DONIZETTI

THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT

The Marquise of Berkenfield, having set out on a trip, thus leaving the safety of her comfortable chateau, has narrowly avoided a head on collision with the dreaded French army:

Dare they forget my noble name?

War I deplore, for clear as crystal,

Facing cannon ball or pistol,

Ragged or rich are all the same.

I don’t suppose to them it matters

That I belong at home in bed,

Or that my nerves are torn to tatters.

Foreignors one and all!

What do they care about my throbbing head?

Oh, these French appear so disarming,

Until they snarl and show their teeth;

Though on the surface smooth and charming,

They are tigers and wolves underneath.

With bandits and hoods we are dealing;

Too well I know what lies ahead.

They are men devoid of feeling;

As for regard, they have not a shred.

Oh, these terrible men, these unbearable men!

I remember, remember, remember back when.

All told, unlawful, awful men!

Marie, daughter of the regiment, salutes the fabulous Twenty First:

All know the name,

All say the same:

We Twenty First are first in the nation.

When we appear,

Crowds wave and cheer,

Rising to offer a standing ovation.

Soldiers of France

Reach for romance.

As husbands and lovers fear the worst,

Ladies overcome swoon in admiration.

Anytime, anywhere,

We are there, all set!

Do we mean to suggest

We’re the best? You bet!

As a team, we are cream of the crop.

Meet the fabulous Twenty First,

Number one, and the team on top!

Comes the day when Marie, despite her martial upbringing, falls in love -- with a young soldier from the enemy side:

A foolish child, naive and shallow,

I would laugh when a lover sighed.

Wiser now, more mature and mellow,

Deeper feelings I no longer hide.

Enthusiastic,

My heart was set on waging war,

But something happened rather drastic --

My former foe I’ve come to adore . . .

Due to a remarkable turn of events, Marie is compelled to leave the regi-ment. In tears, she says goodby to her former friends and to the young soldier she was hoping to marry:

I’m told I must . . .

I’m told to leave

The friends I’ve loved so long

To dwell in splendor far from here.

But please, for me,

No tearful parting song.

Later on I shall grieve,

But I need now to be strong.

I am to leave . . .

What can I say?

Ah, please, for me delay your tears.

A fond, a fond farewell . . .

Who knows how long? . . .

Forcibly uprooted, transplanted into an alien environment of luxury and splendor, Marie sighs for those she had to leave behind, and for one in particular:

Beneath the jewels and the laces

I bury my grief and despair,

For what’s the use of frills and graces

When he is not around to share?

I think of you who gave me shelter,

My fathers so kind, so humane!

Body and soul now I would offer

To return to your world again,

And that life I long for in vain . . .

Her friends come to the rescue in the nick of time:

MARIE:

A new dawn, a ray of light!

On come the heroes

With hope of sweeter,

Brighter tomorrows.

A new call to carry on,

Forward undaunted,

Full speed ahead.

I waver no longer,

Nor cower in dread;

Now braver and stronger,

I rise from the dead.

A new day of bluer skies!

Old friend are on the move.

Hurray for happiness,

Friendship and love,

Today and tomorrow,

Today and tomorrow!