The Carp Libretto

8/13/2019 The Carp Libretto

1/23

THE CARP.

Libretto by Frank Desprez

Music by Alfred Cellier

Tis opera played at te !a"oy Teatre fro# February $%%& trou' (anuary $%%)* as a co#panion piece to bot

Te Mikado and Ruddi'ore.

DRAMAT+! PER!,-AE

P+!CAT,R a fiser#an/.

AMA-D0! a lo"e1lorn lad/.

AMA-DA a lo"e1lorn lass/.

Ti#e 11 !E2E-TEE-TH CE-T0R3.

4

Te scene represents a pretty rural landscape. ,n te

ri't* across te fields* can be seen a 5uaint 67ueen

Anne6 country ouse8 on te left* a rustic brid'e crosses a little strea#* 9ic is supposed to supply a

lar'e pond* te fence and ruses surroundin' 9ic are noticeable on te ri't. Tere is a rustic benc on

tis side of te picture. +t is a 9ar# su##er e"enin'.

Piscator enters* carryin' is rod and fisin'1basket.

He stops at te seat to arran'e is tackle.

P+!CAT,R.

Te day:s a fair one 11 no doubt of tat; +:"e studied all te best autorities8

And circu#stance unusual and stran'e11

All te autorities are ere a'reed.

-o9* #y rod:s ready. He looks around./ -ot a soul aboutit te #erry #inno9* and 'entle 'ay.

Te fiser#an* at close of day*

Findin' te fis don:t co#e is 9ay* Arises8 is steps are o#e9ard bentit te #erry #inno9* and 'entle 'ay.

Piscator busies i#self 9it is rod and reel.A#andus enters at left* 9ildly distracted. He does not

see Piscator* 9o* on is part* is e5ually en'rossed./

AMA-D0! 9ildly/.

+ can endure no lon'er8 + =ust die;

@etter to peris in a final plun'e

Tan li"e in e"erlastin' #isery; Fare9ell* ye fields* 9ere once 9e 9alked to'eter8

Fare9ell* ye skies* :neat 9ic and an u#brella/ >e strolled* unconscious of te constable*

>o 9atced us 9it a sy#patetic s#ile*

And tou't of all is cooks; Fare9ell* fare9ell;

Fare9ell* yon sun* tat freckled er fair nose8 And as + cannot stop to say ood1bye

To e"erytin' in -ature/ all tin's* please Accept tis as an inti#ation tat

+ bid you an adieu; And no9 to11 BHe ruses to9ards te pond.

P+!CAT,R turnin'/.

E

May + en5uire 9at you:re about to do

AMA-D0!.

+ 9ant to dro9n #yself;

P+!CAT,R.

+ndeed; and 9ere

AMA-D0! pointin' to pond./

+n yonder pool.

P+!CAT,R. takin' A#andus:s ar# and brin'in' i# a9ay fro# pool./

-ot if + kno9 it* sir;


3/23

AMA-D0!.

+ndeed; And if + coose to dro9n #yself* >o sall pre"ent #e

P+!CAT,R cal#ly/.

+; Pointin'/ !ee you yon bubble

Tat bubble #eans a fis;

AMA-D0! 9it indifference/.

Does it

P+!CAT,R i#pressi"ely/.

A carp; My carp;

AMA-D0!.

+s it

P+!CAT,R.

3ou do not ask #e o9

+t:s 6#ine6

AMA-D0!.

+ don:t.

P+!CAT,R ceerfully/.

-o #atter. +:ll infor# you.

:T9as + disco"ered i#;

AMA-D0! uni#pressed/.

,* did you tou'

P+!CAT,R.

,ne day + sa9 i# baskin' in te sun8

His fins 9ere 9orkin'* and is tail e 9a"ed

Like tis e i#itates te fis:s #otion 9it is coat1 tails/8 is 'lobous #out opened and sut* !ole#n and slo9* like tis i#itatin'/. +t 9as a si't

Tat trilled #e 9it deli't. And fro# tat our

+ "o9ed to catc tat carp.

AMA-D0! i#patiently/.

>ell* 9ell* 'o on;


4/23

P+!CAT,R.

+ a# 'oin' on; + 9ent< + tried i# first >it ordinary 'entles* all in "ain;

Ten #eal19or#s* brandlin's* 'ilt1tails + essayed8 Cal"es: brains* and pieces of o:er1ripened ceese8

Trou' all te fis bill of fare + 9ent* 0ntil at last one day11+ ad a nibble;

AMA-D0!.

And 9at of tat

P+!CAT,R.

>at of it; Ecstacy;

Half1esitatin'* tre#blin' ecstacy; @ut11:t9as so#e years a'o* and + 9as youn'11

+ struck too soon11sadly/ and lost i#;

AMA-D0!.

2ery sad;

P+!CAT,R.

@ut + 9as not discoura'ed. Tou' + failed* + tried a'ain.

AMA-D0! aside/.

A Cupid* so did +;

P+!CAT,R.

@ut 9it te sa#e result; >y* sir* +:"e tro9n

!o#e tons of 'round1bait in tis peaceful pond;

And no9 +:"e ta:en te ouse across te fields*

And e"ery e"enin' for te last fi"e years +:"e co#e to catc tat carp;

AMA-D0! 'oin' to i#/.

@ut 9at:s all tis

To one 9o 9ants to die

P+!CAT,R.

3oun' #an* youn' #an;

3ou a"e so#e sense of carity* + ope

AMA-D0!.

+ ope + a"e* sir; >ell

P+!CAT,R.


5/23

>en younder sun 'oes do9n* and alf1past si?*

My opes are at an end. @ut one s#all our

+s left #e for #y task. >ile you can co#e At any ti#e to1ni't* and dro9n yourself*11

And yet you 9ill not 9ait;

AMA-D0! #o"in' to9ards te pond/*

Certainly not;

P+!CAT,R.

,* listen to #e yet; My "ery soul +s centered on tat carp. +n business ours

My tou'ts oft 9ander carp9ard. Tink* o* tink11

Tink of te en"y of ad#irin' friends;

Te contradiction of te incredulous spouse* >o ne"er sa9 #e brin' o#e anytin'*

And tinks + ne"er sall; Tink of te =oy >en + sall a"e i# stuffed* in a 'lass case11

A life1lon' #onu#ent of fisy fa#e; Tis is te only e"enin' for a 9eek

Tat see#s to pro#ise tat te fis 9ill bite8

My opes are at teir i'est8 and you co#e

To plun'e into tis pond* and blast te# all* @ecause* forsoot* you 69ant to dro9n yourself;6

3oun' #an* youn' #an* you cannot a"e a eart;

AMA-D0! relentin' and returnin' to Piscator/

3our pleadin' lea"es #e not insensible< +* too* a"e ad a nibble;

P+!CAT,R.

Fro# a fis

AMA-D0!.

-o8 fro# a #aiden. @ut si'in'/ se 9ould not bite;

P+!CAT,R.

Peraps se scratced

AMA-D0!.

-o* no; E:en tat 9ould a"e been so#etin'; !e is cold* 0nfeelin'* eartless* stony* ard as nails8

And +* alas; + lo"ed* and lo"e er still;

@allad 11 AMA-D0!.

+ lo"ed er; + lo"e er; + cannot tell you o98

+ lo"ed er; + lo"e er;


6/23

@ut all is o"er no9.

>at lo"e of life to #e is left*

>en all tat #ade life s9eet:s bereft Ten let #e die* and lea"e beind

A 9orld 9ere + no =oy can find; + lo"ed; + cannot tell you o9;

Te fatal 9ord is spoken. + lo"ed er ten* + lo"e er no911

-o9 tat #y eart is broken;

Piscator 'ets rod and basket fro# seat* bet9een te "erses./

+ lo"ed er11+ lo"e er;

+ cannot tell you 9y;

+ lo"ed er11+ lo"e er;

:Tis all tat + can si'; Tere are no la9s tat Lo"e bind do9ny dot cli#b te kidney1bean

>y are daisies pearly19ite >y of 'old:s te butter1cup

Riddles puzzle #e outri't11 + 'i"e it up; + 'i"e it up;

>y is lo"e a traitor sad

>y are 9o#en:s earts so soft

>y are #en:s so false and bad

>ey are 9e taken in so oft >y a# + #aid forlorn

>y 9it sorry bri#s #y cup >y119y 9as + e"er born

+ 'i"e it up; + 'i"e it up;

AMA-DA.

+:"e but one ope in life11and tat:s to die; ,ff* 9retced 9eeds !e flin's a9ay er cloak./

,ne plun'e* and ten #y 9oes1111

At tis #o#ent Piscator returns for is bait1can* and

A#anda* urryin' to9ards te pond* runs a'ainst i#./

P+!CAT,R bo9in'/.

+ be' a tousand pardons;

AMA-DA 9ildly/.

Double te#;;

And #ultiply by anytin' you please8 Add 9at you like8 produce te 5uotient*

E:en to te fartest li#it of te dot Tat #arks an oft1recurrin' deci#al8

Let ? be e5ual to a #illion8

!ubtract not fro# te nt po9er of apolo'y

,ne sin'le surd8 but do not bar #y 9ay;

P+!CAT,R a#azed/.

+ndeed; >y not indly e?plain yourself;

AMA-DA 'rippin' is ar# 9it de#ented earnestness/.

+f t9o to one bar one* tey #ay succeed8

@ut :tis but you and +8 and + a# youn'* Healty and "i'orous11111

P+!CAT,R rubbin' is ar#/.

+ feel you are;

AMA-DA.

>ilst you are but a feeble* frail* old #an*


8/23

Puny and 9eak1111

P+!CAT,R dra9in' i#self up/.

+ndeed + bet your pardon;

AMA-DA.

+:# desperate. @e 9arned* and let #e pass;

P+!CAT,R aside/.

!e:s rater #uscular. +:ll te#porise. Aloud/ >ere do you 9ant to 'o

AMA-DA.

To yonder pool;

P+!CAT,R.

To drink +nsanitary;

AMA-DA.

-o; To dro9n;

P+!CAT,R.

Puppies or kittens* #ay + ask

AMA-DA.

Myself;

P+!CAT,R.

3our #oti"e

AMA-DA.

Hopeless lo"e;

P+!CAT,R turnin' a9ay dis'usted/.

Anoter of te#;

>y can:t tey lea"e a fiser#an in peace

Trio 11 P+!CAT,R* AMA-DA* AMA-D0!.

P+!CAT,R.

+t:s really "ery ard* >en you sit upon te s9ard

+n a carefully selected situation* Ho9 #any foolis folks

>ill crack teir silly =okes


9/23

And intrude upon your peaceful

#editation*

>it 6Ha"e you any sport6 And 5uestions of a sort

Tat teir idiocy utter plainly so9; Teir re#arks e?cite #y ire8

And* to all 9o tus in5uire* My ans9er is e#patically 6-o;6

-o9 sunset11alf1past si?11

+s te ti#e to1day + fi? My labour piscatorial to lea"e8

Till ten* lea"e #e alone8 And your eader please postpone

Till te ad"ent of te o"er1de9y e"e.

Till tat + our + #ust decline

To put up #y rod and line* And o#e 9it creel untenanted to 'o;

Ha"e a little patience* please; A#anda kneels to i#./

Psa; don:t 'o on your knees< My decision is e#patically 6-o;6

AMA-DA.

entle fiser* ear #y prayer;

Turn not fro# #e tus a9ay; Eye #e not 9it stony stare8

Hear a lo"e1lorn #aiden:s lay;

2ainly do + pray11protest;

He dot pity not #y pain8 Hope deserts #y acin' breast11

Dark Despair be'ins is rei'n;

AMA-D0!.

>o# a"e 9e ere A #aiden 'ay.

!e little kno9s 9at + intend;

Pritee* fair one* trip a9ay8 Lea"e #e to #y 'loo#y end.

>o#an* 9o#an* born to "e?* E"er :cross our pat ye stray8

>y is it your lo"ely se?

+s so often in te 9ay

AMA-DA and AMA-D0!.

Haste on* ye ours* 9it flyin' feet; 3our sil"er sandals cast a9ay< En9rap 9it t9ili't:s 9indin'1seet

Te beauties of te dyin' day;

Haste on* ye ours; 3e stay too lon'

For lo"ers 9o are lorn and lone8 For e"erytin' on eart 'oes 9ron';

Haste on* ye ours; aste on; aste on;

P+!CAT,R si#ultaneous 9it abo"e/.


10/23

Hold back* ye ours* etc.

AMA-DA.

+s tis your ulti#atu#

P+!CAT,R.

3es* it is;

Lookin' to9ards pond/ + tink + a"e a nibble. 3es; ood1e"enin';

He 'oes out at ri't. A#andus and A#anda are left alone to'eter./

AMA-DA an'rily/.

Hard1earted creature;

!e beco#es conscious for te first ti#e of te presence of A#andus* 9o as been standin' at te back

of te scene./ A; 9o a"e 9e ere

!o#e #editati"e idler* + suppose;

Ho9 little e i#a'ines #y intent;

AMA-D0! lookin' at is 9atc/.

Ho9 lon' 9ill be re#ain* + 9onder

AMA-DA cou'in'/.

He#;

+ 9is e:d 'o;

AMA-D0!.

>y does se lin'er ere

AMA-DA.

He doesn:t see# inclined to #o"e =ust yet;

AMA-D0!.

!e see#s co#e ere to stop.

AMA-DA pettisly/.

Ho9 sad it is

Tat ladies cannot e"en dro9n te#sel"es

>itout annoyance fro# te oter se?;

AMA-D0!.

+:ll try to dra9 er into con"ersation* And find out er intent. Aloud/ A lo"ely e"enin';

BHe 'oes to9ards er.


11/23

AMA-DA risin'* stiffly/.

+ be' your pardon

AMA-D0! ti#idly/.

+ re#arked te 9eater

>as "ery fine.

AMA-DA.

+ can:t deny te trut ,f 9at you say1111

AMA-D0!.

Especially so*

For tis ti#e of te year

AMA-DA.

As you re#ark*

For tis ti#e of te year te day is fine.

A pause. Tey bot appear e#barrassed./

AMA-DA takin' a step to9ards i#/.

3ou 9ere about to speak

AMA-D0!.

3es* after you. He takes a step to9ards er./

+ 9as about to ask you if you #eant To stay ear lon'

AMA-DA.

Ho9 curious; Te 5uestion + #eant to put to you;

AMA-D0! 9it reser"e/.

As #ine ca#e first*

Peraps you:ll ans9er1111

AMA-DA.

First >y* certainly;

+ #erely #ean to stay ere 9it #eanin'/ all #y life;

AMA-D0!.

+ndeed; Ten you:re a fi?ture

AMA-DA i#pulsi"ely* 'oin' to i#/.


12/23

Pro#ise #e

3ou:ll keep #y secret

AMA-D0!.

Faitfully* + s9ear;

AMA-DA.

+:# crossed in lo"e* and #ean to end it all

+n one 5uick splas in younder sli#y pool;

AMA-D0! aside/.

>at a re#arkable coincidence;

Aloud/ E?cuse #e* but te pool:s bespoke;

AMA-DA.

@y 9o#

AMA-D0! bo9in'/.

@y #e;

AMA-DA.

+ndeed8 and for 9at purpose* pray

AMA-D0!.

+* like yourself* desire to dro9n #yself.

Te ancient fiser#an 9o 'uards te spot Has pro#ised #e1111

AMA-DA s#ilin' sadly/.

@ut to obli'e a lady1111

AMA-D0!.

,f course* if you insist on it* + yield.

@ut say 9e co#pro#ise* and =u#p to'eter

AMA-DA oldin' out er and/.

>e 9ill. 3our and Tey sake ands./ -o9 tat

9e:"e settled tat11 E?cuse #e if + see# in5uisiti"e11 Tell #e 9at brou't you to tis fatal step

A#andus #otions A#anda to be seated. @ot bo9 and sit

on seat./

AMA-D0!.

Te fairest and te falsest of er se?;


13/23

AMA-DA.

Te falsest* "ery likely* but te fairest

AMA-D0!.

!e cares not for #e8 se is eartless* 5uite;

!o* for Clorinda:s sake1111

AMA-DA startin'/.

Clorinda

AMA-D0!.

3es. A; if you only kne9 er;

AMA-DA.

+f + do;

!e is #y dearest friend;

AMA-D0!.

A; ten you kno9 Ho9 'ood* o9 fair* se is;

AMA-DA 9itout entusias#/.

, yes* of course.

AMA-D0!.

!ay* is se not perfection

AMA-DA.

>ell* you kno9*

>e:re none of us 5uite perfect.

AMA-D0!.

!e* at least* Co#es closest up to absolute perfection;

AMA-DA.

3ou tink so

AMA-D0!.

-o* + don:t; +:# sure of it;

AMA-DA #eanin'ly/.


14/23

A;

AMA-D0!.

3ou say* 6A;6 >at #ean you by tat 6a6

AMA-DA.

-otin'8 an inter=ection11notin' #ore.

AMA-D0! interested/.

E?plain yourself; + really #ust insist1111

AMA-DA.

+:d really rater not. >e all of us Ha"e our s#all faults* our innocent deceptions.

+t:s true* se 9ouldn:t #ind e?posin' #e; @ut still* +:ll so9 #yself superior.

Don:t ask #e to say #ore11pray don:t;

AMA-D0!.

E?cuse #e8 @ut after 9at you said1111

AMA-DA.

+ + said notin';

AMA-D0!.

Peraps not8 but* uttered in a certain 9ay*

-otin' #eans e"erytin'.

AMA-DA.

E?cuse #e* pray8 3ou really #ustn:t press #e. Tere is notin'

+ ate so #uc as a scandal;

AMA-D0!.

!candal* #ada# >o couples scandal and Clorinda:s na#e

AMA-DA.

-o one* + ope8 tat:s 9y + old #y ton'ue.

AMA-D0! can'in' tone/.

Pardon #e8 but it really looks as if

3ou en"ied er er peerless e?cellences* And 9ould insidiously detract fro# te#.


15/23

AMA-DA scornfully* yet a#used/.

+ En"ious of Clorinda; Ho9 absurd;

AMA-D0!.

+f so* you:"e #issed your ai# 9it con"iction/. + lo"e Clorinda*

And + sall lo"e er e"er;

AMA-DA pityin'ly/.

Poor youn' #an;

AMA-D0!.

Peraps you:d deny er beauty

AMA-DA.

+ , no; +:d ne:er deny te needy 9at tey lack;

AMA-D0! entusiastically/.

Her eyes are bri't as sappires* and er lases

Are black as +ndian 9ood;

AMA-DA.

!ay +ndia ink;

AMA-D0!.

Her air:s so lon' tat se can sit upon it.

AMA-DA tou'tfully/.

A; yes8 + sat upon it once #yself.

AMA-D0!.

3ou sat upon it Ho9 could tat be* pray

AMA-DA.

,* "ery si#ply. >en + called one day*

Her #aid ad left it lyin' on a cair;

AMA-D0!.

@ut tese e?terior beauties are as nou't

Co#pared 9it te beauties of er #ind* Her te#per11peraps you 9ill deny er tat

AMA-DA.


16/23

, no; !e as a te#per11#ost decidedly;

AMA-D0!.

3ou speak 9it confidence. May + ask o9 3ou kno9 all tis

AMA-DA.

+ a# er dearest friend;

!ee; ere:s a letter fro# er 'i"es it/. -o8 + ou't not

To so9 you tat.

AMA-D0!.

>y not

AMA-DA.

>y* it is pri"ate8 And in it se describes a silly s9ain11

His na#e:s A#andus.

AMA-D0!.

A; tat is #y na#e* And +:"e a ri't to read it.

AMA-DA.

,* please don:t;

!o#e passa'es* peraps* #i't urt your feelin's.

AMA-D0!.

My feelin's Ha; My feelin's Let #e read.

He takes te letter./

AMA-DA.

Te passa'e + refer to:s on te top

,f pa'e te second8 kindly pass it o:er.

AMA-D0!.

,n pa'e te second ood; A; ere it is. Reads/

63ou ask #e to describe i#. >ell* i#a'ine A lanky* #elancoly sort of yout* >it lantern =a9s* fi'ure ridiculous*

And 9it a kind of face* so#etin' bet9een

An a#orous #onkey and an undertaker;6

AMA-DA =u#pin' up and takin' letter/.

!tay; you sall read no #ore;


17/23

AMA-D0!.

+:"e read enou'; 6An a#orous #onkey*6 e

AMA-DA.

3ou see# annoyed.

AMA-D0!.

,; not at all8 se al9ays 9as satirical.

Aside/ 6An undertaker;6 Hu#p;

AMA-DA.

+:# sure you:re urt.

AMA-D0!.

Hurt -ot a =ot. Lantern1=a9ed* a# + A;

AMA-DA s#ilin'/.

!e doesn:t flatter you* tou'* does se no9

AMA-D0!.

!coff on* scoff on; + see you:"e ne"er lo"ed;

AMA-DA.

He says 6+:"e ne"er lo"ed;6 ,* Corydon;

AMA-D0!.

6Corydon*6 e Did you say Corydon

AMA-DA.

Tat is te na#e tat:s 'ra"en on #y eart;

AMA-D0!.

Corydon ,* i#possible; -ot Corydon.

AMA-DA.

And 9y i#possible !e rises./

AMA-D0!.

,* ne"er #ind8 Te 9ord slipped out;

AMA-DA firin' up/.


18/23

>at do you kno9 a'ainst i#

AMA-D0!.

-otin'; -otin';

AMA-DA.

+ car'e you* be e?plicit;

AMA-D0!.

Ask anytin' but tat. Mean9ile* allo9 #e To and you back tis rin'* since you:re te lady.

!o9s er rin'* 9it portrait set in rubies./

AMA-DA.

6!ince +:# te lady6 >y* 9at do you #ean Tis rin' >y* :tis te one + 'a"e to i#

>en 9e did pli't our trot; And 9en 9e parted + sent i# back is presents* and e told #e

He:d lost tis rin'. Tell #e* o9 you ca#e by it

AMA-D0!.

Corydon and + 9ere friends. Tat is to say* >e often dined to'eter< on a day

>e played at cards. He:d drunk too #uc* and lost.

To raise te funds for 6=us anoter 'a#e*6

!aid e11e?cuse #y sli'tly i#itatin' His alf1into?icated* drunken speec/11

6+:ll 'o and pa9n tis ruby rin' of #ine. Tere:s a plain cit11a silly lo"e1sick 'oose11

Tat an's upon #y ar#* and 'a"e it #e.6 +* of course* ob=ectin'*

!o9ed i# te #eanness of te act8 but no;

Half1tipsey as e 9as* e sta''ered out*

Pa9ned te poor rin'* and ten 9e played a'ain. He lost te #oney* and te ticket too;

AMA-DA.

6Te ticket;6 Horrid* "ul'ar* lo9 idea;

AMA-D0!.

Half1sad* alf1curious* ne?t day + 9ent* Redee#ed te rin'* and looked upon te portrait. Tou't +* 6Tis lady lo"ed tis pi#pled kna"e*

Fancies i# so#etin' #ore tan ci"alrous8

And 9en + find er* by te likeness ere

Tat:s set in precious stones* +:ll 'i"e it er.6 +:"e found er no98 and tus + keep #y "o9.

i"es er te rin'./

AMA-DA.


19/23

!ir* you are "ery kind. @reakin' do9n./ + 6a plain

cit;6 Ho9 could you say suc tin's Corydon; Corydon;

!e 9eeps./

Duet 11AMA-DA and AMA-D0!.

AMA-DA.

My eart is doubly broken;

AMA-D0!.

Don:t say tat;

AMA-DA.

@y all tat you a"e spoken.

AMA-D0!.

Don:t say tat;

AMA-DA.

+:d not urt you* e"en sli'tly* ,r 9ound you e:er so li'tly;

@ut you a"en:t acted ri'tly;

AMA-D0!.

Don:t say tat;

AMA-DA.

+ sall ne"er lo"e anoter;

AMA-D0!.

Don:t say tat;

AMA-DA.

My affections + sall s#oter;

AMA-D0!.

Don:t say tat;

AMA-DA.

To so#e con"ent far fro# fun +:ll incontinently run*

And +:ll li"e and die a nun;

AMA-D0!.


20/23

Don:t say tat;

AMA-DA.

3es* +:ll li"e and die a nun;

AMA-D0!.

Don:t say tat; Don:t say tat;

AMA-DA risin'* o"erco#in' er e#otion/.

Do9n* selfis 'rief; and fro# anoter:s sorro9

!o#e consolation let #e try and borro9;

Tell #e* o9 ca#e Clorinda to re=ect

!o nice a #an as you 9itout re'ret 3ou did not ur'e your suit 9ell* + e?pect.

AMA-D0!.

All #an can do* + did.

AMA-DA.

>at did you do

AMA-D0!.

+:ll tell to tee.

AMA-DA.

3es8 tell to #e.

AMA-D0!.

First + took er lily and.

AMA-DA.

Ho9

AMA-D0! suitin' is action to is 9ords/.

(ust like tis.

Ten er 9aist + 'ently spanned.

AMA-DA.

Ho9

AMA-D0! as before/.

(ust like tis8 Cryin'* 6Cruel Clorinda* ear;

,* + lo"e you "ery dear;6


21/23

Ten + dre9 er still #ore near.

AMA-DA.

Ho9

AMA-D0!.

(ust like tis.

@,TH.

Me#:ries* old #e#:ries* sadly s9eet are ye8 Painful* yet precious* 9e keep you lon' in store8

Like faded rose1lea"es saken fro# te tree.

@rin'in' back te su##er 9en su##er1ti#e is o:er.

AMA-D0!.

Ten + si'ed and softly s5ueezed er.

AMA-DA.

Ho9

AMA-D0!.

(ust like tis.

issed er and8 #etou't it pleased er.

AMA-DA.

Ho9

AMA-D0!.

(ust like tis.

Ten + be''ed er of er 'race

-ot to turn a9ay er face* @ut let #e on er lips place1111 Pause./

AMA-DA syly/.

>at

AMA-D0! kissin' er/.

,nly tis.

@,TH.

Me#:ries* old #e#:ries* c.

A curc clock strikes alf1past si? in te distance./

AMA-D0!.

:Tis alf1past si?; My ti#e as co#e at last;


22/23

!9eet #aiden* 9ould 9e t9o ad #et before8

@ut :tis too late119a"in' is and to landscape/11

!o* lo"e and life* adieu;

AMA-DA.

, no; 3ou really #ustn:t tink of it. For #y sake* 9ait until to1#orro9 ni't8

Postpone your plun'e* and tell to te reporters

Ho9 :t9as A#anda died;

AMA-D0!.

A lady:s 9is

To #e 9as e"er la9. ,n one condition*

+:ll do as you desire.

AMA-DA.

+ 'rant it freely.

AMA-D0!.

:Tis tat you do take ti#e11a day or t9o11

(ust to tink o"er it.

AMA-DA.

-ay; tat 9ere "ain; oin'./

!tran'er* fare9ell; + seek #y 9atery bed;

AMA-D0!.

Do not; Please* do not; He brin's er back./

AMA-DA.

Tell #e truly tis tenderly/.

>ould it annoy you 'reatly if + did

AMA-D0! sole#nly/.

0pon #y 9ord* it 9ould;

AMA-DA s9eetly/.

>ell ten* + yieldilt tou not be #y reference

AMA-D0! sole#nly/.

+ 9ill;

He takes er round te 9aist* and se lays er ead

upon is soulder for a #o#ent. Ten tey 'o across te brid'e to'eter. A sound of scufflin' feet is

eard near te pond* and Piscator ruses in* in

ecstasy* 9it a fine carp stru''lin' in is landin'1

net./

P+!CAT,R =oyfully/.

His our as co#e at last. He:s #ine; He:s #ine;

3oun' #an* te pool is at your ser"ice no9;

He looks up* and sees A#andus and A#anda standin' in affectionate attitudes upon te brid'e./

>at do + see -o; 3es; A#andus and A#anda #o"e off slo9ly* sin'in' te

refrain of te duet./

P+!CAT,R sinkin' on seat* and oldin' is sides./

Ha* a* a* a;

2oices outside/ 6Me#:ries* old #e#:ries*6 etc.

Te refrain dies a9ay as te curtain slo9ly falls./

Documents

The Carp Libretto