Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert

by Gustave Flaubert

  (The Barber finishes his work and departs)

  PAUL [aside]: Perhaps she is right. There is good sense, after all, in what she says. Besides, if she were once my wife, I should educate her.

  JEANNE: NOW turn your head about so that I can see you. Ah, charming! Thank you! I am very much pleased! And you will never leave me now? [Takes his hand]

  PAUL: Ah, my little dear! No, no! I swear it!

  JEANNE [delighted, looks at him]: Can it be possible? But yes! You lack nothing now!

  KING [holds a high hat towards Paul]: Except this!

  JEANNE [puts the hat on Paul's head]: Oh, yes, that! Now! Come! Come! everyone! It is finished!

  (The Bourgeois rush on, followed by Dominique)

  SCENE VI.

  BOURGEOIS [applaud and embrace Paul]: Good! Good! Very becoming! Our congratulations! My dear fellow-citizen, I am delighted!

  PAUL: One moment! Permit me! What does this mean? A short time ago you wished to stone me, and now —

  BOURGEOIS: Well, you see, you have now become one of us.

  KING [presents a mirror]: There! Look at yourself!

  PAUL [looks at himself for some moments in the mirror; then, as if awakening from a dream]: What! The collar-like beard, the ugly tall hat of a bourgeois on me! [Throws the hat on the ground. Cries of indignation from the Bourgeois] And a coat like that! [Tears off the coat] I never shall wear such garments — clothes for Idiots! Never! never! [Tramples on the hat and coat]

  JEANNE: Unhappy one! Cease!

  BOURGEOIS: He is mad! Beware of him!

  JEANNE [distractedly]: Calm him! Soothe him! Oh!

  what shall I do?

  A VOICE: Seize him, some one! The soup! Put him to the test of the soup!

  JEANNE: Bring him here, quick! There! that's right! Take it, my friend!

  (Bourgeois surround Paul, take him up by the arms and legs and bring him to the Stock-Pot. Some one hands a cup of soup to Jeanne; she presents it at Paul's lips.)

  JEANNE: Drink this slowly!

  PAUL [dashes away the cup with the back of his hand]:

  I will have none of your stuff!

  ALL: Sacrilege! sacrilege! To jail with him! Put him into the strongest cell! [Men rush at Paul and strike him with their fists]

  PAUL: Yes, beat me, if you like. I like your blows better than your applause, and your cruelty more than your favours! I despise you, with your hearts of slaves, heads like sugar-loaves, grotesque costume, hideous houses, your mean occupations and your beast-like ferocity —

  ALL: He is mad! He raves!

  PAUL [raises his hands, which have been chained]: Ah, if I could only summon a bolt from heaven to exterminate you!

  MEN: He becomes dangerous! Bring a gag! [They gag Paul]

  A MAN: And his servant!

  ALL: Yes, yes! his servant!

  DOMINIQUE [comes forward with the coat and hat, which he has picked up]: But I have the coat and I have the hat, and I ask nothing better than to be allowed to wear them.

  BOURGEOIS: That will do no good. As a matter of principle —

  DOMINIQUE: I will take the soup!

  BOURGEOIS: Silence!

  DOMINIQUE: In fact, I need it!

  BOURGEOIS: Insolent! [They gag Dominique, and drag him and Paul to a prison R. I. E. and throw them in. They can be seen through the barred windows]

  ALL [with sighs of relief]: Now the proper thing to do is to moralise with them and catechise them a little!

  (Enter the Grand Pontiff)

  PONTIFF: That is my business! That is a part of my sacerdotal duty. Let us begin. Unfortunate man! you are accused of scorning the frock-coat and the Stock-Pot!

  BOURGEOIS [sneering]: These fine gentlemen did not like them!

  PONTIFF: Of harbouring disdain for trade, of having unusual sentiments, ideas, words, manners and customs, — in one word, of eccentricity! A VOICE: The guillotine!

  PONTIFF: No, gentlemen! thank heaven, our ways are not so severe! We demand, wretched men! only that you be chastened by confinement, purified by remorse, and perhaps later, by good conduct, you will re-establish yourselves in our esteem. The soup you rejected, you shall be forced to swallow, only it will be stronger; the walls of your cell shall be embellished by moral inscriptions, and will form, instead of the study of spiders, your sole distraction! [Paul and Dominique become excited and try to thrust their arms through the bars] I have not finished! The just anger of the people wills, since at present you can do no more harm, that I should lecture you on many points. Then they will make certain experiments upon you!

  (A slight rattling sound is heard, and then the clocks strike eight. At the first stroke all the Bourgeois draw cotton night-caps from their pockets and put them on their heads. The Pontiff does the same)

  PONTIFF: It is now time to go to bed! Until tomorrow! [Exit Bourgeois into various houses.

  SCENE VII.

  JEANNE [to King of the Gnomes, as the Pontiff]: Save him! save him! or I shall go myself — KING: Beware!

  JEANNE: But it is your fault that he is there and that I have lost him again.

  KING: NO, it is your own fault.

  JEANNE: Not content with having deceived me you —

  KING: I did not deceive you! I gave you all that you asked, but it is impossible for me to grant his wishes as well as yours: you must choose more wisely. At your first request, I gave you worldly luxuries and the foolish fripperies that belong to the gay world; at the second, I granted you the simplicity of the bourgeois, with its accompaniment of ugly commonplaces. Now, of what do you complain? What do you really wish?

  JEANNE [after a silence]: I will tell you! I could see, when he was surrounded by those men that put chains upon him, that the desire of his heart was revealed in his proud words. You ask what I wish! Listen! I would possess a power so great that it shall dazzle him. I ask for a palace of basalt with steps of crystal, where he shall sit beside me upon a throne of gold, so that he may look out over the heads of all the people, my slaves, who shall prostrate themselves in the dust before him!

  KING: Very good! Excellent! But not so loud, my princess, for fear of disturbing these worthy people! [Draws a cotton cap from his pocket and puts it on his head, and takes off his blue spectacles. His face is very ugly; he has yellow teeth and great eyes which run back almost to his ears, and his red side-whiskers look like wings. A button on top of the cap glows like fire. He disappears with Jeanne]

  SCENE VIII.

  (The Stock-Pot, the handles of which have been transformed into wings, rises into the air and turns itself over, and while it increases in size so that it appears to hover over the whole town, the vegetables, — carrots, turnips, and leeks — that come out of it, remain suspended in the air and turn into luminous constellations. As soon as the darkness is complete, a sound of loud snoring is heard issuing from the houses. There is a noise of something breaking; then from the prison steal two figures, pressing close to the wall and walking softly. Paul appears first, then Dominique, with the tall hat and frock-coat, and carrying his shoes under his arm. He is terrified at sight of the vegetable-constellations. The snoring continues as the curtain slowly falls)

  SEVENTH TABLEAU. THE KINGDOM OF PIPEMPOHE.

  Scene: A vast hall, of Indo-Moorish architecture, having a practicable gallery across the back, and three arches beneath it, sustained by columns. The middle arch, used as an entrance, shows a low flight of steps, which entrance is made upon the scene. The ceiling has beams of blue-and-gold enamel. The columns are of ebony incrusted with mother-of-pearl, and the two side arches have hanging blinds of gilded bamboo.

  In the plinth that supports the gallery, as well as the walls, blue and red lozenges are set.

  A large cashmere portière hangs R. At L., seated on a throne ornamented with gold and surmounted by a baldaquin with waving plumes, sits Jeanne, dressed as a queen and sparkling with jewels. She assumes an imperious attitude.

  Near her stands her Prime Minister (the King of the Gnomes). Behind h
er stand negro slaves, waving fans made of peacock feathers, and in front of her bearded dwarfs, attired in red, are squatting upon their heels on the steps of the throne. The two at the foot of the throne blow perfume out of bottles larger than themselves.

  In the centre of the stage Bayaderes are performing a dance as the curtain rises. At the back, two giants, robed in black, stand in front of the gilded bamboo blinds.

  The murmur of a languorous melody is heard, clouds of perfume rise slowly; the sunlight falling through the windows, sheds an amber light upon the scene.

  SCENE I.

  King [whispers to Jeanne]: And now are you happy?

  JEANNE [smiles]: I hope to be so soon.

  (Bayadères finish their dance, and before beginning another, they bow before the throne)

  KING: You see, all goes well. Everyone takes you for the Queen. She died last night, and the error of the people will continue. You have only to hold him when he comes, but do not let him recognise you; remember the terrible consequences! JEANNE: I know!Thanks, good Fairy, for having pity on my love; and as you are now my Prime Minister, of course you will not leave me any more.

  KING: If sometimes I am compelled to do so, a blast upon this will recall me. [Hands Jeanne a golden whistle on a cord, which he takes from his neck. She puts it around her own neck. The cashmere portière opposite the throne half opens, and a hideous Dwarf enters. He wears an aigrette in his turban, long moustaches, and carries an ivory bâton in his hand. He leads a procession of six Giants, loaded with arms. As the Dwarf advances to bow before the throne, the Giants form a line against the wall and stand motionless]

  SCENE II.

  DWARF [bows to Jeanne and returns to the Giants] Higher, stupids, higher! Chin raised! Who ever saw such drilling? [Giants tremble with fear before him] Make way for the messenger of the sovereign! [The Giants make way R. and L. Enter an Officer in a pink turban, with trousers of white muslin, a blue waistcoat, and a large sword hanging at his side]

  OFFICER [salutes profoundly] Acting upon the command of your Sublime Majesty, we have just cut into small pieces the twelve wretches who failed to prostrate themselves quickly enough last night, when your Majesty passed the silk-bazaar upon your Majesty's white elephant.

  JEANNE: My orders! Cut into pieces — my elephants!

  OFFICER [smiles]: I do not speak of your thrice divine white elephant, your Majesty, — only of the men.

  JEANNE: Wretch! [Officer stares at Jeanne astonished]

  KING [aside]: You will betray yourself by showing this indignation. Think only of him you love, and reward this good servitor for his faithfulness.

  JEANNE: I never could do it!

  KING: But you must!

  JEANNE [hesitates]: Very well. We are satisfied. Go! [Exit Officer] Ah, heavens! who would hare thought that I should have had the courage?

  KING [aside]: She begins well!

  (Enter the Chancellor, dressed in a long robe bordered with fur, and an astrachan cap; he carries an inkstand in his girdle and long strips of paper in his left hand)

  CHANCELLOR: I venture to come within your powerful rays, light of the stars! to call attention to the fact that this document lacks your Majesty's august seal.

  JEANNE: What is it?

  CHANCELLOR: NO doubt your Majesty recalls the insolence of the man who dared to weep in your presence, under the pretext that he was dying of hunger?

  JEANNE: No — I do not remember!

  KING [aside]: On the contrary, you do remember quite well!

  CHANCELLOR: This is an order for his immediate execution.

  JEANNE: Horror! Give me that paper!

  KING [to Chancellor]: Give it rather to me, — I will take charge of the matter. Go, all of you! JEANNE: Yes, go! go!

  (Exit Dwarf, followed by the six Giants, whose heads touch the top of the gallery arches; also the Bayadères, and the Dwarfs from the steps of the throne, except one who remains half hidden)

  KING [points to the two Giants standing in front of the arches]: They may remain, being mutes.

  SCENE III.

  JEANNE [descends from throne]: For what reason do you demand this man's death?

  KING: I? Oh, I haven't the least notion!

  JEANNE: Then, as I have the right to pardon him —

  KING: Pardon him! If you do that the people will not believe that you are the Queen.

  JEANNE: TO be killed because he wept — what a crime! The former Queen was very cruel, then?

  KING: She was strong. Imitate her!

  JEANNE: But it is impossible for me —

  KING: Will you ruin yourself for a mere scruple, then, and lose this power so long hoped for, when you should show yourself stronger than ever?

  JEANNE: What do you mean?

  KING: I mean that soon — almost immediately, perhaps — you will be called upon to save from mortal peril your brother and your lover!

  JEANNE [after a silence]: And do you believe that the signing of this paper —

  KING: It is only a matter of blowing upon that whistle and pressing your thumb upon this red seal. [Presents the paper]

  JEANNE: Oh, no! It is too horrible!

  KING: But suppose the people revolt and drive you away? I have no power over the multitude. They are accustomed to witnessing tortures every day. You will deprive them of their amusement and they will doubt their Queen. [Cries without] Do you hear that?

  JEANNE [listens]: It is true!

  VOICES [without]: Vengeance! Death!

  KING [to the Giants]: Raise the blinds!

  (The Giants push up the bamboo blinds, disclosing a view of a city of Oriental aspect, with minarets and cupolas)

  JEANNE [slowly mounts the steps and leans out to look]: What a crowd! And they all have picks, hatchets, and swords! They are beating upon the gates of the palace!

  KING: Hasten, then, unhappy one! to save those you love!

  JEANNE: Give it to me! [Thrusts away the paper] No! No!

  KING: At least reserve the power to have him executed some time, if it be only one day hence, and let this torture show —

  JEANNE [overcome]: Let it take place, then, when I shall be no more!

  KING [servilely]: To-morrow, if you wish. Your wishes are our commands, your Majesty! Here it is!

  JEANNE [presses the seal quickly]: Yes, to-morrow!

  KING [hands paper to Dwarf]: Run! [Dwarf runs off R. laughing] He is in a mad mood, that buffoon!

  JEANNE [wrings her hands]: Heaven have mercy on me! If I had only known that —

  KING [aside]: She is ours! First she was coquettish, then stupid, now cruel! [Cries of joy without] Your people thank you, O Queen!

  JEANNE: I hear a sound of many footsteps.

  VOICES [nearer]: Death! Death!

  KING [mounts steps and looks out from the balcony]: They are coming here, to assist at the execution, and to bask in your thrice-blessed presence! [They come down stage]

  (From the gallery enters, first, the Chief Dwarf; behind him come several negroes bearing on their shoulders an enormous chain, which binds Paul and Dominique together. A throng follows them. They descend the steps and scatter R. and L. leaving Paul and Dominique at R. L E. They are pale and haggard. The King of the Gnomes stands at the foot of the lowest step looking at Paul and Dominique, and the Giants resume their former position)

  SCENE IV.

  JEANNE [sees Paul]: He! [Strives to command herself; mounts the throne, and when Paul is before her, she addresses the Dwarf] These prisoners are in chains. Why?

  DWARF: They crossed the borders and entered your kingdom, your Majesty.

  JEANNE: Well?

  KING [approaches Jeanne from L.]: Is not that the greatest of crimes, O light of the stars?

  JEANNE [comprehends]: Of course — certainly! You have done well, General, and your blacks also, — and you, my people! But because of their excessive audacity, we desire to interrogate the two guilty ones — alone [to the King], without even our Prime Minister! [King bows] If we need you
[shows whistle] we will call you, you understand. [King disappears suddenly inside of the throne, through a trap-door at the Back] What! Is he gone already? I did not see him go. All the better — he would have importuned us.

  SCENE V.

  JEANNE [after the multitude has departed]: Although I am Queen, I am compelled to submit to the laws of the country. It was in obedience to those laws that my people arrested you. I am obliged to give them a reason for what I do, but — I pardon you! You are free!