Semiramis and Other Plays Part 37

Mar. The great death-warrant's signed. Ere its black list Be full, there'll be an emperor on the roll!

(National music. Dancers seen through doors, the emperor and empress among them)

(CURTAIN)

ACT III.

Scene I: Before the Imperial Theatre. Brilliant lights. Crowd confusedly a.s.sembled. All talking.

Shouts. Long live the Empire!

Citizen.

O you mob, you puppet throat, that whistles as you're squeezed!

A Mob Orator.

My friends, to-day we gloriously celebrate the birthday of the most glorious empire--

Cit. Long live the Republic! Hail to Juarez!

Voices. To dungeon with him! The traitor! Tear him to pieces!

(Guards dash upon citizen and drag him off)

1st Officer.

Don't tell me the Republic is dead when a man is willing to die just to give one shout for it.

2d Officer.

Three-fourths of the Mexicans have hearts of that color. But the Empire stands. Miramon is a miracle. How does he manage it?

1st Off.

He understands the use of the bayonet. As our friend over the water says, you can do anything with bayonets but sit on them.

2d Off. Isn't this a rabble? Motley's the only wear in Maximilian's court. He might succeed in running this country if so many people hadn't come along to help him do it. You ask a French question and you get a Dutch answer. You give an order in Prussian and it's obeyed in Irish,--

Voices. He comes! Make way! Make way! Hail to Maximilian!

Chief Guard.

Back, all of you! The Emperor will greet you yonder!

We've orders to clear the plaza! Back! Back! His carriage stops! Go, get your places! Out! out!

(Guards drive mob out)

1st Guard.

If all the Empire's birthdays are to be like this I hope it will never come of age. It's work, I tell you! I'm dripping like a squeezed cloud!

2d Guard.

If it had pleased the Empire to spend a little of the money it has wasted to-day for the widows and orphans it has made--

1st Guard.

Sh! We're paid for our muscle, not our opinions.

(Shouts outside)

2d Guard.

And the mob is paid for its lungs!

1st Guard.

Yes. Miramon sees to that.

2d Guard.

Only the Emperor's carriage approaches the door?

1st Guard.

None but his.

2d Guard.

If I were he I wouldn't make such a glittering show of myself in that Milan carriage--all gold and silver and tortoise sh.e.l.l, and an angel at every corner--while there are so many hearts breaking in sound of it.

1st Guard.

Ph! He knows nothing of the breaking hearts! Miramon sees to that.

2d Guard.

He'll have to know soon, or Juarez will tell him in the capital.

1st Guard.

Not a word! On your life! (Shouts without) Here they are! By Jesu! The fools have taken the mules from the carriage and draw it themselves! Now I wonder how much a head Miramon pays for that!

(Enter rabble of shouting citizens drawing carriage in which sit the Emperor and Empress. They are followed by a brilliant party of ladies and gentlemen. General and Madam Miramon, Princess de Varela, Prince and Princess Zichy, Prince and Princess Salm-Salm, Lopez, Count Charles, Marquez, Archbishop Labastida, Estrada, Berzabal, and others)

Max. (To citizens) My friends, though I protest against this honor, I thank you from my heart for such kind proof Of your affection. (Alights)

Voices. Long live Maximilian!

One of the rabble, awkward and ignorant.

Long live the President of the Empire!

Max. (Smiling) I've no objection to that t.i.tle, friend, but I fear it would be criticised in Europe.

(Crowd pa.s.ses out shouting and dragging carriage)

Max. (To Carlotta, as he looks at theatre) A n.o.ble building! Fair and magnificent!

Car. How yonder gardens gleam beneath the lights Like some soft dream of worlds we do not know!

Max. And all is yours, my sweet,--all planned by you!