Oh verzeihung wenn ich störe

English Libretto or Translation:

SYLVA:
     Dearest ... are you sure?

No. 6 FINALE ACT I

EDWIN:
Now we’re united!
CHORUS:
  0 Sylva, o Sylva,
Be happy in this love that you have found!

EDWIN:
Now we’re united!

CHORUS:
  So seldom, so seldom,
So seldom can such happiness be found!

FERI:
  Wait though, my children. Tell me one thing. I’m all in favour of having a fling. But marriage is sacred, Not to be played with, And you must consider faithfully “Till death us do part”; No words can bind like these, And will you both, can you both Swear never to be parted?

CHORUS:
  “Till death us do part, No words more strong than these,
 And will you both, can you both
Swear never more to part?

FERI & KISCH:
  No words more strong than these, And can you both swear never more to part?

EDWIN:
We never shall part,

SYLVA:
     No never in this life.

COMPANY:
We’ll willingly, happily
Stay true to one another.

FERI:
  As your resolve is firm and true
May all good fortune smile on you, on you.

CHORUS:
  0 grasp with open arms
Each chance that life affords you,
And fortune will in time
Come smilingly towards you.
So when the world is harsh
Don’t let it’s cares confound you,

SYLVA
&
EDWIN:
  Believe in happiness,
It’s ev’rywhere around you.

(EDWIN signs the document, then SYLVA)

SYLVA:
     (spoken) I still can’t believe it!
(Everyone gathers round SYLVA  congratulating her. After a whispered conference with FERI two of the girls have fetched a veil from back-stage and pin it on SYLVA’s head. One of the other girls puts a bouquet of flowers in her hand.)
I’m so happy - thank you all so much!

FERI:
  (Calls in the gipsy band from the Winter Garden)
Come on! We need a wedding march!

ALL:
   A wedding march! What shall we have?
You can’t beat the old firm of Mendel and Son!

FERI:

(Wedding Dance.)
(ROHNSDORFF enters and watches the last few bars of the dance.)

ROHNSDORFF:
 (Looking appalled.) Time’s up Edwin, We must leave immediately!

EDWIN:
Eugen, I can’t - not now.

SYLVA:
     (Very tenderly) Edwin, you’ve got to - for my sake!

EDWIN:
All right, my love. (To ROHNSDORFF.) I’ll be with you in a moment.

ROHNSDORFF:
 (Sharply) I’ll be waiting in the car. (Clicks heels, cursory bow to assembled company; exit)

EDWIN:
(sung) My love I’ll soon be back with you
And then we’ll never part.

SYLVA:
     I’ll wait for you my only love,
I’ll wait with eager heart.

EDWIN:
My dearest, heav’nly creatures may surround me,
Loveliness be all around me,
They’ve just disappeared
Now Cupid’s played his part.

FERI & CHORUS:
     One alone in all creation, One alone his inspiration.

EDWIN:
Someone all apart,
You are the girl who’s won my heart.

(EDWIN exits.)

SYLVA:
     (spoken) Is this all a dream?

(Enter BONI, bustling on very busily)

BONI:
 There we are, everything’s packed. (Producing one of SYLVA’s boots from behind his back) I couldn’t quite get this in, so you’ll have to dance on one foot! (Realises that his joke has fallen flat.)

SYLVA:
     Boni, you’re going to be furious with me
MERÖ:
She’s not leaving!

BONI:
 Who’s not leaving?
VIHAR:
Sylva - she’s staying here in a new role……

FERI:
  As Edwin’s wife!

BONI:
 As whose what?

FERI:
  (Hands him the document) Look! Read that!

BONI:
 (Looks round the company, deeply worried.) But that’s not possible….

(The COMPANY laugh delightedly, SYLVA grasps his hands ecstatically)

SYLVA:
     Boni, it’s all true!

BONI:
 But he’s not free to do this ...

FERI:
  (Sharply) Why not?

BONI:
 Because he’s already engaged ... to somebody else!

SYLVA:
     (Bursts out.) That’s a lie!

BONI:
 (Very tenderly) Sylva, little Sylva ... how can you say that to me? Look, formal announcement - Rohnsdorfl` gave it to me. (Gives her the card.)

SYLVA:
     (Reads fragments of the text, incredulously) “Prince and Princess ... have the honour ... Edwin (More clearly) to Countess Anastasia Eckenberg.” (Drops the card, looks as if she may fall.)

BONI:
 Sylva! Oh, my God! If I’d known ... But it’s better this way, Sylva - it is, believe me. You’d never fit into a family like that. You’re an artist- the whole world belongs to you! You must have everybody at your feet, not just one man! (He strokes her cheek) Sylva ... you’re a clever girl…..

SYLVA:
     (sung) You’re right my friend,
You’re right my friend!
We ladies, we ladies,
We ladies up on stage
We’ve but to wink at them to floor them!
(spoken) We’ll catch the train to Trieste,
Then out into the world!
Bright lights! Applause! 0 la la,
That’s the way I am!
(sung) Yes Herr von Kisch, dear Herr von Kisch,
I beg you not to take it hard.
Your legal document I fear
Was just a ludicrous charade!
CHORUS:
  Don’t waste your tears!
Cast off your fears!
Life starts anew,
Calling to you!

SYLVA:
     Yes, yes, I’ll make the whole world admire me,
Yes, I’ll make the whole world desire me.
Let love live for ever!
Let love live for ever!
Heissal Here’s to love divine,
Ties which none can sever!
Give me song and give me wine,
Love, just live for ever!
Love the prize of ev’ry heart,
I’ve no time for sorrow,
All the pain that you impart
Cast aside tomorrow.

BONI,
FERI &
CHORUS:
  If you stand there fondly gaping
Love will knock you senseless
You will find there’s no escaping,
There you’ll be defenceless.

SYLVA:
     So never try to count the cost,
Just admit you’re lost!
For when a woman’s eye
Falls on you bye and bye,
You’ll find no earthly place,
Where you can hide your face.

COMPANY:
No chance of rescue then,
You’ll find that women, women,
Weak little women,
Are many, many, many, many,
Many times as strong as men!

(COMPANY exits except FERI, MIKSA and a gipsy violinist, who’s sitting half asleep on a chair.)

FERI:
  (spoken) And what am I supposed to do now? I can’t go home - it’s only three o’clock in the evening! Miksa, bring me some wine ... pour it out for me, would you? (FERI sits astride a chair, MIKSA serves the wine, a bottle and a glass, on another chair beside him. FERI has picked up the card from the floor, reads it thoughtfully) “Prince and Princess von und zu Lippert-Weylersheim have the honour to announce the engagement of their son Edwin to Countess Anastasia Eckenberg.” Poor Sylva! (Drops the card, calls to the gipsy violinist in quite a different tone.) Zigeuner! (Violinist comes over to him) Play me something nice. But play it …....piano!

(FERI:)(sung)
The ladies, the ladies,
The ladies up on stage
They don’t waste their time on deep emotion.
La la la la la la.
La la la la la la la la.
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la.

Slow Curtain.
End of Act I
No. 6 1/2 ENTRACTE
ACT II
Scene I
A spacious hall in the villa of PRINCE and PRINCESS LIPPERT-WEYLERSHEIM. A ballroom leads off it, from which music is heard. Young couples can be seen dancing there. Some are dancing in the hall, while the older guests are standing and sitting around, drinking, chatting etc.