company of the jealous husband. The two arrive at just the right moment and hear Nedda bidding Silvio farewell with these words: "Tonight, and forever..." — while the lover slips away without his identity being discovered. Jealousy runs away with Canio, and he demands to know the name of his rival; Nedda refuses to reveal it, and he threatens her with a dagger. But Beppe, one of the members of the troupe, saves her by appearing at that moment, having come to remind his master Canio that the performance must be given that night.
Canio remains alone and sings the song "Put on your costume and make up your face," alluding
to the actor's being compelled to play his part in the play even though his heart be broken... He sobs bitterly, then enters the little theater, as the curtain falls.
Act Two
The scene: the same as in Act One.
It is night, and the villagers are gathered to watch the play... Beppe blows the little trumpet and Tonio beats the big drum, the two of them heightening the excitement of the occasion. The spectators are seated on low benches before the small traveling stage, some of them squatting on the bare ground... An air of expectancy and eagerness reigns over the place. Nedda passes among the spectators collecting the price of admission. And as she does so, Silvio reminds her of the appointment between them that night, and she answers that she will be at the appointed place.
A bell rings on the little stage, and Nedda, Beppe, and Tonio disappear behind the scenes. In
but a moment the curtain rises on a play within a play. Here is Nedda, in the costume of Columbine, seated at a table awaiting the return of her husband Pagliaccio — whose part is played by her real husband, Canio. And while she waits, a young man outside sings her a sweet, tender serenade, telling her in it that Harlequin awaits her. No sooner does this serenade end than Tonio enters — who plays in the piece the part of the servant Taddeo — carrying a chicken he has bought from the
market. He pours out his love to Nedda in the play as he used to do in reality, and she scoffs at him in the play as she scoffed at him in reality. She approaches the window and signals to someone outside, and Harlequin enters (who is in reality Beppe), kicks Taddeo, and drives him out. Thus the field is left clear for Columbine and Harlequin, who takes up a bottle of wine he has been carrying and sits down with Columbine at the table; they take their supper and drink. Harlequin hands Columbine a
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