Cast:
MIREILLE (soprano)
VINCENT (tenor)
OURRIAS (baritone)
MAITRE RAMON (bass)
TAVEN (mezzo-soprano)
ANDRELOUN (mezzo-soprano)
MAITRE AMBROISE (bass)
CLÉMENCE (soprano)
CHORUS
mulberry gatherers, townspeople, spirits of the Rhone, farmhands, pilgrims to the Chapel of the Saintes-Marie
Overture
ACT ONE
The Mulberry Grove
SCENE ONE
CHORUS
Sing, sing, cocoon-pickers,
For singing suits our occupation!
Like the green grasshoppers
Under the sun, in the fields.
Sing, sing, cocoon-pickers
For singing suits our occupation!
Laughing and
Industrious girls,
The gleam of summer
Makes us joyous!
We are like
The golden bees
Whose nimble swarm
Likes to flit
Over the rosy flowers!
Sing, sing, cocoon-pickers, etc.
SCENE TWO
TAVEN
Listen to their songs and laughter,
Merry-hearted little girls!
They do not know that a lure draws them
Towards the hunter's trap, like the birds of heaven;
And that the day comes when one sighs
With tears in one's eyes!
Listen to their songs and laughter,
Merry-hearted little girls!
CLÉMENCE AND GIRLS
Here is Taven the witch
Complete with her goad
And her old bodice
Duller than dust!
Here is Taven the witch
Complete with her goad!
She has cast her stone
Into our humble furrow!
Here is Taven the witch
Complete with her goad!
AZALAIS
Let the hunter come… his trap makes me laugh.
NORADE
Green Spring fears neither cold, nor snow!
AZALAIS
The bird, sovereign of the air, ewapes from other birds!
NORADE
Our songs will chase away troubles and tears!
CLÉMENCE
As for me, should some loving prince
Young, courteous, comely and of noble gait,
Chance to offer me his hand,
I should have him lead me to his palace tomorrow!
Empress and sovereign lady,
With lengthy robes dragging on the ground,
Lined with hermin and embroidered with gold,
Among you, - it makes me laugh already.
I should come back to look once more
Upon our beautiful land of Provence.
SCENE THREE
MIREILLE
And I, should some youth,
Even though poor and shy and self-conscious,
Chance to tell me softly: "Mireille, I love you!"
I should listen to my heart rather than my reason,
And mindless alike of derision and censure
Having read in his soul as in a limpid brook
I should give him my hand… and I should be his wife.
CHORUS
Who is it who speaks thus?
Is it you, Mireille?
VIOLANE
Quick, lend me your ears!
Listen to this
The fair one longed
For a pretty basket…
AZALAIS
And the deft weaver
Vincent made one for her…
NORADE
And just see how everyone
Comes to an agreement:
He received in exchange
A farewell kiss!
TAVEN
Silence! You are lying! Mireille is the most virtuous girl!
MIREILLE
Vincent got no more than thanks for his present;
But quite willingly… if I must speak plainly,
I should have liked to give him more!
GIRLS
Which of us would choose a weaver for a lover!
Sing, sing, cocoon-pickers, etc.
SCENE FOUR
TAVEN
Is it true then?… Whisper your secret in my ear,
Is it true that Vincent is beloved by Mireille?
Speak, have no fear, go on, speak!
You love him?
MIREILLE
Yes!
TAVEN
Wealth and poverty are ill-suited!
I can see into the future, Mireille!… And I tremble!
Listen… Should your desolate heart ever
Fear some misfortune for yourself or for him,
Remember Taven! You can trust me, sweet child,
And come over there to consult me.
SCENE FIVE
MIREILLE
Farewell, good Taven! Farewell! The sky is dazzling!
The bird is singing! Today, nothing can make me sad!
Is that you, Vincent?
VINCENT
Mireille!
MIREILLE
Where are you going so fast?
VINCENT
The fair weather invites us to roam across the fields.
MIREILLE
Can you not stay with me and chat awhile?
I am weary and want to rest here.
VINCENT
Ah! were I to follow my wishes,
Mireille, I should spend my whole life next to you!
Over there, in our humble home,
I am always alone,
With my sister and my old father.
The old weaver is not over-talkative,
My sister sings as she works and I dream as I listen.
MIREILLE
Your sister, Vincent! you never spoke of her before.
What is her name? Is she young and beautiful?
VINCENT
Vincenette is your age and you look like her.
But just as the lowly field-flower
Is sister to the red row,
So is Vincenette sister to Mireille!
Should you appear next to her
In front of all the village lads,
You would be the fairer one!
MIREILLE
Oh! that Vincent,
How sweetly he puts things!
His speech is so caressing
That one cannot help smiling at it!
Oh! that Vincent!
VINCENT
Like Vincent,
Anyone could tell you the same thing!
With a tender and caressing look
Everyone follows and admires you,
Like Vincent!
MIREILLE
And so your sister is a handsome girl,
And yet you find me prettier than her!
VINCENT
Yes, I do, much prettier!
MIREILLE
Why,
Vincent? What more have I got, in your eye?
VINCENT
What more?
What more has God's bird, rending the air in flight,
Got than the cricket
Hidden in the furrow,
If not beauty itself, and his song, and his grace!
With a mocking ditty, Vincenette sometimes
Laughingly comforts me when I am sad;
But from you, every single word
Delights my ear and rejoices my heart!
MIREILLE
Oh! that Vincent! etc.
VINCENT
Like Vincent, etc.
MIREILLE
But time flies by…
And as I listen to you, I forget
That the others are waiting for me over there.
Farewell Vincent! Farewell, sweet weaver;
Come and help me place my basket on my head.
CHORUS
Mireille!
MIREILLE
They are looking for me! They are calling me!
Quickly, let us part!…
VINCENT
Farewell, Mireille! Farewell!
MIREILLE
Listen and remember! Under God's eye,
On the blessed threshold of the old chapel,
Let me give you, o Vincent, a holy appointment!
Should ever some misfortune come to strike either of us,
We must meet at the Saintes!… At the Saintes on our knees!
VINCENT
Yes, farewell, farewell!
MIREILLE
Farewell!
CHORUS
Sing, sing, cocoon-pickers, etc.
ACT TWO
The Amphitheatre of Arles
SCENE ONE
DANCERS
The Farandole,
Merry and crazy,
To the sound of singing
Carries away the girls and the lads!
DRINKERS
What shouts! What joy!
From Nîmes to Tarascon,
And from Arles to Gasconny,
Everyone is making merry and feasting!
The good muscat from Baume and the Férigoulet
Are poured down parched throats!
And songs and laughter, friends to drinking,
Heal many a love-lorn heart!…
Long live the wine from Baume and the Férigoulet!
SCENE TWO
LADS
Friends, here comes Mireille,
The peerless beauty!
GIRLS
And the loving Vincent, who was waiting for her,
Hurries from his corner to meet her!
VIOLANE
She has come for his sake!
AZALAIS
And Vincent has come for hers!
SCENE THREE
GIRLS
Good-day, Vincent!
LADS
Good-day, fair girl!
CHORUS
Why don’t the two of you sing us some love-song?
VINCENT
Well, let Mireille begin.
MIREILLE
Since Vincent wants it, pray be silent, friends,
We shall sing one after the other!
Magali’s Song
The breeze is soft and fragrant.
The bird is failing asleep under the leaves,
Deep inside the silent wood!
Night spreads its veil over us
And high up in heaven
I can see a love-lorn star
Shining in my eyes!
VINCENT
O Magali, my beloved,
Let us escape under the leaves,
Deep inside the silent wood!
Night spreads its veil over us
And your lovely eyes
Will make the stars dwindle
High up in heaven!
MIREILLE
No, no, I turn myself into a swallow
And disappear in rapid flight!
You can go to the wood by yourself!
VINCENT
Farewell, then! Fly as fast as you can,
Poor little bird!
The bird-catcher will easily catch you
In his snare!
MIREILLE
In vain do you think me caught,
I am a cloud!
VINCENT
And I am the breeze
And carry you away on a sunbeam!
MIREILLE
I am the cornflower slumbering
In a furrow.
VINCENT
In order to kiss you, I become a bee
Or a butterfly.
MIREILLE
At last, the convent opens its doors to me.
VINCENT
I am the prayer-book you carry;
I shall be there to comfort you.
MIREILLE
If you follow me in the nunnery,
I shall die there!
VINCENT
Then I shall become the earth
And I shall receive you!
MIREILLE
Now I do believe you love me!
Let us escape under the leaves,
Deep inside the silent wood!
Night spreads its veil over us
And high up in heaven
I can see a love-lorn star
Shining in my eyes!
VINCENT AND MIREILLE
Night spreads its veil over us, etc.
GIRLS AND LADS
Like daylight in the sky,
Like a star
In the clear air,
Love shines in their eyes!
A MAN FROM ARLES
Give way to the runners! In the stifling arena
They shall rush off at the given signal!
Landry will vie for the prize with Lagalante!
Let them shake hands and we can begin!
VOICES
Here is the signal! Let us go! Quickly, we must hurry!
SCENE FOUR
TAVEN
Well, Mireille, are you not going with them?
Come here! I have something to tell you in confidence.
MIREILLE
Speak, good Taven!
TAVEN
Yes, yes, you think me good
Because I promised to favour your love!
MIREILLE
It may be so! But speak all the same!
TAVEN
Here comes the season, my sweet,
When the beaux make their choice!
Love flits around like a butterfly
All over the fields and the woods!
The youths are looking
For their future wives…
The girls look coquettish,
The fathers look on with mock severity;
And more than one ring is given away
And slipped on some pretty finger!
Here comes the season, my sweet,
When the beaux make their choice!
MIREILLE
Yes, this is the time for betrothals!
But why should you mention it?
TAVEN
Just now, as I was roaming around
Along the old walls
I saw three beaux, who made rne laugh,
Tell each other of their rival loves;
Ourrias the bull-tamer; Alari, the shepherd;
And Pascoul, the mare-tender…
MIREILLE
Well?
TAVEN
If their words are to be believed,
You are the one they have chosen for their true love!
MIREILLE
Me!
TAVEN
Yes! Here comes the season, my sweet,
When the beaux make their choice, etc.
MIREILLE
Could I marry and love another than Vincent?
No! neither my father, nor God could make me!
TAVEN
Yet fear a father’s anger!
Beware! I thought it better to warn you!
SCENE FIVE
MIREILLE
To betray Vincent would be madness indeed!
When happiness goes by, it flies off if you do not catch
it!
My heart cannot change!
Remember I love you!
Vincent, O my Vincent, why should we be sad?
Your dreary lonesomeness, your poverty even,
I want to share everything with you for ever!
My heart cannot change!
I am ready to follow you to your your home!
I am ready to sit by your empty hearth.
This humble fate delights me and this dream inebriates me!
Whoever seeks to tempt my soul is moved by a mad
hope!
My heart cannot change!
Vincent, O my Vincent, remember I love you!
Your dreary lonesomeness, your poverty even,
I want to share everything with you for ever!
My heart cannot change!
No, never, never! Ah!
My soul is yours,
I am your wife.
Although they chide me
I belong to you.
Proud and delighted
In this life
My heart does not covet
Sweeter possessions.
May God hear me,
I am happy indeed
If I can but follow you
Over the heath
And if my dream
On the humble beach
Should one day end
Between your arms.
My soul is yours, etc.
I belong to you, O my Vincent!
I belong to you for ever!
SCENE SIX
MIREILLE
Ourrias!
OURRIAS
Why should you hurry away when I draw near?
Do I frighten you, pretty one? Or else have I,
Without knowing it, incurred your wrath?
MIREILLE
Not in the least! I am glad to see you.
OURRIAS
Why have I not the power to charm you?
If the girls of Arles are queens
When pleasure calls them to the amphitheatre,
If the girls of Arles are queens,
I do believe that the cowherds also
Are kings of the fiery heath!
Yes, over there, they are kings!
And should they decide to wed,
The proudest girl at the bottom of her heart
Submits to their choice!
But proud in his turn of his sweet bondage,
Deserting for your sake his wild waste,
In front of everyone, O fair girl, the victorious Ourrias
Throws himself at your feet to win your heart!!
Ourrias, the cowherd from Camargue,
Is not a man to be despised and laughed at!
Ourrias, the cowherd from Camargue,
With his iron trident in his hand,
Can defy the human race!
The tamer whom nothing can tame
Does not wait till the morrow
To confront whoever insults him!
But proud in his turn etc.
MIREILLE
Farewell! pray let me go… or keep silent.
OURRIAS
Why? From among all those who seek your love
Your father has chosen me, thinking it it a wise choice,
And I want…
MIREILLE
Your suit and your tender avowal
Seem to me, my fine sir, to be inspired by love itself.
But believe me, if you want to be loved,
Never ever say: I want.
SCENE SEVEN
OURRIAS
I can see that she will have none of me!
SCENE EIGHT
RAMON
Well?
OURRIAS
My suit has been turned down.
RAMON
I thought so, when I saw your brooding face!
SCENE NINE
AMBROISE
I have come to ask you, neighbour, for a piece of
advice…
Come here!
You have known my son for a long time:
I thought he had a kind heart and an honest soul;
But do you know what he has got into his head?
He has, I do not know where,
Chanced to meet I do not know which girl
Of good repute, from a wealthy family,
With whom he has fallen madly in love.
The poor child, neighbour,
The poor child weeps and despairs!
Pray, help me with some good advice!
RAMON
Pooh, neither the girl, nor he will die, I warrant you!
But spare yourself the insult of a certain denial;
And if he will not give in, then you must act!
This should be enough to cure him of his Iove!
AMBROISE
When your dog asks for a drink, you beat him!
SCENE TEN
RAMON
A father speaks as a father should, a man acts as a
man should!
In the old days, the head of the family
Was the master and everything gave way at his voice!
And when at Christmas, around the holy table
The patriarch sat with his generation,
The good old man quenched all rebellions
And put an end to all complaints,
As the extended his blessing to his sons!
But should any of them dare defy his supreme law,
God of justice!… he might have killed him!
MIREILLE
Kill me!
I am the girl he loves!
And by Our Lady and by God himself,
I swear that no one else will have my faith!
RAMON
Saints in heaven!… I am struck by a thunderbolt!
VINCENT
Before long, your hands
Will lay me down in my grave.
VINCENETTE
Keep hoping yet… Your tears will move him!
AMBROISE
Come! let us go back home after such an insult!
OURRIAS
She has affronted me for this fine lover’s sake!
RAMON
Listen! There is still time to go back on your words!
Deny this crazy avowal!
MIREILLE
No, I am not crazy,
And the avowal you heard came straight from my heart!
RAMON
Well then, away with you, defy shame and contemptuous mockeries!
I no longer know you! Farewell! My daughter is dead.
Follow your lover, the husband you have chosen!
Go and beg for your bread from doorstep to doorstep,
Go and live in the woods, far away from us all!
Why, no! You shall remain! I want you to! Such is my
will!
Though I must bind you hand and foot
To prevent you from roaming all over the countryside!
Though I must…
MIREILLE
Strike me… and may God forgive you!
Alas, here I am at your feet!
I am defenceless and weaponless!
If my poor mother were here
She woold have mercy on my tears!
Her soul was full of pity and kindness,
My tears dried under her hand,
And from heaven she forgives
The child who beseeches you in vain!
Ah! it is all over… I am hopeless
Unless God should come to my help!
Do you want to see me die
Like her? Answer me, Father!
Alas, here I am at your feet! etc.
RAMON
Stand up! What are you hoping for?
I am impervious to your tears!
VINCENT
Alas, here she is at his feet!
He is impervious to her tears!
AMBROISE
Come, come! Let us go!… Forget her!
He is impervious to her tears!
VINCENETTE
Let us go, Vincent, and pity her!
He is impervious to her tears!
OURRIAS
She weeps and beseeches…
And the father gives in to her tears!
RAMON
You are the culprit, base weaver!
You cannot deny that you treacherously
Organised the whole infamous business!
AMBROISE
By God! Poverty does not debase our soul!
And, thank goodness, my life is above reproach!
RAMON
What! Have I toiled ceaselessly for so long
In order to ensure the peace of my old age
And to leave my inheritance to my family…
And shall you soon come and steal my daughter away!
Thunder and blood! Is that what you are after?
MIREILLE
Vincent!
VINCENT
Father!
RAMON
Go to the devil, both of you!
SCENE ELEVEN
RAMON
Yes, may hell itself seize you!
Go on, by God! Keep away from her!
And woe betide you
If I chance to meet you tomorrow!
AMBROISE
Keep your treasure, old miser!
Your pride alone stands in their way!
May you chance to meet tomorrow
Shame and misery!
MIREILLE
In vain do they part me, from you!
I am yours! Here is my hand!
See you soon, Vincent! See you tomorrow!
VINCENT
He turns down my offer! He parts me from her!
His hand pushes our hand away!
I shall not see her tomorrow!
VINCENETTE
Poor lovers! You are parted!
Let us go Vincent! Give me your hand!
We must be on our way!
OURRIAS
Go on, by God! Keep him away from her!
And woe betide him
If I chance to meet him tomorrow!
CHORUS
Cruel father! Barbarous soul!
Your pride alone stands in their way!
For their sake we beseech you in vain!
Heaven will punish you tomorow!
ACT THREE
FIRST TABLEAU
The Val d’Enfer
SCENE ONE
OURRIAS
Here is the Val d’Enfer and the fairies’ cave
Whence at midnight proceed the stifled moans,
The laughter and screeches of the black spirits from
down below.
Who the witch Taven excites in their frenzy.
CHORUS
Is this where she lives?
OURRIAS
Yes, in this wild spot.
If you wish, friends, we can seek her advice;
They say she hides in a safe place a potion
Which unlucky lovers can use
And it might be wise to buy some.
CHORUS
Why should you spend needlessly?
If you are not loved, the wisest thing,
I think, is to make the best of it.
OTHERS
To forget the whole thing and never mention it again.
CHORUS
You will easily find a prettier girl.
OTHERS
And a wealthier one too!
CHORUS
And a more virtuous one!
OURRIAS
Where does she hide then
The girl who in your eyes is prettier and more virtuous
Than Mireille herself?
Which of you knows her? Who has seen her? Where?
I want none other and she is the one I love!
But night is falling. Let each one go his way.
CHORUS
This is the time for nightmares!
The time when elves, sprites and ghosts
On the edge of the waves and the sand of the beaches
Dance by moonlight, holding each other’s hand!
OURRIAS
Try not to meet them. See you tomorrow!
CHORUS
See you tomorrow!
SCENE TWO
OURRIAS
There they go!
And I, my heart burning with rage,
I wait here for my rival to go by.
You are beloved, happy weaver!
You are beloved, wretched Vincent!
Upon my soul and my life,
You shall pay with your blood
The happiness I crave.
Do you think my hand cannot bend you
And break you like a reed,
And throw you as a prey
To the hungry wolves of the Crau!
Do not stand in the way of my rage!
Go, go, I detest you, I hate you!
Your love angers and outrages me!
She loves you and I loved her!
Death and woe! Here he is! I was not mistaken!
At the bottom of this dark vale
Over which night spreads its shadow,
Hell itself has thrown him in my path!
Here you are then, lucky and beloved lad,
Handsome weaver preferred to all others
And whom Mireille herself
Has chosen for her husband!
VINCENT
Do not envy me my happiness, friend!
Her heart has chosen me in vain; in vain
Does she love me! Her father has refused my hand
And destroyed with one word the dream of my life!
OURRIAS
Who cares about a father’s refusal and contempt,
If the fair one’s heart is in love with you!
But tell me with what spell,
What damned witchcraft you caught her in your trap;
Speak, answer me! What love-potion made her mad?
VINCENT
Why should you insult me with this base suspicion?
OURRIAS
And how else couid it be
That in front of God himself
The fair one should prefer to the richest man
A homeless and penniless vagrant?
Doesn’t it seem to indicate
That she is lost to reason and to shame?
VINCENT
Enough! Silence! You speak ill!
Beware if you insult Mireille!
Anger has woken up at last
At the bottom of my hopeless heart.
By the love Mireille bears me,
Me, the weaver, me, Vincent,
I swear that I shall here and now
Drown your contempt in your own blood!
OURRIAS
Some devil has given you up to my rage,
I shall have your blood, ah, defend yourself!
One of us must cease to live,
I can no longer contain!
VINCENT
By hell, rage maddens me,
Beware, Ourrias, look to yourself!
One of us must cease to live,
I can no longer contain myself!
OURRIAS
Go away! Go away! Woe betide you!
Ah! What have I done? I must flee.
VINCENT
O Mireille! I die for your sake!
SCENE THREE
TAVEN
What sinister moan
Rent the nightly air? My heart is terror-stricken!
A man is lying there… his brow bathed in blood
And icy! God almighty!
I recognise him in this darkness! This is Vincent!
And he, the murderer, the traitor,
Fleeing away like a scoundrel,
I recognised him too!
A curse on you, Ourrias! Be thrice accursed!
SECOND TABLEAU
The Bridge at Trinquetaille
SCENE ONE
OURRIAS
Ah! What have I done!
God’s hand bends my guilty brow!
The memory of my crime
Pursues and distresses me!
Remorse has entered my heart for ever!
I am afraid!
The blood I shed
Soils my hands with an indelible spot!
Pale and icy cold,
Vincent lies on the sand, over there!
Remorse has entered my heart for ever!
I am afraid!
Mercy! Have mercy on me, threatening archangels!
Turn your swords away from me. Ah!
But what empty dream
Dims my senses?
The night is peaceful and clear;
The beach is deserted…
Let us hurry to the other side of the river!
Hey there! ferryman, bring your boat over!
God! What deathly sounds
Are exhaled in the air!
What wandering ghosts paw beneath the clear waves,
Or rise up in the darkness?
SCENE TWO
SPIRITS
It is midnight!
A glowing flame
Crosses the darkness!
The deadmen
Rise up, icy cold,
From the dark chasm!
The sky is blue!
The air inebriates us!
Blessed be God
Who has delivered us!
MAIDENS WHO DIED FOR LOVE
We are love-crazed creatures!
Poor forsaken girls
Which inescapable death
Has betrothed to the old river!
VARIOUS VOICES
O night! Starry sky! Sweet fragrances of the earth!
O death! Cruel exile! Wretched mystery!
OURRIAS
I remember! ’Tis at midnight
That the spirits noiselessly
Creep from the dark chasm
I can see them… I see them glide under the blue
waves
And rise up in the darkness,
Holding their arms out to God!
Here, ferryman! Here, hell’s own boatman!
A VOICE
Who calls me?
OURRIAS
Ourrias, hell’s own boatman!
FERRYMAN
Here I am… let us hurry!
OURRIAS
You kept me waiting long enough,
Ferryman! Another time, keep your ears open.
And now, off we go!
Holy Saints in heaven!
The water swells and roars… and your boat stops!
Treacherous wretch! You shall answer for my life
With your head and your eternal salvation!
FERRYMAN
Ourrias, your anger is useless!
My boat carries an accursed load!
Think of Vincent… whom you struck down!
OURRIAS
Who told you?
FERRYMAN
The God of revenge in whose hand we are!
CHORUS
It is midnight!
A glowing flame, etc.
ACT FOUR
FIRST TABLEAU
Nettle-tree Farm
SCENE ONE
HARVESTERS
Friends, harvest-time is now over!
Pile up the bundles of wood; light up the fires!
And let everyone celebrate till daylight
Saint John the harvester, Saint John, God's best friend!
SCENE TWO
RAMON
Well done! Enjoy yourselves, friends! Here is the Master!
To hell with cares and let us have a good time!
As soon as daylight comes, you shall all be paid
For your hard work with fat and shining coins.
CHILDREN
Now that the harvest is over,
Yours is the blessed sheaf
Of ears of corn and flowers!
May God himself soon
Giving you to he who loves you,
Bind for ever your two hearts!
Now that the harvest is over,
Yours is the blessed sheaf
Of ears of corn and flowers!
CHORUS
What is wrong with her? Why does she look so sad?
RAMON
Hush! Mireille is cross with me! Mireille is angry!
I shall tell you why tomorrow.
Come, glass in hand, good friends!
HARVESTERS
Friends, harvest-time is now over, etc.
CHILDREN
Saint-John! Saint John! Saint-John!
SCENE THREE
RAMON
Ah, wretched child! Ah, accursed love!
Cruel troubles sent us by a dismal fate!
My joy has vanished for ever
And so has the peace of my old age!
Wild thunderstorms come in the summer!
The sky darkens over the horizon;
The lightning rends the clouds;
The wind scatters the harvest!
So does mourning knock on my door!
So does misery swoop down on me,
And destroy my dream as it carries it away!
Such is God's blind law!
SCENE FOUR
MIREILLE
O Magali, my beloved,
Let us escape under the leaves,
Deep inside the silent wood!
Night spreads its veil over us
And your lovely eye
Will make the stars dwindle
High up in heaven!
Musette
SCENE FIVE
SHEPHERD
The day is rising
And lightens up the darkness of night
Far away, already, the fiery beach,
Which no breeze stirs up,
Blazes and dazzles the eye!
And the bird flies through the air,
And I, alone with my goats,
With parched lips,
I roam aimlessly in the burning desert,
With a peaceful and steady tread.
The grey lizard drinks in the light,
The humble cricket, in the dust,
Sings in the sun,
And I, reclining on the heather,
Shall soon go back to sleep.
SCENE SIX
MIREILLE
Happy little shepherd,
Ah! how I envy your fate!
Always free, with a light heart,
The cares of life
Cannot be a burden to you,
Happy little shepherd!
In this fiery desert,
All alone with your goats,
You sleep under the blue sky
With a song on your lips.
And while you are slumbering
The merry cicadas
Bang together under the sun
Their noisy cymbals!
Happy little shepherd, etc.
SCENE SEVEN
VINCENETTE
Mireille!
MIREILLE
Who calls me? Is it him?
VINCENETTE
No, Mireille, it is I!
But keep your voice low, we must not wake anyone up!
MIREILLE
What is wrong with you? What has happened?
VINCENETTE
Allay your fears. He is safe now!
MIREILLE
Safe! Who is safe? God almighty! I tremble.
VINCENETTE
An evil fate last night brought them together
On the path of the Val d'Enfer.
And the treacherous Ourrias, spurred on by a mad rage,
Struck his brow with his iron trident!
MIREILLE
Heavens! Ourrias! Vincent!
VINCENETTE
Wait and take heart!
Taven called for me
And said "Have no fear,
His wound is a light one,
He's asleep, all will be well."
MIREILLE
Ah! Speak again? Finish the story! I tremble as I listen!
You have not told me everything!
You are probably deceiving me
For fear of hurting me!
Vincent is waiting for me! His life is threatened!
VINCENETTE
No! No! Your heart may be at rest!
Taven will cure his wound!
Stop crying, O Mireille, and believe me
If I had any fear for his life, should I be with you?
MIREILLE
Well, it is today that the church at the Saintes
Opens its doors to the unfortunate!
God himself, in his heaven, will receive their complaints
And his angels will pray for them!
Women, old folk, children of the land of Provence,
With bare feet and eyes full of tears,
Will go and carry there their humble offering
Of ripe ears of corn, fruit and flowers!
This time I want to be the first
To reach the doors of the holy place;
And in the darkness, on my knees,
With my brow on the stone-floor,
I will implore God for my Vincent!
VINCENETTE
Ah, dear sister! Dear Mireille!
Heaven has inspired you and may God advise you!
I shall wait over there for you father's awakening.
MIREILLE
Necklaces and bracelets, rings of silver and gold,
Blessed palms from the procession,
All my poor jewels, all my little treasure
I give them all to the Holy Maries!
O patron saints of lovers!
VINCENETTE
O refuge of unhappy people!
MIREILLE
Holy martyrs!
VINCENETTE
Holy women!
MIREILLE
Whose eyes can read in our souls!
VINCENETTE
Whose hand can dry our tears!
MIREILLE
And comfort all our sorrows!
VINCENETTE
I beseech you
As I would God!
MIREILLE
Protect the life
Of the one I love!
It is time to go! Come, I must not waver.
May some good angel guide our footsteps!
God will forgive me… Forgive me, Father!
Farewell!… I love!… I believe!… I hope!
SECOND TABLEAU
The Desert of the Crau
Introduction
MIREILLE
Here are the wide plain and the fiery desert,
Merciful God, let Mireille fulfil her pledge?
On I go, as Maguelonne did!
The wings of love and the breeze of faith,
Beneath the burning and dazzling sky,
Once carried her away as they do me!
Neither the frothy waves of the sea,
Nor lightning, nor the tempest,
Nor the flaming arrows of the sun
Could stop the wretched lover, love's pilgrim!
But the sky dazzles me!… Daylight blinds me!
Where am I?
I feel dizzy and ready to fall!
And over there, O prodigy!
In the transparent azure of the sky,
What is this dream of a promised land
That suddenly rises up in front of my eyes!
Is this Jerusalem and its holy church?
Or the tomb of the Holy Ladies of the Sea?
Why, no! The vision vanishes into thin air,
The winged image
Has flown away!
Ah! the sun has wounded me
With his golden arrow!…
I am dying! Farewell, Vincent, farewell! Weep for your fiancée!
No, no! I will not die!
I do not want to die! Let us walk on!
On I go, as Maguelonne did, etc.
On I go! On I go! On I go!
Ah!
ACT FIVE
The Chapel at the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
SCENE ONE
The Procession
CHORUS
O you, who from heaven
Can see the tears in our eyes,
Hear our prayers,
Holy Saints in Paradise!
Cure our old fathers
And protect our sons!
SCENE TWO
VINCENT
My heart is filled with black forebodings!
Who detains her? Why is she not here?
Angels of Paradise, cover her with your wings!
Up in heaven, spread your cloak above her!
And you, fiery summer sun,
Have mercy on her youth, spare her beauty!
I saw her in my dream
On the heath where a fiery breath blows,
Running alone towards the beach,
Pale, her brow bent under the glare of the blue sky,
Invoking the Holy Women and God!
Angels of Paradise, etc.
SCENE THREE
VINCENT
Ah, here she is! She has come!
MIREILLE
You, Vincent! My faithful friend!
You were waiting for me! I see you again!
Ah! my heart revives at your voice!
My courage has come back to me!
VINCENT
Do you not remember the holy appointment?
Should ever some misfortune come to strike either
of us,
We must meet at the Saintes! At the Saintes on our
knees!
MIREILLE
Yes! Yes!
VNCENT
How pale your face is!
What is wrong with you?
MIREILLE
Nothing. Nothing. With his flaming arrows
The sun has wounded my brow. But, thank goodness,
Under your kisses, my pain grows less;
Under your looks, my heart shudders with delight!
CHORUS
The veil is torn asunder at last!
The black tomb is suddenly lit up!
Here is the sacred treasure!
Glory to the Holy Maries!
An angel comes down from the blue heaven;
Sweet fragrance perfumes the holy place:
A cry of love rises up to God!
Glory to the Holy Maries!
MIREILLE
Listen! They are praying for us!
Mireille and Vincent are being married!
Heaven has blessed their love!
VINCENT
What is she saying?
MIREILLE
We must love each other! Love each other for ever!
Holy elation! Divine ecstasy!
My heart is consumed by a pure felicity!
Blessed dream! Sweet witchcraft!
Heaven itself opens up and blazes!
And in the air as in my soul
There is nought but joy and bliss!
VINCENT
God almighty!
VINCENETTE
Mireille! Come quickly, all of you!
SCENE FOUR
RAMON
Mireille! My child!
MIREILLE
Are you weeping? Are you weeping?
VINCENETTE, VINCENT, RAMON
God! What a strange flame
Burns in her distraught eyes!
RAMON
You must not die, darling child, you must not! Forgive
me !
You save her, Vincent! She is yours now!
MIREILLE
It is too late! See, what a glare in the sky,
The Holy Women are coming down to me
To give me their hands. I can see them!
VINCENT
Ah! I will follow them with you!
MIREILLE
Holy elation! Divine ecstasy! etc.
EVERYONE
Holy elation! Divine ecstasy! etc.
MIREILLE
See! See! The sea sparkles!
The waves are calm and the sky is blue!
Farewell, Vincent! Farewell!
VINCENT
O Death! Take me down to the tomb with her!
A VOICE
O Mireille, follow us to the divine sojourn,
Come and enjoy in heaven the infinite sweetness,
The ineffable grace and the blessed elation
Of eternal love!
EVERYONE
Her soul has taken flight towards God!
A sweet fragrance perfumes the holy place!