DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. HOFFMANN COUNSELOR LINDORF COPPELIUS DAPERTUTTO DOCTOR MIRACLE SPALANZANI CRESPEL ANDRES COCHENILLE FRANTZ LUTHER NATHANAEL HERMANN STELLA GIULIETTA OLYMPIA ANTONIA NICKLAUSSE THE MUSE A GHOST Les Contes d' Hoffmann. THE TALES OF HOFFMANN 11 FMANN. I speak of her... NATHANAEL. NATHANAEL. You need not blush, I imagine Our friend Wilhelm who's there, Burns for Leonor and finds her divine. Hermann loves Gretchen and I am near ruined For the Fausta. Who? HOFFMANN. Nobody... nothing, my spirit is dullish. Nothing. Klein-Zach is better, mal- formed as he is ! CHORUS Flick, flack, There's Klein-Zach. HOFFMANN (to Wilhelm). Yes, Leonor, thy virtuose. (To Hermann.) Yes, Gretchen, thy doll inert, of icy heart. (to Nathanael.) And thy Fausta, poor insensate, The courtezan with front of brass. HOFFMANN (throwing away his glass! Peuh!... this beer is detestable, Let's light up the punch and drink; And may the light-headed Roll under the table. NATHANAEL. Morose spirit, Many thanks for Fausta, Gretchen and Leonore !... CHORUS. And may the light headed • Roll under the table. . HOFFMANN. Pish. They are all alike. CHORUS. NATHANAEL. Then your mistress is such a treasure That you despise so much our own? (The lights go out, Luther fires an im- mense punch bowl.) Luther is a brave man, Tire la laire, Tire lan la. 'Tis to-morrow that we poison him, Tire lan laire, Tire lan la. His cellar is a goodly spot, Tire lan laire. 'Tis to-morrow we will make it hot, Tire lan laire, Tire lan la. HOFFMANN. My mistress, no, no, say rather three. Charming trio of enchantresses. Who are dividing my days. Would you like the story of my crazy loves ?... NICKLAUSSE. Very good, indeed. At least we are pruned With reason and practical sense! Away with languorous hearts. CHORUS. Yes, yes! NICKLAUSSE. What are you saying of three mis tresses ? HOFFMANN. Smoke!... Before this dead pipe is relighted You will have comprehended, You who in this play where my heart was consumed In good sense took the first prize! (All the students go to their places.) NATHANAEL. Let's wager that Hoffmann's in love. HOFFMANN. What then? THE TALES OF HOFFMANN 13 CHORUS. Listen. It is nice to drink, To the telling of a crazy tale, While following the fragrant cloud, That a pipe throws in the air. To the rays of Love. Divine hearth! Sun whose ardor peno- trates And comes to kiss us. Ineffable desire where one's whole being Melts in a single kiss. Let, let my flame, etc., etc. (Nicklausse appears.) being HOFFMANN (sitting on corner of table). I begin. CHORUS. NICKLAUSSE. By Jove, I felt sure you'd be here. Silence. . HOFFMAN (letting portiere fall). Chut. HOFFMANN. The name of the first was Olym- pia... (The curtain falls as Hoffmann is speaking.) NICKLAUSSE. Why? 'tis there that breathes The dove who's now your amorous care, The beautiful Olympia ? Go, my child, admire! ACT II. HOFFMAN. Yes, I adore her! (A physician's room, richly nished.) fur- NICKLAUSSE. HOFFMAN (alone). Want to know her better. Come! Courage and confidence; I become a well of science. I must turn with the wind that blows, To deserve the one I love. I shall know how to find in myself The stuff of a learned man. She is there... if I dared. HOFFMAN. The soul one loves is easy to know. NICKLAUSSE. What? by a look... through a win- dow ? (He softly, lifts the portiere.. HOFFMAN. A look is enough to embrace the heavens. 'Tis she! She sleeps... how beautiful! Ah! together live... both in the same hope, The same remembrance Divide our happiness and our sorrow, And share the future. Let, let my flame Pour in thee the light, Let your soul but open NICKLAUSSE. What warmth !... At least she knows that you love her. HOFFMAN. No. THE TALES OF HOFFMANN 19 THE CHORUS (with energy). No! no! the supper... good thing... After we'll dance. COCHENILLE. The supper awaits you. SPALANZANI. As you please... THE CHORUS. Supper, supper, supper awaits us! No, really, no host Receives more richly! HOFFMAN (approaching Olympia). Might I dare... (They go out.) HOFFMAN. SPALANZANI (interrupting). She is a bit tired, Wait for the ball. (He touches Olympia's shoulder.) They are at last gone. Ah, I breathe ! Alone, alone, the two of us (approach- ing Olympia); I have so many things to say, Oh my Olympia! Let me admire. you! With your charming looks let me in- toxicate myself. OLYMPIA. Yes. LANZANI. (He touches her shoulder). You see. Until then Will you do me the favor To keep company with my Olympia : OLYMPIA. FMAN. Yes. Oh liappiness! HOFFMAN. SPALANZANI (aside, laughing). We'll see what kind a story he'll give her. i Is it not a dream born of fever? I thought I heard a sigh escape your lips ! NICKLAUSSE (to Spalanzani). Won't she take supper? (He again touches her shoulder). OLYMPIA. PALANZANI. Yes. No. HOFFMAN. NICKLAUSSE (aside). Poetic soul! (Stalansani goes behind Olympia. Noise of a spring is heard. Nick- lausse turnis around.) What did you say? Sweet avowal, pledge of our love, You are mine, our hearts are united forever! Ah! understand you, tell me, this eter- nal joy Of silent hearts. Living, with but one soul and with same stroke of wing, Rush up to heaven! Let, let, my flame Show you the light of day! Let your soul open To the rays of love. SPALANZANI. Nothing, physics! ah, monsieur, physics! (He conducts Olympia to a chair. Gocs 011t with guests). THE TALES OF HOFFMANN 27 GUILIETTA. What! Why, I've wept for you three whole days. NICKLAUSSE. One word! I have two horses sad- dled. At the first dream That Hoffman permits himself, I carry him off. PITICHINACCIO. Good. SCHLEMIL (to Pitichinaccio). Microbe ! HOFFMAN. And what dream ever could be born By such realities? Does one love a courtezan? PITICHINACCIO. Hola! VICKLAUSSE. Yet this Schlemi... GIULIETTA. Calm yourselves ! We have a strange poet among us. · (Presenting) Hoffman ! MAN. I am not Schlemil. SCHLEMIL (with bad grace). Monsieur ! NICKLAUSSE. Take care, the devil is clever. DAPERTUTTO (appears at back). FMAN. HOFFMAN. Monsieur ! GIULIETTA (to Schlemil). Smile on us, I beg, And come take your place At pharaoh! Were it so, If he makes me love her, may he damn me, Come! NICKLAUSSE. Let us go (They go out.) THE CHORUS. Bravo! To pharaoh! (Giulietta after having invited all to followe' her, goes toward door. Hoff- man offers his hand to Giulietta. Schlemil comes between.) SCHLEMIL (taking Giulietta's hand). By heavens! GIULETTA. To the game, gentlemen, to the game! DAPERTUTTO (alone). Yes !... to fight you. The eyes of Giulietta are a sure weapon, It needed that Schlemil fail, Faith of captain and soldier, You'll do like him. I will that Giulietta shall use sorcery on you. (Drawing from his finger a ring with a big sparkling diamond.) Turn, turn, mirror, where the lark is caught, Sparkle diamond, fascinate, draw her... The lark or the woman To this conquering bait THE CHORUS. To the game, the game! (All go out ercept Hoffman and Nici- lausse.)