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Subject Area: Music
Topic: Opera and Liberty

ACT III. - Giuseppe Verdi, Rigoletto: An Opera in Four Acts [1851]

Edition used:

Rigoletto: An Opera in Four Acts, words by Victor Hugo (New York: Fred Rullman, n.d.). Metropolitan Opera House, Grand Opera, Libretto.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


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.

They robbed me of my love!

When! At the moment

A voice within my heart

Did call me back to her!

I found the door wide open; the house deserted.

And where now can that dearest angel be

Who first within my heart

Awoke such flames of love;—

That soul, whose magic charms

Would almost draw me back to virtue’s path?

They tore her from her home;

But he who dared so much shall soon repent.

The grief of my beloved demands revenge.

Methinks I see a tear,

That’s starting to her eyes,

Which ’midst the grief and fear

Of such a sad surprise,

In fond remembrance said

Ah! Walter, lend me aid.

But I was far away;

Thou had’st no help from me.

Yet, willingly my life

I would have lost for thee!

No bliss on earth—no bliss above—

Can equal thy sweet love!

SCENE II.—

EnterMarullo, Count Ceprano, Borsa,and other Courtiers.

All.

Duke, duke!

Duke.

What news?

All.

Last night we stole away

The mistress of your jester.

Duke.

Is she pretty? Where was she them

All.

At her house.

Duke.

How did this happen?

All.

As we went down a lane,

When day had disappeared,

There, as we had expected,

A lady sweet appeared!

She was your jester’s love;

But soon she ran away.

We thought to bring her here,

When he came in the way.

We come to steal Ceprano’s wife,

Give us your aid, to him we told.

We put a band upon his eyes,

And then the ladder made him hold.

In haste we mounted, and broke the doors,

His lady-love was brought here straight;

When he found out he was deceived,

We left him there to curse his fate.

Duke.

(What do I hear? She is my love!

Alas! My hopes are now all lost.)

[Aside.

But where can this lady be?

All.

She is here, in your own palace.

Duke.

(Yes, love now give me aid;

To her I must repair!

I would give up the world

To change to joy her care.

Ah! soon she will discover

My station, rank, and name,

And learn that love makes slaves

’Mongst rich and poor the same.)

[The Duke exit hastily.

All.

The duke is wrapt in thought;

He seems no more the same.

SCENE III.—

EnterRigoletto.

Mar.

Poor Rigoletto!

Chorus.

He comes. be silent.

All.

Good morning, Rigoletto.

Rig.

(They have deceived me!)

Cep.

What news, Buffoon?

Rig.

You are, I think,

More troublesome than ever.

All.

Ah! ah! ah!

Rig.

Ah! where can they have taken my dear child?

[Looking round uneasily.

All.

(Look, how uneasy he appears!)

Rig.

I am glad to find

The cold air of last night

Has done no harm to you.

Mar.

Last night?

Rig.

A fine affair it was.

Mar.

I slept all night.

Rig.

All night? I then have dreamed.

[He walks about, and seeing a handkerchief on the table, observes the mask.

All.

(Look how he spies all things.)

Rig.

(It is not hers.)

[Throwing it away.

Is the duke still asleen?

All.

Yes, he sleeps still.

SCENE IV.—

Enter a Page of the Duchess.

Page.

The duchess is anxious to see the duke.

Cep.

He sleeps.

Page.

Was he not here just now?

Borsa.

Yes. but he went to hunt.

Page.

Without his suite?

All.

Dost thou not understand.

That for the moment he cannot be seen.

Rig.

(who has paid great attention to the dialogue, suddenly exclaims—)

Ah! then she is here, she is with the duke.

All.

Who?

Rig.

The lady you have stolen

Last night from my own roof.

All.

You are delirious.

Rig.

But I shall rescue her. She must be there.

All.

If you have lost your mistress,

’Tis not within these walls you have to search.

Rig.

Ah! give me back my daughter.

All.

His daughter!

Rig.

Ah! yes, my daughter, of your action now

No, no, you cannot laugh!

She is there, give back to me my child.

[Rig. runs toward the door, but all prevent his passage.

Impious courtiers, race of cowards,

For what price my child you sold?

For gain no crime your hand restrains;

To me my child is more than gold.

Give her back, or, though disarmed,

Against your life I’ll raise my hand;

Naught on earth a father fears

When he his children doth defend

Cowards, open at least that door.

[Rig. goes again to the door, but he is prevented from opening it.

Alas! you come against me all;

Well, I weep—Marullo—yield,

I know you have a gentle heart,

Tell me where she is concealed.

Speak—she is there. You are all mute.

Give back the daughter to the old man:

My friends, my lords, have pity on me,

It costs you nothing to grant this boon;

But all my hopes in her I see.

SCENE V.—

EnterGilda,who throws herself into the arms of her father.

Gil.

My father!

Rig.

My dear Gilda!

My lords, she is my only child!

Oh, fear no more! It was only for jest

I cried, but now I laugh—Why dost thou weep?

Gil.

The fear—the shame—oh father!

Rig.

Alas! what dost thou say?

Gil.

I cannot speak in presence of so many.

Rig.

[To the Courtiers, in an imperious manner.

Away, depart from here!

And if the Duke should dare to approach this room,

Tell him he must not come, that I am here.

[Throws himself upon a chair.

All.

With children and with fools

We must sometimes seem to yield:

Let us go, but what he does

We shall spy herein concealed.

[Exeunt from the door in front, shutting it behind them.

SCENE VI.—

RigolettoandGilda.

Rig.

Now speak, we are alone.

Gil.

Now, Heaven, give me aid!

Each Sunday, whilst I went

To church, my prayers to say,

A youth of heavenly beauty

Did follow on our way;

And if our lips were silent,

The eyes betray’d our hearts.

In secret, only yesterday,

He came to me at night;

I am a student—poor—

Much moved, he said to me,

And ardently repeated,

I am in love with thee.

He left me then; my heart

With brighter hopes did beat,

When suddenly appeared

Those men who took me away,

And brought me to this place,

Half fai ting, in dismay.

Rig.

Ah, speak no more my angel!

(Now all I understand—

Upon my head alone

I asked thy curse, O Heaven

I begged that she may rise

The moment I should die—

Ah! often by the scaffold

The altar raised we see!

Now all for e’er is lost,

No hope remains to me!)

Ah, weep, my child, and let thy tears

Upon my bosom fall.

Gil.

My father, your dear words

Forever my grief consoles.

Rig.

I must settle some affairs,

And then forever we will leave this place.

Gil.

Yes.

Rig.

One day has changed our fate.

SCENE VII.—

Enter a Herald, andCount Monterone,who crosses the stage in the midst of Guards.

Her.

Open the door, the Count must pass to prison.

[To the guards.

Mon.

Since thou hast been in vain accursed by me,

Since yet no sword has entered in thy breast,

And happy thou must live—

Rig.

No, no, old man, I shall avenge your wrongs.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.—

RigolettoandGilda.

Rig.

Ah, yes! I shall have vengeance,

It is my only wish.

The hour is not far distant

That will thy ruin strike.

Upon thy head my fury

Will fall, then, thunder-like.

Gil.

Oh, father! what sad joy

Is sparkling in your eyes?

Ah! spare him; to us also

Heaven will its mercy show.

In spite of his deceit,

My heart for him doth beat.

end of the third act.