SUPPLEMENT Cola di Rienzi
Frederick Engels
COLA DI RIENZI™
ACT ONE
S c e n e O n e
The Forum in Rome, with the Capitol in the background.
Enter Colonna with other Patricians, and, soon after,
the people, led by Battista.
PATRICIANS Away, Colonna, the people crowd us. Come, flee from the wrath of the howling mob!
COLONNA
Flee? A Colonrta flee the dregs Of the people whose necks he so often trod And trampled on? Flee, cowardlings, flee! I'll brave their fury!
PATRICIANS
See you them surging along the street? Can you not hear them raging? Come!
The people, with Battista at their head, crowd onto the stage.
BATTISTA
How are you, fine sirs, today? Must you make such haste to go? Surely you'd be glad to stay?
COLONNA (to the Patricians)
Can you let them mock you so?
BATTISTA See their faces, how they plead! Stay with us, we humbly pray!
COLONNA AND PATRICIANS
Hence, you insolent ones, away!
BATTISTA Just to serve you is our need!
COLONNA (to the Patricians)
Draw, Patricians!
BATTISTA We would treat you as our parents, We would never mutiny, We would never speak too free, Leave our families in your care. All our goods you need not spare; You may torture, thrash or flail us, Crush, bait, shackle us and gaol us, For our sins you may impale us, All we ask you is, please stay!
COLONNA (to the Patricians)
Well, my lords, what do you say?
PATRICIANS Hence, you insolent ones, away!
COLONNA
Hence, you insolent, filthy rabble! Know you not this voice's thunder That has rent you oft asunder? Know you not how this foot treads When it walks upon your heads? Know you not your lord and master?
Scene One revised
Colonna, Orsini, Orlando Orsini. The people in the background. Enter Patricians; they remain standing on one side.
ORSINI
Come, Colonna, let us hurry, For the mob approaches, see!
COLONNA
I shall stand and face their fury. Never was I known to flee!
ORSINI
Yield, just once, or we'll pay dear. We were mad to tarry longer.
ORLANDO
We must go, or else I fear We shall not escape their anger.
COLONNA
No! I'll walk, though I die here, Through their midst, defying danger!
BATTISTA
(He comes out from among the people. The people draw nearer.)
How are you, fine sirs, today? Must you make such haste to go? Surely you'd be glad to stay?
ORSINI
Can you let them mock you so?
BATTISTA See their faces, how they plead. Stay with us, we humbly pray!
COLONNA, ORSINI, ORLANDO
Hence, you insolent ones, away!
BATTISTA Just to serve you is our need!
COLONNA (to the Patricians)
Draw, Patricians!
BATTISTA We would treat you as our parents, We would never mutiny, Never speak too evilly, Leave our families in your care. All our goods you need not spare; You may torture, thrash or flail us, Crush, bait, shackle us and gaol us, For our sins you may impale us, All we ask you is, please stay!
COLONNA (to the Patricians) Well, my lords, what do you say?
COLONNA, ORSINI, ORLANDO Hence, you insolent ones, away!
COLONNA Hence, you insolent, filthy rabble! Know you not this voice's thunder That has rent you oft asunder? Know you not how this foot treads When it walks upon your heads? Know you not your lord and master?
PEOPLE
Down with you!
COLONNA (to the Patricians) Draw your swords! Our lives are at stake!
PEOPLE
Down with you! We are free!
BATTISTA Do stay with us, we beg you!
PATRICIANS Away! Just let us flee their rage Until revenge's hour shall strike!
COLONNA Let us give in for now. Rave, you rabble, rave on! One day we shall return, Then tremble before our wrath!
PEOPLE Down with you!
(Exeunt Colonna and Patricians. The people gradually
divide into two choruses, the first of which
is bigger than the second.)
BATTISTA
See, they quail, those noble lords, Cowering back with unsheathed swords, Count and Baron, Marquis and Prince, Needs must hastily hie them hence! But what use, if ten small devils Leave us, and the worst of evils— Yes, the Prince of Hell, none other— Comes and takes the whole place over? Granted those ones are a curse, Still the Tribune plagues us worse!
FIRST CHORUS
Hail to the Tribune, the people's liberator! Who dares to revile him?
SECOND CHORUS Down with him!
BATTISTA
He is as evil and as good As yonder lords of noble blood. He ever speaks words passing fair, Yet to the people shuts his ear. Tyrants out, a despot in— 'Twill end as it did first begin.
FIRST CHORUS
Silence, slanderer!
SECOND CHORUS No, say on!
BATTISTA He is as evil and as good
As yonder lords of noble blood.
FIRST CHORUS Traitor! Defame not the liberator! Hail to the Tribune! Hail to Rienzi! Traitor! Away with you! Beat him, beat him!
SECOND CHORUS
Down with him, the tyrant! Curse Rienzi! Death to the Tribune! We will protect you!
BATTISTA To you he speaks, etc. Tyrants out, etc.
(Confusion. The music of a triumphal procession is heard in the distance. Cannon-fire. All are startled.)
BOTH CHORUSES He comes! Let us meet him!
FIRST CHORUS
Hail to the liberator.
SECOND CHORUS
He'll fall to our revenge Soon, as did those others, However firm he stands.
BOTH CHORUSES
To meet him!
(Exeunt omnes.)
S c e n e T w o
Colonna's palace, Camilla's chamber.
CAMILLA
Why that turmoil? What's the meaning Of that roaring mob out there; All that raving, running, screaming, Bloody flags waved in the air? And I hear a wild throng gathered At the palace steps: they're crying Out the name of my own father, Threatening and vilifying.
Will you escape, father, safe and sound From the crazed people that riot and swarm? Will Holy Mary, Protectress, look down Like a good star and preserve you from harm? Fear is upon me, black and ineffable, Father, all for your sake! Spare me this suffering, dreadful, unbearable, Father, oh please come back!
All the servants, in their terror, Leaving me, have run away, And I stand here white with horror In the palace on my own. But—Oh God! for here comes Walter— Heart, O heart, be still, I pray! — Now he sees me quail and falter, Through the gates he runs alone!
Enter Montreal.
CAMILLA
By all the Saints in Heaven, Montreal, you dare—
MONTREAL (going down on his knees)
0 Camilla! My Camilla!
CAMILLA You dare set foot inside this house Denied to you forever by my father? Let him but meet you here, and from his sword Your life's in danger!
MONTREAL Sweet lady, do you mind no more The love that bound us lastingly, The vows that by the stars we swore, The tears you used to shed for me?
CAMILLA Leave me! O Saints, my poor heart Is bursting in my breast!
MONTREAL Beloved, see the hectic fever That drives the blood into my face. Am I now strange to you forever Who on your breast once found my peace?
CAMILLA 1 must not look you in the eye, Being beholden to forswear you. My wretched heart will break, but I, Alas, I must not dare come near you.
MONTREAL O see me begging at your feet, My only dearest love are you! But lock your heart against me, sweet, And Heaven locks its portals too!
CAMILLA
My breast is heaving up and down, From him I cannot stay apart. Once more in true love's toils I'm bound. Walter—forever yours my heart!
BOTH 0 true love's blessed victory! No matter what else may conspire Against us, what can mar our sky When each belongs to each entire? Though we be shunned the whole world over, Our bond disparaged as a bane, If we do not desert each other, Indeed our star can never wane!
CAMILLA But tell me, Walter, what arouses The mob on the streets to such violent rage? And, above all, my father, my father— Where is he?
MONTREAL Fear not! Your father is in safety, Debating flight with the city nobles In the Orsinis' palace. The Tribune approached; rejoicing, the people All went to meet him. Like lightning he moved, And, ere the nobles could guess what was happening,
He stood at the gates of the city. Your father will soon be here with his trusted friends, To lead you from here to a place of safety. But look! his suite comes over there, With trumpets sounding, banners waving! Yes, I can see his silver hair! He comes, and so I must be leaving.
CAMILLA My Walter, go away from me, But for my love you need not fear. 1 shall yearn for you constantly, My heart shall ever hold you dear!
WALTER
My joy—until we meet again! The Saints be with you—I will come Back to you, love, a nobler man, To carry you, my Princess, home!
Great things to do some day I mean. My life on it: the time will come, I'll raise you to the throne as queen And you shall reign with me in Rome.
CAMILLA
My loving heart content would be If I were simply your poor wife. It were the height of bliss for me To serve you, body and soul, for life!
BOTH O true love's blessed victory! etc.
S c e n e T h r e e
The people swarm onto the stage and range themselves in the background, while Battista [stands] in front with
the chorus of malcontents. Triumphal procession.
CHORUS OF PEOPLE
Hail to the Tribune, the people's liberator! Hail to Rienzi, Father of the Fatherland!
The procession grows.
BATTISTA
With mercenaries he moves in, The people's freedom claims to win! He's scared of his own countrymen. This joke will soon come to an end!
Chorus as above. BATTISTA They fill the air with joyful cries. Suffering soon will make them wise!
CHORUS OF MALCONTENTS
Down with the foreign mercenaries! Down with the Tribune! Curse you, the people's oppressor, Curse you, desecrator of holy places! Away with the foreigners, away!
CHORUS OF PEOPLE Hail to the Tribune on high! Long live the Father of the Fatherland!
BATTISTA
See, he looks arrogant enough, Now that his clever trick's come off. See how defiant he goes there, Now that he's caught us in his snare. He will not long remain so proud When common sense dawns on the crowd.
Chorus of people as above.
RIENZI (on the rostrum)
So stand I once again amongst you, 0 noble Romans! Again I see All Rome's holy places—the Capitol, The eternal Forum! You are welcoming me, And so my gratitude shall not be wanting. 1 swear before God's countenance To consecrate my whole life to your freedom, That Ancient Rome shall rise again As great and free as ever from her ruins! I shall not rest, nor tarry, Till Rome in all her ancient splendour, And in her ancient majesty, Shines before all the peoples of this Earth! Even as the phoenix, prouder, more magnificent, Soars up aloft from its own funeral pyre, So may the bygone age of world conquest Return once more, new and imperishable!
CHORUS OF PEOPLE (as above)
Curtain ACT TWO
S c e n e O n e
Palestrina. A chamber in Colonna's house. At the beginning,
shots are heard from time to time.
Colonna, Camilla.
CAMILLA
Father, for Jesus' sake, what is afoot? With anxious faces your friends are leaving,
Deserting you; the besiegers' cannon Are thundering closer and fiercer than ever— Are we then lost, my father, oh tell me!
COLONNA
Camilla, be calm and listen. The ambitious Orsini wanted No more to obey me, the chosen leader, But stand beside me, give orders like me! I stuck to my rights; The rift between us was irremediably wide. His son stepped forward. Fathers, said he, Be not divided in danger's hour, When unity is our foremost need.
I want to reunite you! Give me, Colonna, your daughter in marriage. Long have I loved her, the fair Camilla. If, through your children, you are united By holy bonds, Strife no longer shall split you asunder Over the power in the land. Then his father spoke up as follows: So be it! But if you refuse, Colonna, Tomorrow I shall withdraw my troops And come to terms with the Tribune. Then try and hold the fortress alone! Those were his words. And so, my daughter, Even before the sun goes down You'll go—as I told him — to young Orsini And join him in wedlock. So make you ready.
CAMILLA Oh God, what shall I do?
COLONNA You seem unwilling to give in. I'd long intended that you should win A better thing on your brow to set Than Count Orsini's coronet. Whoever might your hand in marriage merit At least a princedom should inherit— Or so I thought. Things worked out differently. What choice have we?
CAMILLA
So it is settled, then: I'll be the sacrifice. For peace between you men, My own peace I must lose. Am I so much alone That he I most despise Must be my husband—one I would not freely choose? Father, I beg you, spare me your fury! Just for you, I Would gladly die, But Count Orsini I never shall marry!
COLONNA What evil spirit has made you so wild? You even choose My wish to refuse? I, I command you, iniquitous child!
CAMILLA Command of me whatever you will, But the vow that I swore To the man I adore, I honour it still!
COLONNA To Montreal I'm to give you away?
I thought the hope of his winning your hand Had long, long since been gone from your mind. A fine son-in-law for me, I must say! Since when have plunderers, Robbers and murderers
Won the Colonnas' womenfolk, pray?
CAMILLA Ere I should prove False to my vow, Let the Earth now Swallow me up, or the blackness of night. Walter, our love Nothing can blight, True ones in woe Live to the day when their darkness turns bright!
COLONNA Can you not see the threat that surrounds us? Iron balls Pound down the walls, The enemy stranglehold tightens around us. Think of what's going to happen to you At the dread hour When turret and tower Fall, and foeman comes swarming through. Who will protect you and save you from force When the wild soldiers clutch you with their claws?
CAMILLA My Walter will shield me, he surely will come! If he comes not, a dagger will save me From shame!
COLONNA Did not this Montreal of yours First put us in this sorry plight, Sending the Tribune his own force To harass us by day and night? Yet this same Montreal You'd choose before them all?
CAMILLA I shall stay true to him forever!
COLONNA Will you not think and have some sense?
CAMILLA What I've said I won't gainsay.
COLONNA Intractable one, then get you hence, I'll tame this obduracy!
CAMILLA What I've sworn I should forswear?
COLONNA
Yes. Before this day is through—
CAMILLA Empty then my promise were!
COLONNA I will see you change your view.
CAMILLA These my passions—
COLONNA
I'll suppress!
CAMILLA This my love—
COLONNA
cannot survive.
CAMILLA Such devotion to repress—
COLONNA
that will be child's play to me!
CAMILLA I shall not betray him, never!
COLONNA, CAMILLA
i * a ' it may cost I Y ^ your fifc> \Yes, ' \ me my
CAMILLA I'll be true to him forever. His I am and e'er shall be!
CAMILLA, COLONNA All upon it I would stake,
Though it may cost j J J " y
m " r life. {This your vow you must forsake This my vow I'll not forsake
And obey i ™e constantly!
A SERVANT (entering) My Lord, a stranger waits outside. He has important news to bring you, But only to you he'll give his name.
COLONNA
Let him come in!
(Exit servant. Enter Montreal in cloak and hat. He doffs his and flings back his cloak.)
CAMILLA Oh Heavens! Walter!
COLONNA Montreal! You dare to enter my house, You, whose soldiers besiege us now, You, that have taken the enemy's side, You, that have stolen my daughter's heart From me? What is your purpose here?
MONTREAL Softly, dear sir, and listen to me! Do you remember, you turned me away When I was seeking Camilla's hand?
Now I revenge myself, as befits a knight. My soldiers have you completely surrounded, Their guns rock Palestrina's towers. A sign from me, and the whole wild horde streams in, And then you are lost. For who will save you? Well, I will save you, if you so wish!
Palestrina need not fall, and I shall lead you In pomp and ceremony back to Rome!
COLONNA So you would treacherously leave the Tribune? That is hardly a knightly deed— I'll have no part in it at all.
MONTREAL What treachery's here? My brothers, not I, Sent the troops to join the Tribune. I never sanctioned the deed at all. Who's to prevent me withdrawing my soldiers? That I'll do. This only I ask: Give me what I could anyway win for myself!
COLONNA What do you want of me?
MONTREAL In Romagna, in the March of Ancona Are thousands obedient to my word. I have no land, and yet I am The most powerful man in Italy. I come to you, and I demand: Agree to let me assume the title Of Roman Podestà and take your daughter As wife beside me on the Throne!
(Colonna paces up and down in thought.)
CAMILLA
Did I not say he'd rescue us, Hearing that I was in distress? Did I not know he'd think of me In times of danger or of stress?
MONTREAL How could I ever desert my beloved Or my beloved's father in need?
COLONNA So be it! I'll sacrifice Qrsini. He always envied me, being vain. He and his house may fall, but I shall rise My son, here is my daughterl She's yours! Be Podestà of Rome with her beside you! Camilla, past returning Are hate and enmity. I have appeased your yearning, Look up, look up at me!
CAMILLA Flowers of love's joy so tender From harsh adversity Have blossomed in their splendour— O wondrous Destiny!
MONTREAL And now what do we care That once we burned so long, Wrestling with despair, And grief, and pain, and wrong!
CAMILLA O day of joy for lovers!
MONTREAL O gift of love so true!
CAMILLA O bliss when suffering's over!
COLONNA Now take you each the other, May life be good to you!
ALL THREE We'll go unhesitating To meet our destiny, The Future contemplating Serene, and gay, and free, Through harsh pain sanctified, After long strife together— Love's flames thus purified Shall burn and burn forever!
Scene Two A room in Rienzi's home.
RIENZI (paper in hand) Curse the traitorsl For turning the people Away from me, for reviling me. As if I'd fatten myself on the poor! Curse them! If only the people stay loyal, The future shall see me gloriously vindicated. My people all, for whom I've gladly Been cursed, reviled, imprisoned, banned, For whom I've braved the Tyrants, loudly Crying amongst them: Hold your hand! My people, you will not go under Shamed and abused, like cowards base; You shall arise in all your grandeur, A proud and a victorious race!
You know not the many trials, Cares and anguish I went through; You know not the many perils That I faced because of you! Long years, hesitating never, Through the thorns I struggled on, Yet you may not thank me ever For the good that I have done!
But no! I wanted Rome to free That fell, a victim to dissension. Restore her ancient dignity— Is that no fine and great intention?
0 Ancient Rome, do but once show Yourself to me in your past might, And I have lived enough, can go Happy into the grave's dark night!
NINA (entering)
Oh Cola, tell me, is it true That foes are plotting against you? Is danger hanging over The head so dear to me?
RIENZI
Calm yourself, my dearest wife. A few power-seeking, envious ones, And Walter von Montreal, that traitor, Are stirring up the people against me, Hoping to bring about my downfall. Helped by God and a loyal people, 1 shall outwit the treacherous ones. Before they even sense the danger, Their heads will roll for their own crimes. How could these schemes of theirs unnerve me? Are they as strong as I am here, With my true-loving wife to serve me, And with my senses calm and clear?
NINA
Cola, why can't I put to flight The fears with which I am consumed? In dreams I've seen your face all white Since you the purple robe assumed.
RIENZI
My dearest wife, come, fear no more! We are not in the slightest danger; Untroubled can the eagle soar Clear of the snakes that hiss with anger.
NINA
I cannot think what I would do, If I should lose you, love, one day.
Whoever left me without you, Would steal my very life away.
COLA Oh, put aside all fear and care, For what inspires me is sublime. I can't go under—do not dare— Until I have achieved my aim,
Until Rome's might triumphantly Is born again, and Freedom shakes The dust off, and the world can see In trembling how the lion wakes.
If, in the heat of battle, I stood Alone, in peril of my life, Deserted and abandoned, would You not stay by me, dearest wife?
NINA Dearest, as some God may decree, So let it be, then, for us two. I cannot, and I will not, flee, In need and death I'll stand by you!
BOTH Firmly together, on our own, We shall face treachery and lies. Though in this world we stood alone, Our true love ever would suffice!
S c e n e T h r e e
A hall in the Colonnas' palace, festively arrayed f a banquet.
Montreal, Battista, Chorus of guests.
MONTREAL
Your health, good sirs! Let gaiety And the wine goblet reign this night! Think not how late the hour may be, While the wine laughs in beaker bright.
Let song resound These halls around Till the dawn breaks with radiant light!
CHORUS Drink all the brimming cup may hold, Quaff merrily the flowing wine; The goblet filled with liquid gold Revives man's heart at any time. Let song resound These halls around Until the light of dawn doth shine!
BATTISTA
Ho, there! A song, who'll sing a song?
MONTREAL
Hey, boy, hand me that lute of yours. Let me sing you a song of Provence After the fashion of my native land— The song of a high-born troubadour.
(Here follows a love-song, to be inserted later.)
BATTISTA
Long life to all the ladies!
CHORUS Long life to the ladies! In sparkling wine We think about them all the time! Long life to all the ladies!
MONTREAL
Ho, butler, fill the glasses! Lachrymae Christi, Monte Falerno, Bring us the best Falernian wine! Now let us drink and let us sing!
CHORUS Drink all the brimming cup, etc.
(The Capitol bell sounds.)
BATTISTA
What is happening? Hear you the Capitol bell?
MONTREAL What could it be? Nothing to trouble us! Let us be merry! It's nothing to alarm us!
BATTISTA I drink this, noble sir, to you, And to your gallant following too! That the Tribune by you may be Relieved of his authority! Loudly I cry to one and all: Long live Walter von Montreal!
CHORUS Loud ring our voices one and all: Long live our gracious host! Long live Walter von Montreal!
CHOIR OF MONKS (off) Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine! Et lux perpétua luceat eis!
MONTREAL What has come over you, friends? Let the priests whine of graves and of death, Life is red-blooded while we draw breath!
(CHOIR OF MONKS in the background: Dies irae, dies ilia.)
I thank you all, my friends! Let us drown out those wailing monks With joyous cries! Long live Rome, the eternal city!
CHORUS Long live Rome, the eternal city! Drink all the brimming cup, etc.
(CHOIR, off: Ne me perdas ilia die! quia pius es!)
MONTREAL
And here's a toast to the Tribune's downfall, The traitor who, on the people's sweat, Carouses there in the Capitol! Revenge will be on him before he knows it. Down with him!
CHORUS
Down with the Tribune, be our word— Let him reap his treason's reward!
(Three bangs on the door. Confusion.)
MONTREAL
Enter, you uninvited guests!
(Enter the Tribune in purple and ermine, followed by men-at-arms.)
Pause.
RIENZI
Are you so gay, then, Montreal, When the Capitol bell outside And the chanting priests tell you the tidings That your brothers are being led to execution? Let you and the rest all know this!
CHOIR
Judex ergo nunc tedebit etc.
[RIENZI]
At last your hour has struck, And your traitor's reward is settled!
(Montreal and Battista are led off.)
Curtain ACT THREE
S c e n e O n e
A room in Rienzi's home.
NINA (hastening in, breathless)
Help, Holy Mary! Help, Father in Heaven! Oh, what a rabble Comes down the streets tearing, Roaring, rampaging, Many-voiced, raging; They're bursting through breaches And soon they will reach us. Our palace they're nearing! In wild agitation They threaten destruction And grim devastation; In savage eruption The rabble draws nigh!
Our deliverance please send, Ye most blessed ones on high; Let the angels' wings extend Over us protectingly. Hear, oh hear my anguished plea, Come to us, shield us from danger. Please, oh please let us not be Victims of the mob's blind anger!
Nearer and nearer The rabble is teeming, Higher and higher The flood is streaming. Swords are glittering, Spear-points flickering, Flashing bright!
Ever nearer and more mighty, Death enfolds us with his arm. Help, O Mary! Help, Almighty! Do not let us come to harm!
RIENZI (entering) It's happened — something I never feared! The maddened people have risen against me, Howling vengeance for Montreal's death And for Battista's too.
NINA
O dearest Cola! Danger is pressing nearer and nearer, 0 save us both!
RIENZI
Keep calm, beloved wife! Danger is not so very near. Still in the flush of youth am I, And with a face unyielding, proud, 1 shall go out there to defy The fury of the crowd!
My eye is swift as lightning blast, My brow unmarred by life's abuse, Like swords, my words are keen and fast— So let all Hell break loose!
Let Hell break loose—still I shall brave it. I raised myself up to the throne, Now I must stand my ground and save it. I'll calm their anger down!
NINA Oh, let us yield, I humbly pray, Let us seek refuge from their fury. Cola, just once, hear what I say, O Cola, let us hurry!
RIENZI In cowardice? Not while I draw breath!
NINA Cola, while still there's time—decide!
RIENZI I'll stand and face it out with death, Though he press in from every side!
NINA Oh, come! The mob does not deserve So great a sacrifice—oh, no!
RIENZI If ruin strikes, my death shall serve Before the whole wide world to show I did not shrink to dedicate My life that Rome once more be great.
NINA So, husband, you'll not run away? Then from your side I shall not go, As in good times, likewise in woe And wretched fortune, I shall stay.
RIENZI Come to my breast, O marvellous wife! The reward of striving constantly Blooms in your love, God's joy, for me, Though reached I not my goal in life!
NINA So big, so strong you are, my mate! Held in your warm embrace, to fall With you, most wonderful of all— Oh what a high and blissful fate!
COLA, NINA
And so we go forth joyously, Embracing one another tight, Bathed in the glow of true love's light, To meet whate'er our fate may be! Though death outside await us twain, Through fire and sword, both unaffrighted We go, together and united, To face what Fortune may ordain!
Scene Two
Before the Capitol.
CAMILLA (hair unbound, sword in hand)
So it has come, then, For what I so languish, The hour of revenge For my sorrow and anguish. The hour of revenge!
His blood shall be shed In atonement for yours, My murdered, my dear one, Though I strike him dead With this, my own hand. True love has been murdered, Burn hatred, burn more, And stain, blood of tyrants, My thirsting sword-blade With purple-red gore. Not woman, but Fury Henceforth be my name; With steel I shall sever The veins of that same Vile traitor who sent My love to his grave! Away with compassion And womanly weakness! Vengeance, ay, vengeance For that shameful crime Is all that I crave! The crowds are all swarming And gathering together, More frenzied than ever I'm going to make them. Fall, then, Rienzi, From the throne to your doom— Your victim, my lover, Awaits you in the tomb! (To the people, who have gathered round her.)
Vengeance I cry! Vengeance I cry! For the tyrant's execution, For the grimmest retribution, Storm into the Capitol! From his rooms in all their glory Drag him hither bodily, To his end so grim and gory; Dying, he'll atone for all!
CHORUS Vengeance! Vengeance!—To the Capitol.
CAMILLA On his guilty head let roll Curses, death, calamity. Liberty from us he stole, Now it is his reckoning time. At our feet in terror, he Shall like any traitor die. Red his blood shall flow and free For his most perfidious crime.
CHORUS At our feet in terror, etc.
Enter Rienzi, Nina following him.
RIENZI Citizens of Rome! Why do you gather here In milling crowds, with spear and sword Before the Capitol? Do you not trust me now, whom you elected And on whose shoulders you it was that laid This purple? What have I done to harm you? Let me finish my task. Let me restore our ancient glory And you'll be lords of the Earth And free, with laws of your own making. Listen not to the voice of slander, Judge me by deeds alone!
CAMILLA Do not listen to him speaking, Let yourselves be not misled.
Be intent alone on wreaking Vengeance for lost liberty!
CHORUS By your flattery, by your speaking, We'll no longer be misled. Now we only think of wreaking Vengeance for lost liberty!
They press towards him.
NINA God!
RIENZI Hence, insolent ones, away!
NINA See you not the tears I shed?
CAMILLA Ha, Triumph! Now the vengeance-seeking Flames I've kindled, as I see.
CHORUS Now we only think of wreaking Vengeance for lost liberty!
NINA Would you spill the blood of him Whom you owe your fortune to? If it's blood you want, take mine: I'll atone for every sin.
CAMILLA Only vengeance for his crime, Push compassion far from you!
NINA Hear my weeping and lamenting, He did good—give that a thought!
CAMILLA
Think, you Romans, unrelenting, Of the suffering he brought!
CHORUS Yes, we're mindful, unrelenting, Of the suffering he brought.
NINA Please have mercy!
CAMILLA Think of vengeance!
NINA Spare this noble man, I say.
CAMILLA On the tyrant wreak your vengeance For your freedom snatched away.
CHORUS Vengeance on the tyrant, vengeance, For our freedom snatched away!
NINA Do not let yourselves be blinded By your fury's raging fire!
CAMILLA Ha! Now shall his life be ended By the people's burning ire!
NINA Show us mercy!
CAMILLA Think of vengeance.
N I N A Please have mercy.
CAMILLA Hear her not.
CHORUS Ha, you traitor, this our vengeance And our wrath escape you not!
APPENDICES