My feelings I try to hide.
My heart is filled with shame,
And filled also with pride.
PHŒBUS (to Esmeralda).
I beg you blush no more.
Love, entering love's domain,
Leaves fear outside the door.
[Phœbus makes Esmeralda sit down on the bench beside him.
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
PHŒBUS.
Upon my soul, you are divine!
ESMERALDA.
You make me feel ashamed.
I beg of you, don't come so near.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA.
Oh, try to be
Gentle, I entreat,
To the young maid,
Who much afraid
Trembles at your feet!
PHŒBUS.
Goddess serene,
Sovereign of beauty,
Whose bright eyes shine
With fires divine
Of passion and of duty!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
I hark to them.
How tender she,
How handsome he!
How near their doom!
Be joyous he,
And happy she,
While I prepare their tomb!
PHŒBUS.
Saint or human,
Be my wife to me!
All day I yearn,
All night I burn,
Such is my love for thee!
ESMERALDA.
I am human,
And my soul afire,
Trembles ever,
Longs forever,
As throbs a lover's lyre!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
My flame as great,
My blade must have its turn.
Oh! I admire
These souls afire,
And these hearts which burn!
PHŒBUS.
And smile at our bright lot;
Smile sweet at love, which we've awaked,
And chastity, which we've forgot.
Your mouth is heaven—my heaven, love—
My soul would cling in bliss
Upon it, love, and pray that life
Might end with one long kiss.
ESMERALDA.
Your smile is sweet and free.
The laughing passion in your eyes
Benumbs and conquers me.
Your wishes are my law, love,
But I can't yield to this:
My virtue and my happiness
Might die in that long kiss!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
As near to them you creep!
My jealous hatred will keep watch
While their love falls asleep.
From out their arms so closely locked
You'll steal away their bliss!
Phœbus—your wish is granted,
You die for that long kiss!
[Claude Frollo rushes upon Phœbus and stabs him; then he opens the window in the back, through which he escapes. With a great cry, Esmeralda falls upon the body of Phœbus. The men stationed at the corner rush forward, seize her, and seem to accuse her.
ACT IV
Scene.—A prison. Door in the center
SCENE I
ESMERALDA (alone, chained, lying upon a bed of straw).
He a victim and I a prisoner!
I saw him fall! In truth, he's dead!
And this crime, this awful crime—
They say it is my work!
The stem of our life, while yet green, is broken.
Phœbus has gone, and he shows me the way.
Yesterday they made his grave,
To-morrow they'll make mine!
ROMANCE
No help given, to those bereft
In this cruel wise—
Neither filters, love, nor charms,
To assuage the soul's alarms,
Or reopen closèd eyes?
Every hour I implore thee!
Deign to end my life to-day
Or to take my love away!
Toward the lights supernal,
Where all things must go at last,
Where love bides and is eternal.
On earth our bodies sleep together,
In heaven our souls will live forever!
Every hour I implore thee!
Deign to end my life to-day
Or to take my love away!
[The door opens. Claude Frollo enters, a lamp in his hand, his hood pulled over his face: he comes and stands, motionless, in front of Esmeralda.
ESMERALDA (jumping up with terror).
CLAUDE FROLLO (covered by his hood).
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Suffer more than you.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
The priest!
It is the priest! O God! my feeble strength inspire!
It is indeed his brow of ice, it is his glance of fire!
'Tis he who has pursued me, remorseless, day and night;
'Twas he who killed my Phœbus, and slew my heart's delight.
Monster, from my prison, with death's cold hand on me,
I'll curse thee, till within the grave my lips shall silent be!
What have I done to thee? What is thine awful plan?
What dost thou want with me, relentless, impious man?
You hate me!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
I love you—it is infamous!
Oh, shame to my priesthood!
This love, it is my soul;
This love, it is my blood!
At your feet I fall;
Hear my heart, which cries,
I prefer your tomb
Unto Paradise.
For you I've sinned. Have mercy, do not curse me more!
ESMERALDA.
He holds me—this horrible sorcerer!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Is my love and my anguish!
Hopeless anguish,
Wretched plight!
Alas! I love her,
Painful night!
ESMERALDA.
Cruel fright!
Heaven! He loves me,
Fearful night.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
The priest has won his chance at last!
By night I bore her, once, away;
Now, in the day, I'll hold her fast!
Death, which follows in my train,
Will give her back to love again!
ESMERALDA.
Phœbus is dead; he waits above.
Alas! I tremble, I'm afraid,
I shiver at your frightful love,
E'en as the bird which, tortured, dies
Beneath the vulture's cruel eyes!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Have pity for me, for yourself, I implore!
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
Your love makes death beautiful!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
[Claude falls at Esmeralda's feet in supplication. She repels him.
ESMERALDA.
A crime is this foul love you've nursed.
Better the tomb to which I fly—
Be cursed amid the most accursed!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
You know not what awful schemes
This breast of fury has engendered;
And hell abets me in my dreams.
How I love thee!
Thy hand give,
And to-morrow
Thou shalt live!
Night benumbed
With terror's breath!
Tears for me,
For thee death!
Say, "I love thee!"
Cease thy scorning;
Thy last day
Is dawning!
Ah! since in vain I supplicate,
In vain thy hate I fight,
Farewell forever! One day more,
Then comes eternal night.
ESMERALDA.
Go! I abhor thee!
His dear blood yet
Seems dripping o'er thee,
Oh, night of horror,
Night of shame!
Enough of tears;
Death I claim!
In prison I brave thee,
In chains defy!
Be thou accursed
Eternally!
To God my love leads me:
The gates of heaven he'll open,
But hell shall close o'er thee!
[A jailer appears. Claude Frollo signs to him to lead out Esmeralda. He exits while they drag forth the gypsy.
SCENE II
The area before Notre Dame; the front of the church. The sound of bells is heard
QUASIMODO.
Except myself,
All that's here—
The air which passes,
And which chases
Away care;
And the swallow
Who is faithful
To the old roof;
The chapels high
O'ershadowed by
The Holy Cross;
Every rose
That grows;
Every sight
Of delight!
Uncouth, ill-made!
None envies me!
This is life
As it is!
Darkest night,
Bluest sky,
What matters it?
Every door
Leads to God.
Ignoble scabbard,
Noble blade;
Fair my soul
God has made.
Ring on, ring on!
Mix well your voices,
Gruff and sweet!
In the turrets,
In the tower,
Sing your song!
With all their might,
Let them hum
Day and night!
Our festival shall be
Magnificent, I swear!
Assail it fiercer yet,
The palpitating air!
The stupid peasants run,
And o'er the bridges tear!
Let them hum,
Day and night!
Every feast
Is increased
By their might!
[He turns toward the front of the church.
Are they dragging some misery here?
God! a presentiment! I'll not believe it!
[Enter Claude Frollo and Clopin without perceiving Quasimodo.
It is my master! I'll observe him. He is gloomy too![He hides himself in an obscure angle of the porch.
Oh, my mistress! Oh, Notre Dame!Take my life! save my soul!
SCENE III
Quasimodo hidden, Claude Frollo, Clopin
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
He is too feeble yet for such a journey.
If he came, 'twould be his death.
My lord, you can feel sure
That every step would reopen his wound;
Do not fear anything this morning.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
For life or death within my power!
Hell! I'll give you all the rest,
If you grant me this one hour!
[To Clopin.] They will soon bring the gypsy here!
You remember everything!
In the square—with your men—
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
If I cry, "To me!" you come.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
I tear her from the King's men—
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
And perhaps she
Will look upon the priest
More tenderly;
Then rush—rush all of you—
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Not to excite suspicion!
CLOPIN.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
With my good-will,
If now this insane creature
Refuses still!
Friend, I count on thee!
On this my only chance I wait
With fierce anxiety.
CLOPIN.
Count faithfully on me,
And on this last and only chance
Rely courageously!
[They go out hurriedly. The populace begin to enter the square.
SCENE IV
The populace; Quasimodo; afterward Esmeralda, and her escort; then Claude Frollo, Phœbus, Clopin Frouillefou, priests, archers, officers of the law
CHORUS.
Come, get a sight
Of the young woman
Who dies to-night!
Who stabbed, they say,
The handsomest officer
In the King's pay.
Beauty lend her!
Is it possible—
God defend her!—
A soul so black,
An eye so tender!
Human nature is so!
The poor unfortunate!
Come, let us go
To Notre Dame
To get a sight
Of the young woman
Who dies to-night!
[The crowd increases; noise; a gloomy procession begins to appear on the Place du Parvis. Rows of black penitents. Banners of La Miséricorde. Torches, archers, officers of the law and the watch. The soldiers disperse the crowd. Esmeralda appears. She wears a chemise; a rope is around her neck; her feet are bare, and she is covered with a long black veil of crape. Following her, come the executioners and the King's officers. As the prisoner reaches the front of the church, a somber chant is heard in the distance, coming from the interior of the church, whose doors are closed.
CHORUS (in the church).
Transierunt super me
In imo voraginis
Ubi plorant animæ.
[The chant draws nearer. It bursts forth, at length, when near the doors, which open suddenly and discover the interior of the church. It is filled with a long procession of priests in their robes of ceremony; banners are borne before them. Claude Frollo, in sacerdotal costume, leads the procession. He goes toward the criminal.
THE PEOPLE.
Heaven! thy wings around her spread!
ESMERALDA.
Unto our home eternal,
Where God will hold us in His arms,
Safe from misfortunes cruel.
Though plunged in the abyss of woe,
A joyful hope is given:
I am to die upon the earth
To be re-born in heaven!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Alas! the guilty priest
Must suffer greater woe than she;
He ne'er will be released.
Oh, hapless child of sorrow,
Lost through my infamy,
You only die from off this earth,
While heaven is lost to me!
THE PEOPLE.
God's words, unto us spoken,
Say that in heaven for such as she
No blessed gate shall open.
Death holds her fast, what misery!
She can escape it, never!
She dies unto the world this day,
And unto heaven forever!
[The procession approaches. Claude accosts Esmeralda.
ESMERALDA (frozen with terror).
CLAUDE FROLLO (low).
Say but one word! 'Tis not too late;
I can yet save you!
Say, I love you!
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
[Claude turns to the crowd.
We deliver this woman to the secular arm;At this solemn moment may the breath of the Lord
Pass over her soul!
[As the officers of the law are about to seize Esmeralda, Quasimodo jumps into the square, thrusts back the archers, takes Esmeralda in his arms, and throws himself with her into the church.
QUASIMODO.
THE PEOPLE.
Rejoice, O people!
Hail to the good bell-ringer!
The criminal
Belongs to heaven!
The scaffold falls!
The eternal God
Instead of a tomb
Discloses the altar!
Executioners, back!
King's officers, back!
This barrier
Limits your power.
Thou hast changed
Everything here.
The angels claim her;
She belongs to God!
CLAUDE FROLLO (commanding silence by a gesture).
Notre Dame can save none but Christians!
Pagans are proscribed even when clasping the altar!
[To the King's men.] In the name of my lord the Archbishop of Paris,
I give you back this sinful woman!
QUASIMODO (to the archers).
Approach us not!
CLAUDE FROLLO (to the archers).
Obey me, on the instant!
Tear the gypsy from this holy place.
[The archers advance. Quasimodo places himself between them and Esmeralda.
QUASIMODO.
[A horseman is heard approaching. He calls out:
Wait! [The crowd disperses.PHŒBUS (appearing on horseback. He is pale, breathless, exhausted as is a man who has made a long journey).
ESMERALDA.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside, terrified).
PHŒBUS (leaping from his horse).
And I arrive in time!
This girl is innocent.
Behold my assassin!
[Points to Claude Frollo.
ALL.
PHŒBUS.
Arrest him!
THE PEOPLE.
[The archers surround Claude Frollo.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
ESMERALDA.
PHŒBUS.
[They fall into each other's arms.
ESMERALDA.
PHŒBUS.
ESMERALDA.
THE PEOPLE.
ESMERALDA.
At thy feet receive me, humble girl!
Heavens! thou art pale! What is the matter?
PHŒBUS (staggering).
[She catches him in her arms. Expectation and anxiety among the crowd.
Each step I took toward you, my beloved,Reopened my wound, that was hardly healed.
I have taken your grave and given you life.
I die! Destiny has avenged thee.
My angel, I go to see
If heaven is worth thy love!
Farewell! [He dies.
ESMERALDA.
[She falls upon his body.
I follow you into eternity.CLAUDE FROLLO.
THE PEOPLE.
Transcriber's Notes:
A few minor typographical errors have been silently corrected. Names of characters have been regularized, but other variant spellings have been left as they were printed. Page numbers have been removed from the table of contents.