The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Rigoletto the Story
• Personages.
• Rigoletto (italian Language).
• Atto I.
• Scena I.—: Sala Magnifica Nel Palazzo Ducale. Il Duca E Borsa Che Vengono Da Una Porta Del Fondo.
• Scena II.—: Detti, Il Conte Di Ceprano, Che Segue Da Lungi La Sua Sposa Seguita Da Altro Cavaliere. Dame E Signora Entrano Da Varie Parti.
• Scena III.—: Detti E Rigoletto Che S’ Incontra Nel Signor Di Ceprano; Poi Cortigiani.
• Scena IV.—: Detti E Marullo Premuroso
• Scena V.—: Detti Ed Il Duca Seguita Da Rigoletto, Indi Ceprano.
• Scena VI.—: Detti Ed Il Conte Di Monterone.
• Atto II.
• Scena X.—: Detti E Giovanna Dalla Casa.
• Scena XI.—: Detti Ed Il Duca In Costume Borghese Dalla Strada.
• Scena XII.—: Gilda, Giovanna, Il Duca Nella Corte, Poi Ceprano E Borsa a Tempo Sulla Via.
• Scena XIII.—: Gilda Sola.
• Scena XIV.—: Marullo, Ceprano, Borsa, Cortigiani Armati E Mascherati Dalla Via. Gilda Sul Terazzo, Che Tosto Entra In Casa.
• Scena XV.—: Detti E Rigoletto Concentrato.
• Atto III.
• Scena I.—: Salotto Nel Palazzo Ducale. Vi Sono Due Porte Laterali, Una Maggiore Nel Fondo Che Si Chiude. A’ Suoi Lati Pendono I Ritratti In Tutta Figura, a Sinistra Del Duca, a Destra Della Sua Sposa. V’ Ha Un Seggiolone Presso Una Tavola Coperta Di Vellu
• Scena II.—: Marullo, Ceprano, Borsa, Ed Altri Cortigiani, Del Mezzo.
• Scena III.—: Marullo, Ceprano, Borsa, Altri Cortigiana, Poi Rigoletto Dalla Destra, Ch’ Entra Cantarellando Con Reprezso Dolore.
• Scena IV.—: Detti E Un Paggio Della Duchessa.
• Scena V.—: Detti E Gilda Ch’ Esce Dalla Stanza a Sinistra E Si Getta Nelle Paterne Braccia.
• Scena VI.—: Rigoletto E Gilda.
• Scena VII.—: Detti, Un Usciere, E Il Conte Di Monterone, Che Dalla Destra Attraversa Il Fon Da Della Sala Fra Gli Alabardieri.
• Scena VIII.—: Rigoletto E Gilda
• Atto IV.
• Scena I.—: Deserta Sponda Del Mincio. Gilda E Rigoletto Inquieto Sono Sulla Strada. Sparafucile Nell’ Interno Dell’ Osteria, Seduto Presso Una Tavola, Sta Ripulendo Il Suo Cinturone, Senza Nulla Intendere Di Quanto Accade Al Di Fuori.
• Scena II.—: Detti Ed Il Duca, Che, In Assisa Di Semplice Officiale Di Cavalleria Entra Nella Sala Terrena Per Una Porta a Sinistra.
• Scena III.—: Gilda E Rigoletto Sulla Via, Il Duca E Maddalena Nel Piano Terreno.
• Scena IV.—: Sparafucile, Rigoletto, Il Duca E Maddalena.
• Scena V.—: Detti, Meno Rigoletto.
• Scena VI.—: Detti E Gilda Che Comparisa Nel Fondo Della Via In Costume Virile, Con Stivali E Speroni, E Lentamente Si Avanza Verso L’ Osteria, Mentre Sparafucile Continua Bere. Spessi Lampi E Tuoni.
• Scena VII.—: Rigoletto Solo Si Avanza Da Fondo Della Scena Chiuso Nel Suo Mantello.
• Scena VIII.—: Detto E Sparafucile [editor: Illegible Word] Casa
• Scena IX.—: Rigoletto, Poi Il Duca [editor: Illegible Word] Tempo.
• Rigoletto (english Langauge)
• Act I, Scene I.—: A Ball-room In the Ducal Palace. Ladies and Gentlemen, Pages and Servants, Cross the Scene. Music Is Heard At a Distance, and Now and Then Bursts of Laughter. Enter the Duke and Borsa.
• Scene II.—: Enter Count Ceprano, Watching At a Distance the Countess, Who Is Followed By a Gentleman. Ladies and Lords Cross the Scene.
• Scene III.—: Enter Rigoletto, Who Meets Count Ceprano and Courtiers.
• Scene IV.—: Enter Marullo, With Great Anxiety.
• Scene V.—: Enter the Duke, Followed By Rigoletto, Afterwards Ceprano.
• Scene VI.—: Enter Count Monterone.
• Act II.
• Scene X.—: Enter Giovanna From the House.
• Scene XI.—: The Duke In Disguise Arrives In the Street.
• Scene XII.—: Gilda, Giovanna, the Duke In the Court Yard; Afterwards Ceprano and Borsa In the Street.
• Scene XIII.—: Gilda Alone.
• Scene XIV.—: Marullo, Ceprano, Borsa, Courtiers In Masks, and Armed, In the Street; Gilda On the Terrace, Entering the House.
• Scene XV.—: Enter Rigoletto, Absorbed In Thought.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: A Room In the Ducal Palace. Doors Right and Left and One In Front. On One Side the Portrait of the Duke, On the Other Side That of the Duchess. a Table, Arm-chair, &c. Enter the Duke, Much Agitated.
• Scene II.—: Enter Marullo, Count Ceprano, Borsa, and Other Courtiers.
• Scene III.—: Enter Rigoletto.
• Scene IV.—: Enter a Page of the Duchess.
• Scene V.—: Enter Gilda, Who Throws Herself Into the Arms of Her Father.
• Scene VI.—: Rigoletto and Gilda.
• Scene VII.—: Enter a Herald, and Count Monterone, Who Crosses the Stage In the Midst of Guards.
• Scene VIII.—: Rigoletto and Gilda.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: A Desert Spot On the Banks of the River Mincio. Gilda and Rigoletto In the Road. Sparafucile In the Inn, Cleaning His Leather Belt.
• Scene II.—: The Duke, Dressed As a Private Officer, Enters the Inn.
• Scene III.—: Gilda and Rigoletto On the Road. Magdalen and the Duke In the Inn.
• Scene IV.—: Sparafucile, Rigoletto, Duke and Magdalen.
• Scene V.—: Sparafucile, the Duke, and Magdalen.
• Scene VI.—: Enter Gilda From the Road, Disguised As a Man, and Slowly Advancing Toward the Inn, Whilst Sparafucile Drinks. It Lightens and Thunders.
• Scene VII.—: Rigoletto Advances From the Road Enveloped In His Cloak. the Violence of the Storm Is Diminished, Only Now and Then the Lightning Is to Be Seen and the Thunder Heard.
• Scene VIII.—: Enter Sparafucile.
• Scene IX.—: Rigoletto, and Afterward the Duke.
• Rigoletto (scores)
• Della Mia Bella.—act I.
• Caro Nome. Act II.
• Questa O Quella. Act I.
• Si Vendetta Tremenda. Act II.
• La Donna E Mobile. Act III.

SCENE VI.—

EnterCount Monterone.

Mon.

(from without) I must see him.

Duke.

No, no.

Mon.

I will.

[Entering.

All.

Monterone!

Mon.

(looking at the Duke, with pride.)

Yes, Monterone.—My voice

For ever I will raise against your crimes.

Rig.

(to the Duke, counterfeiting Mon.’s voice.)

I must see him.

You have conspired against our name, my lord,

And we have granted pardon—

What madness now is yours? In this glad hour

To come and claim the honor of your daughter!

Mon.

(looking at Rig. with contempt.)

A new insult! but your nefarious orgies

I will disturb. Here I will raise my voice

Until the honor of an injured family

Shall be restored.

And even if you were

To sign my death and send me to the block,

My shade will claim revenge!

Duke.

No more—arrest him.

Rig.

He is mad!

Cho.

He is mad!

Mon.

Be both for ever accursed.

[To Rig. and the Duke.

To strike the dying lion,

’Tis base—but thou, reptile,

Who dar’st to laugh at an old father’s grief

Malediction fall on thee!

Rig.

What do I hear!

Oh, terror!

[Aside. All, except Rig.

Rash man, your evil spirit

Has brought you to disturb this feast,

Your words are vain. Away!

The Duke’s revenge you raise!

No hope for you remains,

This is your fatal day.

[Mon. is lead away by the soldiers, the others follow the Duke.

ACT II.

The end of a Street. House and Garden ofRigoletto,with flight of stairs. EnterRigolettoenveloped in his cloak, and followed bySparafucile,carrying a long sword.

Rig.

(That man has cursed me.)

Spa.

Sir?

Rig.

Go: I need you not.

Spa.

I have not spoken! Only I showed myself

There with my dagger, ready to your orders.

Rig.

You are a thief.

Spa.

A man,

That for a trifle will free you from rivals,

And you have one.

Rig.

Who is he?

Spa.

Is not your mistress here?

Rig.

(What do I hear?) How much have I to pay

To rid me from a man?

Spa.

A little more.

Rig.

And when must you be paid?

Spa.

One half before the deed, The other after.

Rig.

(O wretch!) And how can you Be sure of the success?

Spa.

I kill them in the street,

Or e’en in my own house.

I await my man at night;

A single blow—he dies.

Rig.

But how in your own house?

Spa.

Nothing can be more easy,

My sister helps me.

She dances in the streets—she is handsome;

And she attracts the man I want—I then—

Rig.

I understand!

Spa.

Without the slightest noise,

This is my trusty weapon!

[Shows his sword.

Can I serve you?

Rig.

Not now.

Spa.

The worse for you.

Rig.

Perhaps another day.

Spa.

Sparafucile I am called.

Rig.

A foreigner?

Spa.

From Burgundy.

[In the act of going away

Rig.

But where could I meet you?

Spa.

At this spot, always at night.

Rig.

Well, go.

[Spa. exit.

Rigolettolooking afterSparafucile.

My weapon is my tongue—and his the dagger;

I make the people laugh, he makes them mourn!

We are alike!—That man has cursed me!

Ye men and nature.

’Tis you that made me wicked;

O rage! to be deformed—and a buffoon!

To be condemned to laugh against my will:

To ask in vain the common gift—of tears!

Alas! my master, young,

And full of mirth,

At every moment says,

Now make me laugh, buffoon.

I must do it. Oh! rage.

I hate you all, vile courtiers!

On you, therefore, my tongue delights to dwell;

For you I am depraved—

But here I am not the same;

That man has cursed me! But why this thought

Thus haunts my mind?

What can I have to fear? No, No, ’tis madness.

[He opens and enters.

EnterGildafrom house and throws herself in his arms.

Rig.

My daughter!

Gilda.

Father.

Rig.

Near to thee alone,

This poor dejected heart returns to joy.

Gilda.

My father dear!

Rig.

Thou art my only hope;

What else have I on earth except my Gilda?

Gilda.

You sigh! What is the cause o your affliction?

Tell it to your poor daughter

Intrust to me your secrets,

And let me know my family

Rig.

Ah! thou hast none!

Gilda.

Your name!

Rig.

What matters it to thee?

Gilda.

If you object to speak

Of our relations—

Rig.

Dost thou ever leave this house?

[Interrupting her.

Gilda.

I only go to church.

Rig.

That’s right, my child.

Gilda.

If you will not reveal your name or rank,

Ah, let me know, at least, who is my mother.

Rig.

Ah, do not awake, I pray,

A memory so sad;

Of my dejected state

She alone compassion had.

Despised, deformed, and poor,

Through pity, me she loved.

She died—ah, may the earth

Lay lightly on her head—

Thou art my only treasure—

O God! be thou her aid?

[Sighing.

Gilda.

Alas, what grief! ah, never

Saw I such bitter tears!

Ah, father, be more calm,

Or you will break my heart.

To me reveal your name;

To me your grief impart.

Rig.

Why this?—I am thy father,

This is enough for thee.

I might perhaps be hated,

Or be by others feared.

Alas! I have been cursed!

Gilda.

No country, no relations,

No friends, you then possess?

Rig.

What dost thou say, my love?

Thou art my god, my country,

Thou art the world to me!

Gilda.

If I could see you glad,

I happy, too, would be.

It is three months now, since we here arrived,

And nothing I have seen yet of the city.

I wish to see it now, if you will grant it.

Rig.

Hast thou ne’er left this house?

Gilda.

Never!

Rig.

Mind!

Gilda.

(What do I say?)

Rig.

Nor must thou ever leave it.

(She might be followed, she might be stolen,

And they would laugh at the dishonor

Of a buffoon. O shame!) Ho! there!

[Towards the house.