Semiramis and Other Plays - LightNovelsOnl.com
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1st Nun.
Many are starved--dead.
2d Nun. But the good Emperor! It is so sad to think of him without food.
1st Nun.
He will give this to his officers. Yesterday I saw Prince Salm-Salm and the general Miramon each with a bit of white bread that can not be found in all Queretaro outside of our convent.
2d Nun. The good man! Holy Mother bless and keep him! (They go into the Cruz)
Lop. What will you do with Maximilian?
Gar. Make a Liberal of him.
Lop. Ha! How?
Gar. Shoot him!
Lop. Shoot him?
Gar. Yes. The grave's the great republican senate house,--where each man has the floor.
Lop. (Laughing) And you will introduce him!
Gar. Hark!
Lop. The Emperor! Go! (Exit Garza. Enter Maximilian and Prince Salm-Salm)
Max. (Greeting Lopez affectionately) You're early out, my boy.
Lop. Your majesty, I am the officer of the day.
Max. Yes,--I remember. Who was your friend?
Lop. Ramirez, of Dupin's regiment.
Salm. Ramirez! He's much changed if that was he.
Lop. Shall I call him back, your majesty, that the prince may convince himself that his memory of faces is not infallible?
Max. Nay, my trusted two! (Puts an arm about each) Would you might love each other as I love you both. My prince, whose courage is the very heart of my army, and my young hussar, dear for your own sake--dearer still because--she trusted you!
(Blasio, the Emperor's secretary, comes out of the Cruz)
Blasio. Your majesty, I have finished the letters.
Max. Good. There will be no more to write. (Stumbles over something) What's this?
Blasio. A fallen Christ.
Max. You mean a fallen figure of the risen Christ.
Lop. Here is the crown of thorns.
Max. Give it to me. (Holds it meditatively) How well it suits my fortunes!
Salm. Nay--
Max. Ay, better than my golden one. (Gives it to Blasio) Hang it above my bed. My Queretaro crown!
Salm. Do not, your majesty!
Max. (To Blasio) Take it. (Exit Blasio) Why, prince, 'tis something to have won a crown. My first was given me.
(Firing and falling of sh.e.l.ls)
Salm. I beg you, sire, to move your quarters to a safer station.
This is death at any moment!
Max. Death at any moment--(Regretfully) And I have been here sixty days.
Lop. Courage, sire! Marquez will come!
Max. (Eagerly) Has there been news?
Lop. Not yet, your majesty.
Max. Not yet! What does it mean? You heard him take the oath to bring me help or die. 'Twas here he swore--before us all.
Vowed to return with troops in fifteen days! Ah, he is dead.
Salm. No, your majesty.
Max. But if he lives?
Salm. He is a traitor.
Max. You heard his oath--
Salm. A traitor's oath!
Lop. He's true, your majesty. His messengers are murdered.
Salm. He's false!
Max. But that means--death.
Salm. Or flight.
Max. Not flight!
(Enter Miramon and Mendez) You're welcome, gentlemen. Your eyes bring news.
