Characters:
ANDREA CHÉNIER (tenor)
CARLO GÉRARD (baritone)
MADDALENA DI COIGNY (soprano)
The BERSI mulatto (mezzo soprano)
COIGNY COUNTESS (mezzo soprano)
MADLON (mezzo soprano)
ROUCHER (bass or baritone)
THE ROMANZIERO, retired of the King (Pietro Fléville) (bass or baritone)
FOUQUIER-TINVILLE, public prosecutor (bass or baritone)
The MATHIEU sanculotto, called "Populus" (baritone)
An "AMAZING" (tenor)
L'ABATE, poet (tenor)
SCHMIDT, jailer in San Lazzaro (bottom)
MAESTRO DI CASA (bottom)
DUMAS, president of the Public Health Court (bottom)
A music teacher, Alberto Roger, Filandro Fiorinelli, Orazio Coclite, A child, A chancellor, The old Gérard, Robespierre, Couthon, Barras, A serving brother (coffee boy), etc.
Ladies, Lords, Abbots, Lacchè, Staffieri, Flying Hungarians, Musicians, Servants, Paggi, Valletti, Pastorelle, Straccioni.
Borghesi, Sanculotti, Carmagnole, National Guards, Soldiers of the Republic, Gendarmes, Mercatini, Pescivendole, Calzettaje, Street Vendors, Wonderful, Incredibles, Representatives of the Nation, Judges, Jurors, Prisoners, Convicted, Shouts.
ACT ONE
In the province; in the castle of the Lordship of the Counts of Coigny. The winter garden.
Under the rigid commands of an arrogant and galloned Master of the House, they run lackeys, servants, valets full of furniture and vases completing the greenhouse structure.
Carlo Gérard, in livery, enters, supporting a blue and heavy sofa with other servants.
THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE
This blue sofa there collochiam.
Gérard and the lackeys perform, then the Master of the House mentions towards the inner rooms and enters followed by all the lackeys, except Gérard, who kneels forward to the blue sofa, smoothes the curled fringes and restores shiny to the shaved silk, sprinkling the cushions
GÉRARD
at the sofa
Compliant to 'talks of the cicisbeo
that he handed his hand here to matured ladies!
Here the red Neo heel sighing dicy:
Oritia, or Clori, or Nice, powdered
old ladies and rouches I crave you,
and indeed only because of this, perhaps, I love you!
This is the custom of the times!
From the garden we move painfully dragging an old gardener curved under the weight of a piece of furniture. He is the father of Gérard. He throws down the dusting he holds in his hand and runs to help his father, who is trembling away from the twisted paths of the garden. Moved Gérard looks away from his father.
I am sixty years old, or old, whom you serve!
To your protests, arrogant gentlemen
you lavished loyalty, sweat,
the strength of your nerves,
your soul, your mind,
and almost your life was not enough
to make it endless eternally
the horrendous suffering,
you gave the existence of your children.
You have given up servants!
dries the tears then returns to look proudly around the big greenhouse
Hate, golden house!
The image is of a powdered and vain world!
Blessed dami in silk and lace,
hurry up, accelerate
the gavotte gioconde and the minuets!
Fixed is your fate!
Graceful and realy,
son of servants, and servant,
here, judge in livery,
I cry out to you: It's time for death!
La Contessa, Maddalena and Bersi appear beyond the entrance to the greenhouse.
The Countess pauses to give some orders to the Master of the House. Magdalene moves slowly with Bersi.
MAGDALENE
The day around is already slowly entering!
In these mysterious shadows
fantastic shapes take things!
Now the souls are humanly rich!
GÉRARD
to himself, looking admiring Maddalena
How much sweetness does the alma tetra
for you it penetrates!
Even the idea dies, you never die,
you, the Eternal song!
The Countess enters the greenhouse, and with the eyeglass, and with a haughty manner, looks carefully at how and how it was arranged.
COUNTESS
to Gerard and other lackeys
Go, hurry up,
and to the light lumiere dates!
The lackeys begin to light the bracelets and give light to the whole greenhouse. Little by little everything sparkles with cheerful light.
to Gérard
And you say, is everything ready?
GÉRARD
All!
COUNTESS
The choirs?
GÉRARD
They are already dressing up.
COUNTESS
And the players?
GÉRARD
Accordan the tools.
COUNTESS
turning his back on him
Guests will arrive at moments.
MAGDALENE
One is Mr. Fléville ...
COUNTESS
Emeritus writer.
MAGDALENE
And who is the other one?
COUNTESS
It is the Abatino!
MAGDALENE
One comes from Italy?
COUNTESS
Yup! Fléville, the Abbot from Paris.
observing that her daughter is still in her dressing gown
Still like this? Maddalena! Still not dressed?
caresses it and goes to examine if anything is missing even in the upper rooms
Bersi runs to Maddalena and crouches grotesquely at his feet with strange and bizarre gestures:
BERSI
Sighs?
MAGDALENE
Yup; I think of torture
of being beautiful!
BERSI
You make your clothes beautiful!
I fooled them all!
crumpling angrily the folds from the robe
MAGDALENE
he approaches Bersi and calms smiling
I suffocate, dark all closed
in tight bust
with dark shadow scales
or in a corset, as usual
in nakara silk!
BERSI
Your corset is rare!
MAGDALENE
The horrible skirt
"white nymph's thigh"
he smacks me and gets tired, I exhaust all of it,
and, add a hat
"Discount Bank" or the "Basilio"
or to the "Montgolfier",
and you are deaf and blind,
and, born beautiful, you're ugly.
courageously facing the Countess who returns.
From a distance you can hear the approach of the visits.
For tonight, patience!
Mom, do not you hate?
COUNTESS
They are already guests.
MAGDALENE
So I put myself: Bianca vesta
and a rose on his head!
runs away followed by Bersi.
The guests enter the room in pairs. The Countess welcomes them.
COUNTESS
to the ladies
Oh! How elegant ...
to a knight
and you gentle galante!
to the Baron
True gallantry!
to the marquis
To much more than a yearning
your lady
ignite will know the bait!
to an old lady
Showy and fresh always!
Countess, always, always the same!
Enter three characters: one advanced age, the novelist Fléville; a young beardless, Chénier; an ageless, the musician Fiorinelli.
FLÉVILLE
Touched, flattered to many compliments
and to this, more, what a tribute ...
search for the appropriate word
amabil persiflaggio!
I present Flando Fiorinelli to you,
Italian knight and musician!
Andrea Chénier, a verse
and that promises a lot.
Enter the Abbot.
COUNTESS
The abbot!
MAGDALENE
returning
The abbot!
COUNTESS
in Maddalena
Long last!
MAGDALENE
Do you come from Paris?
The ABATE
Yup!
COUNTESS
What news of the court?
MAGDALENE
Of you?
COUNTESS
Soon!
MAGDALENE
We are curious all siam!
Soon! Of you! of you!
The Abbot, flattered, kisses many hands and makes bows that look like genuflections:
The ABATE
Weak is the King!
FLÉVILLE
He gave up?
The ABATE
It was badly recommended!
COUNTESS
Necker?
The ABATE
We do not talk about it!
MADDALENA, CONTESSA, FLÉVILLE, GUESTS
That Necker!
We die of curiosity!
The ABATE
We have the third state!
MADDALENA, CONTESSA, FLÉVILLE, GUESTS
Ah! Ah!
The ABATE
And I saw offender ...
MADDALENA, CONTESSA, FLÉVILLE, GUESTS
Who?
The ABATE
The statue of Henry fourth!
GUEST
Horror!
CONTESSA, then MADDALENA
Horror!
COUNTESS
Where will we end up?
The ABATE
So I judge too!
COUNTESS
They no longer fear God!
The ABATE
Very, madame belle, they are sore
de my novellas!
FLÉVILLE
We spend the evening happily!
Of spring to kind zephyrs
these clouds will fade away!
The sun we will see again and roses and violets,
and we will hear the air saturated with flowers
the echo will redirect the eglogues of the shepherds.
Some young shepherds come out and in vague poses they make themselves around Fléville, who looks at them in amazement.
FLÉVILLE
Or sweet whisper!
Some GUESTS
It's the wind!
The ABATE
It's zephyr!
FLÉVILLE
It is a murmur of a source!
GUEST
It's rustle of wings!
The ABATE
A streamlet I can murmur!
Fléville almost burst into tears with emotion and vanity.
FLÉVILLE
This is my novel!
CHORUS of Pastors and Pastorelle
O Pastorelle, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye!
We are moving towards unknown and strange shores!
Ouch! Ouch! Sarem far diman!
Let us abandon these loci! Ouch! Ouch!
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
He will not have until his return the most joyful!
Ouch! Ouch! Sarem far diman!
O pastorelle goodbye, etc.
Ah! Ah! Sarem far diman! Ah!
Goodbye! Goodbye! Ah! Ah! Goodbye!
Ah! Ah!
COUNTESS
in Chénier
Mr. Chénier?
CHÉNIER
Madame the Countess?
COUNTESS
Does your muse keep silent?
CHÉNIER
It is a backwardness that of tacer desia.
COUNTESS
Your muse is melancholy!
he moves away, waving his fan, saying to Fléville:
Davver not polite!
FLÉVILLE
It's a bit weird!
The ABATE
Musa everybody ready
it's a woman who forbids many!
COUNTESS
It's ver! Here is the poet!
Maddalena heard Chénier's answer to her mother that her friends have vividly commented on; now he gathers them around him.
MAGDALENE
to her friends
I will do it poetry. Let it bet?
The Countess takes the arm to the Abatino and with him approaches Fiorinelli, gently inducing him to the harpsichord ... Fiorinelli sits and plays. Meanwhile, Maddalena approaches Chénier followed by her friends.
MAGDALENE
At my say forgiveness, and to my daring!
I'm a woman and I'm curious.
I want to hear an e-mail from you,
or a poem, for a nun or for a bride.
FRIENDS
For nuns or for brides!
CHÉNIER
Your wish is a gentil command!
But, oh, the fantasy does not bend
on command or earlier;
poetry is very capricious,
like love!
At the word "love" Magdalene and the girls come out laughing. Fiorinelli interrupts; everyone approaches the group of Chénier and Maddalena.
COUNTESS
Why do you laugh?
GUESTS men
What's up? What's up?
FRIENDS
Hear! Listen, that the story is beautiful! ...
MAGDALENE
to his mother
At your prayer,
mom, she opposed a refusal ...
FRIENDS
The poet has fallen into a trap!
MAGDALENE
... Allor bizarre pensier
He came to me: ...
FRIENDS
Revenge!
MAGDALENE
... I said: do we bet? ...
COUNTESS, GUESTS
About what?
MAGDALENE
... What talked about love.
COUNTED then GUESTS
Ebben? Ebben?
MAGDALENE
He called the Muse, and begged her Musa
by his mouth he would laugh at the word
that to me, ...
to an old ridiculous
... you, ...
to an abbot
... and you ...
to a fat marquis
... and you also, ...
to a strange young man for his ugliness
... and you told me tonight -
without Muse.
CHÉNIER
pale
Impressed here you have me jealously cloaked
the purest palpitation of the soul.
mentions to the heart
Now you will see, maiden, what a poem
it is the word "Amor", here cause of mockery!
Surprised, everyone is curious to hear it.
One day to the blue space
I looked deep,
and meadows full of violets,
the sun was raining them,
and the world glowed with gold:
the earth was an immense treasure,
and the firmament served her as a casket.
Up from the ground to my forehead
a live caress came, a kiss.
I cried, won by love:
I love you, kiss me,
divinely beautiful, my homeland!
And I wanted full of love to pray!
I crossed the threshold of a church;
there a priest in the niches
of the saints and of the Virgin,
accumulated gifts -
and to the deaf ear
a tremulous old man
invan asked for bread
and in vain stretch out your hand!
The Abbot and others get scandalized:
I went through the door to the houses;
a man calumniated you
cursing the ground
that the treasury should be satisfied
and against God he hurled
and against men
the tears of the children.
Everyone got angry at Chénier. Gérard only hears him from the bottom of the greenhouse, agitated. The others pretend not to hear it.
In such misery
the patrician offspring who does?
in Maddalena
Sol your eye
expresses humanly here
a pity,
I looked at you at me
yes, like an angel.
And I said: Here is the beauty of life!
But then, in your words,
a new pain caught me in the chest.
Or pretty young girl,
do not despise the saying of a poet:
Hear! You do not know love,
amor, divine gift, not the schernir,
of the world, soul and life is Love!
MAGDALENE
in Chénier
Forgive me!
Chénier moved away and disappears.
COUNTESS
excuse Maddalena
Very strange creature!
It must be forgiven!
It is capricious and a little romantic.
the prelude of a Gavotta comes from the top of the choir
But listen! It is the gay sound of the gavotte.
On knights! Everyone chooses the lady!
The servants make room and the knights and the ladies prepare themselves for the dance ... very distant as soon as they are distinct they hear themselves coming together confused.
FINE VOICES
The night the day
we bring around
pain;
siam grame
that of hunger
we die.
The Countess interrupts the dance, everyone lends an ear to the inner song.
Hungry, languishing,
dying,
we fall over
infertile soils.
Gérard appears at the head of a crowd of ragged and languishing people.
GÉRARD
His greatness is misery!
COUNTESS
livid from anger
Who introduced them?
GÉRARD
Me, Gérard!
COUNTESS
to his valets
This mob away!
to Gérard
And you for the first!
GÉRARD
Yes, I'm going, Countess!
This livery weighs me
and bread is vile to me
that here feeds me!
The voice of those suffering from him calls me!
Meanwhile, the old gardener, father of Gerard, throws himself on his knees before the Countess
raising his father
My father, come with me!
Because you care for yourself
Who does not hear a voice of mercy?
tearing off the livery off
From my meats down,
down this cowardice!
The Master of the House, the servants, the lackeys, reject the crowd. The Countess falls on the sofa, panting from the bile that suffocates her. Gérard forces his father to get away with him
COUNTESS
That Gérard! He ruined reading!
And me, that every day ...
I was alms ...
and do not make poverty blush ...
perfin I made a dress, a costume
of pity!
She falls as fainted on the blue sofa. A lot to do in all! ... who wants to give them drops of the General Lamothe, some of England, who wants to loose the bust. This brings it to light.
to the Master of the House who returns
Are they all gone?
MAESTRO DI CASA
Yup.
COUNTESS
to the guests
Sorry!
The interrupted gavotta, my ladies,
We start again! Return the joy!
They arrange themselves again for the dance.
SECOND ACT
June, 1794. Paris.
On the right an altar dedicated to Marat. On the left the Feuillants terrace and the Hottot coffee. In the background the former Cours-la-Reine defended by the Seine, which runs parallel to it from the parapet, plane trees; lanterns. At a glimpse, the Péronnet bridge that crosses the Seine and leads to the sixteenth century palace.
At the altar stand the surname Mathieu, called "Populus", and his friend Orazio Coclite.
They are part of the animated crowd several 'wonderful' and 'incredible' among which is Bersi, dressed as 'wonderful' too.
Andrea Chénier sits alone in a side table.
MATHIEU
dusting the bust of Marat
For the former hell! here again
of dust on Marat's head!
From the Péronnet bridge and from the outlets of the former Cours-la-Reine, from the gardens of the Tuileries, some newspaper vendors are turned upside down, shouting and waving the newspapers they sell.
Mathieu buys a newspaper and sits comfortably with his indivisible Orazio Coclite on the steps of the Reposoir Marat to read it.
MATHIEU
He gave me a newspaper
five months ago!
laughs
Bersi realizes that he is spied on by an Incredible and turns to him, looking him straight in the eye.
BERSI
Is it true that Robespierre relieves spies?
The Incredible in turn boldly fixes Bersi:
THE AMAZING
You mean citizen,
Observers of the public spirit.
BERSI
As you want.
THE AMAZING
I do not know, nor can I know.
fixes again Bersi blushing
Do you have to fear?
BERSI
down again
Temer? Why?
Why do I fear I will have to?
They are not, like you, a real daughter
authentic of the Revolution?
I love to live like this!
Live quickly of this gay fever
of a quick, acute enjoyment
and almost unconscious!
Here the game and the pleasure,
there death!
Here the sound of coins
and the Biribisso!
Over there the cannon and the roller
of the drums!
Here inebriates wine,
there, inebriates the blood!
Here rice and love,
indicates the sixteenth century palace
there you think and s'odia!
Here the wonderful
drinking a neck of champagne,
the merchants there and the fishmongers
and the passing Sanson cart!
Bersi grabs a glass full of champagne, pointing towards the former Cours-la-Reine where the "small basket" laden with condemned guillotine.
Everyone runs away behind the cart of passing condemned people. The Incredible looks behind Bersi as he walks away.
THE AMAZING
No, I'm not wrong! It was right
with her the beautiful blonde!
I found the track!
take a small notebook out of your pocket and quickly write to you
The small town Bersi, to suspect;
of non-spontaneous corruption;
he looked at Chénier.
Observing!
Andrea Chénier for a few hours
waiting with febrile anxiety evident.
Observe it!
moves away
Roucher enters from the Cours-la-Reine.
CHÉNIER
seeing
Roucher!
ROUCHER
Chénier!
I look for you all day!
I keep your salvation.
he shows him a sheet
CHÉNIER
A passport?
ROUCHER
All around here is a danger for you.
Your precious life saves - parts!
CHÉNIER
My name will lie ... Escape!
ROUCHER
Please, Chénier!
CHÉNIER
No!
Do you believe in destiny? I believe!
I believe in an arcane power
that benign or malignant
our steps or guide
or svia pei different paths
de human existence.
A power that tells a man:
You will be a poet. To another:
To you a sword, be a soldier!
Well, my destiny
maybe here you want me.
If what I crave comes true, I stay.
ROUCHER
If it does not come true?
CHÉNIER
Then I will leave!
And this my destiny is called love.
I have not loved yet,
also often in life
I heard on my next walk
the woman whom the destiny makes mine;
beautiful, ideal, divine like poetry;
love with her on my walk!
Yes, he spoke several times
his voice to my heart;
I hear it often
with his burning voice
tell me: Believe in love;
Chénier, you are loved!
He takes Roucher away from the Hottot coffee
Strange letters have come to me for some time
or soavi, or serious, or cramps or advice.
A mysterious woman writes every day.
In those words he vibrates a soul!
Who is, I investigated in vain.
ROUCHER
Even?
CHÉNIER
he shows him a letter
Till now! But now, look!
ROUCHER
law
Here a meeting?
CHÉNIER
Ah, I'll see you!
ROUCHER
The mysterious alfin raises the veil.
Let 's see.
takes the letter, examines it and smiles ironically at the signature "Hope"
Calligraphy indeed feminil!
Elegant card!
sniffs the letter
But, oh, perfume to the revolution!
returning the letter
This kind of ticket,
scent of provocative rose,
Chénier, I'm not wrong, I swear
comes out of a living room
too well known to love;
Chénier, I assure you,
your destiny has given you the heart
of a wonderful!
Resume your passport -
and away the letter!
CHÉNIER
I do not believe!
ROUCHER
The feminine tide of Paris
in restless waves or here reversed!
I know them all.
They will pass, and I will show you
the mysterious beauty!
Meanwhile, at the bridge crowds are crowded waiting for the exit of the Representatives, the Cinquecento, and the compass of patriotism, Massimiliano Robespierre.
CHÉNIER
A wonderful one
the divine creature from my thoughts
dreamed ?! My life breaks here.
Ah! my good dream goodbye, good-bye beautiful dream!
ROUCHER
A caricature! A fashion!
Your divine sweet poetry
in Fisiù at the Bastille!
and with remnants of hair!
and black to the eyelashes!
CHÉNIER
I accept the passport!
ROUCHER
It is advised!
offering him the passport
You see? From the Péronnet bridge
the crowd agrees.
CHÉNIER
The eternal courtesan!
He takes sides to bend his forehead
to the new god!
THE CROWD
Here is Gérard!
Viva Gérard!
Gérard greets, but at a nod from the Incredible he comes out thoughtful from the ranks of the Representatives and approaches him, letting himself be drawn away from him.
MATHIEU, THE CROWD
seeing Robespierre appear
Viva Robespierre! Hooray!
THE AMAZING
to Gérard
The woman you asked me to look for
is she white or blonde?
CHÉNIER
hinting at Robespierre
He walks alone.
GÉRARD
the incredible
Blue eye of heaven
under a white front;
blonde hair with reflections d'or; ...
ROUCHER
in Chénier
And how much space to art
between the god and the priests!
Here is Tallien!
THE CROWD
Barère! ... Collot d'Herbois! ...
That's Couthon! ... Saint-Just!
CHÉNIER
The enigma!
GÉRARD
... a sweetness in the face
and a smile of a non-human woman; ...
THE CROWD
David! ... Tallien! ... Fréron! ...
Barras! ... Fouché! ...
ROUCHER
Last see?
GÉRARD
... in his modest vestir;
pudico veil over the treasure ...
CHÉNIER
Robespierre the little one!
THE CROWD
... Le Bas! ... Thuriot! ... Carnot! ...
GÉRARD
... of a virgin breast,
and a white cap on the head.
Give me this vague creature!
I told you: Search! Investigate!
In front of me has passed me a day,
but then I lost it!
I no longer live; I suffer!
You save me from this anguish
and all you will have!
THE AMAZING
You'll see her tonight!
he always follows with keen interest, attaching himself to their steps; Chénier and Roucher.
Not far from the Cours-la-Reine are the Representatives of the Nation, which, through the gardens of the Tuileries, appears a lively host of Marvelous, last Bersi.
ROUCHER
in Chénier
Here it is! Strange times!
There go the thinkers.
Here these playful faces:
hence easy
discover the mysterious!
CHÉNIER
Let us leave!
ROUCHER
Look!
It begins to get dark.
BERSI
in Roucher
Do not you say hello?
he quickly whispers
Keep Chénier here.
I'm spied!
ROUCHER
It's fine.
The Incredible enters boldly between Bersi and Roucher.
THE AMAZING
Busty Bersi, here they are still for you!
Meco down come down?
BERSI
Nearly?
CHÉNIER
A wonderful!
THE AMAZING
I do not ask you for a Trenitz.
ROUCHER
I guessed?
BERSI
Why not?
CHÉNIER
What does he mean?
THE AMAZING
Scendiam?
BERSI
Scendiam!
follows the Incredible in the underground cafés
ROUCHER
It's evening. Now propitious.
And at dawn tomorrow
go on walking!
CHÉNIER
Oh my good dream goodbye!
Bersi returns. The Incredible appears behind a vase of flowers and observes and listens.
BERSI
Andrea Chénier! Soon, to you,
a woman threatened by great danger
here it will come. There wait!
indicates the altar of Marat
The Incredible quickly disappears inside the Cafe.
CHÉNIER
restraining
Tell me his name!
BERSI
His name ... Hope!
CHÉNIER
I will come there!
Bersi runs away.
ROUCHER
The unknown writer of yours?
No ... it's a trap! It's an ambush!
CHÉNIER
M'armerò!
he abruptly turns away from him for the former Cours-la-Reine
ROUCHER
Ah, I'll watch over him!
It's night. The streetlights of the bridge and those of the entrance to the Cours-la-Reine light up. Three patrols appear from different directions, slowly following the streets. Mathieu reappears and comes to give light to the lantern of the altar of Marat.
MATHIEU
singing Carmagnola
La-la la-la-la, etc.
Moves away. The patrols also disappear.
The Incredible comes out cautiously from the Cafe and goes to stand at the end of the side street to the Coffee hiding around the corner.
THE AMAZING
Here's my plan is done
Now we wait!
A form of a woman appears on the Péronnet bridge, advancing cautiously. It is Maddalena, dressed up as officiosa.
MAGDALENE
Here is the altar ...
he looks around, scared by that silence
Still nobody ...
I'm scared...
The Incredible looks, retreating down the former Cours-la-Reine. In fact from there appears the shadow of a man wrapped in a pilgrim's pipe.
MAGDALENE
And he! Andrea Chénier!
CHÉNIER
It's me.
Maddalena tries to speak, but her emotion is great and she can not say a word.
CHÉNIER
surprised by the silence
Deggio follow you? Are you sent?
Say, those who desire me.
MAGDALENE
leaning trembling at the altar
I!
CHÉNIER
deceived by clothing
You? Who are you?
The Incredible cautiously moves closer to the two, hiding behind a tree.
MAGDALENE
Still memories!
CHÉNIER
search in memory
Yes, I remember.
To remind him of this, Madeleine remembers the words that Chénier addressed to her on the evening of their meeting at the castle of Coigny:
MAGDALENE
"You do not know love!" ...
CHÉNIER
to that suave memory, surprised, he gets excited
New this voice does not speak to me!
MAGDALENE
"... Amor, divine gift
not the schernir ".
CHÉNIER
I see you!
MAGDALENE
Look at me!
moving the mantle aside, it moves forward under the light of the lamp that burns before the altar of Marat.
CHÉNIER
Ah, Maddalena of Coigny! ...
You? You!
THE AMAZING
(Yes she, the blonde!
from Gérard!)
cautiously moves away
MAGDALENE
Look there ... A shadow!
Chénier goes to the corner where the Incredible was before, but he does not see anyone.
CHÉNIER
Nobody! Even this place
it's perilous.
MAGDALENE
It was Bersi who chose it.
If a danger threatens,
I'm an officier who comes to her
to bring his mantilla.
CHÉNIER
My writer?
You, the hidden one, my friend,
each fleeing?
MAGDALENE
You were mighty, but I was threatened;
even in my sadness, I often thought
to impose upon you peace and salvation,
but not the osai!
And each my destin
on my walk he pushes you!
And I saw you and I thought of you all
like a brother!
And then he wrote to you how much the heart
or the brain dictated to my mind.
The heart that told me that defense
you would have the one who offended you one day!
In the world Bersi alone loves me -
it is she who has hidden me.
But for a month there have been spies
and he follows me.
Where are you fleeing?
It was then that you no longer
powerful I knew ... and I came.
Hear! I'm alone!
I'm alone and threatened!
I am alone in the world!
And I'm scared!
Do you want to protect me?
I hope in you!
CHÉNIER
Now sweet, sublime now of love!
Mighty soul defies terror!
You make pure the heart of every cowardice!
I long for life and I do not fear death!
Ah, stay endless!
MAGDALENE
Close in the perils?
Close in the terror?
CHÉNIER
No more fear in my arm!
Until death together?
MADDALENA, then CHÉNIER
Until death together!
MAGDALENE
Ah! Now sweet, sublime now of love!
Mighty soul defies terror!
CHÉNIER, MADDALENA
You make my heart pure.
I'm not afraid of death, I'm not afraid!
Now suave!
Until death together!
Gérard appears, runs towards them followed by the Incredible.
GÉRARD
Maddalena of Coigny!
MAGDALENE
Gérard!
GÉRARD
As a night I'll find you!
it's about to tear one from the other
CHÉNIER
Follow your way!
GÉRARD
It is forbidden!
Chénier quickly levered the spike into the stick and lashed his face at Gérard. Seeing rushing in, he pointed out Maddalena.
CHÉNIER
in Roucher
Save it!
Roucher goes away with Maddalena.
GÉRARD
the incredible
Pursue!
draws the sword, throws himself against Chénier
Roucher pivots a pair of pocket pistols against the Incredible; the light goes back.
ROUCHER
Bada!
THE AMAZING
To the section!
flees
GÉRARD
throwing himself against Chénier
I steal you from Sanson!
CHÉNIER
mockingly
You are nothing but a friar!
Are you Chabot?
GÉRARD
Ah!
he falls wounded on the steps of the altar of Marat
You're Chénier ... Run away!
Your name Fouquier-Tinville wrote.
It goes! Protect Maddalena!
Chénier escapes.
THE AMAZING
far
At the Péronnet bridge!
People come in from all the parts. The Incredible leads national guards:
MATHIEU
Gérard hurt ?!
THE CROWD
Injured?
THE AMAZING
The wound ...
THE CROWD
The wound?
Gérard lifts himself up with an effort and looking at the Incredible prevents him from speaking.
GÉRARD
Unknown!
faints
MATHIEU
on the steps of the altar
The Girondins were assassinated!
THE CROWD
Death! Death! Death to the Girondins!
Death! Death! Death!
ACT THIRD
The First Section of the Revolutionary Tribunal.
Large room on the ground floor reduced for one half to court, the other reserved for the public.
On the table of the presidency there is a colossal painted wooden urn. Behind the table a large tricolor flag, spread over two spades, bearing the words: CITIZENS! THE PATRIA IS IN DANGER!
Mathieu and Orazio Coclite are at the urn.
The other half of the room is crammed with different people. Public offers are collected. Mathieu addresses those present, holds his caterpillar in his hand and draws in, between word and word, greedy puffs.
MATHIEU
Traitor and Jacobin dumouriez
He passed to the enemies - the rascal!
Coburg, Brunswich, Pitt -
cracks of pest! - and the old lupanare
of all Europe, against it!
Gold and soldiers!
Hence this urn and I that speak to you
we represent the image of the fatherland!
silence, nobody goes to offer
No move?
Let the guillotine go over to everyone
the head and the conscience!
Some go and throw objects and money into the great urn.
It is the homeland in peril!
Or, like Barère,
I raise the cry of Louverture
"Freedom and potatoes!"
seeing Gérard appear, he interrupts himself with glory
But, to ', over there is Gérard!
The former Luigi will take you from his pocket
with words I do not know! ...
Gérard appears.
I do not care about the beautiful mottos!
And I'm proud of it too!
CITIZENS
Citizen Gérard, health!
Hooray!
MATHIEU
Your wound?
GÉRARD
Thanks, citizens!
to Mathieu
My strong fiber has kept me
to my homeland again!
MATHIEU
pointing to the urn
Here is your place!
takes up the previous speech
Dumouriez, traitor and girondino,
He passed to the enemies (everyone dies)!
It is the homeland in pe ...
realizing that the pipe is off
I give the floor.
GÉRARD
Tears and blood gives France!
Hear!
Laudun has hoisted white flag!
The Vendee is on fire!
And Britain threatens!
And Austrians, and Prussians, and English,
and all in the chest of France
the armed claws sink!
It is necessary and the gold and the blood!
The useless gold to your habits,
French women, dates!
Give your children to the great mother,
or you, French mothers!
The women, moved, rushed at first a few moments in bulk and with great enthusiasm, and, arrived at the urn, they throw in it all they have in the middle of money and ornament.
CITY
in small groups
Take it, it's a memory! ...
To you! ... To you! ... A ring! ...
And a bracelet! ...
Take! ... To you! ...
Eight days of work! ...
A silver buckle! ...
To you!
AN OLD Madelon
Wide! ... Wide! ...
CITY
There are two gold buttons! ...
How much I have! ...
A cross! ... Take! ...
to you!
Everyone, before the old, leave the pace. She is a blind woman, who, leaning on the shoulders of a boy of fifteen, slowly approaches the table changed to the altar of the homeland.
MADELON
I'm old Madelon.
My son is dead; he had the name Roger;
he died at the taking of the Bastille;
his first son got to Valmy
gallons and burial.
Just a few days, and I will die.
gently pushes the child before him, presenting him
He is Roger's son.
The last child, the last straw
of my old blood.
Get him!
Do not say he is a child.
He's strong ... He can fight
and die!
GÉRARD
We accept it!
Dinne his name.
MADELON
Roger Alberto.
One writes the name on the register.
GÉRARD
In the evening he will leave
MADELON
to the boy
Joy, goodbye!
hugs the boy who kisses her tightly
Take me away!
they lead the boy away
Who gives me the arm?
Many come to her, and Madelon slowly walks away.
Representatives withdraw the casket, then move away. Gérard sits at the table and reports to the Committee. The crowd gradually thins out. Mathieu with a broom starts to sweep the room that soon becomes the Court.
Carmagnola is the soul of the road.
VOICES from the street
Friends still sing,
drink it, friends, still,
danziam ognor!
Full the glass,
gladden the cor,
full the glass,
sing and ber!
Long live freedom! rip.
Let's celebrate the Carmagnola!
Hurray the sound of the cannon!
Let's celebrate the Carmagnola!
Hurray the sound of the cannon!
Friends still sing, etc.
THE AMAZING
he approaches Gérard
The bird is in the net!
GÉRARD
She?
THE AMAZING
No; the male.
It's in Luxembourg!
GÉRARD
When?
THE AMAZING
This morning.
GÉRARD
And how?
THE AMAZING
The case!
GÉRARD
Where is it?
THE AMAZING
In Passy, with a friend.
GÉRARD
And she?
THE AMAZING
Still no trace.
But this call is the male
for the female who voluntarily
(I think and believe) it will come to us!
GÉRARD
No; it will not come.
far a confused cry
THE AMAZING
Listen!
GÉRARD
Screams are ... Engaged monsters.
THE AMAZING
No; the usual shrieks.
A screamer passes under the window.
NEWSBOY
The very important arrest of Andrea Chénier!
THE AMAZING
These cries will come to her!
GÉRARD
Well?
with a faint act of rebellion, moving the Incredible aside with a gesture
THE AMAZING
with an ironic nod
Well? ...
Little woman in love
that to wait is bored,
if passed it is already time
of the desolate meeting at the nest,
that I die if the beauty
presage over the won anxiety,
he does not descend you by the way
so, as it is, discreet!
He goes out running, and investigates,
and fly, and scan, and spy!
To '! pass a newsboy?
And do you name a name?
Oh, how all goes bleak!
But it does not waver or bend!
Possession of love!
In that pain the woman ceases
and here it is heroin!
Everything will dare! Laonde, you will see it!
Patience! It will come to you!
And this is my thoughts.
Incredible, but true!
Gérard got up and walked feverishly.
GÉRARD
More strongly he will hate me!
THE AMAZING
Who cares?
In the female there are
the body and the heart;
you choose the body:
it's the best part!
Extend the indictment!
almost imperiously he mentions him to write
Andrea Chénier is tough
referred to the court!
Fouquier-Tinville waits.
Write!
he goes away and goes to observe the movement of the people in the square
GÉRARD
he sits down to write
So I hesitate?
Andrea Chénier scored already
Fouquier-Tinville.
His fate is fixed.
Today or tomorrow ...
No! it's vile! It's vile!
The Incredible, seeing him hesitant, returns to him:
THE AMAZING
How time flies!
Affollan the streets already!
goes away again
Gerard takes up his pen; It reflects.
GÉRARD
Enemy of the Fatherland ?!
It is old fairy tale that blissfully
the people drink it.
he still writes
Born in Constantinople? Foreigner!
Did he study in Saint Cyr? Soldier!
he reflects again, then triumphant with an idea immediately flashed and he writes quickly
Traitor! Of Dumouriez an accomplice!
And poet? Subversion of hearts
and costumes!
the latter accusation becomes pensive and his eyes fill with tears; he gets up and walks slowly
One day I was happy
pass between hatreds and revenge,
pure, innocent and strong.
Giant believed me ...
I am always a servant!
I changed my master.
An obedient servant of violent passion!
Ah, worse! I kill and I tremble,
and while I kill I cry!
Me of the redeeming son,
for the first I heard his cry
for the world and I have my cry to him
united ... I have lost faith
in the dreamed destiny?
How radiated he was with glory
my path!
Consciousness in the hearts
awakening the people,
collect tears
of the vanquished and suffering,
make the world a Pantheon,
men in gods change
and in a single kiss,
and in a single kiss and hug
all the loving people! etc.
Now I deny the holy cry!
I hate the core of hate,
and who made me so, proud irony
it's love!
with despair
I am a voluptuous!
Here is the new master: the sense!
Lie everything!
Sol true passion!
seeing the Incredible Signature return to him
THE AMAZING
Is fine!
Where to find you if ...
GÉRARD
interrupting
Here I stay.
The Incredible moves away at the same time that the Chancellor of the Revolutionary Tribunal enters.
Gérard gives these cards and with them the note of the accused including Andrea Chénier.
The Chancellor goes away.
MAGDALENE
at the door
Carlo Gérard?
MATHIEU
There! Revenue!
MAGDALENE
entering
If you still subsidize me, I do not know!
Son Maddalena of Coigny.
interpreting a gesture of Gérard like a rejection
Ah, do not move away!
If you do not hear me
I am lost!
GÉRARD
I was waiting for you! I wanted you here!
I am like you veils to you
launched hordes of spies!
Within all the ways
my pupil has penetrated,
and at every moment!
I, for having you, got your lover!
MAGDALENE
To you! Here I am! Avenge yourselves!
GÉRARD
I do not hate!
MAGDALENE
Why did you want me here?
GÉRARD
Why do you turn around here?
Because I want you!
Because this is written in your life!
Because this wanted my wanting mighty!
It was fatal and you see it has come true!
I wanted you when you were little
for the great meadow with me, I was happy,
in that aroma of inflorized herbs
and of wild roses!
I wanted him what I was told:
"Here is your livery!" and, as it was evening,
while studying a minuet step,
I, gallon and dumb, opened
and closed a door.
The poetry in you so kind
He makes me crazy, big and vile!
Ebben? Who cares? Both!
And it was an hour alone,
I want that intoxication
of your deep eyes!
Me, I still, I want
sink my hands into the sea
of your blonde hair!
boldly standing upright
Or tell me what will you do against my love?
MAGDALENE
I run in the street!
I call you my name!
And it is death that saves me!
Gérard goes to stand between Maddalena and the two exits.
GÉRARD
No, you will not do it! No!
In spite of you, you will be mine!
MAGDALENE
Ah! ...
struck by a thought
If you make money in your life
my body, well, take me!
he approaches him slowly, sublime of his sacrifice
GÉRARD
How can you love!
MAGDALENE
My dead mother has me at the door
of my room; he died and saved me!
then at high night I with Bersi erred,
when suddenly a bruise glow
it flickers and lightens before my steps
the dark way! I watch!
Burned the place of my cradle!
So I was alone! And around nothingness!
Hunger and misery! The need, the danger!
Fell sick, and Bersi, good and pure,
of its beauty has made a market,
a contract for me!
I bring misfortune to those who love me!
suddenly, in the pupils of Maddalena a light of supreme joy is poured out
It was in that pain
that came to me!
Voice full of harmony and says:
"Live again! I am life!
In my eyes is your sky!
You are not alone!
I collect your tears!
I'm on your way and I support you!
Smile and hope! I am love!
All around is blood and mud?
I am divine! I am oblivion!
I am the god who over the world
I come down from the empyrean, it makes of the earth
a heaven! Ah!
I am love, I am love, love "
And the angel approaches, kisses,
and he kisses you death!
Body of dying is my body.
Take it then.
I am already dead!
The citizen Chancellor approaches Gérard, puts before him some written papers and returns to his closet. Gérard takes the papers left by the Chancellor and throws his eyes on it. It is the list of the accused. A name immediately leaps to his eyes - that of Chénier.
GÉRARD
Lost!
My life to save it!
MAGDALENE
You can!
This morning he was arrested.
GÉRARD
But who hated him for today
has prepared his judgment,
his death!
noticing the crowd in the street behind the gate
The crowd already, curious and greedy
of tears, of blood!
from the adjoining rooms I hated the noise of the gendarmes' rifles and sabers
Hear? It's the butt of guns!
They are the gendarmes!
And there is already Chénier!
MAGDALENE
Save it!
GÉRARD
The revolution its children devours!
MAGDALENE
Save it!
Gérard caught by an idea runs to the table and quickly writes a note to the President.
GÉRARD
Your forgiveness is my strength!
Thank you!
I lost it, defend it, I'll know!
The audience spills into the hall tumultuously, excitedly.
Mercantine
to an old woman
Mother Cadet! At the bar, here!
MATHIEU
Oh, Citizen, a little discretion!
Other MERCANTINE
to some companions
From here we can see and hear
to perfection!
MATHIEU
Today big batch, it seems.
Some OLD
Here you can enjoy the sight of everything!
A PESCIVENDOLA
Come here, Babet town!
CITIZENS various
Many ex! ... the Legray! ...
And a poet! ... Come! ...
Yup ...
Mercatons bickering with the old ones
Further!
OLD
You further!
MATHIEU
seeing the bicker
Oh there, those city languages!
CITY
chatting to each other
You are fine? ...
Yup! and you? ...
So and so! ...
Do you come from the market?
Not me! From the barrier!
Do you have news? ...
No! ...
And you do not know anything? ...
They raised the bread! ...
I know I know! ...
It's a shot of that English dog
said Pitt! ...
Enter the jurors followed by the judges;
MATHIEU
Step to the jurors!
GÉRARD
in Maddalena
Here they are, the judges.
CITIZENS
Who presides is Dumas! ...
Vilate! ... Painter! ...
The other is the printer,
tribune Nicolas? ...
Here is Fouquier over there!
Fouquier-Tinville appears.
The public accuser!
MAGDALENE
And the accused?
clinging in fear to Gérard
GÉRARD
Over there, ...
pointing to the door behind the jurors still closed
... with jurors.
The door opens and Maddalena suffocates a cry.
MAGDALENE
Here ... I miss my soul!
Eight gendarmes appear, then, among the soldiers, one by one the accused follow. Last is Chénier. Afterwards, other gendarmes.
He does not look.
Ah, think of me!
MATHIEU
to the whispering merchants
Silence!
DUMAS
call the accused
Gravier de Vergennes!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
reading a note
A former referendum.
CITIZENS
He is a traitor! He is a traitor!
He is a traitor!
Dumas nods to the accused to sit down and reads another name.
DUMAS
Laval-Montmorency!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
Convent of Montmartre.
CITIZENS
Aristocratic!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
Shut up!
The nun raises her hand to speak.
CITIZENS
What to talk? You are old!
Be quiet and die!
laughs
DUMAS
Legray!
A woman stands up: she would like to speak, but the public imposes silence on her.
CITIZENS
Ah!
DUMAS
Andrea Chénier!
GÉRARD
in Maddalena
Courage!
MAGDALENE
looking at Chénier
O love!
CITIZENS
Here is the poet!
Fouquier-Tinville carefully reads!
The accused is dangerous!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
He wrote against the revolution!
He was a soldier with Dumouriez!
CITIZENS
He is a traitor!
CHÉNIER
in Fouquier-Tinville
Minds!
FOUQUIER-TINVILLE, DUMAS
in Chénier
Shut up!
GÉRARD
Speaks!
MAGDALENE
O my love!
CITIZENS
You speak! You speak! ...
Clearance from the accusations!
GÉRARD
desperate to Maddalena
I am that I did!
CHÉNIER
Yes, I was a soldier
and glorious faced death
that, vile, here is given to me.
I was literate,
I made my pen a fierce weapon
against the hypocrites!
With my voice I sang the homeland!
My life passes like a white sail:
it raises the antennas
in the sun that gears them
and sinks the sparkling wine
in the blue of the wave ...
My ship is driven by fate
to the white cliff of death?
Have I come? Both!
But I'm going up a stern
and a triumphal banner
I untie to the winds, and it says: Homeland!
Your mud does not rise to you!
I'm not a traitor.
Kill? But leave me the honor!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
We hear witnesses.
As Mathieu and the Incredible step forward, Gérard turns violently into the crowd.
GÉRARD
Give me the pass! Carlo Gérard!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
He is well; speaks!
GÉRARD
The indictment is a horrible lie!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
surprised
If you wrote it ?!
and show the sheet
GÉRARD
I denounced the fake
and I confess it!
Movement in the crowd and shouts of surprise. Fouquier stands up and feverishly hits the sheet written by Gerard.
FOUQUIER-Tinville
I make these accusations
and renew them!
GÉRARD
Yours is a cowardice!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
You offend your country and justice!
CITIZENS
It is a suspect, it was bought!
GÉRARD
Here justice has the name tyranny!
CITIZENS
Shut up! ...
GÉRARD
Here is an orgy of hate and revenge!
The blood of the homeland here cola!
We are the ones who hurt
the chest of France!
Chénier is a son of the Revolution!
Laurel to him, do not give him death!
The Fatherland is glory!
CITIZENS
... Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! At the lantern!
Yes, out of the law!
At the lantern! At the lantern!
He is a traitor!
It was bought! It was bought!
Shut up! Shut up!
Lay silence, or Dumas! ...
At the sound of the drums passes a group of soldiers going to war.
GÉRARD
Odila, or people, there is the homeland,
where one dies with the sword in his hand!
Not here where you kill her poets.
Fouquier-Tinville makes a sign to the jurors to withdraw; they leave. Gérard rushes to Chénier, hugging him and kissing him.
CHÉNIER
to Gérard
Or generous! or big!
You see! I cry!
GÉRARD
Look over there! That white face ...
And she!
CHÉNIER
She? Maddalena?
Jurors fall. Their leader presents the verdict to Dumas through the Chancellor.
I even saw it again! I am happy to die!
GÉRARD
I still hope.
Dumas takes a quick look at the verdict.
DUMAS
Death!
FOUQUIER-Tinville
Death!
He signals the condemned to withdraw.
Maddalena utters a cry of despair followed by sobs
MAGDALENE
Andrew!
Seeing him again!
ACT FOURTH
The courtyard of the prisons of S. Lazzaro.
High night.
Andrea Chénier is seated under the lantern that gives light, and writes on a small clapboard with a pencil made of a piece of lead, writes now with enthusiasm, now stopping and reflecting as if searching for some words or rhyme. Roucher is close to him.
Schmidt enters the courtyard and approaches Roucher:
SCHMIDT
Citizen, men duol, but it is very late.
Indicating to him Chénier, Roucher beckons him to keep quiet; He rummages around and finds some money and gives it to Schmidt.
ROUCHER
Continue for a moment!
Schmidt departs.
CHÉNIER
he ceases to write
Not anymore ...
ROUCHER
Read!
CHÉNIER
Few verses ...
ROUCHER
Read!
CHÉNIER
Like a beautiful day in May
that with kiss of wind
and ray caress
goes off in firmament,
with the kiss of a rhyme,
caress of poetry,
I climb the extreme top
of my existence.
The walking sphere
for every human destiny
here it is already approaching me
at the time of death,
and perhaps first that the last one
my verse is over,
the executioner will announce me
the end of life.
Both! Strofe, last Goddess!
still give to your poet
the brilliant idea,
the usual flame;
I, to you, while you vivid
to me it flows from the heart,
I will give the ice for rhyme
spiro of a man who dies.
Roucher hugs Chénier. Schmidt returns, the two friends shake hands and parted moved.
.Mathieu, out, vocalizes the Marseillaise.
They beat at the prison door. Schmidt returns quickly and goes to open. It is Gerard, and with him is Maddalena. Gérard presents permission papers, indicating his partner.
GÉRARD
It comes to be granted
one last interview ...
SCHMIDT
interrupting
The convict?
GÉRARD
Andrea Chénier.
SCHMIDT
It's fine.
MAGDALENE
to Gérard
Your oath is yours.
to Schmidt
You hate! Among the condemned of tomorrow
she is a young woman.
SCHMIDT
Legray.
MAGDALENE
Now, viver must!
SCHMIDT
Or how to delete from the list
his name?
MAGDALENE
What does the name matter
if in his place another
will she answer for her?
SCHMIDT
to Gérard
It's fine! But, and the other?
MAGDALENE
Here she is!
SCHMIDT
to Gérard
She?
in Maddalena
You, citizen?
Gérard nods his head. Maddalena hands jewelry and a small bag to Schmidt.
MAGDALENE
to Schmidt
To you! Jewels son.
This is money.
Schmidt opens the bag and sees gold shine again.
SCHMIDT
Strange event in time of
assigned!
to Gérard
I would not ... Do you understand? ...
he makes the gesture of the guillotine
I do not know anything!
In the name of Legray, go up
quickly!
I do not know anything! Nothing!
takes from the hands of Maddalena the permission card to give to Legray, puts away the money and jewels and goes to take the prisoner,
Magdalene approaches Gérard weeping.
MAGDALENE
I bless fate!
I bless death!
GÉRARD
O Magdalene, you make death
the most envied fate!
hearing Schmidt approaching with Chénier, he moved away, running towards the second courtyard
Save them! From Robespierre again!
Enter Chénier.
In the light of the lantern, Maddalena sees it.
CHÉNIER
Near you it is acquired
the restless soul of mine;
you are the goal of every desire,
of every dream, of every poem!
he looks at her lovingly
Within your sight
the scent iridescence
of infinite spaces.
I look at you; in this green stream
of your large pupil I am mistaken with the soul!
MAGDALENE
Not to leave you here;
it's not goodbye!
I come to die with you!
The suffering ended!
Death in loving you!
Ah! About the extreme word from the lips
Collects, it is He, the Love!
CHÉNIER
You are the goal of my existence!
CHÉNIER, MADDALENA
Ours is love of souls!
MAGDALENE
Except for a mother.
Maddalena at dawn has a name
for the Idia Legray death.
looking in the backyard
You see? The uncertain light of twilight
down pe 'shabby halls already lights up.
with his arms enveloping tight Chénier, he surrenders all over his chest
Hug me! Kiss Me! Lover!
CHÉNIER
kissing her violently
Pride of beauty!
he kisses her again
Triumph you, of the soul!
Your love, sublime lover,
it's sea, it's heaven, sunlight
and of stars ...
... It's the world! It's the world!
MAGDALENE
Lover! Lover!
CHÉNIER, MADDALENA
Our death is the triumph of love!
CHÉNIER
Ah, I bless, I bless fate!
MAGDALENE
In the hour that dies
eternal we become!
CHÉNIER
Death!
MAGDALENE
Infinity!
MADDALENA, CHÉNIER
Love! Love!
The drum roll announces the arrival of the cart.
CHÉNIER, MADDALENA
It is death!
CHÉNIER
She comes with the sun!
MAGDALENE
She comes with the morning!
CHÉNIER
Ah, it's like the dawn!
MAGDALENE
With the sun that gobbles it!
CHÉNIER
It comes to us from the sky,
within a veil of roses and violets!
MADDALENA, CHÉNIER
Amor! Amor! Infinity!
Amor! Amor!
SCHMIDT
Andrea Chénier!
CHÉNIER
It's me!
SCHMIDT
Idia Legray!
MAGDALENE
It's me!
MADDALENA, CHÉNIER
climbing on the cart
Long live death together!
As the cart goes away, Gérard reappears.
He is holding the note written by Robespierre not to see him: "Even Plato banished the poets from his Republic."