Cavelleria Rusticana, cont.

For C

Village Square in Sicilly
In the background, at the right, a church with practicable doors. At the left the Inn and dwelling of Mama Lucia. Easter Morning. Church bells are heard. The curtain rises. At first the stage is empty. Dawn of day. Peasants, countrymen and countrywomen and children cross the scene. The church doors open and the throng enters.

Women (from within)
The fragrance of orange blossoms
wafts through the air.
The larks sing
through the flowering myrtles.
It is the season
of love,
of tender songs
that make the heart beat faster.
(the women enter the scene)

Men (from within)
Through the fields of golden stalks
comes the sound of the spinning wheel,
reminding us, while we rest from our labors,
of you, o fairest ones.
O fairest ones, we are drawn to you
as a bird is drawn to light.
(the men enter the scene)

Women
Work in the fields is over;
the serene Virgin Mary
is confirmed by the Savior;
it is the season
of love,
of tender songs that make the heart beat faster.

Men (withdrawing)
Through the fields of golden stalks
comes the sound of the spinning wheel,
etc.
(the peasants cross the scene and go off)

Santuzza (enters and approaches Lucia’s dwelling)
Tell me, Mama Lucia…

Lucia (surprised)
You! What do you want?

Santuzza
Where is Turridu?

Lucia
You come here to look for my son?

Santuzza
I only want to know
where I can find him

Lucia
I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t
want trouble!

Santuzza
Mama Lucia, I beg of you,
do for me what Christ did for Magdalen;
tell me, for God’s sake, where is
Turridu?

Lucia
He went to Francofonte to get the wine.

Santuzza
That’s not true. He was seen in this village last night.

Lucia
What are you saying?
He did not come home!
(starting towards the door of the house)
Come in.

Santuzza (in despair)
I cannot enter your house.
I am excommunicated.

Lucia
What do you know about my son?

Santuzza
My heart is breaking!
(behind the scenes a cracking of whips and jingling of bells. The chorus enters; afterwards Alfio)

Alfio
The horse paws the ground,
the harness-bells are tinkling,
crack goes the whip! Ola!
The icy wind blows,
let it rain, let it snow,
what do I care?

Chorus
What a wonderful life,
the life of a carter,
to come and go as you please!

Alfio
At home my faithful wife Lola waits
to welcome me
with open arms.
The horse paws the ground,
the harness-bells are tinkling,
it is Easter and I am going home!

Chorus and Alfio
What a wonderful life,
the life of a carter,
to come and go as you please!
(the chorus exits, some entering the church, others scattering in various directions)