The Rape of Lucretia
Britten, Benjamin
Responsief blok lib/tran/syn
The Rape of Lucretia Libretto
SYSTEMACT I
SYSTEMScene I
(The generals' tent in the camp outside Rome.
House curtain rises showing Male Chorus and
Female Chorus, reading from books)
MALE CHORUSRome is now ruled by the Etruscan upstart:
MALE CHORUSTarquinius Superbus, the proud, King.
MALE CHORUSBut once servant to the late monarch servius.
MALE CHORUSHow did Tarquinius reach the throne?
MALE CHORUSBy making his own virtues and his will bend
MALE CHORUSto the purpose of determined evil.
MALE CHORUSIn quiet humility he bid his pride; and running to agree
MALE CHORUSwith every faction divided the Roman court till each
SYSTEMpart sought him as an ally; and those he murdered,
MALE CHORUSHe would mourn as though a friend had died.
MALE CHORUSIf piety impeded him, he'd pray with it; if greed,
MALE CHORUShe'd bribe it; and always he'd pay his way with the
MALE CHORUSprodigious liberality of self-coined obsequious flattery.
MALE CHORUSSo he climbed and married the king's own daughter
MALE CHORUSwhom he murdered; then married her sister, the
MALE CHORUSself-seeking, self-appointed widow who'd poisoned
MALE CHORUSher first husband, the heir.
MALE CHORUSOnce joined in holy wedlock they throttled the king;
MALE CHORUSand now rule Rome by force
MALE CHORUSand govern by sheer terror.
MALE CHORUSWhilst their son, Tarquinius Sextus of whom you
MALE CHORUSshall hear, leads Roman youth to Etruscan war and
MALE CHORUStreats the proud city as if it were his whore.
FEMALE CHORUSIt is an axiom among kings,
to use a foreign threat to hide a local evil.
FEMALE CHORUSSo here the grumbling Romans march from Rome
FEMALE CHORUSto fight the Greeks who also march from home.
FEMALE CHORUSBoth armies fretting under their own generals.
Female Chorus closes her book
FEMALE CHORUSHow slowly time here moves towards the date;
FEMALE CHORUSThis Rome has still five hundred years to wait
FEMALE CHORUSbefore Christ's birth and death from which
FEMALE CHORUStime fled to you with hands across its eyes.
FEMALE CHORUSBut here other wounds are made, yet still his
FEMALE CHORUSblood is shed.
MALE AND FEMALE CHORUSWhile we as two observers stand between
MALE AND FEMALE CHORUSThis present audience and that scene.
MALE AND FEMALE CHORUSWe'll view these human passions and these years
MALE AND FEMALE CHORUSthrough eyes which once have wept with
MALE AND FEMALE CHORUSChrist's own tears.
(Front cloth rises. The scene is a camp outside
MALE AND FEMALE CHORUSRome, with the generals' tent in foreground)
MALE CHORUSHere the thirsty evening has drunk the wine of light.
Sated, the sun falls through the horizon,
MALE CHORUSthe air sits on their backs like a heavy bear.
MALE CHORUSOnly the noise of crickets alleviates
MALE CHORUSthe weight of this silent evening.
MALE CHORUSHorses sensing thunder stamp in their stables
MALE CHORUSbull-frogs brag on their persistent note,
MALE CHORUScenturions curse their men,
MALE CHORUSthe men curse their luck,
MALE CHORUSas they look towards Rome's distant lights,
MALE CHORUSwhich, bent in the Tiber, beckon through the night.
MALE CHORUS(The tent is opened from the inside. Collatinus,
MALE CHORUSJunius and Tarquinius are seated, drinking)
COLLATINUSWho reaches heaven first is the best philosopher.
COLLATINUSBacchus jumps there with a cup,
COLLATINUSreason climbs there later.
in the tent
COLLATINUSOh, the only cup worth filling is this! Is this!
MALE CHORUSThey drink for their time is flowing with the night,
MALE CHORUSand life is dark except where wine sheds light.
MALE CHORUSBut the officers are not generally drunk so early.
JUNIUSWho reaches heaven last
JUNIUSis the worst philosopher.
JUNIUSLogic limps there on a rule,
JUNIUSCupid flies there sooner.
COLLATINUSOh, the only girl worth having is wine!
COLLATINUSIs wine! Is wine!
The night is weeping with its tears of stars
but these men laugh
MALE CHORUSFor what is sad is folly.
MALE CHORUSAnd so they drink to drown their melancholy.
TARQUINIUSWho drowns in women's eyes and then drinks lips
TARQUINIUSof pleasure sucks all heaven in a kiss, then thirsts
TARQUINIUSin hell for ever!
COLLATINUSOh, the only wine worth having is love!
COLLATINUSIs love! Is love!
JUNIUSLove, like wine, spills easily as blood...
TARQUINIUSAnd husbands are the broken bottles.
MALE CHORUSLast night some generals rode back to Rome
MALE CHORUSto see if their wives stayed chaste at home.
JUNIUSMaria was unmasked at a masked ball.
TARQUINIUSCelia was not found at all,
TARQUINIUSFlavius is still searching for her!
JUNIUSAnd Maximus found his wife Donata
JUNIUShad been served by some Sicilian actor!
TARQUINIUSSophia's silver chastity belt was worn
TARQUINIUSby her coachman as a collar!
JUNIUSThere Leda lay after a midnight bout,
too drunk to give a clear account.
TARQUINIUSPatricia lay naked with a negro.
TARQUINIUSShe told Junius she'd been having massage!
COLLATINUSYou were fools to go at all!
COLLATINUSFools to set the honour
COLLATINUSof your wives against a drunken bet!
COLLATINUSI warned you not to go.
TARQUINIUSWhy should you complain?
TARQUINIUSWe found Lucretia safe at home.
JUNIUSThe only wife who stood the test.
TARQUINIUSAnd Collatinus has won the bet.
TARQUINIUSAnd Junius is a cuckold a cuckold's a cock
TARQUINIUSwithout a crow and Junius is a cuckold!
angrily
JUNIUSSo are you, too, Tarquinius since you have made
JUNIUSthe whole of Rome your brothel.
JUNIUSMy wife's untrue, but so is yours.
JUNIUSFor you unmarried can only know
JUNIUSthe constancy of whores.
rising
TARQUINIUSYou forget I am the Prince of Rome!
JUNIUSBut I at least am Roman!
TARQUINIUSWith a negro deputy in bed,
TARQUINIUSit's better to be Etruscan!
They brawl
JUNIUSSpendthrift!
TARQUINIUSUsurer!
JUNIUSLecher!
TARQUINIUSEunuch!
JUNIUSClimber!
TARQUINIUSUpstart!
JUNIUSRake!
TARQUINIUSRat!
JUNIUSYou young sot!
TARQUINIUSYou old man!
JUNIUSLewd licentious lout!
TARQUINIUSPagan dyspeptic pig!
JUNIUSRam reared!
TARQUINIUSWolf weaned!
parting them
COLLATINUSPeace! Peace!
COLLATINUSSave your swords till we meet the Greeks.
COLLATINUSLet us drink, Prince Tarquinius, a toast!
TARQUINIUSTo the chaste Lucretia!
TARQUINIUSTo the lovely Lucretia!
COLLATINUSLucretia!
(Junius rushes from the tent, closing the flap
COLLATINUSbehind him)
JUNIUSLucretia! Lucretia!
JUNIUSI'm sick of that name.
JUNIUSHer virtue is the measure of my shame.
Now all of Rome will laugh at me,
JUNIUSor what is worse will pity me.
MALE CHORUSOh, it is plain that nothing pleases your friends so
MALE CHORUSmuch as your dishonour, for now they can indulge
MALE CHORUSin chatter and patronise you with their patter, and
MALE CHORUSif by chance you lose your temper, they say they
MALE CHORUStease in all good humour.
JUNIUSTomorrow the city urchins will sing my name to school
JUNIUSand call each other "Junius" instead of "Fool".
JUNIUSCollatinus will gain my fame with the Roman mob,
JUNIUSnot because of battles he has won but because
JUNIUSLucretia's chaste and the Romans being wanton
JUNIUSworship chastity. Lucretia!
MALE CHORUSCollatinus is politically astute
MALE CHORUSto choose a virtuous wife.
MALE CHORUSCollatinus shines brighter from Lucretia's fame.
MALE CHORUSCollatinus is lucky, very lucky...
MALE CHORUSOh, my God with what agility does jealousy jump
MALE CHORUSinto a small heart, and fit till it fills it, then breaks
with venom
JUNIUSLucretia!...
Enter from tent
COLLATINUSHow bitter of you,
COLLATINUShow venomous to vent your rage on her!
COLLATINUSWhy be so vicious why so jealous?
COLLATINUSYou're blinded by grief at Patricia's unfaithfulness.
JUNIUSThe wound in my heart, Collatinus,
JUNIUSwill drive me to despair.
JUNIUSI ask your forgiveness for being malicious
JUNIUSwhen you are so proud of Lucretia's virtue
aside
JUNIUSOr good luck!
Collatinus offers Junius his hand
COLLATINUSDear friend!
JUNIUSCollatinus!
They embrace
COLLATINUSThose who love create fetters which liberate.
COLLATINUSThose who love destroy their solitude.
COLLATINUSTheir love is only joy those who love defeat time,
COLLATINUSwhich is death's deceit.
COLLATINUSThose who love defy death's slow revenge.
COLLATINUSTheir love is all despair.
Tarquinius reels out of the tent
TARQUINIUSOh, the only girl worth having is wine!
TARQUINIUSIs wine! Is wine!
TARQUINIUSAnd Junius is a...
stopping him
COLLATINUSEnough, Tarquinius!
TARQUINIUSA cuckold, a cuckold, a cuckold!
JUNIUSFor God's sake, stop!
COLLATINUSYou disgrace your rank by brawling like
COLLATINUSa common peasant.
JUNIUSHe's drunk.
COLLATINUSThat's enough, Junius! Leave quarrelling to those
COLLATINUSwith less important tasks ahead.
JUNIUSI'm ready to forget.
JUNIUSGive me your hand, Tarquinius.
COLLATINUSWith you two arm in arm again, Rome can sleep secure.
COLLATINUSGood night!
Collatinus goes off towards his tent
TARQUINIUSGood night!
JUNIUSGood night!
TARQUINIUSThere goes a happy man!
JUNIUSThere goes a lucky man!
TARQUINIUSHis fortune is worth more than my Etruscan crown.
JUNIUSBut he is subject to your crown!
TARQUINIUSAnd I am subject to Lucretia.
JUNIUSWhat makes the Nubian disturb his heavy mountain?
JUNIUSWhy does he ravish the rock's austerity
JUNIUSand powder it to dust to find its secret lust
JUNIUStill in his hand he holds the cruel jewel?
JUNIUSIs this all his hands were seeking?
TARQUINIUSWhat drives the Roman beyond his river Tiber?
TARQUINIUSWhy do Egyptians dare the shark's ferocity
TARQUINIUSand grovel in the deep to rake its dream
TARQUINIUSof sleep till to his Queen he gives the royal pearl?
TARQUINIUSIs this what his eyes were
JUNIUSIf men were honest they would all admit
JUNIUSthat all their life was one long search.
JUNIUSA pilgrimage to a pair of eyes,
JUNIUSin which there lies a reflection greater
JUNIUSthan the a perfection which is love's brief
JUNIUSIt seems we agree.
TARQUINIUSBut are not of the same opinion!
JUNIUSWhat do you mean?
TARQUINIUSI am honest and admit as a woman's my beginning,
TARQUINIUSwoman's the end I'm seeking.
JUNIUSWell...?
TARQUINIUSBut as ambition is your beginning,
TARQUINIUSpower's the end you're seeking.
JUNIUSThat's not true! But don't let's quarrel.
JUNIUSWe're both unfortunate:
JUNIUSI, with my unfruitful, faithless wife, you...
TARQUINIUSWith my barren bevy of listless whores.
TARQUINIUSOh, I am tired of willing women!
TARQUINIUSIt's all habit with no difficulty or achievement to it.
JUNIUSBut Collatinus has Lucretia...
TARQUINIUSBut Lucretia's virtuous.
JUNIUSVirtue in women is a lack of opportunity.
TARQUINIUSLucretia's chaste as she is beautiful.
JUNIUSWomen are chaste when they are not tempted.
JUNIUSLucretia's beautiful but she's not chaste.
JUNIUSWomen are all whores by nature.
TARQUINIUSNo, not Lucretia!
JUNIUSWhat?...
JUNIUSAlready jealous of her honour?
JUNIUSMen defend a woman's honour
JUNIUSwhen they would lay siege to it themselves.
TARQUINIUSI'll prove Lucretia chaste.
JUNIUSNo, that you will not dare! That you will not dare...
JUNIUSGood night, Tarquinius.
JUNIUS(Junius goes off to his tent; Tarquinius paces
JUNIUSslowly up and down)
MALE CHORUSTarquinius does not dare,
MALE CHORUSwhen Tarquinius does not desire;
MALE CHORUSbut I am the Prince of Rome
MALE CHORUSand Lucretia's eyes my Empire.
MALE CHORUSIt is not far to Rome...
MALE CHORUSOh, go to bed, Tarquinius...
MALE CHORUSThe lights of Rome are beckoning...
MALE CHORUSThe city sleeps. Collatinus sleeps.
MALE CHORUSLucretia! Lucretia!
TARQUINIUSMy horse! My horse!
(Front cloth falls as Tarquinius goes off with
TARQUINIUSsudden resolution)
TARQUINIUSInterlude
MALE CHORUSTarquinius does not wait
MALE CHORUSfor his servant to wake,
MALE CHORUSor his groom to saddle;
MALE CHORUShe snatches a bridle
MALE CHORUSand forcing the iron bit
MALE CHORUSthrough the beast's bared white teeth,
MALE CHORUSruns him out of the stable
MALE CHORUSmounts without curb or saddle
MALE CHORUSthe stallion's short straight back
MALE CHORUSand with heel and with knees
MALE CHORUSclicks his tongue, flicks his whip,
throws the brute into mad gallop.
MALE CHORUSImpetuous the powered flanks,
MALE CHORUSand reckless the rider
MALE CHORUSnow the Prince and Arab steed
MALE CHORUSbend as one for both are speed.
MALE CHORUSHear the hoofs punish the earth!
MALE CHORUSMuscles strain, tendons taut,
MALE CHORUStail held high, head thrust back,
MALE CHORUSall's compact, nothing's slack.
See, the horse takes the bit
MALE CHORUSbetween his teeth, now no rein
MALE CHORUScan impede or stop him,
MALE CHORUSyet the Prince still whips him.
MALE CHORUSNow who rides? Who's ridden?
MALE CHORUSTarquinius, the stallion?
MALE CHORUSOr the beast, Tarquinius?
MALE CHORUSIn both blood furious
MALE CHORUSwith desire impetuous
MALE CHORUSburns for its quietus
MALE CHORUSwith speed aflame through sweat and dust
MALE CHORUSthe arrow flies straight as lust.
MALE CHORUSBut here they cannot cross.
Turn back, Tarquinius;
MALE CHORUSdo not tempt the Tiber
MALE CHORUStry to swim this river!
MALE CHORUSStallion rears, hoofs paw the stars
MALE CHORUSthe Prince desires, so he dares!
MALE CHORUSNow stallion and rider
MALE CHORUSwake the sleep of water
MALE CHORUSdisturbing its cool dream
MALE CHORUSwith hot flank and shoulder.
MALE CHORUSTarquinius knows no fear!
MALE CHORUSHe is across! He's heading here!
MALE CHORUSLucretia!
SYSTEMScene II
MALE CHORUS(A room in Lucretia's house in Rome, the same
evening. Front cloth rises, showing the hall of
MALE CHORUSLucretia's home. Lucretia is sewing, while Bianca
MALE CHORUSand Lucia work at their spinning wheels)
FEMALE CHORUSTheir spinning wheel unwinds dreams
FEMALE CHORUSwhich desire has spun!
Turning and turning twisting the shreds
FEMALE CHORUSof their hearts over and over.
LUCRETIATill in one word all is wound.
LUCRETIACollatinus! Collatinus!
LUCRETIAWhenever we are made to part we live
LUCRETIAwithin each other's heart, both waiting, each wanting.
FEMALE CHORUSTheir humming wheel reminds
FEMALE CHORUSage of its loss of youth;
FEMALE CHORUSSpinning and spinning
FEMALE CHORUSteasing the fleece of their time
FEMALE CHORUSrestless, so restless.
BIANCATill like an old ewe I'm shorn
BIANCAOf beauty! of beauty!
BIANCAThough I have never been a mother,
BIANCALucretia is my daughter
BIANCAwhen dreaming, when dreaming.
FEMALE CHORUSTheir restless wheel describes
FEMALE CHORUSwoman's delirium;
Searching and searching
FEMALE CHORUSseeking the threads of their dreams
FEMALE CHORUSfinding and losing.
LUCIATill somebody loves her
LUCIAfrom passion or pity.
LUCIAMeanwhile the chaste
LUCIALucretia gives
LUCIAlife to her Lucia who lives
LUCIAher shadow and echo.
FEMALE CHORUSTheir little wheel revolves, time spins a fragile thread;
turning and turning, they spin and then they are spun,
FEMALE CHORUSendless, so endless
LUCRETIATill our fabric's woven
LUCRETIAand our hearts are broken
LUCRETIAdeath is woman's final lover
LUCRETIAin whose arms we lie forever
LUCRETIAwith our hearts all broken.
Lucretia stops the spinning with a gesture
LUCRETIAListen! I heard a knock. Somebody is at the gate.
LUCRETIALucia, run and see; perhaps it is a messenger.
LUCRETIARun, Lucia!
Lucia runs to the door
Come and sit down again my child;
BIANCAit is far too late for a messenger.
BIANCABesides, you have already had two letters
BIANCAfrom Lord Collatinus today.
LUCRETIAOh, if it were he come home again! These months
LUCRETIAwe spend apart is time thrown in the grave.
LUCRETIAPerhaps the war is won or lost.
LUCRETIAWhat matters if it's finished?
BIANCAMy child, to hope tempts disappointment.
LUCRETIABut did you not hear anything?
Lucia returns
LUCRETIAWho was it?
LUCIAThere was no one there, Madam.
LUCRETIAI was sure I heard something.
BIANCAIt was your heart you heard.
LUCRETIAYes, it runs after him with steady beat like
LUCRETIAa lost child with tireless feet.
BIANCAIt is better to desire and not to have than not to desire
BIANCAat all. Have patience, Madam.
LUCRETIAHow cruel men are to teach us love!
LUCRETIAThey wake us from the sleep of youth into the dream
LUCRETIAof passion, then ride away while we still yearn.
LUCRETIAHow cruel men are to teach us love!
BIANCAMadam is tired, it is getting very late.
LUCIAShall I put these wheels away, Madam?
LUCRETIAYes, and then we'll fold this linen.
Lucia and Bianca begin folding the linen
LUCIAAh!
FEMALE CHORUSTime treads upon the hands of women.
FEMALE CHORUSWhatever happens, they must tidy it away.
FEMALE CHORUSTheir fingers punctuate each day with infinite detail,
FEMALE CHORUSputting this here, that there, and washing all away.
FEMALE CHORUSBefore the marriage they prepare the feast.
FEMALE CHORUSAt birth or death their hands must fold clean linen.
FEMALE CHORUSWhatever their hearts hold, their hands must fold clean
FEMALE CHORUSlinen. Their frail fingers are love's strong vehicle,
FEMALE CHORUSand in their routine is a home designed.
Home is what man leaves to seek.
FEMALE CHORUSWhat is home but women? Time carries men,
FEMALE CHORUSbut time treads upon the tired feet of women.
LUCRETIAHow quiet it is tonight. Even the street is silent.
BIANCAIt is. I can almost hear myself thinking.
LUCRETIAAnd what are you thinking?
BIANCAThat it must be men who make the noise.
Men Chorus stirs uneasily
BIANCAAnd that Madam must be tired and should go to bed
and leave this linen to Lucia and me.
LUCRETIAOh I am not tired enough.
LUCRETIAIt is better to do something than lie awake and worry.
LUCRETIABut let us light the candles and go to bed.
They light candies and prepare to go to bed
FEMALE CHORUSThe oatmeal slippers of sleep
FEMALE CHORUScreep through the city and drag
FEMALE CHORUSthe sable shadows of night
FEMALE CHORUSover the limbs of light.
MALE CHORUSNow still night to sound adds
MALE CHORUSseparate cold echo
MALE CHORUSas hoof strikes hard stone
MALE CHORUSon worn way, road to Rome.
FEMALE CHORUSThe restless river now flows
out with the falling tide.
And petals of stars fall out
FEMALE CHORUSon to its back and float.
MALE CHORUSDogs at heel race and bark,
MALE CHORUSsleeping cocks wake and crow,
MALE CHORUSdrunken whores going home
turn to curse the Prince of Rome.
FEMALE CHORUSThis city busy with dreams
FEMALE CHORUSweaves on the loom of night
a satin curtain which falls
FEMALE CHORUSover its ancient walls.
MALE CHORUSNow he's through the city walls!
MALE CHORUSThe black beast's white with sweat,
MALE CHORUSblood's pouring from its hocks,
MALE CHORUSthe Prince dismounts; and now he...
MALE CHORUS(Knocking. In the following scene the
MALE CHORUScharacters mime the actions described by the
MALE CHORUSMale chorus or Female chorus)
FEMALE CHORUSNone of the women move.
FEMALE CHORUSIt is too late for a messenger,
FEMALE CHORUSthe knock is too loud for a friend.
Loud knock repeated
FEMALE CHORUSLucia runs to the door,
FEMALE CHORUShoping that Apollo's called for her.
FEMALE CHORUSAnxiety's cold hand grips Lucretia's throat.
FEMALE CHORUSShe pales with an unspoken fear.
off
TARQUINIUSOpen, in the name of the Prince of Rome!
FEMALE CHORUSLucia unbolts the door with excited haste.
Tarquinius enters Lucretia's home.
FEMALE CHORUSThe women curtsey.
FEMALE CHORUSHe is Prince of Rome.
MALE CHORUSThe Prince bows over Lucretia's hand.
MALE CHORUSHis unruly eyes run to her breast
MALE CHORUSand there with more thirst than manners rest.
FEMALE CHORUSLucretia asks for the news; whether her Lord Collatinus
FEMALE CHORUSis well, or ill whether the army's put to flight.
FEMALE CHORUSAnd what brings His Highness here with haste at night?
Tarquinius laughs her fears away
MALE CHORUSand asks her for some wine.
FEMALE CHORUSWith much relief she pours it.
MALE CHORUSHe claims Lucretia's hospitality.
MALE CHORUSHe says his horse is lame.
aside
BIANCAWhat brings the Prince Tarquinius
BIANCAhere at this hour of the night?
aside
LUCIAHow can he dare to seek for shelter from Lucretia?
aside
BIANCAOh, where is Lord Collatinus?
BIANCAHe should be here to greet Tarquinius.
BIANCAHis coming threatens danger to us.
FEMALE CHORUSThe Etruscan palace stands only across the city;
FEMALE CHORUSbut etiquette compels what discretion would refuse,
FEMALE CHORUSso Lucretia leads Prince Tarquinius to his chamber,
FEMALE CHORUSand with decorum wishes him...
LUCRETIAGood night, your Highness.
FEMALE CHORUSThen Bianca with that rude politeness
FEMALE CHORUSat which a servant can excel, curtseys and says:
BIANCAGood night, your Highness.
FEMALE CHORUSWhilst Lucia, standing tip-toe in her eyes,
FEMALE CHORUScurtseys lower than the rest,
FEMALE CHORUSand shyly bids the Prince:
LUCIAGood night, your Highness.
MALE CHORUSAnd Tarquinius, with true Etruscan grace,
MALE CHORUSbows over Lucretia's hand, then lifts it with
MALE CHORUSslow deliberation to his lips...
TARQUINIUSGood night, Lucretia.
FEMALE AND MALE CHORUSAnd then all, with due formality,
FEMALE AND MALE CHORUSwish each other a final:
LUCRETIAGood night, your Highness
TARQUINIUSGood night, Lucretia.
(The house curtain slowly falls as the characters
leave the stage and the Choruses pick up their
TARQUINIUSbooks and continue reading)
SYSTEMACT II - SCENE I
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus
TARQUINIUSShe sleeps as a rose upon the night.
TARQUINIUSAnd light as a lily that floats on a lake
TARQUINIUSHer eyelids lie over her dreaming eyes
TARQUINIUSas they rake the shallows and drag the deep
TARQUINIUSfor the sunken treasures of heavy sleep.
TARQUINIUSThus, sleeps Lucretia.
TARQUINIUSMale Chorus
TARQUINIUSWhen Tarquinius desires,
TARQUINIUSthen Tarquinius will dare.
TARQUINIUSThe shadows of the night conspire
TARQUINIUSto blind his conscience and assist desire.
TARQUINIUSPanther agile and panther virile,
TARQUINIUSthe Prince steals through the silent hall.
TARQUINIUSAnd with all the alacrity of thought
TARQUINIUShe crosses the unlit gallery.
TARQUINIUSWhere a bust of Collatinus
TARQUINIUSstares at him with impotent blind eyes.
TARQUINIUSNow he is passing Bianca’ s door.
TARQUINIUSWake up old woman! Warn your mistress!
See how lust hides itself.
TARQUINIUSIt stands like a sentinel,
TARQUINIUSthen moves with stealth.
TARQUINIUSThe pity is that sin has so much grace
TARQUINIUSit moves like virtue. Back Tarquinius!
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus
TARQUINIUSThus sleeps Lucretia...
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSWithin this frail crucible of light
TARQUINIUSlike a chrysalis contained
TARQUINIUSwithin its silk oblivion.
TARQUINIUSHow lucky is this little light,
TARQUINIUSit knows her nakedness
TARQUINIUSand when it’ s extinguished
TARQUINIUSit envelops her as darkness
TARQUINIUSthen lies with her as night.
TARQUINIUSLoveliness like this is never chaste;
TARQUINIUSif not enjoyed, it is just waste!
TARQUINIUSWake up, Lucretia!
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus
TARQUINIUSNo! Sleep and outrace Tarquinius’ horse
TARQUINIUSand be with your Lord Collatinus.
TARQUINIUSSleep on, Lucretia! Sleep on, Lucretia!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSAs blood red rubies
TARQUINIUSset in ebony
TARQUINIUSher lips illumine
TARQUINIUSthe black lake of night.
TARQUINIUSTo wake Lucretia with a kiss
TARQUINIUSwould put Tarquinius asleep awhile.
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus
TARQUINIUSHer lips receive Tarquinius
TARQUINIUSshe dreaming of Collatinus.
And desiring him draws down Tarquinius
TARQUINIUSand wakes to kiss again and...
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSLucretia!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSWhat do you want?
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSYou!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSWhat do you want from me?
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSMe! What do you fear?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSYou!
TARQUINIUSIn the forest of my dreams
TARQUINIUSyou have always been the Tiger.
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSGive me your lips
TARQUINIUSthen let my eyes
TARQUINIUSsee their first element
TARQUINIUSwhich is your eyes.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNo!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSGive me your lips
then let me rise
TARQUINIUSto my first sepulchre,
TARQUINIUSwhich is your thighs.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNo! Never!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSGive me your lips
TARQUINIUSthen let me rest
TARQUINIUSon the oblivion
TARQUINIUSwhich is your breast.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNo!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSGive me!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNo! What you have taken
TARQUINIUSnever can you be given!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSWould you have given?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSHow could I give, Tarquinius,
TARQUINIUSsince I have given to Collatinus,
TARQUINIUSin whom I am, wholly;
TARQUINIUSwith whom I am, only;
TARQUINIUSand without whom I am, lonely?
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSYet the linnet in your eyes
TARQUINIUSlifts with desire,
TARQUINIUSand the cherries of your lips
TARQUINIUSare wet with wanting.
TARQUINIUSCan you deny your blood’ s dumb pleading?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSYes, I deny.
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSThrough April eyes
your young blood sighs;
TARQUINIUSand denies refusal
TARQUINIUSand denial of your lips’ frail lies.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNo, you lie!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSCan you refuse your blood’ s desiring?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSYes, I refuse!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSLucretia!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSI refuse!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSCan you deny?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSI deny!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSYour blood denies!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSYou lie, you lie!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSLucretia!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSOh, my beloved Collatinus,
TARQUINIUSyou have loved so well
TARQUINIUSyou have tuned my body
TARQUINIUSto the chaste note of a silver lute
TARQUINIUSand thus you have made my blood
TARQUINIUSkeep the same measure
TARQUINIUSas your love’ s own purity.
TARQUINIUSFor pity’ s sake, please go!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSLoveliness like this
TARQUINIUScannot be chaste
TARQUINIUSunless all men are blind!
TARQUINIUSToo late, Lucretia, too late!
TARQUINIUSEasier stem the Tiber’ s flood
TARQUINIUSthan to calm my angry blood
TARQUINIUSwhich coursing to the ocean of your eyes
TARQUINIUSrages for the quietus of your thighs.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSIs this the Prince of Rome?
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSI am your Prince!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSPassion’ s a slave and not a Prince!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSThen release me!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSWhat peace can passion find?
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSLucretia! Lucretia!
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSThough I am in your arms I am beyond your reach!
TARQUINIUSMale and Female Chorus
TARQUINIUSGo, Tarquinius!
TARQUINIUSMale Chorus
TARQUINIUSGo, Tarquinius,
TARQUINIUSbefore the cool fruit of her breasts
TARQUINIUSburns your hand
TARQUINIUSand consumes your heart with that fire
TARQUINIUSwhich is only quenched by more desire.
TARQUINIUSGo, Tarquinius! Go!
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus
TARQUINIUSGo, Tarquinius,
TARQUINIUSbefore your nearness
TARQUINIUStempts Lucretia to yield
TARQUINIUSto your strong maleness.
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSBeauty is all in life!
TARQUINIUSIt has the peace of death.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSIf beauty leads to this,
TARQUINIUSbeauty is sin.
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSThough my blood’ s dumb it speaks.
TARQUINIUSThongh my blood’ s blind it finds.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSI am his, not yours.
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSBeauty so pure is cruel.
Throngh your eyes’ tears I weep.
TARQUINIUSFor your lips’ fire I thirst.
TARQUINIUSFor your breast’ s peace I fight.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSLove’ s indivisible, love’ s indivisible!
TARQUINIUSMale and Female Chorus
TARQUINIUSGo! Tarquinius,
TARQUINIUSwhilst passion is still proud
TARQUINIUSand before your lust is spent
TARQUINIUShumbled with heavy shame.
TARQUINIUSIf you do not repent
TARQUINIUStime itself cannot
TARQUINIUSerase this moment from your name.
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSI hold the knife but bleed.
TARQUINIUSThough I have won I’ m lost.
TARQUINIUSGive me my soul again;
TARQUINIUSin your veins’ sleep my rest.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNo!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSGive me my birth again
TARQUINIUSout of your loins of pain!
TARQUINIUSThongh I must give I take.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSFor pity’ s sake, Tarquinius, Go!
TARQUINIUSTarquinius
TARQUINIUSPoised like a dart.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSAt the heart of woman.
TARQUINIUSMale Chorus
TARQUINIUSMan climbs towards his God,
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus
Then falls to his lonely hell.
TARQUINIUSAll
TARQUINIUSSee how the rampant centaur mounts the sky
TARQUINIUSand serves the sun with all its seed of stars.
TARQUINIUSNow the great river underneath the ground
TARQUINIUSflows through Lucretia and Tarquinius is drowned.
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus and Male Chorus
TARQUINIUSHere in this scene you see
TARQUINIUSvirtue assailed by sin
TARQUINIUSwith strength triumphing
TARQUINIUSall this is endless
TARQUINIUSsorrow andpain for Him.
TARQUINIUSNothing impure survives,
TARQUINIUSall passion perishes,
TARQUINIUSvirtue has one desire
TARQUINIUSto let its blood flow
TARQUINIUSback to the wounds of Christ.
TARQUINIUSShe whom the world denies,
TARQUINIUSMary, Mother of God,
TARQUINIUShelp us to lift this sin
TARQUINIUSwhich is our nature
TARQUINIUSand is the Cross to Him.
TARQUINIUSShe whom the world denies
TARQUINIUSMary most chaste and pure,
TARQUINIUShelp us to find your love
TARQUINIUSwhich is His Spirit
TARQUINIUSflowing to us from Him.
SYSTEMACT II - SCENE II
TARQUINIUSLucia, Bianca
TARQUINIUSOh! What a lovely day!
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSLook how the energetic sun
TARQUINIUSdrags the sluggard dawn from bed,
TARQUINIUSand flings the windows wide upon the world.
TARQUINIUSLucia, Bianca
TARQUINIUSOh! What a lovely morning!
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSAnd how light the soft mulberry mist
TARQUINIUSlifts and floats over the silver Tiber.
TARQUINIUSIt’ s going to be hot, unbearably hot,
TARQUINIUSand by evening it will thunder.
TARQUINIUSLucia, Bianca
TARQUINIUSOh! What a lovely day!
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSListen how the larks spill
their song and let it fall
TARQUINIUSover the city like a waterfall.
TARQUINIUSOh! This is the day I’ ve grown to.
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSOur Lady Lucretia is sleeping heavily this
TARQUINIUSlovely morning. Shall I wake her?
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSNo, don’ t disturb her.
TARQUINIUSIt isn’ t often she sleeps so well
TARQUINIUSforever fretting for Collatinus.
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSI often wonder whether Lucretia’ s love
TARQUINIUSis the flower of her beauty,
TARQUINIUSor whether her loveliness
TARQUINIUSis the flower of her love.
TARQUINIUSFor in her both love and beauty
TARQUINIUSare transformed to grace.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSHush! Here she comes.
TARQUINIUSLucia, Bianca
TARQUINIUSGood morning, my lady.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSI hope you had happy dreams.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSIf it were all a dream
TARQUINIUSthen waking would be less a nightmare.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSDid you sleep well?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSAs heavily as death.
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSLook, what a lovely day it is,
TARQUINIUSand see how wonderful are all these flowers.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSYes, what a lovely day it is.
TARQUINIUSAnd how wonderful are all these flowers.
TARQUINIUSYou have arranged them prettily.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSBut we have left his lordship’ s favourite
TARQUINIUSflowers for you to do.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSHow kind of you.
TARQUINIUSwhere are they?
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSHere, my lady.
TARQUINIUSThe most perfect orchids I have ever seen.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSHow hideous!
TARQUINIUSTake them away!
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSBut, my lady, they are such lovely flowers!
TARQUINIUSThese are the orchids you have grown.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSTake them away, I tell you!
TARQUINIUSOh! Monstrous flower!
TARQUINIUSOh! Hideous hour!
TARQUINIUSLucia, go send a messenger to my Lord Collatinus.
TARQUINIUSWhat are you waiting for, girl? Go!
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSWhat message, Madam,
shall I give the messenger
TARQUINIUSto take to Lord Collatinus?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
Give him this orchid.
TARQUINIUSTell him I find its purity apt;
TARQUINIUSand that its petals contain
TARQUINIUSwoman’ s pleasure and woman’ s pain,
TARQUINIUSand all of Lucretia’ s shame.
Give him this orchid
TARQUINIUSand tell him a Roman harlot sent it.
TARQUINIUSAnd tell him to ride straight to her.
TARQUINIUSTelI him to come home. Go!
TARQUINIUSNo! Wait, tell the messenger to take my love.
TARQUINIUSYes, give my love to the messenger,
TARQUINIUSgive my love to the stable boy,
TARQUINIUSand to the coachman, too.
TARQUINIUSAnd hurry, hurry, for all men love
TARQUINIUSthe chaste Lucretia.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSShall I throw the rest away, Madam?
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNo, I will arrange them.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSHere are the flowers.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSFlowers bring to every year
TARQUINIUSthe same perfection;
TARQUINIUSeven their root and leaf keep
TARQUINIUSsolemn vow in pretty detail.
TARQUINIUSFlowers alone are chaste
TARQUINIUSfor their beauty is so brief
TARQUINIUSYears are their love
TARQUINIUSand time’ s their thief.
TARQUINIUSWomen bring to every man
TARQUINIUSthe same defection;
TARQUINIUSeven their love’ s debauched
TARQUINIUSby vanity or flattery.
TARQUINIUSFlowers alone are chaste.
TARQUINIUSLet their pureness show my grief
to hide my shame
TARQUINIUSand be my wreath.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSMy child, you have made a wreath.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSThat is how you taught me as a child
TARQUINIUSto weave the wild flowers together.
TARQUINIUSDo you remember yesterday
TARQUINIUSthat was a hundred years ago?
TARQUINIUSDo you remember?
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSYes, I remember!
TARQUINIUSI remember when her hair
TARQUINIUSfell like a waterfall of night
TARQUINIUSover her white shoulders.
TARQUINIUSAnd when her ivory breasts
TARQUINIUSfirst leaned from her ivory tree.
TARQUINIUSAnd I remember how
TARQUINIUSshe ran down the garden of her eyes
TARQUINIUSto meet Collatinus.
TARQUINIUSYes, I remember, I remember...
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSYou were right. Tarquinius took one of the horses.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSWhat did you tell the messenger?
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSLord Collatinus to come immediately.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSHe must not come. Words can do more harm than good.
TARQUINIUSOnly time can heal. Has the messenger gone?
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSNot yet.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSThen go and stop him. Quick, do as I say.
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSBut Lucretia said...
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSDo as I say, quick! Hurry!
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSSometimes a good servant
TARQUINIUSshould forget an order
TARQUINIUSand royalty should disobey.
TARQUINIUSSometimes a servant
TARQUINIUSknows better than her mistress,
TARQUINIUSwhen she is servant to her heart’ s distress.
TARQUINIUSDid you stop him?
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSIt was too late.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSToo late?
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSLord Collatinus is here.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSCollatinus? Alone?
TARQUINIUSLucia
TARQUINIUSNo, Junius rode with him.
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSOh God, why should he come now?
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSWhere is Lucretia?
TARQUINIUSTell me, where is your Lady Lucretia?
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSShe is well.
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSThen why was the messenger sent to me?
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSNo messenger left here.
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSYou’ re lying.
TARQUINIUSJunius
TARQUINIUSWhere is Lucretia?
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSAsleep. She had a restless night
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSWhy did you not come to greet us at the gate?
TARQUINIUSJunius
TARQUINIUSPerhaps they were frightened that Tarquinius had come back.
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSHas Tarquinius been here?
TARQUINIUSAnswer me!
TARQUINIUSBianca
TARQUINIUSOh, do not ask, my Lord.
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSTarquinius here?
TARQUINIUSJunius
TARQUINIUSLast night I heard him gallop from the camp
TARQUINIUSand I watched for his return, fearing his jealousy
TARQUINIUSof you. He came back at dawn with his horse
TARQUINIUSfoundered, so I came to warn you.
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSToo late, Junius, too late, too late.
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSLucretia! Lucretia!
TARQUINIUSO, never again must we two dare to part.
TARQUINIUSFor we are of one another
TARQUINIUSand between us there is one heart.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSTo love as we loved
TARQUINIUSwas to be never but as moiety;
TARQUINIUSto love as we loved
TARQUINIUSwas to die, daily with anxiety;
TARQUINIUSLucretia, Collatinus
TARQUINIUSto love as we loved was to live, on the edge of tragedy.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSNow there is no sea deep enough
TARQUINIUSto drown my shame;
TARQUINIUSnow there is no earth heavy enough
to hide my shame;
TARQUINIUSnow there is no sun strong enough
TARQUINIUSto lift this shadow;
TARQUINIUSnow there is no night dark enough
to hide this shadow.
TARQUINIUSDear heart, look into my eyes,
TARQUINIUScan you not see the shadow?
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSIn your eyes I see
TARQUINIUSonly the image of eternity
TARQUINIUSand a tear which has no shadow.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
Then turn away, for I must tell
TARQUINIUSthough telling will
turn your tender eyes to stone
TARQUINIUSand rake your heart and bring the bones
TARQUINIUSof grief through the rags of sorrow.
TARQUINIUSLast night Tarquinius ravished me
TARQUINIUSand took his peace from me,
TARQUINIUSand tore the fabric of our love.
TARQUINIUSWhat we had woven
TARQUINIUSTarquinius has broken.
TARQUINIUSWhat I have spoken
TARQUINIUSnever can be forgotten.
TARQUINIUSOh, my love, our love was too rare
TARQUINIUSfor life to tolerate or fate forbear from soiling.
TARQUINIUSFor me this shame, for you this sorrow.
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
TARQUINIUSIf spirit’ s not given, there is no need of shame.
TARQUINIUSLust is all taking – in that there’ s shame.
TARQUINIUSWhat Tarquinius has taken
TARQUINIUScan be forgotten;
TARQUINIUSWhat Lucretia has given
TARQUINIUScan be forgiven.
TARQUINIUSLucretia
TARQUINIUSEven great love’ s too frail
TARQUINIUSto bear the weight of shadows.
TARQUINIUSNow I’ ll be forever chaste,
TARQUINIUSwith only death to ravish me.
TARQUINIUSSee, how my wanton blood
TARQUINIUSwashes my shame away!
TARQUINIUSCollatinus
This dead hand lets fall
TARQUINIUSall that my heart held when full
TARQUINIUSwhen it played like a fountain, prodigal
TARQUINIUSwith love liberal,
TARQUINIUSwasteful.
TARQUINIUSSo brief is beauty.
TARQUINIUSIs this it all? It is all!
TARQUINIUSJunius
TARQUINIUSRomans arise! See what the Etruscans have done!
TARQUINIUSHere lies the chaste Lucretia, dead,
TARQUINIUSand by Tarquinius ravished.
TARQUINIUSNow let her body be
TARQUINIUSborne through our city.
TARQUINIUSDestroyed by beauty
TARQUINIUStheir throne will fall. I will rule!
TARQUINIUSLucia, Bianca
TARQUINIUSShe lived with too much grace to be
TARQUINIUSof our crude humanity.
TARQUINIUSFor even our shame’ s refined
TARQUINIUSby her purity of mind.
TARQUINIUSNow place the wreath about her head
TARQUINIUSand let the sentinels of the dead
TARQUINIUSguard the grave where our Lucretia lies.
TARQUINIUSSo brief is beauty.
TARQUINIUSWhy was it begun? It is done!
TARQUINIUSFemale Chorus
TARQUINIUSBeauty is the hoof of an unbroken filly
TARQUINIUSwhich thundering up to the hazel hedge
TARQUINIUSleaps into the sun,
TARQUINIUSand is gone.
TARQUINIUSSo brief is beauty.
TARQUINIUSWhy was it begun? It is done!
TARQUINIUSMale Chorus
TARQUINIUSThey have no need of life to live;
TARQUINIUSthey have no need of lips to love;
TARQUINIUSthey have no need of death to die
TARQUINIUSin their love all’ s dissolved
TARQUINIUSin their love all’ s resolved.
TARQUINIUSO, what is there but love?
TARQUINIUSLove is the whole. It is all!
TARQUINIUSAll
TARQUINIUSHow is it possible that she
TARQUINIUSbeing so pure should die!
TARQUINIUSHow is it possible that we
TARQUINIUSgrieving for her should live?
TARQUINIUSSo brief is beauty.
TARQUINIUSIs this it all? It is all! It is all!
EPILOGUEFemale Chorus
EPILOGUEIs it all? Is all this suffering and pain
EPILOGUEis this in vain?
EPILOGUEDoes this old world grow old
EPILOGUEin sin alone?
EPILOGUECan we attain nothing
EPILOGUEbut wider oceans of our own tears?
EPILOGUEAnd it, can it gain nothing
EPILOGUEbut drier deserts of forgotten years?
EPILOGUEFor this did I see
EPILOGUEwith my undying eye
EPILOGUEhis warm blood spill upon that hill
EPILOGUEand dry upon that Cross?
EPILOGUEIs this all loss?
EPILOGUEAre we lost?
EPILOGUEAnswer us
EPILOGUEor let us die
EPILOGUEin our wilderness.
EPILOGUEIs it all?
EPILOGUEIs this it all?
EPILOGUEMale Chorus
EPILOGUEIt is not all.
EPILOGUEThough our nature’ s still as frail
and we still fall
EPILOGUEand that great crowd’ s no less
EPILOGUEAlong that road
EPILOGUEendless and uphill;
EPILOGUEfor now
He bears our sin and does not fall
EPILOGUEand He, carrying all
turns round stoned with our doubt
EPILOGUEand then forgives us all.
EPILOGUEFor us did He live with such humility;
EPILOGUEFor us did He die
EPILOGUEthat we might live, and He forgive
EPILOGUEwounds that we make
EPILOGUEand scars that we are.
EPILOGUEIn His Passion is our hope
EPILOGUEJesus Christ, Saviour.
EPILOGUEHe is all! He is all!
EPILOGUEMale and Female Chorus
EPILOGUESince Time commenced or Life began
EPILOGUEgreat Love has been defiled by Fate or Man.
EPILOGUENow with worn words
EPILOGUEand these brief notes we try
EPILOGUEto harness song to human tragedy.