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The Dynasts: An Epic Drama Of The War With Napoleon, a play by Thomas Hardy |
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Part 3 - Act 4 - Scene 3. The Same. The Apartments Of The Empress |
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_ PART THIRD. ACT FOURTH. SCENE III. [A March morning, verging on seven o'clock, throws its cheerless stare into the private drawing-room of MARIE LOUISE, animating the gilt furniture to only a feeble shine. Two chamberlains of the palace are there in waiting. They look from the windows and yawn.]
Here's a watering for spring hopes! Who would have supposed when the Emperor left, and appointed her Regent, that she and the Regency too would have to scurry after in so short a time!
Was a course decided on last night?
Yes. The Privy Council sat till long past midnight, debating the burning question whether she and the child should remain or not. Some were one way, some the other. She settled the matter by saying she would go.
I thought it might come to that. I heard the alarm beating all night to assemble the National Guard; and I am told that some volunteers have marched out to support Marmot. But they are a mere handful: what can they do? [A clatter of wheels and a champing and prancing of horses is heard outside the palace. MENEVAL enters, and divers officers of the household; then from her bedroom at the other end MARIE LOUISE, in a travelling dress and hat, leading the KING OF ROME, attired for travel likewise. She looks distracted and pale. Next come the DUCHESS OF MONTEBELLO, lady of honour, the COUNTESS DE MONTESQUIOU, ladies of the palace, and others, all in travelling trim.]
Why are we doing these strange things, mamma,
I cannot, dear, explain. So many events
But you know why we a setting out like this?
We are not sure that we are going yet. [She sits down irresolutely, and bestows recognitions on the assembled officials with a preoccupied air.]
I like being here best;
Run, dear to Mamma 'Quiou and talk to her
But why yet, Empress dear?
King Joseph I await. He's gone to eye [A silence, till approaching feet are suddenly heard outside the door.] Ah, here he comes; [Enter precipitately not Joseph but officers of the National Guard and others.]
Long live the Empress-regent!
Gallant messieurs, I thank you heartily.
Yet to leave Paris is to court disaster!
I shall do what I say! . . . I don't know what-- [She bursts into tears and rushes into her bedroom, followed by the young KING and some of her ladies. There is a painful silence, broken by sobbings and expostulations within. Re-enter one of the ladies.]
She's sorely overthrown; [An official enters at the main door.]
I am sent here by the Minister of War [Re-enter MARIE LOUISE and the KING OF ROME.] Your Majesty, my mission is to say
They are armed Europe's scouts! [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]
Your Majesty,
If you stay longer,
Then I was right to say [She prepares to leave.]
I will not go! I like to live here best!
Bring him down. [Exit MARIE LOUISE in tears, followed by ladies-in-waiting and others.]
Come now, Monseigneur, come. [He catches up the boy in his arms and prepares to follow the Empress.]
No, no, no! I don't want to go away from my house--I don't want to! Now papa is away I am the master! (He clings to the door as the equerry is bearing him through it.)
But you must go. [The child's fingers are pulled away. Exit DE CANISY with the King OF ROME, who is heard screaming as he is carried down the staircase.]
I feel the child is right! [MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU and the remainder of the party follow, and the room is left empty. Enter servants hastily.]
Sacred God, where are we to go to for grub and good lying to-night? What are ill-used men to do?
I trudge like the rest. All the true philosophers are gone, and the middling true are going. I made up my mind like the truest that ever was as soon as I heard the general alarm beat.
I stay here. No Allies are going to tickle our skins. The storm which roots--Dost know what a metaphor is, comrade? I brim with them at this historic time!
A weapon of war used by the Cossacks?
Your imagination will be your ruin some day, my man! It happens to be a weapon of wisdom used by me. My metaphor is one may'st have met with on the rare times when th'hast been in good society. Here it is: The storm which roots the pine spares the p--s--b--d. Now do you see? FIRST AND SECOND SERVANTS Good! Your teaching, friend, is as sound as true religion! We'll not go. Hearken to what's doing outside. (Carriages are heard moving. Servants go to the window and look down.) Lord, there's the Duchess getting in. Now the Mistress of the Wardrobe; now the Ladies of the Palace; now the Prefects; now the Doctors. What a time it takes! There are near a dozen berlines, as I am a patriot! Those other carriages bear treasure. How quiet the people are! It is like a funeral procession. Not a tongue cheers her! THIRD SERVANT Now there will be a nice convenient time for a little good victuals and drink, and likewise pickings, before the Allies arrive, thank Mother Molly! [From a distant part of the city bands are heard playing military marches. Guns next resound. Another servant rushes in.]
Montmartre is being stormed, and bombs are falling in the Chaussee d'Antin! [Exit fourth servant.]
Then it is time for me to gird my armour on.
What hast there? [Third servant holds up a crumpled white cockade and sticks it in his hair. The firing gets louder.]
Hast got another?
Ay--here they are; at a price. [The others purchase cockades of third servant. A military march is again heard. Re-enter fourth servant.]
The city has capitulated! The Allied sovereigns, so it is said, will enter in grand procession to-morrow: the Prussian cavalry first, then the Austrian foot, then the Russian and Prussian foot, then the Russian horse and artillery. And to cap all, the people of Paris are glad of the change. They have put a rope round the neck of the statue of Napoleon on the column of the Grand Army, and are amusing themselves with twitching it and crying "Strangle the Tyrant!"
Well, well! There's rich colours in this kaleidoscopic world!
And there's comedy in all things--when they don't concern you. Another glorious time among the many we've had since eighty-nine. We have put our armour on none too soon. The Bourbons for ever! [He leaves, followed by first and second servants.]
My faith, I think I'll turn Englishman in my older years, where there's not these trying changes in the Constitution! [Follows the others. The Allies military march waxes louder as the scene shuts.] _ |
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