【Manon Lescaut】Synopsis, Character Map

I have never seen a woman like her before. I want to tell her that I love you.

Alone, lost, forsaken, I am in the wilderness. Everything is over.

Edmondo
Calm nights bring soft breezes and stars. Dear night is for poets and lovers.

Ave, sera gentile

Students
It is also a night for thieves and drunkards.

Edmondo
The girls are coming. Let’s hit on them.

Edmondo
You should pick up girls with us. Or do you already have a girl you are in love with?

Love? I don’t know about that. But I can make you happy.

Is there a fair-haired girl among you? Show me your beautiful face so that I may fall in love with you and worship you.

Tra voi, belle, brune e bionde

She is truly beautiful.

Can you tell me your name?

My name is Manon Lescaut.

I am attracted to you. When are you planning to leave?

We will leave for the convent tomorrow at dawn.

What a beautiful person like you to go to a convent! You have a different destiny. Please give me a chance to see you again.

I’ll meet you around here after dark.

I have never seen a woman like her. I want to tell her that I love you. She said this. My name is Manon Lescaut. Her fragrant words float in my soul.

Donna non vidi mai

Geronte
Is Manon really going to the convent?

It was our father’s decision. Do you come here on a trip?

Geronte
I’m here on business. I’m in the business of collecting taxes for the government.

(He’s going to be a gold mine.) Let’s have a drink together.

Geronte
Sure. No, I just remembered something.

Geronte
(To the innkeeper) Get me a carriage secretly behind the inn. It is for the man and the girl to go to Paris.

Edmondo
Your beautiful flowers are about to be stolen by an old man.

I want to help her. Help us.

I am here to keep my promise to you because you are eager to see me.

Vedete? Io son fedele alla parola mia

I love you. Your beauty will bring you a bright future. But now a rich old man is trying to abduct you.

Edmondo
Here comes the carriage.

Are you going to abduct me?

Love will take you away. Let’s run away together.

Geronte
(Let’s abduct his sister.) Where is Manon?

Edmondo
She left with a student.

Geronte
Your sister has been abducted. Let’s go after them.

There is no point in chasing them now. Their destination is Paris anyway. The students’ money will soon run out. Manon can’t stand poverty. Then she will accept your offer.

I did not lose hope when you fled from the inn. You lived in poverty with him. De Grieve is a fine young man. But he has no money. No wonder you left him and took this palace.

I am worried because I left without saying goodbye to him.

There is silence in the golden bed wrapped in soft lace. The cold silence makes me freeze. But I am used to it now. Instead of losing my passionate lips and arms, I have something else.

In quelle trine morbide

He’s trying to make money to get you back. I taught him how to gamble.

I can’t believe he would gamble for me!

He is so drowned in bets that he lives without realizing his own madness.

Does this dress look good on me?

You’re beautiful.

It must be a gift from Geronte. Thank her with this purse.

Don’t mock art.

I’m bored.

(It is dangerous for a young woman to be bored. Let’s go to Des Grieux’s.)

Geronte
Come to our meeting later.

Oh, I’m the most beautiful!

You, my dear, my love. My immeasurable love.

Tu, tù, amore

I have had my dark days.

Don’t look at me like that. Look at this room! I am rich. What belongs in this room belongs to you. I beg your forgiveness. Trust me. I belong to you.

You beat me. I am falling in love with you again.

Geronte
Now I know why you have kept me waiting. You will remember the token of my true love that I gave you.

Love? Look at your face in the hand mirror. Then look at us!

Geronte
I know my duty. I will leave at once. (Threatening) Goodbye. And soon.

We can’t stay here.

I can’t leave without something so beautiful!

Your crazy ideas make you betray me. I am your slave, your victim. I am infamous and sordid. I am a mad gambler. What are you going to do with me?

Ah, manon, mi tradisce il tuo folle pensiero

I swear to be faithful and good.

Geronte has accused you! The soldiers are coming here.

Come on, let’s go.

I need my jewelry!

What are you doing? The soldiers have surrounded the house.

If you get caught, who will help Manon?

It’s time to switch to the soldiers I bribed. You should see Manon soon. She already knows our plan. My friend and I will cause a commotion, so you two must escape.

My love! Don’t leave me!

The mission has failed! You must run.

If you run alone, I don’t care if you die here.

If you love me, run!

Sergeant of the Royal Archers
We are ready to sail. Get the women on the ship.

A woman named Manon was abducted by a nobleman on her wedding day. He abandoned her immediately. This pale young man is her bridegroom. How pitiful.

This is my destiny. You must return to your home. Maybe I haven’t given you enough love. That’s my regret.

Naval Captain
What’s all the fuss about?

Look at me. I am mad. I cry out to You for mercy. Please hire me. I’m ready to do any kind of unpleasant work.

Guardate, pazzo son

Naval Captain
I’m putting you on a ship.

Let’s go on. It will be night soon.

I give up. No, I’m sorry. I just need to rest.

Oh, she’s got a fever!

Are you crying? Thirst torments me.

There is nothing. There is no water in dry land.

I’ll wait here. Go over the horizon. Bring me good news.

Alone, lost and forsaken, I am in the wilderness. My deadly beauty has ignited a new fire. Everything will end.

Sola, perduta, abbandonata

I will die soon. I can no longer speak well, but I can tell you this. I love you.

Manon!

I can no longer hear you. Do you remember the Manon you once loved? Was my youth bright? My sins may be forgotten, but my love will never disappear.