DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

Astrofiammante, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.

PAMINA, her daughter.

PAPAGENO, a bird-catcher.

TAMINO, a handsome Egyptian prince.

MONOSTATOS, chief slave of the temple.

SARASTRO, high priest of Isis.

PAPAGENA.

Three Ladies-in-Waiting to the QUEEN OF THE NIGHT; Three Youths of the Temple; Priests, Priestesses, Slaves, etc.



ACT II. SCENE XII.

A tremendous mountain. At the foot, a deep cavern, with an iron grating in its recesses. Flames arise, which mount to the top, whence liquid masses of lava are seen to descend. On one side, a pyramid with an inscription. Two men appear covered with black armor, who read the inscription to TAMINO. After PAMINA.



MEN.

He who pursues this path with dancers full,

Becometh pure by fire, water, earth, and air.

If he can overcome the terrors of deaths.

From out of earth he rises unto Heaven.

Thus purified, he will then be able

To devote himself to Isis' mysteries.



TAMINO.

Acts becoming man, no fear of death

Will hinder me from consummating.

Open, then, the portals of terror.

With joy I'll dare the bold career.



PAMINA.

May heaven have compassion and guard thy steps.

[The gate opposite to that whence Tamino came out, opens. Pamina enters, and they rush into each other's embrace.]



PAMINA AND TAMINO.

Dearest Tamino/Pamina. Oh what happiness is this.



TAMINO.

But here terror dwells. [To Pamina.] Here death each instance threatens.



PAMINA.

I will be your faithful companion wherever you go. I will lead my love, and love in return will lead me. [Takes him by the hand.]

Love will deck thy thorny way,

And the path with roses strew

Thy flute enchanting sounds obey,

These each danger shall subdue.

When fashion'd in an omen'd hour

From aged laurel by my sire,

How did the heavens with tempests lower,

What lightnings glared and specters dire.

Then prove its power. though rough the way

Be bold, advance, and banish fear.



ALL FOUR.

Let wisdom, joined with valor, sway.

Who knows to die. shall conquer here.

[The two-armed men retire, and shut the grating on the other side of which Tamino is seen to pass, surrounding his flute and followed by Pamina, through the midst of the fire.



PAMINA AND TAMINO.

The raging flames

Have passed away,

And lick the feet,

In harmless play.

But still the roar,

Of waves we hear.

Dark is the sky,

No shores appear.



[The mountain changes into another, from the summit of which a torrent precipitates itself. Pamina and Tamino descend the mountain, and on searching the plain, they both courageously endeavor to stem the torrent. Tamino sounds his flute as they proceed. The waters cover them, but Tamino still continues to sound his flute. At last they proceed so far that they can no longer resist the force of the torrent, which bears them away, and they are seen no more. When they are thought to be drowned, the mountain divides, and in its center discovers a temple, where Tamino and Pamina are seen in the act of returning thanks.]



TAMINO.

At length the dangerous

Wave is past,

And heaven in mercy

Smiles at last.



[The gate of the Temple opens. Tamino and Pamina are still seen on their knees.]



A CHORUS OF PRIESTS FROM WITHIN.

No more, no more.

The trial's won.

Lo! virtue crowns

Her favorite son.

Now close the rites,

The pomp prepare,

To triumph lead

The noble pair.



ACT II. SCENE XIII.

The Garden where PAPAGENA had been left. PAPAGENO alone. Then the Three Boys and PAPAGENA enter.



PAPAGENO.

Papagena! Papagena!

Little darling! little dove!

In vain I sigh! to me she's lost!

And or ill-fortune's waves I'm tossed.

I talked. I know, and that was wrong,

And so they'll say it served me right.

But, since her sweet lips I've tasted.

Since I saw her beauty bright.

A constant fire my form has wasted,

It burns and pinches day and night.

Papagena, light of life!

Papagena, darling wife!

In vain for thee again I sigh!

So though is left me but to die!

I'm tired of life, so from it part,

To quench the flame that fires my heart.



[Takes a cord.]



This tree which in the Spring will bloom.

Shall help me to fulfill my doom.



[Pretends to weep.]



And since the world displeaseth me,

I even will swing upon this tree.

Goodbye, then, world of ills to me.

Since none will come to soothe or love,

I'll go and end my woes above.

Lovely maidens, come and see,

And, if only one there be,

Who'll kindly love or pity me.

I'll neither hang, nor burn, nor drown,

If for me your love you'll own.

No sound, save Echo's. All is still!

Such, then, ye gods, must be your will.

Up, Papageno. swing on high,

And nobly, like a hero, die!

I just will wait a bit and see

If any come while I count three.

One!—two—two's already past.

Three! No, no one comes, I die at last,

For since there's none to bid me stay,

Goodnight, false world, and now away!



THE THREE BOYS.

Oh, Papageno, stay and prudent be.

Man lives but once. Be this enough for thee.



PAPAGENO.

Your talk and joking's very fine.

But if your hearts but burned like mine,

You after girls would run.



THE BOYS.

Then let thy bells ring:

They will bring thy wife to thee.



PAPAGENO.

Like a fool, I forgot those magic things.

Sound, oh set of bells, oh sound.

[Recovering himself.]

My dear little wife I would see.

[Plays.]

Sound, bells, sound. Oh bring my wife to me!

[Meanwhile, Papagena appears.]

Ding, dong! Let her come! Let her come!



THE BOYS.

[Bringing Papagena.]

Now, Papageno, look about thee.



PAPAGENO and PAPAGENA.

[See each other and sing.]



PAPAGENO.

Pa—Pa—Pagena!



PAPAGENA.

Pa—Pa—Pageno!



PAPAGENO.

Art thou, then, quite given to me?



PAPAGENA.

Yes, I am quite given to thee.



PAPAGENO.

Well, then, be my dear little wife.



PAPAGENA.

Well, then, my husband, my life.



BOTH.

What a joy shall we not feel,

When the gods their gifts reveal!

Little boys and girls galore,

All we want and many more.



PAPAGENO.

First a little Papageno!



PAPAGENA.

Then a little Papagena!



BOTH.

What can with such joys compare,

When many, many, many, many,

Papa—Pa—Pagenos,

Papa—Pa—Pagenas,

The blessing of glad parents are?

Exuent.



ACT II. SCENE XIV.

MONOSTATOS, the QUEEN, and the THREE LADIES.



ALL.

Hush! Softly, softly!

Soon we shall enter the Temple.

Hush!



MONOSTATOS.

But, princess, thou'lt keep thy word.

They daughter must my consort be.



QUEEN.

I'll keep my word. It is my wish.



QUEEN AND THE LADIES.

My/Her daughter shall thy consort be.

[Distant thunder.]



MONOSTATOS AND LADIES.

But, hush! I hear a horrid noise,

Like thunderclap and waterfall!

How frightful is this noise!

Like thunderclap and waterfall!



MONOSTATOS.

Now they are in the Temple's halls.

There will we surprise them.



QUEEN AND THE LADIES.

Rise! Yourselves with rage and vengeance arm!

These hypocrites to overcome.



MONOSTATOS AND ALL FIVE.

No one shall escape the cruel slaughter.

The altar, the temple, the blind crowd,

Shall be destroyed by fire and sword.



MONOSTATOS AND LADIES.

To the dread sovereign of the night,

Be all our help and vengeance brought.

[The crash of thunder and the raging of a tempest heard. Suddenly the scene changes to the Temple of the Sun.]



SCENE THE LAST.

SARASTRO seated on his throne, TAMINO and PAMINA in the habit of the Initiated, and surrounded by files of Priests. The two first of whom lead Tamino and Pamina by the hand into the midst, and to the foot of the throne of SARASTRO.



THE QUEEN, the three ATTENDANTS, and MONOSTATOS.

Ah! who has broken the scepter of night!

An abyss swallows me up

Eternal anguish seizes me.

[They sink.]



SARASTRO.

On India's shore the sun has risen again.

All dreams and errors he chases and confounds.

[To Pamina and Tamino.]



Chorus of Priests.

For you shines forth the golden day,

Shades and darkness disappear.

Joy sheds around his brightest ray,

The benighted heart to cheer.

Still let truth and valor guide.

And with piety preside.

Still let conquering beauty reign,

And her high awards obtain.



THE END.