The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 155

BERTRAND [looking out of carriage]

Silence, and doff your hats, you ill-mannered devils!

POPULACE [scornfully]

Listen to him! Is that the Corsican? No; where is he? Give him up; give him up! We'll pitch him into the Rhone!

[Some cling to the wheels of NAPOLEON'S carriage, while others, more distant, throw stones at it. A stone breaks the carriage window.]

OLD WOMAN [shaking her fist]

Give me back my two sons, murderer! Give me back my children, whose flesh is rotting on the Russian plains!

POPULACE

Ay; give us back our kin--our fathers, our brothers, our sons-- victims to your curst ambition!

[One of the mob seizes the carriage door-handle and tries to unfasten it. A valet of BONAPARTE'S seated on the box draws his sword and threatens to cut the man's arm off. The doors of the Commissioners' coaches open, and SIR NEIL CAMPBELL, GENERAL KOLLER, and COUNT SCHUVALOFF--The English, Austrian, and Russian Commissioners--jump out and come forward.]

CAMPBELL

Keep order, citizens! Do you not know That the ex-Emperor is wayfaring To a lone isle, in the Allies' sworn care, Who have given a pledge to Europe for his safety?

His fangs being drawn, he is left powerless now To do you further harm.

SCHUVALOFF

People of France Can you insult so miserable a being?

He who gave laws to a cowed world stands now At that world's beck, and asks its charity.

Cannot you see that merely to ignore him Is the worst ignominy to tar him with, By showing him he's no longer dangerous?

OLD WOMAN

How do we know the villain mayn't come back?

While there is life, my faith, there's mischief in him!

[Enter an officer with the Town-guard.]

OFFICER

Citizens, I am a zealot for the Bourbons, As you well know. But wanton breach of faith I will not brook. Retire!

[The soldiers drive back the mob and open a pa.s.sage forward. The Commissioners re-enter their carriages. NAPOLEON puts his head out of his window for a moment. He is haggard, shabbily dressed, yellow-faced, and wild-eyed.]

NAPOLEON

I thank you, captain; Also your soldiery: a thousand thanks!

[To Bertrand within] My G.o.d, these people of Avignon here Are headstrong fools, like all the Provencal fold, --I won't go through the town!

BERTRAND

We'll round it, sire; And then, as soon as we get past the place, You must disguise for the remainder miles.

NAPOLEON

I'll mount the white c.o.c.kade if they invite me!

What does it matter if I do or don't?

In Europe all is past and over with me....

Yes--all is lost in Europe for me now!

BERTRAND

I fear so, sire.

NAPOLEON [after some moments]

But Asia waits a man, And--who can tell?

OFFICER OF GUARD [to postillions]

Ahead now at full speed, And slacken not till you have slipped the town.

[The postillions urge the horses to a gallop, and the carriages are out of sight in a few seconds. The scene shuts.]

SCENE VII

MALMAISON. THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE'S BEDCHAMBER

[The walls are in white panels, with gilt mouldings, and the furniture is upholstered in white silk with needle-worked flowers.

The long windows and the bed are similarly draped, and the toilet service is of gold. Through the panes appears a broad flat lawn adorned with vases and figures on pedestals, and entirely surrounded by trees--just now in their first fresh green under the morning rays of Whitsunday. The notes of an organ are audible from a chapel below, where the Pentecostal Ma.s.s is proceeding.

JOSEPHINE lies in the bed in an advanced stage of illness, the ABBE BERTRAND standing beside her. Two ladies-in-waiting are seated near. By the door into the ante-room, which is ajar, h.o.r.eAU the physician-in-ordinary and BOURDOIS the consulting physician are engaged in a low conversation.]

h.o.r.eAU