Semiramis and Other Plays Part 33

Ig. Come, witch! (They go aside, near where Marquez is stationed unseen) Aseffa!

Asef. Rafael is prisoner at Savarro! Trevino is taken, too!

Ig. O Heaven! (To ladies) Stay back! 'Tis crime indeed!

Ladies. Villain!

Asef. Help me to Maximilian! O, I must see him! You called him gentle! When I tell him what Rafael is--the fairest soul man ever called a foe--

Ig. Softly, Aseffa! You can not see the emperor to-night.

Asef. I must! To-morrow 't will be too late! He dies at sunrise!

Ig. Rafael! My friend! my brother!--

Asef. Quiet! quiet! Smile, Ignacio! Ha! ha! I'll pray it be not true, sir!

Ig. But you can see Count Charles. He's Maximilian's very heart, and once you win him the Emperor is won. Go in! Go in! I'll bring you to the count! Be light of heart! Our Rafael is safe!

Asef. Ignacio, the Empress is all you said.

Prayers on their way to Heaven meeting her Would think their journey ended. Can you be true?

Ig. (Touching his arm) I bear the seal.

Asef. G.o.d help thee!

Ig. Go!

(To ladies) 'Tis done!

I know my sins!

Princess de V. But what a smiling sinner!

Princess Salm.

A cloud is hovering. Come, sir! I shall know it!

(Takes his arm. Mexican national dance begins. All go into ballroom, the Empress with Lopez)

Mar. Ignacio a Liberal! And branded!

He's finished! But I'll pick my hour for it!

Mendorez safe! Ay, if he's bullet-proof!

(Re-enter Carlotta with Archbishop Labastida)

Lab. I thank your Highness for this gracious moment!

Most holy Empress--

Car. Not holy, sir, and yet I hope with touch of G.o.d's anointment on me.

Lab. Did it but rest with you His love would soon Like cloud of rose veil Mexico in beauty.

Car. But rest with me?

Lab. Ay, n.o.ble lady, you.

I bear a letter from his Holiness, In which he says his Empress daughter's zeal Is jewelled in his heart,--but urges me To speak to Maximilian of his strange Reluctance to fulfill his promise.

Car. Promise?

Lab. To give the Church the olden glory that She shone with here! Restore her rights--

Car. 'Tis true He promised that, and he has kept his word As an account with G.o.d. He is convinced The rights claimed by the Church are stolen rights She wrung from ignorance for her earthly glory, And he's resolved to maintain Juarez' law So far as it accords with justice.

Lab. Madness!

Call back Juarez to power! Yield the throne To the republican! For 't will so end If Maximilian scorns us and our help!

Car. He does not scorn you, sir, but seeks to find Where the division comes 'tween you and Christ And set himself upon the side of Heaven.

Lab. You will divorce the favor of the pope, Without whose help you may not hope to stand.

Plead with your lord again to probe our claim, And find therein some wise and prudent reason To give us aid,--and thereby keep his crown.

Car. Yes, I will speak; but I shall not forget, Whate'er I say, he is an Emperor! (Exit)

Mar. (Coming forward) A pair of fools are jiggling with a crown.

Lab. You heard, Marquez?

Mar. And knew before I heard.

Lab. And you are patient?

Mar. Maximilian Means France, and France we must keep ours,--at least Till we have finished with the Liberals,--

Lab. And then?

Mar. We need not go so far to make A wiser choice.

Lab. (Looking at him meaningly) Not far indeed!

Mar. I thank you.

But that's hereafter. Come with me, your grace.

I'd speak of something more immediate.

(Exeunt left)

(Enter from ballroom General Miramon, Marshal Bazaine and Colonel Dupin, the last a large, vain, bl.u.s.tering man, gorgeously and expensively arrayed from head to foot. A sombrero wonderfully trimmed with gold and silver is carried in his hand and used in sweeping salutations)

Dup. At last I am called to court! I thought his majesty would soon or late have need of my experience in throat-cutting.

Mir. But, my dear Dupin, it is not in your capacity of throat-cutter that we introduce you. These towns that have given aid to the Liberals must be punished without the Emperor's knowledge. You will make an example of them?