The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 72

Not so--behind the scenes. Our arms a Baylen Have been smirched badly. Twenty thousand shamed All through Dupont's ill-luck! The selfsame day My brother Joseph's progress to Madrid Was glorious as a sodden rocket's fizz!

Since when his letters creak with querulousness.

"Napoleon el chico" 'tis they call him-- "Napoleon the Little," so he says.

Then notice Austria. Much looks louring there, And her sly new regard for England grows.

The English, next, have s.h.i.+pped an army down To Mondego, under one Wellesley, A man from India, and his march is south To Lisbon, by Vimiero. On he'll go And do the devil's mischief ere he is met By unaware Junot, and chevyed back To English fogs and fumes!

JOSEPHINE

My dearest one, You have mused on worse reports with better grace Full many and many a time. Ah--there is more!...

I know; I know!

NAPOLEON [kicking away a stool]

There is, of course; that worm Time ever keeps in hand for gnawing me!-- The question of my dynasty--which bites Closer and closer as the years wheel on.

JOSEPHINE

Of course it's that! For nothing else could hang My lord on tenterhooks through nights and days;-- Or rather, not the question, but the tongues That keep the question stirring. Nought recked you Of throne-succession or dynastic lines When gloriously engaged in Italy!

I was your fairy then: they labelled me Your Lady of Victories; and much I joyed, Till dangerous ones drew near and daily sowed These choking tares within your fecund brain,-- Making me tremble if a panel crack, Or mouse but cheep, or silent leaf sail down, And murdering my melodious hours with dreads That my late happiness, and my late hope, Will oversoon be knelled!

NAPOLEON [genially nearing her]

But years have pa.s.sed since first we talked of it, And now, with loss of dear Hortense's son Who won me as my own, it looms forth more.

And selfish 'tis in my good Josephine To blind her vision to the weal of France, And this great Empire's solidarity.

The grandeur of your sacrifice would gild Your life's whole shape.

JOSEPHINE

Were I as coa.r.s.e a wife As I am limned in English caricature-- [Those cruel effigies they draw of me!]-- You could not speak more aridly.

NAPOLEON

Nay, nay!

You know, my comrade, how I love you still Were there a long-notorious dislike Betwixt us, reason might be in your dreads But all earth knows our conjugality.

There's not a bourgeois couple in the land Who, should dire duty rule their severance, Could part with scanter scandal than could we.

JOSEPHINE [pouting]

Nevertheless there's one.

NAPOLEON

A scandal? What?

JOSEPHINE

Madame Walewska! How could you pretend When, after Jena, I'd have come to you, "The weather was so wild, the roads so rough, That no one of my s.e.x and delicate nerve Could hope to face the dangers and fatigues."

Yes--so you wrote me, dear. They hurt not her!

NAPOLEON [blandly]

She was a week's adventure--not worth words!

I say 'tis France.--I have held out for years Against the constant pressure brought on me To null this sterile marriage.

JOSEPHINE [bursting into sobs]

Me you blame!

But how know you that you are not the culprit?

NAPOLEON

I have reason so to know--if I must say.

The Polish lady you have chosen to name Has proved the fault not mine. [JOSEPHINE sobs more violently.]

Don't cry, my cherished; It is not really amiable of you, Or prudent, my good little Josephine, With so much in the balance.

JOSEPHINE

How--know you-- What may not happen! Wait a--little longer!

NAPOLEON [playfully pinching her arm]

O come, now, my adored! Haven't I already!

Nature's a dial whose shade no hand puts back, Trick as we may! My friend, you are forty-three This very year in the world-- [JOSEPHINE breaks out sobbing again.]

And in vain it is To think of waiting longer; pitiful To dream of coaxing shy fecundity To an unlikely freak by physicking With superst.i.tious drugs and quackeries That work you harm, not good. The fact being so, I have looked it squarely down--against my heart!

Solicitations voiced repeatedly At length have shown the soundness of their shape, And left me no denial. You, at times, My dear one, have been used to handle it.

My brother Joseph, years back, frankly gave His honest view that something should be done; And he, you well know, shows no ill tinct In his regard of you.

JOSEPHINE

And what princess?

NAPOLEON