King Roger

7/30/2019 King Roger

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King Roger Acto I

The interior of a church built by the almighty hands of the Byzantineemperors, the former rulers of the island [of Sicily]. In the middle, at the

back, a huge semicircular vault of an apse over a large altar separated fromthe main nave by a row of small columns of multi-colored marble, topped with capitals of various and unusual shapes. In the middle, double doorsopened wide and leading to the altar which glows with candles. These doorsare a few steps higher than the level of the stage. The many arches and vaultsof the church are supported by huge stone pillars, brought over from ruinedantique temples. The vault of the apse is filled by a gigantic mosaic icon of Christ with a thin, ascetic face, with unfathomed black eyes, with his rightarm menacingly raised. On the sides, pensive, praying angels. General background: dark gold, glittering drowsily in the light of thousands of candles

burning in candelabra suspended from the vault. The side arches and vaultsalso all filled with a multi-colored mosaic showing in a sequence of scenes thelives of the holy apostles Peter and Paul.

The rigid rhythm of the temple, however, is broken by the later rulers of the island. Up above, one part of the vault is carved in wood by the Arabs inthe form of stalactites covered in rich colors and interspersed with the crafty coils of verses from the Koran. Such a vault can still be seen today in theCapella Palatina in the palace of the Sicilian kings in Palermo. Four stonelions located on the walls at half their height. The pulpit and the floor

adorned with a rich marble mosaic.The singing of the hymn is heard with the curtain still down. The curtain

rises slowly. The stage is half dark, lit only by the numerous candles and thelast rays of the setting sun. Despite the crowd that fills the temple, the hugeinterior seems to be completely still. Dark figures of monks and nuns kneel with their heads bowed. Towering among the nuns is the figure of theDeaconess. The Archiereios in a golden robe is standing in front of the altar.Behind a row of small columns there is a crowd of deacons, presbyters andacolytes. The only movement is the slow swaying of the censers. The motion

starts only with the entrance of the king and his court.

ChorusHagios! Hagios!Hagios Kyrios Theos Sabaoth!

Boys' ChorusOn a golden throne above the clouds

holding powers in your hand.Cherubim and seraphim, kingdoms and powers



bow down low before your might.

ChorusHagios Kyrios Theos Sabaoth!

ArchiereiosBlazing in the burning bush on Mount Sinai;in thunder in dreadful wind you come, O Lord.

Boys' Chorus

Ruling with your flaming sword,sending forth your Archangels.

ChorusHagios Kyrios Theos Sabaoth!(The King and his court enter.)Give them your blessing O Lord eternal bless our King Roger,his noble wife!

Bless them O Lord.

TenorBless our King Roger,and his noble wife!

Boys' ChorusBless them, bless themO Lord.

ChorusBless them O Lord.

ArchiereiosO King! We ask for your justice;show us your mercy!

DeaconessDefend our holy faith!



Chorus You who are just! You who are just!

Archiereios An unknown shepherd stirs up the masses,our precious lambs.

DeaconessCarelessly leads them astray!

Chorus You who are just! You who are just!

ArchiereiosHe teaches people against the holy faith!

DeaconessHe tempts women into sin!

Chorus You who are just, weigh in your wisdom

unfathomed guilt!

King Roger(in an undertone to Edrisi) You heard that?

Edrisi A shepherd - they say he roams among villagesteaching strangely and singing strange songs

to praise an unknown god.

ArchiereiosToday he came here,he talked to the people by the chapel.Put him in prison!

Deaconess

He leads them away from the church, spreading sin!



ChorusO King, you who are just! Weigh in your wisdom!

RoxanaOh no, my king, no!They call you just!Don't put him in prison!Let him stand before you,let him show his guilt.Let him be brought before your presence!

EdrisiThe bird of wisdom is speaking through the Queen's lips,let him be brought before you, O King!

King Roger(lost in thought for a moment, then decisively)Let him be brought here!(The guards go out.)

ChorusPunish him, Lord!Let him not blasphemelet him not insult Christ our Lord!O King, you who are just!

King Roger(With an impatient gesture silences the crowd. Turns to Edrisi.) And have you seen him?

EdrisiHe's youngish; his hair like copper, all in curls,dressed in a goatskin like every shepherd;his eyes are like stars, and his smile is full of mystery.

Roxana(lost in thought)His smile is full of mystery,like forest lakes that send the sun

a smile from their clear depth.



King Roger(to Edrisi) What is he like that god unknown whose glory the shepherd preaches?

EdrisiSoon he will tell you himself.(Commotion by the door leading to the church.)

Chorus, Boys' ChorusLook, they're bringing him in!Let him be stoned, burned at the stake!Let him be stoned!(The Shepherd enters; he stops for a moment on the threshold. He looks

around boldly, then he fixes his gaze on Roger and with a slow, relaxed stephe comes up almost to the edge of the throne.)

ChorusBehold the blasphemer!

King Roger Who are you?

Shepherd A shepherd.

ChorusBehold the blasphemer!

King Roger Why do your stir them up?

ShepherdI tell them about my god.

King Roger What is he like, your god?

ShepherdMy god is beautiful like I.

Archiereios



Silence! Madman! Silence!

DeaconessSilence! Madman! Silence!

ChorusMadman! Blasphemer! Silence!

RoxanaO King! let him speak, O King!

King Roger

Enough! Let's hear the Shepherd!

Shepherd(pensively, with an unspeakable smile on his lips)My God is beautiful like I,my God is a good Shepherd;on roads, on stones,on mountain paths he wanders,searching the herds that strayed.

Adorned with an ivy wreath,he carries a bunch of grapes;he watches over his sheep,in the emerald fields.(The whole crowd filling the nave moves slightly toward the front of the stage,surrounding with an ever tightening circle the king and the Shepherd whostands in front of him and who appears to wake up from a reverie andcontinues with agitation.)My God, at the water's mirror,

in the darkness of glass waveslooks at himself to see his own smile!His clothes are of rosy auroras,his feet are golden and strong,he's wingless yet has wings.He wanders, searching the herds that strayed.(With concentration, he turns toward the surrounding crowd.) You, all you who suffer, who seek the hand of joy at night,he will now find you.

You who desire the fruit of sweet arms,he will embrace you.



Great grace sleeps in his smile!

Roxana(lost in thoughts)

Sleeps in his smile. Why is it that in your eyes, O Shepherd,there lurks a mysterious thrill,like stars reflected on water's waves? And on your lips, O Shepherd,as if on the rim of a vase of sweet scarlet roses balances like a brilliant butterfly the quiet smile of your God!

King Roger

Roxana! Silence!

RoxanaO Shepherd, tell me now,how big is the depth of the heartthat carries to offer your Godthe glow of the hidden flames?

King Roger

Silence! Roxana!The false charm chains thoughts with illusions!Be silent!

ShepherdO King, do believe me,I'll give new freedom to those in chains!

ChorusO King, O Lord, punish him!O Lord, punish him!O King, O Lord, punish him!O Lord, punish him!To death! Take him to the stake!Take him to the stake!

Boys' ChorusO Lord, punish him!

O Lord, punish him!To death!



The stake!

DeaconessO Queen! You do believe his words!

You look at him as on the savior!

ArchiereiosO Lord look at us, at our pain! At the Christ who glances golden from the altar!

ChorusO King, O Lord, punish him!To death! Take him to the stake!O King, O Lord, punish him!

To death! Take him to the stake!O King, O Lord, punish him!

Boys' ChorusO King, punish him!O King, punish him!O Lord, oh, punish him!

Shepherd(as if not hearing the increasing noise)My God is the shade of green woods,the whisper of distant sees,the thunder of distant stormson oceans under the sun,the glow of holy eyes.

Roxana

Your God! Your God!

King RogerRoxana! Silence!(to the Shepherd)Malicious glow is in your eyes!Deceive the women; you won't deceive me!

Edrisi(pleading)

O King! have mercy on the madman!



King Roger(gazing at Roxana with determination)Let him die!

Deaconess, Archiereios, Chorus Yes! Yes! Let him die,don't let him blaspheme against Christ!Let him die, let him die,no blaspheme against Christ!Oh Lord, O King, let God be his judge!

RoxanaHe tells the truth!

He loves!

EdrisiBe just, O King!Call him to trial!

Shepherd(in rapture, indifferent to anything happening around him)My God is merciful,

he is a good shepherd, my God!

Deaconess, Archiereios, ChorusTo death take him! To death!Let God be his judgealmighty, just, merciful!To death! To death! To death!

King Roger(with sudden determination stops the crowd with a commanding gesture)Enough! Enough!(He sinks down onto the throne. He hides his face in his hands. One can feelin him a raging inner struggle)(tonelessly)Let the Shepherd go,let him go far away to his mountains!

ChorusHorror! Horror!



King Roger(to the crowd, forcefully)Let him go free to his faraway mountains!

ChorusSinner! Sinner!Horror! Horror!

Boys' ChorusHorror!

(On Shepherd's face appears a wonderful smile. For a moment he looksthe king straight in the eyes, as if in secret understanding, then slowly, as if

with reluctance, he starts walking toward the exit.)

King Roger(with sudden decision)Halt!(The Shepherd halts at the door and turns toward the king.)Tonight you shall appear for trial!

Roxana

For trial?

King Roger When the stars come out in the dark-blue sky come to the gates of my palace!The guards will call the password "Shepherd"and you will answer them "Roger"!

Shepherd

I'll answer them "Roger"?O King, remember that you yourself called me to trial!Remember, O King!I'll come to you,I'll bow at your feet!Remember that you called me yourself!


Blasphemy!



Boys' ChorusHorror! Horror!Horror! God have mercy!

(The Shepherd walks toward the exit singing the song about his God.)

ShepherdIn the emerald meadows of my mountains back home wanders the good Shepherd, searching his herds that strayed.(The voice of the Shepherd fades away in the distance.)


Lord have mercy!

Boys' Chorus Amen!

King Roger Acto II

The inner court of king Roger's palace. The general character of thearchitecture suggests through its ornamentation that the palace wasconstructed at the command of the caliphs by builders from the East.However, here and there can already be felt the iron hand of the mighty conquerors from the North. The eastern softness and the nearly feminineelegance of the elaborately waving multicolored arabesques, the yellow and blue majolica, the richest rugs, form a strange harmony with the granitearches and columns and the huge bronze double doors at the entrance. Hereand there glisten marvelous mosaics, the work of artists from Byzantium,

depicting mysterious gardens full of unknown wonders and fantastic birds. Inthe back, a marble fountain murmurs quietly, its basin overflowing in therichness of flowers brought from all parts of the world. The courtyard issurrounded with a two-story inner gallery supported on light columns withfantastic capitals. At the back, in the middle, the main entrance, huge bronzedouble doors; next to them, a small door hung with carpets.

In the upper gallery there are also doors and windows of the royal harem.The upper gallery is connected to the level of the stage with inner stairsrunning along its right side. On the left, at the front of the stage, on a raisedplatform, stands the royal throne. Nearby, slightly toward the back, a huge

window, half covered with carpets, through which one can see vague shapesof trees, palms, cypresses - a vast expanse of sky.



It is night. Alabaster lamps are burning, suspended between the columnsof the gallery, softly lighting the interior. King Roger, in magnificent robes, issitting on the throne. By the window, Edrisi, looking out into the far distance,as if in expectation. At the front doors, a few steel-clad knights from the royal

guard, motionless like statues.

King Roger(his whole being seems to be overcome with expectation and anxiety) Anxiety of pale starsglowing in the green sea of the sky!(to Edrisi)O, take my burning handsin your cool palms!

In the sunny turmoil of the day I didn't think at allI'd wait in such a fear!(to the Guards)Guards! Keep watch!Lead him in when he arrives!Lead in the Shepherd Prophet!Password "Shepherd."

ChorusPassword "Shepherd."

EdrisiInconceivable is fear,it shakes off your good, joyful dreamslike gale the petals of jasmine!O King! How long since you listened to a song?In rupture you searched Roxana's mouth with yours?

King Roger(uneasily)Did you see the glow in her eyes, when the Shepherd sang of his God?Do you know what lies hidden in the heart of a woman!Do you know what lies hidden there?

EdrisiO King! You are Lord!

Don't let the gray darkness of night fogsurround you with fear!



Why are you trembling so?

King RogerThe trembling of the stars is running through my body!

(pensively)My heart cast in bronzetrembles today at the glow of the starsand like a child it fearsthe secret hostile force!My power reaches there where the royal sword can reach! And all around is mystery,the silent stars and fear!Edrisi! In his eyes an unknown fire burns;

that fire will turn to dustmy royal heart that's cast in bronze but trembles today at the glow of the starsenchanted in his eyes.

EdrisiO King! Those pestering pale ghosts -chase them away with a spell!Listen to the silence of the night! Swan splendor sleeps,

lights slumber in the pools, reflections of sleepy stars! And only tree branches tremble in the dark,and sways the quiet cradle of silent sees.Hush! Tambourines are jingling therenear the slumbering suburbs!

King Roger(uneasily)That's him!

EdrisiEverything has turned silent!

Roxana(unseen) Ah...!

King RogerRoxana! Her song!

Edrisi



Let's listen, O King!

Roxana Ah...!

You sleep now, dreams of king Roger filled with blood,let the balm of night flow down upon his will,

let his eager, vengeful heart fill with grace! Ah...!

Chorus Ah...!

King RogerDo you hear her sing?

Edrisi A beautiful song!

Roxana Ah...!

Have mercy, O King, upon the shepherd,and like a tired panther filled with blood let your wrath pass!

Have mercy, O King, upon the shepherd. Ah...!

Chorus

Ah...!

King RogerShe's begging for mercy for the shepherd. Do you hear?

EdrisiHer heart blossoms like the lotus in the night!

Roxana



Ah...!Tonight's a night when the hawk leaves its prey in peace,serpents are sleeping on the stems of the lilies,mercy flows down from the white flame of the planets.

Ah...!

Chorus Ah...!

(King Roger starts)

King Roger A misty figure passed between the guards!Edrisi! Why is there fear in my heart?

Why is there trembling?Edrisi!

EdrisiO King! He is the one who comes here to be judged by you!(Suddenly off-stage in the distance the guards' password is heard repeatedseveral times, getting closer.)

Guards

Password: "Shepherd."Password: "Shepherd."

Shepherd(off-stage, in the distance)Password: "Roger"!(The King starts up. He stares at the still closed doors. Edrisi comes near theKing. They both stand transfixed in expectation.)

King RogerThat's him! He's coming!(Behind the door, commotion can be felt; it eventually spreads to the guardsstanding on the stage. At one point the huge double doors open wide. In themappears the Shepherd and behind him his four companions. Farther upstagecan be seen the pressing crowds of the soldiery, some with torches in theirhands. The Shepherd pauses for a moment on the threshold. He glancesaround the whole interior. Then with a relaxed and bold step he approachesthe king. His companions carry strange eastern musical instruments in theirhands. They walk a few steps behind him but without reaching the front of

the stage they settle down in mysterious silence on a rug on the ground. They remain motionless and silent until, later on, the Shepherd commands them to



play. The doors close with a heavy clang. The Shepherd stops at the front of the stage on the right. He is wearing a very rich Indian garment covered withpriceless jewels. From underneath his head wrap, dark copper curls fall on hisshoulders. Similar garments, though less sumptuous, adorn his companions.)

ShepherdO King, I come by myself, as you commanded,I greet you in the name of a great love.

King Roger(with power) Where have you come from?

Shepherd

(with sweetness)From the smile of the southern stars. You'll find my footprints on many roads!In the rosy Benares I am praying for you.Indra's lotuses carry greetings for you!My reflection on the face of the Ganges is greeting you, Roger.

King Roger Whence comes your false might?

Shepherd Ask the quiet trees in the noon hour,ask the roses in the sun hour,ask the sweet juice of the vines!

King Roger Why do you charm the masses here? Who has sent you to us?

Shepherd Who has sent me? God!From the green fields of paradise acres, with the gold of his hand, with a sign pointing uphe called me out like a flower from florid meadows,from peach gardens in the hour when the dust of almonds sends its rosy scent.Like sacrificial myrrh I rose from foamy wavesI shone like a ray of the sun!

Like the wing of white birds,like the womb of lilacs white!



King Roger Your blasphemy fills me with dread and fear!Be silent!

I'm afraid of thunder!(During the whole next scene the interior of the palace fills out slowly with acrowd of people. Beautiful young women, youth, boys, eunuchs, steal throughthe many doors, run down the stairs, crowd at the doors and windows,creating a wide semi-circle in the back of the stage. Their eyes are fixed on theShepherd, women's hands stretch out to him, in the whole crowd one cansense excitement and expectation.)

Roxana(from the top gallery, unseen)

Ah...! Quiet your fear and wrath, Roger!

Shepherd(Having heard the singing he turns his head toward the unseen Roxana, thento Roger.)O King, can you hear from above the pleading song?It flows down upon us in a warble of nightingale's voice.

In an unknown heart love blooms like a flower at night!

Roxana Ah...!

King RogerBe silent!

My royal heart is cast

in the bronze of my wrath!

Roxana Ah...! You sleep now, dreams of king Roger filled with blood!

ShepherdIt's you who called me, O King!I have appeared for trial!

King Roger



You say you want to be judged, yet you slip out of my handlike a bird whose wings are swiftlike a silverscaly snake!

In your eyes I see the poisoned gleamof distant hostile stars!

Roxana Ah...! Quiet your wrath and fear!

King Roger What is your charm that binds the crowd of madmen, slaves, who madly roam along your roads? What do they believe? Speak!

ShepherdThey believe in me!

King RogerBlasphemer!

EdrisiO King, be calm, be calm!

ShepherdThey believe in the glow of my eyes,the glow you fear so much, O King;they love my smile and my dancing song.

King RogerEnough! That's enough! You are no prophet!

You draw your dark power from the bottom of hell! You lead the crowd to the abyss of death!

ShepherdThe glow of the secret depths of lifeI kindle with my almighty hand!(pointing with his hand to the crowd gathering around him)O King, look!Like a swarm of butterfliesaround the scarlet of fragrant roses

the quiet ones circle around me,a dreamy whirl of color rainbows



they catch the glow in my eyes!Maidens, beautiful young menon their wings of frenzy fly!(He turns to his musicians.)

Brothers! Quick! A dancing song!Strike your strings' silver bell,the quick rhythm of your tambourines!(to the king)O King! Look around and see how from the heartsthe frenzy of secret desires rises in weeping waves,O Roger, hear!(The Shepherd's musicians begin to play. The whole crowd starts to whirl inan enchanted dance. The dance is growing stronger and stronger. Roger isstaring into the whirling dancing circle in silent horror. The Shepherd looks

at his face with an enigmatic smile. At one point Roxana appears in the uppergallery and starts running down the stairs in excitement.)

Chorus Ah...!(Roger sees her. He starts up and with a deft movement of his hand stops herhalfway down the stairs. The Shepherd then turns his eyes away from theking and turns them slowly toward Roxana; for a long moment they look ateach other. Roger throws himself down on his throne in despair, hiding his

face in his hands. From Roxana's lips comes singing, first shy, then gettingstronger and stronger. The Shepherd also starts to sing.)

Chorus Ah...!

RoxanaIn the dance of joy

in merry madnessa radiant dawn!Share all your secrets!Lead me to your world!

ShepherdIn the dance of lovein the flames of bloodthe infinite glow!In radiant paradise!

In the secret frenzy the divine dance!



King Roger(in utter despair)

Roxana!

RoxanaCoolness, gardens!Dancing! Waves in dream, fires deep! Wings in flight!

ShepherdRadiant dance!

Fires deep! Wings in flight!

Roxana, Shepherd, Chorus Ah...!(From the crowd whirling in a frenzied dance also come voices; they all joinin one powerful chord.)

King Roger

Guards! Faithful guards!Take him! Seize him! Bind him!(The guards rush toward the Shepherd, pushing the dancers aside. Thedancing subsides. Everyone suddenly stops in indescribable horror. Theguards seize the Shepherd, binding his hands with a chain. He breaks free of them and with his hand tied he stands on the stairs next to Roxana.)

Shepherd(with anger and insolence)

Who dares to bind my charm with a chain? Who wants to take me? Am I not already yours?(He breaks the chain and throws it at he king's feet. He raises his unfetteredarms.)O, look at my free armsfrom the depth of your heart. Who is free, follow me! Along my roads of joy I'll lead you to my world,to the sweet shade of the grove.

Streams murmur!Divine girls dance!



Shouting! A call! A mysterious, distant call!

Roxana, Chorus

A mysterious, distant call! A mysterious, distant call! Who is free, follow him! Who is free, follow him!

ShepherdListen ...In the silence of the night, listen ...In the sound of the seas a mysterious, distant call!

Roxana A mysterious, distant call!

Chorus A distant call!

Shepherd Who will now follow me?(looking at Roger, emphatically)

Who will now follow me?(Roger is silent. The Shepherd slowly walks toward the exit. Roxana followshim as if in a trance. From the crowd more and more people break away andfollow them, their number growing.)

King Roger(suddenly awakening from his torpor)Stop! Where are you taking the crowd? Roxana ... Where are you taking?

Shepherd(pausing at the door)I threw down the chainsat your royal feetand I am leaving free!If you want to be my judge,I call you, O King,to my sunny shore!Did you understand me, Roger?

Roger!



Roxana, Chorus Ah...!(The Shepherd goes out, followed by Roxana and the crowd. The stage isempty except for Roger on his throne, with his face hidden in his hands, and

Edrisi who watches him with greatest anxiety.)

King Roger(with great pain)Roxana!(Edrisi comes up to the window and looks into the darkness outside.)

EdrisiNight's shadow has covered the crowd!In the distance the song has grown silent

and the swift sound of their feet.(King Roger, after a moment's thought, with sudden determination throws off his crown, his royal mantle, unbuckles his sword and throws it to the ground with a crash.)

King RogerLet us follow them!The King is a pilgrim now!(He and Edrisi go out.)

King Roger - Act III

Ruins of an ancient theater. On the right, benches carved in stone curve in ahuge arch from the front to the back of the stage. Their majestic semicircles,rising one above the other, reach almost half the height of the stage. Above

them there is still the deep abyss of the sky. The stone is cracked, damaged by countless centuries, weathered, decrepit by water and wind. From the cracksand rubble grow luscious weeds, wild flowers. Here and there fresh grassspreads in a green carpet. On the left, diagonally toward the back, the ruins of a stage. Half shattered huge columns are still standing; at their feet, in thedust, proud flowery capitals, fragments of friezes, metopes once adorning thetheater. On pedestals, the remnants of statues. Their wonderful heads, roundarms, fragments of torsos lie scattered among the rubble. The double stairsleading from the proscenium to the stage have been preserved nearly intact. Also preserved is a large part of the wall behind the stage, concealing a broad

view. In the middle of the orchestra the remnants of an altar. Light smokerising from the altar, wreaths and flowers at its base seem to suggest a recent



sacrifice offered by mysterious hands to the "Unknown God." In the back, between the edge of the stage and the amphitheater a huge gap through which can be seen the blue infinity of the sea. On the stage there is nothing but dead stones, the sky and the sea. It is night. Stars glow brightly in the sky.

A pale moon sheds weak light on the interior of the ruins, casting longshadows, creating black chasms of depth in the bends of the walls. Peace andcalm, only the sea, restless, tireless crashes heavily on the rocks.

(From the right, King Roger and Edrisi enter the stage. The King, wearing atattered, dusty tunic, with his hair in disarray, tired, sits heavily on one of therocks. He hides his face in his hands. After a while he raises his head andlooks around.)

King Roger Around only lifeless stones,the blue infinity of the sea,and the silver mystery of the stars!(to Edrisi) Where have you brought me, my friend?Is this our journey's end? Among the stones, where lingers foreverthe scary specter of raptures past!

Maybe our call will echo back with an enchanted laugh?

Edrisi Awake it, awake it, call!

King RogerThe dawn lulls me to rest,my worry falls asleep like a child.

Oh where is my beloved?

Edrisi Awake her, awake her, call!

King RogerToday the king is a beggar;the longing of his handsextends for a gift of alms;he hides his empty heart

in the tattered rags of his dreams!Hatred, love - empty words!



Fire will burn power and might! Whom does the king search today? Whose song does he yearn to hear?

Edrisi Awake it, awake it, call!

King RogerBlue fear sleeps in the void,scores of specters glide to dance. Awake the specters? Charm the dreams?(calling)Roxana!(He listens.)

Roxana!

Roxana(in the distance)Roger! Roger!

Edrisi Awoken! Awoken the charm!

King RogerEdrisi! Hear!Her voice is flowing from the distant seas!

Edrisi Awoken the charm!

King Roger(calling)

Roxana!(He listens.)

Shepherd(in the distance)Roger!

King RogerThat's him! Hatred, love!Edrisi, where is the end of doubt?

Chorus



(behind the stage, from afar) A...!

Soprano

The King shattered his sword of bronze.

TenorThe great King has appeared for trial!

ChorusFor trial, appear for trial, O King,O great King!

Roxana(closer)His heart burning like a torchhe will offer to his God.

Chorus

A...!

King RogerBlue fear is singing in the dark!

Shepherd(in the distance)O Roger, leave all your fear, where you threw down your sword:

in the past scare of the storms...(Suddenly, the moon appears from behind the clouds, lighting up the ruins with a mysterious glow. Roger looks around in silent enchantment.)

King RogerUnearthly glow dawns around!(From the back of the stage Roxana slowly approaches, wrapped in a longgray coat.)

Edrisi

Phantom light, silver charmcalling forth dazing dreams...



(Edrisi suddenly sees Roxana.)O Roger, look!

King Roger

(sees Roxana)Roxana!

RoxanaHere am I, Roger, did you call me?

King Roger(looking at her feverishly)Is that you, Roxana!Red lips bloom with the same sweet smile,

the same living gold of your hairfills the face with wondrous glow.But in your eyes there is a mystery deeper than in the gleaming of the stars!Roxana! Is that you?Or is it a pale ghost born of the madness of longing?

Roxana

I am with you my King, my Lord!I come to you in the morning light!Give me your hand, Roger!I will lead you into the gates of my palace,there you will rest on my bed.Give me your hand, Roger!

King Roger And he? Where is he? The Shepherd?

RoxanaHe's left, vanished,dissolved in the dark,he melted into the mist...(In the distance strange music, as if of plaintive voices of women and pan-pipes.)Hear! Just a quiet song of a flutesobbing like a distant echo...

King RogerI don't believe you! I don't!



His distant call,like the echo of secret longingstill sounds around! Where's the Shepherd?

RoxanaHe's in the smile of the stars,in the sound of the storm.In the great ring of stone seatshe circles like a ghost. Around the fire that dances in joy on the altarsand rises in mournful smoke toward the silent heavens!(She points to the stage.)There among the rubble,

where lives the eternal longinghe wanders with a happy smile! And from there he's calling the abyss of your heartand he wants to charm your lonely might into an eternal shape!

Shepherd(from afar)Roger! Roger!

RoxanaDo you hear him?

King RogerThat's him! That's him!(He looks intently at the stage. Roxana wakes him from his musing.)

RoxanaFeed the sacrificial fire!

Let it reach up to the heavens!

King RogerIn the ashes living sparks!Longings will die in the fire!(Both feverishly throw into the fire the piles of flowers and wreaths lying atthe feet of the altar; the fire suddenly bursts out with a bright flame. At thatmoment the Shepherd in the form of Dionysus appears among the rubble of the stage. There is something unearthly in this event. He is surrounded by aglow that seems to emanate from him; behind him everything is submerged

in contrasting darkness. The many figures that will start to appear shortly onthe benches of the amphitheater are barely visible, felt rather than seen. The



sounds of the flute and human voices continue throughout the next scene,getting ever louder, turning to separate shouts and calls.)

Shepherd

(on the stage)Roger! Roger!Can you hear my voice? Which eternally from your heartsings a joyous song?

Chorus(from afar behind the stage)Can you hear the song?

ShepherdFlames are shooting to the heavens,glow unearthly, joyous madness!

Now the mystery is smiling,depths become all clear now. At the bottom of a lonely heart, your dream undreamed,

dream of a great might!

ChorusCan you hear the call, the mysterious call?The mysterious call of the abyss?To you! To you!To you! To you!(Throughout the scene the King stands staring with feverish eyes into theapparition of the Shepherd, his hands raised high. The first dawn, stars fade

slowly.)

Shepherd(calls upstage)To me! To me!I'm calling you all!To the blue seas,to unbounded oceans,I'm calling you to an endless journey,to a joyous dance!

To me! To me!I'm calling you!



RoxanaTo you! To you!In the frenzy of the song!

In the frenzy of the dance!To the land of extasy!

ChorusIn the frenzy of the song!In the frenzy of the dance!To him, to him he's calling us!To him, to him he's calling us!To the land of eternal extasy!Calling us.

He's calling us, calling us!

(In the light glow of the dawn figures appear suddenly at the top of theamphitheater, a few at first, then more and more; crowding, they run downthe huge steps of the benches, through the back of the stage toward thestanding Shepherd; they surround him with a tight circle; the glow emanatingfrom the Shepherd subsides until he eventually becomes invisible. At the

point of the highest tension of motion and shouting, Roxana, in whom for a while one could sense an awakening of a mysterious force, suddenly throwsdown her long coat and appears wearing the clothes of a Greek maenad,seizes a flower-wrapped thyrsus lying at the foot of the altar and joins theshouting crowd. Shaking the thyrsus, she runs to the stage disappearing in acrowd of figures. The King seems not to see that, lost in torpor. The shoutingcontinues for a while, subsiding slowly in the distance. The crowd of figuresdisappears as well. At one point the stage is completely empty except for theKing, standing motionless in torpor, and Edrisi. The fire on the altar grows

dim. At the same time the light of the dawn grows stronger. Soon the firstcopper-gold ray of the sun can be felt over the rim of the theatre. The interiorof the theatre still remains in relative darkness.)

Edrisi(as if regaining consciousness)The dream is done! The chain of illusions breaks!

King Roger(looking around; with joy)

Edrisi, it's dawn!



(As if pulled by a mysterious force, he goes toward the back of the stage,starts to climb lightly the rising steps of the seats. Edrisi looks at him insurprise. Finally the King stops at the top of the theatre which is still coveredin blue darkness while he is brightly lit by the morning sun.)

Sunlight! Sunlight! Edrisi!Like the white wings of seagullssails on the wide blue seas!They sail to the farthest ends.Like the light, nimble, white foam of the waves!Edrisi! Wings are growing!They'll embrace the whole world! And from the depth of loneliness,from the abyss of my might,

I'll tear out my clear heart,I'll offer it to the sun!(He stretches to the sun his palms pressed together, as if carrying in them apriceless gift.)

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King Roger