Original subtitles

It's time I made some headway with that pretty girl from the town.

The one you saw in church?

Every Sunday, the last three months. - Where does she live?

Out in the suburbs.

An unknown man visits her every night.

And is she aware of your interest in her? - No, she's not.

Look at all those lovely women!

Count Ceprano's wife is the loveliest of all.

Careful! Her husband might hear you. - So what?

He might tell some other lady.

I don't care if he does.

One woman is the same as another,

and the world is full of them.

Beauty is all that counts.

Aside from that, I have no preferences.

Female grace is a gift

bestowed on us by destiny to make life worth living.

If a woman catches my eye today,

tomorrow it may be the turn of another.

There's no saying who it will be.

Fidelity shackles the heart,

I detest it like some horrible illness.

If others want to tie themselves down, then let them!

For me there can be no love without freedom.

I deride the jealous fury of husbands

and the rage of rival lovers.

I defy the hundred eyes of Argus

if a woman takes my fancy.

Then nothing will hold me back.

You are leaving town? A cruel blow!

I must return to Ceprano with my husband.

But your radiant beauty should shine out at court like the sun.

All hearts should beat faster at the sight of you.

In my soul you have kindled the flames of passion,

I am confounded, overwhelmed

and completely undone.

Restrain yourself!

The flames of desire intoxicate me,

I am possessed by all-consuming passion.

Restrain yourself! - You have kindled the flames of passion,

I am confounded, overwhelmed and completely undone.

What's that sprouting on your head, Ceprano? See how livid he is!

What a joke! - Oh yes! - The duke is out for some fun.

Isn't he always? What's new about that?

Gambling and wine, dancing and flirting, trouble and strife are all he cares for.

He is pressing his suit on the countess,

while her husband is eating his heart out.

Gather round! Gather round!

Why? What's happened?

You'll never believe it!

Tell us your news!

Ha, ha!... Rigoletto... - Well? - It's incredible!

Has he lost his hump? Is he no longer a cripple?

Better than that! The jester has ...

Out with it! - A mistress!

A mistress? Come off it!

The cripple has changed into Cupid.

That hunchback? Cupid? - Some Cupid!

Ceprano is cramping my style.

I want his lovely wife for myself! - Then abduct her!

Easily said. But how? - Tonight.

And what about the count?

How about prison? - No, not that.

Well, exile then.

Nor that, fool.

All right ... Then off with his head!

Scheming villain!

What do you say? A head shorter?

Why not? What can he do with a head like that? What good is it?

Scoundrel! - Desist!

He makes me laugh. - He's beside himself!

Fool, come here! - He's beside himself!

You always take a good joke too far! - Revenge on the jester!

What harm can I come to? I'm not afraid of them.

The anger you arouse might turn against you. - Revenge! If you have the guts,

no one will touch the duke's favourite. - Then meet me tomorrow night. - Agreed!

Let me speak to him.

No!

I must!

Monterone!

Yes, Monterone!

Like thunder my voice will ring in your ears,

wherever you go.

Let me speak to him.

You are a traitor.

You conspired against us, my lord.

And in the goodness of our hearts,

we pardoned you all the same.

So what possesses you to keep on claiming satisfaction

for the loss of your daughter's honour?

More insults!

Yes, I have come to disturb

your vile orgies.

I shall not hold my peace

until the foul blot on the honour of my family has been avenged.

Even if you turn me over to the executioner,

my dreadful ghost will return,

bearing my severed head

and crying out for vengeance, demanding retribution

from God and the world.

Enough! Arrest him! - He's gone mad.

What anger!

My curse on both of you!

Ah!

Setting a cur on a dying lion

is base, o Duke! And as for you, viper,

who see fit to mock a father's grief,

my curse upon you!

A curse? Dread seizes me!

You dare to disturb the feast,

goaded by some devil from hell!

Horror! - Your rantings are a waste of breath, get out of here!

Fear your prince's wrath, old fool!

Your rantings are a waste of breath, get out of here!

Fear your prince's wrath, old fool!

You have brought this on yourself, do not hope for mercy!

This outrage has sealed your fate.

From now on, you are doomed,

doomed to a dreadful end!

That old man cursed me!

Good sir,

I have no money.

I asked for none.

You see before you a man who lives by the sword.

A robber?

A man who for a small sum

would rid you of a rival.

And you have one!

Who is it?

Your lady friend lives here. - What's this?

What is your fee for a nobleman?

That would cost you more.

And what are your terms?

Half in advance, the rest afterwards.

The devil!

And how can you be sure

of not being found out?

I kill my victims on the street

or under my own roof.

I lie in wait at dead of night.

One thrust and it's all over.

The devil!

Under your own roof, you say?

It's easy. My sister helps me.

She's a street dancer. And she's a pretty girl.

She lures the victim into the house, and then ...

I understand.

No one hears a thing.

I understand.

This is the tool of my trade. Interested?

No. At least, not now.

It's up to you.

Later, perhaps.

My name is Sparafucile.

A foreigner?

From Burgundy.

Where can I find you?

Right here, every night.

Leave me!

Sparafucile ...

Sparafucile.

Leave me now!

How alike we are!

I use my tongue,

he uses a knife.

I kill with words,

he relies on his blade.

That old man cursed me!

O world of men! O nature!

You have made a vile scoundrel of me!

To be born deformed,

and to live as a jester!

Mirth is all they want of me.

I am denied the solace that others can count on ...

Tears!

That master of mine,

young, carefree, powerful, handsome,

says to me casually

Fool, make me laugh!

And I must obey, whatever I feel like.

Damnation!

How I hate you, sneering courtiers!

How I love to sink my fangs into you!

If I am a monster,

the fault is yours alone.

But here I am a different man.

That old man cursed me.

Why does that thought torment me so?

Does it bode ill?

No, this is folly.

Gilda! - Father!

In your presence alone my troubled heart rejoices.

How you love me!

You are my life!

Without you what point would there be in living?

Ah, such love!

My daughter!

You sigh?

What ails you?

Tell your poor daughter!

If you have a secret, then share it with me.

Tell me about my family!

You have none.

What is your name?

What difference does it make?

If you do not want

to tell me about yourself ...

Never leave the house! - I only go to church.

Then all is well.

If you will not speak of yourself,

at least tell me about my mother.

Ah, do not ask me to speak

of the treasure I have lost!

She was an angel

who took pity on my misfortune.

I was alone, crippled, poor.

Compassion made her love me.

Then she died. She died.

May the earth rest lightly on her beloved head!

You are all I have left to console me.

O God, I thank Thee!

Such anguish!

What makes you shed such bitter tears?

Tell me your name. Tell me what torments you so.

My name is of no consequence.

I am your father. That is all.

Some may fear me, some may hate me.

Others have cursed me.

So you have no roots,

no kindred, no friends?

Roots? Kindred? Friends?

Religion, family, country,

you are the whole world for me!

If I can but make you happy,

that is all I ask of life!

I have been here three months now

and I still have not been into the city.

Perhaps you would allow me to do that?

Never! Never! Tell me, have you ever left the house?

No. - Beware!

What have I said? - Be on your guard!

They might track her down, abduct her!

They would think nothing of dishonouring a jester's daughter.

Horror! Ho there!

What is it?

Has anyone seen me come here? Tell me the truth, I warn you!

No, no one. - Good.

And the door to the ramparts is always locked?

Always.

Watch over this flower

that I have entrusted to your care!

Watch over her carefully,

and never let her innocence be sullied.

Defend her from the fury of the winds

that have blasted other flowers!

Defend her and return her

to her father unscathed!

Such affection! Such care!

What do you fear, father?

Up there in Heaven, in God's realm,

a guardian angel watches over me.

No harm can come to me.

My mother's holy prayers will protect me.

Nothing can ever crush or uproot

this beloved flower of yours.

Watch over this flower

that I have entrusted to you ...

There's someone outside!

Heavens!

How suspicious he is!

No one has ever followed you to church?

Never. - Rigoletto!

If anyone should knock, be sure not to open the door!

Not even to the duke? - To him least of all!

Farewell, my daughter.

His daughter!

Farewell, father.

Giovanna, I have a guilty conscience.

But why?

I didn't tell him about the young man who followed me to church.

Why should you?

Have you taken a dislike to that young fellow?

No, no, he's too handsome for that.

I have lost my heart to him.

He seems very generous

and his manners are exquisite.

I hope he's no prince or nobleman.

I wouldn't want that.

If he were poor,

I know I'd love him even more.

Asleep or awake,

my heart yearns for him.

And my ecstatic soul

cries out "I lo ..."

I love you!

I love you! Repeat those sweet words!

For me they are the key to paradise!

Giovanna? What a dreadful plight!

Is there no one I can call to for help?

Great heavens! I am alone!

No, I am here to answer your call.

Two people in love are a world unto themselves!

But who let you in?

Angel or demon, what does it matter? I love you.

Please go!

Go? Go now?

Now that I am aflame with passion?

The god of love has made us inseparable!

Your destiny, fair maid, is inextricably bound up with mine.

Love is the sun that our soul basks in, it is the stuff of life itself.

Its voice is the beating of our hearts.

Fame and glory, power and rank

are earthly trappings,

transient and fragile.

Only one thing is truly divine.

It is love that puts us

almost on a level with the angels!

So let us revel in that love, you divine creature!

Your favours will make me

the envy of all men.

In my innocent dreams -

Love me!

I have heard these tender words -

Love me! - so dear to my heart!

Tell me again that you love me!

You heard me say so.

Oh happiness!

Tell me your name!

Would you keep it from me? - This is the place!

My name ... - Excellent!

... is Gualtier Maldè.

I am a penniless student.

I heard steps outside. - My father perhaps!

If I could get my hands on the villain who disturbs me like this!

Take him out onto the ramparts. Be off!

Will you be mine?

And you? - Yours forever! Speak!

No more, no more. You must leave.

Farewell. You alone are my hope

and the light of my life.

Farewell.

My love for you will live forever.

Gualtier Maldè!

May the name of the one I love

be engraved on my tender heart.

Beloved name that made my heart

beat faster for the very first time,

remind me in all eternity

of the delights of love!

Whenever I think of you,

my desire will fly to you with my thoughts.

And the last sigh that I utter

will be that beloved name.

There she is!

Look at her!

How lovely she is.

Like some angelic vision.

And this is the mistress

of Rigoletto!

What makes me return?

Silence! Now's the time! Do as I do!

That old man cursed me!

Who goes there?

Quiet! Rigoletto is back!

O happy chance! Let us slay him on the spot!

No, we'd have no one to laugh at tomorrow.

Just leave this to me!

Whose voice was that?

Rigoletto? Is that you? - Who goes there?

Don't bite us! It's me! - Who?

Marullo.

It's so dark, I didn't recognise you.

We're here for a bit of fun.

We're planning to abduct Ceprano's wife.

What a relief! But how will you get in?

Give me your key!

Don't worry.

Our little trick is bound to work.

We have his key.

Yes, it's his crest all right.

My fears were groundless.

That's his palace over there. I'm with you! - We're masked.

Then I should be as well. Give me a mask!

Here's one for you. Hold the ladder ...

I can't see a thing.

It's made him deaf as well as blind.

Softly does it, vengeance is ours. Let us strike when he expects it least.

The time has come to pay him back in kind for his eternal jibes.

Softly does it! His mistress is ours and he'll be the laughing stock tomorrow.

Father! Help me!

Victory!

Help me!

Haven't they finished yet? What a joke!

This is a blindfold!

Ah! The curse!

She has been taken from me!

But when, for heaven's sake?

In those few moments before some inner voice warned me

that I should retrace my steps.

The gate was closed,

the house abandoned.

So where can that beloved angel be now,

that girl who is the first to kindle in my heart

the flame of lasting devotion?

Such is her purity that when her soulful gaze lights upon me,

I sometimes even harbour virtuous thoughts!

She has been taken from me!

Who can have dared to do it?

But I shall be avenged!

The tears of my beloved

demand retribution.

I seem to see those tears

coursing down her cheeks,

as doubt and anguish assailed her

in that moment of danger

when, mindful of our love,

she called out to Gualtier.

He could not help you,

dear, beloved maid,

though he would gladly give his immortal soul

to make you happy in this world

and forfeit the joys of paradise

for your dear sake.

My lord, my lord! - What is it?

We've abducted Rigoletto's mistress.

What? Where from? - From her house.

How did you manage that?

We joined forces to explore that remote street,

shortly after dusk had fallen.

As we had anticipated,

we soon clapped eyes on a woman of rare beauty.

It was Rigoletto's mistress.

Almost immediately she disappeared from view.

Our plan was to abduct her,

but suddenly the jester turned up.

Fool that he is, he believed us,

when we told him we were after Ceprano's wife.

We blindfolded him and in the end

he even held the ladder we used to scale the wall.

We climbed up, grabbed the girl

and brought her back with us.

When he realised how he had been fooled,

Heavens! It is my beloved! - he stood there, cursing and swearing.

But where is the poor girl now?

We brought her here ourselves.

So Heaven has not taken everything away from me!

The clarion call of love summons me to her side.

I would forfeit my crown if that would console her.

At last she will know who I am,

at last she will know who loves her.

And she will learn that even the mightiest

can be made into slaves by love.

Whatever can have brought about this change of mood?

Poor Rigoletto!

Here he is. Say nothing!

Good day, Rigoletto...

They are all in this together.

What's new, fool?

What's new, fool?

That you're all even more obnoxious than usual!

Where can they have hidden her?

See how worried he is!

Yes, he's at the end of his tether.

I am relieved that the night air

did no harm to your health.

The night air?

Yes. It was a good joke!

I was asleep all night.

Ah, you were asleep?

Then I must have been dreaming.

Look at him ferreting around!

It is not hers.

Is the duke still asleep?

Well, he's still in bed.

The duchess would have words with her husband. - He's in bed.

Was he not here with you just now?

He's gone hunting.

All on his own? Unarmed?

He doesn't want to see anyone at the moment. All right?

She's here!

With the duke! - Who?

The girl you abducted from my home last night!

But I will rescue her! She is here!

If you've mislaid your mistress, look for her elsewhere!

She's my daughter!

His daughter!

Yes, my daughter. What?

Does that news wipe the grin off your faces?

She's here! I want her back! Give her to me!

Lickspittle courtiers, I hate and despise you!

For what price have you bartered my treasure?

There is nothing you would not stoop to for gold.

But my daughter is a treasure beyond price.

Give her back to me, or unarmed as I am,

I will steep my hands in your blood!

Nothing on earth can daunt a man

from defending his daughter's honour.

Open that door, you blackguards!

You blackguards, open that door, I say!

Ah! You are all against me!

All are against me! Alas!

Yes, Marullo, you see me weep.

Marullo! My lord!

I know the goodness of your heart.

Tell me where they have hidden her.

She's here. Am I right?

You say nothing?

Alas!

My lords,

I crave your forgiveness. Have pity on an old man!

Return my daughter to me!

Giving her back would cost you nothing.

My daughter is all I have in the world!

Father! - Gilda! Beloved girl!

My lords, she is all the family I have.

Fear no more, my angel!

It was just a joke, wasn't it?

I was afraid, but now I can laugh again.

But why are you weeping?

Oh, father, the shame of it!

Heavens! What do you mean?

I will reveal my disgrace to no one but you!

Get out of here, all of you!

And if your duke should dare to approach,

tell him to stay outside,

for I am here!

It is better to humour children and madmen.

We'll retreat for the moment and watch from a distance

to see what he intends to do.

Speak! We are alone.

Heaven, give me courage!

Every Sunday in church,

as I offered up my prayers to God,

my eyes lit on a young man

so handsome that my fate was sealed.

Though we never exchanged a word,

our eyes met,

revealing our hearts' desire.

Under cover of darkness,

he sought me out last night.

"I am a penniless student,"

he said, full of agitation,

and confessed his love for me,

trembling with ardour.

Then he left.

I was lost in contemplation

of the bliss the future might bring,

when suddenly those men appeared

who had come to carry me off

and take me here by force,

striking dreadful fear into my heart.

Ah! I besought you to abase me, oh Lord,

and spare my Gilda in return,

that she might rise as high

as I had fallen.

I thought there could be no gallows

without an altar nearby.

But that vision was an illusion. The altar is overthrown!

Weep!

Weep, my child! Let your tears flow

unhindered,

let them fall on my heart.

Father, you speak as an angel come to give me solace.

I have one more thing to do,

and then we can turn our backs on this foul place for good.

Yes.

One single day has changed our lives forever.

Let us pass!

We are taking Monterone to the dungeons.

In vain I have cursed you, oh duke!

No thunderbolt, no sword has struck you down!

You will live out your days blithely and unharmed!

No, old man, you are mistaken.

You will have your revenge!

Vengeance, terrible vengeance

is all that my heart desires.

The hour of his downfall is at hand,

the hour that will strike him down!

Like a thunderbolt from the hand of God,

the jester's revenge will lay him low!

Oh father, what savage joy

I see flashing in your eyes! - Revenge!

Forgive him, and then a voice from Heaven

will pardon us for our sins. - Revenge!

Forgive him! - Never!

He betrayed me, but I love him. Oh God,

I implore you to pardon his sins!

You still love him? - I do.

I have given you time to get over him.

I love him.

Poor suffering heart!

Ah, that infamous villain!

But you will be avenged, my Gilda!

Have pity, father!

And if you were sure he'd deceive you, would you still love him?

Would you?

I don't know.

All I know is that he adores me.

You think so? - Yes.

Well then, watch this!

I see a man.

Just wait a moment.

Father!

I want two things, double quick! - And what?

Your sister and some wine.

A typical request for him!

Who does he think he is?

Women are easily swayed, like feathers in the wind.

They change their minds from one moment to the next.

Their bewitching faces,

in laughter or in tears, are nothing but a trap.

Trust them and you will suffer,

count on them only to break your heart!

But we can never be truly happy

without the love they promise us!

Well, he's arrived.

Do you want him dead or alive?

I shall be back later to finish him off myself.

One day, I remember it well,

I saw you on the street.

I resolved to seek you out,

and they told me this is where you live.

From that moment my heart was yours alone.

Wretch!

And what about the scores of other girls you've told the same thing?

You look to me like a real little heartbreaker.

Yes, I'm a terrible fellow! - Oh father!

Keep your hands to yourself! - Playing hard to get?

Behave yourself!

Then do what I tell you and don't be so coy.

No virtue can prevail

against pleasure and love!

This fair, lily-white hand!

You're not serious, are you?

Yes, yes. - I'm ugly.

Kiss me! - Wretch!

You're drunk. - Intoxicated by love!

You're joking, you don't care for me at all.

Yes I do. Marry me!

Give me that in writing! - An adorable creature!

Have you seen enough? - Feckless wretch!

Fair temptress of the streets,

your charms have enslaved me.

One word from you

can free me from all my sorrows.

Come here and feel my heart

pounding for love of you.

One word from you

can free me of all my sorrows.

Ha ha, you make me laugh. Compliments like that are ten a penny.

Ah, these words of love ...

Believe me, I know exactly how much your fine words are worth.

... are the same he addressed to me!

Hush, he is not worth your tears. Now you know he was lying.

Unhappy heart, you are betrayed. Hold out against this anguish!

Why, in all my innocence, did I fall for a man like that!

One word from you can free me,

fair temptress of the streets,

I am enslaved by your charms.

One word from you can free me

of all my sorrows.

Sir, it is not the first time I have heard such flattery.

Hush, and leave things to me. Revenge is nigh.

It shall be swift and deadly. I shall strike him down where he stands.

Now listen! Return to the house,

take money, a horse and the man's clothing I have organised for you.

Make straight for Verona! I shall join you there tomorrow.

Come with me! - I cannot!

I'm afraid. - Go!

Twenty scudi you said?

Here are ten, the rest when the job is done.

Is he staying the night? - Yes.

I shall return at midnight.

I can throw him in the river by myself.

No, that job is mine.

As you wish. What's his name?

I can tell you mine too, if you like.

His is "Crime",

mine is "Punishment".

There's a storm brewing.

It's getting darker by the minute.

Maddalena... - Wait! My brother's coming.

So what?

Thunder!

It's starting to rain. - That's fine by me.

You can sleep in the stables. Or in hell. The choice is yours.

Too kind! - Get out of here!

In this weather?

He's worth twenty scudi.

I shall be happy to offer you my room, sir.

Would you like to see it first?

All right! Lead on! We shall see.

Poor young man!

Such a good-looking fellow!

Heavens, what an awful night!

Are there no doors to this place? All right, I'll take it. Good night.

May Heaven watch over you, sir.

I must get some sleep. I'm worn out.

I've taken a fancy to that young man.

So have I. He's worth scudi.

Twenty? That's nothing. He's worth more.

Go and see if he's asleep. If he is, bring me his sword.

My mind is awhirl!

Love drives me on. Forgive me, father!

This dreadful night,

what does it hold in store?

Brother! - Who's that?

Go to the devil!

That young man is an Adonis. I've fallen for him.

And he for me. Leave him in peace. Don't kill him! - Heavens!

Mend this sack! - What for?

To chuck your Adonis in the river after I've cut his throat.

This is a vision of hell!

I know how we can get the money

and still let him live.

This had better be good! - Listen!

My plan is simple.

The hunchback has given you ten scudi in advance.

He'll soon be back with the rest.

Kill him instead, then you'll have twenty. - Great heavens, my father!

So we still break even.

Kill the hunchback? Have you gone out of your mind?

Am I a crook? A double-crosser?

Have I ever cheated a customer?

The man has paid me. I keep my word.

Spare him, please! - He's as good as dead!

I'll warn him. - Admirable girl!

We'd lose the money.

I know!

Look, if someone else turns up before midnight, I'll kill him instead.

Who's going to come here so late in this weather?

Die for him, though he betrayed me?

And what of my father? Heaven, have mercy!

Half an hour to go.

Wait, brother!

A woman like that weeps for him. And I stand idly by?

Faithless as he is,

I shall sacrifice myself for him.

A knock? - It was the wind.

It was a knock, I tell you! - Odd! Who's there?

A poor beggar craves your pity.

Give me shelter for the night!

A long night indeed! - Just a moment.

Hurry and finish him off! Let me save one life by sacrificing another.

I'm ready. Open the door! It's the money I want to save.

So young and so near to death!

May Heaven forgive these villains.

Father, forgive your unhappy daughter!

May the man I save live happily hereafter!

I'm ready. Open the door!

It's the money I want to save.

Hurry and finish him off! Let me save one life by sacrificing another.

Another knock. - Open up! - Strike him down!

Oh God!

The time has come!

At last vengeance is mine!

Thirty years I've waited for this,

shedding tears of blood

behind the jester's mask!

The door is closed.

I'm too early. I must be patient.

Oh fateful night!

A storm in the skies,

a murder on earth!

How I exult

in this feeling of power!

Midnight!

Who's there? - It's me!

One moment.

He's in here, dead.

At last! A lantern!

A lantern? The money first!

Quick, let's throw him in the river.

No. I'll do that myself.

As you like. But don't do it here!

The river is deeper further down. Hurry!

Don't let anyone see you!

Good night.

Here he is! Dead!

Perhaps I should make sure.

But who else could it be?

These are his spurs.

Look at me, world!

This is a jester,

and this is a prince!

And I can trample him underfoot! It is he!

What joy!

At last the ills he has done me are avenged.

A watery grave is his,

a sack his shroud!

Into the river with him!

That voice!

Is this some trick of the night?

No, no!

It is he! Hell and damnation!

Ho there! You cheating robber!

But who has he murdered instead?

I shudder!

It is a human body.

My daughter! Oh God!

My daughter!

No, it cannot be!

She's on her way to Verona.

I must be mistaken. No, it is she!

Ah, Gilda mine! Speak to me, my daughter!

Tell me who did this! Ho there!

I am alone! Alone! My daughter?

My Gilda! My child!

Who calls me? - She speaks! She moves!

She is alive! Oh God!

Ah, my only treasure on this earth!

Look at me! It is I!

Ah! My father!

How can this be? What happened?

Have you been stabbed? Speak to me!

The blade ... here ...

... it struck me here.

Who did this to you?

I told you a lie.

The blame is mine.

I loved him too much.

Now I die for him.

Great heavens! She has been struck down

by the force of my just revenge!

Dearest angel! Look at me, hear what I say!

Speak! Speak to me, my dearest daughter!

Let me keep silence! Forgive me! Forgive him!

Bless your daughter,

oh my father!

Up there, in heaven

where my mother is,

I shall remember you forever in my prayers.

Do not die! Have pity on me!

If you leave me, I shall be all alone.

Do not die, or I shall die with you!

No more! Forgive him!

Dearest father, farewell!

Gilda!

My Gilda! She is dead!

Ah, the curse is fulfilled!