To conquer more,
My daughter obedient to your least caprice
Will, if you please...
Nicklausse (aside).
Pass to other exercises.
Spalanzani.
Sing to a grand air, following with the voice,
Rare talent
The clavichord, the guitar,
Or the harp, at your choice!
Cochenille (at the rear).
The harp!
Bass Voice (in the wings).
The harp!
Spalanzani.
Very good, Cochenille!
Go quickly and bring my daughter’s harp!
(Cochenille exits).
Hoffman (aside).
I shall hear her... oh joy!
Nicklausse (aside).
Oh, crazy passion!
Spalanzani (to Olympia).
Master your emotion, my child!
Olympia.
Yes.
Cochenille (bringing the harp).
There!
Spalanzani (sitting beside Olympia).
Gentlemen, attention!
Cochenille.
Attention!
The Chorus.
Attention!
Olympia (accompanied by Spalanzani).
The birds in the bushes.
In the heavens the orb of day,
All speaks to the young girl
Of love, of love!
There!
The pretty song,
There!
The song of Olympia,
Ha!
The Chorus.
’Tis the song of Olympia!
Olympia.
All that sings and resounds
Has its sighs in turn,
Moves its heart that trembles
With love.
There.
The little song,
There, there,
The song of Olympia,
Ha!
Chorus.
’Tis the song of Olympia.
Hoffman (to Nicklausse).
Ah, my friend, what an accent.
Nicklausse.
What runs!
(Cochenille has taken the harp and all surround Olympia. A servant speaks
to Spalanzani).
Come gentlemen! your arm to the ladies.
Supper awaits you!
The Chorus.
Supper! That’s good...
Spalanzani.
Unless you would prefer
To dance first.
The Chorus (with energy).
No! no! the supper... good thing...
After we’ll dance.
Spalanzani.
As you please...
Hoffman (approaching Olympia).
Might I dare...
Spalanzani (interrupting).
She is a bit tired,
Wait for the ball.
(He touches Olympia’s shoulder.)
Olympia.
Yes.
Spalanzani.
You see. Until then
Will you do me the favor
To keep company with my Olympia?
Hoffman.
Oh happiness!
Spalanzani (aside, laughing).
We’ll see what kind a story he’ll give her.
Nicklausse (to Spalanzani).
Won’t she take supper?
Spalanzani.
No.
Nicklausse (aside).
Poetic soul!
(Spalanzani goes behind Olympia. Noise of a spring is heard. Nicklausse
turns around.)
What did you say?
Spalanzani.
Nothing, physics! ah, monsieur, physics!
(He conducts Olympia to a chair. Goes out with guests).
Cochenille.
The supper awaits you.
The Chorus.
Supper, supper, supper awaits us!
No, really, no host
Receives more richly!
(They go out.)
Hoffman.
They are at last gone. Ah, I breathe!
Alone, alone, the two of us (approaching Olympia);
I have so many things to say,
Oh my Olympia! Let me admire you!
With your charming looks let me intoxicate myself.
(He touches her shoulder).
Olympia.
Yes.
Hoffman.
Is it not a dream born of fever?
I thought I heard a sigh escape your lips!
(He again touches her shoulder).
Olympia.
Yes.
Hoffman.
Sweet avowal, pledge of our love,
You are mine, our hearts are united forever!
Ah! understand you, tell me, this eternal joy
Of silent hearts.
Living, with but one soul and with same stroke of wing,
Rush up to heaven!
Let, let, my flame
Show you the light of day!
Let your soul open
To the rays of love.
(He presses Olympia’s hand. She rises and walks up and down, then
exits.)
You escape me?... What have I done.
You do not answer?...
Speak! Have I wounded you? Ah!
I’ll follow your steps!
(As Hoffmann is about to rush out Nicklausse appears.)
Nicklausse.
Here, by Jove, moderate your zeal!
Do you want us to drink without you?...
Hoffman (half crazy).
Nicklausse, I am beloved by her.
Loved! By all the gods.
Nicklausse.
By my faith
If you knew what they are saying of your beauty!
Hoffman.
What can they say? What?
Nicklausse.
That she is dead.
Hoffman.
Great Heavens!
Nicklausse.
Or is not of this life.
Hoffman (exalted).
Nicklausse! I am beloved by her!
Loved! By all the gods.
Coppélius (entering, furious).
Thief! brigand! what a tumble!
Elias is bankrupt!
But I shall find the opportunity
To revenge myself... Robbed!... Me!
I’ll kill somebody.
(Coppelius slips into Olympia’s room.)
(Everybody enters.)
Spalanzani.
Here come the waltzers.
Cochenille.
Here comes the round dance.
Hoffman.
’Tis the waltz that calls us.
Spalanzani (to Olympia).
Take the hand of the gentleman, my child.
(Touching her shoulder.)
Come.
Olympia.
Yes.
(Hoffman takes Olympia and they waltz. They disappear on left.)
Chorus.
She dances!
In cadence.
’Tis marvelous,
Prodigious,
Room, room,
She passes
Through the air
Like lightning.
The Voice of Hoffman (outside).
Olympia!
Spalanzani.
Stop them!
The Chorus.
Who of us will do it?
Nicklausse.
She will break his head.
(Hoffman and Olympia re-appear. Nicklausse rushes to stop them.)
A thousand devils!
(He is violently struck and falls in an arm chair.)
The Chorus.
Patatra!...
Spalanzani (jumping in).
Halt!
(He touches Olympia on the shoulder. She stops suddenly. Hoffman,
exhausted, falls on a sofa).
There!
(To Olympia) Enough, enough, my child.
Olympia.
Yes.
Spalanzani.
No more waltzing.
Olympia.
Yes.
Spalanzani (to Cochenille).
You, Cochenille,
Take her back.
(He touches Olympia.)
Cochenille (pushing Olympia).
Go on, Go!
Olympia.
Yes.
(Going out, slowly, pushed by Cochenille.)
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
The Chorus.
What can we possibly say?
’Tis an exquisite girl,
She wants in nothing,
She does very well!
Nicklausse (dolorous voice, pointing to Hoffman).
Is he dead?
Spalanzani (examining Hoffman).
No! in fact
His eye glass is broken.
He is reviving.
The Chorus.
Poor young man!
Cochenille (outside).
Ah!
(He enters, very agitated.)
Spalanzani.
What?
Cochenille.
The man with the glasses... there!
Spalanzani.
Mercy! Olympia!...
Hoffman.
Olympia!...
(Sound of breaking springs with much noise).
Spalanzani.
Ah, heaven and earth, she is broken!
Hoffman.
Broken!
Coppélius (entering).
Ha, ha, ha, ha, yes. Smashed!
(Hoffman rushes out. Spalanzani and Coppélius go at each other,
fighting.)
Spalanzani.
Rascal!
Coppélius.
Robber!
Spalanzani.
Brigand!
Coppélius.
Pagan!
Spalanzani.
Bandit!
Coppélius.
Pirate!
Hoffman (pale and terror stricken).
An automaton, an automaton.
(He falls into an armchair. General laughter.)
The Chorus.
Ha, ha, ha, the bomb has burst,
He loved an automaton.
Spalanzani (despairingly).
My automaton.
All.
An automaton,
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Act III.
(In Venice. A gallery, in festival attire, in a palace on the Grand
Canal.)
(The guests of Giulietta are grouped about on
cushions.)
Barcarole.
Giulietta and Nicklausse (in the wings).
Oh soft night, oh night of love,
Smile on our bliss serene,
All the stars that shine above
Surround the heaven’s queen!
Time it flies without return,
Forgetting our tenderness!
Far from thee I’ll ever burn,
In lonely strait and stress.
Passioned zephyrs
Waft your caresses,
Passioned zephyrs
Soft are your kisses.
O soft night, oh night of love,
Smile on our bliss serene;
All the stars that shine above
Surround the heaven’s queen.
(Giulietta and Nicklausse enter.)
Hoffman.
For me, by Jove, that is not what’s enchanting!
At the feet of the beauty who gives us joy
Does pleasure sigh?
No, with laughing mouth no sorrows ’ere descanting.
Bacchic Song.
Friends... love tender with terror,
Error!
Love in noise and wine!
Divine
That a burning desire
Your heart enflames
In the fevers of pleasure
Consume your soul!
Transports of love,
Last a day
To the devil he who weeps
For two soft eyes,
To us the better bliss
Of joyous cries!
Let’s live a day
In heaven.
The Chorus.
To the devil whoever weeps
For two soft eyes!
To us the better bliss
Of joyous song
We’ll live a day
In Heaven!
Hoffman.
The sky lends you its brightness,
Beauty,
But you hide in hearts of steel,
Hell!
Bliss of paradise
Where love meets,
Oaths, cursed spirits,
Dreams of life!
Oh chastity,
Oh purity,
Lies!
The Chorus.
To the devil those who weep,
etc., etc.
Schlemil (entering).
I see all is joy. Congratulations, madame.
Guilietta.
What! Why, I’ve wept for you three whole days.
Pitichinaccio.
Good.
Schlemil (to Pitichinaccio).
Microbe!
Pitichinaccio.
Hola!
Giulietta.
Calm yourselves!
We have a strange poet among us.
(Presenting) Hoffman!
Schlemil (with bad grace).
Monsieur!
Hoffman.
Monsieur!
Giulietta (to Schlemil).
Smile on us, I beg,
And come take your place
At pharaoh!
The Chorus.
Bravo! To pharaoh!
(Giulietta after having invited all to follow her, goes toward door.
Hoffman offers his hand to Giulietta. Schlemil comes between.)
Schlemil (taking Giulietta’s hand).
By heavens!
Giuletta.
To the game, gentlemen, to the game!
The Chorus.
To the game, the game!
(All go out except Hoffman and Nicklausse.)
Nicklausse.
One word! I have two horses saddled. At the first dream
That Hoffman permits himself, I carry him off.
Hoffman.
And what dream ever could be born
By such realities?
Does one love a courtezan?
Nicklausse.
Yet this Schlemil...
Hoffman.
I am not Schlemil.
Nicklausse.
Take care, the devil is clever.
Dapertutto (appears at back).
Hoffman.
Were it so,
If he makes me love her, may he damn me,
Come!
Nicklausse.
Let us go.
(They go out.)
Dapertutto (alone).
Yes!... to fight you.
The eyes of Giulietta are a sure weapon,
It needed that Schlemil fail,
Faith of captain and soldier,
You’ll do like him.
I will that Giulietta shall use sorcery on you.
(Drawing from his finger a ring with a big sparkling diamond.)
Turn, turn, mirror, where the lark is caught,
Sparkle diamond, fascinate, draw her...
The lark or the woman
Comes with wing or with heart;
One leaves her life, the other her soul.
Turn, turn, mirror where the lark is caught.
Sparkle, diamond, fascinate, attract her.
(Giulietta appears and advances fascinated toward the diamond that
Dapertutto holds towards her.)
Dapertutto (placing the ring on Giulietta’s
finger).
Giulietta.
What do you await from your servant?
Dapertutto.
Good, you have divined
At seducing hearts above all others wise,
You have given me
The shade of Schlemil! I vary
My pleasures and I pray you
To get for me to-day
The reflection of Hoffman!
Giulietta.
What! his reflection.
Dapertutto.
Yes.
His reflection! You doubt
The power of your eyes?
Giulietta.
No.
Dapertutto.
Who knows. Your Hoffman dreams, perhaps better.
(Severely) Yes, I was there, a while back,
listening.
(With irony) He defies you...
Giulietta.
Hoffman? ’tis well!... From this day
I’ll make him my plaything.
(Hoffman enters.)
Dapertutto.
’Tis he!
(Dapertutto goes out. Hoffman intends to do the same.)
Giulietta (to Hoffman).
You leave me.
Hoffman (mockingly).
I have lost everything.
Giulietta.
What? you too...
Ah, you do me wrong.
Without pity, without mercy,
Go!... Go!...
Hoffman.
Your tears betrayed you.
Ah! I love you... even at the price of my life.
Giulietta.
Ah, unfortunate, but you do not know
That an hour, a moment, may prove fatal?
That my love will cost your life if you remain?
That Schlemil, this night, may strike you in my arms?
Listen to my prayer;
My life is wholly yours.
Everywhere I promise to accompany your steps.
Hoffman.
Ye gods with what bliss ye fire my heart?
Like a concert divine your voice does move me;
With a fire soft yet burning my being is devoured;
Your glances in mine have spent their flame,
Like radiant stars
And I feel, my well beloved,
Pass your perfumed breath
On my lips and on my eyes.
Giulietta.
Yet, to-day, strengthen my courage
By leaving me something of you!
Hoffman.
What do you mean?
Giulietta.
Listen and don’t laugh at me.
(She takes Hoffman in her arms and finds a mirror.)
What I want is your faithful image,
To reproduce your features, your look, your visage,
The reflection that I see above me bend.
Hoffman.
My reflection? What folly!
Giulietta.
No! for it can detach itself
From the polished glass
And come quite whole in my heart to hide.
Hoffman.
In your heart?
Giulietta.
In my heart. ’Tis I who beg thee,
Hoffman, give me my wish.
Hoffman.
My reflection?
Giulietta.
Your reflection. Yes, wisdom or folly,
I await, I demand.
(Ensemble.)
Hoffman.
Ecstasy, unappeased bliss,