“Galathée” – Act 1

ACT ONE

The action takes place in Cyprus in mythological times. The stage represents Pygmalion’s workshop. Stage right, downstage, a curtain concealing Galatea. Here and there various marble works and all the props of a sculptor’s studio.

Overture

SCENE ONE

GANYMEDE, alone. As the curtain rises, Ganymede is lying on his couch, half asleep. A chorus of young men and women on their way to the temple of Venus can be heard outside.

CHORUS Smiling dawn With its roseate fingers Has opened The half-closed Eastern door! With myrtle and lilies And crimson roses In honor of Cypris Let us fill our baskets. To the temple all decked out Let us now throng And this holy day Will pass in pleasure! Smiling dawn, etc.

GANYMEDE Go, go, my dear friends May your songs of joy resound in the air! Sow at the feet of the goddess Roses and lilies Throng to her temple! As for me, thank God! I am here, Too comfortable lying down to follow your example! CHORUS Smiling dawn, etc. (A knock at the door.) GANYMEDE What’s that? (Knock again.) I think some one is knocking at the door!… (Knock again. He closes his eyes and wraps his head in his cloak.) It’s probably some one who wants to come in.

SCENE II

MIDAS, half-opening the door. No one in! (Tiptoes in.) GANYMEDE, without moving. I seem to hear someone walking… MIDAS, walking towards the curtain hiding Galatea. No one! GANYMEDE, lifting a corner of his cloak. Who goes there? MIDAS Oh dear! (Looking round and seeing Ganymede.) Good day! GANYMEDE Good evening! MIDAS Lord Pygmalion?

GANYMEDE He’s out. MIDAS I’m sure I just saw him! GANYMEDE Yes… The whole city is out and about… And all the girls and boys of the Island of Cyprus are thronging to the temple of Venus… MIDAS, laughing. Ha, ha, so he too has gone to present his offering to the goddess! GANYMEDE Poor young man!… I don’t know what has been wrong with him for some time; but just between the two of us, I think he needs a dose of hellebore! MIDAS, touching his shoulder. Listen!… GANYMEDE Come back tomorrow. MIDAS Listen!… do you like music? GANYMEDE No. MIDAS, tinkling some coins in his hand near Ganymede’s ears. Really? GANYMEDE, sitting up. I beg your pardon? MIDAS What do you think of this music? GANYMEDE Ah! Now that’s the music I like! MIDAS Come here. GANYMEDE, rising. Here I am! MIDAS Splendid! I knew you would eventually get up. GANYMEDE What should I do to be of service to you?

MIDAS Your master has just finished a charming statue, or so it seems, that he hides from everyone. GANYMEDE Yes. MIDAS As you see, I have a fancy for that sort of thing… My name is Midas… I have money to pay for my fantasy. GANYMEDE Ah!

COUPLETS. MIDAS For twenty years I have plied my trade An honest business too And thanks to my efforts great, And to a streak of luck, Today my treasures Fill as full Two large strongboxes Fatter than Silenus. I eat well and I drink well, And the ladies treat me very well! I get a lot out of being rich! I love the finer things of life, Birds, roses, Soft-eyed girls, Nymphs, scantily clad! Palaces sumptuous, Singing voluptuous, Woods of mystery With statues aplenty! I eat well, etc.

GANYMEDE My compliments to you. MIDAS My gardens are laid out with nymphs and bacchants… I already have three Venuses rising from the waters, a Diana bathing, a group of the three Graces, and two statues of Truth. GANYMEDE Damn! What a collection!

MIDAS And I have come to have your master sell me his Galatea… But before settling the purchase, I would be keen I must say to see her close up. GANYMEDE Impossible! MIDAS Impossible? GANYMEDE Our statue is hidden there, behind that curtain, and my master will let no one come near. MIDAS All right!... but since he’s out, we have nothing to fear! GANYMEDE If he ever finds out that I let you lift the curtain, I am a dead man! MIDAS He’ll never know. GANYMEDE The statue might tell him! MIDAS It would have to have the gift of speech. GANYMEDE The statue will speak just to get me a beating! MIDAS What a joke! GANYMEDE I’m not joking… the statue must have a grudge against me… MIDAS Why? GANYMEDE Because of some rather heated words I took the liberty of addressing to her when my master forced me to stand guard over her! MIDAS Is your master afraid of burglars? GANYMEDE I think it’s more that he is jealous. MIDAS Jealous over his statue?

GANYMEDE If you ask me, he looks just as if he is in love with it… MIDAS In love! GANYMEDE Why then, if you please, has he bade farewell to all the pleasures of his age?… why does he lock himself away with her so often?… why does he hide her from every gaze?… why does he talk to her as to a real human being?… MIDAS He speaks to her? GANYMEDE For hours on end… and I’m not quite sure that she doesn’t answer him! MIDAS Are you mad? GANYMEDE No, my master is the one who is mad! MIDAS What you tell me makes me even more curious to see for myself. (He goes to lift the curtain.) GANYMEDE Stop! MIDAS Let me! GANYMEDE I’m done for if we’re found out! MIDAS Here! Here’s something to help you get over it all… (He gives him some money.) GANYMEDE Immortal gods, look over me! (He runs to the door upstage.) MIDAS, lifting the curtain. It’s a marvel!… She’s about to speak!… I have never seen anything more beautiful!… Those lovely arms!… Those beautiful shoulders!… I can understand anyone being in love with those shoulders! GANYMEDE, upstage. Have you finished?

MIDAS She is overdraped, that’s a pity! GANYMEDE, pulling him by the arm. Come on! you have seen enough for your money! MIDAS She is enchanting! GANYMEDE, aside. Damned old man! MIDAS She must be mine this very day!… GANYMEDE, aside. Yes, you can count on that! MIDAS She shall have her place in a copse of oleanders, at the bottom of my garden!… GANYMEDE Leave, please… I can hear some one coming… Here he is! My master is coming! MIDAS At the bottom of my garden, in a copse of oleanders! GANYMEDE The door opens… I am undone! (Pygmalion appears upstage.)

SCENE III

TRIO. PYGMALION What have I seen? GANYMEDE I am done for! PYGMALION, seizing a stick. Wicked Ganymede! MIDAS In my presence, please, do not beat him. GANYMEDE O Jupiter, come to my aid! And you, Lord Midas, For pity’s sake, hold his arm! ENSEMBLE. MIDAS Please, my lord, do not beat him!

GANYMEDE For pity’s sake! My lord, do not beat me! PYGMALION To escape From my anger Clear out! No, there’ll be no pity! Go, I dismiss you! Out of my house! Clear out! MIDAS Let us stay quiet! They make me laugh! Yes, they make me laugh! GANYMEDE I am dying of fright! Let us stay quiet! (Ganymede kneels down in front of Pygmalion, who beats him with the stick.) GANYMEDE Oh ah! MIDAS My lord! PYGMALION, to Midas. And you, if you come back here I shall punish you in the same way. MIDAS You are too kind! I’ll have you know, Sir, that I am not a man to be beaten! And I have never, from anyone Accepted to be beaten even in jest! PYGMALION Who are you then? MIDAS I am a citizen just as you are. PYGMALION So what? GANYMEDE, aside. Old lecher! MIDAS If I took the liberty, this morning, Of crossing your threshold…

PYGMALION Well? MIDAS It is because I have brought you Under my cloak A present Which I dare hope will make you Less severe! PYGMALION What! That casket filled with gold? MIDAS It’s yours! PYGMALION Mine? MIDAS Your beautiful statue Has just enchanted me And I want to buy it! PYGMALION Buy my statue? MIDAS Yes, I think it is charming… I fancy it! PYGMALION Be quiet, I’m telling you, or I’ll knock you out! MIDAS If needs be, I’ll put twice the amount! GANYMEDE One more word, he beats you! PYGMALION No, no! take back your money And never set foot again in my house! ENSEMBLE. PYGMALION Now go! take back your money And never set foot again in my house! MIDAS But, my lord, take my money! My lord, accept my money! GANYMEDE But, my lord, take his money! My lord, accept his money!

PYGMALION To escape, etc. MIDAS Let us stay quiet, etc. GANYMEDE I am dying of fright, etc. MIDAS One more word! So you refuse to sell it? PYGMALION I refuse! MIDAS Well, I begin to understand. Ganymede was right! GANYMEDE Who! me! I never said a thing! PYGMALION What does that mean? GANYMEDE Who! me! I never said a thing! MIDAS Ha, ha, let me laugh. GANYMEDE, aside. Damned chatterbox! PYGMALION No, speak out… what did he say? MIDAS Before his statue Jealously hidden from us behind a curtain Pygmalion, he says, is so deeply in love That he sighs night and day! PYGMALION Well, why shouldn’t I? COUPLETS. All women Are fickle and faithless; Their mad hearts Obey the same law!

And the most beautiful of them The most enchanting to our eyes Hide in their persons A thousand pernicious faults! Which is why my cold statue Is what I had rather see! And why, smitten by a distracted love I watch over her night and day! MIDAS, GANYMEDE Which is why his statue He hides from our gaze! And why, smitten by a distracted love He watches over her night and day! The least accomplished In the art of seduction and deceit Has no trouble inventing Some trick to take us in! Be she dark or fair Without hesitation, I maintain That in this world The loveliest is worth nothing at all! Which is why my cold statue, etc. ENSEMBLE. PYGMALION Which is why my cold statue, etc. MIDAS, GANYMEDE Which is why his statue, etc. PYGMALION Alas ! yes, night and day! GANYMEDE Ha! ha! ha! night and day! PYGMALION Well, what’s wrong? What are you laughing about? MIDAS Ha! ha! ha! night and day! PYGMALION Well, what’s wrong? What are you laughing about? GANYMEDE Ha! ha! ha! night and day! PYGMALION, threateningly. I’ll stop you laughing!

MIDAS, GANYMEDE I can’t stop laughing! Ha! ha! ha! ha! PYGMALION Come now, I am losing my patience! It is time for you To leave, I think! ENSEMBLE. MIDAS, aside. Indeed! Venus intended, For his cold indifference, Intended to punish him! GANYMEDE, aside. Yes, his cold indifference Is what Venus intends To punish, I think! (Midas exits backstage and Ganymède to the right.)

SCENE IV

PYGMALION, alone. By Venus! the gloat in his eye as he spoke of my Galatea unmasks him to me as a rival! A rival. I must be mad! Is there any other man on earth who has so taken leave of his senses to fall in love with a statue! Ah poor crazed man! My friends, my youth, my art and my pleasure, I have sacrificed everything to this fatal passion! AIR. Dismal love! folly, mirage! It’s all over with my life! My happiness has gone for good! And each day, alas! brings me back to her! Each day, trembling, I return to this place To lift the curtain which hides her from my gaze! And admire that immortal grace Which my chisel, for her, asked of the gods! Dismal love, etc. (He lifts the curtain.) I see her, ah, more beautiful than ever! Oh, in vain I adore you! In vain I hold out my arms to you! And in the fire that is consuming me Galatea, I implore in vain,

You give no answer! (He grabs a hammer.) Well, lifeless statue, I’ll be avenged by destroying you! And this hand that crafted you Will break you! (He lifts his arm to destroy the statue, but stops and flings the hammer away.) No, have no fear. It would be blasphemy! And I cannot, however much I try Destroy the adorable beauty of your body! Ah, I love you, I love you! (He falls, broken, at the feet of the statue and the curtain closes.) CHORUS, from a distance. O Venus followed by love Your breath with its sweet heat Wafts through woods and flowers O Venus! source of life! PYGMALION, rising. O Venus, take pity on me! Grant the wishes Of this wretched man! And this day, give life and love to this enchanting beauty. O Venus, may my trembling voice Ascend to you! Give life to her and happiness for me! May you bring her mouth to breathe And may your breath bring Her lips to smile And her gaze to love! May your strength turn this marble to flesh And by your all-conquering power May the stone gain a soul, May the stone gain a heart! O Venus, may my trembling voice Ascend to you! Give life to her and happiness for me! (The curtain starts to open.) Heavens! What is this? Is it an illusion Of my fevered eyes? On herself, on her brow, her mouth… a miracle! Life and warmth seem to pour in from the skies!

Already in her eye there is a glint Of a fresh and pure gaze! And now, and now the blood begins to course Her sky blue veins; In her body, a new soul Seems to be born! She listens and looks around her… Gods, she is about to speak! (He remains silently contemplating as Galatea comes down from her pedestal.) GALATEA Me! I am… I can see… I can think… I can breathe…! I can speak… Ha! I laugh! Ah! I sigh! I am alive at last! Who am I? PYGMALION A woman! GALATEA Ah! PYGMALION I love you! GALATEA I love you? what are you saying? I love you! Enchanting phrase! love, yes… I understand… And I feel within my breast… My heart beating ever quicker… and come to live and love! (Drawing away from Pygmalion.) No, leave me! I want… wait! I cannot tell, And the word which is on my lips escapes… DUO. PYGMALION Love, we must love, every being loves! It’s the law which gave us the light of day! Love! the supreme will Created beauty for love! GALATEA What, you love me? and I am beautiful? The heavens have created me for you? What new world is being born! And what new fire is being kindled within me! PYGMALION The hearth calls forth the fire, And the dawn becomes the blue sky! Dust calls for a soul

And nature needs a god! Love! (Ensemble.) Love, we must love, every being loves! etc. Love! PYGMALION And now I beg of you one single kiss! GALATEA My heart in secret tells me I still should refuse! PYGMALION This kiss, my raptured heart is longing for this kiss from you! GALATEA Pleasures, love and life, all is now mine! PYGMALION Ha! I pray you, hear my prayer! You, my only love! GALATEA Beauty, heaven, light, All belongs to me! What happiness! PYGMALION A single kiss from you! GALATEA What ecstasy! PYGMALION For pity’s sake, answer me! GALATEA, with force. Ha! the whole universe, the universe is mine! Yes, I am a woman! I am a queen! The whole world is my domain And must obey my voice! All the treasures of this life, All the pleasures that are desired, Ha! I want to have them all at once. PYGMALION And may your life reach its end Like a wonderful dream! Through paths strewn with flowers, And away from tears! GALATEA Yes, may my life reach its end, etc. PYGMALION Answer me, o beautiful inhuman creature, hear my voice!

ENSEMBLE. GALATEA Yes, I am a woman! I am a queen! The whole world etc. PYGMALION Answer me, o beautiful inhuman creature, hear my voice! Answer me, Galatea! answer my voice! It is your heart I desire, ha! answer my voice! Answer me, o beautiful inhuman creature! Galatea, answer me! Your heart is all I desire, please answer me! GALATEA What are these objects around me? what desires invade my heart? why have they come? how can I satisfy them? PYGMALION Galatea! GALATEA Whence comes the soft breath that caresses my hair?… and whence the perfumes that overtake me?… what are the far-off songs I hear?… what is this light which dazzles me? PYGMALION It’s daylight! it’s life!… (Pointing to the back of the theater.) Look, the sky is radiant, the birds are singing in the trees, the wind caresses their leaves, the flowers are opening to the sun, all of nature seems to celebrate your awakening and smile to welcome you! GALATEA Oh! how beautiful it all is!… the sky, the flowers, all belongs to me, doesn’t it? PYGMALION Yes! GALATEA It is all mine! PYGMALION Everything! (Galatea heads for the door.) Where are you going? GALATEA Let me go! PYGMALION Galatea !

GALATEA Let me go! PYGMALION Why do you want to flee from me already? why do you want to leave me? GALATEA I can hear a voice calling me far off! PYGMALION, dragging her back. Come! GALATEA Why do you hold me back against my will? PYGMALION Galatea, dear Galatea! GALATEA Why are you looking at me like that? PYGMALION Because you are beautiful! GALATEA I am beautiful! PYGMALION Look! (Gives her a mirror.) GALATEA, looking. What is this face looking at me? PYGMALION It’s your face! GALATEA And these beautiful eyes looking at me with surprise? PYGMALION They are your eyes. GALATEA I am beautiful! PYGMALION, taking her hand. Galatea! GALATEA I am beautiful!… (Kissing the mirror.) Ah!… (She pushes it back from her.) This kiss has chilled me! (Pygmalion kisses her hand.) Your kiss burns me!… (She withdraws her hand.) Farewell! PYGMALION, holding her back. I beseech you, do not leave me!

GALATEA, wresting herself free. I want to go out. PYGMALION Why? GALATEA, stamping her foot. I want to! PYGMALION, angry. And what about me!… (Calming down.) No, pardon, I am crazed! Come close to me! GALATEA No! PYGMALION Please! GALATEA No! PYGMALION I beg you! GALATEA No, no! a thousand times no! PYGMALION What’s wrong with you? GALATEA I’m bored. PYGMALION Already? GALATEA I’m suffocating!… (Drops into an armchair.) Ah! PYGMALION Good gods!… (Taking her by the hand.) Galatea, Galatea, come back to your real self! I’m at your feet! I beg your forgiveness! GALATEA, recovering her spirits. Wonderful! PYGMALION What would you like? speak! command me! GALATEA I’m hungry! PYGMALION You are hungry? why did you not say so before? Ganymede!…

That traitor refuses to reply. Wait for me here… I’ll go myself… GALATEA, aside. At last! PYGMALION The market is near by…. I’ll be back in a minute. GALATEA Go on! PYGMALION We’ll have supper together. GALATEA Yes. PYGMALION What would you like me to buy for you? olives? grapes? figs? with one or two flasks of good wine? I’ll spend all my money on it!… (Taking her by the hands.) Do not be impatient, dear Galatea, I won’t be gone long… I promise you! (Aside.) And as a measure of precaution I shall lock the door. (Out loud.) Goodbye! GALATEA Goodbye! goodbye! PYGMALION I’ll be back later! (He kisses her hand.) Goodbye… (He goes out at the back.)

SCENE V

GALATEA, alone. He’s gone now! (Going down to the door at the back.) Now let’s flee! (Noticing a lyre hanging on a column.) What is that? (She takes the lyre, and looks carefully at it, drags her fingers across the strings, and listens.) Ah? what? Pardon? what do you say? AIR. What do you say? I listen but cannot understand you! Speak to me! speak again! I want to hear you! Your soul quivers under my fingers! And your sweet loving voice wafts through the air! May your soul inspire my soul, o lyre! And may my voice for the first time Find harmony with yours! Heady flower, Your color is a feast to my eyes,

Sweet scented breeze, Divine rays from the sky! Everything here on earth tells me That I am made to please! The rose invites me to smile, And the birds tell me to love! Ha! My heart is joyous, my soul is raptured, I want to laugh, I want to sing! To celebrate love and life! To celebrate love, pleasures and life! But what new rapture is taking hold of my senses! Where, great gods, does This gay signal and these free strains come? Ha! Come to me, kings of the world! Sons of the heavens or of the waters, All must respond to my voice, Come to me, pleasures, golden dreams! Headstrong naiads, hamadryads, Nymphs of streams and of the woods Come to me! To the sound of flutes and lyres, To the sound of instruments and brass, To the sound of songs and laughter, Let us dance, holding hands! Ha! Come to me, kings of the world etc. (Galatea runs into the garden and disappears.)