MARION DE LORME
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
| Marion de Lorme. | ||
| Didier. | ||
| Louis XIII. | ||
| Marquis de Saverny. | ||
| Marquis de Nangis. | ||
| L'Angely. | ||
| M. de Laffemas. | ||
| Duke de Bellegarde. | ||
| Marquis de Brichanteau, | } | Officers of the Regiment of Anjou. |
| Count de Gassé, | } | |
| Viscount de Bouchavannes, | } | |
| Chevalier de Rochebaron, | } | |
| Count de Villac, | } | |
| Chevalier de Montpesat, | } | |
| Duke de Beaupréau. | ||
| Viscount de Rohan. | ||
| Abbé de Gondi. | ||
| Count de Charnacé. | ||
| Scaramouche, | } | Provincial comedians. |
| Gracieux, | } | |
| Taillebras, | } | |
| Councilor of the Great Chamber. | ||
| Town Crier. | Captain. | |
| A Jailer. | A Registrar. | |
| The Executioner. | First Workman. | |
| Second Workman. | Third Workman. | |
| A Lackey. | Dame Rose. | |
Provincial Comedians, Guards, Populace, Nobles, Pages.
1638.
MARION DE LORME
ACT I
THE MEETING
Scene.—Blois. A bed-chamber. A window opening on a balcony at the back. To the right, a table with a lamp, and an armchair. To the left a door, covered by a portière of tapestry. In the background a bed
SCENE I
Marion de Lorme, in a very elegant wrapper, sitting beside the table, embroidering. Marquis de Saverny, very young man, blonde, without mustache, dressed in the latest fashion of 1638
SAVERNY (approaching Marion and trying to embrace her).
MARION (pushing him away).
SAVERNY (insisting).
MARION (angrily).
SAVERNY.
Had sweeter manners, not so long ago!
MARION.
SAVERNY.
MARION (aside).
SAVERNY.
What does this swift, unkind departure mean?
While all are seeking you at Place Royale,
Why do you hide yourself at Blois? Traitress,
What have you done here all these two long months?
MARION.
Is right. I'm free, my lord!
SAVERNY.
Whose hearts you've stolen, are they also free?
I? Gondi, who omitted half his Mass
The other day, because he had a duel
Upon his hands for you? Nesmond, D'Arquien,
The two Caussades, Pressigny, whom your flight
Has left so wretched, so morose, even
Their wives wish you were back in Paris, that
They might have gayer husbands!
MARION (smiling).
SAVERNY.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
MARION.
He is the only one who loves me! Well,
The President?
[Laughing.] The old man! What's his name?
[Laughing more heartily.
Leloup!SAVERNY.
He keeps your portrait and sings odes to it.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
You keep away from such dear friends.
MARION (serious, and lowering her eyes).
The reason, Marquis; to be frank with you,
Those brilliant follies which seduced my youth
Have given me much more misery than joy.
In a retreat, a convent cell, perhaps,
I want to try to expiate my life.
SAVERNY.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
Surmounted eyes so full of earthly fire.
It could not be. You love some poor provincial!
For shame! To end a fine romance with such
A page!
MARION.
SAVERNY.
MARION.
DAME ROSE (outside).
MARION (aside).
SAVERNY.
Of saying, "Time to go."
MARION.
Receiving no one, and unknown to all.
Besides, 'tis dangerous to be out late:
The street is lonely, full of robbers.
SAVERNY.
They can rob me.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
But I'll not stir one foot before I know
Who this gay shepherd is, who's routed us!
MARION.
SAVERNY.
Whom people think so mad, so curious
And spiteful, are maligned. We gossip, but
We never talk! You're silent?
[Sits down.] Then I'll stay!
MARION.
I'm waiting for him!
SAVERNY.
That's right! Where is it you expect him?
MARION.
SAVERNY.
MARION.
Hark! that is he perhaps.
[Coming back.] 'Tis not.
Now are you satisfied?
SAVERNY.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
For whose reception I am thus dismissed.
MARION.
Marie is all the name he knows for me.
SAVERNY (laughing).
MARION.
SAVERNY.
And no mistake. 'Tis Racan, pure! To enter,
I have no doubt he scales the wall.
MARION.
Please go! [Aside.] He wearies me to death!
SAVERNY (becoming serious).
He's noble.
MARION.
SAVERNY.
[To Marion, who is gently pushing him toward the door.
I am going! [Coming back.Just one word more! I had forgotten. Look!
[He draws a book out of his pocket and gives it to Marion.
An author who is not a fool, did this.It's making a great stir.
MARION (reading the title).
"To Marion de Lorme."
SAVERNY.
But this in Paris. That book and "The Cid"
Are the successful efforts of the day.
MARION (taking the book).
SAVERNY.
To come to Blois and love a rustic! Bah!
MARION (calling to Dame Rose).
SAVERNY (saluting her).
SCENE II
Marion, afterward Didier
MARION (alone, shuts the door by which Saverny went out).
Go quickly! Oh, I feared lest Didier—
[Midnight strikes.
Hark!It's striking midnight! Didier should be here!
[She goes to the balcony and looks into the street.
No one![She comes back and sits down impatiently.
Late! To be late—so soon![A young man appears behind the balustrade of the balcony, jumps over it lightly, enters, places his cloak and sword on the armchair. Costume of the day: all black: boots. He takes one step forward, pauses and contemplates Marion, sitting with her eyes cast down.
At last![Reproachfully.
To let me count the hour alone!DIDIER (seriously).
To enter!
MARION (hurt).
DIDIER (without noticing it).
I was o'ercome with pity. Pity? yes,
For you! I, poor, accursed, unfortunate,
Stood there a long time thinking, ere I came!
"Up there an angel waits," I thought, "in virgin grace,
Untouched by sin—a being chaste and fair,
To whose sweet face shining on life's pathway
Each passer-by should bend his knees and pray.
I, who am but a vagrant 'mongst the crowd,
Why should I seek to stir that placid stream?
Why should I pluck that lily? With the breath
Of human passion, why should I consent
To cloud the azure of that radiant soul?
Since in her loyalty she trusts to me,
Since virtue shields her with its sanctity,
Have I a right to take her gift of love,
To bring my storms into her perfect day?"
MARION (aside).
I wonder if he is a Huguenot?
DIDIER.
I wrestled with my doubts no more—I came.
MARION.
DIDIER.
MARION (quickly).
She talks just like a man, don't you think so?
Such a strong voice! Ah, well, since you are here
I am no longer angry! Come, sit down.
[Indicating a place at her side.
Sit here!DIDIER.
[He sits on a stool at Marion's feet and looks at her for some moments in complete silence.
Hear me, Marie!I have no name but Didier—never knew
My father nor my mother. I was left,
A baby, on the threshold of a church.
A woman, old, belonging to the people,
Preserved me, was my mother and my nurse.
She brought me up a Christian, then she died
And left me all she had—nine hundred francs
A year, on which I live. To be alone
At twenty is a sad and bitter thing!
I traveled—saw mankind: I learned to hate
A few and to despise the rest. For on
This tarnished mirror we call human life,
I saw nothing but pride and misery
And pain; so that, although I'm young, I'm old,
And am as weary of the world as are
The men who leave it. Never touched a thing
That did not tear and lacerate my soul!
Although the world was bad, I found men worse.
Thus I have lived; alone and poor and sad,
Until you came, and you have set things right.
I hardly know you. At the corner of
A Paris street you first appeared to me.
Then afterward I met you, and I thought
Your eyes were sweet, your speech was beautiful!
I was afraid of loving you, and fled!
But destiny is strange: I found you here,
I find you everywhere, as if you were
My guardian angel. So at last, my love
Grew powerful, resistless, and I felt
I must talk with you. You were willing. Now
They're at your service, both my heart and life.
I will do anything that you wish done.
If there is any man or anything
That troubles you, or you have any whim
And somebody must die to satisfy it—
Must die, and make no sign—and feel 'twas worth
Death any time to see you smile; if you
Need such a man, speak, lady: I am here!
MARION (smiling).
DIDIER.
Such words in any careless way! Love me?
Oh, do you know what loving means? What 'tis
To feel love take possession of our blood,
Become our daily breath? To feel this thing
Which long has smoldered burst to flame, and rise
A great, majestic, purifying fire?
To feel it burn up clean within our hearts
The refuse other passions have left there?
This love, hopeless indeed, but limitless,
Which outlives all things, even happiness—
Is this the kind of love you mean?
MARION (touched).
DIDIER.
From that first time I saw you, my dark life
Was shot with sunlight streaming from your eyes;
Since then all's different. To me you seem
Some wonderful creation, not of earth.
My life, in whose dark gloom I groaned so long,
Grows almost beautiful when you are by.
For 'til you came, I'd wandered, suffered, wept;
I'd struggled, fallen—but I had not loved.
MARION.
DIDIER.
MARION.
I love with just this love—love you as much
And maybe more than you love me! It was
Not destiny that brought me here. 'Twas I
Who came, who followed you, and I am yours!
DIDIER (falling on his knees).
If to my ardent love your love responds,
The world holds no possession rich as mine!
My whole life, kneeling at your feet, will be
One sigh of speechless, blinding ecstasy.
But do not cheat me!
MARION.
Of love, my Didier?
DIDIER.
MARION.
DIDIER.
Quite free?
MARION (embarrassed).
DIDIER.
For a protector—be my wife?
MARION (aside).
Ah, why am I not worthy?
DIDIER.
MARION.
DIDIER.
An orphan, without fortune! What a fool!
Give back my pain, my gloom, my solitude!
Farewell!
[He starts to go; Marion holds him back.
MARION.
[She bursts into tears.
DIDIER.
But why this hesitation? [Going back to her.
Can't you feel
The ecstasy of being, each to each, a world,
A country, heaven; in some deserted spot
To hide a happiness kings could not buy.
MARION.
DIDIER.
MARION.
[She tears herself from out his arms, and falls on the armchair.
DIDIER (freezingly).
You've answered me. I'll speak of it no more!
Good-by!
MARION. (aside).
I'll tell you. You have hurt me to the soul.
I will explain—
DIDIER (coldly).
When I came?
[Takes the book from the table and reads.
"To Marion de Lorme.Love's Garland!" Yes, the beauty of the day!
[Throwing the book violently to the floor.
Vile creature! a dishonor to her sex!MARION. (trembling).
DIDIER.
How came they here?
MARION. (inaudibly, and looking down).
DIDIER.
You who have eyes so pure, a brow so chaste—
Do you know what she is—this woman? Well,
She's beautiful in body, and deformed
In soul! A Phryne, selling everywhere,
To every man, her love, which is an insult,
An infamy!
MARION (her head in her hands).
[A noise of footsteps, a clashing of swords outside, and cries.
VOICE IN THE STREET.
DIDIER (surprised).
[Cries continue.
VOICE IN THE STREET.
DIDIER (looking from the balcony).
[He takes his sword and step's over the balustrade. Marion rises, runs to him and tries to hold him back by his cloak.
MARION.
Don't go!
DIDIER (jumping down into the street).
Poor man! [Outside, to combatants.
Stand off! Hold firmly, sir, and push!
[Clashing of swords.
There, wretch![Noise of swords, voices, and footsteps.
MARION. (on the balcony, terrified).
VOICE IN THE STREET.
[The clashing of swords subsides little by little, then entirely ceases. The sounds of footsteps become indistinct. Didier reappears scaling the balcony.
DIDIER (outside of the balcony and turned toward the street).
Now go your way!
SAVERNY (from outside).
Not 'til I've thanked you, if you please!
DIDIER.
I will consider myself thanked.
SAVERNY.
I mean to thank you. [Scaling balcony.
DIDIER.
And say "I thank you" without coming up?
SCENE III
Marion, Didier, Saverny
SAVERNY (jumping into the room, sword in hand).
To save my life and push me from the door!
The door—that is to say, the window! No,
They shall not say one of my family
Was bravely rescued by a nobleman
And did not in return say "Marquis—" Pray,
What is your name?
DIDIER.
SAVERNY.
DIDIER.
I help you—that is all! Now go!
SAVERNY.
That's your way, is it? Why not have let
Those traitors kill me? 'Twould have pleased me more.
For without you I'd be a dead man now.
Six thieves against me! Dead! Of course! What else?
Six daggers against one thin sword—
[Perceiving Marion, who has been trying to avoid him.
Oh, ho!You're not alone! At last I understand!
I'm robbing you of pleasure. Pardon me!
[Aside.] I'd like to see the lady!
[Approaches Marion, who is trembling: he recognizes her.
It is you![Indicating Didier.
Then he's the one!MARION (low).
SAVERNY (bowing).
MARION (low).
DIDIER (aside).
That man is looking at her with bold eyes.
[He overturns the lamp with a blow.
SAVERNY.
DIDIER.
For us to leave together, and at once.
SAVERNY.
[To Marion, whom he salutes profoundly.
Madame,Farewell!
DIDIER (aside).
[Aloud to Saverny.] Come, sir, come!
SAVERNY.
If ever you should need fraternal friendship,
Count upon me, Marquis de Saverny,
Paris, Hôtel de Nesle.
DIDIER.
[Aside.] To see her thus examined by a fool!
[They go out by the balcony. The voice of Didier is heard outside.
Your road lies that way. Mine lies here!SCENE IV
Marion, Dame Rose
MARION (remains absorbed a moment, then calls).
[Dame Rose appears. Marion points to the window.
Go shut it![Dame Rose, having shut the window, turns and sees Marion wiping away a tear.
DAME ROSE (aside).
[Aloud.] It is time
To sleep, madame!
MARION.
[Undoing her hair.
Come, help me to undress!DAME ROSE (helping her to undress).
To-night was pleasant. Is he rich?
MARION.
DAME ROSE.
MARION.
[Turning to Dame Rose.
He did notSo much as kiss my hand!
DAME ROSE.
MARION (pensive).
ACT II
THE ENCOUNTER
Scene.—Blois. The door of a public-house. A square. In the background the city of Blois is visible in the form of an amphitheater, also the towers of St. Nicholas upon the hill, which is covered with houses
SCENE I
Count de Gassé, Marquis de Brichanteau, Viscount de Bouchavannes, Chevalier de Rochebaron. They are seated at tables in front of the door: some are smoking, the others are throwing dice and drinking. Afterward Chevalier de Montpesat, Count de Villac; afterward L'Angely; afterward The Town-Crier and The Populace
BRICHANTEAU (rising, to Gassé, who enters).
You are come to join
The regiment at Blois: our compliments
Upon your burial. [Examining his clothes.
Ah!
GASSÉ.
This orange with blue ribbons.
[Folding his arms and curling his mustache.
You must knowThat Blois is forty miles from Paris!
BRICHANTEAU.
It's China!
GASSÉ.
To follow us they must exile themselves.
BOUCHAVANNES (turning from the game).
ROCHEBARON (taking out his pipe).
GASSÉ (bowing).