Teresa: So that’s it? Very well, my friend,
Too long I’ve stood your slights, your scorning!
I’ve borne enough. This is the end!
Listen to me, and don’t pretend
I didn’t give you warning!
There’s only one thing I’ve to say:
You will not love, then you shall fear me!
Either you come with me today
Or Baldassare I’II betray!
That’s plain enough. D’you hear me?
Beppo: Teresa! What on earth!
Tonio: I say!
Teresa: Don’t interfere. Your choice?
Baldassare: I stay!
As for the rest, it’s your affair!
Teresa: Take care!
You want to know where Baldassare is?
Crowd: Oh tell us, pray!
Teresa: Perhaps he’s not so very far away!
And to His Excellency here
His hiding-place I’ll show,
If he will be my cavalier,
And come with me.
Baldassare: No! No!
Teresa: You must!
Baldassare: I cannot go!
Teresa: Think twice ’ere you refuse!
Do you prefer your liberty to lose?
Baldassare: I will not stir!
Teresa: Then, for the last time, choose
’Twixt me and … her!
Beppo: Teresa, come what may
I trust you still,
Your chief you’ll not betray?
Teresa: I will!
Beppo: Are you a traitor who deceives
The friend who in your faith believes?
Surely not! Have you forgot:
There’s honour among thieves.
General: Come, come, we’re wasting time! My dear
I’m glad you’ve learnt discretion.
We’re all quite ready now to hear
Your frank and full confession.
Where’s Baldassare? Solve our doubts.
Disclose his whereabouts!
Baldassare: One moment, please! ’Ere you obtain
This priceless information,
Pray, what will the informer gain
By way of compensation?
You’ll own her news is worth a bit …
You ought to pay for it!
General: A thousand francs!
Baldassare: Too little—much!
General: (counting out notes from his pocket-book) Ten thousand should be plenty!
Baldassare: No! More!
Teresa: Your money I’ll not touch!
General: Good! Then I’ll make it twenty!
Now, tell us what we want to know.
And then you’re free to go!
Crowd: Where oh where does Baldassare
Hide like a bear
Safe in his lair?
Soon we’ll snare this Baldassare!
Devil-may-care
Brigand, beware!
Angela: (to Teresa) Find and bind him, I implore you!
General: Then to freedom I’ll restore you!
Teresa: Baldassare stands before you!
Crowd: Where?
Teresa: There!
Crowd: Save us from Baldassare
And all his gang!
Angela: So you are Baldassare—You?
Baldassare: You tell me so! It must be true!
Angela: Robber and cheat! Your life a lie! Have you no word to say?
Baldassare: Only goodbye!
(He holds out his hand which she refuses to take)
I see! You can’t forgive today!
General: Arrest that man!
(Pointing to brigands)
And those as well!
Baldassare: Ah! No!
They’re innocent, I swear.
So let them go.
General: (To brigands) Tomorrow morning, at low tide,
Out to the Devil’s Isle you’ll journey,
There to be well and truly tried
And sentenced by the Lord Attorney!
Crowd: Sentenced by the Lord Attorney!
General: ’Tis there, beside the silver sea,
That guilt receives just retribution!
He points to Teresa
This young woman here shall be
Chief witness for the prosecution!
Crowd: Witness for the prosecution!
Come, give three cheers
For the Governor, our Governor!
May he live for years,
Our Governor, Lord Governor!
Oh, welcome date, hurrah!
Oh, kindly fate!
We greet so loyally,
Right royally,
The governor of the state.
Teresa: Oh, Baldassare, Oh, Baldassare.
Forgive … I didn’t mean … I never planned …
Baldassare: I understand.
Such things, you know, must be!
Don’t bother about me!
We’ve had some fun together in the past!
One can’t expect those happy times to last.
No need for you to be upset.
There, there! Cheer up! Don’t fret!
Teresa: Oh, Baldassare! Oh, Baldassare!
… by any luckless maid!
Farewell. The old familiar ties are broken,
The old friendships fade!
Farewell! Farewell!
Harry Graham (1874-1936)