DODGSON, S: Margaret Catchpole – Two Worlds Apart 8.660459-61 A Music Drama in Four Acts Stephen Dodgson, music Ronald Fletcher, libretto (after the novel by Richard Cobbold) CHARACTERS William Laud, a ship’s captain and leader of a band of smugglers (tenor) John Luff, his close companion (baritone) Margaret Catchpole, daughter of a Suffolk labourer (soprano) Farmer Denton, a neighbouring farmer (bass) Mrs. Denton, his wife (mezzo-soprano) Lucy, their servant girl (soprano) Two farm labourers, harvesting with Farmer Denton (tenor/bass) John Barry, son of a local miller (baritone) ‘Crusoe’, a half-crazed old fisherman who haunts the Orwell shore (tenor) Dr. Stebbing, an Ipswich family doctor (bass-baritone) Mrs. Elizabeth Cobbold, Margaret’s employer, friend and benefactress (mezzo-soprano) Alice, maid in the Cobbold household (soprano) The Lord Chief Baron McDonald, Judge (bass) First Gaoler (baritone) Second Gaoler (silent) Mrs. Palmer, Principal of an orphanage for girls – Sydney, Australia (soprano) ACT 1 And look – I tell you, once and for all – I will have her with me. For so many years, I’ve longed for her… BY THE BANKS OF THE ORWELL So long… She twists me like a knife inside, for want of her. Scene 1: HARVEST TIME AT PRIORY FARM The truth is – the Devil take it! – I can’t bear to be without her. I need her. In the background are the stubble harvest fields, the crops now And she it was – remember? – who nursed me back to life gathered. In the near distance, down to the left, the shining estuary of From cutlass wounds taken defending you, the Orwell. On the left, in the foreground, a small farm hut. In the And the likes of you. centre, a track comes over from the hillsides, round a bush, and into Back to the ship and the open sea? the farmyard. To the right is the farmhouse in which the harvest Yes, by God! festivities are to be held, with a door and a large window on either side. But now, I’ll have her with me – Throughout the scene, the evening sunlight fades. The large moon, Even if I have to take her off by force. already in evidence, grows brighter. Later, lamps are lighted in the windows, lanterns are brought outside, and night has fallen when John LUFF Barry leaves and the scene closes. Well, now – that’s easily, easily done. Get her down to the beach tonight – Will Laud and John Luff enter surreptitiously, left, taking cover in front We’ll have her on board in a couple of shakes. of the farm hut – Luff protesting vigorously, and taunting his Once out to sea – once get her bedded – and she’s yours: companion. Home, family, and all that stuff, soon forgotten. Taker her – and be done. LUFF What an almighty fuss…about a woman. (Margaret appears round the bush, and comes along the track into the Lord – what a fuss, what a fuss. farmyard) A woman should only be kept for use – For bed and board. LAUD Her place is under a landman’s roof. She’s coming now. Be off with you – back to the boat! Once let her sniff, and pry, and work her way I’ll be with you soon. Into your own affairs, And – by God! – (Luff gestures in mock despair, and slips away to the river bank. Laud She’s like an anchor rattling fathoms down from your neck: stays behind the hut – awaiting her) Chaining you endlessly down. I say: back to the ship – and let this woman be. MARGARET Oh harvest moon, LAUD So low, so round, so dusky in the sky, Stop your prating man! So hazy and golden over the fields where the scythed poppies droop You’ll have the people here about our ears. and die, ⓟ & © 2021 Naxos Rights (Europe) Ltd. Page 1 of 18 DODGSON, S: Margaret Catchpole – Two Worlds Apart 8.660459-61 So golden over the braided sheaves, the shingle shore, the shining Clattering pots and pans, sea, Than I was born to trudge behind a plough: Oh harvest moon, A slave to a slave’s grave. How I do love this land, these peaceful fields, (He tries to embrace her, but she struggles to free herself as they hear This world of home you light for me. the men coming from the fields) Come with me now! Come with me – LAUD And you’ll see that all I say is true. (Stepping out and startling her) Margaret! MARGARET No, no! Let me go. Listen MARGARET Oh…Will (Farmer Denton and his labourers have brought home the last load of (They embrace impulsively, but, almost at once, Margaret pushes him the harvest, and are coming in traditional manner to the corner of the away) house. Farmer Denton leads the singing, followed by a chorus) No! No! Where have you been? DENTON So long away – after all your promises. The harvest is ended, your labours are o’er – At the same trade, I know. So come to spend Largess together once more… Why do you still come back – secretly, like a thief – When you never mean to keep y our word? LAUD The Devil curse the harvest! LAUD The voyage was so long, Margaret…Listen! DENTON Week after week we were bound in port – The last cart is loaded, and safely brought in – Storm after storm… So come and let Largess together begin… MARGARET MARGARET Storm after storm? Fight after fight, you mean. Go now – quickly – or they’ll find you here. Go! And all along this very Suffolk coast. Do you think I don’t know about your escapades? LAUD You – with a price on your head now – By the shore tonight, Margaret! We must talk again. A wanted man? MARGARET LAUD Go quickly! Margaret, I sear its true. Look – these are presents from the south of Spain: LAUD Some silk, and laces, and – look – smooth lady’s gloves. Don’t fail me. Call ‘Margaret’, and I’ll know it’s you. And for your family, here’s… MARGARET (Margaret sweeps them out of his hands, scattering them all over the No more of this. Go! ground) (As the men come near, Laud has to make his escape. Margaret MARGARET hastily tries to compose herself as Farmer Denton comes round the Presents, Will Laud? corner of the house with John Barry and two labourers – all singing the You do not know me yet. last lines of their chorus.) Do you think I want presents? That presents will buy me? DENTON and labourers Again – gain – I’ll brand it into your brain – The harvest is ended, our labours are o’er, I’ll never to won – never – We’ll come to spend Largess together once more, Until you change your evil, foolish ways. With full flowing mugs of old harvest beer, We’ll drink to our Master, who gives us good cheer. LAUD (seizing her angrily) (They see Margaret in some distress, but also the presents scattered By God, Margaret! Have a care on the ground about her) How you use that tongue of yours on me. Do you call it a crime, then, DENTON That all I want is to sail the high seas freely? Margaret…Well…what’s this? Would you see me bow down, then? Your visitor again, eh? Have ‘government officers’ telling me where I can trade? Your bold sea-faring gentleman again, eh? Did they make the laws? One of these days they’ll catch him – Did they make the sky and sea? You’ll see. To hold us all in bondage? But – till then, my girl – No, Margaret, no. He’s never going to let you be. Under that far and shining sky But come now – why in tears? Is a world that’s free. Over that sea’s heaving breast MARGARET Is a world that thrills the blood – (Passionately disclaiming) Making this land-life on Orwell’s shore Tears? I’m not weeping. Seem nothing but a drudge. Only so angry that he takes me for granted – I want you to share that world with me, Margaret. Thinks I’ll still want him, I tell you – and you know in your heart it’s true – Whatever he does, whenever he comes. You were no more born – you, with your proud spirit – To be a tame farmhand’s tame wife, ⓟ & © 2021 Naxos Rights (Europe) Ltd. Page 2 of 18 DODGSON, S: Margaret Catchpole – Two Worlds Apart 8.660459-61 (Mrs. Denton and Lucy, the servant girl, hearing the noise of the men’s Soon, I may have my father’s mill, arrival, come out of the door to greet them, and, excited by the exotic And everything I have, or do, would all be yours. gifts on the ground, pay little heed to Margaret’s distress) I love you, Margaret. All I want is to bring you happiness. MRS. DENTON Oh, my goodness gracious – look! MARGARET A silken shawl – ribbons and gloves. No, John. I cannot, cannot. I don’t believe Will Laud is evil. LUCY I do believe he has good in him. (Thoughtlessly parroting her mistress) And a straight way is hard for him – with all his adventure. Oh, my goodness gracious – look! No, John, I cannot, cannot. A cap and lace – such shining brocade. Whilst ever Will Laud lives, I cannot go to any other man. (The festivities begin to be heard from the farmhouse. The harvest MARGARET song begins quietly.) Take them all – take all of them. The ripen’d corn in sheaves is born, Do you think I’d touch his trashy gifts? The loaded wain brings home the grain, Pick them all up.