Mirette.

MIRETTE. Must I not do as Francal wishes9 Is he not my

master9

"e commands me- and my duty is to obey. hy are you

here9

&ICORI). I9

MIRETTE. 7es 00 you. hy ha1e they le+t us alone together-

e(cept that you may obtain +rom me the consent which I

ha1e not e1en the right to re+use9 7ou lo1e me-

&icorin. 'ery well 00 there is my hand. I will be your

wi+e.

&ICORI) *sadly,. )o5

MIRETTE. 7ou re+use9

&ICORI). 7es- I re+use. Forgi1e me +or my presumption-

Mirette. I was mista$en. I had a dream 00 a dream so sweet that

00 wa$ing 00 I belie1ed it true.

MIRETTE *loo$ing at him,. A dream- &icorin5 hat was it9

&ICORI). 7ou6ll only laugh at me 00 now.

O)#. 00 &ICORI).

hen all was young- I went a0dreaming-

The days were sweet- and e1ery s$y was blue2

7ou were a child with bright eyes beaming-

And I a boy- a boy with you.

7ou ga;ed at me- so tall abo1e you-

I was your sweetheart 00 dear- do you +orget9

And in my dream you clung to me and as$ed me i+ I

lo1ed

you-

And I 00 I was happy then- Mirette5

%ut when- the night is round us +alling-

And by your tent my happy watch I $eep-

?#ood0night5? I hear your sweet 1oice calling-

For 1ery 4oy- I weep- I weep.

%ut when- in all your beauty beaming-

7ou spurn me- scorn me- and +orget-

Then all my heart grows cold- and then I wa$e +rom

dreaming-

I $now 00 I $now you lo1e me not- Mirette5

MIRETTE. My poor &icorin5

&ICORI). 7ou pity me9

MIRETTE. ith all my heart 00 but *sadly, I do not lo1e you5

&ICORI). Ah5

MIRETTE. !o not be angry with me +or spea$ing so plainly- but

your goodness- your sincerity compel me to. I will not

be your wi+e- but no other o+ your band shall be my

husband. I shall ne1er marry a gipsy5


9/46

&ICORI). hat will Francal say9

MIRETTE. Francal cannot understand what I +eel. I $now that I

was ne1er intended +or this wandering li+e- this li+e

o+ robbery and bloodshed. It re1olts and sic$ens me-

and I shall tell him so5

&ICORI). And i+ he is angry 00 i+ he threatens you9

MIRETTE. Then I shall run away.

%O%I)ET *at the bac$ in a +rightened 1oice,. ho goes there9

"elp- help5

&ICORI) *turning round,. hat6s the matter9

%O%I)ET. It6s nobody5 It6s only a tree5 */aughs to himsel+.,

&ICORI). Idiot5

The sun begins to set. MIRETTE has seated hersel+ R.- and hidden

her +ace in her hands.

&ICORI) *returning to MIRETTE,. Mirette 00 you are crying5

MIRETTE. It is nothing5 It does me good. /ea1e me +or a

little

while5

&ICORI) *to %O%I)ET,. The +ire6s nearly out. #o and pic$ upa

+ew stic$s- %obinet.

%O%I)ET. I go9 )o- than$ you5 It6s getting dar$- and I don6t

want to run against a lot o+ nasty bogies and

hobgoblins. 3gh5

&ICORI). Then stay here- and $eep a sharp loo$0out. I6ll go

mysel+.

&ICORI) approaches MIRETTE who has stretched hersel+ on the

grassy slope- and is already hal+ asleep. "e ga;es at her +or a

moment- then- without saying a word- he ta$es o++ his coat- and

co1ers her with it.

&ICORI) *to %O%I)ET,. Ta$e care that no harm happens to

Mirette5

E(it &ICORI).

%O%I)ET *wal$ing up and down with his gun,. Ta$e care that

no

harm happens to Mirette5 "ow can I pre1ent it9 An

unprotected man li$e me- alone in a +orest with a girl

asleep 00 I don6t li$e the situation at all. %esides-

the +orest isn6t sa+e. I61e been told that it6s +ull o+

robbers. *tops., Ah- how stupid o+ me5 e are the

robbers- o+ course5 */aughs., "a5 ha5 ha5

EC"O. "a5 ha5 ha5 %O%I)ET *turning round- +rightened,. Eh9 ho was that rude

person9 *to MIRETTE., !id you laugh- mam6;elle9 I6m 00

*stops., )o 00 she6s asleep. */oo$s through the trees.,

ho goes there9 7our name9 )o 00 it6s another tree5 I

wish the trees wouldn6t wal$ about so 00 it does ma$e

one so ner1ous5 I really don6t +eel at all well.

&erhaps I could $eep my spirits up by singing. That6s

not a bad idea 00 I6ll try a song.


10/46

O)#. 00 %O%I)ET.

/ong ago in Alcala-

Ta ra ra- ta ra ra- ra ra- ra ra5

There dwelt a tall Alcade grand-

ho was the terror o+ the land-


*+rightened,. "ola5

*resuming the song,. "e lo1ed a maid o+ Alcala-


For he was +ine- and +ran$- and +ree-

And she was +air as a maid should be-

Tra la la- tra la la- tra la la5

*+rightened,. "ola5 ho goes there9

*resuming the song gaily,. "e was a terrible tall Alcade-

he was a lo1ely lady-

Alca 00 Alca 00 Alca 00 de 0da5

The lo1ely lady o+ Alcala-

Ta ra ra- ra ra- ra ra- ra ra- ra ra- ra ra5

*wal$s up and down in great agitation,.

They met one e1e in Alcala- Ta ra ra- ta ra ra- ra ra- ra ra5

"e said- ?weet maiden- come with me5?

%ut she was coy as a maid should be-

Tra la la- tra la la- tra la la- la la- la la5

o they too$ a boat and went to sea-


The boat came bac$- but ah5 not they 00

And that6s the end o+ the tale- they say-

Tra la la- tra la la- tra la la- ra ra- ra ra5

7es- that6s the end o+ the tall Alcade-

The boat and the sea and the lo1ely lady.

Alca 00 Alca 00 de 0da 00

Tra la la5

Finishes with a dance.

%O%I)ET. Oh- it6s a sad story5 And it doesn6t seem to ha1e

cheered me up in the least. *Calling., Mirette5

Mirette5 how +oolish it is to go on sleeping li$e

that. *uddenly., hat6s that9 */istening., Footsteps

00 and coming in this direction5 hat6s to be done9

I6d better climb a tree. It will be nice and quiet up

there amongst the little green lea1es 00 and so sa+e5

*&uts down gun and climbs up tree., "ow 1ery

annoying5 I61e le+t my gun at the bottom. *eeing

#ERAR! and MA@., Ah5 it6s a gendarme5 )o5 It6s a

game$eeper- with his master. And my gun is down below5

#ERAR! enters- +ollowed by his #ame$eeper- MA@.

#ERAR!. Come- Ma(- we61e no time to lose. The hounds ha1e

passed the hollow 00 they are turning down towards

the pond.

MA@. e6d better be turning homewards- sir. E1ening is

+alling- and the +orest is not sa+e.


11/46

%O%I)ET *aside,. That6s e(actly what I said5

MA@. /oo$- sir- there6s been a +ire lighted here.

#ERAR!. And it6s only 4ust gone out.

MA@ *seeing %O%I)ET6s gun,. And here6s a gun.

#ERAR!. A gun9

%O%I)ET *aside,. hat an inquisiti1e person5

MA@. /oaded too5 e6re on the trac$- sir. Those rascals

who robbed the 1illage yesterday must be here 00 in

this +orest.

#ERAR!- who has been loo$ing round the glade- sees MIRETTE

asleep- and suppresses an e(clamation.

#ERAR!. Ah5

MA@ *running to him,. hat is it- sir9 "a1e you caught

one o+ them9

#ERAR!. ee- Ma(5 A pretty little girl +ast asleep. Isn6t

she

charming9

MA@. 7ou always were one +or admiring the petticoats- sir.

#ERAR!. #o away- Ma(5 7ou will +righten her. I6ll spea$ to her.

MA@. he6s nothing but a gipsy- sir5 #et her to tell you

where her companions are hiding2 that will be better

than +illing her head with pretty nonsense. *Aside.,

I6ll go and in+orm the %urgomaster 00 *to #ERAR!-

con+identially., I shouldn6t ad1ise you to stay here

too long- sir.

#ERAR!. )onsense- my good +ellow. 7ou don6t $now what you6re

tal$ing about.

E(it MA@.

%O%I)ET *aside,. "e6s wal$ing o++ with my gun5 And I can6t

get down to warn the others5

#ERAR! so+tly approaches MIRETTE and loo$s at her.

!3ET. 00 #ERAR! and MIRETTE.

#ERAR!. he is asleep5 ah- how +air is she5

"er little head at rest upon her +olded arm.

hence does she come9 ho can she be9

hat tender grace5 what wondrous charm5

%low so+t- ye bree;es- where she lies2

%end down- ye lea1es- and $iss her dreaming2

%ut see- she opes her lo1ely eyes-

And through the woods a light is beaming5MIRETTE *starting,. Ah5

#ERAR!. !id I a++right thee9

MIRETTE. 7es.

#ERAR!. Forgi1e me5

I+ I had dreamed that thou wouldst +ear-

I had not dared to 1enture near.

MIRETTE. It was not thou I thought to see-

And that is why thy coming +rightened me.


12/46

%O%I)ET *aside,. I ought to warn him 00 where is &icorin9

#ERAR!. Roaming on through 1alley deep-

On through +orest +airy0haunted-

"ere I saw thee so+t asleep-

"ere I stopped- as one enchanted5

MIRETTE. Ah5 it were better thou hadst gone

ithout a single thought +or me

"ere to li1e my li+e alone-

%reathing out my destiny

ithout a star or hope to cheer.

#ERAR!. ho- then- art thou9

MIRETTE. hy see$ to $now9

#ERAR!. Ah5 tell me why so sad9

hould not thy li+e be glad9

hat sorrow clouds thy coming years9

here is thy home9 and who art thou9

MIRETTE. As$ the dar$ness abo1e me5

Child o+ the homeless night am I2

/o1ing none 00 and none to lo1e me-

)one to heed as I go by. Though my heart may weep +or e1er-

I must sing and dance +or pay-

E1er and aye- light and gay

!ancing +or pay 00 resting ne1er5

3nder the +riendless s$ies +or e1er5

#ERAR!. "ow so9 . . . +or one so sweet as thou-

The coming years should all be bright5

MIRETTE. It is too late +or gladness now-

The coming years are dar$ as night.

#ERAR!. %ut- i+ so sad thou art-

hat can I do +or thee9

MIRETTE. )othing5 ta$e hence thy gentle heart-

&ass on- and let me be.

#ERAR!. )ay- do not thin$ I can +orget thee-

Or this sweet wood- when +ar apart-

This twilight hour- when +irst I met thee-

And learnt the secret o+ thy heart.

MIRETTE. %id me good0bye. I must +orget thee-

I cannot +ollow where thou art2

It is my +ate that I ha1e met thee-

It is my +ate that we must part.

E)EM%/E.

MIRETTE. And i+ e1er in thy dreaming

Thoughts o+ me should linger yet-

/et them pass li$e summer gleaming-

I am not worthy one regret5 #ERAR!. Tho6 so brie+ this summer gleaming-

Though we part I6ll not +orget-

till +or e1er in my dreaming-

Thy sweet +ace will linger yet5

%O%I)ET *aside,. "ow that girl is thawing5 he was ne1er as

nice as that to me.

&ICORI) re0enters- with a bundle o+ wood on his shoulders.


13/46


14/46

As you6ll allow-

O+ bandits6 a1ocation.

O/O. 00 FRA)CA/.

Oh- we61e been 1isiting our +riends-

As +ol$s do 00 in society2

And o+ course we $now that much depends

On the manners o+ strict propriety.

To +ind them at home when we call- no doubt-

Is charming +or a 1ariety-

%ut we much pre+er to +ind them out-

As +ol$s do 00 in society.

o now that we61e got all we could-

As +ol$s do 00 in society-

e61e returned to our com+ortable wood-

Tra0la0la0la0la0la0liety5

?tay at home? is a ma(im good- no doubt2

Ta$e this +or a slight 1ariety-

!on6t be +ound in- or you6ll be +ound out- As +ol$s are 00 in society.

FRA)CA/ *seated on a tree trun$,. )ow let6s see what we61e

got. &ichet 00 a couple o+ +owls- a sac$ o+ corn.

&ICORI). Francal5

FRA)CA/. !on6t interrupt me. %ertuccio 00 a sheep5 *%ERT3CCIO

show the sheep- which he is leading by his waist0

belt., And what ha1e you got there- &oischiche9

#I&7. A 1el1et coat- captain.

FRA)CA/ *ta$ing it,. I6m much obliged to you.

#I&7. And a real lace petticoat +or Mam6;elle Mirette.

FRA)CA/ *imitating him,. For Mam6;elle Mirette5 Oh- these

lo1ers5 ell- &icorin- are you to be the +a1oured

one9

&ICORI). Captain- we ha1e not time to tal$ o+ these things

when danger threatens us.

A//. *rising and surrounding &ICORI),. !anger9

&ICORI). %obinet has disappeared.

A//. %obinet5

&ICORI). I went to collect a +ew stic$s +or the +ire- and on

returning +ound- instead o+ %obinet- a huntsman- who

without a doubt had +ollowed our trac$s- and who will

be able to in+orm against us.

The #I&IE murmur. !uring the +oregoing- the +ire has been

lighted- and the smo$e is now rising through the trees.

%O%I)ET *aside,. Oh- bother the smo$e5 I shall cho$e in

another minute5 *Coughs.,

A//. /isten5

%O%I)ET *snee;es,. Atschi5 )ow I61e done +or mysel+5 They6ll

certainly +ind me out.

&ICORI). That sound came +rom that tree.

#IR/. hy- it6s %obinet5

%O%I)ET. O+ course it is. Can6t you lea1e a respectable

person


15/46

in peace9 I didn6t come up here to be smo$ed 00 li$e

a herring.

FRA)CA/. hat are you doing up there9 Roosting9

%O%I)ET. !on6t be rude to a gentleman who occupies a more

ele1ated position than you do.

FRA)CA/. I assure you it6s no laughing matter. Come down.

%O%I)ET. 7ou won6t hurt me9

FRA)CA/ *signi+icantly,. e shall see.

%O%I)ET. I+ there6s any doubt about it- I6ll stay where I am.

FRA)CA/ *ta$ing a gun,. Ma$e haste- or I shall ha1e to hurry

you up.

%O%I)ET. Oh- what an un$ind thing to do5 I6m coming. *8umps

down.,

FRA)CA/. )ow- what ha1e you seen9 hat ha1e you heard9 pea$5

%O%I)ET. Must I tell you e1erything9

A//. 7es- yes5

MIRETTE *aside,. hat does he $now9

%O%I)ET. I saw the same gentleman that &icorin has 4ust

alluded to. "e stayed here quite a long time- and

$ept on throwing sidelong glances at Mirette. Then he

made eyes at her- and +irst o+ all she loo$ed down at her shoes 00 li$e that2 and then she loo$ed at him 00

li$e that.

FRA)CA/. Mirette5 who was this man9

MIRETTE. I do not $now him. *Murmurs.,

FRA)CA/. pea$5 "is name5

MIRETTE. "e told me that he was called #erard. That is all I

$now o+ him.

&ICORI). It6s true- captain- I was there. %ut let us be o++

00

we ha1e no time to lose5

%ERT3CCIO *his ear to the ground,. Too late5

A// *spea$ing low,. hat is it9

%ERT3CCIO. The tramp o+ soldiers5

A//. oldiers5

FRA)CA/. &ut out the lights5

The +ire and the torches are e(tinguished. All is dar$- and

there is complete silence. The steps o+ oldiers are heard

approaching.

FRA)CA/ *in a whisper,. It6s all right. They will pass

without seeing us.

8ust as the oldiers- led by MA@ and the %3R#OMATER- appear at

the bac$- the moon emerges +rom a cloud and the whole scene is

lighted up.

%O%I)ET. Caught5

FRA)CA/. "ea1en is against us5

FI)A/E OF ACT I.

%3R#OMATER. #ood e1ening- gentlemen5

Ahem5 /adies and gentlemen5

%O%I)ET. "ow polite5 All is right.

%3R#OMATER. I +ear I disarrange you.


16/46

%O%I)ET. )o- not at all.

%3R#OMATER. ho6s this9

C"OR3. hy- %obinet5 6tis %obinet5 6tis %obinet5

%3R#OMATER. ell- %obinet- get away5

*to the rest,. )ow then- your names-

And each one6s occupation5

%O%I)ET. I6ll gi1e the in+ormation.

This- sir- is Francal-

The leader o+ our company.

%3R#OMATER. I understand- the leader o+ your band.

O/!IER. "a5 ha5 ha5 ha5 I see5 I see5

The leader o+ your company.

%O%I)ET. /ea1e it to me. I6ll settle it- you6ll see.

trolling players- sir- are we- and most o+ us are cle1er.

Can sing- and dance- and ma$e you 1erses.

%3R#OMATER. And pic$ what you can +rom people6s purses.

%O%I)ET. Oh- no- sir 00 ne1er5

%3R#OMATER. Too cle1er. Arrest them5

%O%I)ET. Touch me i+ you dare5

%3R#OMATER. Arrest him5 Arrest them all5

truggle. #ipsies o1erpowered.

MA@ *to MIRETTE,. 7ou need not +ear-

My pretty dear-

7our case is clear.

FRA)CA/. "er case is clear-

he has betrayed us5

#I&IE. Traitress5 spy5 she has betrayed us.

MIRETTE. It is a lie5

At heart I am not one o+ you2

I hate your li+e and all you do 00

%ut yet you ha1e been good to me.

*turning to FRA)CA/., "a1e cherished me so tenderly-

I6d not betray you- +riends-

)ot i+ my li+e depend on such an in+amy.

#ERAR!. 6Tis true- sir- as you $now.

he6s not to blame. he was with me-

And I demand her liberty.

MIRETTE. Than$s- than$s5 it cannot be-

I was with them- with them I go.

It is my destiny.

#ERAR!. It shall not be5

*to %3R#OMATER,. he6s not to blame- you $now.

%3R#OMATER. The girl may go.

C"OR3. Free5 Mirette is +ree5

Traitress- spy5

#ERAR!. Fear not5 I will pro1ide +or thee. Ma(- ta$e her home2 tell the Marquise I sent her.

*to &ICORI),. hat dost thou want9

&ICORI). To +ollow her. I lo1e her so2

here she goes- let me go too.

/et me +ollow her +or aye-

/i$e a dog his master6s way.

Tend her- ser1e her- do her will-

/et me only +ollow still.

atch her- guard her night and day-


17/46

/et me +ollow her +or aye.

MIRETTE. 7es- let him come2 he is my +aith+ul +riend.

&ICORI). 7es- till the end5

#ERAR! *to %3R#OMATER,. /et him go +ree5

%3R#OMATER. ell- as you will. Thou6rt +ree.

FRA)CA/ *to MIRETTE,. I6ll +ind thee- dear- some day.

MIRETTE *aside- hal+ dreaming,. ome day5 ho $nows9

%O%I)ET. ell- I declare5 hat can it be9

Mirette and &icorin- both o+ them +ree5

&ray what is then to become o+ me9

%3R#OMATER. Come- then. :uic$ march5

O/!IER. Come along- come along- quic$ march5

#I&IE. Come along then- so let it be.

MIRETTE *to FRA)CA/- hal+ dreaming,.

#ood0bye5 ome day5 ho $nows9

C"OR3. Follow then- with laugh and song-


Fettered or +ree- what care we9

"urrah +or the li+e o+ the


18/46

?Come bac$5 she lo1es thee e1ermore5

Come bac$- ir =night- come bac$ and stay5?

And then- ah5 then- the word was said-

And then- ah5 then- the $iss was gi1en2

And all the birds sang o6erhead-

And earth was hea1en.

MAR:. ell- Mirette- it is a month to0day since you +irst

came to the Chateau. !o you regret ha1ing abandoned

your wild- gipsy li+e9

MIRETTE. That would be ungrate+ul- a+ter all your goodness to

me.

MAR:. &rettily spo$en- my dear- but not entirely

con1incing. )ow suppose I were to guess that you had

le+t some +riend behind you 00 some lo1er- perhaps.

hould I be 1ery +ar wrong9

MIRETTE *so+tly,. ome lo1er5

MAR: *aside,. I6ll put her to the test. *Aloud., &erhaps

you ha1e been building castles in the air- li$e the

shepherdesses in the old legend. A handsome prince chanced to pass by. /i$e a true gallant- he murmured

some sweet nonsense in their pretty ears- and they

belie1ed that he was in earnest5 I dare say the lady

o+ your song- who was deserted by a $night- was only

a shepherdess.

MIRETTE. I+ he had not come bac$- she would ha1e died5

MAR:. Then she would ha1e done a 1ery silly thing5 )ow-

loo$ at me 00 I was an e(tremely pretty girl once

upon a time. 7ou smile5 I assure you that I was5 One

day a $ing- a young $ing- told me that he lo1ed me. I

will not mention his name- because he has a large

+amily now- and it would not be discreet. I belie1ed

the delicious nonsense that he breathed in my ear. I

blushed 00 I palpitated2 and +or two whole days and

nights 00 ah- what nights5 00 I dreamed that I was a

queen. The end o+ it all was that I married a marquis

00 an old marquis5 And I6m not dead yet5

MIRETTE. 7ou are 1ery $ind to me- Madame2 but I ha1e been so

unhappy that sometimes 00 *she stops,. "owe1er- all

that is +inished. *he rises- shuts her boo$- and

lays it on the table.,

MAR: *aside,. he lo1es #erard. And I +ear that he 00 but

we must put a stop to that.

Enter #ERAR! in hunting costume.

MAR:. Ah- here is #erard5#ERAR!. #ood a+ternoon- aunt. *Embraces her.,

MAR:. hy- you61e only 4ust come in +rom riding5 #o and

change your clothes at once5 urely you ha1en6t

+orgotten that this e1ening you are to celebrate your

betrothal9

MIRETTE *aside,. Ah5

MAR:. The %aron 1an Osborn- your +uture +ather0in0law- and

one o+ my old admirers- will be here directly with

your charming +iancee- %ianca.


19/46

#ERAR!. 7es 00 I $now.

MAR:. 7ou don6t seem e(cited about it5 #ood gracious5 In

my

time lo1ers were made o+ more in+lammable stu++5

%esides- %ianca is cle1er- rich- and pretty.

#ERAR!. 7es- Aunt5

MAR: *imitating him,. 7es- Aunt5 3pon my word- you pu;;le

me5 7ou are li$e Mirette. I don6t $now what6s come to

her.

MIRETTE *with an e++ort,. Ah- Madame- I 00 I am glad to hear

o+ the happiness in store +or Monsieur #erard.

MAR:. O+ course5

#ERAR! *coldly,. 7ou $now that I am +ond o+ %ianca. This

marriage is your wish- and I obey you2 but you must

gi1e me time to get accustomed to the idea.

MAR: *rising,. 7ou are a +ool- #erard5 I $now what is best

+or your happiness- and I shall act accordingly.

*Rings bell. er1ant enters. Aside to him., "a1e you

done as I told you9

ER'A)T. Francal and the #ipsies were set at liberty this

morning.MAR:. #ood5 Mirette- +ollow me5

E(it MAR:3IE- +ollowed by MIRETTE.

#ERAR!. Mademoiselle %ianca 1an Osborn will be here

directly5

I shall see her2 I shall spea$ to her2 I suppose I

shall ha1e to tell her that I lo1e her- as they

e(pect her to become my wi+e5 And yet- i+ truth be

told- it is not the thought o+ %ianca that sets my

heart beating so5

O)#. 00 #ERAR!.

I+ lo1e were calculation-

And men were only wise-

They6d thin$ o+ ran$ and station-

And not o+ %eauty6s eyes.

True hearts might go unheeded-

weet lips might smile +or nought-

I+ ran$ were all men needed-

And wealth were all they sought.

%ut ah5 what o+ wealth or o+ station9

hat- all the world6s wisdom and lore5

I+ lo1e were but cold calculation-

And hearts had no hearts to adore5

%ut oh5 i+ lo1e were gi1en-

3n+ettered- pure- and +ree-

It ma$es o+ earth a "ea1en-

hate6er its ran$ may be.

It trusts 00 through e1ery season-

It lets the world go by-

It lo1es and as$s no reason-

It lo1es and $nows not why.


20/46

Then let us be sages herea+ter-

To0morrow be wise as we may-

hile li+e has its +olly and laughter-

The heart has its lo1e +or to0day5

MIRETTE passes under the gallery.

#ERAR! *seeing her,. Mirette5 *MIRETTE turns round and

stops., hy do you a1oid me- Mirette9 ince you ha1e

been here I ha1e scarcely been able to catch a

glimpse o+ you. I wanted to spea$ to you- +or I had

so much to tell you.

MIRETTE. Oh- Monsieur #erard- you must not tal$ to me li$e

this at the 1ery moment when you are e(pecting your

+iancee5

#ERAR!. This marriage is my aunt6s wish2 but I shall meet

%ianca with a hea1y heart- +or another has ta$en her

place in my a++ections 00 another holds all my

happiness in her hands 00 and you Mirette- you are

that other5

!3ET. 00 MIRETTE and #ERAR!.

#ERAR!. "ast thou +orgot the hour we met-

The +orest deep- the magic s$ies-

And how I +ound you there- Mirette-

And loo$ed into thy opening eyes.

MIRETTE. Ah5 spea$ no more o+ how we met-

O+ +orest deep- o+ magic s$ies-

That hour- that night- we must +orget-

It is the time +or our good0byes.

#ERAR!. Ah5 say not so5 It shall not be-

I cannot li1e +rom thee apart-

For since that hour I swear to thee-

Thou art the mistress o+ my heart.

MIRETTE. hy tell me that9 It is too late-

Ta$e bac$- ta$e bac$- thy +oolish 1ow2

Thou art too noble and too great

I am not +it +or such as thou.

#ERAR!. Thou art my star- thou art my +ate-

The idol o+ my e1ery 1ow-

And all the world o+ rich and great

"as nought so beauti+ul as thou.

MIRETTE. Ah5 say not so5 #ood0bye5 Forget5

A nameless girl is not +or thee.

#ERAR!. hat matters name9 Thou art Mirette-

And that is all the world to me5MIRETTE. )o 00 let me go5 I must +orget

The dream o+ what can ne1er be2

Thou hast another 00 not Mirette5

Thou art another6s 00 not +or me5

#ERAR!. I ha1e no lo1e but thou- Mirette2

I lo1e but thee5 I lo1e but thee5

MIRETTE *aside,. "e lo1es me5 lo1es me5 can it be9

#ERAR!. pea$- dearest- spea$5 why timid be9

MIRETTE. Thou art too high- too great +or me5


21/46

E)EM%/E.

#ERAR!. Ah5 dearest- turn thine eyes to me-

And tell me i+ thou lo1est me.

MIRETTE. Ah5 loo$ into mine eyes and see-

I lo1e but thee5 I lo1e but thee5

%OT". As the earth loo$s up to "ea16n-

As the ri1er +lows to sea-

o my heart to thine is gi1en-

All my li+e- my lo1e to thee.

At the end o+ duet #ERAR! ta$es MIRETTE in his arms. They

separate on hearing a step approaching under the gallery. The

MAR:3IE enters- +ollowed by a ER'A)T- to whom she is gi1ing

orders.

MAR:3IE *to the ER'A)T- indicating the banqueting room /.,.

7ou understand 00 do you not9 I wish e1erything

arranged in that room. *he sees #ERAR! and MIRETTE 0

0 aside., Together5 *he comes down between them. To #ERAR!., )ot ready yet9

MIRETTE *aside,. The Marquise5

MAR:3IE *turning to MIRETTE,. My nephew6s +iancee-

Mademoiselle %ianca 1an Osborn- is e(pected e1ery

minute. I am gi1ing an entertainment in her honour-

and I wish you to ta$e part in it- Mirette. #o and

put on one o+ your gipsy dresses 00 the smartest you

can +ind.

MIRETTE. Oh5 madame.

#ERAR! *aside,. hat6s in the wind now9

MAR:. It is my wish5 And you- #erard- go and get ready 00

there is only 4ust time.

E(eunt MIRETTE and #ERAR! at opposite sides.

MAR:. o this is the result o+ the $indness which I was

+oolish enough to show to this little gipsy baggage.

he has turned the head o+ that pretty nephew o+

mine. "appily it is not too late to put a stop to

such +olly. *er1ant enters., hat is it9

ER'A)T. A man wishes to spea$ with you- Madame.

MAR:. It is he. how him in.

Enter %O%I)ET bowing 1ery e(tra1agantly.

%O%I)ET. Madame- I ha1e the honour to lay at your +eet the

best respects o+ your most obedient ser1ant5MAR:3IE *aside,. The rascal $now how to beha1e himsel+.

%O%I)ET *aside,. hat a splendid woman5 *"e seats himsel+ in

an armchair.,

MAR:. 7ou are Monsieur 000000 9

%O%I)ET. Celestin %obinet- poet- musician and dancer2 leading

comedian o+ the celebrated Francal6s +amous company.

MAR:. "e has sent you here9

%O%I)ET. I ha1e 4ust le+t him 00 in a pitiable state- Madame

0


22/46

0 a really pitiable state. 8ustice as usual declines

to show us any consideration whate1er. 7ou $now the

sort o+ straw they put down in cells- nasty damp

stu++ 00 but perhaps Madame has ne1er tried it9 Ah-

well2 the prison is 1ery unhealthy- and we ha1e spent

a most unpleasant month there.

MAR:. I interceded +or you.

%O%I)ET. And obtained our release9 I can see Madame has a

large and o1er+lowing heart. And what is Madame6s

pleasure9

MAR:. This e1ening the marriage contract between my nephew

and Mademoiselle %ianca 1an Osborn is to be signed.

%O%I)ET *interrupting her,. And you wish to in1ite us9

*armly., My dear Madame- we shall be delighted5

MAR:. I+ I in1ite you- it will be to amuse our +riends.

%O%I)ET. :uite so. *Aside., An entertainment on the cheap5

MAR:. %ut I should li$e to ha1e some idea o+ what you

propose doing.

%O%I)ET. 7ou want to $now what our programme will be9 "ere is

one o+ our last per+ormances 00 gi1en be+ore Royalty.

It ought to ha1e been printed on white satin- but the Chancellor o+ the E(chequer didn6t see his way to

including the additional e(pense in the estimates.

!3ET. 00 MAR:3IE and %O%I)ET.

MAR:3IE. )ow +or the programme 00

%O%I)ET. The programme will begin

ith a roll and a delicate rum0ti0tum.

MAR:3IE. A delicate rum0ti0tum5

%O%I)ET. &er+ormed by Francal on the drum5

MAR:3IE. On the drum5

%O%I)ET. Few are his equal on the drum5

MAR:3IE. ell- then- what ne(t will come9

%O%I)ET. )e(t turn- %ertuccio5

MAR:3IE. ho is he9

%O%I)ET. The only strong man.

MAR:3IE. That can6t be.

There are so many.

%O%I)ET. Oh- no5 no5

There6s only one %ertuccio5

"e can hold- when hung-

An o(- or elephant- on his tongue

MAR:3IE. They always do

%O%I)ET *pointedly,. Or anyone else who6ll oblige.

MAR:3IE *declining the suggestion,. )o5 no5

%O%I)ET. ell- he draws the line- sometimes- I $now5

)e(t turn 00 the +in de siecle +leas- ho can dance a pas-

ith a gay tra0la-

Or a serpentine dance on a lady6s an$les-

And the erpent Man- and the iamese Twins-

And the bearded lady who li1es on pins.

MAR:3IE. %ut is that all9

%O%I)ET. The ne(t turn6s the better2 you will see-

The songs and dances o+ the


23/46

The star o+ the troupe-

Mirette5

MAR:3IE. O+ course- Mirette must sing and dance-

%ut tell me- pray-

Is nothing done by %obinet9

%O%I)ET. %obinet9

MAR:3IE. The celebrated %obinet5

%O%I)ET. I close the programme with a dance.

MAR:3IE. 7ou dance9

%O%I)ET. Can6t you see

At a glance

I dance5

7es- yes 00

ee me dance

The gay cha0hut-

erpentine glance

And butter+ly toe.

hirling 00

Twirling-

Round I go-

Tee0to0tum- ith my tum0ti0toe5

ee me dance5

Isn6t it +ine9

!id you e1er see

In pain or France

uch a style as mine9

o particular

&erpendicular-

3p to date

And super+ine5

E)EM%/E.

MAR:3IE. %O%I)ET.

ee him dance ee me dance

The gay cha0hut5 The gay cha0hut5

erpentine glance- erpentine glance-

And butter+ly too5 And butter+ly too5

Isn6t it grand9 Isn6t it grand9

Isn6t it great9 Isn6t it great9

And especially too And especially too

It6s up to date5 It6s up to date5

&A !E !E3@.

%O%I)ET. I will not conceal +rom you- Madame- the +act that

these e(ertions ha1e made me +eel unusually hungry2

and I cannot help thin$ing that i+ I were allowed to attac$ a ham- in company with a large loa+ and some

+lagons o+ old wine- I should be in a position this

e1ening to gi1e an e(hibition o+ my talents on a

scale ne1er be+ore attempted.

MAR:. 7our wishes are commands5

%O%I)ET *aside,. he6s a splendid woman5

The MAR:3IE rings. Enter &ICORI).


24/46

MAR:. &icorin- bring Monsieur %obinet a bottle o+

8ohannisberg 00 and a ham.

&ICORI) *surprised,. %obinet5

%O%I)ET. &icorin5 *They loo$ at each other., o you61e put on

li1ery5 *Contemptuously.,

MAR: *to &ICORI),. !id you hear9

%O%I)ET. A bottle o+ 8ohannisberg and a ham5 Ma$e haste5

&ICORI) *aside- as he e(its,. hat does this mean9

%O%I)ET. ithin an hour- Madame- Francal and his company will

arri1e at the Chateau.

MAR:. I will gi1e orders +or them to be admitted.

%O%I)ET. And i+ you will spare them a +ew sandwiches and a

4ug

o+ water- it would re+resh them wonder+ully. *Aside.,

I mustn6t be sel+ish.

MAR:. #ood0bye +or the present- Mr. %obinet. *E(it.,

%O%I)ET. #ood0bye +or the present- Madame5 *Aside., Oh- she6s

a splendid woman5 And so well preser1ed5 The prison

was not all that I could wish- but this Chateau

appears to be an e(tremely com+ortable place. Francal

is waiting +or me. "e will not come until I bring him word. )e1er mind5 I shall ha1e time to eat a morsel.

&ICORI) enters- with two ser1ants- who lay the table.

%O%I)ET. ell done- &icorin. 7ou are ma4or0domo here- I

suppose9 3pon my word- you6re getting +at5 *&ICORI)

is silent., "e won6t answer me. &icorin is touchy5

*The ham is brought in., And is all that +or me9 *"e

wal$s round the table., Oh- what an e(quisite per+ume

lingers round that ham5 And what plump and chubby

bottles5

&ICORI) *aside,. I wonder what brought him here. *Aloud.,

!inner is ready- monsieur.

%O%I)ET *aside,. Monsieur5 "e is alluding to me5 *Aloud.,

Than$ you- &icorin. *eats himsel+., Then you are

going to wait on me. That6s 1ery nice o+ you.

&ICORI) *+illing %O%I)ET6s glass,. 8ohannisberg- 6B.

%O%I)ET. ill you $indly say that again9

&ICORI) *coldly,. 8ohannisberg- 6B.

%O%I)ET. 6B 00 *sips it, 00 you6re sure it6s 6B. I $now

something about wine. The 1intage they supplied us

with at the prison ga1e me a touch o+ the gout. It

was too +ull0bodied2 but this 00 hum5 *!rin$s., I

will ha1e another glass. Than$ you5 The ham ought to

gi1e it +la1our. *Eats with his mouth +ull., it

down- &icorin- and ha1e a glass with me.

&ICORI). I don6t $now whether I ought to 00%O%I)ET. &ooh5 there6s nobody loo$ing5

O)#. 00 %O%I)ET.

hen )oah went aboard the Ar$-

Tiquetin- tin- tin- tin2

"e was a thirsty patriarch-

Tiquetin- tin- tin- tin.

%ut when the ar$ began to roll-


25/46

And the sea to hea1e and roar2

"e +elt 1ery ill- as captains will-

I+ they61e ne1er been to sea be+ore.

%ut when his pain had all passed by-

Tiquetin- tin- tin- tin2

aid )oah- ?I am getting dry-?


o when they came to the good Rhineland

"e couldn6t hold out any more2

?ater-? he said- ?don6t agree with me-

/et6s see what they sell on shore.?

o he too$ a boat and rowed ashore-

Tiquetin- tin- tin- tin-

And bought him a bottle- ?6B-?


And down he sat and dran$ his wine-

And did li$e other men-

?ater-? said he- ?don6t agree with me-?

And he6s ne1er drun$ a drop since then.

%O%I)ET *drin$ing,. 7ou say this is 6BD9

&ICORI) *drin$ing,. ell- one can hardly 4udge at the +irst

glass.

%O%I)ET. That6s true. *"e eats., The ham6s a tri+le salt.

&ICORI) *+illing %O%I)ET6s glass,. It ma$es you thirsty9

%O%I)ET. And when the wine is good 00 eh9 *!rin$s., "ow

quic$ly the delight+ul 6BD gets into one6s head5

7ou6re sure it is 6BD9 &erhaps it6s 6B.

&ICORI). Oh- the Marquise has a wonder+ul cellar5

%O%I)ET. he6s a splendid woman5 *The wine gradually begins

to

a++ect him., &oor Marquise5

&ICORI). hy poor Marquise9

%O%I)ET. he is +urious 00 because 00 her 00 nephew 00 is

cra;y o1er Mirette. 7ou $now Mirette. %ut that

doesn6t concern you.

&ICORI). )o. "a1e another glass9

%O%I)ET. Than$ you. *!rin$s., It doesn6t concern you- but I6m

going to tell you- all the same. ell- she has had an

idea. e are coming to her party this e1ening 00 you

understand 00

&ICORI). Francal- and the others9

%O%I)ET. 7es 00 all o+ them. And as soon as we arri1e 00

you6re quite sure you understand me9

&ICORI). 7es 00 yes5 "a1e another glass9

%O%I)ET. Than$ you. *!rin$s., As soon as we arri1e- she will send +or Mirette2 she will ma$e her dance be+ore

e1erybody- and 00 hey- presto5 00 there is an end o+

Monsieur #erard6s in+atuation5

&ICORI) *aside,. &oor Mirette5

%O%I)ET. O+ course I am telling you this in con+idence.

&ICORI). )aturally5

%O%I)ET. %ut Francal has his plans as well as the Marquise-

and i+ Mirette will not return to her old comrades-

then 00 to0night 00 a+ter the +ete 00 we are going to


26/46

carry her o++.

&ICORI) *rising,. To carry o++ Mirette9 %ut how9

%O%I)ET. Francal will ha1e horses ready- at the gate 00 ah5 I

can6t tal$ any more5 *Falls asleep with his head on

the table.,

&ICORI). "e as$s me i+ I understand 00 but I understand only

too well. &oor Mirette5 The Marquise has disco1ered

her lo1e +or #erard- and has contri1ed this plan +or

separating them. %ut it will be better +or Mirette to

return with Francal than to submit to this

humiliation. I will sa1e her in spite o+ hersel+5

*ha$es %O%I)ET., %obinet5 %obinet5

%O%I)ET. It6s that idiot o+ a gaoler again. /et me sleep- you

bloc$0head5

&ICORI). )o 00 no5 It is I 00 &icorin5 here is Francal

waiting +or you9

%O%I)ET *trying to pull himsel+ together,. Francal9 In the

+orest 00

&ICORI). 'ery well. 7ou must run and warn him at once.

*%O%I)ET +alls asleep again., I +illed his glass too

o+ten- I6m a+raid. "e doesn6t hear me. I must write 0 0 that will do 4ust as well. *riting., ?Come at

once- and ha1e the horses ready. Mirette consents.

&icorin.? There- %obinet5 The Marquise6s orders5

%O%I)ET. The Marquise9

&ICORI). This letter must be ta$en to Francal immediately.

%O%I)ET *getting up,. To Francal9 The Marquise 00 *ta$es the

paper and then goes up humming- ?ans +atigue- sans

arret-? but nearly +alls down in trying to wal$., It

is the 8ohannisberg5 */oo$ing at the paper., hat6s

this9

&ICORI). For Francal 00 +rom the Marquise.

%O%I)ET. Oh- o+ course. I61e got such a headache. *E(it.,

&ICORI). The +resh air will soon bring him to his senses.

*/oo$ing out., There he goes5 )ow to warn Mirette. e

must try to ma$e our escape be+ore the entertainment-

so that the Marquise may not be able to carry out her

plan 00 and so #erard may not see Mirette again5

*tops., Am I acting +or the best9 Is it not rather

+or my own sa$e9 %ut no5 *adly., he has said that

she does not lo1e me5 Ah5 here comes the Marquise and

her guests. I will go and +ind Mirette.

E(it 4ust as the MAR:3IE enters with %IA)CA and the %ARO).

%IA)CA *1ery gaily,. Oh- we61e had a delight+ul 4ourney5

The

country is loo$ing charming. It ma$es one wish that it were always spring time.

%ARO). Ah- Marquise- it always is spring time in the

radiance o+ your bright eyes5

MAR:3IE *smiling,. I percei1e that winter has not yet snowed

up the %aron6s heart.

%ARO). I+ it had- the snowdri+ts would melt in the sunshine

o+ your presence- Marquise.

%IA)CA *at bac$,. "ere is #erard.

MAR:3IE *aside,. I do hope he6ll beha1e himsel+. *Enter


27/46

#ERAR!., Come- #erard 00 you ha1e $ept us waiting.

#ERAR!. A thousand pardons- my dear %aron5 *ha$es hands.,

Ah- %ianca5 *%owing to her.,

%IA)CA *holding out her hand to him- +ran$ly,. "ow do you

do- #erard9

MAR:. #i1e me your arm- %aron. I $now these young people

ha1e a thousand and one things to say to each other-

so we had better lea1e them together.

%ARO) *going,. Then this marriage pleases you9

MAR:. 'ery much.

%ARO). #erard6s manner stri$es me as being rather cold.

MAR:. !o you thin$ so9 It is only your +ancy- %aron.

E(eunt MAR:3IE and %ARO).

%IA)CA. "ow ceremonious we are5 That6s my +ather6s way. %ut

there6s no need +or anything o+ the sort between you

and me 00 *coyly, especially now 00 is there9

#ERAR!. Certainly not.

%IA)CA. "ow pretty it is all around- the lo1ely par$- the

+ine old trees. hall we li1e here- #erard9#ERAR!. e9 Oh- yes- I suppose so.

%IA)CA. hat6s the matter with you- to0day9 !oes papa annoy

you with his little ways9 I+ he does- I6ll scold him.

%ut i+ you don6t tal$ to me- I shall begin to be

a+raid o+ you 00 I 00 a+raid o+ you.

#ERAR!. Forgi1e me5

%IA)CA. O+ course I will. %ut you mustn6t be angry with me

i+

I chatter- because I6m so happy- so happy5

O)#. 00 %IA)CA.

%ut yesterday in con1ent gray-

%y gloomy walls en+olded-

I was at lessons all the day-

And sometimes 00 o+ten 00 scolded.

6Twas A1e5 A1e5 noon and night-

For e1er and +or e1er5

The only man we saw was white-

And as +or dancing 00 ne1er5

To0day the s$y is bright on high-

To0day the world uncloses-

I see un+old its gates o+ gold-

And all the way is roses5

To0day5 to0day- my dream comes true5

And all through you5

%ut yesterday in con1ent gray-

I studied willy0nilly-

I always did what I was bid-

I was a school0girl silly2

And i+ at night we soared away-

In golden dreams ecstatic-

The isters brought us bac$ ne(t day

To sums and scales chromatic.


28/46

To0day- good0bye to lessons dry5

I hear my bride0bells ringing-

?Thou art a woman now-? they cry-

And lo1e is all they6re singing5

To0day5 to0day- my dreams come true5

And all through you5

#ERAR! *aside, "ow happy she is5

%IA)CA. 7ou ha1en6t much to say +or yoursel+.

#ERAR!. I was listening to you- %ianca.

%IA)CA. 7ou might do something more than listen to me. Are

you not my +iancee9 Am I not to be your wi+e9

#ERAR!. My wi+e9 Certainly.

%IA)CA. Really- #erard- I can6t ma$e you out at all5 This is

hardly the sort o+ welcome I e(pected.

#ERAR!. 7ou must e(cuse me- %ianca- I lead such a lonely

li+e

here. e see so little o+ the world that I am aw$ward

and clumsy without meaning to be.

%IA)CA *a little disturbed,. 7es- I daresay that accounts +or it. *Aside., uppose he should not lo1e me9

*ilence.,

#ERAR!. 7ou are 1e(ed with me9

%IA)CA. )ot 1e(ed- #erard- only a little grie1ed.

Enter the MAR:3IE.

MAR:. ell- you lo1ers- ha1e you come to an understanding9

*ilence., hy are you silent9 hat does it mean9

%IA)CA. As$ #erard- Madame5 &erhaps he will con+ide to you

what he has not 1entured to say to me.

MAR:. #erard 00

#ERAR!. I as$ your pardon- aunt- and yours also- %ianca2 but

I cannot e(plain mysel+ now. I $now that my beha1iour

must seem strange to you- and with your permission I

will retire. *E(it.,

MAR:. My dear- he6s mad5

%IA)CA. )o- Madame. "e does not lo1e me.

MAR:. Ah5 you don6t $now him- little one. "e6s a bear- and

you must learn to tame him.

%IA)CA. There is nothing I should li$e better.

MAR:. They didn6t teach you much at the con1ent-

e1idently.

%IA)CA *laughing,. )ot 1ery much5

MAR:. Ah5 my child- you don6t $now men as well as I do.

O)#. 00 MAR:3IE.

/i+e is a +airyland- with wonders hung-

7ou cannot understand- you are too young-

One day you6ll reali;e all we $now now-

/i+e6s empty +antasies- lo1e6s idle 1ow.

%ut let it be5

Ah- ne1er cry5

7ou will grow wiser- dear-

As time goes by5


29/46

7ou6ll learn that time has wings- heeds not your call-

/i+e6s +ull o+ croo$ed things- man worst o+ all.

#i1e him lo1e +ond and true- he6ll cast it down-

eep and he6ll laugh at you- laugh and he6ll +rown.

%ut weep no more-

/augh light instead-

"e is not worth the tears

"e ma$es you shed.

%ut i+ his heart one day see$s pastures new-

hat are you to say9 what can you do9

%e neither coy nor bold- close +ast your door-

And- when he +inds you cold- he6ll lo1e you the more.

%id him depart-

/ea1e him to burn>

And i+ he6s worth your lo1e

"e6ll soon return5

Enter the %ARO)- +ollowed by &ICORI).

%ARO). Marquise5 your guests ha1e arri1ed5

&ICORI) *aside,. And I cannot +ind Mirette to warn her5

Enter the #uests and #ERAR!.

C"OR3 OF #3ET.

Obedient to your $ind command-

7our courteous in1itations2

e come to gi1e with heart and hand

Our true congratulations5

/ong li+e- O happy pair-

/ong li+e- and +ree +rom care5

ith hearts o+ lo1e your days we bless-

And wish you 4oy and happiness.

May "ea16n be+riend you-

/o1e attend you-

And all your days be happiness5

TE)OR. hine on her- golden sun-

Fall on her- roses-

Till all her li+e is done-

Till twilight closes.

D)! O&RA)O. %loom +or him- +lowers o+ earth-

%less him +or e1er-

Crown all his days with mirth-

All his endea1our.T O&RA)O. Then in your twilight hours-

In dar$ !ecember-

All your sweet summer +lowers

7e shall remember.

%AE. o till the e1en+all-

Till your li+e closes-

/o1e shall be gladness all-

One path o+ roses.


30/46

A//. 8oy5 8oy5

#ladness be yours5

/o1e that endures5

Obedient to your $ind command-

7our courteous in1itations-

e come to gi1e with heart and hand

Our true congratulations5

/ong li+e to you- O happy pair-

e sing to you- we sing to you-

arm hearts o+ lo1e and hope+ul prayer

e bring to you- we bring to you2

May all your day

%e blithe and gay-

ith roses- roses all the way5

ME) *to #ERAR!,. Our best congratulations5

/A!IE *to MAR:3IE,. %ut where6s the bride9

MAR:3IE *presenting %IA)CA,. &ermit me 00

C"OR3. "ow sweet and +air5

"appy husband5 "appy pair5 8oy attend them-

/o1e be+riend them-

All their days and e1erywhere5

#ERAR! *aside to MAR:3IE,. A moment- pray-

I ha1e a word to say.

MAR:3IE. )ot now. #o to your bride- whose heart

7ou ha1e so wounded5

#ERAR! *to MAR:3IE,. Only one word. *MAR:3IE mo1es away.,

%IA)CA *to #ERAR!,. till lost in dreams9

#ERAR!. Forgi1e me- pray5

*aside,. I must be bright and gay2

And yet my heart is sad 00 ah- well0a0day5

!ance stops. 'oices are heard without.

C"OR3. hat sounds are those so bright and gay9

MAR:3IE. 6Tis the merry gipsy band-

Come to0night at my command2

Come to dance and sing +or you-

ong and dance o+ gipsy0land.

#I&IE *entering,. e are your ser1ants- lady +air5

Come to0night at your command2

"ere to show the best we $now-

ong and dance o+ gipsy0land.

MAR:3IE. 6Tis well. %ut stay5 00 ere ye begin-

here is Mirette9 *To a ser1ant., %id her come in5

#ERAR! *aside to MAR:3IE,. hat do you mean9

A//. Mirette5 Mirette5

#ERAR! *aside to MAR:3IE,. hy bring her here9

A//. Mirette5

FRA)CA/ *to #I&IE,. Mirette- the +aithless- here5

he6ll despise us. That is clear5


31/46

MIRETTE appears.

MIRETTE. hat5 Francal here- and my old +riends5

#I&IE. "ow +ine she6s grown5

MIRETTE *aside,. Alas5 what shall I do9

MAR:3IE *to #3ET,. My +riends- let me present to you

This gipsy girl- brought up among these gipsies here.

My nephew #erard- passing through the woods-

Found her one day- a wai+- a stray-

And rescued her +rom prison.

A//. From prison9

MAR:3IE. A gipsy6s proper home- they say.

A//. "a5 ha5

#ERAR! *ad1ancing,. It is not true.

Mirette had ne6er deser1ed that +ate.

Mirette is innocent o+ wrong.

MIRETTE *aside to #ERAR!,. Than$s +or thy word5

%IA)CA *aside,. "ow he de+ends her5

MAR:3IE. )o matter5 he will dance to0night-

And sing +or your a gipsy song.

A//. %ra1o5 %ra1o5MAR:3IE. The dancing girl must earn her pay.

#ERAR! *aside to MAR:3IE,. hy are you so un$ind9

MAR:3IE *aside to him,. "old your tongue5

FRA)CA/. he does not spea$5

MAR:3IE *to MIRETTE,. ell- girl- do you +orget your +riends9

MIRETTE. 7our $indness- lady- ma$es me +orget the past-

Forgi1e me. /et me ma$e amends5

*aside,. he wants to humble me be+ore the man I lo1e-

%ut no5 I will not weep5 )ot yet- not yet5

I can but struggle and +orget5

A//. Come then- Mirette-

ing to us- dance to us. Come then- Mirette5

MIRETTE *to #I&IE,. Come then- my +riends in days o+ old-

hen we were ragged- hungry- cold-

e used to sing a merry lay

Then why not sing it to0day-

hen all is happy- *sobbing, bright and gay9

A//. %ra1o5 %ra1o5 ing on Mirette5

MIRETTE sings- and the #ipsies accompany her.

MIRETTE. ho is li$e the


32/46

ing care away-

hile the s$y is bright-

And gay.

/ea1e your sorrow

For to0morrow

/o1e is $ing o+ all

To0day5

A//. /o1e is $ing to0day5

MIRETTE. ho is li$e the


33/46

MAR:3IE *to the #ipsies,. 7ou can retire.

FRA)CA/ *aside to %O%I)ET,. !on6t +orget the signal5

%O%I)ET. At this window 00 the crowing o+ a coc$ 00 all

right5

The #ipsies e(eunt.

MAR:. 7our arm- %aron. e will go in to supper. *The doors

are thrown open., ee that she has e1erything she

wants- &icorin. *To #ERAR! and %IA)CA., Come along-

you lo1ers5 Really- %aron 00 people will be saying

that we are the engaged couple5

%IA)CA *aside- loo$ing at MIRETTE,. &oor girl5

E(eunt all e(cept MIRETTE- &ICORI)- and %O%I)ET.

&ICORI) *to MIRETTE,. Are you better9

MIRETTE *letting hersel+ +all into &ICORI)6s arms,. Oh-

&icorin- I6m so unhappy. I ha1e had a beauti+ul

dream- but it was a dream that could ne1er come true. #erard is not to blame- and the Marquise is right.

%O%I)ET. The Marquise is a splendid woman5

MIRETTE. The +ault was mine alone5 hen I reali;ed that I

lo1ed him- I ought to ha1e run away +rom here. e

must lea1e this place at once.

%O%I)ET. #ood5

A 'OICE *heard o++ /A.,. The health o+ the +iances5

*/aughter

heard o++.,

MIRETTE. "ow merry they are5 &oor Mirette is +orgotten

already. May happiness attend them. Come- let us go5

&ICORI). )ow that your decision is ta$en- I will tell you

all.

Francal is waiting at the gates o+ the Chateau with

saddled horses- and 00

MIRETTE. Return to the gipsies. )e1er5

%O%I)ET. I call that 1ery rude. e lo1e you- Mirette 00 why

not come bac$ to us9 Ours is the true li+e 00 so

careless- so independent- so particularly +ree0and0

easy5 7ou ha1e only to say the word 00 the horses are

ready.

&ICORI) *aside to MIRETTE,. ill you trust yoursel+ to me9

*Aloud., 7es- you are right- %obinet. #i1e the

signal. *%O%I)ET goes to bac$ o+ stage.,

MIRETTE *beseechingly,. &icorin5

&ICORI). )ot a word5 Once in the saddle- we will +ind means

o+ escaping.

%O%I)ET *at bac$,. Coc$0a0doodle0do5

A 'OICE *in the distance,. Coc$0a0doodle0do5

MIRETTE. #ood0bye- #erard- and may you be happy5

&ICORI). uppose they should attempt a pursuit9

%O%I)ET. /ea1e me to loo$ a+ter that.

&ICORI) and MIRETTE e(eunt. %O%I)ET goes to the window. The

)OTAR7 appears under the gallery.


34/46

%O%I)ET. Only 4ust in time.

)OTAR7 *calling,. &itois5 &itois5 hat on earth has become

o+ him9

%O%I)ET. It is the )otary.

)OTAR7 *seeing %O%I)ET,. E(cuse me- sir- but this is where

I

am wanted to read a contract- is it not9

%O%I)ET. 7es 00 you6re all right.

)OTAR7. I am so short0sighted. I told my cler$ to meet me

here- but I don6t see him anywhere.

%O%I)ET *aside,. A capital idea5 "e is short0sighted- and

he6ll ne1er notice it5 *#oes up stage- pulls his hat

o1er his eyes- and alters his 1oice.,

)OTAR7 *calling,. &itois5 &itois5

%O%I)ET *coming +orward,. "ere I am5

)OTAR7. Ah5 that6s 1ery +ortunate5 *#i1es him his papers

4ust

as the doors open and the #uests appear.,

%O%I)ET *aside,. And now to play my unaccustomed part5

Re0enter MAR:3IE- %ARO)- #ERAR!- %IA)CA- and all the #uests.

FI)A/E OF ACT II.

C"OR3. Ta$e your places all. Come in-

Time +or the business to begin.

ilence5 ilence5 )ow present

The Matrimonial !ocument.

ilence- silence- silence- pray5

here6s the )otary9 "e comes this way.

All ta$e their places- )OTAR7 and %O%I)ET as his cler$- C.

)OTAR7. I am the )otary

%O%I)ET. I6m the cler$.

)OTAR7. Most illustrious.

%O%I)ET. /egal spar$.

)OTAR7. &aper- pens and in$.

%O%I)ET. e bring.

)OTAR7. Ready to draw up 00

%O%I)ET. Anything.

MAR:3IE. Read the contract.

A//. ilence- pray2

)OTAR7 *to #ERAR! and %IA)CA,. Approach5

%O%I)ET. Approach5

)OTAR7. 7e happy pair5

%O%I)ET. "appy pair5)OTAR7. 7our consent you must declare.

%O%I)ET. !eclare5

)OTAR7. And lest aught should sha$e-

%O%I)ET. Or shi1er it.

)OTAR7 *pointing to deed,. ign it5 eal it5

%O%I)ET. And deli1er it5

A//. And lest aught should sha$e- or shi1er it.

ign it- seal it- and deli1er it5

%O%I)ET. Come then- Mam6;elle5 *%IA)CA signs.,


35/46

And now the bridegroom. *#ERAR! ta$es the pen.,

MAR:3IE *aside,. At last5

A//. ign it- seal it- and deli1er it5

8ust as the )OTAR7 hands the pen to #ERAR!- MIRETTE6s 1oice is

heard singing in the distance.

MIRETTE. #uide o+ the way- by night and day- etc.

#ERAR! *stopping,. "er 1oice5

#I&IE are heard in the distance singing so+tly.

#I&IE. #uide o+ the way- by night and day- etc.

)OTAR7. Come- Monsieur 00 sign5

#ERAR!. )o- I cannot- I cannot5

"e throws down the pen and rushes madly +rom the "all.

C"OR3.

C3RTAI).

ACT III.

CE)E. 00 A 1illage green2 the 1illage +ete is being held.

&eople coming and going. %ooths are erected on all sides.

&easants in holiday dresses. &edlars selling all sorts o+

thins. 'arious sports- 1illage dances. Men drin$ing be+ore a

cabaret. The bells ringing.

C"OR3.

Oh5 the light o+ the golden weather-

Oh- the clang o+ the merry chime-

!ance away- girls- all together-

Oh- 6tis a happy time.

Flounces glancing-

%right eyes dancing

To the clang o+ the merry chime-

Faster- +aster-

/o1e is master-

&ays our wages with a $iss.

!ance away then- all together-

here6s there e1er

A 4oy li$e this9

ME) *drin$ing,. Then li+t your glass and clin$ away-

&our out the wine and drin$ away-

For us they dance- Their bright eyes glance-

Then here6s their health and drin$ away5

E)EM%/E.

&E!/AR #IR/.

*o++ering their goods

to the young girls,.

Come- buy my 4ewels- Come- show your 4ewels

%uy my laces- how your laces-


36/46

&retty things +or &retty things to

&retty +aces. uit our +aces.

Feathers- slippers- Feathers- slippers-

Fans and glo1es- Fans and glo1es-

Meant +or you- Oh- what beauties-

My pretty lo1es. Oh- what lo1es5

#ood and cheap- Ta$e the money-

And use+ul- too- Ta$e it- do-

Come and buy I+ you cheat us

They6re all +or you. oe to you5

C"OR3. Oh5 the light o+ the golden weather-

To the clang o+ the merry chime-

!ance away- girls- all together-

Oh- 6tis a happy time5

&ICORI) and MIRETTE- whose booth stands at the side on the

right- come gaily down and are surrounded by the crowd.

MIRETTE and &ICORI).

al$ up- wal$ up- and see the show- al$ up- my lads and lasses-

The cheapest- +inest show you $now-

A show that all surpasses.

al$ up- wal$ up- 6twill ma$e you mirth-

For 6tis the greatest show on earth5

&ICORI). A 1ery +amous 4uggler I-

"ey presto 4erry 4orum.

I smash your watches- ma$e them +ly-

And in a trice restore 6em5

MIRETTE. And I can tell your +ortunes well-

7our +uture- past and present2

hich lo1er true will be to you-

And which will pro1e unpleasant.

&ICORI). I61e made the hah o+ &ersia smile5

MIRETTE. The ultan lo1es me dearly5

&ICORI). I61e $issed the :ueen o+ cilly Isle5

MIRETTE. hat5 what5

&ICORI). ell 00 1ery nearly5

A//. al$ up- wal$ up- and see the show-

The cheapest- +inest show you $now-

al$ up- wal$ up- 6twill ma$e you mirth-

For 6tis the +inest show on earth5

&ICORI) *1olubly,. )ow- ladies and gentlemen- watch me

care+ully 00 there is no deception5 I ha1e nothing up

my slee1e- or concealed about my person- but simply

by my s$ill and de(terity I shall endea1our to astonish those who are good enough to honour me with

their attention +or a +ew minutes. !on6t be shy-

ladies and gentlemen5 Come nearer- there6s no e(tra

charge5

The crowd gather round him- he stands be+ore a little table and

does a +ew con4uring tric$s.

MIRETTE *to a young girl who holds out her hand to be


37/46

e(amined,.A cross upon 8upiter5 7ou will ma$e a lo1e0

match. *To another girl., !o not marry the man to

whom you ha1e gi1en your heart2 he will decei1e you5

*To a stout man., %eware o+ the dar$ lady who meets

you e1ery e1ening behind the third pillar on the le+t

in the church o+ 0000

T"E TO3T MA) *1ery red,. All right. *E1ery one laughs.,

%O%I)ET *heard o++ /A., pecial edition5 "orrible murder5

pecial5

A//. /isten5

%O%I)ET appears at bac$ selling newspapers.

%O%I)ET. pecial edition5 All the winners5

A//. Oh5 let6s go and see. *They go up stage and crowd

round %O%I)ET.,

&ICORI) *calling out,. al$ up- ladies and gentlemen- wal$

up5 There6s no e(tra charge5 *"e stops., Ah- well5

They won6t listen to me any longer.

%O%I)ET comes down stage- +ollowed by Crowd.

TO&ICA/ O)#. 00 %O%I)ET.

"ere6s the news o+ the day +or a sou5

It6s e(ceedingly cheap +or the money2

ome shoc$ing sensations-

And +resh re1elations-

ith much that6s instructi1e and +unny.

There6s an Anarchist outrage or two2

A murder- and railway collision2

The toc$ E(change prices2

A Cabinet crisis 00

E(pected de+eat on di1ision.

Oh- i+ any one cares

For his stoc$s and his shares-

And their present or +uture position-

The day6s +luctuations

And latest quotations-

Are all in my pecial Edition5

"ere6s the +oreign intelligence- too5

ith the end o+ a year lean and thin come-

An additional penny-

On se1en too many-

Is ta(ed o++ the %ritisher6s income2

hile a +orce +rom the land o+ the


38/46

T"E CRO!. %ra1o5 %ra1o5

Money is thrown into %O%I)ET6s hat.

&ICORI) *aside,. urely I $now that +ace5

The Crowd gradually disperses. %O%I)ET goes up stage.

%O%I)ET *aside,. It is they- right enough5 I6ll come bac$

again *Aloud., pecial edition5 pecial5

"e goes o++- still calling out- his 1oice dying away in the

distance. &ICORI) has been carrying bac$ to the booth all the

articles he and MIRETTE ha1e been using while amusing the

crowd. MIRETTE counts their ta$ings.

MIRETTE. /oo$- &icorin5 Eight and a hal+ +rancs5 hy- it6s a

+ortune5 e shall be rich +or a whole wee$5

&ICORI). Ah- Mirette- how glad I am to see you smile again5

MIRETTE. I61e been a di++erent creature +or the last three wee$s 00 I had a +oolish dream2 but I ha1e come to my

senses again. )ow- go into the 1illage to buy

something +or our brea$+ast 00 *earnestly, and try to

bring me some news.

&ICORI). I6ll try- Mirette. *Aside., he is decei1ing me- or

else she is decei1ing hersel+. he has not +orgotten

him.

E(it &ICORI). %O%I)ET re0appears at bac$ with %IA)CA- to whom

he points out MIRETTE and &ICORI)- then he gi1es her a sign and

leads her /A. behind a booth- where she conceals hersel+.

%O%I)ET *aside,. I must spea$ to Mirette +irst5

MIRETTE *aside,. "ow I long +or news o+ #erard5

%O%I)ET. Mirette5

MIRETTE *ner1ously,. ho called me9

%O%I)ET. I did. !on6t you recogni;e me9

MIRETTE *loo$ing at him,. %obinet5

%O%I)ET. At your ser1ice5

MIRETTE. I can hardly belie1e my eyes. %obinet must be a

human

chameleon who trans+orms himsel+ at will. !id Francal

send you9

%O%I)ET. Francal9 I don6t e1en $now where he is5 Oh- no5 )ot

Francal. omeone else.

MIRETTE. ho9

%O%I)ET. A woman. MIRETTE. A woman5 And what woman concerns hersel+ with a

gipsy

00 a +ortune0teller 00 li$e Mirette9

%IA)CA *coming +orward,. I do- Mademoiselle.

MIRETTE. %ianca5

%IA)CA. )ow- %obinet- lea1e us together- but $eep watch.

E(it %O%I)ET.


39/46

MIRETTE *a+ter a pause,. hat can I do +or you-

Mademoiselle9

%IA)CA. Ah- Mirette- I $now that the sight o+ me must recall

unhappy memories- and I reproach mysel+ +or not

ha1ing spo$en to you when we +irst met2 but through

you- I ha1e been in great trouble.

MIRETTE. 7our trouble is o1er- you are happy now.

%IA)CA. "appy5

MIRETTE. I stood in your way- and I $new I had no right to. I

le+t the Chateau- and to0day you are #erard6s wi+e5

%IA)CA *surprised,. #erard6s wi+e9 Then you do not $now9

MIRETTE. hat do you mean9

%IA)CA. A+ter you had gone- #erard- in despair at your

+light- re+used to sign the contract.

MIRETTE. #erard 00 re+used5

%IA)CA. 7ou can imagine the scene there was5 The Marquise

ill

00 my +ather +urious 00 I in tears 00 the guests

lea1ing in haste 00 e1erything in con+usion 00 and

#erard shut in his room- and re+using to see any one.

MIRETTE. &oor %ianca5 %IA)CA. ince then he has been searching e1erywhere +or you-

and I $now that i+ he learns you are at this +air- he

will come here at once in hope o+ seeing you.

MIRETTE. And what is it you wish me to do9

%IA)CA *a+ter hesitating a moment,. Mirette- I am going to

as$ you something- and it will depend upon your

answer whether I lea1e this place with my heart +ull

o+ hope- or o+ despair5

MIRETTE. Tell me what it is9

!3ET. 00 %IA)CA and MIRETTE.

%IA)CA. That night5 that night you went away-

In silence and disdain2

I hoped your lo1e +or him was o6er-

And now I plead with you to0day-

Ah- tell him i+ you lo1e no more-

Maybe he6ll come to me again5

MIRETTE *aside,. he lo1es him more than I 00

%IA)CA. Ah- hear me- ere the day is cast.

7ou hold my gladness and my pain-

"e is my +irst lo1e and my last-

I shall not lo1e again.

corn me 00 hate me 00 i+ you will-

%ut tell me- do you lo1e him still9

MIRETTE *hesitating,. )o- no5 that +olly6s past-

I do not lo1e him 00 no5%IA)CA. And yet your eyes are wet-

7ou lo1e him still- Mirette.

MIRETTE. I lo1e him not.

%IA)CA. Ah5 i+ you lo1e him call him bac$

And ma$e him happy e1ermore.

MIRETTE. 6Twas but a dream.

%IA)CA. A dream9

MIRETTE. 7es- yes 00 a dream +or him . . . . and me5

"e lo1es you still5


40/46

%IA)CA. "e lo1es me still5

MIRETTE. And you his bride will be-

For I 00 will tell him.

%IA)CA *4oyously,. 7ou will do this 00 +or me9

MIRETTE. 7es- yes- why not9 I lo1e him now no more5

"e lo1es you still5

E)EM%/E.

%IA)CA. All is happy- all is gay-

orrow past- weeping done-

All the dar$ness gone away-

/i$e a mist be+ore the sun.

Tender heart- so good to me-

3ncomplaining and +orgi1ing-

Thou hast gi1en all to me-

All that ma$es my li+e worth li1ing5

MIRETTE. All is happy- all is gay-

All the dream is past and done-

All the +olly +lown away-

/i$e a mist be+ore the sun.

Ta$e the 4oy- and happy be- #o to him with heart +orgi1ing-

Thus I gi1e him bac$ to thee-

All that ma$es my li+e worth li1ing5

%O%I)ET runs on.

%O%I)ET. :uic$5 quic$5 get out o+ the way at once5 I61e 4ust

seen the Marquise and Monsieur #erard turning the

corner o+ the road. They are coming in this

direction5

MIRETTE. I will not see him again5 *To %IA)CA., Come in here-

Mademoiselle- and trust me5

%IA)CA *with a loo$ o+ gratitude,. Than$ you5

MIRETTE ma$es %IA)CA enter the booth- and then +ollows her in.

)oise outside.

T"E CRO!. "urrah5 "urrah5

%O%I)ET. hat is the matter now9

Entrance o+ the procession o+ young men who are going to

compete in the sac$ races- and the archery and cross0bow

contests. The crowd enters in +ront o+ them- shouting and

wa1ing hats. The pri;es 00 sil1er spoons- +or$s- and co++ee0

pots 00 are attached to shields and carried in triumph by men

dressed li$e church0beadles. #rand march.

=ERMAE. 00 C"OR3.

Come- march along- and ma$e a din-

hy should we glum and silent be-

The +un is going to begin-

Then march along in company5

Come- march along then- girls and boys-

Come- men and matrons- all in glee-

There6s nothing hal+ so nice as noise-

Then shout hurrah- in company.


41/46

"urrah- hurrah5

For the show and dances-

Fights and pri;es-

/otteries- chances-

Flowers and $isses-

/o1es and glances-

!id e1er you $now such a show as this is9

Come- march along- and ma$e a din-

hy should we glum and silent be-

The +un is going to begin-

Then shout hurrah- in company5

%O%I)ET. hy shouldn6t I try my luc$ too9 I6ll go and see i+

I

can win a co++ee0pot. *E(it.,

E1eryone +ollows the procession. e1eral persons- among whom is

the %ARO) 'A) O%OR)- cross the green and meet the MAR:3IE and

#ERAR!- who enter /A. The MAR:3IE and the %ARO) e(change 1ery

+ormal bows- and the %ARO) wal$s on sti++ly.

MAR:3IE *to #ERAR!,. 7ou see what you e(pose me to- #erard5

The %aron scarcely deigns to notice me.

#ERAR!. The %aron is nothing to us5

MAR:. )othing to you- perhaps- but to me 00 a great deal.

7ou are beha1ing shame+ully towards him and his

daughter.

#ERAR!. My dear Aunt 0000

O)#. 00 MAR:3IE.

o the past is dead in your +ic$le heart-

7ou ha1e bro$en your empty 1ow-

And without a tear or care you part

From her who was yours but now.

Man6s lo1e5 man6s heart5 6tis e1er- they say-

E1er the old re+rain-

The true lo1e +lung li$e +lower away-

For the lo1e that soon will wane.

Ah5 by the heart that li1es +or you-

For the sa$e o+ the happy days-

Forget the gleam o+ the light untrue-

And the phantom that moc$s your ga;e.

Ah5 be not blind5 once more be true-

True to the past again-

For the silent lo1e that waits +or you

Is a lo1e that will not wane5

MAR:. For the +uture I shall cease to trouble mysel+ about

your a++airs. I shall disinherit you- and you may

star1e in a garret with any ballet0dancer you choose

to marry5 &robably you6ll end by appearing in public-

on some +ete day li$e this- in pin$ tights and a

tinsel crown- li$e a pantomime $ing5 *E(it.,

#ERAR! *to MAR:3IE,. Many than$s5 *Alone., I+ she is here

I


42/46

must +ind her. *E(it.,

&ICORI) enters- carrying the bas$et with pro1isions +or

brea$+ast- and begins to lay the things on a little table.

&ICORI). There is no time to lose. I +ancy I caught a glimpse

o+ Monsieur #erard 4ust now. )o doubt he is see$ing

+or Mirette. Ah5 he lo1es her still5 And she 00 has

she really +orgotten him9 hat ha1e I to hope +or in

remaining near her9 he will ne1er lo1e me5 It is

better to part5 %ut how shall I tell her9

Enter MIRETTE +rom the booth.

MIRETTE. ell- &icorin- are you busy with your dreams-

instead

o+ thin$ing about brea$+ast9

&ICORI). I was waiting +or you- Mirette.

!3ET. 00 MIRETTE and &ICORI).

MIRETTE. hat5 brea$+ast really ready- sir9

it down- then 00 let6s begin2

7ou are a splendid manager-

My dearest &icorin.

&ICORI). Mirette- you are too $ind to me-

7ou $now 6tis all +or you.

MIRETTE *aside,. !ear +ellow- how he loo$s at me5

I6m sure his lo1e is true.

*Aloud- gaily,. %ut- come along5 ee- there6s the wine-

And here6s your chair-

And here *placing hers beside him, is mine.

They seat themsel1es at table.

&ICORI) *aside,. "ow shall I tell her9 Can I dare9

MIRETTE *aside,. "e6s not so ugly- I declare.

"e really is 00

&ICORI) *o++ering her a dish,. 00 A little cheese.

MIRETTE *aside,. 00 o +ond o+ me.

&ICORI) *o++ering wine,. ome %urgundy9

MIRETTE *aside,. I almost thin$ I will 00

*Aloud,. 7es- please.

Oh- how delight+ul 6tis to dine.

&ICORI). And all alone together.

MIRETTE *turning the con1ersation,.

hat 1ery 00 1ery 00 *tasting, 00 splendid wine5

&ICORI) *at a loss,. hat lo1ely weather5MIRETTE *stopping suddenly,. 7ou are not eating- &icorin.

&ICORI). I am not hungry5

MIRETTE. hy9

hat ma$es you sad9

&ICORI). %ecause- dear- we must say good0bye.

MIRETTE. Must say good0bye9 %ut why9

&ICORI). %ecause we6re children now no more-

All that is o6er.

7ou are grown up 00 almost a woman-


43/46

And well- the world- Mirette- is human.

And so the carping world will chide

I+ we are always side by side.

MIRETTE *aside,. hat does he mean9

&ICORI). 3nless 00 we could 00 be something more.

MIRETTE *aside,. I ne1er thought. *Aloud., hat will you do9

&ICORI). /ea1e you.

MIRETTE. here will you go9 And what o+ me9

&ICORI). 7ou will go where swallows +ly-

To some happy land a+ar 00

I 00 where all the hapless are.

MIRETTE *aside,. "e lets me go without a sigh.

&ICORI) *aside,. And is it thus we say good0bye9

E)EM%/E.

MIRETTE *aside,. &ICORI) *aside,.

Oh5 i+ he would but dare Oh5 i+ I did but dare

To tell me all his heart- To tell her all my heart-

%ut no5 %ut no5 %ut no5 %ut no5

"e lets me go he lets me go

ithout a sigh- ithout a sigh- Or one good0bye2 Or one good0bye2

Alas5 we part. Alas5 we part.

They +inish the meal in silence.

MIRETTE. hen do you go- &icorin9

&ICORI). To0night.

MIRETTE. I want you to do me a ser1ice +irst.

&ICORI). A ser1ice9

MIRETTE. It is a delicate thing to as$ you 00 but I ha1e

promised %ianca. #erard is coming here- and 00

*hesitates.,

&ICORI). And what9

MIRETTE. ell- in order to turn his a++ections +rom me- you

must 00 oh- &icorin- you should not +ind it

di++icult- +or I thin$ you were +ond o+ me not 1ery

long ago9

&ICORI). %ut what must I do9

MIRETTE. 7ou must pretend to ma$e lo1e to me 00 be+ore him.

&ICORI). To ma$e lo1e to you 00 Mirette5

MIRETTE. hat I as$ you to do is not so 1ery di++icult 00 is

it9 &erhaps you will earn a $iss +or your trouble.

&ICORI). A $iss5

MIRETTE. I do not $now 00 I say- perhaps. It will be our

parting $iss- will it not9 7ou ha1e quite decided to

go9

&ICORI). 7es- quite decided.MIRETTE. Then you will do what I as$9

&ICORI). I+ it will ma$e you happy- yes- Mirette.

MIRETTE. Only 4ust in time. "ere is #erard. )ow- go down on

your $nees2 there- close to me.

&ICORI). 7ou wish it9

MIRETTE. 7es- quic$.

MIRETTE is seated at the table. &ICORI) drops on his $nees

beside her- 4ust as #ERAR! enters at bac$.


44/46

#ERAR! *aside,. It is she5

MIRETTE. 7es- &icorin- I lo1e you- and I ha1e ne1er lo1ed any

one but you. For one moment I +orgot mysel+- but I

quic$ly reali;ed my +olly- and I ha1e come bac$ to

you- to be your wi+e 00 your wi+e- &icorin5

&ICORI) *aside,. I+ only she were in earnest.

MIRETTE *aside to &ICORI),. )ow get up and embrace me5

&ICORI) ta$es her in his arms and $isses her- then lets her go-

o1ercome with emotion.

&ICORI) *seeing #ERAR!,. Ah5 we are not alone5

#ERAR! *coldly,. I beg your pardon.

MIRETTE *play+ully,. hy- it is Monsieur #erard5 I did not

$now you again. o you61e heard the pretty 1ows that

&icorin and I ha1e been e(changing under the blue

hea1ens9 That6s our gay gipsy +ashion- you $now5

*/aughing., "a5 ha5 hen I thin$ o+ it5 "ow +oolish

we were5 I dreamt o+ being your wi+e5 Can6t you see

me 00 in a dress with a long train 00 amongst all your +ine +riends9 "ow ridiculous I should ha1e

loo$ed5 Ah- no 00 *pointing to the booth., 00 there

is my home- and here 00 *indicating &ICORI), 00 is

Mirette Libretto

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Transcript of Mirette Libretto