Carmen, final duet, Act IV
Carmen
It’s you!
José
It is I!
Carmen
They had warned me that you weren’t far,
They had warned me to fear for my life.
But, I am brave and did not wish to run away.
José
I do not threaten, I implore, I beseech;
I will forget our past,
Yes, we will both go, the two of us, to begin another life.
Far from here, under other skies!
Carmen
You ask the impossible, Carmen has never lied.
Her soul remains inflexible.
Between her and you, all is finished.
I have never lied; between us, all is over.
José
Carmen, there is still time, yes there is still time.
Oh, my Carmen, let me save you, you whom I adore,
And myself save with you!
Carmen
No, I know full well that it is time,
I know full well that you will kill me;
But, whether I live or I die,
No, I will not give in to you!
José
Carmen, there is still time . . . .
Carmen
Why trouble yourself still,
With a heart that is no longer yours?
In vain, you say “I adore you”,
You will get nothing from me.
José (looking incredulous, in utmost despair)
You don’t love me then any longer?
(Carmen remains silent)
You don’t love me then any longer?
Carmen
No, I don’t love you any longer.
José
But I, Carmen, I still love you;
Carmen, alas, I, I adore you!
Carmen
To what good is all that? Only superfluous words!
José
Carmen, I love you, I adore you!
Ah, well, if it is necessary, to please you,
I shall remain a bandit, all that you will want . . .
Anything, do you hear? Anything!
But don’t leave me, oh, my Carmen,
Ah, remember the past!
We loved one another once!
Ah, don’t leave me Carmen!
Carmen
Carmen will never yield!
Free was she born, and free will she die!
(During this chorus, Carmen and José remain silent. Upon hearing the cry “Victory!”, Carmen lets out an “Ah” of pride and joy. José does not lose sight of Carmen, who now hastens to the entrance of the bull ring.)
José (barring her way)
Where are you going?
Carmen
Leave me alone!
José
That man whom they are cheering, he is your new lover!
Carmen
Leave me alone!
José
Upon my soul, you will not pass,
Carmen, it is I whom you will follow!
Carmen
Let me go, Don José, I will not follow you!
José
You are going to meet him, tell me, you love him then?
Carmen
I love him! And at the face of Death itself,
I shall repeat that I love him!
José
Thus, the salvation of my soul,
I would have lost it so that you
So that you might go, you wretch, in the arms to laugh at me!
No, by my own blood, you will not go!
Carmen, it is I whom you will follow!
Carmen
No, never!
José
I am weary of threatening you!
Carmen
All right. Strike me then, or let me pass!
José
For the last time, demon, will you follow me?
Carmen
No! This ring that you had once given to me there – take it!
(Elle enlève la bague de son doigt et la lance sur José)
José (taking out his dagger, advancing toward Carmen)
All right, damned one!
(She retreats and tries to evade him. He catches her and stabs her as the chorus inside sings the final reprise. Carmen falls dead at this feet.)
José
You can arrest me. It is I who killed her!
Ah, Carmen, my beloved Carmen!