“Maria Stuarda” – Act 2
by Gaetano Donizetti libretto (English)
| Act Two |
| Park at Fotheringay. On either side are dense groves of trees, while the center opens onto a broad view stretching to the sea. Maria runs out of the woods. Anna follows more slowly; the guards are visible to the audience. |
| SCENE I |
| No. 6: Scene and Cavatina Anna Slow your step, my Queen. Maria What! Would you not have me Open my breast to unfamiliar joy? Do you not see? My prison now is the open sky. I gaze upon it! Oh! Dear is the delight That surrounds me! Anna The sorrow, the sorrow That awaits you within those walls - do you know? Maria Look: upon the meadows appears Sweet-scented and fair The family of flowers, And to me, yes, to me they smile, And the zephyr, returning From the lovely shores of France, Tells me to rejoice As in my first happy youth. O cloud! Lightly wandering through the air, Carry my love, carry my sighs To the blessed soil that once nourished me. Ah! Descend in kindness, receive me on your wings, Restore me to France, steal me away from my sorrows! But cruelly the cloud too has fled To the blessed soil that once nourished me. (From afar the sound of trumpets is heard.) What sound is that! Hunters (from within) To the wood, to the chase! The stag appears From the mossy hill, Then playfully he flees To the riverbank: He mirrors himself in the waters; Run swiftly To strike that stag. Maria What voices! Anna It seems to me the signal of a royal hunt! Maria The sounds draw nearer ... The horses ... Hunters The Queen! Maria Ah! What a fatal name! Anna The tyrant is passing through the park. Maria In the peace of my mournful repose She would strike me again with terror. I asked for her, and now I dare not see her, I do not feel such courage! Let her remain adored upon the throne, Let her gaze be kept far from me, Too deeply, too deeply am I despised; In all hearts pity for me is silent. Anna She is coming. Let us flee, let us flee. Maria Let us flee; my heart knows not how to contain itself. Anna Her heart knows not how to contain itself, no! Maria Ah, yes! In the peace of my mournful repose, etc. |
| SCENE II |
| No. 7: Scene and Duet (Leicester enters.) Maria Ah! My joy does not deceive me! Roberto, is it you? Is it you? Leicester The man who adores you comes To break your chains. Maria Shall I at last be free from my prison? Free? And yours forever? My trembling heart can scarcely believe it. Leicester Elisabetta is coming this way, And the royal hunt Serves as her pretext. If you show yourself submissive to her ... Maria Submissive to her? Leicester Today you must be. Maria Oh, heaven! What do I hear? What do I hear? Spare me so dreadful a sight! (She tries to withdraw.) Leicester If you love me, pray, stay. Maria And must I? Leicester You must have hope. Maria Abandoned by everyone, A prey to cruel sorrow, Oppressed and desolate, My heart knows no hope. I was condemned to tears, To sigh forever; Your love alone Can soothe my suffering. Leicester No, you must not despair; She is great upon her throne ... Maria What can I hope for? Leicester ... Her heart was moved By your letter ... Maria What are you saying? Leicester ... And in her eyes I saw ... Maria Oh, heaven! Leicester ... A tear appear. Maria Ah! Leicester If you listen to me and trust in me ... Maria What can I hope for? Leicester ... You will see everything change. Maria Abandoned by everyone, etc. Leicester And in her eyes I saw, etc. Maria I know her heart, I am convinced! Leicester Yet pity, yet pity Often dwells within it. Maria Not for one whose throne casts a shadow over hers! Leicester No, you say? Then I myself, If she is deaf to your pleas, Shall take vengeance upon her. Maria What are you saying! What can you do? Risk yourself for me! Ah, I will not allow it. Leicester Ah! Yes, I shall. Maria Ah! If my heart ever trembled At the cruel prospect of death, Do not make it suffer The fear of losing you. All I wished and all I sought Was to find you faithful and grateful; For your sake I hope my fate May not be so wretched. Leicester Yes, I pledge my faith and honor; And my loving heart swears it. You shall rise from the misfortune That robbed you of all your glory. And if I cannot offer you a kingdom, Nor the hand of a sovereign, At least I can offer you the hand That opened your prison doors. Maria Do not risk yourself. Leicester I swear you shall rise from misfortune. Maria Ah! No! Leicester Yes, my faith. Maria Ah! I will not allow it. Leicester My honor ... I pledge it ... Maria Ah! Do not make me Tremble for your life. Leicester Yes, I pledge my faith and honor, You shall rise from misfortune. Maria All I wished and all I sought, etc. Leicester Ah! At least I can offer you the hand, etc. (Maria departs. Leicester hastens to meet Elisabetta as she enters.) |
| SCENE III |
| No. 8: Scene Elisabetta What place is this? Leicester Fotheringay. Elisabetta Oh, my lord! Where have you brought me? Leicester Have no fear; Maria will soon be brought before you By the wise Talbot. Elisabetta What a sacrifice I make for your sake! Do you see? Move the hunters away From the neighboring paths; The way is too crowded with people. (At a signal from Leicester, the hunters withdraw, and the courtiers gather in various groups at the back of the stage.) Cecil (to Elisabetta) See, my Queen, how England adores you. Ah! You know whose head she demands. Elisabetta Silence. Leicester (to Elisabetta) Pray, remember That I brought you here To bring comfort To a suffering sister. The hand that plunged her into misery Can restore her To her former happiness. Elisabetta (I detest her! He does nothing but speak of her.) (Maria enters, accompanied by Talbot and Anna.) |
| SCENE IV |
| Talbot Come. Maria Pray, leave me. Take me back to my refuge. Elisabetta, Leicester, Cecil, Talbot There she is. Maria (to Anna) Oh, God! |
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