“Jenůfa”

Characters

Grandmother Buryjovka (a life-tenant and housekeeper at the mill) — Mezzo-soprano or Contralto Laca Klemeň (Števa’s half-brother, Grandmother Buryjovka’s grandson) — Tenor Števa Buryja (Laca’s half-brother, Grandmother Buryjovka’s grandson) — Tenor Kostelnička Buryjovka (a widow, Grandmother Buryjovka’s daughter-in-law) — Soprano Jenůfa (her foster-daughter) — Soprano The Foreman — Bass The Mayor — Bass The Mayor’s Wife — Soprano or Mezzo-soprano Karolka (their daughter) — Soprano or Mezzo-soprano The Shepherdess — Contralto Barena (a maid at the mill) — Soprano Jano (a herdboy) — Soprano Aunt — Contralto Chorus of recruits, servants, girls, villagers, and musicians

Act One

Late afternoon. A lonely mill in the foothills. On the right, in front of the house, a porch supported by wooden posts. A small slope, bushes, several felled trees; in the background, a millstream.

Scene One

Jenůfa, holding a pot of rosemary, stands on a raised spot by the millstream and looks into the distance, shading her eyes with her hand. Grandmother Buryja sits in the porch, taking potatoes from a heaped basket, cutting out the eyes and tossing them into another basket. On the left, dark-haired Laca sits on a felled tree, whittling a whipstock with a knife.

Jenůfa (to herself) Soon it will be evening and Števa has not come back, and Števa has not come back! Dread has haunted me all through the night, and when morning came, it began again! (desperately) O Virgin Mary, if you have heard my prayer, if my lover has been taken away as a soldier and our wedding prevented, if my lover has been taken away as a soldier and our wedding prevented, shame and dishonour will drive me to damnation, to damnation! O Virgin Mary, please have mercy on me! O Virgin Mary! Grandmother Buryja Jenůfa, you’re always leaving your work and running off! Must I sit here and do all this work myself? You know quite well my poor old eyes see very badly. Laca (sarcastically) Yes, Grandmama, there are many things your eyes do not see, there are many things your eyes do not see. You have always treated me just like a common labourer whom you give food you give food for his work at the mill, for his work at the mill! I’m not yours, that I know well, not your own grandson, not your own grandson! You have always made me feel it, made me feel it, when I, a poor orphaned boy, crept up to you, while you cuddled Števa on your knee, while you cuddled Števa on your knee and stroked his hair, saying it was golden just like the sun! golden just like the sun! You ignored me, even though I was also an orphan. If you would give me... the twelve hundred that are my share, I could go wherever my eyes might lead me!

Jenůfa (kneeling, she turns away from the stream) Laca, you always speak to Grandmother so rudely! always so rudely to Grandmother, and then you expect her to love you! and then you expect her to love you! and then you expect her to love you! Grandmother Buryja Oh yes, yes. To him I am only a dependent here, he does not consider me mistress of the house, let alone one of the family! Laca (to Grandmother Buryja) And now you expect Jenůfa to work, when she is waiting for Števa to return from the conscription examination? Jenůfa (to herself) He sees right into a person’s heart with those penetrating eyes, right into the heart, right into the heart. I won’t even answer him – that brute. (to Grandmother Buryja) Grandmother, don’t be angry! Grandmother, don’t be angry! I’ll make up for everything, I’ll make up for everything. I remembered that my rosemary was withering, so I went to soak it in water. (with a sigh) And if it should wither – you see, Grandmother, they say that then all happiness in the world will wither, that then all happiness in the world will wither, all happiness in the world!

Jano (calling from the mill) Jenůfka, hey, Jenůfka, hey! I can read now, I can read now, now I’ve got it! Won’t you write another page for me? Won’t you write another page for me? (runs in) (pleading) Jenůfa Patience, patience, Jano! Wait until I go to town, I’ll bring you a book to read, and then you can read from that! I’ll teach you how to write as well, so that you may become a better person. And now off to work with you, or we’ll have Grandmother scolding us again! Jano Hey, hey, hey, hey! I can read, hey, I can read, hey! Jenůfka has taught me! Grandmother Buryja (more mildly) That is what you enjoy! Yes, my girl, that is what you enjoy! Barena you’ve taught to read as well! You’ve a man’s common sense like your foster-mother; you should have been a teacher. Jenůfa (sighing) Ah, but my common sense, Granny dear, has long since fallen somewhere into the mill stream. Ah, but my common sense, Granny dear, has fallen somewhere into the mill stream.

Scene Two

The Foreman passes by; toward the end, the Kostelnička appears.

The Foreman (in town clothes whitened with flour, he comes along and stops by Laca) What are you doing, Laca? That should make a fine whipstock! Laca My knife is so blunt it will take me hours to get it finished! Sharpen it for me! The Foreman (takes a whetstone from his pocket and sharpens the knife) I’ll sharpen it! (Meanwhile, Laca knocks Jenůfa’s kerchief from her head with the end of the whipstock.) Jenůfa (without turning round) Is that you, Laca? Have you always been such a wild one?... Laca If it had been Števa who’d done that, you wouldn’t have minded? Jenůfa He would never do it... He would never do it. Laca See, you wouldn’t have minded? Because you are always getting so close to him! Jenůfa (She goes into the house through the porch; after a while she comes out again, sits down by the basket and diligently cuts out the potato eyes.) What business is it of yours? Mind your own business! What business is it of yours? Mind your own business!

Laca (to the Foreman, watching Jenůfa as she goes off) She’ll make a charming sister-in-law, she’ll have all sorts of good things in store for me! The Foreman Yes, she’s a nice-looking girl, enough to turn your head. She carries herself like a poppy, like a poppy head, and with those grey eyes of hers she could draw the soul right out of your body. Yes, she’s a nice-looking girl! Enough to turn your head! But why am I telling you all this? You’ve felt the power of those eyes yourself! Jenůfa (jumping for joy and kissing Grandmother Buryja) He’s not taken, thank God, he’s not taken, dearest Grandma! Laca (jumping up) And they call that justice! Laca (scornfully) I… I… You could see for yourself just how much I love her! She was grieving here over her rosemary. She doesn’t know that I buried worms in the soil around it, so that it will wither, just like her wedding to Števa, the one they’re preparing for.

Laca He’s not taken! And they dare to call this justice! A fellow strong as an ox! He’s not taken! The Foreman Look here, Laca, that’s what I find so strange, what is it that makes you, makes you so aggressive? Come now, don’t deny it, you’re not really so hard-hearted. And I’ve often noticed that when Jenůfa’s here, you are different. Kostelnička (enters) Števa’s not been taken? Števa’s not been taken? Laca Stupid talk! Go about your business! But, Foreman, he still hasn’t, he still hasn’t. If they took him today at the conscription examination, there’ll be no wedding... there’ll be no wedding. The Foreman He’s not taken! He’s not taken! I met the messenger; only nine altogether were recruited... and Števa wasn’t! Grandmother Buryja and the Foreman He’s not taken? He’s always had luck on his side!

Jenůfa (kissing Grandmother Buryja) He’s not taken! My dear Grandmother! Jenůfa (hurries to kiss her foster mother’s hand and then runs back to her work) Welcome! Welcome, Mother! (Laca silently takes off his hat and continues working on the whipstock.) The Foreman Here, your knife; it doesn’t seem to take an edge very well. (Kostelnička enters the house. The Foreman greets her and goes into the house.)

Scene Three

Jenůfa, Grandmother Buryja and Chorus.

Grandmother Buryja (about to go in after Kostelnička) What about you, Jenůfa, won’t you go in to your mother? Jenůfa For God’s sake, Grandma... don’t send me in to her! For God’s sake, Grandma, for God’s sake, Grandma, don’t send me in to her! don’t send me... Grandmother Buryja You’re acting strangely, child!

Scene Four

Jenůfa, Laca, Števa, the Foreman, later Kostelnička and Chorus. The recruits’ chorus and the band are heard offstage.

Recruits (offstage) They’re all getting married, they’re afraid of soldiering, but I shall not be wed, I’m not afraid of soldiering! If a man is rich, he can buy himself out of the army, but poor fellow that I am, I must be a soldier. If a man is rich, he can buy himself out of the army, but poor fellow that I am, I must be a soldier. Laca and Chorus And a rich man can buy himself out of the army. Števa (red-haired, with a lock of hair falling over his forehead, tipsy and unsteady on his feet, he raises his flower-bedecked hat high above his head) and no more courting, and no more courting, and no more courting, and I must be a soldier... and no more courting, and no more courting! (Kostelnička appears in the doorway of the house.) Jenůfa Števuško!

Scene Five

Jenůfa, Kostelnička, Grandmother Buryja, Laca, Števa, the Foreman and Chorus.

Recruits They’re all getting married, they’re afraid of soldiering! They’re all getting married, they’re afraid of soldiering, but I shall not be wed, I’m not afraid of soldiering. The Foreman (comes out) Števa has brought an escort with him! You can tell by looking at him that he’s not been taken! (The millers and millworkers run out. The recruits enter from the left. Village boys follow, one with a toy trumpet. From the left Števa appears with the recruits and four musicians, violinists. Jenůfa runs to meet him.) Recruits and Chorus Hey, hurrah! Jenůfa (reproachfully) Števa! Števa, my Števuško! My darling, Števa, my Števuško! Are you drunk again? Števa I, I, I’m drunk? You say that to me, Jenůfka? You say that to me? Do you know that my name is Štefan Buryja? That I own a half-farm mill? That’s why all the girls smile at me! This posy here I got (showing her the posy) from one of them! (turning to the musicians) Why aren’t you playing, you hungry hares! You hungry hares! (with both hands he throws money from his jacket, which the musicians pick up) Here you are! Play! Play that song of Jenůfa’s: Far and wide, all the way to Nové Zámky...

Chorus, then Števa with the Chorus 1. Far and wide, all the way to Nové Zámky; there they are building a tower of handsome young fellows. 2. My sweetheart they placed right at the top, and made of him a golden poppy head. 3. The golden poppy head fell down from the tower, and my sweetheart caught it in her lap. (They all dance.) My sweetheart caught the golden poppy head in her lap. Števa (puts his arm around Jenůfa’s waist) Come here, Jenůfka! Then we’ll go to our wedding with the music! (In the midst of the wild dancing, Kostelnička stops the musicians with a gesture of her hand.)

Kostelnička And so we would go through our whole lives like this, and you, Jenůfa, could, could pick up the money he throws away, pick up the money! You’re certainly a family of the same kind! Jenůfa Oh, Mother, don’t be angry, Mother, don’t be angry, don’t be angry! Oh, Mother, don’t be angry, Mother, don’t be angry! Kostelnička Tell him that I will not allow you to marry yet, I will not allow you to marry yet, not until after a year’s trial, if Števa does not get drunk! Recruits But she is a strict woman, but she is a strict woman! But she is a strict woman, but she is a strict woman! Kostelnička If you disobey me, Jenůfa, if you give his words precedence over mine, God will punish you severely, if you do not obey me, God will punish you severely! (Števa, shaken, leans his head against the pillar.) Grandmother Buryja Oh, my daughter, she is a strict woman, she is a strict woman! Why, that young fellow is not so bad! Kostelnička Tomorrow morning you will leave the house, so that people cannot say you are grasping after that good fortune. Laca (mockingly, to himself) Go on, flatter the young fellow, flatter him! (aloud) Kostelnička, you’ve dropped your scarf – and I would also, also kiss your hand. Kostelnička (leaving) Enjoy yourselves here!

Grandmother Buryja And you musicians, go home, go home! Don’t lead the lads astray! go home! The Foreman and Chorus Go home! Don’t lead the lads astray! (the musicians leave) Grandmother Buryja Go and sleep, Števuško, go! You’re young, your companions lead you astray, you forgot yourself! Recruits (leaving) Your companions lead you astray, your companions lead you astray. Grandmother Buryja And you, Jenůfa, don’t cry! Every couple must endure its own troubles, endure its troubles... The Foreman Every couple must endure its own troubles, endure its own troubles... Laca, Jenůfa and Chorus Every couple must endure its own troubles. (The millworkers and servants disperse.)

Scene Six

Jenůfa and Števa, later Grandmother Buryja.

Jenůfa (quietly, to Števa) Števa, I know you did it because you were so happy today. But another time, Števuško, don’t make my mother cross; you know how wretched I am! My heart trembles with anxiety within me, lest my mother and all the neighbours find out about my guilt. I’m afraid that one day punishment will fall on me; all night long I lie awake. Think what you’re doing, my beloved, think what you’re doing, my beloved, now that God has helped us with the conscription, so that we can be married, so that we can be married! Even without that, my mother will reproach me enough! You know! You know how much she expects of me, you should have heard her just now, you should have heard her! I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t marry me in time, I don’t know what I would do then! Števa Don’t make such a face! You can see, Aunt Kostelnička gets angry with me because of you, and all because of my love for you, because of my love for you. You should have seen, you should have seen, how all the girls are after me!

Jenůfa (irritated) But now you must not look at them! I alone have a claim on you, I’d have to kill myself! You mustn’t be like this, oh God, so weak, so foolish, so foolish! (She seizes him by the shoulders.) (She shakes him.) Števa (trying to calm Jenůfa) Surely I’m not going to leave you! If only for your rosy apple cheeks, Jenůfa, you truly are the fairest of them all, you are the most beautiful of all! you are the most, the most beautiful of all, the most beautiful! Jenůfa I’d have to kill myself! I’d have to kill myself! Števa (from a distance) And I must be a soldier... O Jenůfa! Grandmother Buryja (comes out of the house) Oh, enough of this talk! Enough of this talk, wait until tomorrow, until you have a clear head! Go, lad, go and lie down! Števa You are the most beautiful of all! (He leaves.) The most beautiful! (Grandmother Buryja leaves. Jenůfa returns to the basket and, with her head bowed, begins working again.)

Scene Seven

Laca, Jenůfa, (later) Barena, the Foreman, Grandmother Buryja. Laca gets up. He has thrown away the whipstock but still holds the knife in his hand.

Laca How suddenly all Števa’s boasting drooped its ears before Kostelnička! Jenůfa Even so, he remains a hundred, a hundred times better than you! Laca He does! He does! (trembling, feverish; he bends down to pick up the discarded posy) Jenůfa, here he dropped that posy he got from one of those girls who, he says, are always smiling at him! Look! I’ll tuck it into your bodice... Jenůfa (drawing herself up proudly) Give it to me! A posy like this, given to honour my sweetheart, I can wear with pride, I can wear with pride! Laca (aside) You’ll wear it with pride! (to Jenůfa) And he sees nothing in you but those apple-like cheeks of yours! And even so, he’ll still be a hundred times better than me! (looks at the knife) This knife could spoil them for you. (Laca approaches Jenůfa, holding the posy and the knife in his right hand, feverishly agitated.) But I won’t give you the posy for nothing! (He tries to embrace her.)

Jenůfa (defending herself) Laca, I’ll hit you! Laca (As she struggles against him and he bends toward her, he draws the knife across her cheek as he speaks.) What have you against me? Jenůfa (crying out) Jesus Maria! You’ve cut my cheek! (She presses her apron to her cheek. Barena wrings her hands.)

Laca (sinking to one knee beside her and putting his arms around her) What have I done, Jenůfa! What have I done, Jenůfka! I’ve loved you since we were children, loved you, since we were children... since we were children I’ve loved you... since we were children I’ve loved you... since we were children I’ve loved you. (Jenůfa runs into the house.) The Foreman and Grandmother Buryja (running in) What is it? What’s happened? Barena (hurriedly) There’s been an accident, there’s been an accident! They were fooling around over a kiss, he still had the knife in his hand, and so, without meaning to, he somehow scratched her cheek. Thank God he didn’t catch her in the eye! Thank God! (The Foreman runs into the house after Jenůfa.)

Grandmother Buryja Nothing but sorrow you cause, you boys! The Foreman (returning) Grandmother, come to Jenůfa, she may faint from it! Send for Kostelnička, let her come and tend her, quickly, tend her! (Grandmother Buryja hastens into the house. The devastated Laca pulls himself together and runs off.) The Foreman (calling after him) Laca, don’t run away, you did that to her on purpose!

Act Two

A Slovak peasant room. The walls are covered with pictures and statuettes; by the door is a holy-water stoup. A stove, a made-up bed, a chest, and a clothes rail. A shelf with dishes and several chairs. By the window hangs a picture of the Virgin Mary.

Scene One

Jenůfa, Kostelnička. Jenůfa, in ordinary clothes, her face pale and bearing a visible scar, sits on a chair by the table, sewing with her head bowed. Kostelnička approaches the side door of the chamber and opens it.

Kostelnička I’ll leave the door open a little longer, so that enough warmth can reach you. And why do you keep going to that little window to pray like a wandering soul? Jenůfa I cannot help it, I have no peace of mind. Kostelnička (with a sigh) I believe you, I too have no peace! Ever since I brought you home. Your lamenting made me fear some misfortune. And when you later confessed to me your fall – I thought it would send me too to the grave! I kept you hidden in your shame and anguish, until the moment the little boy saw the light of day; and his worthy father doesn’t even give it a thought!

Jenůfa (hurrying to the chamber door) I think little Števuška has stirred! Kostelnička You’re forever fussing over that child instead of instead of praying to God to relieve you of him! instead of praying to God, instead of praying to God to relieve you of him... to relieve you of him! Jenůfa (returning to the table and her work) Ah no, he’s sleeping quietly... He is so sweet... He is so sweet and quiet... In all the eight days he’s been alive, he has never cried! Kostelnička (She sighs.) But he will cry, he will, but he will cry, and torment us! It’s draining the very life and reason out of me! And I had such hopes for you, oh my God! And I had such hopes for you. And I had such hopes for you.

Jenůfa (lays aside her sewing and gets up) I feel so faint, Mother. I feel so faint, Mother. I feel so faint! Mother, I’ll go and lie down. Kostelnička (takes a small pot from the stove and gives it to Jenůfa) But first drink all of this, so that you may feel better in your sleep. Your bed is already made, and I’ve lit the little lamp for you too! Jenůfa (She drinks and goes into the little chamber.) Good night, Mother, good night, Mother!

Scene Two

Kostelnička, alone; closing the door behind Jenůfa.

Kostelnička (alone, closing the door behind Jenůfa) Yes, that little window of yours has been boarded up for over twenty weeks, and that worthy lover of yours has never found his way to it. Just wait, you don’t know that I invited him here today — it will be settled, it will. And that child, that child, the very image of Števa, pale as he is, I simply cannot bear it. (desperately) How much I have prayed, how much I have fasted, that it might never see the world, but all in vain! It has been breathing for a week now, and shows no sign of death. There is nothing left for me but to give Jenůfa to Števa to torment — and I must even humble myself before him. (a noise at the door) He’s coming! (She locks the chamber door and goes to open the door of the room; Števa enters.)

Scene Three

Števa, Kostelnička Števa (uneasily) Aunt Kostelnička, you sent me a note saying that if I didn’t come, something terrible would happen! What do you want to tell me? Kostelnička (points to the chamber door) Come in... (Števa hesitates.) Why are you hesitating? Števa I feel so uneasy... Has something happened to Jenůfa? Kostelnička She has recovered, and the child is healthy. Števa Has the baby been born already? Kostelnička (with deep reproach) And you never even came to see, or even ask after them! Števa I thought about it many times, and it troubled me enough. And when you came at me like that, when you wanted to hound me – and then Jenůfa’s looks were ruined, I couldn’t, I couldn’t help it. Kostelnička Then come in!

Števa I’m afraid. Is she waiting here? Kostelnička (She opens the door of the chamber.) Jenůfa is asleep. Števa Has she come back from Vienna already? Kostelnička She has been hiding here. Look there at your child, a little boy, also named Števa; I baptized him myself. Števa Oh, poor little thing... Kostelnička Yes, poor little thing! (passionately) But Jenůfa is a hundred times more wretched. Števa I’ll pay for his support. Just don’t let it be known that he is mine!

Kostelnička (grips his hand convulsively and pulls him toward the door) Look at her too, at Jenůfa! What has the poor soul done to you, that you have brought her to such shame, brought her to such shame, and now you refuse to help her? Surely you can see that the little boy is alive, and he is the very image of you! Come, Števa, at least look at him! Must I beg you for this on my knees? (She falls to her knees.) Števa, take them both in holy matrimony. (Števa covers his face with his hands.) Do not abandon my foster daughter, my dear daughter; let her endure every misfortune with you, only do not leave her and my name in disgrace... Are you crying? (She rises, taking him by the hand.) Are you crying? Go to them, Števa, take your little boy in your arms, comfort Jenůfa! Števa (pulling his hand away from her) Auntie, even a stone would be moved, but I cannot marry her; it would bring misery to us both.

Kostelnička Why to you as well? Števa Because I am afraid of her, afraid of her. She used to be so sweet, so cheerful, but suddenly she began to change before my very eyes; she became like you, fierce and sorrowful. When I saw her the morning after the conscription, with her cheek slashed, all my love for her was gone. And you, Auntie, don’t be angry with me for being honest, I’m afraid of you too. You seem so strange to me, so frightening, like some witch who would follow me around and keep hounding me! Besides, I am already engaged to Karolka, the Mayor’s daughter! It’s all, all over! Kostelnička Števa!

Jenůfa (from the chamber, in her sleep) Mother, a stone is falling on me! a stone is falling on me! (Kostelnička listens and hurries toward the chamber door. Števa, frightened, runs out of the room.) Kostelnička Did she wake up? She only raised herself in her sleep, and Števa saw it... Now she’s asleep again. (locks the chamber door again, in a hoarse voice) He ran away, the wretched soul! And he did not even go near the child, his own flesh and blood! (in the greatest agitation) Oh, I could destroy that little worm and throw it at his feet: “There, that’s on your conscience!” But what now? (The door of the room opens. Laca enters.) Who will save her?

Scene Four

Laca, Kostelnička

Laca It’s me, Aunty. You know how gladly I come to you for comfort! But I saw a young fellow coming in. It was Števa, I recognized him. What did he want here? Has Jenůfa perhaps returned? Kostelnička She has returned. Laca And will she still be his? Kostelnička No. She did not speak to him. Laca And will you give her to me, will you give her to me, as you have always, always encouraged me that it might happen! Oh, I will not give her up, I will not give her up for anything in the world! Kostelnička Laca, you must learn everything, then put your love to the test! Jenůfa, the poor girl, has never been to Vienna in her life; all this time I have kept her hidden here. A week ago she had a child by him, by Števa. Laca Can that really have happened? You are only testing me!

Kostelnička As God is above us, I am telling you the plain truth in this terrible matter. As God is above us, I am telling you the plain truth in this terrible matter. Laca (darkly) Oh, Aunty, what a burden, what a burden you have laid on me, as though I’d been struck on the head with a stone, with a stone... And I should have to take Števa’s child as my own? (Kostelnička crosses the room in agitation and takes her head in her hands.) Kostelnička Laca, truly, he is, truly, he is, the little boy is no longer alive... He died... Laca Did Števa know about it? Kostelnička He knew. No, I want nothing more to do with him, I would only call down vengeance upon him for the rest of his life! (in a subdued voice, with increasing feverishness) Now go, just go, and find out there when they are planning the wedding! I must know... just go! Laca Well, yes. I’ll be back in a moment! Well, yes, in a moment, well, yes, in a moment. (He leaves.)

Scene Five

Kostelnička (alone) A moment… a moment… and meanwhile I must live through a whole eternity, my whole salvation?... What if I took the child somewhere else instead?... No… no… He alone stands in the way, and would be a lifelong shame!... By doing this I would redeem her life... and the Lord God, He knows best how all this stands, and the Lord God, He knows best how all this stands. (She takes a woollen shawl from the hook and wraps herself in it.) I will take the boy to the Lord God... It will be quicker and easier! By the time spring comes and the ice is gone, there will be no trace. He will reach the Lord God while he still knows nothing, he will reach the Lord God while he still knows nothing. (In the greatest agitation, beside herself.) They would all turn on me, and on Jenůfa! (Crouching, she gestures with her finger as if being pursued.) There she is — Kostelnička! (She stealthily hurries into the chamber and returns with the child, wrapping him in a shawl. Born of sin — truly, Števa’s wretched soul as well! She runs out through the door, locking it behind her.)

Scene Six

Jenůfa (alone, entering the room) Mother, my head feels so heavy, as though it were made of stone; help me! Where are you, Mother? (She slowly looks around.) This is her room... (She rubs her forehead.) I stay in the chamber, I have to keep hiding there, (fearfully) so that no one sees me! Mother keeps reproaching me, piercing my soul with thorns! It is evening already; I may unfasten the shutters. Darkness everywhere, only the moon shines for suffering people, and the sky is full of stars... and Števa still isn't coming — and again he won't come! If only he could see the little boy, how he opens his blue eyes... And where is my little Števa — where have you put him? Jenůfa (She runs into the chamber and comes back again, turning over the bedding.) Where is my Števuška? He is crying and wailing, I can hear him! Do not hurt him, good people, I caused all of this, Števa and I. Where have you laid him? He will fall, ah, he will fall. He will be cold, terribly cold! Do not abandon him! (She cries out.) Wait! I will come and protect him. (She runs to the door, which is locked; feeling along it with her hands, she falls to the ground, calmly.) Where am I? This is Mother’s room – the door is locked, the door is locked. (reassured) Mother must have gone to show him at the mill! Ah yes, to the mill – Števa’s little son! (anxiously) But I must pray for him. Here, by the picture of the Virgin.

Jenůfa (She takes down the picture, places it on the table and kneels.) Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! Hail, hail, to you we cry, banished children of Eve, to you we sigh, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Ah, turn toward us your merciful eyes, and show us Jesus, the fruit of your womb, after this our wandering, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! (feverishly) And protect my little Števa, (a noise at the door) and my little Števa, protect my little Števa, (a knocking at the window) and do not abandon him, Mother of mercy!

Scene Seven

Jenůfa, Kostelnička. Jenůfa (jumps up) Who is there? Kostelnička (outside the door; frightened, breathing heavily and trembling) Jenůfko, are you still awake? Open the window! Jenůfa (opens the window slightly) Have you brought Števuška? Kostelnička (at the window, startled) Here is the key, open the door, my hands are trembling – with cold… (Jenůfa partly closes the window, but not completely; she goes to the door and unlocks it.) Jenůfa (joyfully) Where is Števuška? Did you leave him at the mill? Perhaps Števa himself will come with him to visit us, won’t he, Mother, because of that darling child? Kostelnička My girl, you are delirious. May God comfort you! But you still don’t know about the misfortune. For two days you slept in a fever. And your little boy, your little boy has died!

Jenůfa (sinking to her knees beside Kostelnička and resting her head in her lap) So my dear little boy has died, so he has died! (She chokes back a sob.) Mother, my heart aches, but you always used to say that it would be better for him, that what the Lord God could provide for him, I, poor as I am, could not! So he has died, so now he is a little angel, but I am so bereft without him, my heart is so heavy – I could cry… Kostelnička Thank the Lord God! Thank the Lord God! You are free again, you are free again! Jenůfa (resolutely, firmly) And what about Števa? Mother, you promised me that you would send for him. He must know too.

Kostelnička Do not think of him, except to curse him! He was here while you lay in that sleep, he saw the child, I fell on my knees before him, but he wanted to pay for everything, to pay for everything, to pay for everything! He says he is afraid of you, because your face is scarred, and he is afraid of me too, because I am a witch! Jenůfa Ah, may God forgive him! (weeping) Ah, may God forgive him! Ah, may God forgive him! Ah, may God forgive him! Kostelnička And he is already engaged to the Mayor’s daughter. Don’t trouble yourself over that miserable drunkard! Value Laca instead! There you have a true, dependable love!

Scene Eight

Laca, the preceding Kostelnička Here he comes now!... (hurriedly, to Jenůfa) He knows everything about you, I told him everything, and he has forgiven you. Laca (to Kostelnička) Aunty, there was no one home at the Mayor’s. (He sees Jenůfa, approaches her and offers her his hand.) Jenůfka! May God comfort you, Jenůfka! Won’t you give me your hand? Jenůfa Thank you, Laca, for all the kind thoughts you gave to me all the time I was out of your sight! Many times from the little chamber I heard you, as you and Mother were always talking about me. Oh, you see how wretched I am! Laca But you will recover again, you will come to terms with the loss of your child!

Jenůfa I had imagined my life differently, differently, but now I feel as though I were already at the end! Laca (sadly) And you wouldn’t marry me, you wouldn’t marry me, Jenůfka? And you wouldn’t marry me, you wouldn’t marry me, Jenůfka? Kostelnička (feverishly) She will marry you, Laca, she will, Laca, she will, she will marry you, Laca, she will, Laca, she will. She has now regained her lost reason, (She sinks into a chair.) and she must still be happy. Jenůfa Mother speaks so childishly! How could you marry me like this? Oh, think it over carefully! I have neither wealth nor honour, and that beautiful love, for anything in the world, I no longer have that either. Do you want me as I am?

Laca (seizes her in his arms and kisses her on the cheek) I do, Jenůfka! Jenůfka, if only you will be mine! Jenůfa (affectionately, lightly) Then I will with you, with you endure everything, all the good, all the bad! Kostelnička (with an effort, she pulls herself up and goes toward them) You see that after all I did the right thing, I did the right thing! And now I bless you from this heavy heart: may the Lord God always deliver you from every sorrow, may He always bless you with health, contentment and prosperity... but him, the cause of all this misfortune — I curse, I curse, that his wife, the woman who takes him for a husband with such a heart, may lose her reason before she crosses his threshold! (She sinks into a chair.) Woe to him and to me! Woe to him and to me! (A draught blows the window open.)

Laca What is wrong, Aunty? What is wrong, Aunty? Kostelnička (She cries out.) What is that outside, howling and wailing? Hold me! Stand by me! Laca, stay! (Laca compassionately puts his arm around her shoulder.) (She looks around fearfully.) Laca What is wrong, Aunty? Kostelnička Close the window! Jenůfa (goes to close the window) Ah, what wind and frost! Kostelnička As if death were peering in here!

Act Three

Kostelnička’s room, as in Act Two. On the table is a white cloth and a pot of rosemary, with several ribbon-tied sprigs of rosemary on a plate. A bottle of wine, several glasses and a plate of cakes.

Scene One

Kostelnička, Jenůfa, Laca, Grandmother Buryja, the Shepherdess. (Jenůfa sits on a chair in her best clothes, with a prayer book and a handkerchief in her hand. The Shepherdess stands behind her, tying a headscarf on her head. Laca stands beside Jenůfa. Grandmother Buryja from the mill sits on a chair by the table. Kostelnička paces up and down, showing feverish agitation and inner torment; she looks very drawn and exhausted. Jenůfa looks fresher than in Act Two, but serious.)

The Shepherdess Are you feeling sad, Jenůfka? Jenůfa No. Laca Why should she be sad? I would never hurt her! The Shepherdess But that is how it always is: a girl is sorry to lose her freedom. God, how foolish I was, how I cried — and yet I got a good, kind, decent man! The Shepherdess (to herself) What should I do first? Should I give them the flowers or offer them a glass of wine? I only came to help. Kostelnička still isn’t quite herself after her illness! Kostelnička (startled) What’s that rustling outside the door? Who’s coming? The Shepherdess (opening the door to the new arrivals) Welcome! (to Kostelnička) Don’t be frightened, it’s the Mayor and his wife.

Scene Two

The Mayor, the Mayor’s Wife, the preceding. The Mayor (offering his hand to Kostelnička) God grant you happiness... Why, were you frightened of us? The Shepherdess It’s her illness! It’s her illness! Welcome! The Mayor We’ve come because we were invited. Karolka is only waiting for Števa; they’ll come together. Laca Welcome! Jenůfa (rising) Welcome! The Mayor You can see it in her, she’s somehow wasting away! (to Kostelnička) What a strong woman you used to be, everything about you was full of life! (He drinks a toast.) No more grieving now, may everything be well! Kostelnička Today I am arranging Jenůfa’s wedding to a good man; I have no reason to lament. But I can feel it — I am wasting away. (She clasps her head in her hands.) Oh, what torment this is! Sleep never brings relief; I must stay awake, I must, to live through all of it!

Jenůfa Mother, God willing, you will still recover! Kostelnička I don’t want to recover, I don’t want to recover, I don’t... A long life would be a horror, would be a horror... and what awaits me there? (She pulls herself together.) Today is your wedding day, Jenůfko, and I am happy for you. The Mayor’s Wife (to Kostelnička) Whatever has Jenůfa got into her head, going to her wedding dressed like a respectable widow? Kostelnička She, Jenůfa? The greatest ladies and gentlemen go to the altar just as simply. The Mayor’s Wife The gentry do everything according to fashion, but we here in the village! Well, I would never have gone to the altar without a bridal wreath and ribbons, never, not for a thousand Rhenish guilders, never! The Shepherdess (to the Mayor’s Wife) Even so, she’ll still be a respectable and capable woman! Kostelnička Come and have a look at her trousseau! I arranged everything myself: you don’t often see a trousseau like this! (Everyone goes into the chamber, leaving only Jenůfka and Laca.)

Scene Three

Laca, Jenůfa Jenůfa You see, Laca, I knew everyone would notice how I am dressed for my wedding. Laca (taking a little posy from the pocket of his jacket) Jenůfka, I did bring you a little posy... It came all the way from the gardener in Belovec. Jenůfa Thank you, Laca! Laca Wouldn’t you take it, wouldn’t you take it, Jenůfka! Jenůfa (fastening the posy to her bodice) Oh, Laca, you did not deserve a bride like me! Laca Oh, child, don’t speak to me about it anymore. It struck me like a blow at first, when Aunty told me, but then I immediately forgave you! After all, I have wronged you so much myself, all my life I must make it up to you, all my life, all my life. Jenůfa I feel so sorry for you, I feel so sorry for you! You stood by me in my misfortune, you instead of Števa. You stood by me in my misfortune, you instead of Števa! Laca I know you loved Števa, if only now you no longer think of him. I carried hatred for Števa in my heart and would gladly have deprived him of everything. But you told me to make peace with him, and I have now overcome all that evil within me, all of it, because you are with me, because you are with me! I invited Števa, as was proper, to our wedding, to our wedding; he promised he would come as a brother, with Karolka. And look, they’re here already!

Scene Four

Števa, Karolka, the preceding. (Karolka and Števa enter.)

Karolka May God grant you a good day, may God grant you a good day! Števa took so long getting himself ready, as though his feet were stuck to the ground! I wish you, may God grant you happiness and God’s blessing, and God’s blessing! Today I’ll look at you with a heavy heart, knowing that my turn too will come to go to the altar. It’s only a pity that you, that you are having it like sensible people, without any music! And now, Števa, you give your wishes! And now, Števa, you give your wishes! Števa (embarrassed) I can’t do it as well as Karolka! Jenůfa Well, never mind, here, shake hands with your brother! Each of you has something fine about him. You, Števa, your good looks, and Laca, that good soul God gave him! Karolka Just go on and tell Števa again that he’s handsome; he already doesn’t know what to do with himself! Jenůfa Can he still be such a child? Laca When will you have your wedding? Števa Exactly two weeks from now. Karolka (jokingly) Ha, only if I want to! I may still send you packing. People already warn me enough about you! Števa If you did that, I’d have to take my own life! Jenůfa You see, Števa, that is your true love! May it never cause you pain! (The Mayor, Kostelnička and the others return from the chamber.)

Scene Five

The Mayor, Kostelnička, the Mayor’s Wife, the preceding. The Mayor That was quite an inspection! Kostelnička (frightened and trembling) Števa is here! He’s come again to cause some trouble! (to Laca) What does he want here? I cannot bear to see him. Laca (to Kostelnička) Jenůfa was the one who asked for it! The Mayor If I hadn’t lit a cigar, all that rummaging would have made me furious! The Mayor’s Wife You’ve provided for her very well, you must be given credit for that!

Scene Six

The preceding, Barena and the girls. (They bring a bouquet of rosemary and geranium flowers, decorated with coloured ribbons.)

Barena May God grant you a good day! The Girls May God grant you a good day! You didn’t invite us, but we won’t keep you long, we won’t keep you long... we won’t keep you long, we won’t! Barena Even though you’re having no celebration, we still couldn’t stay away without coming to wish Jenůfa well and sing for her! Barena and the Girls So we wish you both as much happiness as there are drops in a heavy rain. And now we’ll sing! The Girls Hey, mother, mother, dear mother of mine! Get me some new clothes, I’m going to get married. Hey! Hey, daughter, daughter, dear daughter of mine! Forget about getting married, you’re still much too young. Hey! Hey, mother, mother, dear mother of mine! You were young once too, and you were glad to get married! Hey!

The Mayor You sang that very well! Barena (giving Jenůfa a posy of flowers) And take this from us, Jenůfko! Jenůfa I thank you with all my heart! It has touched me so deeply! Laca The priest told us, told us to come to the church at exactly nine! The Mayor Well, hurry now and get the blessing — so we can be off! (Laca and Jenůfa kneel before Grandmother Buryja.) Laca I respectfully ask you, ask you for your blessing. Grandmother Buryja Then I bless you, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (The bride and groom kiss Grandmother Buryja’s hands.) And you, Laca, don’t think badly of me!

The Mayor (The bride and groom kneel before Kostelnička; she raises her hands. A commotion is heard outside. Kostelnička draws back in fright. Two voices can be distinguished amid the noise outside.) And now, Kostelnička, you surely know how to do it like the priest! First Voice (from outside) Poor little thing! Some beast has killed a child! Second Voice (from outside) What godless woman did this? Kostelnička What child? What are they shouting about a child out there?

Scene Seven

Jano, the others. Jano (running in) Mayor, they’re looking for you. The Mayor What’s happened? What is it? Števa What’s going on? Jano You haven’t heard yet? You haven’t heard yet? The brewery workers found a child frozen fast under the ice! All Oh, horror! Oh, horror! Jano They’re carrying it on a board, it looks as though it were alive, wrapped in a little quilt, in swaddling clothes, with a red bump on its head! It’s horrible; the people are wailing over it, oh, come quickly! (Jano runs off; the Mayor, the Mayor’s Wife, the people, the Shepherdess, Laca, Jenůfa and Karolka follow him. Only Števa remains standing motionless, while Kostelnička and Grandmother Buryja remain by the bed.)

Števa That cry seemed to cut my legs from under me! And now I feel such dread! (Jenůfa breaks away from Laca. Laca pulls Jenůfa inside.)

Scene Eight

Kostelnička, Grandmother Buryja, Števa. Kostelnička Jenůfa... don’t run away, oh, don’t run away! Hold me, protect me! Hold me, protect me! Hold me, protect me! They’re coming for me! Grandmother Buryja But, my daughter! But, my daughter! Daughter, you’re delirious again! (Števa runs off and at the door bumps into Karolka, who takes him by the hand.) Laca Jenůfka! Jenůfka! Pull yourself together! What dreadful thought has come over you! People can hear you! Oh, pull yourself together! Jenůfa Let me go! Let me go! That’s Števuška, my little boy, mine! (The Mayor enters, carrying swaddling clothes and a little red cap. The others follow him.)

Scene Nine

The preceding, Karolka, later Jenůfa and Laca. Karolka (to Števa) Števa, this is terrible! The wedding is ruined... If I were the bride, I would be crying. Jenůfa (from outside) Oh God, my God, that’s my little boy!

Scene Ten

The Mayor, the others. (The doors remain wide open, and the people peer inside.) Jenůfa Ah, you see, his swaddling clothes, his little cap! I made it myself from my own ribbons! The Mayor’s Wife Do you hear that, Mayor? They know about it! Jenůfa Oh, people, what have you done with him? Aunt Jesus Christ! So she killed her own child! Jenůfa Without a little coffin, without a little wreath. Why won’t you leave him in peace? You’ve dragged him about somewhere in the snow and ice! The Mayor I think I’m on the right track now, with none of the gentlemen here! I have to be the chief official — (wiping the sweat from his brow) and I’d rather be anywhere else!

The People Stone her! Stone her... Stone her! Stone her... Stone her! Jesus Christ! She killed the child! She must have brought it from Vienna! Jenůfa Števa, miller, run after them, quickly, run — that’s your child! Laca (threateningly) Just let anyone dare to touch her! It will cost you your life! I’ll beat you with my fists! Kostelnička (with difficulty, pulling herself together) I am still here! You know nothing! It was my deed — my punishment from God! The People Kostelnička! Kostelnička I killed Jenůfa’s child, I alone! Her life, her happiness I wanted to save. The shame weighed upon me that I had raised my stepdaughter only to see her ruined!

Kostelnička (She sinks to her knees.) You knew, God, that it was more than I could bear, that instead of the child two lives would be lost... Jenůfa was never in Vienna, I kept her hidden, drugged her, took the child, carried him to the river and pushed him through a hole cut in the ice. The People Jesus Christ! Kostelnička It was evening. He did not struggle... he did not even make a sound... Only it seemed as though he burned me in my arms... and from that moment I knew that I was a murderess. The People Jesus Christ! Our Kostelnička! Kostelnička Afterwards I told Jenůfa that her child had died while unconscious! Oh, have mercy on her, do not condemn her! She is innocent... Judge me, stone me, wretched as I am!

Jenůfa Oh, Mother — under the ice — oh! (furiously) Let me go! Karolka (to Števa, who, devastated, leans against the window) Števa, is this on your conscience? (throwing her arms around her mother’s neck) Mother, I feel so faint I could collapse! The Mayor’s Wife My Karolka! Karolka Take me out of here — I won’t marry Števa, I’d rather jump into the water. Let’s go home! (Karolka pushes her way out, followed by her mother.) Laca Oh, my God, I am the cause of it, I disfigured your cheek so that Števa would leave you, and then everything led to this misfortune! The Shepherdess That is his punishment! No girl will marry him. Not even an honest Gypsy girl! (Števa, covering his face with his hands, pushes his way out. The Shepherdess leads the devastated Grandmother Buryja away.)

Scene Eleven

Jenůfa, Laca, Kostelnička, the Mayor, the others (without the Mayor’s Wife, Karolka, Števa, Grandmother Buryja and the Shepherdess).

Jenůfa (rises resolutely and approaches Kostelnička) Rise, my foster mother! Enough mortal humiliation and suffering await you! (She helps Kostelnička to her feet.) Kostelnička Why do you raise me up? You know they will take me away? (horrified) Oh! (She runs to the chamber door.) No, no! I must not! They would judge you, Jenůfa! Jenůfa And my foster mother, now I understand, does not deserve to be cursed. Do not condemn her! Give her time to repent! The Saviour will look upon her too! Laca Jenůfka, have you lost your senses? Kostelnička Only you, forgive me. Now I see that I loved myself more than I loved you. Now you can no longer cry: “Mother, oh Mother!” You could not have inherited my nature, my blood, and now I draw strength from you... I want to suffer! The Saviour will look upon me too. Jenůfa May God comfort you! Kostelnička Come, Mayor! Lead me away!... Jenůfa May God comfort you! (The Mayor supports Kostelnička by the arm and leaves with her. Everyone follows them out. Only Jenůfa and Laca remain.)

Scene Twelve

Jenůfa, Laca. Jenůfa They have gone. You go too! Surely now you see that you cannot join your life to my wretched one! God be with you... and remember, remember that you were the best man, the best man I have ever known in this world! That you deliberately wounded my cheek, I forgave you long ago. You sinned only out of love, as I once did. Laca You will go out into the world to seek a better life, and you won’t take me with you, Jenůfka? Jenůfa You know they will call me to court, that everyone will look at me with contempt? Laca (more animatedly) Jenůfka, I will bear even that for you, I will bear even that for you! What do we care about the world, if we can be a comfort to each other! Jenůfa (overcome) Oh, Laca, my soul! Oh, come, oh, come! Now I have been led to you by that greater love, the love that God approves of!

End of the opera

libretto by Dmitrii Murashev