Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated)

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Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated) Page 838

by Thomas Hardy


  [Their shouts, which spread to the Carrousel without, are echoed

  by the soldiers of the Guard assembled there. The EMPRESS is now

  in tears, and the EMPEROR supports her.]

  MARIE LOUISE

  Such whole enthusiasm I have never known!—

  Not even from the Landwehr of Vienna.

  [Amid repeated protestations and farewells NAPOLEON, the EMPRESS,

  the KING OF ROME, MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU, etc. go out in one

  direction, and the officers of the National Guard in another.

  The curtain falls for an interval.

  When it rises again the apartment is in darkness, and its atmosphere

  chilly. The January night-wind howls without. Two servants enter

  hastily, and light candles and a fire. The hands of the clock are

  pointing to three.

  The room is hardly in order when the EMPEROR enters, equipped for

  the intended journey; and with him, his left arm being round her

  waist, walks MARIE LOUISE in a dressing-gown. On his right arm

  he carries the KING OF ROME, and in his hand a bundle of papers.

  COUNT BERTRAND and a few members of the household follow.

  Reaching the middle of the room, he kisses the child and embraces

  the EMPRESS, who is tearful, the child weeping likewise. NAPOLEON

  takes the papers to the fire, thrusts them in, and watches them

  consume; then burns other bundles brought by his attendants.]

  NAPOLEON [gloomily]

  Better to treat them thus; since no one knows

  What comes, or into whose hands he may fall!

  MARIE LOUISE

  I have an apprehension-unexplained—

  That I shall never see you any more!

  NAPOLEON

  Dismiss such fears. You may as well as not.

  As things are doomed to be they will be, dear.

  If shadows must come, let them come as though

  The sun were due and you were trusting to it:

  'Twill teach the world it wrongs in bringing them.

  [They embrace finally. Exeunt NAPOLEON, etc. Afterwards MARIE

  LOUISE and the child.]

  SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

  Her instinct forwardly is keen in cast,

  And yet how limited. True it may be

  They never more will meet; although—to use

  The bounded prophecy I am dowered with—

  The screen that will maintain their severance

  Would pass her own believing; proving it

  No gaol-grille, no scath of scorching war,

  But this persuasion, pressing on her pulse

  To breed aloofness and a mind averse;

  Until his image in her soul will shape

  Dwarfed as a far Colossus on a plain,

  Or figure-head that smalls upon the main.

  [The lights are extinguished and the hall is left in darkness.]

  SCENE III

  THE SAME. THE APARTMENTS OF THE EMPRESS

  [A March morning, verging on seven o'clock, throws its cheerless

  stare into the private drawing-room of MARIE LOUISE, animating

  the gilt furniture to only a feeble shine. Two chamberlains of

  the palace are there in waiting. They look from the windows and

  yawn.]

  FIRST CHAMBERLAIN

  Here's a watering for spring hopes! Who would have supposed when

  the Emperor left, and appointed her Regent, that she and the Regency

  too would have to scurry after in so short a time!

  SECOND CHAMBERLAIN

  Was a course decided on last night?

  FIRST CHAMBERLAIN

  Yes. The Privy Council sat till long past midnight, debating the

  burning question whether she and the child should remain or not.

  Some were one way, some the other. She settled the matter by saying

  she would go.

  SECOND CHAMBERLAIN

  I thought it might come to that. I heard the alarm beating all night

  to assemble the National Guard; and I am told that some volunteers

  have marched out to support Marmot. But they are a mere handful:

  what can they do?

  [A clatter of wheels and a champing and prancing of horses is

  heard outside the palace. MENEVAL enters, and divers officers

  of the household; then from her bedroom at the other end MARIE

  LOUISE, in a travelling dress and hat, leading the KING OF ROME,

  attired for travel likewise. She looks distracted and pale.

  Next come the DUCHESS OF MONTEBELLO, lady of honour, the COUNTESS

  DE MONTESQUIOU, ladies of the palace, and others, all in travelling

  trim.]

  KING OF ROME [plaintively]

  Why are we doing these strange things, mamma,

  And what did we get up so early for?

  MARIE LOUISE

  I cannot, dear, explain. So many events

  Enlarge and make so many hours of one,

  That it would be too hard to tell them now.

  KING OF ROME

  But you know why we a setting out like this?

  Is it because we fear our enemies?

  MARIE LOUISE

  We are not sure that we are going yet.

  I may be needful; but don't ask me here.

  Some time I will tell you.

  [She sits down irresolutely, and bestows recognitions on the

  assembled officials with a preoccupied air.]

  KING OF ROME [in a murmur]

  I like being here best;

  And I don't want to go I know not where!

  MARIE LOUISE

  Run, dear to Mamma 'Quiou and talk to her

  [He goes across to MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU.]

  I hear that women of the Royalist hope

  [To the DUCHESS OF MONTEBELLO]

  Have bent them busy in their private rooms

  With working white cockades these several days.—

  Yes—I must go!

  DUCHESS OF MONTEBELLO

  But why yet, Empress dear?

  We may soon gain good news; some messenger

  Hie from the Emperor or King Joseph hither?

  MARIE LOUISE

  King Joseph I await. He's gone to eye

  The outposts, with the Ministers of War,

  To learn the scope and nearness of the Allies;

  He should almost be back.

  [A silence, till approaching feet are suddenly heard outside the

  door.]

  Ah, here he comes;

  Now we shall know!

  [Enter precipitately not Joseph but officers of the National Guard

  and others.]

  OFFICERS

  Long live the Empress-regent!

  Do not quit Paris, pray, your Majesty.

  Remain, remain. We plight us to defend you!

  MARIE LOUISE [agitated]

  Gallant messieurs, I thank you heartily.

  But by the Emperor's biddance I am bound.

  He has vowed he'd liefer see me and my son

  Blanched at the bottom of the smothering Seine

  Than in the talons of the foes of France.—

  To keep us sure from such, then, he ordained

  Our swift withdrawal with the Ministers

  Towards the Loire, if enemies advanced

  In overmastering might. They do advance;

  Marshal Marmont and Mortier are repulsed,

  And that has come whose hazard he foresaw.

  All is arranged; the treasure is awheel,

  And papers, seals, and cyphers packed therewith.

  OFFICERS [dubiously]

  Yet to leave Paris is to court disaster!

  MARIE LOUISE [with petulance]

  I shall do what I say!... I don't know what—

  What SHALL I do!

  [She bursts into tear
s and rushes into her bedroom, followed by

  the young KING and some of her ladies. There is a painful silence,

  broken by sobbings and expostulations within. Re-enter one of the

  ladies.]

  LADY

  She's sorely overthrown;

  She flings herself upon the bed distraught.

  She says, "My God, let them make up their minds

  To one or other of these harrowing ills,

  And force to't, and end my agony!"

  [An official enters at the main door.]

  OFFICIAL

  I am sent here by the Minister of War

  To her Imperial Majesty the Empress.

  [Re-enter MARIE LOUISE and the KING OF ROME.]

  Your Majesty, my mission is to say

  Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

  A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs

  Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

  MENEVAL

  They are armed Europe's scouts!

  [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART

  the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

  CAMBACERES

  Your Majesty,

  There's not a trice to lose. The force well-nigh

  Of all compacted Europe crowds on us,

  And clamours at the walls!

  BEAUHARNAIS

  If you stay longer,

  You stay to fall into the Cossacks hands.

  The people, too, are waxing masterful:

  They think the lingering of your Majesty

  Makes Paris more a peril for themselves

  Than a defence for you. To fight is fruitless,

  And wanton waste of life. You have nought to do

  But go; and I, and all the Councillors,

  Will follow you.

  MARIE LOUISE

  Then I was right to say

  That I would go! Now go I surely will,

  And let none try to hinder me again!

  [She prepares to leave.]

  KING OF ROME [crying]

  I will not go! I like to live here best!

  Don't go to Rambouillet, mamma; please don't.

  It is a nasty place! Let us stay here.

  O Mamma 'Quiou, stay with me here; pray stay!

  MARIE LOUISE [to the Equerry]

  Bring him down.

  [Exit MARIE LOUISE in tears, followed by ladies-in-waiting and

  others.]

  DE CANISY

  Come now, Monseigneur, come.

  [He catches up the boy in his arms and prepares to follow the

  Empress.]

  KING OF ROME [kicking]

  No, no, no! I don't want to go away from my house—I don't want to!

  Now papa is away I am the master! [He clings to the door as the

  equerry is bearing him through it.]

  DE CANISY

  But you must go.

  [The child's fingers are pulled away. Exit DE CANISY with the King

  OF ROME, who is heard screaming as he is carried down the staircase.]

  MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU

  I feel the child is right!

  A premonition has enlightened him.

  She ought to stay. But, ah, the die is cast!

  [MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU and the remainder of the party follow, and

  the room is left empty. Enter servants hastily.]

  FIRST SERVANT

  Sacred God, where are we to go to for grub and good lying to-night?

  What are ill-used men to do?

  SECOND SERVANT

  I trudge like the rest. All the true philosophers are gone, and the

  middling true are going. I made up my mind like the truest that ever

  was as soon as I heard the general alarm beat.

  THIRD SERVANT

  I stay here. No Allies are going to tickle our skins. The storm

  which roots—Dost know what a metaphor is, comrade? I brim with

  them at this historic time!

  SECOND SERVANT

  A weapon of war used by the Cossacks?

  THIRD SERVANT

  Your imagination will be your ruin some day, my man! It happens to

  be a weapon of wisdom used by me. My metaphor is one may'st have

  met with on the rare times when th'hast been in good society. Here

  it is: The storm which roots the pine spares the p—s—b—d. Now

  do you see?

  FIRST AND SECOND SERVANTS

  Good! Your teaching, friend, is as sound as true religion! We'll

  not go. Hearken to what's doing outside. [Carriages are heard

  moving. Servants go to the window and look down.] Lord, there's

  the Duchess getting in. Now the Mistress of the Wardrobe; now the

  Ladies of the Palace; now the Prefects; now the Doctors. What a

  time it takes! There are near a dozen berlines, as I am a patriot!

  Those other carriages bear treasure. How quiet the people are! It

  is like a funeral procession. Not a tongue cheers her!

  THIRD SERVANT

  Now there will be a nice convenient time for a little good victuals

  and drink, and likewise pickings, before the Allies arrive, thank

  Mother Molly!

  [From a distant part of the city bands are heard playing military

  marches. Guns next resound. Another servant rushes in.]

  FOURTH SERVANT

  Montmartre is being stormed, and bombs are falling in the Chaussee

  d'Antin!

  [Exit fourth servant.]

  THIRD SERVANT [pulling something from his hat]

  Then it is time for me to gird my armour on.

  SECOND SERVANT

  What hast there?

  [Third servant holds up a crumpled white cockade and sticks it in

  his hair. The firing gets louder.]

  FIRST AND SECOND SERVANTS

  Hast got another?

  THIRD SERVANT [pulling out more]

  Ay—here they are; at a price.

  [The others purchase cockades of third servant. A military march

  is again heard. Re-enter fourth servant.]

  FOURTH SERVANT

  The city has capitulated! The Allied sovereigns, so it is said,

  will enter in grand procession to-morrow: the Prussian cavalry

  first, then the Austrian foot, then the Russian and Prussian foot,

  then the Russian horse and artillery. And to cap all, the people

  of Paris are glad of the change. They have put a rope round the

  neck of the statue of Napoleon on the column of the Grand Army, and

  are amusing themselves with twitching it and crying "Strangle the

  Tyrant!"

  SECOND SERVANT

  Well, well! There's rich colours in this kaleidoscopic world!

  THIRD SERVANT

  And there's comedy in all things—when they don't concern you.

  Another glorious time among the many we've had since eighty-nine.

  We have put our armour on none too soon. The Bourbons for ever!

  [He leaves, followed by first and second servants.]

  FOURTH SERVANT

  My faith, I think I'll turn Englishman in my older years, where

  there's not these trying changes in the Constitution!

  [Follows the others. The Allies military march waxes louder as

  the scene shuts.]

  SCENE IV

  FONTAINEBLEAU. A ROOM IN THE PALACE

  [NAPOLEON is discovered walking impatiently up and down, and

  glancing at the clock every few minutes. Enter NEY.]

  NAPOLEON [without a greeting]

  Well—the result? Ah, but your looks display

  A leaden dawning to the light you bring!

  What—not a regency? What—not the Empress

  To hold it in trusteeship for my son?

  NEY

  Sire
, things like revolutions turn back,

  But go straight on. Imperial governance

  Is coffined for your family and yourself!

  It is declared that military repose,

  And France's well-doing, demand of you

  Your abdication—unconditioned, sheer.

  This verdict of the sovereigns cannot change,

  And I have pushed on hot to let you know.

  NAPOLEON [with repression]

  I am obliged to you. You have told me promptly!—

  This was to be expected. I had learnt

  Of Marmont's late defection, and the Sixth's;

  The consequence I easily inferred.

  NEY

  The Paris folk are flaked with white cockades;

  Tricolors choke the kennels. Rapturously

  They clamour for the Bourbons and for peace.

  NAPOLEON [tartly]

  I can draw inferences without assistance!

  NEY [persisting]

  They see the brooks of blood that have flowed forth;

  They feel their own bereavements; so their mood

  Asked no deep reasoning for its geniture.

  NAPOLEON

  I have no remarks to make on that just now.

  I'll think the matter over. You shall know

  By noon to-morrow my definitive.

  NEY [turning to go]

  I trust my saying what had to be said

  Has not affronted you?

  NAPOLEON [bitterly]

  No; but your haste

  In doing it has galled me, and has shown me

  A heart that heaves no longer in my cause!

  The skilled coquetting of the Government

  Has nearly won you from old fellowship!...

  Well; till to-morrow, marshal, then Adieu.

  [Ney goes. Enter CAULAINCOURT and MACDONALD.]

  Ney has got here before you; and, I deem,

  Has truly told me all?

  CAULAINCOURT

  We thought at first

  We should have had success. But fate said No;

  And abdication, making no reserves,

  Is, sire, we are convinced, with all respect,

  The only road, if you care not to risk

  The Empress; loss of every dignity,

  And magnified misfortunes thrown on France.

  NAPOLEON

  I have heard it all; and don't agree with you.

  My assets are not quite so beggarly

  That I must close in such a shameful bond!

  What—do you rate as naught that I am yet

  Full fifty thousand strong, with Augereau,

  And Soult, and Suchet true, and many more?

  I still may know to play the Imperial game

  As well as Alexander and his friends!

  So—you will see. Where are my maps?—eh, where?

  I'll trace campaigns to come! Where's my paper, ink,

  To schedule all my generals and my means!

 

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