ACT 2
Gamekeeper:
I say, little beggar, come and tell come and tell me quick and true,
why there’s in and round the castle so much bustle and ado?
Such a crowd of guests around, so much running to and fro, through the pantry,
kitchen, larder, cooks and turnspits come and go.
Turnspit:
What a rush and hustle, uncle, such a bustle, to the eve from early waking cooking patties, roasting baking!
Just think uncle, just think of it, have you heard the likes of it?
Hunting in the forest, our Prince found a fae. Now he wishes to wed. What a wedding day!
Seems he found her in the woods, where the dark trees cast their shade.
But wherever he did find her, uncle, I would fear to mind her!
Not a sound she utters, like a vision flutters, seeing things of evil omen!
Don’t tell me, oh don’t tell me that she’s a woman!
Gamekeeper:
Is it true then, is it true then, is it really true then,
Oh the pity of it, you’ve quite spoilt my humour.
Lord above preserve us, I’m an old, old hunter, sure in this encounter there is more than wonder!
Evil haunts our forests, Satan there carouses, game that’s most uncanny midnight slumbr’rers rouses.
He whose lusts his soul doth pinion will become the witches minion.
Water gnome without a sound draws him to the water’s ground, and who woodsprites
flitting sees naked past the forest trees, will be blinded by desire!
Lord God save us from hellfire!
Turnspit:
Uncle! I'm afeared!
Gamekeeper:
Well, well, I’m not surprised.
Look Lord on his sinning with forgiving eyes!
Turnspit:
Our Prince ever was so gay, how he’s changed since that sad day!
He’s no longer what he was, walks as one who’s in a trance,
his old nanny burns a candle daily for deliverance!
And the chaplain when he heard it came to warn the prince and pray,
but the prince would not hear, seems the girl has come to stay!
Gamekeeper:
That’s why all the guests are here, that’s why you prepare good cheer!
Therefore to the castle door drag I deer and hart and boar!
Turnspit:
Luckily I think though it may yet not be, all can yet be put right if his heart’s still free!
His old nanny told us how, fickle is the prince e’en now.
Seems his love is on the wane, looks more like himself again,
at some foreign princess he making eyes now seems to be!
Gamekeeper:
God give be it so, keep him from all harm and woe!
...
Prince:
A week you’ve followed by my side, a dream from some strange
tale of old, and yet within your deep dark eyes your
secret slumbers still untold, and yet within your deep dark
eyes your secret slumbers still untold!
Will only marriage give to me, what love has long desired,
and will a woman you become, when love your
blood, when love your blood has fired?
Why does it chill so your embrace?
Why does it fear love’s passion?
Why this foreboding do I feel when in your arms you hold me?
Ah, vainly vain I try to stifle love,
From your embrace I never shall be free!
And were you ner so cold, diffident...
Win you I must, must, for you have conquered me!
Foreign Princess:
No, it is not love, it is hate I feel...
Another dwells where I would wish to be,
and since ‘tis written that I be not his,
their happiness may I shattered see!
And will the Prince not for a while recall,
though lover, he is also host to all?
Or must that bliss the world vouch safes to you I,
your foreign guest, in silence view?
Prince:
Indeed your words are just reproof just reproof,
And meetly, meetly from your lips they fall.
A bridge groom even, sweet princess, is but your servant first of all!
Foreign Princess:
And will your lady, mistress of your heart, not seek to chide you for this with a word?
Or in her eyes does such passion dwell, that all her thoughts to you her eyes impart?
Prince:
And since her eyes to tell me did forget, that inattentive has the host become.
Most fast I’ll make amends, if you’ll allow for what I heedless did a while neglect.
(To Rusalka) What means this despair? Why do you tremble so?
Make haste adorn you, and to the ball we’ll go.
Foreign Princess:
(To Rusalka) Oh, robe yourself your best, use all your art, I
have his eyes... but you have his heart!
Rusalka:
Water gnome, oh father dear!
Water Gnome:
Rusalka, know you me?
Now to the castle have I come to see you weeping here?
Rusalka:
Father, oh father, save me, save!
Dread the foreboding that fills me,
woe that with you I wished to break faith, woe that I tried to betray thee!
Woe, woe! Woe that I tried to betray thee!
Another’s beauty fires his heart...
Passionate as I am frail... And he no longer knows me now!
Rusalka, mute and pale!
Water Gnome:
He has betrayed his vow.
May you find the strength to bear it, bear it now!
Rusalka:
In vain, in vain!
In vain it is, and all my heart an empty waste!
In vain my love, my longing pain! Since I of passion may not taste!
In vain, oh in vain is all my love, my pain, since I of passion may not taste!
In vain it is, in vain, in vain...
He no longer knows me now!
Rusalka mute and pale... in vain,
in vain it is! In vain is my love my longing pain!
For in her eyes burns passion’s flame.
That human passion so accursed!
The waters cool that gave me birth...
In me that passion never nursed!
Outcast by you, outcast by you!
Lost to him, deaf echo, echo of the waters cry...
Nor water spirit, nor human I... I neither live now, nor can I die...
Just see them, see them, here again here again.
Father, oh father, oh, the shame!
Foreign Princess:
Strange passion in your eyes now glows, I listen to you in a dream.
As faster, sweeter come your words, oh tell me, Prince, what does this mean?
And whither has your loved one fled, the silent one, the one without a name?
Where is she? that she might see the prince has changed, is not the same? Fled whither?
Prince:
Heaven only knows...
The change was wrought by you alone, the summer night will not betray
that now has my heart found a home!
Oh call it fickle if you will that I another loved a while, and be you burning
passion’s flame that puts to shame the moon’s pale smile!
Foreign Princess:
When once my love and passion’s glow have fired you till the stars grow pale!
When once for the world I leave you, what then will moon light you avail?
When white her arms around you twine, your silent moon begotten phantom,
what will your passion feed on then, oh squander not your love at random.
Prince:
And should the whole wide world condemn my ardent longing,
to you, my flaming flower, my passionate thoughts are thronging!
It is to you red flower, my passionate thoughts are
thronging, and what my heart desired ‘tis only now I know,
'twas craving to be healed by love’s warm passion glow.
That love no longer lives which held me in its throes,
break I would every promise might I but love, might love, this rose!
Foreign Princess:
Oh ‘tis but now that I do feel that hope is veering to my side.
It seems the wooer does not know which one of us to make his bride!
Prince:
(To Rusalka) Cold are your arms, you chill my heart, Beauty of moon light,
magic’s art!
Water Gnome:
Flee to another’s arms, ha, flee! From her embrace you’ll n'er be free!
Prince:
From the dread power of mystery, save me now, save me!
Foreign Princess:
Into the depths of nameless hell,
haste with your chosen one to dwell!
End of Act 2
10 minute intermission