Scene 3

(Renewal of sounds of the sea indicate a change of scene.)

M: Once again here by the shore,

Breathing in the salty air

As I’ve often done before,

Thinking of my father,

Dreaming of my love,

Hoping for the future,

Praying to the gods.

E: Waiting for my precious daughter,

Waiting for her to return,

Watching ships move on the water,

Still I feel my hunger burn.

M: Dreaming of my gentle lover,

Waiting for him to return,

Then shall he become my husband.

For him alone my heart does yearn.

And I must not forget my darling papa.

I hope and pray that he will soon be healed.

Then we all shall live together,

Casting off our present sorrows.

E: But if my daughter cannot run away again

There’s nothing I can do.

Consumed by hunger pains within,

I’ll have to use my strength to find more food.

ST: I’ve bought her twice but I know she’ll sell well.

She’s beautiful piece but a troublesome girl.

But the moment they see her

They’ll bud up her price

And the profits I’ll make should be handsomely nice.

E: Oh how the hunger returns, like fire inside.

My whole body burns, consuming my pride.

Unhinging my mind, dismembring my life,

Destroying my dignity.

M: I know one day that we will all be happy

And peace and joy will rule over lives.

The sorrows of the past will be forgotten

And our days will shine with radiant love.

ST: Now it’s time to load my cargo

Onto my ship and sail away.

Erysichthon’s daughter surely

Will fetch the highest price they’ll pay.

M: Oh Lord Poseidon.

Hear the prayers of your most greatful daughter.

Transform me now into a swan

As I throw this pearl into the water.

*Oh, Great Lord Poseidon!

P: * Yes, I hear you prayers my child,

But mark this well: you’ve only one pearl left,

So be transformed into whatever shape you desire,

With earth’s power, and with the powers of wind, water, and fire,

As you desire, as you desire.

M: So now with graceful wings I fly to freedom,

Thus to my father I will go.

I know he’ll be there waiting for me to come back.

Because he loves me so.

ST: What could have happened?

She was here a while ago.

I was watching her this time.

She must be somewhere near,

There’s no place she can go

Without her being seen.

(long pause, during which the merchant and E. sit with mask raised, the chorus will stop making its sea sounds and will begin the hunger hum and Mestra will conclude. )

Home again-

Or so I thought…

But my father’s lost in hunger

All his love for me forgot.

Oh gods!

Is this your justice, gods?

Why have you taken away my lover? …

And my father, my poor father,

Why have you destroyed me father? …

My poor father.

(Mestra slowly turns away from the audience and a drumroll announces the change of scene.)