The Locksmith: A Comic Opera

original: "OPERA BOUFFON"; a genre of French opera that includes spoken dialogue and light, often satirical, musical numbers.

I groan at every moment;
I complain, and my torment
Appears sad to no one;
Rest flees me, abandons me,
And I am always saying:
A woman with a few charms, etc.

You whom a sweet face attracts;
Beware of marriage;
Beauty brings, sooner or later,
Trouble into the household,
And pleasure stays aside:

A woman with a few charms, etc.

If that rascal Julien falls into my clutches, oh! by heavens, I will have a surprise for him, and I will go about it in such a way that my clever girl will have no way to deny it; I am certain of it. This is the place for their rendezvous. I must finish the trap where I want to catch them. ( He calls. ) Ho! Guillaume! They do not expect what I am preparing for them. Guillaume!

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S C E N E VII.

What is it, Master? The original "not' Maître" is a colloquial contraction of "notre maître," showing Guillaume's informal, working-class speech.

Put down your bread, and give me that spring we were making yesterday morning.

What do you want to do with it?

Put down your bread, damn it! original: "morbleu"; a common mild oath of the period, shortened from "mort de Dieu" or "God's death." You will see: look—