Only to think it makes me die of horror!
Come! I will be a servant unto you.
Come! Take me, when I have redeemed myself,
Just to have something underneath your feet.
The one you called "a wife" in times of trial—
DIDIER.
This makes of you a widow, then!
MARION.
THE JAILER.
[Rolling of drums. Enter Councilor of the Great Chamber, accompanied by penitents bearing torches, and by Executioner. A crowd of soldiers and people follow.
MARION.
SCENE VII
The same. Councilor, Executioner, Populace, Soldiers
COUNCILOR.
Gentlemen!
MARION (to Didier).
DIDIER (to Councilor).
COUNCILOR.
Marquis de Saverny?
[Didier points to Saverny, who is asleep.
[To Executioner.] Awaken him!EXECUTIONER (shaking him).
SAVERNY (rubbing his eyes).
Break in on such a pleasant sleep!
DIDIER.
Interrupted, friend!
SAVERNY (half awake: sees Marion and salutes her).
About you, my beauty!
COUNCILOR.
Your peace with God?
SAVERNY.
COUNCILOR.
Please sign this paper!
SAVERNY (takes the parchment, runs over it).
Good! This is a most curious thing—account
Of my own death, signed with my autograph!
[Signs, and reads the paper again: to Councilor.
You have made three mistakes in spelling, sir.[Takes the pen and corrects them. To Executioner.
You have awakened me; put me to sleep!COUNCILOR (to Didier).
[Didier approaches: Councilor gives pen to him.
Your name is there.MARION (hiding her eyes).
DIDIER.
[The Guards form themselves into a line to lead them away.
SAVERNY (to some one in the crowd).
DIDIER (to Saverny).
Let us embrace each other! [He embraces Saverny.
MARION (running to him).
No kisses, Didier!
DIDIER (indicating Saverny).
MARION (clasping her hands).
Who always on my knees to king or judge
Have begged mercy for you from every one!
Pardon of them for you; pardon of you for me!
DIDIER (rushes to Marion, trembling, and bursting into tears).
No, I have loved too much to leave her so!
It is too hard to keep a cold, impassive face
When underneath the heart is breaking down.
Come to my arms, oh, woman, come!
[Presses her convulsively to his heart.
I love you!I'm about to die. Before them all,
It is my loftiest joy to tell you this:
I love you!
MARION.
DIDIER.
[Embraces her again with rapture.
You who behold this direful tragedy,
I wonder if there's one of you who would
Refuse love unto one who'd given herself
Entirely and unceasingly to him?
Oh, I was wrong! Say, would you have me face
Eternity without a pardon from
Her lips? No! Stand by me and listen, love:
Among all womankind—and those who hear
Will prove me right by their own hearts—the one
I love, the one in whom I trust, the one
I venerate is you—is always you!
For you were kind, devoted, loving, good.
My life is almost ended. When death's near
A clearer light illuminates all things.
If you deceived me, 'twas excess of love;
And if you fell, have you not cruelly atoned?
Perhaps your mother—life's so hard—forgot
You in your cradle, as my mother did;
When you were young and helpless, perhaps they sold
Your innocence. Ah, lift up your white brow!
And listen, all of you. At such an hour
The earth is a mere shadow and the heart
Speaks true. Well, at this moment, from the height
Of the dread scaffold—and there's naught so high
When guiltless souls ascend it—here,
I say to you, Marie, angel of light,
Whose luster earth has dimmed, my love, my wife,
In God's name, before whom I soon shall stand,
I pardon you.
MARION (suffocated with tears).
DIDIER.
Speak now, and pardon me!
[He kneels before her.
MARION.
DIDIER.
Love! I was the most at fault, the most
Unkind. God has chastised you much through me.
Weep for me when I'm gone, because to have
Hurt you is such a burden to take hence
Into eternity. Don't leave it on me;
Pardon me!
MARION (inaudibly).
DIDIER.
My forehead. If your heart is full and you
Can't speak, please make a sign. I'm dying; you
Must comfort me.
[Marion places her hand on his forehead; he rises, embraces her tenderly, with a smile of celestial joy.
Farewell! Come, gentlemen!Let us move on!
MARION (throws herself wildly between him and the Soldiers).
If you think you can behead him easily,
You have forgotten I am here. Spare us!
Oh, men! oh, soldiers, judge, people! Spare us!
How do you want me to ask you? Upon
My knees? Well, here I am! Now if
In you there's anything that quivers at
A woman's voice, if God has thrown no curse
On you—don't kill him!
[To the spectators.] Men and women—you!
When you go back into your homes to-night,
You'll find your mothers and your daughters; they
Will say to you, "It was a wicked crime.
You might have saved him, and you did not. Shame!"
Didier, they ought to know that I must follow
You! They will not kill you if they want
To keep me living!
DIDIER.
'Tis better, dear one, for my wound is deep;
It would have taken too much time to heal.
Better for me to go; but if, some time—
You see I'm weeping too—another comes,
A happier man, more fortunate than I,
Think of your old friend sleeping in the tomb.
MARION.
You must live!
DIDIER.
No; with your bright eyes, turn, illuminate
My grave for me. Embrace me. You will love
Me better, dead. I'll hold a sacred place
In your dear memory. But if I lived,
Lived near you with my lacerated soul—
I, who have loved no one but you—you see
It would be painful. I would make you weep.
I'd have a thousand thoughts I could not speak.
I'd seem to doubt you, watch you, worry you.
You would be most unhappy. Let me die!
COUNCILOR (to Marion).
You can ask pardon for him then.
MARION.
The Cardinal is coming—that is true.
You'll see, then, gentlemen, that he will hear!
My Didier, you shall hear me talk to him!
The Cardinal! Indeed, you must be all insane,
To think such an old man—a Christian too,
The gracious Cardinal—will not be glad
To pardon you. Have you not pardoned me?
[Nine o'clock strikes. Didier makes sign to all to hush. Marion listens with terror. After the nine strokes have sounded, Didier goes and stands close to Saverny.
DIDIER (to the spectators).
If any speak of us, bear witness all,
That without faltering we have heard the hour
Bring us its summons to eternity.
[The cannon sounds at the door of the tower; the black veil which concealed the opening in the wall, falls: the gigantic litter of The Cardinal appears, borne by twenty-four foot-guards, surrounded by twenty other guards bearing halberds and torches: the litter is scarlet and ornamented with the arms of the House of Richelieu. It crosses the back of the stage slowly. Great agitation among the crowd.
MARION (dragging herself up to the litter on her knees and wringing her hands).
Mercy for them, my lord!
A VOICE (from the litter).
[Marion falls to the ground. The litter passes and the procession of the condemned men follows it. The crowd rush madly after them.
MARION (alone, lifts herself half way up, and drags herself along by her hands: looking around.)
What did he say? Where are they gone? My love!
My Didier! No one! Not a sound! Is it
A dream—this place? the crowd?—or am I mad?
[The people rush back in disorder. The litter reappears in the background on the side where it went off. Marion rises and gives a terrible cry.
He's coming back!GUARDS (pushing the people aside).
MARION (erect and half-wild, pointing to the litter).
It is the red man who goes by!
[She falls senseless.
ESMERALDA
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
- Esmeralda.
- Phœbus de Chateaupers.
- Claude Frollo.
- Quasimodo.
- Fleur-de-lys.
- Madame Aloise de Gondelaurier.
- Diana.
- Bérangère.
- Viscount de Gif.
- M. de Chevreuse.
- M. de Morlaix.
- Clopin Frouillefou.
- The Town-Crier.
Populace, Vagrants, Archers, etc.
ESMERALDA
ACT I
Scene.—The Court of Miracles. It is night. A crowd of vagrants. Noisy dancing. Male and female beggars in different attitudes of their profession. The King of Thune on his cask. Fires, lights, torches. In the shadow a circle of wretched dwellings
SCENE I
Claude Frollo, Clopin Frouillefou, then Esmeralda, then Quasimodo. The Vagrants
CHORUS OF VAGRANTS.
Long live the rogues of Paris.
Let us strike our blows at dusk—
The hour when all the cats are drunk.
Let us dance! Defy Pope and bull,
And let us laugh in our skins,
Whether April wets or June burns
The feathers in our caps.
Let us smell from afar
The shot of the avenging archer,
Or the bag of money which passes
On the back of the traveler.
In the light of the moon,
We will go dance with the spirits.
Long live Clopin, King of Thune!
Long live the rogues of Paris!
CLAUDE FROLLO (apart behind a pillar in a corner of the stage. He is covered with a long cloak which hides his priestly garb).
What matters the sigh of a soul?
I suffer! Oh, never did fiercer flame
Burn in the bowels of a volcano.
[Esmeralda enters, dancing.
CHORUS.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
Wherefore, relentless fate,
Made you her so beautiful,
Me—so unfortunate?
[She reaches the center of the stage. The Vagrants form an admiring circle around her.
ESMERALDA.
Child of woe,
To you I turn
And flowers throw!
In my wild joy
Sad sighs abide;
I show a smile,
The tears I hide.
Where brooklets run,
As chirp the birds
My song flows on:
I am the dove
Which, hurt, must fall;
Over my cradle
Hangs death's pall.
CHORUS.
More gentle you make us.
Take us for family,
And play with us,
As stoops the nightingale
Unto the sea,
Teasing its waves
To ecstasy.
Child of woe,
When beams her eye
Grief must go.
She's like the bee
Which trembling flies
To the flower's heart,
Its Paradise.
More gentle you make us.
Take us for family,
And play with us!
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
The priest is jealous.
[Claude attempts to draw near to Esmeralda; she turns away from him with a kind of horror. The procession of the Pope of Fools enters. Torches, lanterns and music. In the middle of the procession, upon a litter surrounded with candles, Quasimodo, decked with cope and miter, is carried.
CHORUS.
Shell-heaps, lubbers, beggars!
Salute him, all of you! He comes.
Behold the Pope of Fools!
CLAUDE FROLLO (perceiving Quasimodo, and starting toward him with a gesture of anger).
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
QUASIMODO (jumping from the litter).
CLAUDE FROLLO.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
[Claude Frollo tears off Quasimodo's pontifical ornaments, and crushes them underfoot. The Vagrants begin to murmur; they form menacing groups around him; he looks at them angrily.
THE VAGRANTS.
O comrades!
Here in this place,
Where we reign.
QUASIMODO.
Of these robbers?
They menace him,
But we shall see!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
You menace me.
Robbers—Jews—
But we shall see!
[The anger of The Vagrants bursts forth.
THE VAGRANTS.
Down with the mar-joy!
He shall pay for it with his head;
In vain he defends himself.
QUASIMODO.
Let every one cease,
Or I change this festival
To a bloody battle.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
That Frollo is troubled.
[Puts his hand on his heart.
There is the tempest,There is the battle!
[At the moment when The Vagrants' fury has reached its highest pitch, Clopin Frouillefou appears at the back of the stage.
CLOPIN.
Dares to attack my lord the Archdeacon,
And Quasimodo, bell-ringer
Of Notre Dame?
THE VAGRANTS (subsiding).
CLOPIN.
THE VAGRANTS.
CLOPIN.
[The Vagrants retire to their hovels. The Court of Miracles appears deserted. Clopin approaches Claude cautiously.
SCENE II
Claude Frollo, Quasimodo, Clopin Frouillefou
CLOPIN.
Has your lordship any orders to give me?
You are my master in sorcery;
Speak—I will do all.
CLAUDE FROLLO (grasping Clopin's arm excitedly, and dragging him to the front of the stage).
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
You behold me quivering with love and with anguish.
I must have her to-night.
CLOPIN.
It is the way to her home.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
[He motions to Clopin to leave him, after having thrown him his purse. When he finds himself alone with Quasimodo, he draws him to the front of the stage.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
We brave them all.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO (recklessly).
QUASIMODO.
[Upon a sign from Claude Frollo he retires up stage and leaves his master down stage.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
To have tried all the crimes of sorcery,
To have fallen lower than hell itself:
A priest, at midnight, in the dark to watch for a woman!
And to reflect that in this state in which I find my soul God sees me!
QUASIMODO (returning).
CLAUDE FROLLO.
It will decide my fate. Be silent! Hush!
CLAUDE FROLLO and QUASIMODO.
[They go to the back of the stage to listen.
THE WATCH (passing behind the houses).
CLAUDE FROLLO and QUASIMODO.
[The voices of the watch grow fainter.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
[Claude Frollo and Quasimodo look anxiously at the door through which Esmeralda must pass.
QUASIMODO.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
[Esmeralda enters: they throw themselves upon her and try to drag her away: she struggles.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO and QUASIMODO.
SCENE III
Esmeralda, Quasimodo, Phœbus de Chateaupers, the archers of the watch
PHŒBUS (entering at the head of a body of archers).
[In the struggle Claude escapes. The archers seize Quasimodo.
PHŒBUS.
Be he lord or valet!
At once—we will conduct him
To the prison Chatelet.
[The archers take Quasimodo up stage and off. Esmeralda, recovered from her fright, approaches Phœbus with curiosity, mingled with admiration, and draws him gently to the front of the stage.
ESMERALDA (to Phœbus).
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA.
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA.
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA.
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA (to Phœbus).
PHŒBUS (aside).
PHŒBUS (to Esmeralda).
Smiles at me
Through thine eyes.
ESMERALDA.
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA (standing before the Captain and admiring him).
[Phœbus takes it off and offers it to her.
PHŒBUS.