[She sinks upon the bank.
DIDIER.
SAVERNY (embraces Marquis de Nangis, then turns to Laffemas).
When you bring two heads?
LACKEY (entering, to Marquis de Nangis).
The funeral preparations for the Marquis
Are now completed. I am sent to you
To know what hour and day the ceremony
Will be performed.
LAFFEMAS.
[The Guards lead off Didier and Saverny.
ACT IV
THE KING
Scene.—Chambord. The guard-room in the Castle of Chambord
SCENE I
Duke de Bellegarde, rich court costume covered with embroidery and lace, the order of the Holy Ghost around his neck, and the star upon his cloak. Marquis de Nangis, in deep mourning and followed by his escort of Guards. Both cross the back of the hall
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
It is his kingly right and royal duty.
Have no more fear. In heart as well as name
He's son of Henry IV.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
For the proud sire! Now go unto the son,
Show him your gray hairs, and in lieu of prayer
Cry out "Ventre Saint Gris!" Let Richelieu
Himself give better reason! Hide here now.
[He opens a side door.
He's coming soon. Do you know, to be frank,Your costume's of a style to make one laugh.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Old friend, stay there; you'll not have long to wait.
I will dispose him 'gainst the Cardinal.
I'll stamp upon the ground for signal; then
Come out.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (grasping his hand).
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (to a Musketeer who walks up and down in front of a small gilt door).
What does the King?
MUSKETEER.
[Lowering his voice.
A man in black is with him.DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (aside).
He is singing a death-warrant, I believe.
[To the old Marquis, grasping his hand.
Be brave![He conducts him to a neighboring gallery.
While waiting for the signal, lookAt these new ceilings, they're by Primatice.
[Both go out. Marion, in deep mourning, enters through the great door in the back, which opens on a staircase.
SCENE II
Marion, the Guards
HALBERDIER (to Marion).
MARION (advancing).
HALBERDIER (placing his halberd against the door).
No entrance!
MARION (with contempt).
A woman. Elsewhere, 'tis in her defense.
MUSKETEER (laughing, to Halberdier).
MARION (firmly).
With the Duke de Bellegarde.
HALBERDIER (lowering his halberd, aside).
MUSKETEER.
[She enters with determined step.
HALBERDIER (aside, watching her from the corner of his eye).
As feeble as he looks. This rendezvous
Would have cost him a sojourn in the Louvre,
In former times.
MUSKETEER (making sign to Halberdier to keep still).
[The little gilt door is opened. M. de Laffemas comes out, holding in his hand a parchment to which a red seal hangs by strands of silk.
SCENE III
Marion, Laffemas: gesture of surprise from both. Marion turns away from him with horror
LAFFEMAS (low, advancing slowly toward Marion).
What is your errand here?
MARION.
LAFFEMAS (unrolls the parchment and spreads it out before her eyes).
The King!
MARION (glances at it, then buries her face in her hands).
LAFFEMAS (speaking in her ear).
[Marion shivers and looks him in the face; he fixes his eyes on hers: lowering his voice.
Wilt thou?MARION (pushing him away).
Foul tempter!
LAFFEMAS (straightening himself up, sneeringly).
MARION.
The King can pardon: 'tis the King who reigns.
LAFFEMAS.
[He turns away, then turns back: folds his arms and whispers to her.
Beware of waiting until I refuse![Exits. Duke de Bellegarde enters.
SCENE IV
Marion, Duke de Bellegarde
MARION (going toward Duke de Bellegarde).
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
My beauty! [Bowing.
Speak! What does my queen desire?
MARION.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
MARION.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Why?
MARION.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (bursting into a laugh).
How she goes on!
MARION.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Am I not yours? Have we refused each other
Anything?
MARION.
When shall I see the King?
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
I promise you shall see him when he passes
Through this hall. But while waiting, talk with me!
Ah, little woman, are we good? In black?
Lady-in-waiting you might be. You used
To laugh so much.
MARION.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
I think she's weeping! Marion! You?
MARION (wiping her eyes: with firm tone).
I want to see his Majesty at once!
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
MARION.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
The Cardinal?
MARION.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (opening the gallery for her).
I put the discontented all in there;
Do not come out before the signal, please.
[Marion enters; he shuts door.
I would have run the risk for my old friend.It costs no more to do it for them both.
[The hall is gradually filled with Courtiers; they talk together. Duke de Bellegarde goes from one to the other. L'Angely enters.
SCENE V
The same. Duke de Beaupréau, Laffemas, Viscount de Rohan, Count de Charnacé, Abbé de Gondi, and other courtiers
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (to Duke de Beaupréau).
DUKE DE BEAUPRÉAU.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
DUKE DE BEAUPRÉAU.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
The Archbishop of Arle?
DUKE DE BEAUPRÉAU.
All Paris thinks he has obtained the hat.
ABBÉ DE GONDI.
Artillery at the siege of La Rochelle.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
L'ANGELY.
This one will be a cardinal according
To the canons.
ABBÉ DE GONDI (laughing).
L'ANGELY (bowing).
[Laffemas enters; all the Courtiers vie with each other in paying court to him and surrounding him. Duke de Bellegarde watches them with vexation.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (to L'Angely).
Who wears the ermine cloak?
L'ANGELY.
Is paying court to?
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Is he a follower of Monsieur d'Orleans?
L'ANGELY.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (watching Laffemas, who struts about).
As if he were grandee of Spain!
L'ANGELY (low).
Sir Laffemas, intendant of Champagne,
Lieutenant-Criminal—
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (low).
He's called the Cardinal's executioner?
L'ANGELY (still low).
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
L'ANGELY.
Tiger-cat in the menagerie!
Shall I present him?
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (haughtily).
L'ANGELY.
I'd cultivate him if I were a lord.
Be friendly! Unto each man comes his day.
If he takes not your hand, he may your head.
[He seeks Laffemas, presents him to Duke de Bellegarde, who bows with ill-concealed displeasure.
LAFFEMAS (bowing).
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
[Aside.] Upon my life,
We're fallen low, Monsieur de Richelieu!
[Laffemas walks away.
VISCOUNT DE ROHAN (bursting into laughter among a group of Courtiers in the back of the hall).
L'ANGELY.
VISCOUNT DE ROHAN.
L'ANGELY.
VISCOUNT DE ROHAN.
"Chaste Louis's guest is Marion." How rich!
L'ANGELY.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (to Count de Charnacé).
Is hunting good?
COUNT DE CHARNACÉ.
I had great expectations, for three peasants
Had been devoured by wolves. At first I thought
We would find several at Chambord. I beat
The woods, but not a wolf, nor trace of one!
[To L'Angely.] Fool, know you anything that's gay?
L'ANGELY.
My lord, except two men will soon be hanged
At Beaugency for dueling.
ABBÉ DE GONDI.
Bah! [The small gilt door is opened.
AN USHER.
[The King enters; he is in black, his eyes are cast down. The order of the Holy Ghost is on his doublet and his cloak. Hat on his head. The Courtiers all uncover and range themselves, silently, in two rows. The Guards lower their pikes and present muskets.
SCENE VI
The same. The King. The King enters slowly, passes through the crowd of Courtiers, without lifting his head, stops at front of stage, and stands for several instants absorbed and silent. The Courtiers retire to the back of the hall
THE KING.
[To Courtiers, nodding his head.
God keep you, gentlemen![He throws himself into a large armchair and sighs profoundly.
I have slept ill![To Duke de Bellegarde.
My lord!DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (advancing with three profound salutations).
THE KING (eagerly).
With giant strides!
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Both strong and wise.
THE KING.
Our good lord cardinal!
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
I ought to spare him, but I have enough
To do with living, without reigning!
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
The Cardinal's not old!
THE KING.
No one is watching or is listening here—
What do you think of him?
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Can hardly fix themselves—
THE KING.
There is no cardinal here, nor red, nor gray!
No spies! Speak! Why are you afraid? The King
Wants your opinion of the Cardinal.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE (boldly).
THE KING.
You would proclaim it on the house-tops? Good!
Can you not understand? The State, mark me,
Is suffering, because he does it all
And I am nothing!
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
And peace, finances, states? Makes he not laws,
Edicts, mandates, and ordinances too?
Through treachery he broke the Catholic league;
He strikes the house of Austria—friendly
To me—to which the Queen belongs.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
He lets you keep a vivary within
The Louvre. You have your share.
THE KING.
With Denmark.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Among the jewelers.
THE KING (whose ill-humor increases).
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
By which a citizen was not allowed
To eat more than a crown's worth at a tavern,
E'en though he wished to.
THE KING.
Concludes in secret.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Your hunting mansion at Planchette.
THE KING.
He does it all! All with petitions rush
To him! I'm but a shadow to the French!
Is there a single one who comes to me
For help?
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
[The anger of The King increases.
THE KING.
I will not have it! I rebel.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Only a hundred horse-guards!
THE KING.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
With one arm fights the heathen, with the other
He signs a compact with the Huguenots.
[Whispering to Duke de Bellegarde.
Then, if I dared to count upon my handThe heads—the heads that fall for him at Grève!
All friends of mine! His purple robes are made
Of their hearts' blood! 'Tis he who forces me
To wear eternal mourning.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
More kindly? Did he spare Saint Preuil?
THE KING.
A bitter tenderness, they say, for those
He loves. He must love me tremendously!
[Abruptly, after a pause, folding his arms.
He has exiled my mother!DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
He does your will. He's faithful. He is firm
And sure.
THE KING.
He crushes me! I am not master here—
Not free! And yet I might be something. Ah,
When he walks o'er me with such heavy tread,
Does he not fear to rouse a slumbering king?
For trembling near me, be it ne'er so high,
His fortune vacillates with every breath
I draw, and all would crumble at a word,
Did I wish loud, what I wish in my heart!
[A pause.
That man makes good men bad, and bad men vile!The kingdom, like the king, already sick,
Grows worse. Without is cardinal, within
Is cardinal; no king is anywhere!
He torments Austria, lets any one
Capture my vessels in Gascony's Bay.
Allies me with Gustavus Adolphus!
What more? I do not know. He's everywhere:
As if he were soul of the king, he fills
My kingdom, and my family, and me.
I am much to be pitied. [Going to window.
Always rain.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
THE KING.
[A pause.
I am the first in France and yet the last!I'd change my lot to lead a poacher's life—
To hunt all day; to have no cares to fret
The pleasures of the chase; to sleep 'neath trees;
To laugh at the King's officers, to sing
During the storm; to live as freely in the woods
As birds live in the air. The peasant in
His hut, at least, is master and is king;
But with that scarlet man forever there,
Forever stern and cold, and speaking thus,
"This must be your good pleasure, sire!" Oh, outrage!
This man conceals me from my people's gaze.
As with young children, he hides me beneath
His robe; and when a passer-by asks, "Who
Is that behind the Cardinal?" they say,
"The King!" Then there are new lists every day.
Last week the Huguenots; the duelists
To-day! He wants their heads. Such a great crime—
A duel! But the heads; what does he do
With them?
[Duke de Bellegarde stamps his foot. Enter Marquis de Nangis and Marion.
SCENE VII
The same. Marion, Marquis de Nangis. Marquis de Nangis advances with his escort to within a few steps of The King; he kneels there. Marion falls on her knees at the door
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
THE KING.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
Called here the cardinal-minister!
MARION.
My sire!
THE KING.
MARION.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
Gaspard de Saverny!
THE KING.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
THE KING.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
I am uncle of one.
THE KING.
MARION.
Unto the other!
THE KING.
Sister and uncle?
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (indicating first one of The King's hands, then the other).
From this hand, and justice from that! My sire,
I, William, Marquis de Nangis, Captain
Of Hundred Lances, Baron of Mountain
And Field, do make appeal to my two lords—
The King of France and God, for justice 'gainst
Armand du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu.
Gaspard de Saverny, for whom I make
This prayer, is my nephew—
MARION (low to Marquis de Nangis).
My lord!
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (continuing).
A captain, a young nobleman, Didier.
Of parentage uncertain. 'Twas a fault.
They were too rash and brave. The minister
Had stationed sergeants—
THE KING.
Well, what have you to say?
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
You thought about these things! The Cardinal-Duke
Has more than one disastrous scheme afoot.
He drinks the best blood of your subjects, sire!
Your father, Henry IV., of royal heart,
Would not have sacrificed his nobles thus!
He never struck them down without dire need!
Well served by them, he sought to guard them well.
He knew good soldiers had more use in them
Than trunkless heads. He knew their worth in war,
This soldier-king whose doublet smelled of battle!
Great days were those. I shared, I honor them!
A few of the old race are living yet.
Never could priest have touched one of those lords.
There was no selling of a great head cheap!
Sire, in these treacherous days to which we've come,
Trust an old man, keep a few nobles by.
Perhaps, in your turn, you will need their help.
The time may come when you will groan to think
Of all the honors lavished on La Grève!
Then, sadly, your regretful eyes will seek
Those lords indomitably brave and true,
Who, dead so long, had still been young to-day.
The country's heart yet pants with civil war;
The tocsin of past years re-echoes yet,
Be saving of the executioner's arm!
He is the one should sheathe his sword, not we!
Be miserly with scaffolds, O my sire!
'Twill be a woful thing some later day
To mourn this great man's help, who hangs to-day
A whitening skeleton on gallows-tree!
For blood, my king, is no good, wholesome dew.
You'll reap no crops from irrigated Grève!
The people will avoid the sight of kings.
That flattering voice which tells you all is well,
Tells you you're son of Henry IV., and Bourbon—
That voice, my sire, however high it soars,
Can never drown the thud of falling heads!
Take my advice: play not this costly game.
You, King, are bound to look God in the face,
Hark to the words of fate, ere it rebels!
War is a nobler thing than massacre!
'Tis not a prosperous nor joyful State
When headsmen have more work than soldiers have!
He for our country is a pastor hard,
Who dares collect his tithes in slaughtered heads!
Look! this proud lord of inhumanity
Who holds your scepter has blood-covered hands!
THE KING.