The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 162

Present arms!

[The firelocks of the royalist battalion are levelled at NAPOLEON.]

NAPOLEON [still advancing]

Men of the Fifth, See--here I am!... Old friends, do you not know me?

If there be one among you who would slay His Chief of proud past years, let him come on And do it now! [A pause.]

LESSARD [to his next officer]

They are death-white at his words!

They'll fire not on this man. And I am helpless.

SOLDIERS [suddenly]

Why yes! We know you, father. Glad to see ye!

The Emperor for ever! Ha! Huzza!

[They throw their arms upon the ground, and, rus.h.i.+ng forward, sink down and seize NAPOLEON'S knees and kiss his hands. Those who cannot get near him wave their shakos and acclaim him pa.s.sionately. BERTRAND, DROUOT, and CAMBRONNE come up.]

NAPOLEON [privately]

All is accomplished, Bertrand! Ten days more, And we are snug within the Tuileries.

[The soldiers tear out their white c.o.c.kades and trample on them, and disinter from the bottom of their knapsacks tricolors, which they set up.

NAPOLEON'S own men now arrive, and fraternize with and embrace the soldiers of the Fifth. When the emotion has subsided, NAPOLEON forms the whole body into a square and addresses them.]

Soldiers, I came with these few faithful ones To save you from the Bourbons,--treasons, tricks, Ancient abuses, feudal tyranny-- From which I once of old delivered you.

The Bourbon throne is illegitimate Because not founded on the nation's will, But propped up for the profit of a few.

Comrades, is this not so?

A GRENADIER

Yes, verily, sire.

You are the Angel of the Lord to us; We'll march with you to death or victory! [Shouts.]

[At this moment a howling dog crosses in front of them with a c.o.c.kade tied to its tail. The soldiery of both sides laugh loudly.

NAPOLEON forms both bodies of troops into one column. Peasantry run up with buckets of sour wine and a single gla.s.s; NAPOLEON takes his turn with the rank and file in drinking from it. He bids the whole column follow him to Gren.o.ble and Paris. Exeunt soldiers headed by NAPOLEON. The scene shuts.]

SCENE IV

SCHONBRUNN

[The gardens of the Palace. Fountains and statuary are seen around, and the Gloriette colonnade rising against the sky on a hill behind.

The ex-EMPRESS MARIE LOUISE is discovered walking up and down.

Accompanying her is the KING OF ROME--now a blue-eye, fair-haired child--in the charge of the COUNTESS OF MONTESQUIOU. Close by is COUNT NEIPPERG, and at a little distance MENEVAL, her attendant and Napoleon's adherent.

The EMPEROR FRANCIS and METTERNICH enter at the other end of the parterre.]

MARIE LOUISE [with a start]

Here are the Emperor and Prince Metternich.

Wrote you as I directed?

NEIPPERG

Promptly so.

I said your Majesty had not part In this mad move of your Imperial spouse, And made yourself a ward of the Allies; Adding, that you had vowed irrevocably To enter France no more.

MARIE LOUISE

Your worthy zeal Has been a trifle swift. My meaning stretched Not quite so far as that.... And yet--and yet It matters little. Nothing matters much!

[The EMPEROR and METTERNICH come forward. NEIPPERG retires.]

FRANCIS

My daughter, you did not a whit too soon Voice your repudiation. Have you seen What the allies have papered Europe with?

MARIE LOUISE

I have seen nothing.

FRANCIS

Please you read it, Prince.

METTERNICH [taking out a paper]

"The Powers a.s.sembled at the Congress here Owe it to their own troths and dignities, And to the furtherance of social order, To make a solemn Declaration, thus: By breaking the convention as to Elba, Napoleon Bonaparte forthwith destroys His only legal t.i.tle to exist, And as a consequence has hurled himself Beyond the pale of civil intercourse.

Disturber of the tranquillity of the world, There can be neither peace nor truce with him, And public vengeance is his self-sought doom.-- Signed by the Plenipotentiaries."