THE VAMPIRE
By Heinrich Marschner
English translation by Jutta
Romero, Copyright (c) 1997
(My thanks to Ms. Romero for
volunteering this text, and to Mike Richter for sending it to me, and to David
M. Bloom for editing the text. L.N.)
THE VAMPIRE
FIRST ACT
FIRST SCENE
WILDERNESS - AT THE SIDE A CAVE. IN THE BACKGROUND A RAISED PLATEAU. CHORUS OF WITCHES AND
GHOSTS IN ODD SHAPES.
NO. 1 INTRODUCTION
CHORUS OF WITCHES AND GHOSTS
You witches and ghosts,
Close cheerfully the circle,
Soon our master will be here with us!
Because of horrible crimes
That is why we are looking for him,
We are looking for his counsel.
Shunning the light, at
When only fear and malice are awake,
By moonlight we prowl
Into the gloomy chasm.
Snake and viper I hear hissing,
Will-o'-the-wisp flickers and among them,
Newts, toads, black cats,
Goblins, witches, devils grimaces
Come on cheerfully, close the circle!
Owl and eagle-owl, you are to shriek,
Yo, hoho, hoho.
The Vampire Master appears leading
Lord Ruthven by the hand.
There comes the master,
In the pale light of the fire!
VAMPIRE MASTER
This one here, who already fell into our service,
Asks for a short time
To stay among free people.
His wish will be granted,
If he fulfills his oath,
That until
He'll bring us three victims:
For three brides, tender and pure,
The vampire shall be granted one more year!
RUTHVEN
By the power of all evil,
I swear to you to keep my word;
But now get away from here,
Because one of the victims soon will be here!
(THE CHORUS WITHOUT THE VAMPIRE
MASTER.)
GHOST CHORUS
Softly, softly by the moonlight
Shoo, shoo into the ground!
Thousand crevices, thousand fissures
Are there for us to disappear into.
Let us sit down there and brood,
Until
Softly, softly by the moonlight
Into the ground!
(IT TOLLS
RUTHVEN IS ALONE.)
NO. RECITATIVE AND
ARIA
RUTHVEN
Ha! Still a whole
day!
That time is very long!
-
Two victims are already certain
And the third - the third will be found easily.
Ha! What pleasure,
from beautiful eyes
On flowering bosom
In blissful quiver
To suck new life with a kiss!
Ha! What pleasure,
With loving caress,
With lascivious courage
The sweetest blood
Like sap of the roses,
From red-purple lips
Adulatingly to
sip! -
And when the burning thirst is quenched,
And when the blood oozes from the heart,
And when they groan full of terror,
Haha! What delight!
Ha, what pleasure! -
Her blood gives me new courage;
Her death tremor gives new life! -
Poor darling, pale as snow,
Your heart must have been hurting! -
Alas, once I felt the same aches of fear in my warm heart,
Which heaven feelingly created.
Don't remind me with these sounds,
Which mock heaven insolently,
I understand your call!
Ha! What
pleasure!
What delight. What delight. What pleasure!
DIALOGUE
RUTHVEN, JANTHE
RUTHVEN
Do I finally see you, my sweet Janthe!
JANTHE (
Only after
RUTHVEN
O, that was high
time! Already tomorrow you would have
been lost to me forever. You, the bride
of another!
JANTHE
O, furtively I had to leave my father! In tears will he be looking for his child -
and not find her!
(SHE TURNS AWAY CRYING.)
NO. DUETT
JANTHE
Beloved parents' only joy.
I reward them with bitter sorrow,
When to honor them should be a sweet duty.
Alas! I have to
grieve them,
Because I am forced to love you,
Even so reason speaks against it.
RUTHVEN
Feel by my heartbeat,
More than I am able to say,
That I belong to you forever;
Never will I grieve you,
Forever, forever to love you,
I swear truthfully.
JANTHE
So you are, beloved, mine forever,
And forever, beloved, I am yours!
Ah, only love, love makes me happy,
I devote my life to you alone!
RUTHVEN
Yes, beloved, I belong to you forever,
And forever, beloved, you are mine!
Ah, only love, love makes me happy,
I devote my life to you alone!
JANTHE
When at first you came near me,
I trembled with terror.
RUTHVEN
I know very well, darling, that you did that,
But now you look smilingly at me.
JANTHE
Like with a magic rope
It pulled me later to you.
-
RUTHVEN
Our hearts, which found each other,
Are the magic, believe me.
-
JANTHE
Yes, I am following an urge,
I am following my heart.
He is mine, forever, forever!
Love smiles from his eyes;
O, how happy shall I be!
RUTHVEN
Ha, in her heart she is afraid,
Poor girl, I feel sorry for her.
But triumph! Now she
is mine;
And to suck her sweet blood,
What lust it will be!
RUTHVEN AND JANTHE
Flee towards the back of the cave at the sound of the horn.
HUNTERS, SERVANTS AND PEASANTS
(ARE COMING)
NO. CHORUS AND
SOLOISTS
CHORUS
Where can she be? -
Where can she be? -
By torchlight
Search the forest.
Awake the echo,
That the sound of the bugle
Shall echo back a thousand times
everywhere.
Janthe! Janthe! Janthe!
(SIR
Woe, my child! In
what wilderness
May she be wandering?
Late at night I missed her at home.
For sure robbers must have abducted her.
Whoever finds her track,
I swear to you, he will receive the father's
Deep gratitude and a great reward.
(LOOKING AROUND)
But woe, which place have we come to?
Since hundreds of years malicious
Ghosts dwell here.
The vampire cave it is called by the people.
CHORUS
Woe. The vampire
cave!
Quickly leave with soft steps!
Poor father! Poor
father!
Hurry away with soft steps!
JANTHE'S VOICE (FROM THE CAVE)
Woe is me!
RUTHVEN'S VOICE (FROM THE CAVE)
Ha ha!
CHORUS
What yelling!
It came from there!
JANTHE (AS BEFORE)
Woe is me!
That was my child's voice,
Rescue her dear life!
HUNTERS AND SERVANTS
(RUN INTO THE CAVE WITH THEIR TORCHES.)
Woe is me! My
strength is waning!
Fear and joy make me tremble;
In what condition will I find her!
(HE TAKES HEART AND WANTS TO ENTER THE CAVE.)
A FEW SERVANTS APPEAR WITH LORD RUTHVEN
Nasty robber of my child,
Here take the reward of your deeds.
(HE INJURES
CHORUS (IN THE CAVE)
She is dead!
What? My child
murdered?
My child murdered!
(HE WANTS TO ENTER THE CAVE.)
HUNTERS AND SERVANTS
(APPROACHING HIM)
ONE SERVANT
Poor father!
Woe! Horror!
Chest and neck of your daughter are bloody,
The mark of poison teeth show the
horror!
She was a victim of the vampire!
ALL
A vampire! A vampire! Woe! A
vampire!
(ALL RUN AWAY, RUTHVEN STAYS BY HIMSELF.)
RUTHVEN (PAINFULLY TRYING TO GET UP)
Woe is me! My
strength is waning!
Time will pass idly,
While I am unable to reach the summit,
That while dying I would be able to
Suck in with my eyes the rays of the moon,
Which would give me new strength for
living.
Awful! Omnipotent
one!
Everything, everything desolate and empty,
Horrible silence everywhere!
Only Hell's scornful laughter I am hearing.
EDGAR AUBRY
(APPEARS ON THE PLATEAU)
AUBRY
Is there no way out?
There is an empty place here,
But which way shall I turn?
Quiet, over there, quiet, something is moving.
(THE MUSIC ENDS)
DIALOGUE
RUTHVEN
Cheer up! I hear a
human voice!
Whoever you may be -
AUBRY
Ha, an injured person is here on the ground.
RUTHVEN
Whoever you may be have pity -
AUBRY
Whose voice? What do
I see! If my eyes are not fooling me at
the faint moonlight you must be Ruthven.
RUTHVEN
Aubry it's
you? My angel sent you, I was assaulted
by robbers.
AUBRY
Good God! Dear friend,
what can I do for you? Is your injury
deadly? Can you be helped?
RUTHVEN
No, human help is too late - but yet - Aubry
- if I ever was your friend - render me an important service.
AUBRY
Oh tell, what can I do for you? Once you saved my life, oh if only I could
repay you, that I could sacrifice my life for yours.
RUTHVEN
There is nothing that can be done for my life - but - Aubry -
I beg you -
AUBRY
Don't hesitate to tell me!
What
Is it? Should I
avenge your
Death? Did you recognize the robbers?
RUTHVEN
No, it's not that which I desire of you! Oh!
AUBRY
So speak already, what is it? What can I do for you?
What strange restlessness in your behavior - is there
someone about whom you are anxious? Is
some heavy guilt bothering your conscience?
Tell, what is it?
RUTHVEN
Nothing Like That - I Just Beg You - Aubry
- Guide Me Up To Those Rocks (HE POINTS TOWARDS THE
ROCKS ABOVE THE CAVE) and put my face in such a way that the rays of the moon
will penetrate my eyes.
AUBRY
Strange - and what shall - ?
Ha, what foreboding! They say
that those horrible creatures -
RUTHVEN
Quiet! Carry out my
request!
Aubry
So it is true what I was told in
RUTHVEN
Stop, unfortunate one, don't finish! In that hour, as I saved your life, you
promised to do for me what I would ask you.
Now then, fulfill now what I am asking you for. But promise me first that everything you know
about me or what you still might learn about me, or what you may only sense, to
keep to yourself.
AUBRY (HESITANT)
RUTHVEN
Only twenty four hours.
AUBRY
Ruthven!
RUTHVEN
Swear! Swear by
everything which you hold holy, by your soul's salvation!
AUBRY
You were the savior of my life - alas - I swear.
RUTHVEN
And cursed you shall be into the abyss of hell, all the
punishment of perjury shall weigh upon your soul if you break your oath! Cursed shall you be and whoever is a member
of your family! Cursed shall be whomever
you love and who loves you! Swear it!
AUBRY
I swear! Horrible!
NO. MELODRAMA
RUTHVEN
Ah! - well, now I will await my fate calmly, - guide me up
there. (HE GETS UP LABORIOUSLY WITH THE
HELP OF AUBRY.)
AUBRY (SLOWLY GUIDING RUTHVEN TO THE ROCKS ABOVE THE CAVE,
HELPS HIM TO LIE DOWN, SO THAT THE RAYS OF THE MOON HIT RUTHVEN'S FACE. THEN HE FLEES IN TERROR TOWARDS THE LEFT.)
RUTHVEN'S FACE STARTS STIRRING. HE SITS UP BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE BY THE RAYS
OF THE MOONLIGHT.
SECOND SCENE
NO. 6 SCENE AND ARIA
(A HALL IN THE
MALWINA
Cheerfully the golden spring sun smiles over the colorful,
newborn field.
Ah, everything I see is only a reflection of a bliss my
heart never divined!
(FULL OF JOYOUS FEELINGS BUT WITHOUT PASSION.)
The fields in their colorful outfits,
The tree dressed up in its fragrant flower dress,
The chorus of birds, which sounds all around me and exalts
to heaven,
Ah, everything rejoices and shares my happiness!
Today it surges in me,
Yes, "today" it reverberates from outside!
Yes, today the beloved will come back! -
Swing you too, my loving heart,
Glowing with joy skywards,
And in the urge of pleasure and joy,
Beat your creator praise and thanks!
Quiet! Who is nearing
the gate?
He is looking up, it is his glance!
It is he, Edgar! It
is he! -
Ah, forgive my sin,
When drunk with joy
I don't find words of thanks
In the excess of joy.
(SHE HURRIES OUT TOWARDS AUBRY.)
EDGAR AUBRY AND MALWINA
(ARE COMING IN JOYOUS HASTE)
No. 7 DUETT
BOTH
It's you, it's you, it is no dream,
Ah, this happiness, I can hardly grasp.
Is it really you? Am
I seeing you again?
The joy of heaven pours down on me.
DIALOGUE
MALWINA
Already early in the morning you are here?
AUBRY
To be the first to congratulate you
on your birthday.
MALWINA
O, Edgar, I am so happy.
Since some time ago my father has been talking about you with
respect. Since the time that you closed
the business deal for him in
Or whom he always took you.
Just a few days ago he told me: "what a pity that I don't have a
son like him who would be able to preserve the splendor of the House of Davenaut!"
AUBRY
Ah, Malwina, I just see in that
the worry about the splendor of his house.
Only the fact that I am a distant relative makes me worthy in his
eyes. Believe me,
he will never give me the hand of his only daughter in marriage.
MALWINA
No, don't be afraid, I believe he has a hunch about our love
and approves. Often his eyes rest
significantly on me like he is waiting for my confession! After he received your message that the large
estate will be undisputed his property the otherwise very strict father kissed
my forehead and told me moved and full of love: "To see you happy, my daughter,
is now my only worry!"
AUBRY
Ah, just status and wealth are his happiness, and I myself
have increased the obstacles, which will forever separate me from you.
MALWINA
O, don't cloud with your doubts my glad hopes. This very day, on my birthday, on which my
father promised the fulfillment of any request, I will reveal to him the secret
of our love. - quiet,
he is coming!
SIR HUMPHREY, LAIRD OF DAVENAUT
(ENTERS FROM THE RIGHT REAR DOOR)
MALWINA (RUSHING TOWARDS DAVENAUT)
Father! Father! Edgar is back!
DAVENAUT
Sir Aubry, a hearty welcome! (HE SHAKES AUBRY'S HAND.) You performed an
important task for the Davenauts. But what you did honors yourself! Because you, too, belong to
a branch of this noble house and the greater the splendor and wealth of the
Laird, the more fame and honor for all the members of the house. Accept my thanks and your happiness shall
henceforth be the concern of your father.
AUBRY
Sir, this kindness - !
MALWINA
O, my father!
DAVENAUT
My daughter! It is
true that often I have grumbled that a son was not born to me, that the name of
Davenaut, since centuries one of the noblest in
MALWINA
My father!
DAVENAUT
I have noticed before what your mouth concealed. I guessed your wish, and I anticipated your
request, I greet you as bride.
MALWINA
My father, this kindness!
DAVENAUT
You are standing apart from us, Sir Aubry? Don't you want to share our joy?
AUBRY (RUSHES HAPPILY TOWARDS DAVENAUT)
Is it possible? May I
hope?
DAVENAUT
Do you believe I want to stay in your debt? I promised to take care of your
happiness. The name of my son-in-law, it
is your guarantee, that he will always act like I
would: it is the Earl of Marsden!
SIDE 3
NO. 8 TRIO
MALWINA
What, my father!
AUBRY
Woe, I have lost!
DAVENAUT
Yes, it is the Earl of Marsden,
Whom I choose as my son.
MALWINA AND AUBRY
What, who is it? The Earl of Marsden?
DAVENAUT
Ha, they seem to like my choice.
AUBRY AND MALWINA (TO THE SIDE)
Ah, my good luck was just a dream,
Did it need to leave me so quickly?
Woe, this misfortune to fathom,
My poor heart doesn't have enough space!
DAVENAUT (TO HIMSELF)
Ha, they seem to like my choice!
Yes, he is through rank and nobility,
As well as manners without fault,
Worth to be a Davenaut!
MALWINA
Look at me, down at your feet;
Father, can you forgive me?
Father, alas, to the Earl of Marsden
I could never be a wife!
DAVENAUT
What am I hearing!
Ha, is it possible!
MALWINA
This heart -
DAVENAUT
What?
MALWINA
Has already chosen.
DAVENAUT
Ha! Is it possible!
MALWINA
Alas, I feel, I did wrong,
That I concealed it until now.
DAVENAUT
Who is the audacious one?
Speak!
AUBRY
The audacious one, sir, is I!
DAVENAUT
Ha, I hardly can take hold of myself out of anger!
How, depraved one!
Can you dare,
To tell me this to my face?
AUBRY
Alas, since the days of my childhood
This heart beat for her,
To make your daughter happy
Is my only desire!
DAVENAUT
Away, you implore in vain, away! -
MALWINA (IMPLORING)
Alas, since the days of my childhood
This heart beat for him,
Take pity on your daughter
Only with him can I be happy!
DAVENAUT
Away, you implore in vain, away,
Because I gave the Earl my word.
And never was broken,
What a Davenaut promised!
(THE FORMER AND GEORGE)
GEORGE (ANNOUNCING)
Sir, the Earl of Marsden
Just came riding through the gate,
And the lively youths of the village
Are nearing, singing a merry chorus,
To greet your daughter
Today on her birthday.
DAVENAUT
Lead the merry guests
Into the hall to my daughter.
(HE LEAVES)
NO. 9 FINALE
CHORUS OF THE PEASANTS AND GUESTS
Flowers and blossoms in zephyr caress,
Lovely unfolded from the adulating west,
Flower of the highlands, you Davenaut
rose,
Wind we for you on today's feast!
May the future strew the happiest destiny,
Like roses, on your path of life,
Flower of the highlands, you Davenaut
rose,
Today we dedicate the flowers and blossoms to you.
GEORGE
Look, there comes the son-in-law
Held by the hand of the old squire,
Start the song, you know the one,
Which the old one likes to hear!
(DAVENAUT APPEARS IN THE REAR WITH LORD RUTHVEN.)
CHORUS
Sing loud and rejoice,
That it rings throughout the land:
Hail, hail to the House of Davenaut,
Hail to anyone who is related to it,
Which stands strong like our
mountains,
Which will go down only with the
rest of the world,
Which luster does not give way to the crown,
Which is as bright and shiny as the
sun,
Sing loud and rejoice,
That it rings throughout the land;
Hail, hail to the House of Davenaut,
Hail to anyone who is related to it.
(DAVENAUT AND RUTHVEN STEP UP.)
DAVENAUT
Here, Malwina, is the man
Whom I think worthy of you,
Worthy of the House of Davenaut.
RUTHVEN
Your choice indeed makes me happy!
But I shall count myself truly happy only
When my ladies eyes smile friendly
at me.
MALWINA (WITHOUT LOOKING AT HIM)
Esteemed sir! (SHE
LOOKS AT HIM)
Ha! - woe is me!
AUBRY
God, whom do I see!
DAVENAUT
Unbelievable!
AUBRY
Do I see right - you are - Lord Ruthven?
RUTHVEN (CALMLY)
No, sir! Ruthven is
my brother,
Who has been traveling for years
On the continent.
I would be glad to find out,
What you might know about him.
AUBRY (CONFUSED)
What do I know? - he was today -
RUTHVEN
Well?
AUBRY
Woe - no, sir, I know nothing -
Striking is the resemblance of his - your face.
Cutting, like a poison arrow
Flashes his glance through my soul,
This resemblance to his brother,
Forebodes nothing good.
RUTHVEN
Cutting, like a poison arrow
Flashes his glance through my soul,
Ha, to find that dreamer here,
Forebodes nothing good.
DAVENAUT
Cutting, like a poison arrow
Flashes his glance through her soul,
To offend his pride like that,
Forebodes nothing good.
MALWINA
Cutting, like a poison arrow
Flashes his glance through my soul,
That my heart trembles before him,
That forebodes nothing good.
CHORUS
Cutting, like a poison arrow
Flashes his glance through her soul,
That her heart trembles before him,
That forebodes nothing good.
DAVENAUT
Well, Malwina, is that the custom?
Don't you know to receive your bridegroom in a friendlier
manner?
RUTHVEN (TO DAVENAUT)
Leave her, venerable sir, I beg you.
MALWINA
Sir, I don't know how it came to be,
That a horrible strange fear -
RUTHVEN
Beautiful lady, o pardon me!
Like the youthful rose smiles,
Which blooms solitary by the
wayside,
That is how my innermost mind
Delighted in seeing you;
I will hope, that time
Will be able to make you endure
My poor looks.
AUBRY (TO HIMSELF)
No, my eyes are not deceiving me,
The way he laughs and talks,
All of it shows me clearly,
It is Ruthven, the vampire!
(TO RUTHVEN)
Sir, just two words, please!
Horrible one, I recognized you!
Here is the scar on your hand!
Unfortunate one, how do you dare,