The Scarlet Letter

A Ballet-Opera in Progress

ONE - The Prison Door - Hester Prynne emerges and is taken to the town scaffold.
TWO - Duet between Chillingworth and Prynne, who promises not to reveal his true identity.
THREE - Reverend Dimmesdale prays to God to release what he cannot bring himself to confess.
FOUR - Pearl's Prayer - Pearl shares her mother's will to deny her father until he claims them first.
FIVE - The townfolk gather as the truth is revealed, and the scarlet letter is uplifted at last.

Opening set to Schubert's "Stanchen" (Serenade from Swan Song). Suggestions or midi arrangements for other classical pieces may be sent to Emily at: isocracy99@hotmail.com

"The Prison Door"

Click here to start music (Schubert's "Standchen" Serenade from Swan Song)

Hester Prynne is transferred from the jail to the scaffold

STRANGER:
Virtuous rose
Imprisoned by sin
The queen, she stands alone.

CROWD:
Indeed, she stands alone.

STRANGER:
God only knows
The heartache within
Beneath her conscience of stone.

CROWD:
The queen, she stands alone.

STRANGER:
What could make
Her go astray?
Her husband betrayed?
The town disgraced?

Her punishment should be death!
The queen ascends the throne,
But who shall cast the fatal stone?

REVEREND:
Let us have mercy on Hester Prynne!
Indeed, she was alone:
Married too young,
Her husband at sea,
His bearings yet unknown.

STRANGER:
What disgrace
To show her face,
Her scarlet A
On proud display!

The queen, she stands alone
To face her Judge upon the throne.

REVEREND:
Jesus have mercy on Hester Prynne,
For she was not alone.
Bearing a child
Baptized in her sin,
The father yet unknown.

[pleads to HESTER]
Speak his name,
Do not protest.
Bear not his shame
Upon your breast,
That which is not your own!

The queen, she stands alone
To face her Judge upon His throne.

"Pearl's Prayer"

Click here to start music (Webber's "Memory" from the musical "Cats")

Pearl pleas to her mother and father for the sake of God's mercy.

PEARL:
Mother,
Must we stand on the scaffold,
People pointing and laughing,
Making life seem so cold?

I remember the warmth I felt
Held close to your breast,
Armed with threads
Of red and gold.

HESTER:
Dimmesdale
Stands alone in the moonlight,

PEARL:
Will he join us by daylight?

HESTER/PEARL:
Such a beautiful man.

PEARL:
Was I born of the sorrow
Burning deep in his heart,
Like the scar
Beneath his hand?

HESTER:
Hush my Pearl,
You elfish girl,
No selfish questions ask.
Your Heavenly Father
Will embrace his daughter
And away this world shall pass.

PEARL:
Father,
For the love of your daughter
And the merciful Heavens,
Don't deny them all, too.
Please receive me, a child who brings
The blessings of God.
Half my heart
Belongs to you.

REVEREND:
Perfect Angel,
I'm no stranger.
Wouldst thou keep my kiss?

HESTER:
She has no father,
Let this Holy Water
Wash your lies from her lips!

REVEREND:
Father,
All is written in scarlet,
Lawless sins of a harlot
Mark the tomb of my heart!

Please redeem me for Hester
And this innocent girl.
Behold the Sinner
Of the World!

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Graphics copyrighted by LuminEssence

The Scarlet Letter

A Ballet-Opera in Progress

"The Prison Door"

Click here to start music (Schubert's "Standchen" Serenade from Swan Song)

Hester Prynne is transferred from the jail to the scaffold

STRANGER:

Virtuous rose Imprisoned by sin The queen, she stands alone.

CROWD:

Indeed, she stands alone.

STRANGER:

God only knows The heartache within Beneath her conscience of stone.

CROWD:

The queen, she stands alone.

STRANGER:

What could make Her go astray? Her husband betrayed? The town disgraced? Her punishment should be death! The queen ascends the throne, But who shall cast the fatal stone?

REVEREND:

Let us have mercy on Hester Prynne! Indeed, she was alone: Married too young, Her husband at sea, His bearings yet unknown.

STRANGER:

What disgrace To show her face, Her scarlet A On proud display! The queen, she stands alone To face her Judge upon the throne.

REVEREND:

Jesus have mercy on Hester Prynne, For she was not alone. Bearing a child Baptized in her sin, The father yet unknown.

[pleads to HESTER]

Speak his name, Do not protest. Bear not his shame Upon your breast, That which is not your own! The queen, she stands alone To face her Judge upon His throne.

"Pearl's Prayer"

Click here to start music (Webber's "Memory" from the musical "Cats")

Pearl pleas to her mother and father for the sake of God's mercy.

PEARL:

Mother, Must we stand on the scaffold, People pointing and laughing, Making life seem so cold? I remember the warmth I felt Held close to your breast, Armed with threads Of red and gold.

HESTER:

Dimmesdale Stands alone in the moonlight,

PEARL:

Will he join us by daylight?

HESTER/PEARL:

Such a beautiful man.

PEARL:

Was I born of the sorrow Burning deep in his heart, Like the scar Beneath his hand?

HESTER:

Hush my Pearl, You elfish girl, No selfish questions ask. Your Heavenly Father Will embrace his daughter And away this world shall pass.

PEARL:

Father, For the love of your daughter And the merciful Heavens, Don't deny them all, too. Please receive me, a child who brings The blessings of God. Half my heart Belongs to you.

REVEREND:

Perfect Angel, I'm no stranger. Wouldst thou keep my kiss?

HESTER:

She has no father, Let this Holy Water Wash your lies from her lips!

REVEREND:

Father, All is written in scarlet, Lawless sins of a harlot Mark the tomb of my heart! Please redeem me for Hester And this innocent girl. Behold the Sinner Of the World!

Poetry | Media Literacy | Juliet & Romeo | Songs | Arts | Writers | Theatre | Webzine Index

Virtuous rose
Imprisoned by sin
The queen, she stands alone.

God only knows
The heartache within
Beneath her conscience of stone.

What could make
Her go astray?
Her husband betrayed?
The town disgraced?

Her punishment should be death!
The queen ascends the throne,
But who shall cast the fatal stone?

Let us have mercy on Hester Prynne!
Indeed, she was alone:
Married too young,
Her husband at sea,
His bearings yet unknown.

What disgrace
To show her face,
Her scarlet A
On proud display!

The queen, she stands alone
To face her Judge upon the throne.

Jesus have mercy on Hester Prynne,
For she was not alone.
Bearing a child
Baptized in her sin,
The father yet unknown.

Speak his name,
Do not protest.
Bear not his shame
Upon your breast,
That which is not your own!

The queen, she stands alone
To face her Judge upon His throne.

Mother,
Must we stand on the scaffold,
People pointing and laughing,
Making life seem so cold?

I remember the warmth I felt
Held close to your breast,
Armed with threads
Of red and gold.

Dimmesdale
Stands alone in the moonlight,

Was I born of the sorrow
Burning deep in his heart,
Like the scar
Beneath his hand?

Hush my Pearl,
You elfish girl,
No selfish questions ask.
Your Heavenly Father
Will embrace his daughter
And away this world shall pass.

Father,
For the love of your daughter
And the merciful Heavens,
Don't deny them all, too.
Please receive me, a child who brings
The blessings of God.
Half my heart
Belongs to you.

Perfect Angel,
I'm no stranger.
Wouldst thou keep my kiss?

She has no father,
Let this Holy Water
Wash your lies from her lips!

Father,
All is written in scarlet,
Lawless sins of a harlot
Mark the tomb of my heart!

Please redeem me for Hester
And this innocent girl.
Behold the Sinner
Of the World!