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Copyright, 1914, by Edoardo Sonzogno Copyright, 1915, by G. Schirmer

G. S. 25453 ARGUMENT

Act I opens in Paris, during the stormy days of the French Revolution. The women engaged in the laundry of Caterina (popularly known as "Madame Sans- Gene," from her fearlessness) are chattering exitedly to an outside accompaniment of rifle-fire and cannon-shots. Caterina herself bursts in, greatly exasperated by a rough adventure with a. company of soldiers, which she humorously recounts. Shouts of victory on the street. attract the crowd that had followed Caterina; she and her assistants go to work vigorously, sKe meanwhile telling the police-agent, Fouche, of her romantic betrothal to her village friend Lefebvre. Again the uproar of the victorious rabble, who crowd into the shop, interrupts the conversation. Then Caterina is left alone for a moment, but is surprised by the abrupt entrance of the wounded Austrian officer Neippei^g; she takes pity on him and allows him to hide from his pursuers in her own chamber, which she locks, pocketting the key. Admitting her lover and a squad of soldiers searching for Neipperg, the locked chamber-door arouses Lefebvre's suspicions; maddened by jealousy he snatches the key, unlocks the door, and rushes in. In a moment he reappears, pale and disturbed, and announces with a forced laugh that he had been victimized —that there is no one in the chamber; but in an aside to Caterina he asks why she had not told him that a dead man was within. This is a feint to learn Caterina's real feelings for the fugitive; once satisfied that she is innocent, Lefebvre tells her sotto voce that the man is still alive and that he wishes him no ill, but wiU arrange for his flight that night. The curtain falls on the complete reconciliation of the lovers.

Act II plays in the chiteau of Compiegne, nineteen years later. Napoleon, now at the height of his power, has given his trusty general, Lefebvre, the title of Duke of Danzig, and bestowed on him and his Duchess (Madame Sans-Gine) the magnificent chdteau. The scene opens with the dancing-master, the valet, and the tailor, all poking fun at the absent ducal pair—an attitude changed, on Caterina's appearance, for one of comical obsequiousness. Caterina is still the same fearless daughter of the people, despite her elevation in rank, and the scene with the three flunkeys who have been summoned to teach her "court manners" •is delightful in its naturalness. Lefebvre happens in, and tells her that the Emperor is so displeased with her lack of dignity that he has proposed to him (Lefebvre) to get a speedy divorce. Caterina, at first dumbfounded, finds her voice, and tells her— husband what he ought to have answered when Napoleon made the proposition ^to the huge joy of Lefebvre, who informs her that is just what he did say ! She is delirious with delight; they are making love in the most approved fashion, when Gelsomino (the valet) enters to announce the Count of Neipperg, who comes to bid them farewell, being dismissed by the Emperor, who suspects Neipperg's passion for the Empress. The hopeless lover insists, in spite of all dissuasion, that he must see the Empress once more before departing. Enter Fouche (now Minister of Police) to warn Caterina that "Their Most Serene and Royal Highnesses" are about to pay her a visit, and that her deportment needs great amendment; ending with the hint, "Be proud enough, and change the subject when I take my snuff." Caterina angrily hastens out to prepare herself; enter the court ladies, followed by Their Highnesses, who sourly protest at Caterina's absence. She appears, nervous and hampered by her finery, and naively excuses herself for her tardiness; but her indignation mounts at the hardly concealed derision of the Court, and finally bursts into flame; her plain-spoken opinion of her visitors sends them off vowing

2S4S3 V vengeance, and sneering as the chamberlain appears to say that 'the Emperor desires the Duchess of Danzig to come to him at once; the latter faces the ordeal unafraid. *

In Act III Napoleon, in the imperial cabinet, receives Fouche's report of Neipperg's feigned departure; after an interlude between the court ladies and Fouche, the Duchess of Danzig is announced. She enters slowly; the others go out, leaving her alone with the Emperor. He accuses her of covering his court with ridicule, and asks whether her husband has spoken with her about it. Caterina replies that Lefebvre would not exchange her for the proudest princess in the world; -defying Napoleon's wrath, she tells him how his army has been scorned—in her person; how she, the lowly vivandiere, has undergone with his brave troops all the terrors and privations of his campaigns, and wins his heart by the recital; then, as an anticlimax, tells of her bad debts as a laundress in Paris, and finishes by presenting an unpaid bill run up by.Napoleon himself, then an ill-paid lieutenant. Old memories completely soften the chieftain's heart, and he ends by kissing the scar of a wound on Caterina's arm, and then saluting her lips reverently with his own, thus wiping out the lieutenant's score. He summons Roustan to fetch an officer as escort for the Duchessj Roustan starts to obey, but halts to tell his master that the secret door is ajar. All are silent at Napoleon's command, and the lights are turned down; Mme. de Boulow enters stealthily to see if the coast is clear, then ushers in Neipperg and with him approaches the Empress's door. Napoleon grimly seizes Neipperg by the shoulder as he is on the point of entering the apartment; the Count is about to be dragged away when Caterina interposes, asserting his innocence; but Napoleon's will triumphs.

Act IV opens on the same scene. The lights burn low; Caterina is alone, absorbed in sad thoughts. When Lefebvre, chosen by Napoleon to execute the death- sentence on Neipperg, comes in, she pleads with him in vain; Napoleon himself enters when Lefebvre has departed, his face and bearing showing signs of an inward struggle between doubt of Neipperg's guilt, on the one hand, and a thirst for ven- geance, on the other. He tries to make Caterina, who swears that she knows nothing,- confess a knowledge of clandestine meetings between Neipperg and the Empress; suddenly changing his tone to one of harsh command, he insists that Caterina shall knock at the Empress's door, then and there, and announce Neipperg again. Caterina, agonized by conflicting emotions, finally obeys; the door opens slightly, and through the opening appears a hand with a -packet, the voice of the Empress saying: "Give this to him—and my farewell!" Napoleon seizes the packet, with astonishment reads the address, "His Majesty, the Emperor of Austria," hesitates, then breaks the seals and reads: "Honoured and dear father, since the minister of police opens my letters, I am taking recourse to the Count of Neipperg, to send this by him in secret. His assiduity troubles me and the Emperor. Entertain him in Vienna."

The tragic tension relaxes ; Napoleon breathes freely ; Caterina is beside herself with joy. The room is flooded with the light of the rising sun, and from outside is heard the gay song of huntsmen assembling for the chase. In the presence of the erstwhile scornful court ladies the Emperor extols the loving loyalty of his faithful friend, Madame Sans-G^ne, and kisses her hand. Tableau.

2S4S3 VI PERSONAGGI

ATTO I (10 Agosto 1792) Caterina Hubschee {Madame Sans-Gene), stiratice Soprano ToNiOTTA, stiratrice Soprano GiULiA, stiratrice Soprano La Rossa, stiratrice Soprano Lefebvbe, sergente delle guardie nazionali Tenore FoucHE Baritono CoNTE Di Neipperg Tcnore ViNAiGBE, tamburino Tenore Maturing, ragazzo del popolo Comparsa Coro e comparse Borghesi, bottegai, popolani, popolane, guardie nazionali, artiglieri

ATTO II (Settembre 1811) Catekina {Madame Sans-Gine), Duchessa di Danzica Soprano La JR-egina Carolina Soprano La Principessa Elisa Soprano La Cameriera di Caterina Comparsa Lefebvrb, maresciallo e Duca di Danzica Tenore FoucHE, ministro di polizia Baritono CoNTE DI Neipperg Tenore Despreaux, maestro di ballo Tenore Gelsomino, valletto Baritono Lerot, sarto Baritono De Brigode, ciambellano di Corte Baritono Coro e comparse Dame di Corte, ufficiali, diplomatici, accademici, valletti

ATTO III e IV Napoleone Baritono Caterina {Madame Sans-G^ne), Duchessa di Danzica Soprano La Regina Carolina Soprano La Principessa Elisa Soprano La Signora de Boulow, dama di Corte Soprano Lefebvre, maresciallo e Duca di Danzica Tenore FoucHE, ministro di polizia Baritono Conte di Neipperg Tenore De Brigode, ciambellano di Corte Baritono RousTAN, capo dei mammalucchi Baritono Constant, cameriere di Napoleone Comparsa Voce interna dell' Imperatrice Coro e comparse Dame di Corte, uflBciali, cacciatori, due mammalcchi vii CHARACTERS

ACT I

(lOth of August, 1792)

Catebina Hubschee {Madame Sans-Gene), a washerwoman Soprano ToNiOTTA, a washerwoman Soprano GiULiA, a washerwoman Soprano La Rossa, a washerwoman Soprano Lefebvre, sergeant of the national guards Tenor FotrcHE Baritone Count of Neippebg Tenor ViNAiGRE, a drummer Tenor Maturino, a boy in the street Silent Chorus and other People Common people, shop-keepers, national guard, artillery

ACT II

(September, 1811)

Catebina (Madame Sans-Oene), Duchess of Danzig Soprano Queen Carolina Soprano Princess Elisa Soprano Caterina's Maid Silent Lefebvee, marshall and Duke of Danzig Tenor FoucHE, minister of police Baritone Count of Neipperg Tenor Despeeaux, ballet-master Tenor Gelsomino, valet Baritorie Leboy, tailor Baritone De Beigode, chamberlain of the Court Baritone Court Ladies, Officers, Diplomats, Academicians, Valets

ACTS III and IV Napoleon Baritone Catebina {Madame Sans-GSne), Duchess of Danzig Soprano Queen Caeolina Soprano ^ Peincess Elisa Soprano Madame de Boulow Soprano Lefebvee, marshall and Duke of Danzig Tenor Fouche, minister of police Baritone Count of Neipperg Tenor De Bbigode, chamberlain of the Court Baritone RousTAN, head of the Mamalukes Baritone Constant, servant to Napoleon Silent Court Ladies, Officiers, Huntsmen, two Mamalukes

viii MADAME SANS GENE An Opera in Four Acts

ATTO PRIMO ACT I

La lavanderia di Madame Sans-Gene Madame Sans-Oene's Laundry

a Parigi il 10 Agosto 1792 Paris, August 10, 1792

Una bottega di lavandaia in via S. Anna. {Interior of a laundry in the rue Ste. Anne. Grandi finestre a vetrate e porta principale Large windows and a door, with glass anch'essa a vetrata, mostrano la strada. panes, show the street beyond. At the right A destra, in prima piano, una porta front a door opens into a courtyard. At the

d'ingresso da sul cortile. A sinistra, an- left front another door leads to Catebina's cora in primo piano, un'altra porta mette bed-room. On cords stretched across the alia stanza da letto di Caterina. room a lot of laundry is hung up to dry: Su corde tese molta biancheria posta ad asciu- petticoats with three-coloured lines, chemises gare: sottane a righe tricoli, camicette with fine embroidery. A tub is placed insieme a pizzi aristocratici. Una vesta on a three-legged stool. Near the door to the tinozza, e posata sopra un treppiede. courtyard is a cupboard. At the bach is a Vicino alia porta del cortile c'e una hooded stove with a little oven for heating

credenza. Sul fondo, un camino a cappa the irons. , Tables and boards on wooden confornello per riscaldare iferri da stirare. horses for ironing. Wooden stools. A Tavole ed assi posate su cavalletti per big arm-chair near the table.

stirare. Sgabelli di legno. Una grande {When the curtain rises, Toniotta, Giulia and poltrona presso la tavola. La Rossa are ironing- with a distracted All'aprirsi del velario, Toniotta, Guilia e La and unwilling air, always ready to run to RossA stirano disattente e svogliate, sempre the door at any sound. In the street a pronte a correre aWuscio a ogni strepito. moving crowd, agitated and curious, of Nella strada, una folia mobile, agitata e common people and shop-keepers, looks to- curiosa, di borghesi, di bottegai, guarda wards the Tuileries—right.—There is con- verso le Tuileries (a destra). C'e un via tinuous coming and going. One hears vai continuo. S'odono voci, commenti, voices, comments, exclamations. From esclamazioni. Da lontano, scoppi di afar comes the crack of rifles and the deep fucilate e il rombo cupo del cannone. booming of the cannon.) Toniotta Toniotta Sono in via della Scala! Li sentite? They're in the rue d'fichelle! Do you hear?

Urli e strepiti orrendi il vento porta! The wind Brings down their dreadful cries and groans this way!

GlULIA GlIJLIA - Che paura, mio Dio! O heaven! how terrible! ! ! ! !!!

10 MADAME SANS-GENE

La Rossa La Rossa Se vengon qui! They're coming here!

GiuLiA {eadendo ginocehioni) GiULiA (falling on her knees) Vergine santa! Mother in heaven!

TONIOTTA TONIOTTA No! Qui non verranno. No, no, they will not come. L'han con le TuUeries The Tuileries will keep them, and the king

£ il re che voglion mettere alia porta. Whom they would hurry out.

{Romba, lontana, una cannonata) (Far off a cannon booms.)

La Rossa (turandosi le orecchie) La Rossa (stopping her ears)

Ci spezzeranno i vetri! They'll break the windows

{Movimento vivissimo nella via. Una guardia (A lively movement in the street. A national nazionale, ferita alia gamba, e fortata a guard, wounded in the leg, is carried by the braccia entro la bottega del farmacista arm into the pharmacy opposite. All crowd dirimpetto. Tutti si affollano davanti alia around the shop, turning their backs to the bottega, volgendo le spalle al pubblico) audience.)

ToNiOTTA {andando alia finestra) ToNiOTTA (going to the window)

Ecco un ferito! See there ! a wounded man

GiTJLIA GlULIA Una guardia! A guard! TONIOTTA TONIOTTA thing Infelice! Poor

GlULIA GlULIA Id tremo tutta! Oh, how I'm trembling

{Tuona ancora il cannone. Nella via la folia (The cannon is heard again. In the street the si agita; una parte di essa volge verso crowd becomes agitated; part turn towards sinistra) the left.) La Rossa La Rossa

II cannon romba e tuona The cannon booms far off TONIOTTA TONIOTTA

E la padrona che non torna ancora! Our mistress comes not. La Rossa La Rossa

Dio I'assista,, la povera padrona! May no harsh rebuff Be keeping her!

-TONIOTTA TONIOTTA

S'e intestata ad uscire ad ogni costo! If she would only stay Safe out of danger. MADAME SANS-GENE 11

GlULIA !

12 MADAME SANS-GElNE

FOUCHE Fouche Osso duro! Osso duro! 'Tis hard to tell,

Prima il colpo pareva sicuro! Alas! At first all seemed to be going well,

Ora invece il disastro e completo! But now disaster seems complete.

(ToNiOTTA da a Fottchb un fazzoletto di "colore (ToNiOTTA gives Fouche a coloured handker- con un grosso strappo nel mezzo. Fouche chi^, torn badly 'in the middle. FoucHii

lo esamina) examines it.) No, no! Non e mio! E trionfa Capeto. It is not mine. TONIOTTA TONIOTTA

Ma si, e vostro! Tenetelo! £ vostro! It's yours—take it, and go!

Fouche {mette il fazzoletto nella valigia) FbucHE {putting handkerchief into his valise) La padrona? Your mistress?

GlULIA GlULIA

£ ancor fuori. She's still out. Fouche Fouche Imprudente To stay at home

Star tappati oggi in casa conviene. These days is wiser. (Si avvia verso la porta d'uscita)

GlULIA GlULIA

Le si e detto; ma si, chi la tiene? Yes—but she vnll roam. La ISossa La Rossa Vien chiamata Sans-Gine della gentei.. They call her Without Care—the people here. GlULIA GlULIA

Ma quest'oggi Sans-GSne si procura But these days that means also Without Fear.

anche il nome di Senza Paura! Fouche Fouche Tarda! It's late.

GlULIA (impensierita) GlULIA {thoughtfully) £ vero! Dovrebbe tornare! It's true! I wish she would come back. Fouche Fouche

Purche torni. Provided that she comes. TUTTE All Ci fate tremare. You make us tremble, {Due cannonate. Esclamazioni. Movimento {Two cannon-shots. Exclamations. Move- nella via. Tamburi che battono la carica. ments in the street. Drums beat the attack. Fouche che sta per uscire, si arresta) Fouche, who is on the point of going out. stops.) MADAME SANS-G£NE 13

VOCI DI FUORI Ecco Sans-G§ne! e qui Sans Gene! (Caterina, seguita da un gruppo di gente, entra frettolosa e affannata, con un canestro di

biancheria sotto il braccio. Tutte le giovani lavandaie le si affollano intorno festosa- mente) :

14 MADAME SANS-G£NE

GiULIA GltTLIA Nulla? Nothing?

Caterina {siede e parla affannata) Catekina (sitting down and talking excitedly} Nulla! No! Mentre andavo via leggera While with an easy gait I tried to go with groan and song tra le grida, gli urli, i canti, Where everyone was mad desperate cries, I found myself among batto il naso in una schiera And black! di giganti A troop of giants, all with beards of turned me back. con la barba nera nera! One of them seized on me and "Where I Un di queUi balza avanti Asking, "Where go you?" I said, e comincia a domandare please." "until the fees "Dove vai?„ "Dove mi pare!,, "Closed is the road," he said, We ask of you are paid." Then without grace Dice: . "Chiuso t'e il passaggio and planted on my face se non paghi il tuo pedaggio.,, He picked me up beard. (She rises.) E m'afferra per la vita. A kiss with his rough Mi soUeva su su su "You beast!" I cried. at his e mi schiaccia Maddened; the monster laughed, and un gran bacio suUa faccia side next man, in turn con quell' ispida baraccia! (si alza) Passed me on to the who his foul kisses on my white cheek burn. —Bestia!—grido inviperita; Made (She passes the basket twice from one arm to the ride il mostro, e poi mi slancia tra la barba folta folta other.) I to pass. del vicin, che alia sua volta Just so from mouth to mouth h^ mi scaciucchia sulla guancia! And so be kissed by those black beards en

(Jacendo passare il paniere da un masse. destiny. braccio alValtro, due volte) I gave myself up then to soldiers fling at E cosi di bocca in boeca And let those hundred me passeggiare, abime, mi tocca Their kisses, sweet with garlic and with wine. last, liberty mine, tra le barbe di carbone And then at when w&s I did not seem to have much wish to roam lungo tutto il battaglione! friends, Mi rassegno al mio destino, The streets, and so, my I am at home. lascio fare a quegli audaci (All laugh.) che m'azzeccan cento baci, profumati all'aglio e al vino! Finche libera mi stacco,

batto il tacco svolto in fretta per la via e son giunta a easa mia.

' (Tutti ridono)

VOCI DI FUORI Voices Outside Viva la Nazione! Longlive the Nation!

(Tutti si voltano e corrono alia forta) (All turn and rush-to the door.) ! !

MADAME SANS-GENE 15

FOTTCHE Fouche {expanding himself, and.calling to the in the street) {Si fa largo e chiede, gridando, alia folia di crowd fuori) Say, what is this burst.''

Dite, voi, cosa c'e?

VOCI DI FUORI Voices

II popolo vince The people conquer, and have done their worst ed hanno la peggio To the Austrian and the king, who have

I'Austriaca ed il re. taken flight Si son gia rifugiati al maneggio! To the ministry FOUCHE Fouche

E gli Svizzeri? Where are the Swiss?

VoCI DI FUORI Voices

Cessano il tiro, Their fight non han piu munizioni. Is off—they have no powder.

FoucHE {rientra e viene verso la ribalta Fouche {reentering, rubbing his hands) fregandosi le mani) I breathe again!

Respiro {The voices calling out "Long live the Nation!" {Le voci, ripetendo. Viva la Nazione! si allon- go farther away. There remain on the tanano. Restano in iscena Fouche, stage Fouche, Caterina, and the Girls.) Caterina e le ragazze)

Caterina {alle ragazze) Caterina {to the girls)

II popolo, laggiu, fa il suo bucato The people there begin to wash their hands

e noi facciamo il nostro. Su, figliuole, Of trouble. Let us do our wash. While stands via dalla porta! Distendete al sole The sun so high, put out this pile of stuff questi panni lavati nel cortil. Upon the lines.

(ToNiOTTA e GiULiA poHatio via la tinozza daUa (ToNiOTTA and Giulia take out the tub by the porta di destra) door at the right.)

{alia Rossa) {To La Rossa.)

E tu, Roussotte, fila via! And you, Roussotte, be off. AU'ufficiale di via dei Mulini And take this laundry to the officer porta questa biancheria. Who lives in the rue des Moulins. Do not stir Noil ne ha troppa. E non gli dare His mind to payment, for he's not to pay.

il conto. No ha da pagare. Be off! £ airasciutto. (La Rossa, via) {Exit La Rossa)

Caterina {chiamando un ragazzo ch'e in {Calling to a boy in the street) istrada)

Ehi, Maturino, Ho ! Maturino, without delay corri al posta di via Colbert, Run to rue Colbert to the soldiers' post. a vedere se c'e And see if sergeant Lefebvre is in the host

il sergente Lefebvre; e se c'e, Of men that drift about there; if he's there, digli che venga da me. Tell him that you have come from me. 16 MADAME SANS-G£NE

except (7i ragazzo corre via. La scena si vuota. Resta {The hoy runs off. The stage is empty, solo FoucHE non visto da Catekina. Fouche, unseen by Caterina. She closes Costei chiude i vetri delle finestre, lasciando the windows, hut leaves open the shutters.) aperte le imposte)

{Durante tutta la seguente scena con Fouche, {During all of the following scene with Fouche, Caterina si da gran da fare. Prende dal Caterina gives herself a lot to do. She fornello il catino d'acqua e amido e lo takes from the oven the basin of water and depone sulla tavola; stende su questa i starch, and puts it on the table; she spreads

panni per stirare, immerge cuffie e cra- out clothes to iron, dips collars and cuffs vatte nelV amido, poi le strizza, le fa in the starch, squeezes them out, spreads sgocciolare, le distende sopra un salvietta them on a napkin, folded twice; then,

piegatg, in due; poi, awolgendolp in essa, wrapping them up in it, makes a packet, ne fa un pacchetto che spreme tra le which she squeezes in her hands; then gets mani; poi s'accinge a stirare. Prende un ready to iron. She takes an iron, tries it

ferro, lo accosta alia guancia, per sentire on her cheek to see if it is hot, puts it back se h caldo, lo rimette sul fornello, ne prende in the oven, takes another out, scours it, un altro, lo netta, stira; con un ferro da and sets to work; with another iron she

arricciare increspa le trine di una cujffia, curls the edges of a cuff, etc., etc.) ecc. ecc.)

Fouche Fouche Mia bella Caterina! My fair And lovely Caterina!

Catekina {voltandosi sorpresa) Caterina {turning around in surprise)

Voi siete ancora qui? You still here?

Fouche Fouche Quel Lefebvre vi e assai caro, mi pare!? Is this Lefebvre then to you so dear' \ Caterina Caterina

£ forse proibito d'amare? And is one not allowed to love? Command £ bello, e forte ed e cortese... And courtesy are his, and from my land E poi e del mio paeSe, He comes—^he is Alsatian like me. Alsaziono come me.

Fouche {s'accomoda sulla poltrona) Fouche {making himself comfortable in the Amore d'infanzia? arm-chair) A sentiment of childhood, then?

Caterina Caterina Ma che! Not he. Lo conobbi non sono due mesi We met at Vauxhall not two months ago. al Wauxhall, a una festa da ballo. Dancing.—^A wretch, who thought himself a ...Un ceffo da scimmia m'apposta, beau. mi sbircia, mi segue, s'accosta. But had a monkey-face, made horrid eyes MADAME i 18 MADAME SANS-GfiNE

Caterina ! — — —!

MADAME SANS-GfiNE 19

Fouch:e; FoucHE

Per annusare la gente! More to please The people

Catehina Catehina

Vi piace curios are... You have curiosity.

FOUCHE FoucHE Frugare... I like to search.

Catehina Catehina Spiare Nay, more—^you like to spy, con quegli occhi vivi e scaltri... With your sharp eyes

FoucHE FoucHE

Con questi occhi vivi e scaltri... With my sharp eyes

Catehina Catehina

...nei segreti degli altri. And get Secrets from others.

FoucHE FoucHi;

E sia, Ah ! so be it ! let vada per la polizia. Them come and question me.

Catehina Catehina

Ei ci crede e lo confessa! You would confess! {con uno scoppio di risa) {with a burst of laughter.), Ministro voi sarete quand'io saro duchessa! When I am duchess, you'll be minister! {con un inchino burlesco a Foxtche) (with a burlesque courtesy to Fouche) Quando sara chiamato al Ministero, When you are at the Ministry in state. mi pagher^ il suo conto, non e vero? You'll pay your bill, perhaps a little late? Sono tre mesi, sa, Vostra Eccellenza, In three months' time, my lord, it will be due che la stiro e la inamido a credenza! For ironing and starching shirts for you!

FotrcHi! {con malizia bonaria) , Fouche {with good-natured malice)

Non sono il solo! Un altro c'e But I am not alone. Do not forget che nel pagare somiglia a me! There is another that is in your debt C'e I'ufficial d'artiglieria! There is an officer of the artillery. La Roussotte or gli porto To whom Roussotte just now tooklaundry—^he la biancheria, ma il conto no... Was not to pay

Catehina Catehina

Voi siete un fannulloa, quello e un soldato. But you are of no use, He is a soldier. 20 MADAME SANS-G£NE

• FOUCHE ! ! ! —!

MADAME SANS-G£NE 21

FOUCHE FoucHE *

Nuvole di fumo! Look ! clouds of smoke Caterina Caterina

Brucian le Tuileries! The Tuileries is burning! • FoUCHE FoucHE

Respiro! Evviva! I breathe again! Hooray!

{Grida e canti lontani di vittoria: Vittoria! {Cries and songs of victory in the distance: Vittoria! Viva la Nazionel Entra Vinai- Victory! Victory! Victory! Long live the GRE seguito e circondato dalla f0lla, nella Nation! Enter Vinaigre, followed and quale e anche La Rossa) surrounded by the crowd, in which is also La Rossa.) Caterina Caterina

Ecco Vinaigre, il tamburo! Here is Vinaigre, The drummer!

ViNAiGRE (entrando, scalmanato, col tamburo Vinaigre {coming in, excited, vnth his drum alia cintola) at his belt.)

Vittoria! Vittoria! Victory ! Victory FoucHE FoucHE

Dunque il palazzo...? And the palace? Vinaigre Vinaigre £ preso. Is taken. FoUCHE FotrcHB Ed io trionfo! And I triumph!

{Esce frettoloso abbandonando la sua valigia. {He goes out hastily, abandoning his valise. Vinaigre balza sul tavolo e grida alia Vinaigre jumps onto the table, and cries fdlla che si addensa in fondo alia bottega out to the crowd that is becoming thich in e in istrada) the back of the shop and in the street.) Vinaigre Vinaigre Popolo di Parigi! L'austriaca e suo marito People of Paris han-dovuto sloggiare dalla reggia! The Austrian and her husband have been

II palazzo e del popolo, ed il popolo thrust governa! Out of the palace; and the palace now Is ours, the people's, and the people rule La Folla The Crowd

Evviva il popolo! Hooray for the people Vinaigre Vinaigre La Francia France goes bare-foot up va scalza alia vittoria, con le^mani To victory, with hands made red with blood tinte di sangue... — —

MADAME SANS-GENE

* La Folla The Crowd France, Evviva il sangue e la Francia novella! Hooray for the blood we shed and new France!

ViNAIGBE Vinaigre come with me and Cittadini! Chi vuol venir con me Good friends ! Who wants to a visitare I'antro del tiranno? visit The den of the tyrant?

TuTTi (con un urlo) The Crowd {with a yell) Tutti! All!

ViNAIGKE Vinaigre In marcia. Rataplan! In line! Rataplan!

{Si allontana battendo la carica, dccompagnato {He goes away, beating his drum, and accom- dalla folla che grida: Viva la Nazionel panied by the crowd, that cries out: Long Tutti, meno Caterina, lo seguono. live the Nation! All, except Caterina, GiULiA, Toniotta e La Rossa chiudono follow, him. GiuLiA, Toniotta and La le imposte delle finestre, ed escono. Ca- Rossa close the shutters of the windows, terina serra la porta d'entrata e ne chiude and go out. Caterina locks the entrance

' le imposte; la scena si oscura. Preso il door and closes the shutters there. The stage mantello, ella si appresta ad uscire per la is dark. Taking her cloak, she starts to go porta di destra. Si odono due colpi di out by the door at the right. Two rifle-shots fucile assai vicini. La porta di destra si are heard quite near. The door at the right apre. Entre Neipperg, che la richiude opens. Enter Neipperg, who closes it rapidamente come un uomo inseguito) after him rapidly, like a man followed.)

Caterina (sorpressa) Caterina {surprised)

Ohe, dico... What's this?

Neipperg {origliando alia porta) Neipperg {listening at the door)

Per pietaj... Sono ferito... Have pity!—I am wounded Caterina Caterina Ferito? Wounded?

Neipperg {quasi svendendo) Neipperg {almost fainting)

Hanno perduto le mie tracce... I have lost my way—I am the Count of

Sono il conte di Neipperg, austriaco... Neipperg, An Austrian

Caterina {a distanza, con accento di disprezzo) Caterina {at a distance, with an accent of scorn) Un realista...? A royalist?

Neipperg Neipperg

Ho fatto il mio dovere I have done cercando di salvare la Regina. My duty trying to save the Queen. MADAME SANS-GENE , 23 u MADAME SANS-GfiNE

Lefebvhe ! ! —

MADAME SANS-G£NE 25

Caterina Caterina Oh, ne ho di piu meglio! Oh, no! that is better. (Va alia credenza, ne toglie due hottiglie, un I have some cavatappi e alcune scodelle, die posa sulla {She goes to the cupboard, takes out two bottles, tavola) ^ a corkscrew, and some bowls, which she puts on the table.)

I Lefebvre Lefebvre

E venga il meglio! Here we are!

{sturando la bottiglia che gli appresta Caterina) {uncorking the bottle that Caterina gives him.)

Ah, perdio, fu un travaglio By heaven! it's been a day of filthy work. rude. Dai tetti e dai balconi From roofs and balconies the shot hailed down. che gragnuola di piombo! Bang! bang! at every shot a cry, then blood, Pan! Pan! ad agni colpo And then a body lying there. The Swiss, era un grido, era sangue, era un caduto! Drivenbackwithrifles, are dispersed, destroyed; Or gli Svizzeri The palace now is ours. The crowd already inseguiti a fucilate Is thick inside, and furiously they prance son dispersi, son distrutti! From room to room in their excited dance. II Palazzo ora e nostro! These people, bloody and in torn clothes, have Adesso la folia vi penetra; gone ^ , son piene le sale, le stanze Madly about, and laid rough hands upon di grida, di canti e di danze! Everything in sight, until you cannot pass Che gioia! La gente si abbraccia For all the tumult and the scattered mass lacera e straccia Of broken mirrors, bottles, furniture, fa man bassa, Of pots and pans—O, it is joy for sure rompe, spacca, fracassa, scaraventa nella via specchi, bottiglia, mobili, pentole e sguatteri! Oh! che allegria! (Risata generale. Ma Lefebvre si rabbuia ed {General laughter. But Lefebvre's face sud- esclama, mordendosi le mani) denly darkens and he exclaims) Penso a quel cane But I keep thinking of the dog we shot che abbiam ferito And lost. If we should get him, he would not ed e fuggito! Have much of life to boast of—ah! the beast! Se lo riagguanto, perdio, lo schianto! Caterina Caterina

Or che hai vinto, perdona epensa a me. Now you are here, do you think oJE me, at least? Lefebvre Lefebvre Tra un odio ed un amor sono, diviso O, I am torn amid the double alarm {Rimboccandosi una manica) Of hate and love. Guarda, su questo braccio, {Turning back his sleeve.) un artista provetto But look upon this arm : — —

26 MADAME SANS-GENE

sotto al frigio beretto Once an old artist with his instrument questo motto m'ha inciso Inscribed there "Death to the tyrants!"

"Morte ai tiranni ! „

their howls over- TuTTi {brindando con le scodelle colme di vino) The Soldiers (toasting with with wine.) Morte ai tiranni! flowing "Death to the tyrants!"

arm) Lefebvre {accfinnando all'altro braccio) Lefebvre {pointin'g to the other Ma su quest'altro invece, But on this other is instead the dent mine bada, c'e un cuor trafitto, Of a heart, and under it, "Sans-G§ne for life." e sotto il cuor sta scritto: i "Sans-G#ne mia per la vita !„

Caterina {pavoneggiandosi, ma insieme in- Caterina {walking about proudly, but at the tenerita) same time affected) Sans-Gene tua per la vita! Sans-Glne yours for life!

Lefebvhe Lefebvre

Per la vita, in due... For life together-

Caterina Caterina

...nella nostra —in our little house piccola casa infiorata... Covered with flowers.

Lefebvre Lefebvre its hearth aglow Una casa con I'orto e il focolare And pieno di vampe e pieno di faville, With flames and sparks, as in our own dear come al nostro paese! land!

Caterina Caterina U una cucina A great big kitchen grande... ^

Lefebvre Lefebvre E Sans-G^ne che corre... And Sans-G^ne to run

Caterina Caterina

...e attizza il fuoco. And rake the fire.

Lefebvre Lefebvre

...il mio fucile appeso presso all'uscio. My gun hung on the wall.

Caterina Caterina Tu fummi la tua pipa, You smoke your pipe; the smoke floats idly up, Sans-G§ne sings. il fumo danza ' And e Sans-G^ne canta! MADAME SANS-GfiNE ^f

Lefebvre Lefebvbe bless Canta ed io benedico And while she sings I so pink. il di che 1' ho incontrata The day I met her with her cheek con la sua gota fresca e porporina...

Catebina {accennando ai soldati) Catebina {pointing to the soldiers) to hear. Bada che i camerati That's all your comrades ought ti sentono... I

Lefebvbe {volgendosi ai soldati) Lefebvbe {turning to the soldiers) Compagni, My friends, appears sono il vostro sergente! AttentI a me! Since what I have to say to Caterina Obbedienza e disciplina! My own aflfair, obey—stop up your ears! Mentre io parlo a Caterlna, {The soldiers laugh) un, due e tre... And now I'd rather there should be unfurled turatevi le orecchie!... Before the army, France and all the world (7 soldati ridono) My life, that is a song for evermore. E poi mi place The past is gone; hate is the cannon's roar. che sentan tutti, And love sounds sweeter than the evening bell.

I'esercito, la Francia, il mondo intero! And so in sight of men and God above Oggi la vita e tutta una canzone! I draw you to me, happy in the spell Del vecchio tempo nulla piu rimane; Of our dear fatherland and our own love. mentre I'odio ha la voce del cannone, I'amore squilla come le campane! Nella luce del sol, giovine e bionda, in cospetto degli uomini e di Dio

il mio braccio t'attira e ti circonda, figlia del mio paese, amore mio...

i Soldati (a Catebina e Lefebvbe) The Soldiers (to Catebina and Lefebvbe) Basta smorfie, ragazzi; all'Assemblea! Be done with affection, children, come. Be off!

Lefebvre (guardandosi le mani) Lefebvbe {looking at his hands) Sacco in pacco, che mani! My gracious, what a sight, these hands of mine! Catebina Catebina — Sono nere di polvere, They're black with powder 't is the dirt of ed e un nero che onora. honour.

Lefebvbe Lefebvbe

Un po' d'acqua! A little water! '

(Si dirige verso un catino che sta sopra una {He starts for a basin that is on a table, and is tavola e fa per lavarsi le mani) about to wash his hands.) —.

28 MADAME SANS-GfiNE

Caterii^a Catebina Che fai? What are you doing there! Vuoi lavarti neH'ainido? You're washing them in starch.

Lefebvke (dirigendosi verso la stanza di Lefebvre {going towards Caterina's room) Catebina) Then in your room Vado nella tua camera.

{Si avvia dritto) {going straight ahead)

Caterina {con una certa inquietudine) Caterina {with a certain uneasiness) Ma no, No, no—come here to the fountain; here's

vieni qui alia fontana; ecco il sapone. some soap.

{Prende un pezzo di sapone di Marsiglia e apre {She places a piece of Marseilles soap and opens la porta di destra che da sulla corte) the door at the right which leads to the court- yard.)

Lefebvbe {che intanto ha cercato di aprire la Lefebvre {who in the meantime has triedJLo porta di Caterina) open the door of Caterina's room)

Perche hai chiusa la porta? Why is the door locked? Caterina Caterina

Perche sto per uscire. I was going out.

Lefebvre Lefebvre Perche hai tolto la chiave? Why did you take the key?

Caterina {perdendo la pazienza) Caterina {losing patience) Perche mi pare e piace. It was my fancy.

Lefebvre {minaccioso) Lefebvre {threateningly)

E se volessi entrare? And if I wish to enter? Caterina Caterina C'entrerai, ma da marito. You should enter, But as my husband.

Lefebvre {cieco di gelosia) Lefebvre (blind with jealousy)

C'e qualcuno li dentro! There is someone in there!

Caterina {con audacia) Caterina {with daring)

E se fosse? Son libera! And if there is? I'm free! Lefebvre Lefebvre

Voglio la chiave! La I'll have the key! c'e un amante!... Lo sgozzo! You've got a lover there—I'll cut his throat!

{Si slancia brutalmente su di lei. Ella, {He falls brutally upon her. She instinctively istintivamente, mette una mano alia tasca puts her hand on the pocket of her apron. del grembiule. Egli vede I'atto e con vio- He sees the action, and with violence MADAME SANS-G£NE 29 lenza le strappa la chiave. I Soldati —— —

30 MADAME SANS-GENE

Caternia (sorpresa) Cateeina (surprised) E morto? Is he dead? Lefebvhe Lefebvee Morto! Ha una palla nel fianco. Dead! He has got a bullet in his side. Convien farlo portare alia sua casa. We had better take him to his house. Catehina Cateeina Dove? Di lui soltanto so che ha nome But where? Conte di Neipperg. Me I'ha detto. £ tutto. From him alone I know that he's the Count Of Neipperg. That he told me, and no more. Lefebvee Lefevbbe Non lo conosci? You do not know him? Catehina Cateeina Entro mentre chiudevo, I was closing up. e si reggeva appena. Voi giungeste feroci, And suddenly he entered, almost fainting. se I'aveste trovato Then you arrived outside, excitedly

dUaniato I'avreste. Trying to come in here—if you had found ' (Si volge e vede che egli la osserva attentamente) Him then, you would have torn the man in Perche dunque mi guardi? pieces. (turns and sees him watching her attentively.) Why do you watch me so?

Lefevbre (Jreddo, inquisitore) Lefevbre (cold and inquisitive)

E se fosse il tuo amante? And if he was Your lover?

Caterijta {alzando la voce) Cateeina (raising her voice) II mio amante un austriaco? Could an Austrian be my lover? Lefebvre Lefevbbe t'odono... Parle piano, se Speak softly—^if they hear you

Caterina (Jacendo spallucce) Cateeina (shrugging her shoulders)

Ora e morto... Now he is dea4

Lefebvre {sottovoce) Lefevbbe (softly) Ora e vivo! He is alive!

Cateeina {volgendosi a lui contenta) Cateeina (turning to him, relieved) Ma che hai detto? But you just said Lefebvre Lefevbee

Mentivo. I lied. Fu una prova perch^ It was a test of you—I had some doubt. dubitavo di te. But now I doubt no more. Or non dubito pi^...

(Caterina presa da una subita commozione, fa (Cateeina, with sudden emotion, starts to per abbracciarlo) embrace him.) ! ! ! ! !

MADAME SANS-GENE 31

Don't let it out.

Lefebvre (continua sottovoce) Lefebvre {continuing in low voice Via, non farti capire: Just take good care of him—to-night you'll see; abbi cura di lui; In some way we'll arrange for him to flee. questa notte verro, lo faremo fuggire.

(Catekina con le lagrime nella voce) Catekina {with tears in her voice)

Oh, mio Lefebvre, sei buono You are so kind! Lefebvre Lefevbre Non mi serbi rancore? You blame me now no more? Catekina Caterina

Ti adoro e ti perdono I would do naught but pardon and adore. Lefebvbe Lefebvbe Sans-G^ne, qui sul mio cuore! Sans-G^ne, come to my heart. {rabbraccia) {He embraces her.)

I SoLDATi {si voltano e vedono) The Soldiers {turning and looking) La pace e fatta, evviva! Their peace is made, Hooray Lefebvhe Lefebvre E le nozze imminenti! Our wedding shall not be delayed.

I SoLDATi {aprendo la porta di fondo e le due The Soldiers {opening the door at the back finestre laterali) and the side windows)

Attenti ! Attenti Listen! listen! the winning people sway I nazionali della sezione Towards the administration! Shall we go?

vanno al taaneggjo ! Ola! Siva? Lefebvre Lefevbre Si va. Away

(Catekina si getta nelle braccia di Lefebvre. (Caterina throws herself in Lefebvre's arms. Egli la baccia, poi si stacca da lei e va He kisses her, then leaves her, and goes to verso il fondo. Nella strada giungono da the badk. In the street there arrive from the destra guardie nazionali e artiglieri col right the national guard and artillery with fucile in ispalla, preceduti da due tamburi, guns on their backs, preceded by two drum- di cui una e Vinaigre, I'altro Matxjriho. mers, one of whom is Vinaigre, the other Passano sul fondo cantando la Marsi- Maturing, They pass across the back, gliese. I sei soldati e Lefebvre, il quale singing the Marseillaise. The six soldiers manda ancora un bacio a Catekina, si and Lefebvre, who throws another kiss uniscono alia schiera che passa, seguiti to Caterina, join the battalion that is dalla folia che acclama) passing, followed by the acclaiming crowd.) ^ VELARIO. curtain. —

ATTO SECONDO ACT II

Al castello di Compiegne. Settembre 1811 The chateau of Compihgne. September, 1811.

{TJn grande e sontuoso salone del piu puro {A large and sumptuous drawing-room in the stile impero. Sul fondo tre arcate, dalle purest Empire style. At the back three quali entrano gli invitati. A destra, una arches, through which the guests enter. At grande porta, che conduce agli apparta- the right a large door, leading to the inner menti interni) apartments.)

(GEJjSOUiNoattizzailfuoconelcaminetto. Leeoy (Gelsomino is stirring the fire in the fireplace. e in piedi presso la tavola, sulla quale Leeoy stands by a table on which are three sono tre scatole. Entra Despeeatjx) boxes. Enter Despbeaux.) Despbeaux Despbeaux La Duchessa di Danzica? The Duchess of Danzig?

Gelsomino (solenne) Gelsomino {solemnly) Vien subito! £ avvisata She will come at once. Che il sarto She has been told the tailor awaits her here. dndicando Leeoy) ^^. y^^^^^^^ {He indicates Leeoy.) The Duchess of Danzig! La... Duchessa di Danzica! — laughing.) {shotta a ridere) {He bursts out

Despbeaux {con grande sussiego) Despbeaux {with gravity) Scusi, perche mi ride in faccia?... I pray you, pardon me Why laugh you in my face.? Gelsomino Gelsomino

Rido... ma non di Vostra Signoria! I laugh, but not, Rido di certe nobilta che sanno My kind Monsieur, at you. I laugh because d'amido e ranno Of some nobility whose fancy was e di lavanderia! Once on a time for laundry-tubs and starch. {accosiandosi a Despbeaux con un inchino) {approaching Despbeaux with a bow.) quando Signer Despr6aux, io la conobbi Monsieur Despreaux,— I knew you in the march ell'era direttore del balletto Of strange events 'twas when yon trained air Opera the ballet {con pomposo orgoglio) At the opera, {with great pride) ed io ero vaUetto and I was the valet del Diica di Penthievre. Of the Duke of Penthievre. {with a sigh.) {con %n sospiro) Times gone by! Bei tempi! tempi fini O lovely times, when happy luxury e pieni di fragranza, Did gracefully and gloriously enhance tempi d'ogni eleganza! Our daily life with every elegance! 32 MADAME SANS-G£NE 33

DESPEfjAXrX 34 MADAME SANS-G£NE MADAME SANS-G£NE 35

Despreaux (inchinandosi) 36 MADAME SANS-G£NE

Caterina — ! —

MADAME SANS-GfiNE 37

(Caterina riprova, imbarazzatissima, a inchi- (Caterina tries again, very self-conscious, to narsi) courtesy.) more Bene... il gesto piU lento... That's better—now the gesture a bit ah!... si sprofondi!. ancora... in cortesia, slow ah! si sprofondi!... attenta al movimento... A little lower—more—still more profound! Ma, si sprofondi... Once more—a little lower

Caterina (cadendo quasi) Caterina (almost falling)

Si, sul pavimento! Yes, on the ground!

Despreaux Desprejatjx £ perfetto! £ perfetto! It's perfect—perfect!

Caterina Caterina

Ma col manto di corte Ah ! but with the dress sara un affar piu serio... It will be much more difficult—my legs nelle sue pieghe strambe Will get all tangled up in it, I'm sure. m'intrighero le gambe...

Despreaux Despreaux

Provar vuol con la coda Will you not try it once with the entire train? deiramazzone? E ben la stessa cosa... It is the same—an easy thing to do. E facile! £ semplice! £ agevole!... Now, one—two—three—and off! Basta un colpo di garetto (He makes with his foot the gesture of throwing un... due... tre the train behind him.) e allez...

(fa col piede il gesto di chi getta indietro la strascico)

Caterina (prova, s'impiccia nello strascico) Caterina (trying, and getting mixed up)

Un... due... tre... Ma che! One—two—three—but what? Questa coda maledetta, This wretched train, this devil of a train quest' accidente di coda Has tangled me all up chi me I'ha appiccicata!

Despreiaux Despr:eaux Mi dia la mano e faccia Give me your hand

il gesto che io far6... And make the gesture that I make. The left

II pie sinistro. foot

(Caterina avanza il destro) (Caterina puis the right forward.)

£ il destro! That is the right.

Caterina Caterina

Ah, che fatica! What tiresome stuff it is! ! ——— !

38 MADAME SANS-G£NE

Despreaux Despbeaux

Un... due... tre... One—two—three leggermente... Lightly and gracefully soavemente... Be not disturbed non sia troppo commossa. Hopla—you see? Un... due... tre... opla,

vede?... e'e...

Lekoy Leboy i

£ una cosa It is extraordinary prodigiosa! • Now—what grace! Che destrezza! What great dexterity! Che bellezza!

Despkeaux Despbeaux Madama la Duchessa Madame the Duchess puo gareggiar con le piu esperte dame! Will soon compete with the most expert ladies.

Catebina {si sveste) Catebina {taking the robe off) Davvero? non son poi troppo salame? Really and truly? I am not too bad?

Despeeaux {inchinandosi) Despbeaux > {bowing) Madama la Duchessa, servitore! Madame the Duchess, your servant!

Leboy (inchinandosi) Leboy {bowing) Servitore, Madame la Duchessa! Your servant, Madame the Duchess

{Si avviano verso I'uscita. La cameriera esce {They go towards the door. The maid goes out a destra portando con se le scatole) at the right, taking the boxes. Enter Lefebvbe. while the two retainers go out {Entra Lefebvbe, mentre i due ministri d'ogni every elegance, bowing scraping.) eleganza, escono rinculando e inchinandosi) with and Catebina , Catebina Oh! Lefebvre! Oh ! Lefebvre

(Catebina lo guardo e lo vede accigliato) {She looks at him, and sees that he looks de- jected.) Hai due spanne di muso. You've got a dreadful look.

Lefebvbe Lefebvbe

Colpa tua. It is your fault.

Catebina {con sorpresa) Catebina {with surprise)

Dico, ti gira? Tell me, what bothers you?

Lefebvbe Lefebvbe

Sai, r Imperatore The Emperor has spoken to me of you. m'ha parlato di te. MADAME SANS-G£NE

Caterina ! !

40 MADAME SANS-G£NE

Lefebvre Lefebvbe "Si capisce "But understand that we will not

che penseremo a vostra moglie. Avr^ Forget your wife. I'll give to her Combault la terra di Combault And quite a worthy amount to live upon. e un appannaggio degno. Go, talk to her, make haste—^in fifteen days !" And9,te, parlate, spicciatevi, The whole thing can be done tutto in quindici giorni sia finite!,,

Catehina {balzando in piedi, con gli occhi Catebina {jumping to her feet, with her eyes accesi e il pianto nella voce) blazing and a sob in her voice)

' E che Jiai risposto? What said you back?

Lefebvbe Lefebvbe

E tu? S'egli t'avesse And you? If he had spoken thus to you parlato di divorzio e di castelli About divorce, of money—a chiteau? e di ricchezze, che gli avresti detto?

Catebina (commossa) Catebina {moved)

Gli avrei detto; tenetevele! I would have said: take back these things! Che me ne faccio del vostro castello? What means Che me ne faccio del vostro denaro? Your big chateau to me, the gold you offer?

Ho il mio Lefebvre e me lo tengo stretto! I have Lefebvre, and I'll have him still! L'ho amato nella miseria, I loved him in the deepest misery. ho stentato con lui la dura vita, And toiled close at his side the hard, hard life l'ho arrischiata al suo fianco, I risked for him; I was the first to weep ho pianto per la prima sua ferita, Upon his wounds and sing his victories ho cantkta la sua prima vittoria! Who tears me from him tears my very flesh Chi me la strappa, strappa la mia carne! In one we are welded, with one heart, one Siamo impastati, inchiodati, uno stesso blojod!

cuore, uno stesso sangue! E se ci tagliano And if they tried to tear our lives apart.

in due, perdiana, i brani dolorosi The broken bits would seek each other out.

si cercheranno ancora, And reunite! Thus to the Emperor

si incolleranno ancora! Would I have answered ! and like that would Cosi air Imperatore you. risposto avrei! Cosi risposto avresti, If you had the least glimmer of a heart!

se tu avessi una briciola di cuore! {She bursts into tears.) {rompe in lagrime)

Lefebvbe Lefebvbe E ho risposto cosi! But so I did reply!

{La commozione e la gioia si mescolano in lei. {Excitement and joy fight within her. She tries Ella non riesce a parlare^ cerca le parole, to speak, but cannot find words. Finally nan le trova. Finalmente salta al collo di she throws her arms around Lefebvbe's Lefebvbe) neck.) ! ! — !

MADAME SANS-G£NE 41

Catekina Caterina Bestia d'un uomo! Beast of a man Dillo subito, dunque, e non mi fare Speak quickly then—make me not agonize spasimare cosi! Like that!

Lefebvke Lefebvre

Ma lui ha detto: But all he said was, "Save your words. "Meno parole! Stasera stessa This evening I will speak to her myself." parlero io con la Duchessa And so this evening he Will summon you. E questa sera ti chiamera.

Caterina Caterina Non ho paura! I have no fear of him.

Lefebvre {sorridendo can malizia affettuosa) Lefebvre (smiling with affectionate malice)

Chissa ! chissa Who knows, who knows!

Caterina {fingendo di strangolarlo) Caterina (pretending to strangle him)' Tu non sperare di scappax via! You cannot hope to escape—you must enfold Sei roba mia! me; Dunque, rassegnati, tienimi e taci, Resign yourself, and so in silence hold me, o ti mangio... dai baci! Or with my kisses I'll devour you!

Lefebvre (dopo averla baciata) Lefebvre (after kissing her)

Questa tua bocca profumata e pura, This little mouth, your pure and perfumed che la mia di baciar non e mai sazia, mouth. mi fa pensare ai frutti dell'Alsazia Whose kisses mine is never wearied of.

che il natio sol nell'orto mio matura. Brings back the fruit of my Alsace, my love. Sapor d'infanzia e di malinconia, That ripens in my garden in the south. mi scende al cuore, e nel pensier ridesta Strange thrills of childhood and of sadness

la casa, il campo, la chiesetta in festa creep e le campane deH'Avemaria Into my heart, and in ray thought awake -Or nelle tue parole cerco e ascolto The house, the fields, the chapel, where they I'accento noto del paese, I'eco make

dei di passati! E li rivivo teco, Merry, then with the quiet curfew sleep. e cerco la mia patria sul tuo volto! Now in your gentle words I gladly place Laggiu in Alsazia noi pensammo un di The accent of my country, echo sweet

andar vecchietti in pace a chiuder gli occhi! Of days gofie by; and a,s our kisses meet, I seek my fatherland within your face. Down in Alsace we thought about the day When we should come again for our last dreams. 42 MADAME SANS-GI;NE

Caterina ! ! — —

MADAME SANS-G£NE 43

Gelsomino (annunziando) Gelsomino (announcing) II signer Conte di Neipperg Monsieur the Count of Neipperg.

Neippeeg (Neipperg enters, looking sad. Caterina and

(entra rannuvolato. Catebina e Lepebvke gli Lefebvre go towards him joyfully.) vanno incontro festosi)

Vengo, a dirvi addio... Neipperg I've come to say good-bye. Caterina Caterina Partite? What! leaving?

Neipperg {con un gesto di sconforto) Neipperg (in a discouraged tone)

Per I'esilio! It's exile.

Caterina e Lefebvre (a due con sorpreso) Caterina and Lepevbre (surprised)

Per I'esilio? Exile?

Neipperg (con sdegno e dolore) ' Neipperg (vnth disdain and grief)

L'imperatore mi scaccia. Ha scoperto > The Emperor commands. un mio amor nella Reggia ! Mi colpisce He has discovered that I have a love

£ un pretesto! Egli appaga un odio antico... In the palace ! His keen eye has fallen on me. It is a pretext—he repays old hatred.

Lefebvre {con tristezza, ma con dignita) Lefebvre (^ith, sadness and dignity)

£ il padrone... He is the master Neipperg Neipperg E obbedisco... I obey. Lefebvre Lefebvre

Tristi gli addii quando la giovinezza Sad are the partings when the flush of youth declinando s'annebbia di tristezza... Has sunk into the gloom of deeper truth;

Scoloran lentamente i di felici When happiness with daylight slowly ends,

e il cuore cerca solo i vecchi amici... The heart turns back to find the old-time friends.

Neipperg • Neipperg E I'amico che va, senza ritorno, And now the friend who goes without return pensa la casa che gli fu ospitale Thinks of the house that was to him his home. e sospira... And sighs

Caterina {con affettuosa malizia) Caterina (deeply moved) E sospira la sua donna che lascia qui... And sighs the lady whom he leaves.

Neipperg {aha gli occhi, la fissa con dolore) (Neipperg raises his eyes, and fixes them upon Caterina her with sorrow.)

Perche. perch^ non dire Ah! why not say you suffer for her, friend? che soffrite per lei, povero amico...? — ! ! —

44 MADAME SANS-G£NE

Neipperg (con profondo sconforto) Neipperg (with deep sorrow)

Lasciar colei che si ama To leave her whom one loves and go afar. » andarsene lontano To feel she calls in vain, in vain e sentir che ci chiama invano, invano... ^

Caxerina Caterina Oggi rimperatore A war Dichiara la guerra aU'amore! 'Gainst love has been declared by the Emperor.,

Lefebvke Lefebvre

Tutti tre We all have pain at heart, the pain of love. abbiamo una pena nel cuore, abbiamo una pena d'amore

tutti tre! '

Neippekg (prorompendo) Neipperg (bursting out)

Ah, non posso tacere ii mio martirio I cannot hide my agony from you con voi! £ una febbre! £ un delirio! It is a fever! 'T is delirium! E vogho rivederla! E fingero Again I must behold her! I will feign di partir, ma stanotte tornero. To go, but in the night come back again.

Lefebvre Lefebvre Voi siete pazzo. You are unwise.

Neipperg (Juori di se) Neipperg (beside himself) La rivedro! See her again I must M'ha fatto dire di non partire She made me promise that I would not go senza,:vederla... e obbediro. Without^—and I obey.

Caterina Caterina

Non St) chi sia costei! Tremo per voi... I do not know Non doyete tornar! Who is this person. O, I tremble for you Do not come back! Neipperg Neipperg La rivedro! See her again I must!

(a Lefebvre) (to Lefebvre)

Se vi togliessero questa If they had taken from you your dear wifel- vostra donna diletta...

Lefebvre Lefebvre

Si provino, per Dio! Heaven forbid! Neipperg Neipperg

E volete ch'io fugga? Yet you would have me flee? ! ! ! — !

MADAME SANS-GfiNE 45

announces) Gelsomino {entra ed annunzia) Gelsomino {enters and the Minister of Police! Sua Eccellenza il Ministro di Polizia! His Excellency Caterina Caterina Silenzio, e qui Fouch6! Silence, here is Fouche

FoucHE {entra) {Enter Fouche.) Neipperg Neipperg Amici, addio! My friends, farewell! presents her cheeks, which he kisses, (Caterina gli presenta le guance, egli le hacia, (Caterina the hand, and goes stringe la mano a Lefebvre ed esce in grasps Lefebvre by moved.) fretta commosso) out in a hurry, much

FoucHE (salutando Neipperg con un inchino Fouche {saluting Neipperg with an ironic ironico) bow) Buon viaggio, signor Conte. A happy journey to you, monsieur Count! {to {tre se) himself.) return ! E subito ritorno!... And soon (a Caterina) {to Caterina.) Marescialla, v'annunzio My lady, I announce. Their Serene and Royal Highnesses. le Loro Serenissime Most is in the air: Altezze Imperiali. Look out—there conspiracy speak, start Badate, c'e per aria una eongiura: vogliono They want to make you and a provocarvi a parlare, far nascere uno scandalo scandal Sopportate prudente! Resistete all'attacco So bear up prudently ! Be proud enough. subject I take snufif. e cambiate discorso quando piglio tabacco. And change the when my (Lefevbre ha un gesto d'ira) (Lefebvre makes an angry gesture.) and menacing) Caterina (sbuffando, minacciosa) Caterina {raging cord that's pulled too tight will sometime La corda troppo tesa alia fine si strappa. The Vedremo snap.

We'll see ! {going towards the door.) (amiandosi verso I'uscio) Perdonate! Vo' a metter la gualdrappa. Your pardon! I must robe myself.

(Esce in fretta. Cominciano a giungere gli {She goes out in a hurry. The guests begin to invitati) - arrive.) Lefebvre Lefebvre

Vengon gli ospiti gi^. (inquieto) The guests are coming, and my wife La marbscialla non e pronta... Is not yet here to receive them, {troubled) (Dal fondo entra stuolo variopinto di dame e di {From the back enters a motley band of ladies and

cavalieri : ufficiali, accademid, diplomatici. cavaliers, officials, academicians, diplomats. Uniformi fastose. Azione. Lefebvre Festive uniforms. Action. Lefebvre saluta, va sul fondo, si perde tra la folia, salutes, goes to the back, is lost in the crowd, riappare) reappears.) {JJn gruppo di dame, sottovoce) ! — —

46 MADAME SANS-G£NE

Le Dame A Gkoup of Ladies {in a low voice) Una noti^ia! Una notizia! A notice has been given!—there is some reason. —ch'e una primizia!—ch'e una primizia!

TUTTE All

Neipperg parti!... Perche.? Neipperg is gone! But why.'' and where?

—Mah!... Chissa! Who knows? . Si buccina, si chiacchiera, si mormora One hears strange murmurings and whisper- Sotto voce—sotto vento—ma nessun conosce ings

il vero. Of something, but no person knows the truth. Ah! come provoca, irrita e stuzzica How irritating is this mystery questo mistero! (turning to Fouche.) (rivolgendosi a Fouche) Surely, Fouche, you can unveil the reason Ma qui, Fouche Of this departure. di tal partenza sveler^ il perche.

FoucH:Di Fouche E chi puo mai saper, dame vezzose, Who, fair ladies, knows for {to himself) il perch^ delle cose? The reason anything? And (tra se) io lo so! yet—I know! Pero, {

Le Dame (circondano FotrcHE-) The Ladies {surrounding Fouche) O taciturno, che tutto sapete, O silent creature, who knows everything. our ring dite il segreto; saremo discrete! Tell us the secret, please; beyond Non appena in un orecchio We will not breathe it! In one ear 'twill go other then will not know. il segreto profumato And out the —we lieve sara entrato, We swear it. fuor dall'altro sortira. Lo giuriamo.

Fouche Fouche Lo'giurate? Swear it? Well, then, without a doubt Bene! AUora immaginate You can imagine it's gone in and out. che sia entrato e uscito gi^. (Le Dame protestano furiose, ma in quell' i- {The ladies protest furiously, but at this moment stante un confuso movimento che si propaga a confused movement starting at the back, dot fondo, un hruslo improvviso, e il an unforeseen exciterrient, and the solemn solenne silenzio che subito dopo si distende^ silence that suddenly spreads, announce the preannunziano Varrivo delle imperiali arrival bf the imperial sisters.) sorelle) Gelsomino {dal fondo annunzia solennemente) Gelsomino {announcingfromihe bach solemnly) Sua Maesta la Regina di Napoli... Her Majesty the Queen of Naples Sua Altezza Imperial la Principessa Her Imperial Highness the Princess of Lucca di Lucca e di Piombino! and Piombino! ! ! — !

MADAME SANS-GENE 47

{Quadro. Tutti i presenti si levano in piedi e {Tableau. All present arrange themselves, si allineano splendidi di ori, di galloni, di splendid in gold, lace, and jewels. Enter gioielli. Entrano Carolina ed Elisa, con Carolina and Elsia, with ladies-in- dame di compagnia e cavalieri d'onore. waiting^ and cavaliers of honour. Le- Lefebvre si precipita incontro ad esse) febvre rushes towards them.)

Cabqlina {guardandosi intorno altera) Carolina {looking around) La Duchessa di Danzica non vedo I do not see the Duchess of Danzig here!

Lefebvee (confuso) Lefebvre {confused)

Vostra Maesta... perdoni! E sofferente.., Pardon, your Majesty, she is not well. Sara qui tosto. She will be here at once, {to himself) I burn and

{tra se) lo sudo e gelo insieme. ' freeze.

(ie due regina aggrottano le ciglia. Intorno e {The two queens frown. An embarrassing un pesante silenzio pieno di imbarrazzo) silence. Caterina rushes in, stumbling on the threshold, in a hurry and frightened.)

Caterina {si precipita in iscena inciampando

nella porta, frettolosQ, affannata, turbata).

Carolina (acida) Carolina {sourly)

Vi fate bene desiderar, Duchessa! You make yourself much wished for, Duchess Caterina Caterina lo prego Sua Maesta, Sua Altezza Imperiale I beg your Majesty, your Royal Highness, e tutta la compagnia di scusare il ritardo. And all my guests to pardon my delay. {strizzando I'occhio) {winking)

Ma per mettersi in... pompa To get me dressed for parties takes an age. Ci vuole sempre un secolo.

{Risatina dietro i ventagli delle dame. Fouche {Giggles behind ladies' fans. Fouche takes tabacca rumorosamente. Caterina rossa snuff, grumbling. Caterina, red and e impacciala, vede eke tutte le dame si fanno confused, sees that the ladies are fanning vento, e, per darsi un contegno, si sventola themselves, and to give herself better deport^ anch'essa vivacemente. Poi, con subita ment she begins to fan herself rapidly. risoluzione, come chi ha una trovata) Then, with a sudden resolution, as if (a Lefebvre) finding something, to Lefebvre.) Maresciallo suvvia, My duke, be quick—offer them something to offri dunque da here... drink {chiamando il servo con voce acuta) {calling the servant with a sharp voice.) Pivert! Pivert!

Una Dama {alle altre, piano) A Lady {to the others, softly) Ah! Siamo all'osteria! Well, are we at a hostelry?

Le Dame {mormorando, con risa soffocate e The Ladies {murmuring, suffocating their sventolandosi) laughter, and fanning themselves) —£ incredibile!—E inesprimibile It is beyond belief, beyond all words. —il incomparabile ! —E inimitabile! It is inimitable, beyond compare! 48 MADAME SANS-G£NE

{Un Valletta entra portando un vassoio di dolci {A valet enters, carrying a tray of sweets, which che pone sulla tavola. Un altro valetto offre he puts on the table. Another valet offers del punch agli uomini. Caterina prende some punch to the men. Caterina takes un bicchiere di punch dal vassoio e tocca, a glass of punch from the tray and touches, col suo, il bicchiere di un ufficiale) with hers, the glass of an officer.)

Catehina (brindando) Caterina {lifting her glass) Alia tua! Your health!

{Ma nel momento in cui Caterina allunga il {But at the moment in which Caterina puts braccio, FotrcHE tossisce e prende rumoro- her arm forward, Fouche coughs and takes samente tobacco. Troppo tardi. Cate- snuff, grumbling. Too late. Caterina

rina vede il gesto, e, intimidita, depone il sees the gesture, and, frightened, puts down bicchiere senza aver osato di bere. Poi va the glass, without having dared to drijik.

alia tavola, prende il vassoio di dolci e ne Then she goes to the table, takes the tray of offre a Carolina) sweets and offers them to Carolina.)

Vostra Maesta, gradisce due frittellei Your Majesty will take two fritters.'*

Carolina {con aria canzonatoria) Carolina {with a scoffing air) No, le frittelle non mi tentan punto! The—what do you call them—^fritters do not tempt me. {Sorrisi, risatine in giro) {Smiles and laughter among the people.)

Caterina (a Elisa) . 'Caterina {to Elisa) Vostra Altezza? Your Highness?

(Elisa {ridendo con malizia) Elisa {smiling with malice) No, no! No, indeed!

Caterina {alle dame, con cortesia nelle quale Caterina {to the ladies with a courtesy in which bolle un principio di collera) is felt an undercurrent of wrath) Signore belle? Fair ladies, you?

Le Dame {tutte insieme, con aperta aria di The Ladies {all together, with an open air of derisione) derision)

No, non ci fanno gola le frittelle. No, no, we have no taste for things like that.

Lefebvre {air orecchio di Caterina, con ira Lefebvre {in Caterina's ear, with repressed repressa) anger)

Non insister, ti dico, non insistere! Do not insist, I tell you, do not insist!

(FotrcHE tabacca ripetutamente, rumorosamente. (Fouche takes snuff repeatedl-ji. Caterina Caterina si volta per allontarsi, ma si starts to move away, but finds her feet trova con i piedi avviluppati nella coda. tangled in her train. She tries to free her- Tenia di liberarsi, e peggiora la sua self, but makes her position worse.) posizione) MADAME SANS-G£NE 49

Cateeina (gridando) ! —

50 MADAME SANS-G£NE

FoTJCHE {che tabacca invano, serra rumoro- Fouche (who takes snuff in vain, shuts noisily samente la tabacchiera esclamando) his snuff-box, exclaiming) Patatrac! Patatrac Caterina Caterina

E voi, caro Fouche, risparmiate il tabacco! And you, dear Fouche, save your snuff!

Carolina (con acerbo disprezzo) Carolina (vnth bitter disapproval) Con chi parlo stasera? I speak with whom this evening? with the E con la marescialla o con la vivandiera? duchess. Or with the canteen-woman?

Caterina (confierezza) Caterina (with pride) Con tutte e due, Maesta! Your Majesty, With both! Carolina {esasperata) Carolina (exasperated) Complete la caserna la bottega... The scene of the barracks is complete

Elisa (Juriosa, ironica) Elisa (furious, ironical) ...e la cantina... dove And the -canteen, where they get drunk and si trinca e si bestemmia... swear. Carolina Carolina ...ed il bivacco dove And the bivouac, where among the soldiers si dorme, tra i soldati, suUa paglia! They sleep upon the straw.

Caterina (interrompendo, con forza) Caterina (interrupting vnth force)

Se ce n'e! And if it is! Ma piu spesso la terra era il giaciglio, More often was the earth the welcome couch per i nostri riposi! To our repose. I slept among the men, Si, dormii tra i soldati, pilii di voi rispettosi Respected more than you for what I am. per la donna che sono, .per porto! nome che I have travelled from the Danube to the Rhine, trottato dal al Danubio, Ho Reno From battle into battle, following on di battaglia in battaglia, After the blessed rabble, under the snow. con la santa canaglia, Rain, falling shot, hunger and misery. sotto neve, pioggia, mitraglia, Picking up wounded from the field, speaking tra la fame e gli stenti, Some consolation to them as they died. raccogliendo i feriti, Closing their eyes a moment later. I poured consolando i morenti, Water into their burning mouths—those men chiudendo gli occhi ai morti! Who've given to you your kingdom, toiled versando una goccia E for you di liquore ai soldati And for your crown ! For you it was so easy vi davano un regno, che To lean and put your fingers in their wounds, faticavo per voi, And find that crown there and to lift it up! per la vostra corona! (The queens rise, in haughtiest disdain.) A voi facile fu poi chinarvi, tuflFare dentro il sangue le dita e raccoglierla su! (Le regine si alzano al colmo della sdegno) MADAME SANS-GfiNE 51 ATTO TERZO ACT III II gabinetto deW Imperatore. The cabinet of the Emperor.

A destra, davanti al caminetto, dove arde un At the_ right, before the fireplace, where a low

fuoco basso, il tavolo da lavoro delV Im- fire burns, the Emperor's warJc-table, piled

peratore, ingombro di carte e di giornali. up with papers and journals. At the left

A sinistra, un canape, poltrone ed X. A a sofa, arm-chair, etc. At the right, front, destra, in prima piano, la porta che conduce the door leading to the apartments of the agli appartamenti delV Imperatore. Sul Empress. At the back, still at the right, a forido, sempre a destra, una larga porta a large double door opens upon a wide corri- doppia battente si apre sopra un grande dor, lighted by lamps that one does not see; corridoio illuminato da lampade che non beyond the corridor, in range with the door, si vedono; di la dal corridoio, in coinci- the entrance of the Empress's room. Again

denza con la porta, I'uscio della camera at the back, towards the left, a vestibule dell' Imperatrice. Ancora sulfondo, verso with wide doors opens into the imperial sinistra, si apre con due grandi porte un park. On the table, a lamp with a heavy

vestibolo che dd, sopra il parco imperiale. lamp-shade, two ink-stands, one large and Sulla tavola, una lampada dal pesante the other small, a bunch of violets, the abat-jour, due calamai, uno grande ed una Emperor's pocket-book, a cup and a sugar- piccolo, un mazzetto di violette, la cartella bowl. The sword is on the mantelpiece.

'dell' Imperatore, una tazza ed una zuc- At the left front another door. cheriera. La 'spada e sul caminetto. A The Emperor, at his table, is running through sinistra, in prima piana, altra porta. some journals. Roustan stands at the

L'Imperatore, al suo tavolo, scorre qualche back right. At the left back stand together

giornale. Roustan eAn piedi, sul fondo, a in silence some high officers and a captain of destra. A sinistra, in fondo, stanna silen- the Hussars. The whole stage is in a dim ziosamente raccolti alcuni alti ufficiali e light. Only the face of the Emperor is un capitano degli usseri. Tutta la scena e brilliantly illuminated by the light which in una mezza luce. Solo il visa dell' stands on the table in froM of him. A short Imperatore e vivamente illuminato dalla silence; then Napoleon raises his eyes from lampada che sta sul tavolo davanti a lui. the journals and turns to the captain of the Breve silenzio; poi Napoleone leva gli acchi Hussars. dai giornali e si rivolge al capitano degli usseri. Napoleone Napoleon

Ora il vostro rapporto.^capitano. Now your report, captain.

{II capitano va rapidamente al tavolo, Valuta e {The captain goes rapidly to the table, salutes presenta il rapporto. Entra Fotjche. and presents the report. Enter Fouche. Napoleone gli fa cenno. Fouche si Napoleon signals to him. Fouch^ comes avvicina al tavolo) up to the table.) (sottavoce) {in a low voice.) Dunque, Neipperg? Well now, Neipperg? 52 MADAME SANS-G£NE 53

FOUCHE 54 MADAME SANS-GENE : — ! —!

MADAME SANS-G£NE 55

a Madame Sans-Genb di sedere sul to Madame Sans-G^ne to sit on the sofa. canape. Poi si aggira un po' imbronciato Then he moves about the room in an irri- per la stanza. Infine le si pianta davanti tated way. At last he plants himself in e le parla con ira contenuata e con piglio front of her and speaks to her with repressed imperioso) wrath and with an imperious look.) Napoleone Napoleon Signora, voi coprite di redicolo Madame, you cover with your ridicule me, la mia Corte, il vincitor di Danzica... Myself, my court, the conqueror of Danzig

lo non voglio ! Lefebvre v'ha gia parlato ? I like it not! Lefebvre has spoken of this? Catehina Caterina Si, m' ha detto He said to me: the Emperor has proposed rimperator m'ha proposto To separate me from you. di separarmi da te. Napoleone Napoleon E che avete risposto? And you answered?

Caterina {con molta semplicita) Caterina {with great simplicity)

10 gli ho riso sul muso! I simply laughed in his face—and that was all. Ecco tutto, Maesta! Your Majesty!

Napoleone {con uno scatto d'ira) Napoleon {showing his anger)

E la mia volonta? But how about my will?

Caterina {con calma, quasi con bonarieta, ma Caterina {vdth calm, almost with good-nature, con fermezza) but with firmness)

Spazzare i troni, al m^ondo mutar faccia, To empty thrones and change about the world,. ah, questo si, Vostra Maesta lo puo! This can your Majesty do with scarce a blow Ma strappare Lefebvre dalle mie braccia But to imagine my Lefebvre hurled e dalle sue strapparmi... ah! questo no! Out of my arms and me from his—ah, no

Napoleone {facendo spalluccie) Napoleon {with a shrug)

Sentiremo Lefebvre... We'll hear Lefebvre on this

Caterina Caterina Cambiar non mi vorra He would not change con una principessa tutta boria, Me for the proudest princess in the world, che sempre in lui vedra For I will never see in him the son

il figlio d'un mugnaio^.. Of the miller.

Napoleone {interrompendola conforza) Napoleon {interrupting her with force) 11 figlio della gloria! Nay, the son of glory!

Caterina {sempre con semplicita) Caterina {always with simplicity) Si, ma un villan rifatto... come Vostra Maesta! Yes, But a remade peasant, like your Majesty. :

56 MADAME SANS-GENE

Napoleone (una vampata di collera gli illivi- disce il volto; poi egli si domina e dice bruscamente)

£ con questo linguaggio che stasera uno scandalo avete provocate! MADAME SANS-GfiNE 57

Napoleone {con gaiezza bonaria) ! — — ——.

58 MADAME SANS-GENE

{Si alza vivamente, le corre vicino, le strappa di (He rises quickly, comes near her, snatches the mano la lettera, guarda la firma, legge letter from her hand, looks at the signature, sorpreso, sorridendo subito dopo) reads with surprise, smiling immediately "Buonaparte.,, after.) "Buonaparte." Cateeina Cateeina

Ecco, Sire, un cattivo pagatore. This man pays badly, sir.

iSiede sulla poltrona con comica aria di trionfo) {She sits down in the arm-chair with a comic air of triumph.) Napoleone Napoleon Lasciate che vi guardi! Ah, vi ravviso! Let me look at you! Siete voi... siete voi... I seem to recognize—but cannot quite {Cerca nella mevioria il nomignolo vivace della You are—^you are Duchessa) {He searches his memory for the nick-name of the Duchess.)

Catebina {suggerendoglielo) Cateeina {suggesting it to him) ...Madame Sans-G^ne. Madame Sans-G^ne.

Napoleone (ridendx)) Napoleon {laughing) Madame Sans-Gene, Ah, yes La mia allegra vicina! My little neighbor! Cateeina Cateeina In persona, Maesta! In person. Majesty! Napoleone Napoleon

Quella buona figliuola! That charming girl! Cateeina Cateeina In persona, Maesta! In person. Majesty!

Napoleone (reste assorto, guardando la lettera) Napoleon {standing absorbed, as he looks at •Questo logoro foglio scolorito, the letter)

quanti ricordi suscita ! Mi vedo This old, discoloured paper brings me back soloi pensoso, senza piu speranza What memories! I see myself alone. in una nuda stanza Thoughtful and hopeless, in an empty room al quarto piano... Up four long flights of stairs, unknown,^aloof Cateeina Cateeina

...al quinto... Up five Napoleone Napoleon * ...al quarto... Up four

Cateeina , Cateeina— ...al quinto! Up five 'twas in the roof.

fin sotto i tetti v'eravate spinto MADAME SANS-G£NE 59

Napoleone (sorridendo) —

60 MADAME SANS-GENE

Caterina {con allegro rimprovero e quasi con- Caterina {vdth slight reproach and half con- fidenzialmente) fidentially)

Vostra Maest^ lo nota un po' in ritardo. Your Majesty remarks it rather late.

Napoleone Napoleon Che vuol dir? What do you mean?

Catekina (sorridendo). Caterina {smiling) Che in quel tempo io pensavo: That in those times I thought:

"Accidenti, se questo "By heaven! if this lieutenant only sought tenentin mi domanda qualche cosa Something of me, why, he would have much io gli dono anche il resto!,, more!" Un giorno soprattutto! Ero venuta One day especially! I came to you da voi tutta ridente e fresca e lucida, Happy and laughing, full of strange delight. la sciarpa al vento e un ghiribizzo in testa! Fancies within me, my scarf behind in flight! E salgo, oh, quante scale! I mounted up such endless lengths of stair. E picchio! oh Dio, che palpiti! And knocked, and entered, and when I stood

Ed entro... e mi tremavano i ginocchi! there

Depongo il cesto della biancheria... Before you I was trembling, and I laid Vostra Maesta non leva neanche gli occhi The box of laundry down. You never made da una carta geografica. Io mi dico: The slightest sign, you never raised your head "Vediam se lascia la sui geografia From the map that you were studying. I per occuparsi un poco della mia!„ said: E m'aggiro, e vi sfioro, e fo tic tac "I'll see if for a moment I can trap !" coi tacchetti inquieti sul piancito His fixed attention from this wretched map e la stanza gelata vi riscaldo I moved about, I dropped some flowers, I kept di gioventu, di strepito e d'invito. A dreadful, noise up, as I madly stepped. Ma voi, sempre piu freddo e cieco e muto, Filling the room with youth and charms to non vedeste I'amor ch'era venuto, wind non vedeste I'amor che se n'e andato! About you. You, always more cold and blind. E cosi fu Saw not the love that came and went away. che a casa riportai la mia virtii, And so in virtue I was doomed to stay. intatta si, ma furibonda...

Napoleone {prendendole la mano) Napoleon {tahing her hand) Stolto ben fui quel giorno a non vedere Stupid was I then not to see the hand questa piccola man che m'era offerta, You offered me, the symbol sweet of love. caro pegno d'amore...

Catehina {in tono di hurla) Caterina {in a joking tone)

Ecco un conquistatore. This is the conqueror. Napoleone Napoleon

E la ferita? And the wound?

Caterina {indicando il braccio) Caterina {indicating her arm) £ qui. 'Tis here. MADAME SANS-G£NE 61 62 MADAME SANS-GfiNE MADAME SANS-GENE 63

Via questa donna! Via! (RoTTSTAN fa uscire la Signoha de Boulow, poi ritorna verso il fondo della scena e rimane immobile e attento) 64 MADAME SANS-G£NE

Napoleone (a Roustan) ! — ——

ATTO QUARTO ACT IV

II gabinetto delV Imperatore come neW atto The Emperor's cabinet, as in the preceding act. precedente.

{Le candele stanno per spegnersi, il fuoco {The candles are burning out, the fire is dying. muore. Accasciata sulla sedia, col mento Sitting weak on a chair, with her chin in her tra le mani Caterina pensa, dolorosamente hands, Caterina is tragically absorbed in assorta. Entra dalla sinistra Lefebvre, her thoughts. Enterfrom the left Lefebvre frettoloso e inquieto,in uniforme di servizio.) hastily and restlessly, in service uniform.)

Catebina (gli va incontro e gli prende la mano) Caterina {going towards him and talcing his Febvre, Febvre, mio Febvre! hand) Neipperg fu colto la su quella porta Febvre, Febvre,

! caught here at the (indicando la porta dell' Imperatrice) My Febvre Neipperg was door. e alzo la spada sull' Imperatdre! {indicating the door of the Empress's room.) And raised his sword against the Emperor. Lefebvre Lefebvre

Ah, disgraziato, egli e perduto! Disgraced is he—and lost Caterina Caterina

No, non dirlo, no, salvalo tu! No, say it not No, you must save him!

Lefebvre (disperato) Lefebvre

£ perduto! e perduto! Ed io dovr6 dir la He is lost, he is lost! parola And I must give the word to seal his doom! che lo uccidera!

Caterina (stringendosi a lui e parlando con Caterina {clinging to him and speaking wiih a la voce piena di lagrime) voice full of emotion)

Febvre, la vita che gli concedesti un giorno, or Febvre, the life we spared so long ago gli rotogli... Comes wheeling back at us

Lefebvre (commosso) • Lefebvre , Ah, non guardarmi e taci! Look not at me Se tu mi preghi, che risponderc^? Be still! If you plead thus, what shall I say? II destino e segnato, io sono I'arma His destiny is signed, I am the arm del destino, e spietato obbediro! Of destiny, and under careful wktch

Ma quando torno, fa che non le vedo I must obey ! But when the deed is done. le tue lagrime, o cara! Ch'io non trovi Let me not see your tears, let me not see

il tuo pallido viso sulla soglia... .Your pallid face in the doorway. I shall flee

...E fuggiro dove la casa e piu Away to where the house is solitary 63 —— ! —:

MADAME SANS-G£NE

solitaria e segreta, And secret, alone with grief and this cold shade. solo col mio dolore e un'ombra fredda, With this cold shade that e'er will follow me. un'ombra fredda che m'inseguira. Look not at me—be still, my love Ah, non guardarmi e taci...

(Entra risoluto nella stanza di Napoleone.— {He goes resolutely to Napoleon's room. From Dalla principale entra Fouche, frettoloso, the main door enter Fouche, hastily—^he

e segue Lefebvre) follows Lefebvre.) I

Caterina {con angoscia profondd). Caterina {vnth deep anguish)

Louccidono! E nonposso far nulla!,.. Nulla! Ah, me! Ah, ^! Svegliar I'lmperatrice e gridarle: They kill him! And I can do nothing!

"Per Dio, sgozzano il vostro amante e voi nothing! '

dormite!,. Ah, yes ! To wake the Empress and cry to her "By God, they slay your lover while you sleep!"

{She hurries to the Empress's door, opens it {Cofre alia porta delV Imperatrice, Vapre ~e,

' the corri- dietro il primo uscio nel corriddio che and, behind the first entrance in precede la stanza, trova fermo, impassibile dor which is in front to the room, she finds, RoustAN. Caterina awetra-e richiude la fixed and defensive, Roustan. Caterina porta) recoils and closes the door. Enter Napo- leon, with a shrunken face; when he sees Caterina, he assumes his usual coldness.)

Napoleone (entra con il viso convulso; vede Napoleon

Caterina, riassume la consuetafreddezza) You here? still here! perhaps 'tis better so.

Siete qui? {He accosts her and affirms, as if to reassure Ancora qui! Meglio cosi! himself.)

(Le si accosta ed affierma quasi per rassicurare This man will die! For he was guilty. se stesso)

Quell'uomo va alia morte! Era colpevole!

{Ma ancora il suo dubbio lo tormenta. Guarda {But again his doubt torments him. He looks in negli occ'hi Caterina, come se volesse chie- Caterina's eyes, as if he wished to question derle qualche cosa. Poi, ripete, con intensa something there. Then he repeats, with espressione di domanda) an intense expression of demand:) Era colpevole? Was He guilty? Caterina Caterina

Sire... Sire

.Napoleone {confotza) Napoleon {with force) Dovete sapere... You ought to ;know^

'Caterina {eontvnuandd) 'Caterina {continuing)

Non so nullg,! I know Nothing, MADAME SANS-G^NE 67

Napoleone {eon ira) —

68 MADAME SANS-GI;nE

Napoleone , Napoleon Ah, la vostra paura, Your fear, sincerer than yourself. piu sincera di yoi, Confesses and condemns you!

confessa e lo condanna! {With great force.) (con grande forza) Will you go? Muoia, dunque!

Caterina {con un grido) Caterina {with a cry).^^ No, Sire! No, Sire!

Napoleone (con un gesto imperioso) Napoleon {with an imperative gesture) ' Entrate! Enter!

Caterina (esitante, agitata tra propositi diversi, Caterina {hesitating, agitated between differ- con la voce piena di pianto) ent intentions, with a voice full of

: tears)

Che tortura!. This is torture, torture!

{Ancora ripugnante, si dirige lentamente verso la {Still hesitant, she goes towards the door which pdrta che metie all' appartamento dell' Impe- leads to the Empress's apartment with slow ratrice. Napoleone la fissa, con i suoi steps. Napoleon fixes her with eyes full

' occhi pieni d'irresistihile comando. Smar- of irresistible command. Bewildered, .like rita, come un automa, ella si avanza, apre an automaton she advances and opens the la porta. Roustan, ch'e tuttora fermo net door.- Roustan, still standing firmly in vestibolo, le lascia il passo e rientra nel the vestibule, makes way for her and re- gabinetto imperiale. CAterina, giunta enters the imperial cabinet. Caterina, all'useio delV Imperatrice, aha la mano arriving at the Empress's door, raises her per hussare, ma la mano le ricade ed ella hand to knock, but the hand falls powerless si volge ancora in atto d'implorare verso at her side and she turns toward the Emperor I'Imperatore) again in the act of supplication. Napoleon Napoleone implacably commands her with a gesture to enter. (implacabile le comanda col gesto, di entrare. He turns down the lamp. The room Abbassa Iw fiamma della lampada. La is dark; Caterina knocks, and opens the

' door.) , stanza si fa oscura; Caterina bussa, e apre la porta) La Voce dell' Imperatrice The Voice of the Empress Ah, siete voi, signora de iBoulow? Ah, 'tis you, Madame de Bulow? {trembling, very Caterina {tremante, con un filo de voce) Caterina softly) Maesta, Neipperg e qui! Majesty, Neipperg is here!

La Voce dell' Imperatrice The Voice of the, tEmpress Bene... Dategli questo... "Tis well—Give this to him.

{s'intravede il braccio nudo delV Imperatrice, {One catches the glimpse of a bare arm of the che consegna a Caterina una grapide busta Empress, which consigns to Caterina a sigillata) large sealed packet.) Eaddio!... And my farewell! !

MADAME SANS-G:feNE

(Caterina chiude la porta, non ha la forza di (Caterina closes the door, has not the strength avanzarsi verso I'Imperatore. Egli corre a to advance towards the Emperor. He lei, con una mano I'afferra per un polso, e hurries to her, with one hand seizes her la trascina mezzo svenuta verso la scrivania, by the wrist and drags her half\ fainting to con Valtra mano le strappa la lettera, alza the writing-desk, with the other he snatches convulsa,mente la fiamma', mentre Cate- the letter from her, and excitedly puts up the rina piomba spossata e disperata sopra light, while she falls, weak and desperate, una poltrona) in an arm-chair.)

Napoleone {leggendo I'indirizzo della lettera) Napoleon {reading the address of the letter)

"A Sua Maesta I'Imperatore d'Austria...,, "His Majesty the Emperor of Austria."

(sorpreso) {surprised.) Suo padre?! Her father!

{Esita un momenta, poi scrolla le spalle e {He hesitates a moment,' then shrugs his shoulders rompe i suggelli, leggendo) and breaks the seal, reading)

"Signore e Caro Padre, poiche il ministro di "Honoured and dear father, since the minister polizia apre le mie lettere, ricorro al conte di of police opens my letters, I am taking re- Neipperg per inviarvi in segreto la presente... course to the Count of Neipperg, to send Le sue assidiiita... turbano me e I'Imperatore... this by him in secret. His assiduity troubles trattenetelo a Vienna...,, me and the Emperor. Entertain him in Vienna."

Caterina {con un'esplosione di gioia) Caterina {with a burst of joy) £ innocente, e innocente! He's innocent, he's innocent!

Napoleone {con I'espressione di chi e sollevato Napoleon {with the expression of one from da un gran peso, e con calma voluta) whom a great weight has fallen and with desired calm) II mio cuore non ne ha mai dubitato! My heart Never doubted it!

Caterina {tra se) Caterina {to herself) Ch& razza disfaeciata What bold impudence!

Napoleone {consegnando a Roustan ZaZeiiera) Napoleon {giving the letter to Roustan)

' Risigilla e riporta. Seal this again and take it.

(RousTAN esce. —Entrano Lefebvre, Fouche) (Roustan goes out. Enter Lefebvre and Fouche.)

FoucHE {presentando a Napoleone un foglio) Fouche {presenting a paper to Napoleon)

• Sire, ecco la sentenza! . Sire, the sentence!

Caterina {conungesto vivacemente popolaresco) Caterina {with a quick common gesture) Che sentenza d'Egitto! Sentence of Egypt!

{Accbrre a Lefebvre e gli parla frettolosanlente {She hurries to Lefebvre and speaks to him

', sottovoce) rapidly in a low voice.) ! —! !

70 MADAME SANS-&ENE

Napoleone (jprende sul suo scrittoio la spada Napoleon {taking from his desk Neippeeg's

di Neippebg e la consegna a Fouche) sword and giving it to Fouche)

Coiisegnatela a Neipperg! Consign this to Neipperg! Fo' grazia! Parta subito! I thank you! Go at once!

(FoucHife esce.—^Napoleone, volgendosi- con (Fouche goes out. Napoleon turns with a piglio burbero a Lefebvre) savage look to Lefebvbe.)

Quanto al vostro divorzioj... As to your divorce II mio volere e questo: My wish is this:

{accostandosi a Catebina, tirandole I'orecchio {Turning to Catebina, taking her by the ear e cambiando tono di voce) and changing the tonS of his voice.) Hold her forever, true— Che tu la tenga sul tuo cor serrata, \ for hfer to you \ Give thanks to heaven giving che tu ringrazi ,il Ciel che te I'ha data! into room. {Volta le spalle ed entra nella sua stanza. —Si {He' turns his back and goes Ms hunting- sentono fuori gli squilli dei corni da caccia. From outside comes the sound of great comes into the I servi aprono le porte di fondo. Penetra horns. Light in waves room.)' la luce a grandi fiotti nella stanza)

Catebina (a Lefebvre con gaia mvacita) Catebina {to Lefebvbe, with gay vivacity) O vecchio mio, piu mai My dear old friend, you'll not escape me now! fate is with than a sfuggirmi non potrai Your to mine bound more II tuo destino e al mio destiq legato: vow- you, beware Dio mi ti ha dato God gave me you—who touches e chi ti tocca, guai!

Lefebvbe Lefebvbe looks us there. II di che splende gi^, The smiling day, that upon love friendship, I sorridendo ci guarda, e ci rida Laughs with our and and e I'amore e I'amico! bless lo benedico This glowing dawn, my new-born happiness! la mia rinata felicita!

CoBO DI Cacciatobi {di fuori) Chobus of Huntsmen {outside) Within the shaded paths beyond the lea Entro i sentieri foschi dei boschi, Whispers the freshness of the day! Alali! Already through the brush there creeps along bisbiglia fresco il di! furious to us Alali, alali! The boar meet —hear our song! Neir ombra gia s'inselva la belva The wild beast leads us on to his own woe grasses che dal covile usci! Alali, alali! Among the open there—halloa! Ma la ferina traccia la caccia tra I'erba discopri! Alali, alali!

{L'atrio che da sul parco, si va popolando di {Through the opening to the park one sees cavalieri e di amazzoni.. II giardino im- crowds of cavaliers and amazons. The periale appare luminoso, pieno di cavalleg- imperial garden seems lu'minous,fuU of !

MADAME SANS-GENE 71

geri, di cacciatori, di canattieri. jS uno riders, huntsmen, and dog-keepers. There splendore di uniformi, un brush), un par- is the colour of uniforms, general noise and lare, un agitarsi, uno squillar di corni da movement, the sound of hunting-horns. caccia.)

(Carolina ed Elisa entrano nel gahinetto, in Caeolina and Elisa enter the cabinet, in costume di amazzone, seguite dalla loro riding-costume, followed by their escort of scoria d'onore) honour.) Napoleone {ritornando dalla sua stanza in Napoleon {returning from his room in a gray redingote grigia, cappello e stivaloni) coat, hat and big boots, to the Court) {a tutta la Corte) My friends let us be oflE

Signori, andiamo! {turning to Catebina) Give me your hand. {Volgendosi a Catebina) To your own threshold will I lead you back. Datemi la mano. Fino alia vostra soglia To do you worthy honour! vi condurro, per farvi giusto onore!

Catekina (a Napoleone) Catebina {to Napoleon) Ah, come potro dirvi quanta sia How can I say la gioia che mi palpita nel sen? What is the joy that throbs within me?

Napoleone Napoleon {emphasizing the words and in a

{sottolineando le parole e in modo che tutti way that all may hear, especially Elisa possano intendere, soprattutto Elisa e and Cabolina) Carolina) May

La Duchessa di Danzica mi sia fida, The J)uchess of Danzig be as true again

Come mi fu Madame Sans-G^ne! - To me as ever was Madame Sans-G^ne!

(Napoleone si inchina, prende la mano di (Napoleon bows, takes Catebina's hand and Catebina e gliela bacia rispettosamente. kisses it respectfully. Catebina, at the Catebina, al colmo delta gioia, volge to height of joy, throws a glance, half of sguardo, con una mezza smorfia, a Elisa disdain, upon Elsa and Carolina. e Carolina. Napoleone, tenendo sem- Napoleon, always holding Catebina's

pre per mano Catebina, si avvia verso il hand, goes towards the back, followed by fondo, seguito da Lefebvbe e da tutta la Lefebvbe and the whole court. When he is Corte. Quandoesullasoglia,li,ovsTAsgrida) at the door, Roustan cries out.)

Roustan Roustan L'lmperatore! The Emperor!

Una Voce piu lontana (annunciando) A Voice Fab Away {announcing)

L'lmperatore! - The Emperor!

Tutte le Voci {di fuori, in un grido.formida- All the Voices {outside, with a great cry) bile) Long live the Emperor! Viva l'lmperatore!

FINE THE END

This theatre, when filled to its capacity, can be emptied in five minutes. Choose the nearest exit now and in case of need walk quietly (do not run) to thai exit in order to avoid panic. "^BTROFOI^ITAN QfKRA ]H[oV3B

MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 25th. AT 8 O'CLOCK FIRST PERFORMANCE ON ANY STAGE MADAME S^NS GEN& OPERA IN FOUR ACTS LIBRETTO BY RENATO SIMONI (in Italian) Adapted From the Drama by VICTO'RIEN SARDOU and E. MOREAU MUSIC BY UMBERTO GIORDANO CATERINA HUBSCHER (MADAME sans-gene) GERALDINE FARRAR TONIETTA LENORA SPARKES FORNIA GIULIA . RITA LA ROSSA SOPHIE BRASLAU LEFEBVRE GIOVANNI MARTINELLI FOUCHE ANDREA DE SEGUROLA VINAIGRE MAX BLOCH

CONTE D! NEIPPERG . PAUL ALTHOUSE LA REGINA CAROLINA VERA CURTIS LA PRINCIPESSA ELISA MINNIE EGENER DESPREAUX ANGELO BADA GELSOMINO RICCARDO TEGANI LEROY .... ROBERT LEONHARDT DE BRIGODE VINCENZO RESCHIGLIAN NAPOLEONE PASQUALE AMAT9 ROUSTAN .... BERNARD BEGUE TOSCANINI CONDUCTOR ...... ARTURO (fVtf

STAGE MANAGER . JULES SPECK

CHORUS MASTER . . . '. GIULIO SETTI

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR . EDWARD SIEDLE PROGRAMME CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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