LAFFEMAS.
MARION (haughtily).
LAFFEMAS.
You were not always, madame, so severe!
Now that 'tis question of your lover's life—
MARION (without looking at him, turning to the small door, her hands clasped).
Back to that infamy. My soul's grown pure
At touch of you, my Didier; sin is shamed.
Your love gives back my lost virginity.
LAFFEMAS.
MARION.
To vice! Oh, monster, go! Let me keep pure!
LAFFEMAS.
MARION.
LAFFEMAS.
It is to-night.
MARION (trembling all over).
LAFFEMAS.
The Cardinal, in litter, will attend.
[Marion is buried in a deep and painful reverie. Suddenly she passes her two hands over her brow and turns, as if wild, toward Laffemas.
MARION.
LAFFEMAS (low).
Two of my men could guard this place, by which
The Cardinal passes—
[He listens at the small door.
I think some one comes!MARION (wringing her hands).
LAFFEMAS.
[Low.] To tell you in this place—
The walls have echoes—elsewhere.
MARION (with despair).
[Laffemas goes toward the large door and signs to her to follow. She falls on her knees, turned toward the grating of the prison; then she arises with a convulsive effort and disappears through the great door after Laffemas. Saverny and Didier enter, surrounded by Guards.
SCENE III
Didier, Saverny. Saverny, dressed in the latest fashion, enters gayly and petulantly. Didier is in black, walks slowly, is very pale. A jailer accompanied by Halberdiers conducts them. The Jailer places the two Halberdiers as sentinels beside the black curtain. Didier sits, silently, on the stone bench
SAVERNY (to The Jailer, who opens the door for him).
The air is very good!
THE JAILER (low, and drawing him aside).
SAVERNY.
THE JAILER (lowering his voice still more).
SAVERNY (eagerly).
THE JAILER.
SAVERNY.
Lord Cardinal,
You meant to keep me from attending balls,
But it appears I am to dance again.
The pleasant thing that life is!
[To The Jailer.] When, my friend?
THE JAILER.
SAVERNY.
I shall be charmed to leave these quarters. Whence
Comes this assistance?
THE JAILER.
SAVERNY.
[To The Jailer.] 'Tis for both, I hope!
THE JAILER.
SAVERNY.
THE JAILER.
SAVERNY (tossing his head).
[Low to The Jailer.] Then listen;
Good jailer, that's the one to save!
[Indicating Didier.
THE JAILER.
SAVERNY.
THE JAILER.
Your uncle wants to save you, not save him.
SAVERNY.
[Turns his back on The Jailer, who goes out, astonished. A Registrar enters.
We can't be left alone an instant—strange!REGISTRAR (saluting the prisoners).
Is close at hand.
[Salutes them again and exits.
SAVERNY.
Annoying luck!
Twenty years old—September—and to die
Before October!
DIDIER (motionless at front of stage, holding the portrait in his hand, and as if absorbed in a deep study of it).
Eyes in my eyes: thus. You are beautiful!
What radiant grace! Hardly a woman, you!
No: much more like an angel. God Himself
When He formed that divinely honest look
Put much fire in it but more chastity.
That childish mouth, pushed open by sweet hopes,
Throbs with its innocence.
[Throwing the portrait violently to the ground.
Why did that peasantTake me unto her breast? Why not have dashed
My head against the stones? What did I do
Unto my mother to be cursed with birth?
Why, in that misery, it may be crime,
Which forced her to abandon her own blood,
Had she not motherhood enough to choke
Me in her arms?
SAVERNY (returning from back of court).
'Twill rain to-night.
DIDIER (without hearing him).
A woman is: inconstant, cruel, deep,
And turbulent as is the ocean. Ah,
Upon that sea I trusted all my fortune!
In all the vast horizon saw one star!
Well! I am shipwrecked! Nothing's left but death.
Yet I was born good-hearted: might have found
The spark divine within me by-and-by.
Fair looked the future! Oh, remorseless woman,
Did you not shrink in face of such a lie,
Since to your mercy I trusted my soul?
SAVERNY.
About her!
DIDIER (without heeding him, picks up the picture and fixes his eyes upon it).
I must throw you, oh, woman who betrays!
A demon, with eyes touched by angels' wings.
[Puts it back into his breast.
Come back; here is your place![Approaching Saverny.] A curious thing!
That portrait is alive; I do not jest.
While you were sleeping there so peacefully
It gnawed my heart all night.
SAVERNY.
We'll talk of death.
[Aside.] It comforts him, although
I find it rather sad.
DIDIER.
I have not listened. Since I heard that name
I have been stupefied. I cannot think:
I can't remember, cannot hear nor see!
SAVERNY (taking hold of his arm).
DIDIER (joyfully).
SAVERNY.
DIDIER.
SAVERNY.
DIDIER.
Last night?
SAVERNY.
DIDIER.
But you will sleep extremely well—that's all.
They've made hell splendidly; but by the side
Of life, it's nothing.
SAVERNY.
But to be hanged! That certainly is bad.
DIDIER.
SAVERNY.
I'm not afraid of death—that is no boast—
When death is death, but on the gallows!
DIDIER.
Death has a thousand forms—gallows are one.
That moment is not pleasant when the rope
Puts out your life as one puts out a flame,
Choking your throat to let your soul fly up;
But, after all, what matter? If all's dark,
If only all this earth is hidden well,
What matter if a tomb lies on one's breast?
What matter if the night-winds howl and blow
About the strings of flesh crows tore from you
When you were on the gibbet? What care you?
SAVERNY.
DIDIER.
Let vultures tear my flesh, let worms consume,
As they consume all, even kings; my body
Is what's concerned, not I. What do I care?
When sepulchers shut down our mortal eye,
The soul lifts up the mighty mass of stone
And flies away—
[A Councilor enters, preceded and followed by Halberdiers in black.
SCENE IV
The same. Councilor of the Great Chamber, in full dress, The Jailer, Guards
THE JAILER (announcing).
COUNCILOR (saluting Saverny and Didier in turn).
SAVERNY.
COUNCILOR (unfolds a parchment and reads).
Reject appeals made by these men condemned,
But moved by pity, change the punishment
And order them beheaded."
SAVERNY (joyfully).
COUNCILOR (saluting them once more).
It will take place to-day.
[He salutes and prepares to exit.
DIDIER (who has remained in the same thoughtful attitude, to Saverny).
After this death, although the corpse be mangled,
Though every limb be stamped with hideous wounds,
Though arms be twisted, broken every bone,
Though through the mire the body has been dragged,
From out that putrid, bleeding, awful flesh
The soul shall rise, unstained, untouched, and pure.
COUNCILOR (coming back, to Didier).
Great thoughts.
DIDIER (gently).
SAVERNY (gayly to Didier).
DIDIER.
I know. The Cardinal travels with his headsman,
And he must be employed; the ax will rust.
SAVERNY.
[To The Councilor.] Thank you for such good news.
COUNCILOR.
Good sir, my zeal—
SAVERNY.
COUNCILOR.
DIDIER.
Will be as dark as is my soul.
SAVERNY.
COUNCILOR (indicating the neighboring court).
[Councilor exits with his escort. The two prisoners remain alone. Day begins to fade. The halberds of the two sentinels, who silently promenade before the breach, are all that can be seen.
DIDIER (solemnly, after a pause).
Upon the fate awaiting us. Our years
Are equal, though I'm older far than you.
It is but just, therefore, that mine should be
The voice to cheer and to exhort you, since
I am the cause of all your misery.
'Twas I who challenged you. You were content
And happy: 'twas enough for me to pass
Across your life to ruin it. My fate
Pressed down upon yours 'til it crushed it. Now,
Together, we are soon to face the tomb.
We'll take each other's hand—
[Sound of hammering.
SAVERNY.
DIDIER.
Our coffins they are nailing.
[Saverny sits on the stone bench.
When the hourHas tolled, sometimes the heart of man gives way.
Life holds us in a thousand secret ways.
[A bell strikes.
I think a voice is calling to us. Hark![Another bell.
SAVERNY.
[A third bell.
DIDIER.
[A fourth bell.
SAVERNY.
[Four more bells.
DIDIER.
SAVERNY.
[He leans his elbows on the stone table and drops his head on his hands. The Guard is changed.
DIDIER.
Don't falter on this threshold we must cross.
The tomb they're fitting up for us is low,
And won't permit the entrance of a head.
Let's go to meet them with a fearless tread.
The scaffold can afford to shake, not we.
They claim our heads; and since no fault is ours,
We'll bear them proudly to the fatal block.
[Approaches Saverny, who is motionless.
Courage![Touches his arm and finds he is asleep.
Asleep! While I've been preaching courageThis man has slept! What is my bravery
Compared to his? Sleep on, you who can sleep.
My turn will come—provided all things die,
That nothing of the heart survives within
The tomb, to hate what it has loved too much.
[It is night. While Didier has become absorbed in his thoughts, Marion and The Jailer enter through the opening in the wall; The Jailer precedes her. He carries a dark-lantern and a bundle, both of which he places on the ground, then advances cautiously toward Marion, who has remained standing on the threshold, pale, motionless, half-wild.
SCENE VI
[The scenes are mis-numbered in the book and skip from the number IV to the number VI in Act V. (note of etext transcriber)]
The same. Marion, The Jailer
THE JAILER (to Marion.)
[Goes up stage; during the rest of this scene he continues to walk up and down at the back.
MARION (advances with tottering steps as if absorbed in some desperate thought. Every now and then she draws her hand across her face as if to rub off something).
[Suddenly she discovers Didier, gives a cry, runs and throws herself breathless at his feet.
Didier—Didier!DIDIER (roused with a start).
[Coldly.] 'Tis you?
MARION.
Here at your feet! It is the place I love!
Your hands, your dear loved hands, give them—your hands!
Oh, they are wounded! Those harsh chains did that.
The wretched creatures! But I'm here—you know—
Oh, it is terrible! [She weeps; her sobs are audible.
DIDIER.
MARION.
[She laughs.
We'll soon escape from here! I laugh. I'm happy.You will live; the danger's passed.
[She falls again at Didier's feet and sobs.
My God!All this is killing me! I'm broken—crushed.
DIDIER.
MARION (rises, without hearing him, and gets the bundle and brings it to him).
Take this disguise. I've bribed the sentinels.
We'll leave Beaugency without being seen.
Go down that street, at the wall's end, out there!
The Cardinal will come to see them execute
His orders; we can't lose an instant now.
The cannon will be fired when he arrives,
And we'll be lost if we should still be here.
DIDIER.
MARION.
To be free! Didier, how I love you—God!
DIDIER.
MARION.
I saw it. I've been there. It is quite safe.
I saw them close up the last window, too.
It may be we shall meet some women, but
They'll think you're just a passer-by. Come, love;
When you are far off—please put on these things—
We'll laugh to see you thus disguised. Come, dear!
DIDIER (pushing the clothes aside with his foot).
MARION.
Fly! Didier! Since I've come!
DIDIER.
MARION.
Why such a freezing tone?
DIDIER (with a sad smile).
Are often senseless.
MARION.
The horses wait. What you have in your mind,
You'll tell me afterward. We must fly now.
DIDIER.
MARION.
He's safe; I bribed him, as I did the guard.
Do you suspect them? You have such an air.
DIDIER.
MARION.
I seem to hear the tread of that great crowd.
Hasten, my Didier—on my knees—oh, fly!
DIDIER (indicating Saverny, asleep).
MARION (overcome for a moment).
[Aloud.] Does Didier speak to his beloved thus?
My Didier, what have you against me?
DIDIER.
Lift up your face and look me in the eyes.
[Marion, trembling, fixes her eyes on him.
It is a perfect likeness! Yes.MARION.
I worship you, but come!
DIDIER.
[He looks at her fixedly.
MARION (terrified at his look).
[Aloud.] You have a secret, something against me!
It hurts you! Tell me all about it, dear.
You know we often make things worse by thinking,
And too late find it out; then we regret.
I had my share in all your thoughts, love, once!
Speak, are those days for evermore gone by?
Do you not love me now? Have you forgot
My little room at Blois? Forgotten how
We loved each other, till the world was lost?
Sometimes you grew uneasy; then I said,
"If any one should see him!" Oh, 'twas fine!
But one day has destroyed it all. You've said
A thousand times, in words that burned my soul,
I was your love, I knew your secrets, I
Could make you anything I chose. What have
I ever asked? I've always thought with you!
This time, oh, yield to me! It is your life
I'm pleading for. My Didier, hark to me.
Alive or dead, I swear to follow you.
All things with you, love, will be sweet to me—
To fly, or die upon the scaffold. What!
You push me back? You shall not! Leave your hand,
I want it. My poor brow, it does no harm
To rest it on your knees. I am so tired;
I ran so fast to come! What would they say,
The people I knew once, to see me now?
I was so gay, so merry; now I weep!
What is it that you have against me? Speak!
Oh, shame! You must let me lie at your feet.
It's very cruel of you not to say
One single word. When we have thoughts, we speak!
'Twould be more merciful to stab me, love!
See, I have dried my tears, and I am smiling.
You smile too. Oh, if you don't smile at me,
I will not love you! I have always done
Just what you wanted; now it is your turn.
These chains are what have chilled your soul. Love, smile
And speak to me, and say "Marie."
DIDIER.
Or "Marion"?
MARION (falls annihilated at his feet).
DIDIER (with terrible tone).
Prisons of state are guarded night and day,
The doors are iron, walls twenty cubits high;
To open these remorseless doors, madame,
To whom here did you prostitute yourself?
MARION.
DIDIER.
MARION.
It was to save you, tear you from this place;
To melt the executioner—to save you—
Don't you hear?
DIDIER (folding his arms).
As low as that! To have no shame, no soul!
Oh, madame! can one be so infamous?
[Crossing the court with a great cry of rage.
Who is this trader in disgrace and vice,Who puts a price like that upon my head?
Where is the jailer, where the judge, the man?—
That I may crush him as I crush this thing.
[He is about to break the portrait in his hands, but he stops, and beside himself, continues.
The judge? Yes, gentlemen, make laws and judge!What matters it to me if the false weight
Which swings your vile scales to this side or that
Be made of woman's honor or man's life?
[To Marion.] Go to your lover!
MARION.
Another word of scorn and I fall dead
Here at your feet. If ever love was true
And strong and pure, mine was. If any man
Was ever worshiped by a woman, you
Have been by me.
DIDIER.
For sorrow, have been born a woman too.
I might have been as infamous as you.
I might have sold myself, have given my breast
To any passer-by, as place for rest.
But if there came to me, in his frank way,
An honest man, filled with the love of truth,
If I had met a heart insane enough
To keep its vain illusions all these years,
Oh, sooner than not tell that honest man
"I'm this," sooner than charm and dazzle him,
Sooner than fail to warn him that my eyes
So candid and my lips so pure were lies,
Sooner than be perfidious and base like that,
I'd want to dig my grave with my own hands.
MARION.
DIDIER.
The picture that my heart painted of you!
How wise you were to shatter it, madame!
There you were chaste and beautiful and pure!
What injury has this poor man done you,
Who loved you on his bended knees?
[Presenting portrait to her.
PerhapsThis is a fitting time to give you back
This pledge of love ardent and true.
MARION (turning away with a cry).
DIDIER.
[He laughs, and dashes the locket to the ground.
MARION.
THE JAILER.
MARION.
Didier, I've not the right to say a single word.
I am a woman to whom naught is due.
You have rebuked and cursed me: you did well!
I merit still more hate and shame. You've been
Too kind; my broken, bruised heart is grateful.
But the remorseless hour draws near. Away!
The headsman you forget, remembers you.
I've planned it all. You can escape. Now, listen—
My God! do not refuse. You know how much
It costs me. Hate me, strike me, curse me, leave
Me to my shame, disown me, walk upon
My bleeding heart—but fly!
DIDIER.
There's naught but you to fly from in this world;
And I escape you, for the grave is deep.
THE JAILER.
MARION.
DIDIER.
MARION.
DIDIER.
MARION.