“Galathée” – Act 2

ACT TWO

Entr’acte

SCENE ONE

GANYMEDE, alone. Tiptoes in from upstage with a bunch of grapes in his hand. Did my master call me a quarter of an hour ago? Yes, I recognized his voice all too well. He probably wanted his supper… But since I forgot to get provisions in this morning and I’ve eaten up everything left in the larder… I think I’ve acted wisely in not showing myself and pretending not to hear… Poor young man! He must have gone to eat out. As for me – I’m no longer hungry. (He settles down into an armchair.) My day is over! COUPLETS. Ah, how sweet it is to do nothing When there is tumult all around! Be it Phœbus or Phœbe who give me light, Be it wind or rain outdoors, I prefer to sleep! Sleeping is a heavenly pleasure! Happiness comes to us while we sleep! All work is drudgery for me, And any trouble is a bore! Without any offense to the other gods we worship Morpheus is a god with a good wit, For his altar is a good bed, And he is worshipped in sleep! Ah, how sweet it is to do nothing etc. (He rises.) Here in the world we give homage To the masters who watch over us! Sailors in the tempest Kneel to pray to Neptune! Drinkers in their drunken stupor Call on Bacchus with their prayers, Lovers celebrate Venus, And I glorify idleness! Ah, how sweet it is to do nothing etc.

(Seeing Galatea in the garden.) Ah! what is it I can see over there?… a woman walking in our garden?… Trampling our flower beds and knocking down our rose bushes? (He props himself up.) Oh ho! It can only be one of my master’s former lady friends… (Galatea appears downstage.) Almighty gods! It’s the statue! I dare not believe my eyes! (Opening the curtains.) No doubt possible! Nothing behind the curtain!… (Moving downstage.) It’s the statue!

SCENE II

(Galatea runs in with flowers in her hands.) GALATEA, noticing Ganymede. Ah ! (Drops her flowers.) GANYMEDE It’s her, no mistake! GALATEA Who are you? GANYMEDE, stammering. Me? I’m… GALATEA Come here! GANYMEDE, aside. I’m done for if she recognises me! GALATEA Come on! (Looking at him closely.) Oh, I fancy your face! GANYMEDE Ah really? GALATEA Let’s sit down and have a chat! (She seats him beside her.) GANYMEDE, aside. Well, well, well!… GALATEA What is your name? GANYMEDE Ganymede!

GALATEA My dear Ganymede! GANYMEDE, aside. Damn! She is a quick worker! (Out loud.) What if my master discovered us? GALATEA Your master? GANYMEDE Lord Pygmalion! GALATEA Who? That melancholic character who is trying to keep me here against my will? GANYMEDE Have you seen him? GALATEA He was here a while ago. I sent him to the market! GANYMEDE To the market? GALATEA His sighing got on my nerves! GANYMEDE Ha, ha, ha, ha! GALATEA What’s more, I think he’s less good looking than you are! GANYMEDE Thank you! (Aside.) What a very friendly statue! GALATEA Tell me, I’m a woman, am I not? GANYMEDE No doubt. GALATEA What about you? GANYMEDE Me? GALATEA Are you a woman too? GANYMEDE No, I’m a man !

GALATEA Ah, so much the better! I think it is better that way, we’ll get on better… Kiss me! GANYMEDE, surprised. Ah? GALATEA, offering her cheek. Just kiss me! GANYMEDE, having looked over his shoulder. Gladly! (He leans to kiss Galatea; Midas can be seen rushing in through the back gate.)

SCENE III

GALATEA, to Ganymede. Well?… GANYMEDE, looking round as he hears Midas. Who goes there? MIDAS Have no fear! It is I! GANYMEDE You again! MIDAS Yes, I saw your master leave… And I… GALATEA, rising. Who is this, dear Ganymede? Why are we being disturbed? MIDAS, stupefied, collapses into an armchair. Oh ! A miracle ! a statue who talks and walks… GALATEA Oh, how ugly he is! MIDAS, rising. Thank you. GANYMEDE I told you she would talk! MIDAS I can’t believe my eyes! How can you explain it? GANYMEDE Ask Venus! She’s probably the one who played this nasty trick on my master!

MIDAS Your master has no cause for complaint! GANYMEDE Who knows? She’s a woman and all that goes with it… and I think she’ll be of a mind to make up for lost time! MIDAS That’s good to know… introduce me to her! GANYMEDE With pleasure. (Introducing Midas to Galatea.) Allow me to introduce you to lord Midas, an honest lord from the island of Cyprus. A great admirer of statues. He wanted to take you away this morning, to put you in his garden, in an arbour of oleanders. GALATEA Really? MIDAS, whispering to Ganymede. She is charming! GANYMEDE Her mirror already told her as much! GALATEA, to Ganymede, aside. Tell me! I’m a woman, and you are a man, but (pointing to Midas) what is he? GANYMEDE What is he? GALATEA What is it? GANYMEDE What we call an old man! GALATEA Ugh. MIDAS, whispering to Ganymede. What does she say? GANYMEDE She thinks you are most engaging! MIDAS, joyfully. (Goes towards Galatea.) Ah, charming statue! GALATEA What? MIDAS Adorable Galatea!

GALATEA What do you want of me? MIDAS What I want, o most beautiful creature, what I want…? GALATEA Well? MIDAS, throwing himself at Galatea’s feet. I want to beg at your feet, to tell you I love you! GALATEA, laughing. Ha! ha! ha! MIDAS That I adore you! GALATEA, still laughing. Ha! ha! ha! MIDAS That your beautiful eyes have driven me mad! GALATEA Ha! ha! ha! poor man! (Looking at him.) Just look, Ganymede, how funny he is! GANYMEDE, laughing. Ha! ha! ha! MIDAS, sighing. Ah! GALATEA Are you in pain? MIDAS I’m dying! GALATEA, turning to Ganymede. He really is not handsome! (Midas stands up again.)

TRIO. MIDAS I never thought I was ugly! GALATEA My word, you are, you are really ugly! GANYMEDE Ah! the fact is that he’s as ugly as sin!

MIDAS What, I’m ugly? GALATEA You are ugly! GANYMEDE He is very ugly! ENSEMBLE. MIDAS I never thought, etc. GALATEA My word, you are, etc. GANYMEDE Ah! the fact is, etc. MIDAS, threatening Ganymede. All right then, let’s not talk about my face! GALATEA Ah, what a piteous face! GANYMEDE Let’s not talk about his face any more! MIDAS, whispering to Galatea. I fancy you, I do declare! GALATEA, whispering to Ganymede. He is very old, that’s for sure! GANYMEDE The old goat is long past it. MIDAS, pulling Galatea aside. That damned rascal! what is he telling you now? (He waves Ganymede away.) Charming Galatea, my dear treasure! With gold I would have been Overjoyed to buy you, If just a while ago, Instead of refusing My money, like an idiot, Your master had taken me up on it! GALATEA Gold? How is that? You have got gold? MIDAS Yes, my sweet one! I have much money… and if you wish, it shall be yours!

GALATEA, to Ganymede. He has got gold! GANYMEDE He has got gold! MIDAS Yes, my treasure, I have much gold And believe me, If you love me, it shall be yours! GALATEA All shall be mine? MIDAS Yes, believe me! If you love me, it shall be yours! GALATEA All shall be mine? MIDAS It shall be yours! GALATEA, turning towards Ganymede. What do you think? Am I supposed to love him? GANYMEDE, pointing to Midas. Make up your own mind! GALATEA, looking Midas up and down. He still seems ugly to me! GANYMEDE That’s true, he is ugly in spite of everything! MIDAS, attacking Ganymede. Ah, you rascal! (Turns towards Galatea.) To win your favours, what must I do? GALATEA To love you, what can I do? GANYMEDE, aside. I can’t see much to do! MIDAS, taking off his necklace. If this necklace could entice you!… GALATEA This necklace could certainly take my fancy! GANYMEDE, whispering to Galatea. Take anything that takes your fancy.

MIDAS, aside, to Galatea. Come, come, let’s get away from this boor! (He pulls Galatea towards the other side of the stage, and makes signs to Ganymede to go away.) Charming Galatea, my dear treasure! What else would you like? Are you not tempted yet, dear fresh face, To flash these golden rings From you beautiful fingers? GALATEA What? these lovely jewels… this ring? MIDAS Yes, little rascal, Yes, little love… and I am giving them to you! GALATEA, showing the ring to Ganymede. It’s made of gold! GANYMEDE The finest gold! MIDAS Here, dear treasure, Do take some more! (He takes off his bracelets and earrings.) Ah! believe you me, If you love me, it all shall be yours! GALATEA Give me some more! MIDAS Ah! believe you me, If you love me, it all shall be yours! GALATEA, spoken. Give me some more! MIDAS I’ve nothing left! GALATEA, spoken. You’ve nothing left? (Turning back to Ganymede.) Really, Ganymede! GANYMEDE What? GALATEA He has nothing left! GANYMEDE Well let him be off!

GALATEA Go away! MIDAS Oh! GALATEA What do you think? should I love him? GANYMEDE Make up your own mind about that! GALATEA, same as above. He seems ugly to me after all! GANYMEDE That’s true, he is ugly in spite of everything! MIDAS Please! Galatea, please! I never thought I was ugly. GALATEA Indeed, you are still ugly! GANYMEDE It’s true, he’s uglier still! MIDAS What, I’m ugly? GALATEA You are ugly! GANYMEDE He is very ugly! ENSEMBLE. MIDAS I never thought I was ugly, But it seems that I am ugly after all! GALATEA He never thought he was ugly, But as he is, he’s repugnant to me! GANYMEDE He never thought he was ugly But the fact is he’s as ugly as sin! MIDAS What, I’m ugly? I never thought I was ugly, GALATEA You are ugly! Upon my faith! Indeed, you are ugly!

GANYMEDE Ah! the fact is he’s as ugly as sin! Ah! how ugly! MIDAS That’s done me a lot of good! Well, if you don’t want my love, give me back my jewels! GALATEA No, I’ll keep them to remember you by! MIDAS, coming forward to kiss her. Allow me at least to… GALATEA I’ll have nothing of it! MIDAS A kiss? GALATEA No! MIDAS Just one kiss? GALATEA No! no! MIDAS, kissing her on the shoulder. Ah ! (Galatea gives him a good slap.) Ho ! GANYMEDE, laughing. Good! MIDAS I’ve been blinded! GANYMEDE He’s been slapped by a statue! GALATEA Shhh! GANYMEDE What’s up? GALATEA Can’t you hear? GANYMEDE, running upstage. It’s lord Pygmalion at the door!

MIDAS Pygmalion! GANYMEDE, running off. Each man for himself!… GALATEA, to Midas. Hide! MIDAS Hide? GALATEA Yes, this will be fun! (Pushing him towards a big armchair.) There, behind this armchair! MIDAS Behind this armchair? GALATEA Quick! I can hear him! do hide! MIDAS Off! (Galatea sits in the armchair with Midas hiding behind it. Pygmalion appears upstage, carrying a basket laden with fruit.)

SCENE IV

PYGMALION Here I am! GALATEA, hiding Midas’ jewels. Ah! It’s you? PYGMALION I stayed out longer than I intended… Just near here I met some friends, who wanted me to go off with them! GALATEA, indifferent. Ah… PYGMALION Old carousing friends, they are to make a night of it, drinking and singing, they wouldn’t hear of me not coming! GALATEA Why didn’t you go with them? PYGMALION To stay with you!

GALATEA Ah! PYGMALION Aren’t we to sup together?… GALATEA That’s right!… I forgot! PYGMALION Were you bored while I was away? GALATEA No, not too bored! MIDAS, aside, hidden from view. How charmingly frank! PYGMALION No one came? GALATEA No, no one! MIDAS She knows how to lie! PYGMALION Ganymede has not turned up again? GALATEA Ganymede? what Ganymede? PYGMALION A rascally slave – I beat him this morning. He’s probably hiding somewhere round here. GALATEA I haven’t seen him! MIDAS, aside. What assurance!… PYGMALION We’ll do without him! GALATEA, aside. If he were here, we’d have some fun. (Aloud.) Would you like me to call him? PYGMALION No need! GALATEA I’d be curious to see him. Do have him come, please.

PYGMALION Do you really want me to? GALATEA Please do! PYGMALION So be it! (Calling.) Ganymede! GALATEA, calling too. Ganymede! GANYMEDE, outside. What? GALATEA Ganymede! PYGMALION Ganymede! GANYMEDE, appearing. Here I am! GALATEA Beckon him to come… and tell him you are not angry with him any more! PYGMALION So be it. (To Ganymede.) Come here, and don’t be afraid! I forgive you! GALATEA Good! PYGMALION Are you happy? GALATEA Yes! (Whispers to Ganymede.) Pretend you haven’t seen me! GANYMEDE, astonished. Ah! PYGMALION Now, let us sup! GALATEA That’s it! let’s sup! MIDAS, aside. Ah, the rascal! GANYMEDE, noticing Midas behind the armchair. Ah, she’s a sly one!

QUARTET. PYGMALION Let’s sit down to supper, And may the sweet wine dispel dark care! Love worships The old amphora Which pours out Joy and happiness! MIDAS What a damnable trick! GANYMEDE What a damnable trick! MIDAS I’m frozen with fear! GANYMEDE He’s frozen with fear! PYGMALION Let’s sit down! ENSEMBLE. PYGMALION Let’s sit down, etc. GALATEA, aside. Under this table, He’s frozen with fear! His heart chilled With a dark care, He prays to you, O Gods that he worships! And in my heart of hearts I mock his terror! MIDAS What a damnable trick! My heart chilled With a dark care! O Gods, I pray you, O Gods, save me From his fury! GANYMEDE What a damnable trick! He’s frozen with fear! His heart chilled With a dark care, He prays to you, O Gods that he worships!

And with all my heart I mock his terror! PYGMALION, to Galatea. But why are you smiling? Galatea, what are you thinking about ? GALATEA I consent to tell you, If you promise not to become angry! PYGMALION Ah! this fatal madness Will bring nothing between us! GALATEA Well, I can’t help laughing When I think you are jealous! PYGMALION What! It makes you laugh? It’s love that makes me jealous! MIDAS, GANYMEDE, aside. Is this really a laughing matter? She’s not afraid of getting beaten! PYGMALION Ah! Let me see from your eyes That I am wrong to be jealous! REPRISE OF THE ENSEMBLE. GALATEA Let’s sit down to supper! And may the sweet wine, etc. MIDAS What a damnable trick, etc. GANYMEDE What a damnable trick, etc. PYGMALION. Let’s sit down to supper, etc. (Ganymede finishes laying the table. Pygmalion and Galatea sit down to supper.) PYGMALION And now, my mistress, Drink some of this heady wine, That is the stuff Of passionate lovers! GALATEA Let’s see this wine that makes us happy!

GANYMEDE, aside. If only I could be drinking with them! MIDAS, aside. If only I could be drinking with them! GALATEA Let’s see this wine that makes us happy! MIDAS, GANYMEDE, aside. If only I could be drinking with them! PYGMALION Yes, it’s the wine that makes us happy! COUPLETS. GALATEA Its color is blond and vermilion, And its bouquet is sweeter still! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS Sweeter still! GALATEA It’s as if a ray of light is slumbering Full bodied in its golden depths! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS In its golden depths! GALATEA, taking a draft. Good gods! your heat is in me, Intoxicating, sweet liquor! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS Sweet liquor! GALATEA And your bouquet fills my very being Just as love fills the heart! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS Fills the heart! GALATEA Ah! pour some more! empty the amphora! May a divine flow of this old wine Quench the thirst that is devouring me! Wine is a treasure divine! ALL Wine is a treasure divine!

GALATEA Already in the deep glass Everything appears in a new light! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS In a new light! GALATEA I can see all the folly of the world And the lies of love! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS What? of love! GALATEA I can see charmers More or less deceiving all hearts! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS What? deceived? GALATEA By their wives or their mistresses, I see all men deceived! PYGMALION, GANYMEDE, MIDAS What? deceived? GALATEA, holding out the glass. Ah! pour some more! empty the amphora etc. ALL Wine is a treasure divine! PYGMALION, to Galatea. That’s enough! No more wine for you! MIDAS, GANYMEDE Great gods! She has had too much wine! GALATEA Go on, let’s have some more! PYGMALION No, really! GALATEA Am I not the sovereign mistress here? PYGMALION Perhaps, but just for a while… GALATEA No, never! let me! I shall speak as a queen!

And when I say I want something, I expect all to bow to my will! PYGMALION But!… GALATEA Silence! PYGMALION But, my dear!… GALATEA He dares refuse me! PYGMALION But!… GALATEA Right! in my anger, I shall break everything here! PYGMALION Galatea! GALATEA I shall break everything here! (She overturns the table.) PYGMALION, seeing Midas. Great gods! GALATEA (bursts out laughing.) Ah, ah, ah! PYGMALION Ah! wretched mistress! She has deceived my love! I feel hatred and fury Swell in my heart! ENSEMBLE. MIDAS, GANYMEDE Gods, you who see my distress, Care for my fate! I feel fear and terror I feel fear and terror chilling my heart! PYGMALION Ah! wretched mistress, etc. GALATEA I am the mistress here! What do I care for his love? I feel neither shock nor terror I feel neither shock nor terror chilling my heart, And I mock his anger!

MIDAS, GANYMEDE Gods, save me from his fury! Ah! I’m dying from fear! Ah! save me, great gods! Ah! save me from his fury! PYGMALION She has deceived my love! With jealous fury I feel my heart swelling! Fear my fury! (Galatea exits, laughing loudly. Ganymede runs off.)

SCENE V

PYGMALION, to Midas. Ah! you wretch! you won’t escape from me this time! I shall cure your curiosity, so that you will never want to set foot in my house again! MIDAS Fine, lord Pygmalion! you are strangling me! PYGMALION Old lecher! MIDAS You’re strangling me! GANYMEDE, running in, to Pygmalion. Lord, lord! Galatea has run away, through the little garden gate! PYGMALION, letting Midas go. Gods! MIDAS Ah! Oh! GANYMEDE I saw her disappear behind the trees, and make for the town! PYGMALION, desperate. Galatea! Galatea! GANYMEDE, aside. That’s it! run after her! MIDAS Wait for me, lord Pygmalion, wait for me!

PYGMALION, upstage. Galatea! MIDAS She’s got my jewels! (Pygmalion runs out, Midas after him.)

SCENE VI

GANYMEDE, alone, laughing. Ha! ha! ha! That damned statue swore to turn their heads… There they are, both running after her, but, well, she’s got a good head start! And at the rate she was going, she must have gone a long way already. (Stumbles over the table that Galatea had overturned, tries to set it upright, but lets go and it falls to the floor.) And to think she was so quiet there this morning behind her curtain. If my master takes it into his head to make other statues, I’d like to think that he won’t ask Venus to bring them to life! Where would we be, great gods, if the nymphs and the bacchantes which grace Midas’ gardens came and joined in too! (Putting the table back upright.) Oof ! since this morning we haven’t had a single hour’s rest! (He lies down on the bed at right.)

SCENE VII

GALATEA, opening the curtain on the left. Ganymede? GANYMEDE What? GALATEA Ganymede, it’s me! GANYMEDE How’s that? It’s you again? GALATEA Yes. GANYMEDE So you haven’t gone? GALATEA No, it was a trick. I pretended to run away so that Pygmalion would run after me. GANYMEDE And what for, may I ask?

GALATEA Can’t you guess? GANYMEDE No. GALATEA Because I wanted to be alone with you! GANYMEDE Why? GALATEA To suggest that we run away together! GANYMEDE Where to ? GALATEA Where ever you like, just so long as we never part! GANYMEDE Travelling is tiring! GALATEA, taking him by the hand. Come, come! let us leave quickly! Pygmalion could discover us! GANYMEDE That’s just what I’m frightened of! GALATEA Come along then! GANYMEDE Damn! this is a statue who will lead me a merry dance!

FINALE

GALATEA Ganymede, it’s you I love! GANYMEDE Me? GALATEA To follow you is my highest joy! GANYMEDE What! GALATEA Your charms have won my heart!

GANYMEDE What? GALATEA And I want to be your wife! GANYMEDE Ah… GALATEA Let us leave! Venus is on our side. Let love guide us! Let us leave! GANYMEDE Let us leave! I’m making a mistake! But, bah! Whatever they may say, Let us leave! I’ll agree to it! let us depart! GALATEA Good! GANYMEDE But as regards love, I fear… GALATEA Nothing! GANYMEDE Just don’t do to ours one day… GALATEA Right. GANYMEDE What you have done to the other ones. GALATEA No! GALATEA Let us leave! Venus is on our side etc. GANYMEDE Let us leave! I’m making a mistake etc. (Ganymede takes Galatea by the arm and leads her to the door.)

SCENE VIII

PYGMALION, MIDAS, entering. Good gods! GANYMEDE, GALATEA, separating. Good gods! PYGMALION, furious, to Galatea. Wretch! GALATEA, terrified. My lord! PYGMALION Wretch! you were deceiving me again! With him you were leaving this place! Unworthy woman! disappear forever from my sight! (He seizes a knife.) GALATEA Gods! Save me! Gods! I beg you! (Flees behind the curtain.) MIDAS, to Pygmalion. Oh, please, halt the transports of rage! PYGMALION, throwing down his dagger. Yes, for this grievous breed, Disdain will be a better revenge! And I’ll leave it to the gods to wreak my vengeance! Oh you who gave her life and beauty, Can you not hear my prayer for the second time? Venus! can you not make her immobile again? MIDAS, aside. He’s losing his mind, if the truth be known! GANYMEDE, aside. He’s losing his mind, if the truth be known! (The curtains open partly again to reveal the statue, motionless as at the beginning of the first act.) MIDAS, GANYMEDE Oh heavens! PYGMALION What is it? MIDAS In faith, your wish has been granted! And it is but a cold and unfeeling marble block! (Pygmalion touches the statue in surprise.) CHORUS, outside. Pygmalion, come with us, Far from fools and jealous men, To celebrate the good goddess! And to seek out till the dawn Pleasure and youth In a glass of old wine!

(At the end of this chorus, several young men, friends of Pygmalion’s, come on scene, let in by Ganymede.) PYGMALION, to Midas. Well, I know now what I can do, And without any regrets I’ll sell it to you! (Turning towards his friends.) Yes, my friends, be happy, In the glass with foaming liquid I will drown a mad dream And find myself again aged twenty! ALL He finds himself a twenty year old again! PYGMALION Be mine, wild mistresses! Ephemeral loves Which only last a day! Be mine, beloved women! Wonderful nights perfumed By flowers and love! May your burning love Rejuvenate my heart! Arouse my desire With eternal pleasures! Ah! far from dismal thoughts, Let us live! And on beds of roses, Let us drink! ALL Far from dismal thoughts etc. ENSEMBLE. PYGMALION, to his friends. And now, far from jealous souls, Yes, my friends, I am yours! MIDAS, aside. What a marvel! far from jealous souls, I mean to kneel before you! GANYMEDE, aside. And now, far from jealous souls, O laziness, return to us ! CHORUS, to Pygmalion. Far from those who carp or who are jealous, Pygmalion, come with us! Midas stays looking at the statue. Ganymede returns to his bed. Pygmalion goes off with his friends.

THE END