Bianca says that she thinks she heard Tarquinius gallop away before dawn. They leave the orchids for Lucretia to arrange as they are Collatinus' favorite flowers. SCENE 2: The hall of Lucretia's house the next morningīianca and Lucia greet the lovely day and collect flowers to adorn the house. The Choruses lament the triumph of sin and pray for relief. As Tarquinius beats out the candle with his sword the curtain falls quickly.
COLLATINUS LUCRETIA FREE
She struggles free and he threatens her with his sword, the Choruses commenting the while. He begs for her love and when she refuses siezes her forcibly. He wakes Lucretia with a kiss and she reveals her deep-seated fear of him: "In the forest of my dreams you have always been the Tiger." Tarquinius approaches steathily, described by Male Chorus. The curtain rises, showing Lucretia asleep with a candle beside her. The Choruses discard their books and explain that they are viewing the action from the standpoint of the present day and according to Christian standards. Male and Female Chorus read from their books a commentary on the character of the Etruscans and are interrupted by the off-stage mutterings of Collatinus, Junius, Bianca and Lucia about the corruption of Rome under their rule. They all bid one another good night and depart for bed.
Bianca in particular fears danger and resents his presence. Lucretia is unable to refuse him but the two servants mutter suspiciously. He claims hospitality, alleging his horse is lame. Tarquinius knocks at the door and is admitted.
(In the scene that follows they continue to describe what is happening while the characters mime the actions described, only occasionally uttering lines of their own.) They prepare to go to bed while Male and Female Chorus alternate, she describing the sleeping city and he the approach of Tarquinius. It is late and they begin folding linen while Female Chorus reflects on the lot of women. Lucretia laments her separation from her husband. Lucretia starts up, thinking she hears a knock and hoping it might be a messenger from Collatinus - even though, as Bianca reminds her, she has already had two letters from him that day. Joined by Female Chorus, they sing of a woman's fate. Lucretia, her nurse Bianca and her maid Lucia are sewing and spinning. Male Chrous relates Tarquinius' ride to Rome. Tarquinius breaks in in his own voice calling for his horse. Tarquinius does not dare, When Tarquinius does not desire But I am Prince of Rome And Lucretia's eyes my Empire. As Tarqunius paces up and down Male Chorus utters his thoughts: Tarquinius reveals his obsession with Lucretia, claiming that she is "as chaste as she is beautiful" and declaring that he will "prove Lucretia chaste." Junius leaves him with an admonition that he will not dare. Satisfied with his work he retires to bed. When Tarquinius joins them and resumes his taunting of Junius, Collatinus reproves him and makes peace between the two. Male Chorus comments, remarking how lucky Collatinus is to have chosen a virtuous wife.Ĭollatinus comes out and reproaches Junius for venting his rage against his own wife in bitterness against Lucretia and, and Junius apologises. Junius bursts out of the tent, unable to bear the comparison between Lucretia and his wife. Collatinus calms them and Tarquinius proposes a toast to the chaste Lucretia. Tarquinius taunts Junius with the faithlessness of his wife and they quarrel acrimoniously. Collatinus tells them they were foolish to go and the others comment that he has no need to worry since his wife Lucretia was the only one found virtuously at home. They discuss the events of the previous night when some of generals had ridden back to Rome to check up on their wives and found most of them unfaithful, including the wife of Junius. His son Tarquinius Sextus leads a Roman army against the Greeks, to distract attention from conditions in Rome, "and treats the proud city as if it were his whore."Ī curtain rises to reveal the army camp outside Rome with the generals' tent where Collatinus, Junius and Tarquinius are drinking. They explain the events against which the action of the opera takes place.īy murder and treachery, the Etruscan Tarquinius Superbus has become King of Rome and rules in a reign of terror. Male and Female Chorus are seated on either side of the stage, reading from books.
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