Chapter 1
L'AIGLON
_A PLAY IN SIX ACTS_
BY EDMOND ROSTAND
TRANSLATED BY
LOUIS N. PARKER
HARPER & BROTHERS
FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK
Copyright 1900 By Robert Howard Russell
Printed in the United States of America
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
The cast as presented by Maude Adams at the Knickerbocker Theatre, New York, October, 1900
THE DUKE OF REICHSTADT, _son of Napoleon I. and the Archduchess Maria Louisa of Austria_ MAUDE ADAMS
FLAMBEAU, _a veteran_ J. H. GILMOUR
PRINCE METTERNICH, _Chancellor of Austria_ EDWIN ARDEN
COUNT PROKESCH PERCY LYNDALL
BARON FRIEDRICH VON GENTZ EUGENE JEPSON
THE ATTACHÉ OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY _at the Austrian Court_ OSWALD YORK
THE TAILOR, _a conspirator_ WILLIAM LEWERS
COUNT MAURICE DIETRICHSTEIN EDWARD LESTER
BARON VON OBENAUS R. PEYTON CARTER
THE EMPEROR FRANCIS OF AUSTRIA JOS. FRANCOEUR
MARSHAL MARMONT, _Duke of Ragusa_ J. H. BENRIMO
COUNT SEDLINZKY, _Prefect of the Austrian Police_ WILLIAM CROSBY
THE MARQUIS OF BOMBELLES, _betrothed to Maria Louisa_ CLAYTON LEGGE
TIBURTIUS DE LOGET WILLIAM IRVING
LORD COWLEY, _English Ambassador at the Austrian Court_ RIENZI DE CORDOVA
COUNT SANDOR EDWARD JACOBS
DOCTOR MALFATTI H. D. JAMES
GENERAL HARTMANN HERBERT CARR
CAPTAIN FORESTI JOHN S. ROBERTSON
AN AUSTRIAN SERGEANT LLOYD CARLETON
A COUNTRY DOCTOR FREDERICK SPENCER
HIS SON BYRON ONGLEY
THALBERG B. B. BELCHER
MONTENEGRO MORTON H. WELDON
THE CHAMBERLAIN CHARLES MARTIN
AN OFFICER OF THE NOBLE GUARD, _the Emperor of Austria's Bodyguard_ HENRY P. DAVIS
THE MARQUIS OF OTRANTO, _son of Fouche_ CHARLES HENDERSON
GOUBEAUX) (DON C. MERRIFIELD PIONNET ) _Bonapartist_ (HENRY CLARKE MORCHAIN) _conspirators_ (THOMAS H. ELWOOD GUIBERT ) (GEORGE KLEIN BOROWSKI) (FRANK GOODMAN
FIRST POLICE OFFICER RALPH YOERG
FIRST ARCHDUKE, _a child_ WALTER BUTTERWORTH
SECOND ARCHDUKE, _a child_ JOHN LEEMAN
MARIA LOUISA, _second wife of Napoleon I., widow of Count Neipperg_ IDA WATERMAN
THE ARCHDUCHESS SOPHIA OF AUSTRIA SARAH CONVERSE
THERESA DE LOGET, _sister of Tiburtius de Loget_ ELLIE COLLMER
THE COUNTESS NAPOLEONE CAMERATA, _daughter of Napoleon's sister, Elisa Baciocchi_ SARAH PERRY
FANNY ELSSLER MARGARET GORDON
SCARAMPI, _Mistress of the Robes_ FRANCIS COMSTOCK
MINA, _a maid-of-honor_ EDITH SCOTT
AN ARCHDUCHESS, _a child_ BEATRICE MORRISON
_Princes_, _Princesses_, _Archdukes_, _Archduchesses_, _Maids-of-Honor_, _Officers_, _Noble Guard_, _Masks (Male and Female)_, _Crotian Peasants_, _Hungarian Peasant_, _Austrian Soldiers_, _Police Officers_.
_The period covered by the play is from 1830 to 1832._
THE FIRST ACT
L'AIGLON
THE FIRST ACT
_At Baden, near Vienna, in 1830._
_The drawing-room of the villa occupied by_ MARIA LOUISA. _The walls are painted al fresco in bright colors. The frieze is decorated with a design of sphinxes._
_At the back, between two other windows, a window reaching to the ground and forming the entrance from the garden. Beyond, the balustrade of the terrace leading into the garden; a glimpse of lindens and pine-trees. A magnificent day in the beginning of September. Empire furniture of lemonwood decorated with bronze. A large china stove in the centre of the wall on the left. In front of it a door. On the right, two doors. The first leads to the apartments of_ MARIA LOUISA. _In front of the window on the left at the back an Erard piano of the period, and a harp. A big table on the right, and against the right wall a small table with shelves filled with books. On the left, facing the audience, a Récamier couch, and a large stand for candlesticks. A great many flowers in vases. Framed engravings on the walls representing the members of the Imperial Family of Austria. A portrait of the Emperor Francis._
_At the rise of the curtain a group of elegant ladies is discovered at the further end of the room. Two of them are seated at the piano, with their backs to the audience, playing a duet. Another is at the harp. They are playing at sight, amid much laughter and many interruptions. A lackey ushers in a modestly dressed young girl who is accompanied by an officer of the Austrian Cavalry. Seeing that no one notices their entrance, these two remain standing a moment in a corner. The_ COUNT DE BOMBELLES _comes in from the door on the right and goes toward the piano. He sees the young girl, and stops, with a smile._
THE LADIES.
[_Surrounding the piano, laughing, and all talking at the same time._]
She misses all the flats!--It's scandalous!-- I'll take the bass!--Loud pedal!--One! Two!--Harp!
BOMBELLES.
[_To_ THERESA.]
What! You!
THERESA.
Good-day, my Lord Bombelles!
A LADY.
[_At the piano._] _Mi, sol._
THERESA.
I enter on my readership--
ANOTHER LADY.
[_At the piano._] The flats!
THERESA.
It's thanks to you.
BOMBELLES.
My dear Theresa! Nothing! You are my relative, and you are French.
THERESA.
[_Presenting the officer._]
Tiburtius--
BOMBELLES.
Ah, your brother!
[_He gives him his hand and pushes forward a chair for_ THERESA.]
Take a seat.
THERESA.
I'm very nervous.
BOMBELLES.
[_With a smile._] Heavens! What about?
THERESA.
To venture near the persons of the two The Emperor left!
BOMBELLES.
Oh, is that all, my child?
TIBURTIUS.
Our people hated Bonaparte of old--
THERESA.
Yes--but to see--
BOMBELLES.
His widow?
THERESA.
And perhaps His son?
BOMBELLES.
Assuredly.
THERESA.
Why, it would mean I'd never thought or read, and was not French, Nor born in recent years, if I could stand Unmoved so near them. Is she lovely?
BOMBELLES.
Who?
THERESA.
Her Majesty of Parma?
BOMBELLES.
Why--
THERESA.
She's sad And that itself is beauty.
BOMBELLES.
But I'm puzzled. Surely you've seen her?
THERESA.
No.
TIBURTIUS.
We've just come in.
BOMBELLES.
Yes, but--
TIBURTIUS.
We feared we might disturb these ladies Whose laughter sings new gamuts to the piano.
THERESA.
Here in my corner I await her notice.
BOMBELLES.
What? Why, it's she who's playing bass this moment!
THERESA.
The Emp--?
BOMBELLES.
I'll go and tell her.
[_He goes to the piano and whispers to one of the ladies who are playing._]
MARIA LOUISA.
[_Turning._] Ah! this child-- Quite a pathetic story--yes--you told me: A brother--
BOMBELLES.
Father exiled. Son an exile.
TIBURTIUS.
The Austrian uniform is to my taste; And then there's fox-hunting, which I adore.
MARIA LOUISA.
[_To_ THERESA.]
So that's the rascal whose extravagance Eats up your little fortune?
THERESA.
Oh!--my brother--
MARIA LOUISA.
The wretch has ruined you, but you forgive him! Theresa de Loget, I think you're charming!
[_She takes_ THERESA _by both hands and makes her sit beside her on the couch._]
[BOMBELLES and TIBURTIUS _retire to the back._]
Now you're among my ladies. I may boast I'm not unpleasant; rather sad at times Since--
THERESA.
I am grieved beyond the power of words.
MARIA LOUISA.
Yes, to be sure. It was a grievous loss. That lovely soul was little known!
THERESA.
Oh, surely!
MARIA LOUISA.
[_Turning to_ BOMBELLES.]
I've just been writing; they're to keep his horse--
[_To_ THERESA.]
Since the dear General's death--
THERESA.
The--General's?
MARIA LOUISA.
He'd kept that title.
THERESA.
Ah, I understand!
MARIA LOUISA.
I weep.
THERESA.
That title was his greatest glory.
MARIA LOUISA.
One cannot know at first all one has lost; And I lost all when General Neipperg died.
THERESA.
Neipperg?
MARIA LOUISA.
I came to Baden for distraction. It's nice. So near Vienna.--Ah, my dear, My nerves are troublesome; they say I'm thinner-- And growing very like Madame de Berry. 'Twas Vitrolles said so. Now I do my hair Like her. Why did not Heaven take me too? This villa's small, of course; but 'tisn't bad; Metternich is our guest in passing.
[_She points to the door on the left._]
There. He leaves to-night. The life at Baden's gay. We have the Sandors and the pianist Thalberg, And Montenegro sings to us in Spanish. Fontana howls an air from _Figaro_. The wife of the Ambassador of England And the Archduchess come; we go for drives-- But nothing soothes my grief!--Ah, could the General--! Of course you're coming to the ball to-night?
THERESA.
Why--
MARIA LOUISA.
At the Meyendorffs'. Strauss will be there. She must be present, mustn't she, Bombelles?
THERESA.
May I solicit of your Majesty News of the Duke of Reichstadt?
MARIA LOUISA.
In good health. He coughs a little; but the air of Baden Is good for him. He's quite a man. He's reached The critical hour of entrance in the world! Oh dear! when I consider he's already Lieutenant-Colonel! Think how grieved I am Never to have seen him in his uniform!
[_Enter the_ DOCTOR _and his son, bringing a box._
MARIA LOUISA.
Ah! These must be for him!
THE DOCTOR.
Yes; the collections.
MARIA LOUISA.
Please put them down.
BOMBELLES.
What are they?
THE DOCTOR.
Butterflies.
THERESA.
Butterflies?
MARIA LOUISA.
Yes; when I was visiting This amiable old man, the local doctor, I saw his boy arranging these collections. I sighed aloud, Alas! would but my son, Whom nothing moves, take interest in these!
THE DOCTOR.
So then I answered, Well, your Majesty, One never knows. Why not? We can but try; I'll bring my butterflies!
THERESA.
His butterflies!
MARIA LOUISA.
Could he but leave his solitary musings To occupy his mind with--
THE DOCTOR.
Lepidoptera.
MARIA LOUISA.
Leave them; come back; he's out at present. [_To_ THERESA.] You Come, I'll present you to Scarampi. She's The Mistress of the Robes.
[_She sees_ METTERNICH, _who enters L._]
Ah, Metternich! Dear Prince, we leave you the saloon.
METTERNICH.
Indeed, I had to come here to receive the Envoy--
MARIA LOUISA.
I know--
METTERNICH.
Of General Belliard, French Ambassador; And Councillor Gentz, and several Estafets. With your permission-- [_To a lackey._] First, Baron von Gentz.
MARIA LOUISA.
The room is yours.
[_She goes out with_ THERESA. TIBURTIUS _and_ BOMBELLES _follow her_. GENTZ _enters_.]
METTERNICH.
Good-morning, Gentz. You know The Emperor recalls me to Vienna? I'm going back to-day.
GENTZ.
Ah?
METTERNICH.
Yes; it's tiresome-- The town in summer!
GENTZ.
Empty as my pocket.
METTERNICH.
Oh, come now! No offence, you know, but--eh? Surely the Russian Government has--
GENTZ.
_Me!_
METTERNICH.
Be frank. Who's bought you? Eh?
GENTZ.
[_Munching sweetmeats._] The highest bidder.
METTERNICH.
Where does the money go?
GENTZ.
[_Smelling at a scent-bottle he has taken out of his pocket._]
In riotous living.
METTERNICH.
Good Heavens! And you're considered my right hand!
GENTZ.
Let not your left know what your right receives.
METTERNICH.
Sweetmeats and perfumes! Oh!
GENTZ.
Why, yes, of course. I've money; I love sweets and perfumes. Yes, I'm a depraved old baby.
METTERNICH.
Affectation! Mere pose of self-contempt. [_Suddenly._] And Fanny?
GENTZ.
Elssler? Won't love me. I'm ridiculous From every point of view. She loves the Duke. I'm but a screen; but I'm content to suffer When I remember how it serves the state If he's amused. And so I play the fool, And dance attendance on the little dancer. She bade me bring her here this very night, Just to surprise the Duke.
METTERNICH.
You scandalize me.
GENTZ.
His mother's going out. There's dancing.
[_He hands_ METTERNICH _a letter which he has taken out of a pocket-book_.]
Read-- From Fouché's son.
METTERNICH.
[_Reading the letter._] August the twentieth, Eighteen hundred and thirty--
GENTZ.
He'd transform--
METTERNICH.
Good Viscount of Otranto!
GENTZ.
Our Duke of Reichstadt to Napoleon Two.
METTERNICH.
[_Handing back the letter._]
A list of partisans?
GENTZ.
Yes.
METTERNICH.
Make a note.
GENTZ.
Do we refuse?
METTERNICH.
Without destroying hope. Ah, but my little Colonel serves me well To keep these Frenchmen straight. When they forget Their Metternich, and lean too much to the left, I let him show his nose out of his box, and--crack!-- When they come right, I pop him in again!
GENTZ.
When can one see the springs work?
METTERNICH.
Now.
[_Enter the French_ ATTACHÉ.
METTERNICH.
The Envoy Of General Belliard. Welcome, sir. [_Hands him papers._] The papers. We accept in principle King Louis Philip; But don't let's have too much of '99, Or we might crack a little egg-shell!
THE ATTACHÉ.
Sir, Are you alluding to Prince Francis Charles?
METTERNICH.
The Duke of Reichstadt? Oh, sir, as for me, I don't admit his father reigned.
THE ATTACHÉ.
[_Generously._] I do.
METTERNICH.
So I'll do nothing for the Duke. Yet--
THE ATTACHÉ.
Yet?
METTERNICH.
Yet, should you give too loose a reign to freedom, Permit yourself the slightest propaganda, Let Monsieur Royer-Collard come too often And bare his bosom to your king; in short, If your new kingdom's too republican, We might--our temper's not angelical-- We might remember Francis is our grandson.
THE ATTACHÉ.
Our lilies never shall turn red.
METTERNICH.
And while They keep their whiteness bees shall not approach them.
THE ATTACHÉ.
'Tis feared in spite of you the Duke may hope.
METTERNICH.
No.
THE ATTACHÉ.
Things are happening.
METTERNICH.
But we filter them.
THE ATTACHÉ.
Doesn't he know that France has changed her king?
METTERNICH.
Yes; but the detail he does not yet know Is that his father's flag, the tricolor, Is re-established. 'Twill be time enough--
THE ATTACHÉ.
He would be drunk with hope!
METTERNICH.
We'll keep him sober.
THE ATTACHÉ.
He's not so strictly guarded here at Baden.
METTERNICH.
Oh, here there's nought to fear. He's with his mother.
THE ATTACHÉ.
Well, sir?
METTERNICH.
What spy could have such interest In watching him? For any plot would trouble Her lovely calm.
THE ATTACHÉ.
Is not that calmness feigned? She cannot have a thought but for her eaglet!
MARIA LOUISA.
[_Entering hurriedly._
My parrot!
THE ATTACHÉ.
[_Starting._]
Eh?
MARIA LOUISA.
[_To_ METTERNICH.]
Margharitina's flown!
METTERNICH.
Oh!
MARIA LOUISA.
My parrot, Margharitina!
METTERNICH.
[_To the_ ATTACHÉ.]
There, sir!
THE ATTACHÉ.
[_To_ MARIA LOUISA.]
May I not seek it, Highness?
MARIA LOUISA.
[_Curtly._] No. [_She goes out._
THE ATTACHÉ.
[_To_ METTERNICH.]
What's wrong?
METTERNICH.
We say, Your Majesty; you called her Highness.
THE ATTACHÉ.
But if we don't allow the Emperor reigned She cannot be addressed as Majesty Except as Parma's Duchess--
METTERNICH.
That's her title.
THE ATTACHÉ.
Then that was why she looked such daggers at me!
METTERNICH.
Question of protocols and of precedence.
THE ATTACHÉ.
[_Preparing to take his leave._]
May the French Embassy from this day forward Display the tricolor cockade?
METTERNICH.
[_With a sigh._] Of course, Since we're agreed--
[_Seeing the_ ATTACHÉ _silently throw away the white cockade which was on his hat and replace it with a tricolor which he takes out of his pocket._]
Come, come! You lose no time!
[_Noise of harness-bells without._]
METTERNICH.
What is it now?
GENTZ.
[_Who is on the terrace._]
The guests of the Archduke. The Meyendorffs, Lord Cowley, Thalberg--
BOMBELLES.
[_Who has quickly come in R. at the sound of the bells, followed by_ TIBURTIUS.]
Meet them!
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
[_Appearing on the threshold surrounded by a crowd of lords and ladies in elegant summer costumes. (Light dresses and parasols; large hats.) Two little boys and a little girl dressed in the latest fashion._]
'Tis but a villa; not a palace.
[_The room is crowded. She turns to a young man._]
Quick! Thalberg, my Tarantelle!
[THALBERG _sits at the piano and plays._]
[_To_ METTERNICH.] Where is her Majesty,
My lovely sister?
A LADY.
We looked in to fetch her.
ANOTHER LADY.
We're rushing through the valley on a coach. Sandor is driving.
A MAN'S VOICE.
We must thrust the lava Back in its crater!
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
Oh! do hold your tongues They will insist on talking of volcanoes.
BOMBELLES.
What's this volcano?
A LADY.
[_To another._]
Astrachan this winter.
SANDOR.
[_To_ BOMBELLES.]
Why, liberal opinions.
BOMBELLES.
Ah!
LORD COWLEY.
Or, rather, France!
METTERNICH.
[_To the_ ATTACHÉ.]
You hear him?
A LADY.
[_To a young man._]
Montenegro, sing to me Under your breath, for me alone.
MONTENEGRO.
[_Whom_ THALBERG _accompanies, sings very softly._]
Corazon--
[_He continues, pianissimo._]
ANOTHER LADY.
[_To_ GENTZ.]
Ah, Gentz!
[_She dips into her reticule._]
Some bon-bons, Gentz?
[_She gives him some._]
GENTZ.
You are an angel.
ANOTHER LADY.
[_Similar business._]
Perfume from Paris?
[_She takes out a little bottle of scent and gives it to him._]
METTERNICH.
[_Hurriedly to_ GENTZ.]
Tear the label off! "The Reichstadt scent"!
GENTZ.
[_Smelling perfume._]
It smells of violets.
METTERNICH.
[_Snatches the bottle out of his hand and scrapes the label off with a pair of scissors he takes from the table._]
If the Duke came he'd see that still at Paris--
A VOICE.
[_Among the group at the back of the stage._]
The Hydra lifts its head--
A LADY.
Our husbands talk Of Hydras!
LORD COWLEY.
And it must be stifled.
A LADY.
Yes; Volcanoes first, then hydras.
A MAID OF HONOR OF MARIA LOUISA.
[_Followed by a servant bringing a tray with large glasses of iced coffee._]
_Eis-Kaffee?_
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
[_Seated; to a young lady._]
Recite some verses, Olga.
GENTZ.
May we have Something of Heine's?
SEVERAL VOICES.
Yes!
OLGA.
[_Rising._] The Grenadiers?
METTERNICH.
[_Quickly._]
Oh! No!
SCARAMPI.
[_Coming out of_ MARIA LOUISA'S _apartment._]
Her Majesty is on her way!
ALL.
Scarampi!
SANDOR.
We'll drive out to Krainerhütten, The ladies there can rest upon the green.
METTERNICH.
[_To_ GENTZ.]
What are you reading yonder?
GENTZ.
The "Debats."
LORD COWLEY.
The politics?
GENTZ.
The Theatres.
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
How futile!
GENTZ.
Guess what they're playing at the Vaudeville.
METTERNICH.
Well?
GENTZ.
"Bonaparte."
METTERNICH.
[_With indifference._]
Oh?
GENTZ.
The Nouveautés?
METTERNICH.
Well?
GENTZ.
"Bonaparte." And the Variétés? "Napoleon." The Luxembourg announces "Fourteen years of his life." At the Gymnase They are reviving the "Return from Russia." What is the Gaiety to play this season? "Napoleon's Coachman" and "La Malmaison." An unknown author's done "Saint Helena." The Porte-Saint-Martin's going to produce "Napoleon."
LORD COWLEY.
It's the fashion.
TIBURTIUS.
It's the rage.
GENTZ.
The Ambigu "Murat;" the Cirque "The Emperor."
SANDOR.
A fashion.
BOMBELLES.
Yes, a fashion.
GENTZ.
Yes, a fashion Which will recur from time to time in France.
A LADY.
[_Reading the paper over_ GENTZ'S _shoulder through a long-handled eye-glass._]
They want to bring his ashes home.
METTERNICH.
The Phoenix May rise again, but not the eagle.
TIBURTIUS.
What An unknown quantity is France!
METTERNICH.
Oh, no; I've gauged it.
A LADY.
Well, then, mighty prophet, speak!
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
His words are graven in bronze.
GENTZ.
Or, maybe, zinc.
LORD COWLEY.
Who will be France's Saviour?
METTERNICH.
Henry the Fifth. The others--Fashion.
THERESA.
That's a useful name For calling glory by at times.
METTERNICH.
So long As all the shouting's only done in theatres, I think there's no--
CRIES.
[_Without._]
Long live Napoleon!
ALL.
What?--Here, at Baden!--Here!
METTERNICH.
Ridiculous! Pray, have no fear!
LORD COWLEY.
We must not lose our heads Because a name is shouted.
GENTZ.
He is dead.
TIBURTIUS.
[_On the terrace._]
It's nothing.
METTERNICH.
Yes, but what?
TIBURTIUS.
An Austrian soldier.
METTERNICH.
Austrian?
TIBURTIUS.
Two of them. I saw them.
METTERNICH.
Vexing!
MARIA LOUISA.
[_Entering hurriedly and pale with fear from her room._]
Did you not hear the shout? Oh, horrible! It brought to mind--One day the people surged About my coach in Parma with that cry! It's done to vex me!
METTERNICH.
What could it have meant?
TIBURTIUS.
Two of the Duke of Reichstadt's regiment Caught sight of him as he was riding homeward. You know the deep ditch bordering the road? His Highness wished to leap it, but his horse Shied, swerved, and backed. The Duke sat firm, And brought him to it again, and--over! Then The men, to applaud him, shouted. And that's all.
METTERNICH.
[_To a lackey._]
Fetch one of them at once!
MARIA LOUISA.
They seek my death!
[_An Austrian sergeant is brought in._]
METTERNICH.
A sergeant! Now, my man, speak up. What meant That shouting?
THE SERGEANT.
I don't know.
METTERNICH.
What! You don't know?
THE SERGEANT.
No; nor downstairs the corporal don't know neither. He shouted with me. It was good to see The Prince so young and slender on his horse. And then we're proud of having for our Colonel The son of--
METTERNICH.
That'll do.
THE SERGEANT.
He took the ditch So cool and calm! As pretty as a picture! So then a sort of lump came in our throats, Pride and affection--I don't know--we shouted "Long live--!
METTERNICH.
Enough, enough! It's just as easy To shout "Long live the Duke of Reichstadt," idiot!
THE SERGEANT.
Well--
METTERNICH.
What?
THE SERGEANT.
"Long live the Duke of Reichstadt" Isn't so easy as "Long live--"
METTERNICH.
Be off. Don't shout at all!
TIBURTIUS.
[_To the_ SERGEANT _as he passes him to go out._]
You fool!
MARIA LOUISA.
[_To the ladies who surround her._]
I'm better, thank you.
THERESA.
The Empress!
MARIA LOUISA.
[_To_ DIETRICHSTEIN, _pointing to_ THERESA.]
Baron Dietrichstein, this is My new companion-reader.
[_To_ THERESA, _presenting_ DIETRICHSTEIN.]
My son's tutor. And, by the way, I've never thought of asking-- Do you read well?
TIBURTIUS.
Oh, very!
THERESA.
I don't know.
MARIA LOUISA.
Take one of Franz's books from yonder table, Open it anywhere.
THERESA.
[_Taking a book and reading the title._]
"Andromache"--
[_She reads._]
"What is this fear, my lord, which strikes the heart? Has any Trojan hero slipped his chains? Their hate of Hector is not yet appeased: They dread his son! fit object of their dread! A hapless child, who is not yet aware His master's Pyrrhus and his father Hector."
[_General embarrassment._]
I--
GENTZ.
Charming voice.
MARIA LOUISA.
Select another passage.
THERESA.
"Alas the day, when, prompted by his valor, To seek Achilles and to meet his doom, He called his son and wrapped him to his heart: 'Dear wife,' quoth he, and brushed away a tear, 'I know not what the fates may have in store. I leave my son to thee--'"
[_General embarrassment._]
H'm--yes--
MARIA LOUISA.