LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK LIBRETTO ENGLISH TEXT 1932 VERSION 0793536901, 9780793536900

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LADY MACBETH OF MTS EN SK Opera in Four Acts (1932 Version)

Music by

Dmitri Shostakovich Libretto by A. PREIS & D. SHOSTAKOVICH After a shot story by N.LESKOV

Translation rom the Russian by EDWARD DOWNES

Ed. 334

G. SCHIRMER, Inc.

Important Notice Performances of this opera must be licensed by the publisher. All rights of any kind with respect to this opera and any parts thereof, including but not limited to stage, radio, television, motion picture, mechanical reproduction, trnslation, printing, and selling are strictly reserved. License to perform this work, in whole or in part, whether with instrumental or keyboard accompaniment, must be secured in writing rom the Publisher. Terms will be quoted upon request. 'Copying of either separate parts or the whole of this work, by hand or by any other process, is unlawul and punishable under the provisions of the U.S.A. Copyright Act. The use of any copies, including rrangements and orchestrations, oher thn those issued by he Publisher, is orbidden. All inquiries should be directed to the Publisher:

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LADY MACBETH

OF

MTSENSK

The turbulent history of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth is a seismograph of the political regime of Russia of the thirties and orties. The libretto, reashioned by the composer rom a story of Nikolai Leskov, is brutal, rank, and cynical, much in the vein of Alban Berg's operas. It was hailed as a masterpiece of Soviet culture when it was irst heard in Leningrad on January 22, 1934. Its reception in America the ollowing year was highly controversial; it was both lauded as a great contribution to contemporary opera and as a work of repulsive . sensuality (mainly because of some musical descriptions of erotic behavior). After Stalin attended a performance of the work in 1936, Shostakovich was no longer the darling of Soviet music. The Premier was shocked by .the immorality of the text and the cacophony of the music. A amous editorial in Pravda, the Party's oicial newspaper, called "Chaos Instead of Music, " was a raging polemic against composers who, in Stalin's eyes, created works in a style (and content) inimical to Soviet aesthetic policy. In spite of the swirling curents that raged about him, Shostakovich continued to com­ pose. Whether or not the impositions of the political machine hindered or helped him in his future development is a matter that is still debatable today. In 1958 the composer made some changes in both text and music and renamed the work Katerina Ismailova. Regardless, it remains a passionate human tragedy that results rom a narrow, provincial society, much like Flaubert's Madame Bovay. The present translation of the libretto reinstates the version of the opera as Shosta­ kovich originally conceived it. It is certainly one of the crowning stage works of contem­ porary Russian music. P. W.

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CAST OF CHARACTERS KATERINA Lvovna Ismailova, wie of Zinovy Borisovich

Soprano

BORIS Tinofyeyevich I smailov, a merchant . . .

Bass

ZINOVY Borisovich Ismailov, his son, a merchant

Tenor

SERGEI, a workman

Tenor

AKSINYA . . . .

Soprano

VILLAGE DRUNK

Tenor

A POLICE SERGEANT .

Bass

A PRIEST . . . . .

Bass

AN OLD CONVICT

Bass

SONYETKA . . . .

Contralto

A Teacher, Millworker, Porter, Steward, 3 Foremen, Coachman, Policeman, Drunken Guest, Guard, Woman Convict, and Servants, Workmen, Policemen, Gue$ts, Convicts.

iv

SYNOPSIS ACTI

ACT II

ACT III

ACT IV

OF

SCENES

Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3

Inside the house of Katerina and Zinovy Ismailov The .coutyard of the house Katerina's bedroom

10

Scene 1 Scene 2

The coutyard . Katerina's bedroom

23

Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3

The courtyard . At the police station The garden of the Ismailov house

36

Scene 1

Siberia, on the banks of a orest lake

41

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14

y

30 32

THE STORY ACT I, Scene 1. The illiterate Katerina is married to Zinovy, a wealthy merchant. The bored, childless Katerina detests her husband. Zinovy goes away on a business trip. Boris, her ather-in-law, makes her swear beore a holy icon she will be true to his son. Scene 2. In the courtyard Zinovy's servants are having some fun. They have stuck the cook, Aksinya in a barrel and are taking liberties with her. When Katerina tries to come . to the aid of Aksinya, Sergei, a lusty, well-built worker, holds her, and she goes limp in his arms. Scene 3. That evening as Katerina prepares to go to bed, Sergei appears, under the pretext of borrowing a book. After a ew aint protests rom Katerina they become lovers. ACT II. Scene 1. Old Boris, unable to sleep is walking across the courtyard with a lantern in his hand. Seeing a light in Katerina's room he goes to visit her. As he does so, Sergei comes out and Boris beats him unmercifully with his whip. Katerina tries to stop Boris, but she is seized by the servants. The exhausted old man has her released and demands ood rom her. She gives him some mushrooms which she has poisoned. The old man, suddenly feeling ill, calls or a priest, who gives him the last rites beore he dies. Scene 2. · After making love, Katerina promises Sergei that somehow she will ind a way to be his lawful wie. Sergei falls asleep, but is awakened by the frightened Katerina who has just seen the ghost of old Boris. Zinovy unexpectedly returns and Sergei is orced to hide. Zinovy accuses her of being unaithful, and beats her with his belt. Sergei comes out and in a scule of violence kills Zinovy with a heavy candlestick. Sergei hides the dead man's body in the cellar. As the curtain alls the lovers are locked in each other's arms. ACT III. Scene 1. In the courtyard of Zinovsky's house Katerina stares at the cellar where the corpse is hidden. Sergei, whom she is to mary that day, enters. She tells him of her , terriied thoughts. He quiets her beore they leave or church. A village drunk, seeking to pacify his thirst, breaks in the cellar hoping to ind vodka. Instead he stumbles on the body of Zinovy. He rushes out in horror. Scene 2. At the Police station, the Sergeant and the policemen are despondent and bored. They discµss the problems of their profession. A poli:eman and a teriied teacher enter. He is accused of being a Socialist. The village drunk comes in and tells the Sergeant what he has seen. They all rush to the house of Zinovy, dubious but gleeful. Scene 3. In the garden, the wedding of Katerina and Sergei is being celebrated. The guests toast the bridal couple and as the evening progresses most of them are drunk. Katerina sees that the cellar has been broken into, inorms Sergei, and tells him they must escape immediately. Beore they can do so, the police enter, beat Sergei, and lead the couple away. ACT IV. In Siberia, a column of convicts is resting. Among them are Katerina, Sonyetka, an attractive young woman, and Sergei. Sergei, who is tiring of Katerina, accuses her of ' causing his downall; he has fallen or the charms of Sonyetka, and carries her ofstage. The emale convicts taunt and jeer Katerina. The guards enter to quiet them and discover that Sergei and Sonyetka are missing. They return and Katerina, knowing the truth, is in utter despair, Katerina approaches Sonyetka who is leaning on a broken segment of a bridge, pushes her into the river and ollows after her. The convicts are lined up and march of the stage singing. The curtain falls on a bare stage. vi

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK ACT I Scene l (Katerina Lvovna is lying on her bed, yawning.) KATERINA Ah, why can't I sleep, I'll try once more. (She tries to go to sleep.) No, it' s no use. No wonder1 slept all night got up, had some breakast with my husband, and then came back to bed! There's really nothing else to do hereOb God it' s all so boring! Ah, when I was single, even though we were poor, then at least I was ree. But not now this boredom makes one eel like suicide. I'm a merchant's wfe; my husband is the well known wealthy merchant Zinovy Borisovich Ismailov. Ev'ry tiny ant has its task to.do, the cows in the barn give us milk. At the mll the men ill the lour sacks. I alone here have no work to do, only or me is life so tedious, only or me does morning bring no joy the merchant' s wife! (Boris Timoyeyevich enters.) BORIS Today are we having mushrooms? KATERINA Yes. BORIS That's good. You know that mushrooms with buckwheat gruel is one of my av' rite things!

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LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK KATERINA

Ah, if the sun shines, or if the tempest rages, what care I! What care I, Ah! BORIS What are you singing or? or have you nothing else to do? KATERINA What else is there to do? BORIS What could have possessed us to bring the likes of you here? I warned my son: "Don't you marry Katerina. " But he had his way. What a wie he got: Nearly ive years married and you've still not borne my son a single child! KATERINA That' s not my ault, that's not my ault! BORIS Oh! KATERINA Don't blame me or that, don't blame me or that! BORIS Who then? KATERINA *My whole lie would be so much happier if only I could have a baby! BORIS So that's your line! All that depends on the woman, what kind of wie a man gets hold of! A full-blooded wie who showed some affection, some passion, would soon ind herself having a baby. But you're as cold as a ish, You don't try to attract his caresses. You don't show my son the slightest afection! We've no heir to whom we can leave our ortune who would carry on the amily name and business . What you'd like to ind is some hot-blooded young ellow and then run of with him, jeering at your husband. Well, my girl, *Alternate Russian text: The ault lies with Zinovy Borisovich; he'� impotent and cannot give me a baby!

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

3

the fence is ar too high or tricks like that the dogs are of the chain And I am always on the watch! Better mix some poison or the rats they're eating all the lour again. (Exit Boris Timoyeyevich.) KATERINA You, you're the rat! This poison should be or you. (Katerina prepares the poison for the rats.) (Enter Zinovy Borisovich, Boris Timoyeyevich, a messenger [from the mill], and other servants. Among the servants is Sergei.) ZINOVY (to the mill worker) Well, what's wrong? MILL WORKER The river's ovelowed its banks and burst the dam and water's pouring through a most enormous gap. What shall we do now, eh? ZINOVY lt could hardly have come at a worse moment. I'll have to go. down, then, myself. BORIS Yes, you must. If the Master' s not there to take charge they won't do a thing. SERVANTS' CHORUS Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! BORIS What's all that sniggering about? Your Master has to go away and all you do is stand and laugh You don't even care! CHORUS Ah, we do! Oh, why are you orsaking us, Master, oh, why? Oh, why? We' ll be lost without our dear master! We'll be lost! We'll be lost! Life without you is not worth living. We could not bear such a lie of gloom! Our home won't seem like home, our work too, without you, won't be real work! No, not real work! No, not real work! And pleasure without you is no pleasure! Come back quickly -

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

4

As soon as you can! Come back! (Zinovy leads Sergei up to Boris Timoyeyevich.) ZINOVY Look here, Father, This is the new workman that I hired this morning. BORIS All right. Where did you work beore? SERGEI On the Kalganov's farm. BORIS And what were you kicked out or? (A coachman enters.) COACHMAN The horses are ready, Master. (Boris breaks of his conversation with Sergei.) BORIS (to Zinovy) Well, it can't be helped. Say goodbye to your wie. ZINOVY (takes leave of his wfe) Goodbye, Katerina! (to his father) Make sure that she obeys my orders. BORIS Make her swear it - swear it! Make her swear a solemn oath that she'll be faithful to you! ZINOVY But why? I'll not be gone or long BORIS Just to make sure one never knows; These young wives are all the same you know! "s'il vous plait " Rendezvous! Sauce proven�ale! Understand me? You watch out in case some man comes along and seduces he-! ZINOVY Aha. BORIS Katerina! Swear an oath on the holy icon that you'll be aithful to your hqsband. ·KATERINA I

swear!

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK BORIS (spoken) Well,. that's all. Goodbye, Zinovy! Say goodbye to your wie. ZINOVY (spoken) Goodbye, Katerinushka, goodbye! BORIS Not like. that! kneeling! kneeling! Come on! (Katerina falls to her knees.) BORIS (spoken, to Katerina) The longer the farewells, the bitterer the tears! On your way! (Exeunt all except Katerina, Aksinya, Sergei, and Boris.) AKSINY A (to Sergei) What are you doing? Who asked you to stay behind here? (Exit Sergei.) AKSINY A (to Katerina) That damned new workman always after the women whichever one he ancies simply doesn't stand a chance. No wonder he's tall with good looks and all those muscles! Beore he came here he worked at the Kalganov' s, but got entangled with the Master's wie so they got rid of him. BORIS (to Katerina) You should be weeping! parting rom your husband God, what a wifesays goodbye to her husband and can't even shed a single tear! Scene 2 (In the couryard. The servants of Zinovy Borisovich are fooling around. They have put Aksinya into a barrel open at both ends and they won't let her out.) Aksinya, Village Drunk, a scrufy peasant, Porter, Steward, Chorus of servants. . AKSINYA Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! You shameless brute, let me go! Ai! You're hurting! Ai! you're hurting! Stop it, you shameless brute! You shameless devil, let me go and keep your ilthy prying ingers to yourself, you swine! Ai! Bastard! Ai! Ai! Ah you swine! Ah you swine! Ai! Ai! Oh, you're huting!

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6

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK VILLAGE DRUNK

Just like a nightingale! Just come and squeeze he r! Just coie and feel her! Go on! Go on! Feel those tits there! Feel those tits there! What titties! What titties! Ai! smooth as silk. Let me squeeze them! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, etc. Well? Well? Well? SERGEI Let me feel those luscious shoulders! Ho, ho! How smooth and plump they are, how smooth and warm they are! PORTER A sow with the voice of a nightingale! Let's eel her all over! What a nose, what a nose, God, what a monster. Those at legs make you think of lovely hams! . Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, etc. STEWAD Oho! Ah, yes, that's marvelous! So plump! There! There! and again Ho, ho ho! Ho, ho, ho! etc. Nice at legs and nice at shoulders, nice at legs and nice at shoulders! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, etc. CHORUS What a lovely voice! What a lovely voice! What a lovely voice! What a lovely voice! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha, ha! What a lovely voice! What a lovely voice! What a lovely voice! Ha, ha, ha, etc. What a lovely voice! Ha, ha, ha, etc. SERGEI What a ine piece of lesh in the pink of condition, Oh, Jesus, Oh, Jesus! What a sight! AKSINYA Ah, you bastard, my breasts are all bruised! That shameless devil he's pinched me all over! I'm black and blue, my skirt's torn to shreds! STEWARD Let me suck those lovely tits!

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK CHORUS What a lovely voice! STEWARD Her ace, though, is hell! CHORUS Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, etc. PORTER And we can see you have no pants on! STEWARD Come on, Aksinya, rip his pants of! CHORUS Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! SERGEI Come on, let go. AKSINYA Help, help! Help, help! A1. ,. SERGEI Come on, keep still! Don't let go of her! CHORUS Ha, ha, ha, ha! What a lovely voice! AKSINYA Somebody stop him! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! He' ll catch me! Ai! SERGEI Come on, keep still! Stop, woman! CHORUS Keep still, Aksinya- hold on, Seryozha! What a lovely voice! Ha, ha, ha, ha, etc. That's the way, that's the way, That's the way, that's the way! SERGEI Stop, woman, stop! AKSINYA Ai! Ai! CHORUS Ha, ha, ha, ha, etc. This is so damned funny we shall split

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LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

our sides laughing. God, if he goes on much longer we shall all simply burst! SERGEI Keep still! AKSINYA Devil! SERGEI. Ai! Ai! Ai! Ai! etc. AKSlNYA Let go! Let go! Let go! Let go! CHORUS Ha, ha, ha, ha, etc. (Katerina appears.) VILLAGE DRUNK Here's the Mistress! ( The action stops . ) KATERINA What's the matter? AKSINYA They've torn my skirt to pieces! KATERINA Let the woman go now; you enjoy making fun of women, then? SERGEI Who else is there that we can make fun of? KATERINA So you think a woman's only there to be laughed at? SERGEI Well, what else is a woman or? AKSINYA Ah, you swine, you! SERGEI Now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now! KATERINA All you men are the same, you're all so damned conceited; you think only you can be strong, only you can be brave, only you can be wise, don't you? But some women have kept whole . amilies rom starving, remember!

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK And some women, in wartime, have·ought to deend their country! And .sometimes women have sacriiced their own lives to save their husband's or their lover's. But to you all this means nothing. I shall give you a damned good thrashing, then you' ll know what a woman is good or. SERGEI All right, then, let me shake your hand f all you say is true. (Katerina gives Sergei her hand. He squeezes it.) KATERINA You're hurting! Let go! It' s my ing SERGEI So your wedding ring's the thing that hurts you. KATERINA Let go, let go, let go! SERGEI Just be patient a while longer. KATERINA You're hurting,. let go! (She pushes Sergei, who falls down.) VILLAGE DRUNK Hey, look! She's pushed him over! (Sergei gets up, rubbing his bruises.) SERGEI Just a moment, I've a good idea. KATERINA Well? SERGEI Why don't we try wrestling? KATERINA Well, all right, let's try. SERGEI Well, come on- make room! ( Katerina and Sergei wrestle.) KATERINA Well, what's wrong? What have you stopped or?

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LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK SERGEI

-I orgot - with you in my arms I start to think and I eel the strength in me rising! (He throws Katerina to the ground. Enter Boris Timoyeyevich.) KATERINA Let go, let go, let go, Ah, Seryozha, let go! BORIS What's all this? (Katerina gets up. ) KATERINA Passing through the courtyard, I tripped over some sacks and ell down. Sergei, here, tried to help me up and ell himself. VILLAGE DRUNK That's what happened! BORIS Don't stand there gaping! Just what do you think we pay you or? For standing doing nothing? Idle scroungers! Drunken spongers! Parasites! (to Sergei) You, too, clear of! (Exit Sergei.) (to Katerina) You go and cook those mushrooms. Just you wait, I'll tell your husband how you behave. Scene 3 (Katerina's bedroom.) KATERINA Time or bed. Dark already. Time or bed, time or bed. Not a soul to talk to, Ah, it' s deadly, deadly dull. Walls, doors, and the doors irmly locked. (Enter Boris Timoyeyevich.) BORIS Kateina! . KATERINA Yes?

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK BORIS Time you were asleep. KATERINA But it's early still. BORIS Stuf and nonsense, you're nothing else to do. You're alone there No point in wasting candles. KATERINA All right, I'll go to bed. (Exit Boris.) (Katerina undresses.) KATERINA In the meadow the stallion pursues the mare and the tomcat howls out his desire; the gentle dove hurries homewardI �lone have no one hurrying to me! The birch tree sways with the wind's caress and basks in the warmth of the summer sun. Nature's provided a smile or all I alone have no one to smile at me, I've no one who will hold me in his arms, I've no one who will press his lips to mine I've no one who'll kiss and caress my white breasts, and leave me exhausted after his embraces. The days pass in a joyless bleak procession. I'll grow old, never knowing the smile of love. And no one, no one will come to me. No, no one will ever come. (She undresses completely and lies down on the bed.) (A knock at the door) KATERINA Who is it? Eh? Who is it? SERGEI (behind the door) Don't be rightened, it's me, only me! KATERINA Who? SERGEI Sergei! KATERINA Sergei? What's wrong? What's the matter, Seryozha? SERGEI Nothing! I just came to see you!

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LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK KATERINA

To see me - what or? SERGEI Let me in and I'll explain. (Katerina opens the door. Sergei enters.) KATERINA Well, what is it? SERGEI I just came to ask you or a book. KATERINA A book? What kind of book? SERGEI Something to read. KATERINA (spoken) I don't have any, Sergei, no books at all. I myself can't read and my husband doesn't read books. SERGEI God, I'll die of boredom! KATERINA Why not get married, then? SERGEI To whom? A rich man's daughter is out of my reach - I've no use or the others; they're all so coarse and dumb. And I am a man of ine eelings - that's why I'm bored and lonely. KATERINA That's just how I eel. SERGEI Well, and no wonder KATERINA Ah! if only I had a child! SERGEI Well, you know that babies don't just come of their own accord. Something must be done to make them happen, if you'll allow me to say so Let's just suppose that you had a lover, a secret lover just as all the other women do. Well, you in your position would ind it almost impossible to meet him. Unless, of course, he were already in the house. You think, perhaps, that I don't understand you? All my lie I have worked as a servant I have seen what a hard lie a woman has.

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK KATERINA Yes, all right, Sergei, you must go now. SERGEI As you wish. KATERINA Good night. (Sergei does not go.) SERGEI I must say I enjoyed our wrestling today; you're really very strong. KATERINA Let's not talk of that. SERGEI Why ever not? That was the happiest moment of my lie, come on, let's try again. KATERINA No, don't you dare! (Sergei seizes Katerina.) SERGEI Come on, here we go. KATERINA Let go, Sergei! Let go, what are you thinking of? Let go! (Sergei embraces Katerina.) KATERINA The old man might come in and see us; let go Sergei! SERGEI I'll show you who's the strongest. KATERINA Sergei, no, you mustn't! No, I'm araid! SERGEI Ah, my love! KATERINA What are you doing? Darling, no, don't! Darling, I don't want . . . SERGEI Ah, Katya, ah, my love! KATERINA Ah! Now go away, or God's sake: You know that I am maried!

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LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

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SERGEI Ho, ho! That's what they all say, these married women- but they still want to jump into bed with me. Ho, ho! As or Zinovy Borisich . . . Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho! Ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! Well, let's not speak of that KATERINA I have no husband, all I have is you! BORIS (off stage) Katerina! KATERINA The old man! BORIS Are you in bed? KATERINA Yes, I'm in bed. Well, all right! (to Sergei) Now go! SERGEI Oh, no, I'm not going anywhere; I shall stay. KATERINA But the old man will lock the door! SERGEI Windows are wide open doors or a lover! Ah, come, Katya! KATERINA Darling! CURTAIN

ACT II Scene I (Boris Timoyeyevich is walking across the courtyard with a lantern.) BORIS That's what old age doesstops you sleeping. The whole time I keep imagining that we're being burgled; I spend the whole night looking or burglars!

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK When I was young I didn't sleep much, either, but or a diffrent reason: I used to stand under married women's windows, sing them songs, tell them all sorts of rot, and then I'd clamber up into their bedrooms! Ah! What times those were, if only they could last! My son is not like that, or he can't even satisfy his own wie Ah, if I were his age, God what I'd do! Ah! I'd give it her! He, he, he, he, he, he, he, etc. (He notices a light in Katerina's room.) A light up there! So Katya can't sleep, either! Well, that's no wonder! It's hard or a young and hot-blooded woman who has no one to console herself with. Ah! What I'd do if only I were just ten years younger - ah then - ah then She would get it hot and strong! Yes, by God, she'd get it hot enough, hot enough to satisfy even her! ine healthy woman all by herself, without a man, all alone. All by herself, without a man, all by herself, without a man, all alone! All by herself, without a man all alone! All by herself, without a man, all by herself, without a man!

A

Having no man is bad or women! I'm going up there! I'll go to her (At the window Katerina and Sergei are saying goodbye to each other.) SERGEI Goodbye, Katya, goodbye! (He climbs out of the window and down the drainpipe.) BORIS What the devil's this, then? I heard a voice: Let's see what's going on. KATERINA Must you go so soon? SERGEI It'll be light soon!

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LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

BORIS So that's it, so that's it, You're betraying your husband, Katerina! She has ound some young lover. Yes, but who? Ah, f only I had gone sooner! Oh, hell! Think of the scandal, God, the disgrace of it! KATERINA I. remember when ev'ry night seemed endless, But in these last seven glorious nights that we've enjoyed together, the hours have lown past as though on wings! SERGEI But time that lovers spend together goes quickly! Goodbye, Katya! KATERINA Goodbye, Seryozha, Seryozha, goodbye, goodbye! SERGEI Katya! Katya, goodbye, goodbye! BORIS Ah, damn you! Sergei - that new workman! That's him! That's the swine! All right, just you wait! (Sergei climbs down. He comes out and Boris seizes him by the collar.) BORIS Stop! Where have you been? SERGEI Well, wherever it was I'm not there now! BORIS So that's it! You really knew what you were doing when you slept with my son's wie! Hey, you there! Hey! SERGEI Don't keep on shouting! BORIS I want to shout! Here, I'm the master! Hey, there - come here! I've caught a thief! (Some ha-dressed workmen run in.) SERGEI All right, what d'you want of me now, then? BORIS I'll tell you I want to give you ive hundred lashes, that's what I want!

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK SERVANTS AND WORKMEN Lord have mercy on us! BORIS ( to the Porter) Get me the whip! Now, be quick! (The Porter runs offor the whip.) (to the Village Drunk) And you strip of his shirt. VILLAGE DRUNK Well, mate, that's it (He strips of Sergei's shirt.) You' ve been asking or it, and now you're going to get it! PORTER Shall we do it or you, master, or will you do it yourself? BORIS I'll do it. Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! ( Katerina appears at the window.) KATERINA What' s the matter? I'm sleeping. BORIS (to Katerina) Sleeping? Sleeping? Not so long ago you were there at your window counting the stars as you waited or dawn. Look, Katerina, I've caught a thief, and now I'm going to log him. Come on! Let's start! (He logs Sergei. ) Look here, Katerina! A charming diversion! See how the blood is already lowing! KATERINA (at the window) Let him go, I tell you, do you hear me! Let him go! BORIS And now a ew, just or pleasure, just or pleasure, just or pleasure! You've got far too much blood, brother, that's what makes you so damned lecherous! KATERINA Open the door, I tell you Open the door, I tell you! I'm locked in my room let me out let me out!

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LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK

BORIS We'll let some of your hot blood out or you! Then you won't eel much like making love, you scum! KATERINA Help me! Help me! Won't someone come and help me? Ah, let him go! Whoever unlocks the door will earn my undying love. BORIS Why don't you yell? Damn you! You're just showing of because the woman's here! Well, never mind, I'll make you! Take that, and that, and that, and that, and that, and that, and that, and that! KATERINA I'll throw myself down if no one helps me! VILLAGE DRUNK (to Katerina) All right - I'n coming. BORIS Shut up - and stay here! WORKMEN AND SERVANTS Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! KATERINA You won't stop me, you won't stop me! (She climbs down the drainpipe and hurls hersef at Boris. The servants seize her and hold her.) KATERINA Brute! Brute! I won't let you! Let go, monster! BORIS Keep a good hold of her! KATERINA Let go of me, let go of me! Let go of me! Let me go! Let me go! BORIS Don't stand there like a statue. Stop showing of in ront of the woman! Come on, come on, just yell! And the I'll stop it. KATERINA Let go! Let go! Let go! Let go! Let go! Let go! Let go! Let go!

LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK BORIS Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! (He stops logging.) I'm tired! PORTER Shall I carry on while you're resting? BORIS No, that'll do. That's enough or the irst dose- too much and he might die on us. Lock him up in the storeroom, then we'll start again tomorrow! (Sergei is carried off and Katerina is released.) BORIS (to Katerina) Well. That's really made me hungry. Was there anything left over rom supper? Hey! Did you hear what I said? KATERINA Some mushrooms were left. BORIS Just the thing! All right, let's have the mushrooms. (Exit Katerina.) PORTER (spoken) We've locked Sergei in the storeroom. Here are the keys. BORIS (spoken) Ride quickly to the mill. Look or Zinovy Borisovich. Tell him to come home as quickly as he can. Tell him there's some trouble at home. (Exit Por