The Princes, Princesses, Ambassadors, and their Ladies, with as many of the nobility as the room would hold, sat in a half-circle opposite the stage, rising in tiers from floor to ceiling, leaving empty a space in the middle (between the stage and the tiers of seats) where the dance took place. On the right, between the seats and the stage was a large box for the Ambassadors' gentlemen, and a similar box opposite on the left in which were a large number of musicians both for strings and wind.
As soon as all were comfortably seated a signal was given with a terrifying noise of drums under the stage: then the curtain rose and there appeared the huge mouth of a deep cavern full of burning fire in which moved infernal monsters so horrible and frightening that many did not dare to fix their eyes on them. In front, where there was a dim and murky light, appeared Venus, holding Cupid by the hand.
2 AMORE: De l'implacabil Dio
Eccone giunt'al Regno,
Seconda o bella Madre il pregar mio. | CUPID: Here is the realm of Pluto whom there is no appeasing. Support me, O lovely mother, while to him I make request. |
VENERE: Non tacerà mia voce
Dolci lusinghe e prieghi
Fin che l'alma feroce
Del Re severo al tuo voler non pieghi. | VENUS: My voice shall not be silent; sweetly will I persuade him, till the grim King of Shadows his iron will to your desire be bending. |
AMORE: Ferma, ferma, Madre, il bel piè, non por le piante
Nel tenebroso impero,
Che l'aer tutto nero
Non macchiass'il candor del bel sembiante:
Io sol n'andrò nella magion oscura,
E pregand'il gran Re trarotti avante. | CUPID: Go no nearer, mother, I pray, nor cross the threshold into these gloomy regions for fear the sooty vapor should sully the whiteness of your fair face. I'll go alone into the house of darkness and beseech the great King to appear before you. |
VENERE: Va pur come t'agrada. Io quì t'aspetto,
Discreto pargoletto. | VENUS: Yes, go, if it so please you. Here I'll attend you. I know that you fear nothing. |
Here Cupid entered bravely into the cavern, passing through fire and flame unharmed. Meanwhile, Venus turned towards the spectators and looking at the ladies who were in front thus addressed them:
4 VENERE: Udite, Donne, udite! I saggi detti
Di celeste parlar nel cor servate:
Chi, nemica d'amor, nei crudi affetti
Armerà il cor nella fiorita etate. | VENUS: Most noble ladies, give ear to what I tell you, and keep within your hearts my words of heavenly wisdom, she who is enemy to Love and her heart hardens while she is yet in the season of her youth and beauty. |
Sinfonia
VENERE: Sentirà come poscia arde a saetti
Quando più non avrà grazia e beltate,
E in vano risonerà, tardi pentita,
Di lisce e d'acque alla fallace aita. | VENUS: She will learn all too late now that the fire of love will torment her when that beauty and youth are lost forever. And then 'twill be too late to make repentance and seek to hide with artifice deceitful what will be past repairing. |
At the end of her speech Pluto came out from the right-hand side of the cavern, formidable in appearance, wearing the dress attributed to him by the poets, but covered with gold and jewels.
PLUTONE: Bella madre d'Amor, che col bel ciglio
Splender l'Inferno fai sereno e puro,
Qual destin, qual consiglio
Dal ciel t'ha scorto in quest'abisso oscuro? | PLUTO: Beauteous mother of Love, whose radiant glances make Hell itself to shine with heavenly glory, tell me now, with what purpose have you descended to these obscure abysses? |
VENERE: O de la morte innumerabil gente
Tremendo Re, dal luminoso cielo
Traggemi a quest'orror materno zelo:
Sappi che a mano a mano
L'unico figlio mio di strali e d'arco
Arma, sprezzato arcier, gli omer e l'ali. | VENUS: O dreaded ruler of the unnumbered shadows, King of the Dead, from realm of light eternal I am led hither by a mother's fond devotion. Know then, that for a long time my dear and only son has been dishonored, his archery is mocked, scorned are his arrows. |
PLUTONE: Chi spogliò di valore l'auree saette
Che tante volte e tante
Giunsero al cor de l'immortal Tonante? | PLUTO: Who deprived of their power those golden arrows that many a time and oft have pierced the heart of our immortal Thunderer? |
VENERE: Donne, che di beltate e di valore
Tolgono alle più degne il nome altero,
Là, nel Germano Impero,
Di cotanto rigor sen van armate,
Che di quadrell'aurate
E di sua face il foco
Recansi a scherzo e gioco. | VENUS: Ladies they were, whose rare and radiant beauty rivals the rising dawn in all its lory. Here in our noble Mantua, they have ardened their hearts with such severeness that Cupid's golden arrows and all his darts enflamed they treat as airy trifles. |
PLUTONE: Mal si sprezza d'Amor la face e'l telo.
Sallo la terra e'l mar, l'inferno e'l cielo. | PLUTO: They do wrong who despise the torch of Cupid; the whole earth knows it, the sea, yes, Hell too, and Heaven. |
VENERE: No, no. non de' più fidi amanti
Odon le voci e i pianti.
Amor, Costanza, e Fede
Non pur ombra trovar può di mercede.
Questa gli altrui martiri
Narra ridendo. E quella
Sol gode d'esser bella
Quando tragge d'un cor pianti e sospiri.
Invan gentil guerriero
Move in campo d'honor, leggiadro e fiero.
Indarno ingegno altero
Freggia d'eterni carmi
Beltà che non l'ascolta e non l'aprezza.
Oh barbara fierezza!
Oh cor di tigre e d'angue!
Mirar senza dolore
Fido amante versar lagrime e sangue!
E per sua gloria, e per altrui vendetta
Ritrovi in sua faretra Amor saetta! | VENUS: No, no, these cruel heartless ladies lend not their ear to lovers, not all their loyal devotion is by slightest return ever rewarded. This one narrates their sufferings merrily laughing, another rejoices in her beauty for that so many for her vainly are sighing. In vain a noble warrior proudly rides to the field, the field of honor; in vain some gentle poet praises in verse immortal one who neither ear, nor understanding has; O heartless pride and cruel! Heart of tiger or serpent! To watch, all unfeeling a faithful lover his tears, yes, and his love outpouring! To wreak his vengeance or to maintain his glory there's not an arrow left in Cupid's quiver. |
PLUTONE: S'invan su l'arco tendi
I poderosi strali,
Amor che speri, e che soccorso attendi? | PLUTO: Then, Cupid, if in vain you shoot your weighty arrows, what hope is left you? Where will you look for succor? |
AMORE: Fuor de l'atra caverna
Ove piangono invan, di Speme ignude,
Scorgi, Signor, quell'empie e crude!
Vegga, vegga sull'Istro
Ogni anima superba
A qual martir cruda beltà si serba! | CUPID: From the cavern of darkness where they lament all in vain, bereft of hope, bring, O my lord, those heartless ladies, and let every proud soul upon the shore of Mincio behold herself what cruel fate awaits her. |
PLUTONE: Deh! Chi ricerchi, Amor!
Amor, non sai che dal carcer profondo
Cale non è che ne rimeni al mondo? | PLUTO: Nay, but what ask you, Cupid? You surely know that from their murky dungeon there is no road back to the land of the living. |
AMORE: So che dal bass'Inferno
Per far ritorno al ciel serrato è il varco.
Ma chi contrasta col tuo poter eterno? | CUPID: I know the road from Hades that upwards leads to Heaven is barred and bolted; who can resist the mighty power of Pluto? |
PLUTONE: Saggio signor se di sua possa è parco. | PLUTO: Wise is that lord who of his power is sparing. |
VENERE: Dunque non ti rammenti
Che Proserpina bella a coglier fiori
Guidai sul monte degli eterni ardori?
Deh! Per quegli almi contenti,
Deh! Per quei dolci amori,
Fa nel mondo veder l'ombre dolenti! | VENUS: Then do you not remember that it was I who guided the fair Persephone to gather flowers upon the burning mountain? O, by that happy moment, O, by all the bliss she brought you, let us view for ourselves these doleful shadows! |
PLUTONE: Troppo, troppo possenti 5 Bella madre d'Amore,
Giungon del tuo pregar gli strali al cuore!
Udite! Udite! Udite!
O dell'infernal corte
Fere ministre, udite! | PLUTO: Who can resist that appeal, O lovely mother of Cupid, when you revive in me those fires of passion? I call you, I call you, I call you, all you that wait upon my royal bidding. I call you! |
At the call of Pluto there issued from the cavern many monstrous and horrible shapes throwing flames around to the great terror of the spectators; they presented themselves in front with voices that were horrible and yet harmonious:
OMBRE D'INFERNO: Che vuoi? Ch'imperi? | INFERNAL SPIRITS: We come, what would you? |
PLUTONE: Aprite, aprite
Le tenebrose porte
De la prigion caliginosa e nera!
E de l'Anime Ingrate
Trahete qui la condannata schiera! | PLUTO: Throw open the sooty doors of darkness, throw open wide the gates of Hell's black dungeons, and the souls of the heartless bring up with you; let us behold their torment. |
While the cruel Spirits went to carry out the order of Pluto, Venus turned towards Pluto and addressed him:
VENERE: Non senz'altro diletto
Di magnanimi Regi
Il piè porrai ne l'ammirabil tetto!
Ivi, di fabri egregi
Incredibil lavoro,
O quanto ammirerai marmorii fregi!
D'ostro lucent' e d'oro
Splendon pompose le superbe mura!
E per Dedalea cura,
Sorger potrai tra l'indorate travi,
Palme e trionfi d'innumerabil Avi.
Ne minor meraviglia
Ti graverà le ciglia,
Folti Theatri rimirando e scene,
Scorno del Tebro e de la dotta Atene! | VENUS: Now greatly are you honored by the noblest of monarchs that you should view, within this royal mansion, works of unrivalled craftsmen such as never would be believed. Here you may now admire the frieze of marble shining with gold and purple. Gaze on the walls in lofty pride ascending, and on the gilded ceiling. You may behold by skillful art projected trophies and emblems of an illustrious ancestry. And a yet greater marvel will fill your eyes with amazement. This crowded theatre and its vast perspective: you never saw such in Ancient Rome or learned Athens. |
Here Cupid espied the unhappy ladies appear within the cavern and turning to his mother as if distressed at this wretched sight, pointed them out to her:
6 AMORE: Ecco, ecco ver noi l'adolorate squadre.
O miserelle!
L'adolorate squadre di quell'alme infelici. | CUPID: See, they come, see, they come in sad and drear procession! O wretched women! In sad and drear procession here they come, unhappy shadows. |
AMORE E VENERE: O miserelle!
Ahi vista troppo oscura, o miserelle!
Felici voi se vi vedeva il fato
Men crude e fere, o men leggiadre e belle!
O miserelle! | CUPID & VENUS: O wretched women! 'Tis dreadful, oh 'tis dreadful to behold them. O wretched women! Happy were you if that the world had seen you less proud and cruel, or else less fair and lovely. O wretched women! |
Pluto, seeing Venus and Cupid so perturbed, exhorted them to depart, and then hastened the steps of the Ladies with a loud and threatening voice.
PLUTONE: Tornate al bel seren, celesti Numi! Movete meco, voi d'Amor ribelle! | PLUTO: To light again return, celestial deities; but you must follow me, who love rejected. |
Venus, taking Cupid by the hand, departed from these tearful shores, while the condemned troop, walking through the flames, came out into the open, gazing at the air and light with motions of great sorrow.
They were dressed in very strange and beautiful garments which touched the ground, and were made of a rich stuff that was woven for the occasion. It was of grey color interwoven with threads of silver and gold so that it looked like ashes mingled with glowing sparks, and the cloaks which hung from their shoulders were woven with thick flames embroidered in silk and gold, so that each looked as if she was on fire and between the flames one saw carbuncles, rubies and other gems which looked like blazing coals. Such gems were set to their hair too, partly dressed and partly loose, so that it seemed destroyed and burned, and though all covered with ashes, yet showed a certain splendor among the ashes and smoke, and one could see that their hair had once been of finest gold. Their faces showed signs of long past beauty, but so transformed and pale that it was pitiful to behold them.
They descended with gestures of grief, two and two, a gentle slope down from the stage to the sound of instruments playing a melancholy air; and when they were on the floor of the theatre they danced with gestures of grief and despair, sometimes of pity or of scorn, sometimes embracing with tears in their eyes, sometimes striking each other in rage and fury. They sometimes seemed to hate their own appearances and to fly from them, sometimes to pursue them threateningly, fight with each other and then ask pardon. After they had danced and covered the whole floor space, on a sign from Pluto who stood still in front of the stage, they formed two lines along it, eight on each side, while he advanced towards the Duchess of Mantua and addressed her.
Entrate e ballo
8 PLUTONE: Dal tenebroso orror del mio gran Regno
Fugga, Donna, il timor dal molle seno!
Arso di nova fiamma al ciel sereno
Donna o Donzella per rapir non vegno. | PLUTO: Far from the gloomy shades of my dark kingdom (ladies, let not the sight of me affright you), burning with new desire I seek your sunlight, this time I come not with intent to ravish. |
Ritornello
PLUTONE: E quando pur de vostri rai nel petto
Languisce immortalmente il cor ferito,
Non fora disturbar Plutone ardito
Di cotanta Regina il lieto aspetto.
Donna al cui nobil crin non bassi fregi
Sol pon del Cielo ordir gli eterni lumi,
Di cui l'alma virtù, gli aurei costumi
Farsi speglio dovrian Monarchi e Regi. | PLUTO: And though by your bright rays I am confounded, and I in mortal rapture must ever languish, yet Pluto's heart remains by fear untroubled granted by so gracious a Queen her gracious audience. Lady, for your exalted brow no crown is worthy save one that Heaven must weave of stars eternal; your generous heart, your noble virtue high example show forth to mightiest kings and princes. |
Ritornello
PLUTONE: Sceso pur dianzi Amor ne'l Regno oscuro.
Preghi mi fè ch'io vi scorgessi avanti
Queste infelici, ch'in perpetui pianti
Dolgonsi invan che non ben sagge furo. | PLUTO: Cupid came down this day to realms of darkness asking that I should here present before you these hapless ladies who in grief unending vainly repent that all unwisely they to folly yielded. |
Ritornello
PLUTONE: Antro è la giù, di luce e d'aer privo,
Ove torbido fumo ogni hor s'aggira:
Ivi del folle ardir tardi sospira
Alma ch'ingrata hebbe ogni amante a schivo.
Indi le traggo e ve l'addito e mostro,
Pallido il volto e lagrimoso il ciglio,
Per che cangiando homai voglie e consiglio
Non piangete ancor voi nel negro chiostro. | PLUTO: Deep in a cave where light nor air can reach them, where horrid fumes and vapors overwhelm them, there they repent their ways, tardy lamenting, who all ungrateful spurned their devoted suitors. Therefore I bring them, I point to them and show them, pale are their faces, their eyes are red with weeping, be wise, be wise, be wise in time, heed now their warning, lest you too should one day their woe be sharing. |
Ritornello
PLUTONE: Vaglia timor di sempiterni affanni,
Se forza in voi non han sospiri e prieghi!
Ma qual cieca ragion vol che si nieghi
Qual che malgrado alfin vi tolgon gli anni?
Frutto non è di riserbarsi al fino.
Trovi fede al mio dir mortal beltate. | PLUTO: Ponder in fear upon their doom eternal, if lovers' ardent sighs to kindness cannot move you. How can you be so blind as to deny them that which against your will the years will ravish? Love is no fruit to store away for winter (O believe what I say), for beauty is mortal. |
Ma qui star non più lice, Anime Ingrate.
Tornate al lagrimar nel Regno Inferno! | But now stay here no longer, you heartless ladies. For back you now must go to realms of torment. |
Here the instruments took up a new air for dancing, more melancholy than the other, and the heartless ladies began another dance with gestures more despairing, gradually ascending to the stage in the order of their descending. And when they were all above, Pluto spoke with a voice of horror and terror:
Entrata
PLUTONE: Tornate al negro chiostro,
Anime sventurate,
Tornate ove vi sforza il fallir vostro! | PLUTO: Return to your dark cloister, unhappy souls of error, go back to where your own misdeeds have now brought you. |
Here one of the Heartless Ladies, who had remained on the stage when the others came down to dance, burst into sighs and sobs such that there was no lady in the theatre who did not shed tears.
Entrata
10 UNA DELLE INGRATE: Ahi troppo, ahi troppo è duro!
Crudel sentenza, e vie più crude pene!
Tornar a lagrimar nell'antro oscuro!
Aer sereno e puro,
Addio per sempre! Addio per sempre,
O cielo, o sole! Addio lucide stelle!
Apprendete pietà, Donne e Donzelle! | HEARTLESS LADY: O cruel, O all too cruel! O cruel sentence! Penance yet more cruel! To turn again to weep in gloomy cavern. Sweet air serene and cloudless, farewell, farewell for ever! O Heaven, O sunlight, farewell, stars ever shining! Learn from us to be kind, all you fair ladies. |
QUATTRO INGRATE insieme: Apprendete pietà, Donne e Donzelle! | CHORUS
Learn from us to be kind, all you fair ladies. |
UNA DELLE INGRATE: Al fumo, a gridi, a pianti,
A sempiterno affanno!
Ahi! Dove son le pompe, ove gli amanti!
Dove, dove sen vanno
Donne che si pregiate al mondo furo?
Aer sereno e puro,
Addio per sempre! Addio per sempre,
O cielo, o sole! Addio lucide stelle!
Apprendete pietà, Donne e Donzelle! | HEARTLESS LADY
To darkness, to wailing, and anguish, to never-ending torment! Ah, where are now the splendors? Where are our lovers? Whither go we now, we that were held in such repute and honor? Sweet air serene and cloudless, farewell, farewell forever!
O Heaven, O sunlight, farewell, stars ever shining! Learn from us to be kind, all you fair ladies. |
Ladies within are heard repeating the last line. They all return to the cavern, as if pushed by main force, and as soon as they were swallowed up, the great mouth of Hell closed and the curtain fell.