The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 128

NAPOLEON [sitting down on the bed]

No: I'll not go! It is themselves who have done it.

My G.o.d, they are Scythians and barbarians still!

[Enter MORTIER [just made Governor].]

MORTIER

Sire, there's no means of fencing with the flames.

My creed is that these scurvy Muscovites Knowing our men's repute for recklessness, Have fired the town, as if 'twere we had done it, As by our own crazed act!

[GENERAL LARIBOISIERE, and aged man, enters and approaches NAPOLEON.]

LARIBOISIERE

The wind swells higher!

Will you permit one so high-summed in years, One so devoted, sire, to speak his mind?

It is that your long lingering here entails Much risk for you, your army, and ourselves, In the embarra.s.sment it throws on us While taking steps to seek security, By hindering venturous means.

[Enter MURAT, PRINCE EUGENE, and the PRINCE OF NEUFCHATEL.]

MURAT

There is no choice But leaving, sire. Enormous bulks of powder Lie housed beneath us; and outside these panes A park of our artillery stands unscreened.

NAPOLEON [saturninely]

What have I won I disincline to cede!

VOICE OF A GUARD [without]

The Kremlin is aflame!

[The look at each other. Two officers of NAPOLEON'S guard and an interpreter enter, with one of the Russian military police as a prisoner.]

FIRST OFFICER

We have caught this man Firing the Kremlin: yea, in the very act!

It is extinguished temporarily, We know not for how long.

NAPOLEON

Inquire of him What devil set him on. [They inquire.]

SECOND OFFICER

The governor, He says; the Count Rostopchin, sire.

NAPOLEON

So! Even the ancient Kremlin is not sanct From their infernal scheme! Go, take him out; Make him a quick example to the rest.

[Exeunt guard with their prisoner to the court below, whence a musket-volley resounds in a few minutes. Meanwhile the flames pop and spit more loudly, and the window-panes of the room they stand in crack and fall in fragments.]

Incendiarism afoot, and we unware Of what foul tricks may follow, I will go.

Outwitted here, we'll march on Petersburg, The Devil if we won't!

[The marshals murmur and shake their heads.]

BESSIERES

Your pardon, sire, But we are all convinced that weather, time, Provisions, roads, equipment, mettle, mood, Serve not for such a perilous enterprise.

[NAPOLEON remains in gloomy silence. Enter BERTHIER.]

NAPOLEON [apathetically]

Well, Berthier. More misfortunes?

BERTHIER

News is brought, Sire, of the Russian army's whereabouts.

That fox Kutuzof, after marching east As if he were conducting his whole force To Vladimir, when at the Riazan Road Down-doubled sharply south, and in a curve Has wheeled round Moscow, making for Kalouga, To strike into our base, and cut us off.

MURAT

Another reason against Petersburg!

Come what come may, we must defeat that army, To keep a sure retreat through Smolensk on To Lithuania.

NAPOLEON [jumping up]

I must act! We'll leave, Or we shall let this Moscow be our tomb.

May Heaven curse the author of this war-- Ay, him, that Russian minister, self-sold To England, who fomented it.--'Twas he Dragged Alexander into it, and me!