The Rape of Lucretia Libretto

ACT I
Scene I
(The generals' tent in the camp outside Rome.
House curtain rises showing Male Chorus and
Female Chorus, reading rom !oo"s#
MA$% CH&R'S
Rome is now ruled !( the %truscan upstart)
Tar*uinius Super!us, the proud, +ing.
,ut once ser-ant to the late monarch ser-ius.
How did Tar*uinius reach the throne.
,( ma"ing his own -irtues and his will !end
to the purpose o determined e-il.
In *uiet humilit( he !id his pride/ and running to agree
with e-er( action di-ided the Roman court till each
part sought him as an all(/ and those he murdered,
He would mourn as though a riend had died.
I piet( impeded him, he'd pra( with it/ i greed,
he'd !ri!e it/ and alwa(s he'd pa( his wa( with the
prodigious li!eralit( o sel0coined o!se*uious latter(.
So he clim!ed and married the "ing's own daughter
whom he murdered/ then married her sister, the
sel0see"ing, sel0appointed widow who'd poisoned
her irst hus!and, the heir.
&nce 1oined in hol( wedloc" the( throttled the "ing/
and now rule Rome !( orce
and go-ern !( sheer terror.
2hilst their son, Tar*uinius Se3tus o whom (ou
shall hear, leads Roman (outh to %truscan war and
treats the proud cit( as i it were his whore.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
It is an a3iom among "ings,
to use a oreign threat to hide a local e-il.
So here the grum!ling Romans march rom Rome
to ight the 4ree"s who also march rom home.
,oth armies retting under their own generals.
(Female Chorus closes her !oo"#
How slowl( time here mo-es towards the date/
This Rome has still i-e hundred (ears to wait
!eore Christ's !irth and death rom which
time led to (ou with hands across its e(es.
,ut here other wounds are made, (et still his
!lood is shed.
MA$% A56 F%MA$% CH&R'S
2hile we as two o!ser-ers stand !etween
This present audience and that scene.
2e'll -iew these human passions and these (ears
through e(es which once ha-e wept with
Christ's own tears.
(Front cloth rises. The scene is a camp outside
Rome, with the generals' tent in oreground#
MA$% CH&R'S
Here the thirst( e-ening has drun" the wine o light.
Sated, the sun alls through the hori7on,
the air sits on their !ac"s li"e a hea-( !ear.
&nl( the noise o cric"ets alle-iates
the weight o this silent e-ening.
Horses sensing thunder stamp in their sta!les
!ull0rogs !rag on their persistent note,
centurions curse their men,
the men curse their luc",
as the( loo" towards Rome's distant lights,
which, !ent in the Ti!er, !ec"on through the night.
(The tent is opened rom the inside. Collatinus,
8unius and Tar*uinius are seated, drin"ing#
C&$$ATI5'S
2ho reaches hea-en irst is the !est philosopher.
,acchus 1umps there with a cup,
reason clim!s there later.
C&$$ATI5'S, 8'5I'S, TAR9'I5I'S
(in the tent#
&h, the onl( cup worth illing is this: Is this:
MA$% CH&R'S
The( drin" or their time is lowing with the night,
and lie is dar" e3cept where wine sheds light.
,ut the oicers are not generall( drun" so earl(.
8'5I'S
2ho reaches hea-en last
is the worst philosopher.
$ogic limps there on a rule,
Cupid lies there sooner.
C&$$ATI5'S, 8'5I'S, TAR9'I5I'S
&h, the onl( girl worth ha-ing is wine:
Is wine: Is wine:
MA$% CH&R'S
The night is weeping with its tears o stars
!ut these men laugh
For what is sad is oll(.
And so the( drin" to drown their melanchol(.
TAR9'I5I'S
2ho drowns in women's e(es and then drin"s lips
o pleasure suc"s all hea-en in a "iss, then thirsts
in hell or e-er:
C&$$ATI5'S, 8'5I'S, TAR9'I5I'S
&h, the onl( wine worth ha-ing is lo-e:
Is lo-e: Is lo-e:
8'5I'S
$o-e, li"e wine, spills easil( as !lood...
TAR9'I5I'S
And hus!ands are the !ro"en !ottles.
MA$% CH&R'S
$ast night some generals rode !ac" to Rome
to see i their wi-es sta(ed chaste at home.
8'5I'S
Maria was unmas"ed at a mas"ed !all.
TAR9'I5I'S
Celia was not ound at all,
Fla-ius is still searching or her:
8'5I'S
And Ma3imus ound his wie 6onata
had !een ser-ed !( some Sicilian actor:
TAR9'I5I'S
Sophia's sil-er chastit( !elt was worn
!( her coachman as a collar:
8'5I'S
There $eda la( ater a midnight !out,
too drun" to gi-e a clear account.
TAR9'I5I'S
;atricia la( na"ed with a negro.
She told 8unius she'd !een ha-ing massage:
C&$$ATI5'S
<ou were ools to go at all:
Fools to set the honour
o (our wi-es against a drun"en !et:
I warned (ou not to go.
TAR9'I5I'S
2h( should (ou complain.
2e ound $ucretia sae at home.
8'5I'S
The onl( wie who stood the test.
TAR9'I5I'S
And Collatinus has won the !et.
And 8unius is a cuc"old a cuc"old's a coc"
without a crow and 8unius is a cuc"old:
8'5I'S
(angril(#
So are (ou, too, Tar*uinius since (ou ha-e made
the whole o Rome (our !rothel.
M( wie's untrue, !ut so is (ours.
For (ou unmarried can onl( "now
the constanc( o whores.
TAR9'I5I'S
(rising#
<ou orget I am the ;rince o Rome:
8'5I'S
,ut I at least am Roman:
TAR9'I5I'S
2ith a negro deput( in !ed,
it's !etter to !e %truscan:
(The( !rawl#
8'5I'S
Spendthrit:
TAR9'I5I'S
'surer:
8'5I'S
$echer:
TAR9'I5I'S
%unuch:
8'5I'S
Clim!er:
TAR9'I5I'S
'pstart:
8'5I'S
Ra"e:
TAR9'I5I'S
Rat:
8'5I'S
<ou (oung sot:
TAR9'I5I'S
<ou old man:
8'5I'S
$ewd licentious lout:
TAR9'I5I'S
;agan d(speptic pig:
8'5I'S
Ram reared:
TAR9'I5I'S
2ol weaned:
C&$$ATI5'S
(parting them#
;eace: ;eace:
Sa-e (our swords till we meet the 4ree"s.
$et us drin", ;rince Tar*uinius, a toast:
TAR9'I5I'S
To the chaste $ucretia:
To the lo-el( $ucretia:
C&$$ATI5'S, 8'5I'S, TAR9'I5I'S
$ucretia:
(8unius rushes rom the tent, closing the lap
!ehind him#
8'5I'S
$ucretia: $ucretia:
I'm sic" o that name.
Her -irtue is the measure o m( shame.
5ow all o Rome will laugh at me,
or what is worse will pit( me.
MA$% CH&R'S
&h, it is plain that nothing pleases (our riends so
much as (our dishonour, or now the( can indulge
in chatter and patronise (ou with their patter, and
i !( chance (ou lose (our temper, the( sa( the(
tease in all good humour.
8'5I'S
Tomorrow the cit( urchins will sing m( name to school
and call each other =8unius= instead o =Fool=.
Collatinus will gain m( ame with the Roman mo!,
not !ecause o !attles he has won !ut !ecause
$ucretia's chaste and the Romans !eing wanton
worship chastit(. $ucretia:
MA$% CH&R'S
Collatinus is politicall( astute
to choose a -irtuous wie.
Collatinus shines !righter rom $ucretia's ame.
Collatinus is luc"(, -er( luc"(...
&h, m( 4od with what agilit( does 1ealous( 1ump
into a small heart, and it till it ills it, then !rea"s
8'5I'S
(with -enom#
$ucretia:...
C&$$ATI5'S
(%nter rom tent#
How !itter o (ou,
how -enomous to -ent (our rage on her:
2h( !e so -icious wh( so 1ealous.
<ou're !linded !( grie at ;atricia's unaithulness.
8'5I'S
The wound in m( heart, Collatinus,
will dri-e me to despair.
I as" (our orgi-eness or !eing malicious
when (ou are so proud o $ucretia's -irtue
(aside#
&r good luc":
(Collatinus oers 8unius his hand#
C&$$ATI5'S
6ear riend:
8'5I'S
Collatinus:
(The( em!race#
C&$$ATI5'S
Those who lo-e create etters which li!erate.
Those who lo-e destro( their solitude.
Their lo-e is onl( 1o( those who lo-e deeat time,
which is death's deceit.
Those who lo-e de( death's slow re-enge.
Their lo-e is all despair.
(Tar*uinius reels out o the tent#
TAR9'I5I'S
&h, the onl( girl worth ha-ing is wine:
Is wine: Is wine:
And 8unius is a...
C&$$ATI5'S
(stopping him#
%nough, Tar*uinius:
TAR9'I5I'S
A cuc"old, a cuc"old, a cuc"old:
8'5I'S
For 4od's sa"e, stop:
C&$$ATI5'S
<ou disgrace (our ran" !( !rawling li"e
a common peasant.
8'5I'S
He's drun".
C&$$ATI5'S
That's enough, 8unius: $ea-e *uarrelling to those
with less important tas"s ahead.
8'5I'S
I'm read( to orget.
4i-e me (our hand, Tar*uinius.
C&$$ATI5'S
2ith (ou two arm in arm again, Rome can sleep secure.
4ood night:
(Collatinus goes o towards his tent#
TAR9'I5I'S
4ood night:
8'5I'S
4ood night:
TAR9'I5I'S
There goes a happ( man:
8'5I'S
There goes a luc"( man:
TAR9'I5I'S
His ortune is worth more than m( %truscan crown.
8'5I'S
,ut he is su!1ect to (our crown:
TAR9'I5I'S
And I am su!1ect to $ucretia.
8'5I'S
2hat ma"es the 5u!ian distur! his hea-( mountain.
2h( does he ra-ish the roc"'s austerit(
and powder it to dust to ind its secret lust
till in his hand he holds the cruel 1ewel.
Is this all his hands were see"ing.
TAR9'I5I'S
2hat dri-es the Roman !e(ond his ri-er Ti!er.
2h( do %g(ptians dare the shar"'s erocit(
and gro-el in the deep to ra"e its dream
o sleep till to his 9ueen he gi-es the ro(al pearl.
Is this what his e(es were
TAR9'I5I'S, 8'5I'S
I men were honest the( would all admit
that all their lie was one long search.
A pilgrimage to a pair o e(es,
in which there lies a relection greater
than the a perection which is lo-e's !rie
8'5I'S
It seems we agree.
TAR9'I5I'S
,ut are not o the same opinion:
8'5I'S
2hat do (ou mean.
TAR9'I5I'S
I am honest and admit as a woman's m( !eginning,
woman's the end I'm see"ing.
8'5I'S
2ell....
TAR9'I5I'S
,ut as am!ition is (our !eginning,
power's the end (ou're see"ing.
8'5I'S
That's not true: ,ut don't let's *uarrel.
2e're !oth unortunate)
I, with m( unruitul, aithless wie, (ou...
TAR9'I5I'S
2ith m( !arren !e-( o listless whores.
&h, I am tired o willing women:
It's all ha!it with no diicult( or achie-ement to it.
8'5I'S
,ut Collatinus has $ucretia...
TAR9'I5I'S
,ut $ucretia's -irtuous.
8'5I'S
>irtue in women is a lac" o opportunit(.
TAR9'I5I'S
$ucretia's chaste as she is !eautiul.
8'5I'S
2omen are chaste when the( are not tempted.
$ucretia's !eautiul !ut she's not chaste.
2omen are all whores !( nature.
TAR9'I5I'S
5o, not $ucretia:
8'5I'S
2hat....
Alread( 1ealous o her honour.
Men deend a woman's honour
when the( would la( siege to it themsel-es.
TAR9'I5I'S
I'll pro-e $ucretia chaste.
8'5I'S
5o, that (ou will not dare: That (ou will not dare...
4ood night, Tar*uinius.
(8unius goes o to his tent/ Tar*uinius paces
slowl( up and down#
MA$% CH&R'S
Tar*uinius does not dare,
when Tar*uinius does not desire/
!ut I am the ;rince o Rome
and $ucretia's e(es m( %mpire.
It is not ar to Rome...
&h, go to !ed, Tar*uinius...
The lights o Rome are !ec"oning...
The cit( sleeps. Collatinus sleeps.
$ucretia: $ucretia:
TAR9'I5I'S
M( horse: M( horse:
(Front cloth alls as Tar*uinius goes o with
sudden resolution#
Interlude
MA$% CH&R'S
Tar*uinius does not wait
or his ser-ant to wa"e,
or his groom to saddle/
he snatches a !ridle
and orcing the iron !it
through the !east's !ared white teeth,
runs him out o the sta!le
mounts without cur! or saddle
the stallion's short straight !ac"
and with heel and with "nees
clic"s his tongue, lic"s his whip,
throws the !rute into mad gallop.
Impetuous the powered lan"s,
and rec"less the rider
now the ;rince and Ara! steed
!end as one or !oth are speed.
Hear the hoos punish the earth:
Muscles strain, tendons taut,
tail held high, head thrust !ac",
all's compact, nothing's slac".
See, the horse ta"es the !it
!etween his teeth, now no rein
can impede or stop him,
(et the ;rince still whips him.
5ow who rides. 2ho's ridden.
Tar*uinius, the stallion.
&r the !east, Tar*uinius.
In !oth !lood urious
with desire impetuous
!urns or its *uietus
with speed alame through sweat and dust
the arrow lies straight as lust.
,ut here the( cannot cross.
Turn !ac", Tar*uinius/
do not tempt the Ti!er
tr( to swim this ri-er:
Stallion rears, hoos paw the stars
the ;rince desires, so he dares:
5ow stallion and rider
wa"e the sleep o water
distur!ing its cool dream
with hot lan" and shoulder.
Tar*uinius "nows no ear:
He is across: He's heading here:
$ucretia:
Scene II
(A room in $ucretia's house in Rome, the same
e-ening. Front cloth rises, showing the hall o
$ucretia's home. $ucretia is sewing, while ,ianca
and $ucia wor" at their spinning wheels#
F%MA$% CH&R'S
Their spinning wheel unwinds dreams
which desire has spun:
Turning and turning twisting the shreds
o their hearts o-er and o-er.
$'CR%TIA
Till in one word all is wound.
Collatinus: Collatinus:
2hene-er we are made to part we li-e
within each other's heart, !oth waiting, each wanting.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
Their humming wheel reminds
age o its loss o (outh/
Spinning and spinning
teasing the leece o their time
restless, so restless.
,IA5CA
Till li"e an old ewe I'm shorn
& !eaut(: o !eaut(:
Though I ha-e ne-er !een a mother,
$ucretia is m( daughter
when dreaming, when dreaming.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
Their restless wheel descri!es
woman's delirium/
Searching and searching
see"ing the threads o their dreams
inding and losing.
$'CIA
Till some!od( lo-es her
rom passion or pit(.
Meanwhile the chaste
$ucretia gi-es
lie to her $ucia who li-es
her shadow and echo.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
Their little wheel re-ol-es, time spins a ragile thread/
turning and turning, the( spin and then the( are spun,
endless, so endless
$'CR%TIA, ,IA5CA, $'CIA
Till our a!ric's wo-en
and our hearts are !ro"en
death is woman's inal lo-er
in whose arms we lie ore-er
with our hearts all !ro"en.
($ucretia stops the spinning with a gesture#
$'CR%TIA
$isten: I heard a "noc". Some!od( is at the gate.
$ucia, run and see/ perhaps it is a messenger.
Run, $ucia:
($ucia runs to the door#
,IA5CA
Come and sit down again m( child/
it is ar too late or a messenger.
,esides, (ou ha-e alread( had two letters
rom $ord Collatinus toda(.
$'CR%TIA
&h, i it were he come home again: These months
we spend apart is time thrown in the gra-e.
;erhaps the war is won or lost.
2hat matters i it's inished.
,IA5CA
M( child, to hope tempts disappointment.
$'CR%TIA
,ut did (ou not hear an(thing.
($ucia returns#
2ho was it.
$'CIA
There was no one there, Madam.
$'CR%TIA
I was sure I heard something.
,IA5CA
It was (our heart (ou heard.
$'CR%TIA
<es, it runs ater him with stead( !eat li"e
a lost child with tireless eet.
,IA5CA
It is !etter to desire and not to ha-e than not to desire
at all. Ha-e patience, Madam.
$'CR%TIA
How cruel men are to teach us lo-e:
The( wa"e us rom the sleep o (outh into the dream
o passion, then ride awa( while we still (earn.
How cruel men are to teach us lo-e:
,IA5CA
Madam is tired, it is getting -er( late.
$'CIA
Shall I put these wheels awa(, Madam.
$'CR%TIA
<es, and then we'll old this linen.
($ucia and ,ianca !egin olding the linen#
$'CIA, ,IA5CA
Ah:
F%MA$% CH&R'S
Time treads upon the hands o women.
2hate-er happens, the( must tid( it awa(.
Their ingers punctuate each da( with ininite detail,
putting this here, that there, and washing all awa(.
,eore the marriage the( prepare the east.
At !irth or death their hands must old clean linen.
2hate-er their hearts hold, their hands must old clean
linen. Their rail ingers are lo-e's strong -ehicle,
and in their routine is a home designed.
Home is what man lea-es to see".
2hat is home !ut women. Time carries men,
!ut time treads upon the tired eet o women.
$'CR%TIA
How *uiet it is tonight. %-en the street is silent.
,IA5CA
It is. I can almost hear m(sel thin"ing.
$'CR%TIA
And what are (ou thin"ing.
,IA5CA
That it must !e men who ma"e the noise.
(Men Chorus stirs uneasil(#
And that Madam must !e tired and should go to !ed
and lea-e this linen to $ucia and me.
$'CR%TIA
&h I am not tired enough.
It is !etter to do something than lie awa"e and worr(.
,ut let us light the candles and go to !ed.
(The( light candies and prepare to go to !ed#
F%MA$% CH&R'S
The oatmeal slippers o sleep
creep through the cit( and drag
the sa!le shadows o night
o-er the lim!s o light.
MA$% CH&R'S
5ow still night to sound adds
separate cold echo
as hoo stri"es hard stone
on worn wa(, road to Rome.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
The restless ri-er now lows
out with the alling tide.
And petals o stars all out
on to its !ac" and loat.
MA$% CH&R'S
6ogs at heel race and !ar",
sleeping coc"s wa"e and crow,
drun"en whores going home
turn to curse the ;rince o Rome.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
This cit( !us( with dreams
wea-es on the loom o night
a satin curtain which alls
o-er its ancient walls.
MA$% CH&R'S
5ow he's through the cit( walls:
The !lac" !east's white with sweat,
!lood's pouring rom its hoc"s,
the ;rince dismounts/ and now he...
(+noc"ing. In the ollowing scene the
characters mime the actions descri!ed !( the
Male chorus or Female chorus#
F%MA$% CH&R'S
5one o the women mo-e.
It is too late or a messenger,
the "noc" is too loud or a riend.
($oud "noc" repeated#
$ucia runs to the door,
hoping that Apollo's called or her.
An3iet('s cold hand grips $ucretia's throat.
She pales with an unspo"en ear.
TAR9'I5I'S
(o#
&pen, in the name o the ;rince o Rome:
F%MA$% CH&R'S
$ucia un!olts the door with e3cited haste.
MA$% CH&R'S
Tar*uinius enters $ucretia's home.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
The women curtse(.
He is ;rince o Rome.
MA$% CH&R'S
The ;rince !ows o-er $ucretia's hand.
His unrul( e(es run to her !reast
and there with more thirst than manners rest.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
$ucretia as"s or the news/ whether her $ord Collatinus
is well, or ill whether the arm('s put to light.
And what !rings His Highness here with haste at night.
MA$% CH&R'S
Tar*uinius laughs her ears awa(
and as"s her or some wine.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
2ith much relie she pours it.
MA$% CH&R'S
He claims $ucretia's hospitalit(.
He sa(s his horse is lame.
,IA5CA
(aside#
2hat !rings the ;rince Tar*uinius
here at this hour o the night.
$'CIA
(aside#
How can he dare to see" or shelter rom $ucretia.
,IA5CA
(aside#
&h, where is $ord Collatinus.
He should !e here to greet Tar*uinius.
His coming threatens danger to us.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
The %truscan palace stands onl( across the cit(/
!ut eti*uette compels what discretion would reuse,
so $ucretia leads ;rince Tar*uinius to his cham!er,
and with decorum wishes him...
$'CR%TIA
4ood night, (our Highness.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
Then ,ianca with that rude politeness
at which a ser-ant can e3cel, curtse(s and sa(s)
,IA5CA
4ood night, (our Highness.
F%MA$% CH&R'S
2hilst $ucia, standing tip0toe in her e(es,
curtse(s lower than the rest,
and sh(l( !ids the ;rince)
$'CIA
4ood night, (our Highness.
MA$% CH&R'S
And Tar*uinius, with true %truscan grace,
!ows o-er $ucretia's hand, then lits it with
slow deli!eration to his lips...
TAR9'I5I'S
4ood night, $ucretia.
F%MA$% A56 MA$% CH&R'S
And then all, with due ormalit(,
wish each other a inal)
$'CR%TIA, $'CIA, ,IA5CA
4ood night, (our Highness
TAR9'I5I'S
4ood night, $ucretia.
(The house curtain slowl( alls as the characters
lea-e the stage and the Choruses pic" up their
!oo"s and continue reading#