“Jenůfa” – Act 2

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!

libretto by Dmitrii Murashev