New version of Les contes d'Hoffmann (The tales of Hoffman)Offenbach, Jacques
General
New version of Les contes d'Hoffmann (The tales of Hoffman)
Offenbach, Jacques
Hoffmann, E. T. A. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus), 1776-1822 -- Drama; Operas -- Librettos
Turn, turn, mirror, where the lark is caught,
Sparkle diamond, fascinate, draw her...
The lark or the woman
To this conquering bait
Comes with wing or with heart;
One leaves her life, the other her soul.
Turn, turn, mirror where the lark is caught.
Sparkle, diamond, fascinate, attract her.
(Giulietta appears and advances fascinated toward the diamond that
Dapertutto holds towards her.)
DAPERTUTTO (placing the ring on Giuliettas finger).
GIULIETTA.
What do you await from your servant?
DAPERTUTTO.
Good, you have divined
At seducing hearts above all others wise,
You have given me
The shade of Schlemil! I vary
My pleasures and I pray you
To get for me to-day
The reflection of Hoffman!
GIULIETTA.
What! his reflection.
DAPERTUTTO.
Yes.
His reflection! You doubt
The power of your eyes?
GIULIETTA.
No.
DAPERTUTTO.
Who knows. Your Hoffman dreams, perhaps better.
(Severely) Yes, I was there, a while back, listening.
(With irony) He defies you...
GIULIETTA.
Hoffman? 'tis well!... From this day
I'll make him my plaything.
(Hoffman enters.)
DAPERTUTTO.
'Tis he!
(Dapertutto goes out. Hoffman intends to do the same.)
GIULIETTA (to Hoffman).
You leave me.
HOFFMAN (mockingly).
I have lost everything.
GIULIETTA.
What? you too...
Ah, you do me wrong.
Without pity, without mercy,
Go!... Go!...
HOFFMAN.
Your tears betrayed you.
Ah! I love you... even at the price of my life.
GIULIETTA.
Ah, unfortunate, but you do not know
That an hour, a moment, may prove fatal?
That my love will cost your life if you remain?
That Schlemil, this night, may strike you in my arms?
Listen to my prayer;
My life is wholly yours.
Everywhere I promise to accompany your steps.
HOFFMAN.
Ye gods with what bliss ye fire my heart?
Like a concert divine your voice does move me;
With a fire soft yet burning my being is devoured;
Your glances in mine have spent their flame,
Like radiant stars
And I feel, my well beloved,
Pass your perfumed breath
On my lips and on my eyes.
GIULIETTA.
Yet, to-day, strengthen my courage
By leaving me something of you!
HOFFMAN.
What do you mean?
GIULIETTA.
Listen and don't laugh at me.
(She takes Hoffman in her arms and finds a mirror.)
What I want is your faithful image,
To reproduce your features, your look, your visage,
The reflection that I see above me bend.
HOFFMAN.
My reflection? What folly!
GIULIETTA.
No! for it can detach itself
From the polished glass
And come quite whole in my heart to hide.
HOFFMAN.
In your heart?
GIULIETTA.
In my heart. 'Tis I who beg thee,
Hoffman, give me my wish.
HOFFMAN.
My reflection?
GIULIETTA.
Your reflection. Yes, wisdom or folly,
I await, I demand.
(Ensemble.)
HOFFMAN.
Ecstasy, unappeased bliss,
Strange and soft terror,
My reflection, my soul, my life
To you, always to you!
GIULIETTA.
If your presence I lose,
I would keep of you
Your reflection, your soul, your life;
Dear one, give them me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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