[It grows darker Saverny falls asleep. Marion comes out of the gate carrying a bundle, and accompanied by Didier.
Marion: Put on these clothes. Richelieu has arrived; Can you not hear the guns announcing him?
Didier: Raise your eyes! Raise your eyes, and look at me! What sort of man, think you, am I? A fool, Or libertine?
Marion (trembling, as she fixes her eyes passionately on his): I love you Didier, More than my life. Your eyes are terrible. What have I done? Am I not your Marie?
Didier: Marie? Or Marion de Lorme?
Marion: Didier, Forgive me! I�I�meant to tell you all. I feared to lose you if you learnt my name. You had redeemed me by your love. I longed To raise all memories of my former self, And live a new life with you, Didier. For, oh, I love you, and I love you still, Deeply and truly! Didier, be kind, Or you will kill me!
Didier: How have you obtained This favour for me? Why is Laffemas Risking his neck by letting me escape?
Marion: Not now! I cannot tell you now!
[Pg 133]
Fly! Fly! Hark, they are coming! Do not stop to speak. Save yourself!
Didier: No; I have no wish to live! Thank God, here is the headsman!
[A Headsman, carrying his axe, appears with a crowd of soldiers, officials, and Saverny.
Marion (falling to the earth): Didier!
Saverny: What a shame To rob me of my sleep!
The Headsman (grimly): The time has come To put you both to bed.
Saverny (gaily): A headsman! Good! I like the axe much better than the rope.
Didier (embracing him): Good-bye, my friend!
Marion (clinging to him): And me! Didier, me! Will you not say good-bye to me?
Didier (wildly, as the soldiers drag him off): No! No! My heart is breaking! Oh, Marie, Marie! I love you. I was wrong!
Marion: You pardon me?
Didier: I ask your pardon. Think of me sometimes. Good-bye, my darling. [He is dragged behind the wall.
An Official (catching Marion in his arms as she falls): All hope is not lost. Look, here is Richelieu! Go and plead with him.
[The castle guns are fired. The cloth, hiding the great breach in the wall, drops. The Cardinal comes in his gigantic scarlet litter, borne by twenty-four footguards. Scarlet curtains conceal him from the shouting mob.
Marion (dragging herself on her knees to the litter): In the name of God, oh, my Lord Cardinal, Pardon these two poor boys!
A Voice (from the litter): No pardon!
[The litter passes on, and the crowd surges through the wall after it. Marion is left alone.
FOOTNOTES:
Victor Hugo wrote "Marion de Lorme" in 1829, three months before he composed "Hernani." King Charles X., however, refused to license the play, because of the terrible way in which his ancestor, Louis XIII., was portrayed in it. But after the Revolution of 1830, and the success of "Hernani," the forbidden drama was produced on the stage. Its original title was "A Duel Under Richelieu." The whole play is built around the frustrated duel in which two young men engage against the edict of the great cardinal. This economy of stage-craft makes "Marion de Lorme" a superior work, in point of construction, to "Hernani." And though it may be less picturesque than that more famous example of the romantic drama, it is on the whole a finer effort of genius.
[Pg 134]
Ruy Blas[K]
Persons in the Drama
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Don Sallust de Bazan |
President of the Magistrates |
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Ruy Blas |
Lackey to Don Sallust |
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Don Cesar de Bazan |
Cousin to Don Sallust |
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Don Manuel Arias |
} |
Counsellors |
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The Count of Camporeal |
} |
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Do�a Maria, Queen of Spain |
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A crowd of Spanish Grandees, Counsellors, and Alguazils |
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Act I
Scene�A room in the palace of King Charles II., at Madrid, about 1695.
Don Sallust: So, after twenty years of constant toil, And twenty years of honour and high power, The weak hand of a woman strikes me down Into the dust. Dishonoured and exiled! And by the queen, a foolish, foreign girl Ignorant of our ways, who has no fear Because she has no knowledge. Had she guessed I had so many weapons of revenge That I am now perplexed which one to use, She would have been more careful. Poisoning,
[Pg 135]
Of course, is easy; and when she was dead I could retrieve the power that I have lost. But I would rather crush and conquer her Some other way; make her a very slave Obedient to my slightest wish, and rule The country in her name. The king is mad, And she will soon be regent. (Calling) Ruy Blas!
Ruy Blas (appearing at the door): Sir?
Don Sallust: Order my men to gather up and pack My papers, books and documents! I leave The palace at the break of day. But you Must wait here till the queen comes through this room At morning, on her way to mass. Who's that?
[Don Cesar enters, and he and Ruy Blas look at each other in surprise. Then, seeing he is not wanted, the lackey departs.
Don Cesar: Well, here I am, dear cousin! Have you found, After a search of twenty years, a post Worthy of me? Upon the principle Of setting thieves to capture thieves, I'd make A splendid captain of your alguazils!
Don Sallust: I know all your remarkable exploits, My cousin. Were I not chief magistrate, Your murders, thefts, and acts of brigandage Would long since have been punished, and Don Cesar, Count of Garofa�
Don Cesar: He died years ago.
[Pg 136]
I now am Zafari.
Don Sallust: Zafari can die, And Cesar, Count of Garofa, revive, And dazzle all the ladies of the court With his fine presence, and the wealth I'll give, If he will serve me, as a cousin should, Boldly and faithfully.
Don Cesar: Ah, this sounds well. Give me a hundred ducats to begin, And I am your man! What do you want of me? Some rival quietly despatched?
Don Sallust: I need A daring, gallant and ambitious man To help me to avenge myself.
Don Cesar: On whom?
Don Sallust: A woman.
Don Cesar: I have fallen very low, Don Sallust, but I have not come to that. Murder may be my trade, but to bring down A woman by a dastardly intrigue Is something I would never stoop to do! I am a wolf, maybe, but not a snake!
Don Sallust: Give me your hand, my cousin! You have come Out of the ordeal I prepared for you Better than I expected.
Don Cesar: Then this plot Against a woman��
Don Sallust: Merely was a test. I'll give you now the money you require. A hundred ducats, was it? I will fetch them.
[He departs, and signs to Ruy Blas to enter.
Don Cesar: I knew you in your strange disguise, Ruy Blas. What are you doing here?
Ruy Blas: Ah, Zafari! Hunger has now compelled me to adopt
[Pg 137]
The livery of a lackey. Don Sallust To-night engaged me as his servitor, And brought me here. And I came, Zafari, Because�� (He hesitates.)
Don Cesar: You wanted food!
Ruy Blas: No. It was love I hungered for.
Don Cesar: There are some pretty maids In this great palace.
Ruy Blas: I am mad, mad, mad! I am in love, Zafari, with the queen� I, a lackey. Night after night I creep Into the royal park, and leave some flowers Upon her favourite seat. This evening I put a letter with them.
Don Cesar: My poor friend, You certainly are mad!
Don Sallust (opening the door slightly and pointing out Don Cesar to three armed alguazils as he whispers): That is the man. Arrest him when he leaves. And kill him quickly. [He then enters the room, and gives a purse to Don Cesar, saying: Here is what you want. Call on me to-morrow.
Don Cesar (giving Ruy Blas half the ducats): Come with me. Be a free man again.
Don Sallust (in an aside): The devil!
Ruy Blas (refusing the money): No; I never shall be a free man again. My heart is captive; I must stay on here.
Don Cesar: Well, each man to his fate. Your hand, old friend!
[After shaking hands, he goes out�to his doom.
Don Sallust: No one has seen you yet, I think, Ruy Blas,
[Pg 138]
Clad in this livery?
Ruy Blas: No one, my lord.
Don Sallust: Good! Shut the doors, and put on this attire.
[Bringing out the costume of a nobleman of high rank, he helps his lackey to dress in it.
Splendid! You have a very gallant air, And you will make a perfect nobleman. Now listen. I've your interests at heart, And if you will obey me faithfully, You shall succeed in all that you desire. But stay. There is a letter I must send Before I leave Madrid. Write it for me.
[Ruy Blas sits down at the table, and Don Sallust dictates to him:
"My life is in great danger. You alone Can save me. Come this evening to my house. No one will recognise you if you use The side-door by the corner." Now sign it "Cesar," the name I commonly employ In love affairs.
Ruy Blas: Shall I address the note?
Don Sallust: Ah, no! I must deliver it myself. Hark! There is someone coming. 'Tis the Queen!
[Dragging Ruy Blas with him, he opens the door, and says to the noblemen surrounding the QUEEN:
Allow me to present to you, my friends, Don Cesar, Count of Garofa, my cousin.
Act II
Scene.�The Hall of Government in the palace at Madrid, six months after. The Privy Counsellors are sitting,�among them Don Manuel Arias and the Count of Camporeal.
[Pg 139]
Don Manuel: How quickly he has climbed to supreme power! General Secretary, Minister, And now Duke of Olmedo!
Camporeal: It is strange, A cousin of that fallen president, Don Sallust, could have won to such a height Within six months!
Don Manuel: The queen reigns over us And he reigns, over her.
Camporeal: That is not so. Don Cesar never sees the queen alone. I know it. I have had them watched by spies. They shun each other. Do you know, he lives By Tormez mansion, in a shuttered house, With two black mutes to wait on him?
Don Manuel: Two mutes! He is, indeed, a terrible, strange man. And now to business! We must re-arrange Some of the taxes and monopolies. We want a fair division.
[All the Counsellors seat themselves.
A Counsellor: I must have The salt monopoly.
Camporeal: No; that is mine! You have the tax upon the trade in slaves. I'll change that for the arsenic, if you like.
[Ruy Blas has entered at the beginning of the dispute: after listening some time he comes forward.
Ruy Blas: You vile, rapacious gang of quarrelling thieves! What! Can you rob the dead? Here by the grave Of the great empire that was Spain, you sit, Like greedy vultures, preying on her corpse! We were the conquerors of the world, but now Our army dwindled to four thousand men That never get their arms, their food, their pay, Is but a mob of brigands, and they live
[Pg 140]
By pillaging their wretched countrymen. Our hardy peasantry is crushed beneath A load of taxes and monopolies, But not a ducat of the revenue Is spent on Spain. Bankrupt in wealth and power, Dead to all sense of honour, justice, right, She lies, while you, you foul hyenas, snarl Over her stricken body.
[Turning to the Count of Camporeal, and the Counsellor who was quarrelling with him, he says sternly:
Let me not see Either of you again at court.
[As they depart, Ruy Blas speaks to the other consternated Counsellors:
Every man Who will not serve Spain honestly must go. If there are any who will work with me In building up our country's power and fame, On equal laws for rich and poor alike, I shall be pleased to meet them in this room In two hours' time.
[All the CounsellorS go out, bowing low to Ruy Blas as they pass by him. When he is alone, the Queen comes from behind the tapestry; her face is radiant with joy.
The Queen: You spoke to them as I would like to speak Were I a man. Oh, let me take, dear Duke, This loyal hand, so strong, and so sincere.
Ruy Blas: How did you hear me, madam?
The Queen (showing a secret door): In this place That Philip made to watch his counsellors. How often have I seen poor Carlos here, Listening to the villains robbing him, And ruining the state!
Ruy Blas: What did he say?
[Pg 141]
The Queen: Nothing, but it drove him mad at last. But you! How masterful you were! The voice With which you thundered still rings in my ears. I raised the tapestry to look at you. You towered above them terrible and great, A king of men! What was it that inspired Such fury in you?
Ruy Blas: Love for you, my queen! If Spain falls, you will fall with it. But I Will save it for your sake. Oh, I am mad! I love you! Love you with a love that eats The life out of me! God! What shall I do? Die? Shall I die? Pardon me! Pardon me!
The Queen: No, live! Live for your country, and your queen! Both of us need you. For the last six months I have been watching from my hiding-place Your struggle with my treacherous counsellors, And seeing in you the master-mind of Spain, have, without consulting you, advanced Your interests. And now your strong, pure hands Grasp all the reins of government and power, Perform the work entrusted unto you! Rescue our people from their misery. Raise Spain up from her grave; restore to her The strength that made her empress of the world; And love me as I love you�
Ruy Blas: Oh, my queen!
The Queen: With a pure, steady, honourable love, Working and waiting with a patient heart Till I am free to marry you. Farewell!
[She kisses him on the brow, and departs by the secret door.
[Pg 142]
Act III
Scene.�A small, dark room in the house lent by Don Sallust to Ruy Blas. It is late at night, and Ruy Blas is pacing up and down in a state of wild agitation.
Ruy Blas: I only am a pawn with which he plays Against the queen. He seeks to ruin her By means of me. No! I will save her yet. Save her and lose her! Cunning though you are, Don Sallust, you have overlooked one thing; Even a lackey will lay down his life To save a noble woman whom he loves From ruin and dishonour.
[Going to the table, he pours something into glass.
Oh, my queen! Never more shall we meet upon this earth.
[As he raises the glass to his lips, The Queen enters.
The Queen: Don Cesar!
Ruy Blas: Oh, my God, my God!
The Queen: Fear not.
I shall protect you.
Ruy Blas: What has brought you here?
The Queen: Your letter, Cesar.
Ruy Blas: Letter? I have sent No letter.
The Queen: What is this, then? Look and read.
[She gives him the note he wrote for Don Sallust as his lackey.
Ruy Blas (reading it): "My life is in great danger. You alone can save me."
The Queen (continuing): "Come this evening to my house. No one will recognise you if you use
[Pg 143]
The side door by the corner." Here's your name, "Cesar."
Ruy Blas: Go! Go! It is a plot against you. I cannot now explain. Fly for your life!
The Queen: But you are in great danger. No! I'll stay, And help you, Cesar.
Ruy Blas: Go, I tell you! Go! The letter is not mine. Who let you in?
Don Sallust (striding into the room): I did.
Ruy Blas: Go, madam, while the way is clear.
Don Sallust: It is too late. Do�a Maria is No longer Queen of Spain.
The Queen (in terror): What, then, am I?
Don Sallust: A lady who has sold her throne for love.
Ruy Blas: No!
Don Sallust (whispering to Ruy Blas): I am working in your interests. (Aloud toThe Queen) Now listen, madam. I have found you here, Alone with Cesar, in his room, at night. This conduct�in a queen�would lead the Pope� Were the fact published�to annul your marriage. Why not avoid the scandal?
[Taking a parchment from his pocket, he presents it to The Queen.
Sign this deed Admitting everything, and we can keep All the proceedings secret. I have put Plenty of money in the coach that waits Outside the door. Ride off in it and take Cesar with you, to France or Portugal. No one will stop you. But if you refuse Everything shall be published. Here's a pen.
[He leads the terrified Queen to a writing-table, and puts a pen in her hand. Ruy Blas stands in a corner, motionless and bewildered.
[Pg 144]
The Queen: Oh, I am lost! Lost, and yet innocent!
Don Sallust: You lose a crown; but think of what you gain� A life of love and peace and happiness. Don Cesar loves you, and is worthy of you. A man of noble race; almost a prince.
[The Queen is about to sign, but Ruy Blas snatches the pen from her hand, and tears up the parchment.
Ruy Blas: You must not sign it! This man lies to you. I am Ruy Blas, a common serving-man.
[Turning fiercely on Don Sallust.
No more of it, I say! I'll have no more! You mean, contemptible scoundrel! Tell the truth!
Don Sallust: This creature is, in fact, my serving-man, Only he has blabbed too soon.
The Queen: Great Heavens!
Don Sallust: No matter. My revenge is good enough. What do you think of it? Madrid will laugh! You exiled me, my lady; brought me down Into the dust. I'll drag you from the throne And hold you up�the laughing-stock of Spain!
[While he is speaking Ruy Blas silently bolts the door; then, creeping behind Don Sallust, he snatches his sword from the scabbard.
Ruy Blas: Insult the queen again, you wretch, and I Will kill you where you stand. You foul, black snake, Crawl in the further room and say your prayers.
[Don Sallust rushes towards the outer door; Ruy Blas pushes him back at the sword's point.
The Queen: You are not going to slay him?
Ruy Blas: This affair Must be now settled once for all. Go in!
[This to Don Sallust, whom he has now almost driven into the further room.
[Pg 145]
Don Sallust: Give me a sword, and let us fight it out.
Ruy Blas: Surely a nobleman would never stoop To fight a duel with h