THE LION & THE WOOD NYMPH

Music & Libretto by jonathan price

A forest near the sacred springs of the Corycian Cave of Mount Parnassus in Phocis.

(Enter Naiads: Corycia, Kleodora, Melaina. Their fatherKephisos follows behind them.)

CORYCIA

Father....

KLEODORA & MELAINA

Father....

CORYCIA

Can today we sing

the morning song of Spring?

KLEODORA

O yes....

MELAINA

O can we sing today?

For the satyrs have gone to the

forests of Othrys and

no one will hear us...

KLEODORA

...and no one will harm us...

NAIADS

O can today we sing

the morning song of Spring?

KEPHISOS

Today.

NAIADS

Today?

KEPHISOS

Today the threat so newly gone

you wish to tempt the fates with song.

I know we see no dancing faun,

and yet the week is hardly long.

(The Naiads stand disappointed.)

And yet it has been many days

since I have heard my daughters sing.

So sing and mind the forest's ways

yet mind those ways most menacing.

(The Naiads bow their gratitude and prepare to sing to the morning sun.)

KLEODORA and MELAINA

Helios brings the

morning sun,

and Apollo

the light, and the

morning star watches

from above

god of love

Venus from night.

CORYCIA

Hear our song to you Apollo,

praising this most wond'rous sight,

as we praise O mighty Helios' flight,

flying from night to light.

KLEODORA and MELAINA CORYCIA

Helios brings the Hear our song to you

morning sun, Apollo,

and Apollo praising this most wond'rous

the light, and the sight,

morning star watches as we praise O mighty

from above Helios'

god of love flight,

Venus from night into flying from night to

light. light.

MELAINA

All in sight, O Apollo,

seek to follow

out of night, O Apollo,

into day.

MELAINA and KLEODORA

All in sight, O Apollo,

seek to follow

out of night, O Apollo,

into day.

NAIADS

All in sight, O Apollo,

seek to follow

out of night, O Apollo,

into day.

MELAINA and KLEODORA CORYCIA

All in sight, O Apollo, Ah.......

seek to follow

out of night, O Apollo,

into day.

(Lasus enters.)

CORYCIA

A lion!

MELAINA

A lion!

KLEODORA

Ah!

KEPHISOS

Stay back!

Why are you here?

LASUS

'Tis no cause for fear.

Your morning song drew me

through field and through forest.

Your beautiful voices

ensnared me with awe.

Yet all the song's beauty

could not have prepared me

(To Corycia:)

for your perfect form to which

Zeus gave no flaw.

I am Lasus.

(He bows.)

CORYCIA

I am Corycia.

KEPHISOS

And I am Kephisos.

Her father.

LASUS

Dear sir, if I may,

I should ask your leave

To woo and court

Your charge on this eve.

(Kephisos is silent in thought.)

KEPHISOS

Lasus,

much too alarming...

are your teeth

and your claws.

Corycia would be too frightened

to take as suitor...

one who owned

such as those in his paws.

(Long moment as Lasus simply stares at Kephisos. There is the slightest suspicion of an unspoken threat.)

If you will allow me

to remove your paws and teeth,

my daughter would be sated

and my blessing I'd bequeath.

LASUS

Is there anything else poor

Lasus can offer?

KEPHISOS

Nothing.

LASUS

Then 'tis

done.

A small price to pay for

Olympian passage.

KEPHISOS

Then now we must go to Corycian Cave

which lies at the mouth of this stream on above.

And there we'll make good on the promise you gave

in a hollow so named after one you claim love.

(Kephisos and Lasus exit.)

CORYCIA (teasingly:)

Strange, I know,

but flattering too.

Who would suppose

he'd pick me over you?

MELAINA

'Tis true. He must have the

sight of Orion.

KLEODORA

Perhaps of us three you look

most like a lion.

(Smiles or laughter.)

CORYCIA

In earnest, though,

who would agree to such farce?

MELAINA

A lion who's sense in his

head is but sparse.

KLEODORA (revelation)

A romantic:

a beast who runs through

valley and vale

in search of a paragon

noble and frail.

MELAINA (following)

And, finding none, knows his

best chance for success

lies in not knowing anyone

should they prove less.

CORYCIA

And tested against an ideal,

all else pales.

Will Lasus miss his poor claws

when Corycia fails?

(Lasus and Kephisos enter. Lasus' paws are bloodied and perhaps his face. Kephisos now walks with a tall staff.)

Oh father, the price he has paid is too steep!

I fear, though, there's naught to be done but weep.

(Lasus approaches Corycia to take her hand. Kephisos raises his staff above his head.)

KEPHISOS

Be gone!

NAIADS (in shock)

Ahh!!

KEPHISOS

Be gone say I!

And never return lest you wish that your hide

become garments for satyrs.

Leave now or die!

(Lasus looks longingly at Corycia, resolves himself to the situation and begins to exit. Before leaving, he turns and addresses Corycia.)

LASUS

Corycia, you will be

in all I hear and all I see

and every day I draw a breath

I will breathe Corycia. Corycia.

Remember me

and I will you.

You are the promise and hope that Love gives us

that a few will live ever to see.

I will remember you, Corycia.

Please remember me.

Corycia, you will be

in all I hear and all I see

and every day I draw a breath

I will breathe Corycia. Corycia.

(Lasus exits.)

CORYCIA

Oh, father....

KEPHISOS

In time 'twill not seem all so grim.

'Tis the only way for us,

And the only way for him.

(Kephisos stands guard as the Naiads watch the departure of Lassus.)

MELAINA

All in sight, O Apollo,

seek to follow

out of night, O Apollo,

into day.

MELAINA and KLEODORA

All in sight, O Apollo,

seek to follow

out of night, O Apollo,

into day.

NAIADS

All in sight, O Apollo,

seek to follow

out of night, O Apollo,

into day.

FINE DELL' OPERA