The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 102

[One of the private apartments is disclosed, in which the Empress- mother and Alexander are seated.]

EMPRESS-MOTHER

So one of Austrian blood his pomp selects To be his bride and bulwark--not our own.

Thus are you coolly shelved!

ALEXANDER

Me, mother dear?

You, faith, if I may say it dutifully!

Had all been left to me, some time ere now He would have wedded Kate.

EMPRESS-MOTHER

How so, my son?

Catharine was plighted, and it could not be.

ALEXANDER

Rather you swiftly pledged and married her, To let Napoleon have no chance that way.

But Anne remained.

EMPRESS-MOTHER

How Anne?--so young a girl!

Sane Nature would have cried indecency At such a troth.

ALEXANDER

Time would have tinkered that, And he was well-disposed to wait awhile; But the one test he had no temper for Was the apparent slight of unresponse Accorded his impatient overtures By our suspensive poise of policy.

EMPRESS-MOTHER

A backward answer is our country's card-- The special style and mode of Muscovy.

We have grown great upon it, my dear son, And may such practice rule our centuries through!

The necks of those who rate themselves our peers Are cured of stiffness by its potency.

ALEXANDER

The principle in this case, anyhow, Is shattered by the facts: since none can doubt Your policy was counted an affront, And drove my long ally to Austria's arms, With what result to us must yet be seen!

EMPRESS-MOTHER

May Austria win much joy of the alliance!

Marrying Napoleon is a midnight leap For any Court in Europe, credit me, If ever such there were! What he may carve Upon the coming years, what murderous bolt Hurl at the rocking Const.i.tutions round, On what dark planet he may land himself In his career through s.p.a.ce, no sage can say.

ALEXANDER

Well--possibly!... And maybe all is best That he engrafts his lineage not on us.-- But, honestly, Napoleon none the less Has been my friend, and I regret the dream And fleeting fancy of a closer tie!

EMPRESS-MOTHER

Ay; your regrets are sentimental ever.

That he'll be writ no son-in-law of mine Is no regret to me! But an affront There is, no less, in his evasion on't, Wherein the bourgeois quality of him Veraciously peeps out. I would be sworn He set his minions parleying with the twain-- Yourself and Francis--simultaneously, Else no betrothal could have speeded so!

ALEXANDER

Despite the hazard of offence to one?

EMPRESS-MOTHER

More than the hazard; the necessity.

ALEXANDER

There's no offence to me.

EMPRESS-MOTHER

There should be, then.

I am a Romanoff by marriage merely, But I do feel a rare belittlement And loud laconic brow-beating herein!

ALEXANDER

No, mother, no! I am the Tsar--not you, And I am only piqued in moderateness.

Marriage with France was near my heart--I own it-- What then? It has been otherwise ordained.

[A silence.]

EMPRESS-MOTHER