THIRD ACT
FIRST SCENE
Palace garden of the Emir Almansor in Tunis. At the left front, a large shrub with a seat in front. Sunrise. Sherasmin digging, and working as a gardener. The gardening clothes are comic in effect: he appears not to be used to them. Fatima approaches slowly from behind. She comes to a halt a few paces behind Sherasmin and is amused by the sight.
SHERASMIN
claps his hands
You do look lovely, Fatima.
FATIMA
Do I? I was afraid you wouldn't like me any more.
she turns round
Even without my veil and jewels?
SHERASMIN
Now I can begin to see what you are really like, my love. Your lovely mouth, your soft cheeks … your dainty breast … and all over … very appetising!
He becomes very amorous
FATIMA
drawing back a little
If anyone comes …
SHERASMIN
So what?
We're only slaves, after all.
FATIMA
Don't you mind that any more?
SHERASMIN
Why should I? Our ship was wrecked … that was a pity. Then we were found by another ship and fished out dripping wet. That was lucky
FATIMA
Then we found it was a pirate ship …
SHERASMIN
That was a pity. Bot did that mean they starved or maltreated us? No. You can only get a good price for plump fowl and lustrous pheasants. The same applies to well-fed slaves, That was lucky, too.
FATIMA
But then they displayed us in the Tunis slave market …
SHERASMIN
That was a pity.
But then the Emir's gardener bought us …
FATIMA
interrupting quickly
That was lucky.
SHERASMIN
Wrong! That was chance. But the fact that they left us together and that the gardener happened to decide on a couple and that we stayed together - don't you see that that was really lucky.
They kiss repeatedly.
FATIMA
releasing herself
But we've lost Oberon's horn and the goblet …
That's a pity.
SHERASMIN
Then we shall have to depend on ourselves. That's lucky again. Because love will find a way, and that's just the point. Finding, and still more, seeking. For if they fished Huon and Rezia out as they did us, those two will seek each other out as they did before. Then one day we shall all be together again. Wait and see.
FATIMA
Then we can go home.
SHERASMIN
To Marseille, Fatima.
FATIMA
No, to my home! You've grown well accustomed to the heat by now. And the food.
SHERASMIN
Without roast mutton - well, I might be persuaded about that. But without wine, Fatima …
FATIMA
Is wine everything? You've no idea how beautiful it can be in Arabia.
Aria
FATIMA
O Araby! Dear Araby,
My own, my native land!
Me thought I cross'd the dark blue sea,
And trod again thy strand,
And there I saw my father's tent,
Beneath the tall date trees:
And the sound of music and merriment,
Came sweetly on the breeze;
And thus to the lightly touch'd guitar,
I heard a maiden tell,
of one who fled from a proud Serdar,
With the youth she lov'd so well!
rising
Al, al, al …
Though the night start be high! Al, al, al …
‘tis the morning of love for my Yusuf and I,
Though the flow’rs of the garden have clos'd ev'ry one,
The rose of the heart blooms in love's rising sun!
Al, al, al … Soon will Zeenab be far
from the drear Anderun of the cruel Serdar!
Al, al, al …
Al, al, al …
'tis the night of his steed, al, al, al …
O prove my good barb thou art worthy thy breed!
Now over the salt desert we fly like the wind,
And our fears fade as fast as the turrets behind!
Al, al, al, al! We the frontier have won,
And may laugh at the Lord of the drear Anderun!
Al, al, al …
SHERASMIN
Aha! If you think you're the only ones to have a jolly time, you'll gape when you take a walk with me along the banks of the Garonne …
FATIMA
What will your friends say about the dark-skinned woman you've brought home?
SHERASMIN
They'l pay you gallic compliments and make eyes at you. But I shall not allow them to go any further than that, mark my word!…
Duet
SHERASMIN
On the banks of sweet Garonne
I was born one fine spring morning,
Soon as I could run alone,
Kicks and cuffs and tumbles scorning,
Shirking labour, loving fun,
Quaffing wine, and hating water,
Fighting every neighbour's son,
And courting every neighbour's daughter,
Abruptly and angrily, Fatima leaves Sherasmin
Oh the days that I have known,
On the banks of sweet Garonne!
Oh the days that I have known,
On the banks of sweet Garonne,
On the banks of sweet Garonne!
FATIMA
On the waves of Bundemir,
First I saw the sunbeams quiver,
There I wander'd year by year,
On the banks of that fair river,
Roaming with my roaming race,
Where so e'er the date tree lur'd them,
Or a greener resting place,
Pasture for their flocks ensur'd them.
Never knew I grief or fear
On the banks of Bundemir!
SHERASMIN
Times have alter'd, mistress mine!
FATIMA
Fled is fortune's sunny weather,
We are slaves! slaves!
SHERASMIN
But why pine, while, my dear?
We're slaves together!
Let's be merry, as we're true!
Love our song and joy the chorus,
Dig and delve, and hill and coo,
As Eve and Adam did before us!
TOGETHER
Let's be merry as we're true,
Love our song and joy the chorus;
Dig and delve, and hill and coo,
As Eve and Adam did before us.
A chariot of blossoms in which Droll brings Huon into the Emir's garden floats down from above and sets itself gently on the on the ground.
DROLL
bending over Huon with great concern
Wake up, Huon! And if you find yourself utterly forsaken, without arms or horn, then wake up fully, to yourself. Prove the power of your love. Save yourself and Rezia - save Oberon's happiness.
He vanishes in the same way that he appeared.
HUON
waking a few moments later
Where am I? Alone? Abandoned by all?
calls
Rezia! Ah, God only knows where she is …
He runs to the rear
No horn! No Oberon!
He turns in the middle of the stage and moves slowly forwards. Sherasmin entering from the other side. Huon benumbed by surprise as soon as he recognizes him.
SHERASMIN
stops similarly. Then quietly to himself
I'm not surprised! No, I'm not surprised.
HUON
Sherasmin! Dear, loyal Sherasmin!
SHERASMIN
hurries up to him. Embraces him.
Dear, dear master!
HUON
A gardener, Sherasmin! If only the people on the Garonne knew …
SHERASMIN
They would be surprised.
FATIMA
enters from the left and is happily surprised to find Huon with Sherasmin
Our dear master …
SHERASMIN
Yes, Fatima, hale and hearty! If he had been next to us in the slave market yesterday, the gardener wouldn't have paid half as much for the pair of us. And we'd still be on sale today, like stale rolls.
HUON
The gardener would have made a bad buy. What use to him a poor unfortunate, whom no earthly power could restore to the man he once was?
FATIMA
joining in
We can soon put that right, master Huon.
HUON
sadly
Impossible, my good Fatima. Only Rezia could comfort me. And Rezia was abducted.
FATIMA
Now there's a surprise in store for you!
SHERASMIN
I'm not surprised. No, nothing surprises me.
HUON
exclaiming
You have some news of Rezia?
FATIMA
All the ships which crossed the sea after we were wrecked were pirate ships. So Rezia was undoubtedly taken by pirates.
HUON
interrupting
Yes! Buccaneers took her away from under my very eyes.
FATIMA
Then the rumours are true. The pirates are reported to have brought an Arab princess to the Emir, and the Emir is said to have locked her up in his best pavillion.
HUON
I am the happiest of men and at the same time …
SHERASMIN
interrupting
I know … and the unhappiest at the same time. That's what love is like.
HUON
Rezia is only a hundred paces away, and I im weak and powerless.
wrings his hands
Whatever can I do?
SHERASMIN
That's dear!
First we must talk to the gardener. He'll keep you here to work. And then we start our adventures all over again, and we can change over in a flash when necessary. No-one will catch us out because we can disguise ourselves so quickly and well …
Terzettino
HUON
And must I then dissemble?
SHERASMIN
No other hope I know.
HUON
But let the tyrant tremble,
Unscathed he shall not go!
He and Sherasmin retire a few steps for consultation with each other.
FATIMA
In the foreground
Viewless spirit, of pow'r and light,
Thou who mak'st virtue and love thy care,
Restore to the best and the bravest knight,
The fondest and fairest of all the fair.
Huon and Sherasmin come forward
HUON
Spirit ador'd, strike on our part,
Bless the good sword and the faithful heart!
SHERASMIN AND FATIMA
Spirit ador'd, strike on our part,
Bless the good sword and the faithful heart!
SECOND SCENE
A colonnade in Emir Almansor's palace in Tunis. Rezia reclines on a couch in the foreground.
Cavatine
REZIA
Mourn thou, poor heart, for the joys that are dead!
Flow ye sad tears for the hopes that are fled,
Sorrow is now the sole treasure I prize,
As Peris on perfume, I feed on its sighs;
And bitter to some as its fountain may be;
'tis sweet as the waters of Gelum to me.
Ye that are basking in pleasure's gay beam,
Ye that are sailing on hope's golden stream,
A cloud may come over ye, a wave sweep the deck,
And picture a future of darkness and wreck!
But the scourge of the desert o’er my heart hath past,
And the tree that is blighted fears no second blast!
ALMANSOR
enters from the first side door on the right, approaches Rezia and says in wheedling tones
How can you be so sad when you are so beautiful, Rezia? You only have to signal with your finger to have everything one envies in a woman …
REZIA
Only one thing would make me happy. And that you cannot do!No mortal can awken the dead.
ALMANSOR
Then at any rate keep hold on life.
REZIA
Huon holds me fast …
ALMANSOR
Just find out first whether I'm not stronger?
He takes hold of her. Rezia resists.
ABDALLAH
enters from the left and approaches the Emir
Shall we put her on board again and sell her in Sicily? I’ll gladl change her for one who is less obstinate.
ALMANSOR
You're a gross blockhead, Abdallah. Can't you see what passion she has? I'm well pleased. Today I’ve had the first foretaste of her capacity to love.
We must be patient …
exit
DROLL
Almansor's wife Roshana is much less patient at the course of our love-story. She has seen the handsome slave Huon working in the palace garden, and has fallen passionately in love with him. She sends Abdallah to tell him secretly that a lovely noblewoman wishes to see him, and tells him how he can reach Roshana's room from the garden without attracting attention. Believing this to be a signal from Rezia, Huon hurries into the palace. But instead of Rezia he encounters Roshana, who declares her love to him. When Huon protests that he loves only one woman in the world, Rezia, and that nothing can tempt him, Roshana tries to ensnare him.
Choir, Solo and Ballet
CHOIR
dancing girls and slaves
For thee hath beauty decked her bower!
For thee the cup of joy is filled,
O drain the draught and cull the flower,
Ere the rose be dead and the wine be spilled!
HUON
Hence! Hence! The flowers ye proffer fair,
Poison in their fragrance bear,
And the goblet's purple flood
Seems to me a draught of blood!
He tries to free himself, but Roshana restrains him.
CHOIR
When woman's eye with love is bright
Canst thou shun its witching light?
Bearest thou the heart to flee,
When her white arms circle thee?
Bearest thou the heart to flee,
When her white arms circle thee?
HUON
There is no beauty in woman's eye,
When it burns with unholy brilliancy,
'tis like the glare of the sightless dead,
When the soul which should kindle their orbs hath fled.
There is no charm that can yield delight
In the wanton's hand be it never so white,
Sooner its fingers should o'er me stray,
When the worm hath eaten the flesh away!
He tries to disentangle himself from Roshana’s hold, but before he can, the dancing girls surround him, thus preventing him from fleeing.
CHOIR
O turn not away from the banquet of bliss!
O lose not a moment so precious as this,
Remember the sage, who sung o’er his repast:
How pleasant were life, if a shadow could last!
Then mortal he happy, be happy and laugh at the wise
Who know life's a shadow yet wait till it flies!
For thee hath beauty decked her bw’r,
For thee the cup of joy is fill'd,
O drain the draught and cull the flower,
Ere the rose be dead and the wine be spilled!
O drain the draught, and cull the flower!
DROLL
Huon breaks free from Roshana and tries to escape-but too late: Almansor discovers him; Slaves take hold of him, and the Emir condemns him to death: he is to be burned at the stake. Huon's fate appears to be sealed. A great pile of wood is set up in the market place of Tunis.
A crowd gathers, eager to see the spectacle, including Sherasmin and Fatima, while the Emir and his train have taken their places on a platform - Rezia, veiled, is at his side. Then Abdallah pushes through the crowd …
THIRD SCENE
A Place in Tunis
ABDALLAH
Noble Master! I must speak to you. Just a word!
ALMANSOR
A leader's every word means action. And if I were you, Abdallah, I wouldn't make me act now. It could be the worse for you.
ABDALLAH
Action! But that is precisely what I do want, noble prince. Something needs to be settled.
ALMANSOR
Not here and not now.
ABDALLAH
Right here and right now. You shall not get off so easily, Emir.
Waves to the pirates, who have come with him. They set down three great chests before the Emir.
These three chests were thrown up on the shore today by the tide.
ALMANSOR
greedily
Everything washed up by the sea belongs to me.
bending over the 2nd and the 3rd chest
Jewels! In both chests! Poor Abdallah! What would you and your sailors do with them? You can hardly have your ears pierced and wear rings in them.
continues searching
But, look here! There's something for you, Abdallah.
He lifts Oberon’s horn out of the chest
A splendid artifact.
ABDALLAH
scornfully
A toy trumpet!
ALMANSOR
hypocritically
How well you conceal your mind. A connoisseur and man of the world like yourself! You go to all the great markets. Sicily, Rome and Greece. You know perfectly well that this is a priceless piece. You could exchange it everywhere for mountains of gold.
throws him the horn
Take the horn, Abdallah, before I regret this arrangement.
ABDALLAH
Would you like me to play a tune in your honour?
ALMANSOR
threateningly
Do as you like. But take care that you keep your head on your shoulders long enough to play your tune …
ABDALLAH
I understand, great Emir. And I’ll go.
He goes through the crowd. As he passes Sherasmin, he yields to a sudden whim and tosses it to Sherasmin.
There, you can have this paltry trash.
SHERASMIN
catching it deftly
Worthless thing! But I’ll take it.
FATIMA
But it's … the magic horn.
SHERASMIN
Keep up the pretence, Fatima, the pretence.
ALMANSOR
stands before his chair and commands
Bring the slave whom I sentenced to death. And tie him to the stake.
Palace guards bring Huon forwards, bound. As they lead him past the platform, Rezia leaps up and turns pleadingly to the Emir.
REZIA
Almansor!
ALMANSOR
turning to her
What do you want, Rezia?
REZIA
pointing to Huon
Mercy - for this man.
ALMANSOR
He broke into my harem und must atone his infatuation for Roshana. Why is he any concern of yours?
REZIA
He is Huon, my husband,
He must not die!
ALMANSOR
Would you share his fate,
even though he has deceived you?
REZIA
I'd rather die a thousand times with him than live without him.
ALMANSOR
Now you shall hear how little he deserves this foolish loyalty.
He beckons him
Come here, slave!
HUON
turning towards him
Would you speak to me, Emir of Tunis?
ALMANSOR
Mark my words, slave. I am setting you free! Abdallah will take you to some point on the shore of your native land. And Rezia will stay with me. You return as a free man and can marry whomsoever you will.
HUON
I have never loved anyone but Rezia, and I would gladly die with her if I may not live happily with her.
He leaps onto the platform and embraces Rezia
REZIA
shouts joyfully
We are a single product of the creator's hand. Nothing can separate us!
ALMANSOR
very angry
Let the fire put that to the test. To the stake with both of them!
As Almansor exclaimes these words, the crafty Sherasmin puts the magic horn to his lips, and with the first note, everyone begins to dance.
Finale
CHOIR OF THE SLAVES
Hark! What notes are swelling!
Hark! whence that wondrous sound,
Hark! every foot compelling
In merry dance to bound!Hark! Hark!
HUON, REZIA, SHERASMIN, FATIMA
Re-joice! Re-joice! 'tis the horn of power!
They dance in the court! They dance in the tow'r!
They dance in the garden, they dance in the hall!
On the ocean beach and the city wall!
A second and loudest blast shall bring,
The donor himself, the Fairy King!
Sherasmin blows the horn louder. Lilies and palm trees appear on all sides. In the middle of the Palace of Blossoms, Titania, in the arms of Oberon slowly floats upwards on a large globe.
OBERON
Hail! faithful pair! Your woes are ended!
Your friend in turn you have befriended!
His pledge redeem'd by you hath been,
Again in love he clasps his Fairy Queen.
Swift as the lightning's glance, brave knight behold!
I bring thee and thine to thy native France,
And the palace of thy king!
Kneel at his feet, with the bride thou hast won,
Europe shall ring with the deed, thou hast done.
Now! For ever I break the spell,
With the grateful Fairy's last farewell!
Farewell! Farewell!
Oberon’s palace of blossoms disappears upwards. Change of scenery. One can now see the throne room of the Emperor Charlemagne. A festive procession of courtiers. Huon and Rezia are on the right of the throne.
SHERASMIN
But now let us quickly make for a ship, before these fools have a choice to get at us again! And then, to the throne of our Emperor!
March
Recitative
HUON
Behold! Obediant to the oath he swore,
Huon is kneeling at thy feet once more,
For by the help of heaven he hath done the daring deed,
And from Caliph won this lovely maid,
By every peril tried the heiress of his throne!
And now thy vassal's bride!
CHOIR
Hail to the knight with his own good brand,
Who hath won a fair bride from the Saracen's hand.
Hail! To the maiden, who over the sea
Hath followed her champion so faithfully.
By bards yet unborn of the tale shall be told,
Of Rezia the lovely and Huon the bold!
