The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 60

SECOND SPY

Not at all. One of the suite overheard, and I got round him. There was much more, which I did not learn. But they are going to soothe and flatter the unfortunate King and Queen by asking them to a banquet here.

FIRST SPY

Such a spirited woman will never come!

SECOND SPY

We shall see. Whom necessity compels needs must: and she has gone through an Iliad of woes!

FIRST SPY

It is this Spanish business that will stagger England, by G.o.d! And now to let her know it.

FRENCH SUBALTERN [looking out above]

What are those townspeople talking about so earnestly, I wonder? The lingo of this place has an accent akin to English.

SECOND SUBALTERN

No doubt because the races are both Teutonic.

[The spies observe that they are noticed, and disappear in the crowd. The curtain drops.]

SCENE VIII

THE SAME

[The midsummer sun is low, and a long table in the aforeshown apartment is laid out for a dinner, among the decorations being bunches of the season's roses.

At the vacant end of the room [divided from the dining end by folding-doors, now open] there are discovered the EMPEROR NAPOLEON, the GRAND-DUKE CONSTANTINE, PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA, the PRINCE ROYAL OF BAVARIA, the GRAND DUKE OF BERG, and attendant officers.

Enter the TSAR ALEXANDER. NAPOLEON welcomes him, and the twain move apart from the rest. BONAPARTE placing a chair for his visitor and flinging himself down on another.]

NAPOLEON

The comforts I can offer are not great, Nor is the accommodation more than scant That falls to me for hospitality; But, as it is, accept.

ALEXANDER

It serves well.

And to unbrace the bandages of state Is as clear air to incense-stifled souls.

What of the Queen?

NAPOLEON

She's coming with the King.

We have some quarter-hour to spare or more Before their Majesties are timed for us.

ALEXANDER

Good. I would speak of them. That she should show here After the late events, betokens much!

Abas.e.m.e.nt in so proud a woman's heart [His voice grows tremulous.]

Is not without a dash of painfulness.

And I beseech you, sire, that you hold out Some soothing hope for her?

NAPOLEON

I have, already!-- Now, sire, to those affairs we entered on: Strong friendship, grown secure, bids me repeat That you have been much duped by your allies.

[ALEXANDER shows mortification.]

Prussia's a shuffler, England a self-seeker, n.o.bility has shone in you alone.

Your error grew of over-generous dreams, And misbeliefs by dullard ministers.

By treating personally we speed affairs More in an hour than they in blundering months.

Between us two, henceforth, must stand no third.

There's peril in it, while England's mean ambition Still works to get us skewered by the ears; And in this view your chiefs-of-staff concur.

ALEXANDER

The judgment of my officers I share.

NAPOLEON

To recapitulate. Nothing can greaten you Like this alliance. Providence has flung My good friend Sultan Selim from his throne, Leaving me free in dealings with the Porte; And I discern the hour as one to end A rule that Time no longer lets cohere.

If I abstain, its spoils will go to swell The power of this same England, our annoy; That country which enchains the trade of towns With such bold reach as to monopolize, Among the rest, the whole of Petersburg's-- Ay!--through her purse, friend, as the lender there!-- Shutting that purse, she may incite to--what?

Muscovy's fall, its ruler's murdering.

Her fleet at any minute can encoop Yours in the Baltic; in the Black Sea, too; And keep you snug as minnows in a gla.s.s!

Hence we, fast-fellowed by our mutual foes, Seaward the British, Germany by land, And having compa.s.sed, for our common good, The Turkish Empire's due part.i.tioning, As comrades can conjunctly rule the world To its own gain and our eternal fame!

ALEXANDER [stirred and flushed]