Chapter 5
[_At the window._]
In the Court of honor The trumpets of the Guard. The Emperor Is coming home.
THE DUKE.
My grandfather! My promise!
[_To_ FLAMBEAU.]
No; before accepting--
FLAMBEAU.
Damn it!
THE DUKE.
Listen! I must make one attempt with him; but if When you are here on guard to-night, you see Something--that you're not used to seeing here-- It is a signal! I will fly.
FLAMBEAU.
Latude! What will the signal be?
THE DUKE.
You'll see.
FLAMBEAU.
But if--
[_An officer of the Noble Guard enters._]
THE OFFICER.
My Lord--
FLAMBEAU.
[_Taking stock of him._]
The beggars! Aren't they gorgeous swells!
THE DUKE.
Well?
THE OFFICER.
As the Emperor passed, they came and said, "O Sire, this is the one day in the week Whereon your Majesty receives his subjects; Many have come from far--" "I'd thought of it," Replied the Emperor, smiling; "and I hope To see them. I'm at Schönbrunn as a grandfather, I shall be with the Duke from five to six: Let all my children be beside my grandson." May they come up?
THE DUKE.
Yes! open all the doors!
[_The_ OFFICER _goes out._]
THE DUKE.
[_To_ FLAMBEAU.]
Now quickly make a bundle of these treasures. I'll look at them at leisure in my room.
FLAMBEAU.
I make the bundle in the handkerchief. But tell me what the signal is to be.
THE DUKE.
Oh, never fear! you will not fail to know it. But--do you hear them? That's the Austrian Hymn.
FLAMBEAU.
My word! It isn't worth the Marseillaise!
THE DUKE.
The Marseillaise--well? have you tied the ends? My father used to say it wore mustachios.
FLAMBEAU.
Their blessed national hymn has scented whiskers.
THE DUKE.
It wouldn't be bad fun to enter France, Thus, with my bundle on my back, on foot.
FLAMBEAU.
How cheerful and how funny you can be! This is the first time I have seen you so.
THE DUKE.
What? Rather young and merry? Thank you, Flambeau.
CURTAIN.
THE THIRD ACT
_Scene: The same as in the previous act._
_A miscellaneous crowd of men, women and children are discovered on the rising of the curtain. They are being placed in order by an_ OFFICER.
THE OFFICER.
Line up. Be quiet. Boy, behave yourself. The Emperor enters here; so leave a passage. You, giant Highlander, don't scrape your feet.
A MAN.
Will he pass here?
THE OFFICER.
Yes; and he'll take your papers. Hold your petitions so that he can see them. No tedious twaddle--Ah!--and you're forbidden To kneel when he comes in.
A WOMAN.
Forbidden or not, That won't prevent us--
[_The_ EMPEROR _enters quite simply, without being announced. All the people, in spite of the warning, fall on their knees._]
THE EMPEROR.
Rise, my children, rise.
[_He passes from one to the other, taking their papers. To a_ WOMAN.]
Your pension's doubled.
THE WOMAN.
Sire!
THE EMPEROR.
[_To a_ MAN.]
What? What? A team Of oxen? That's expensive!--Granted.
THE MAN.
Father!
THE EMPEROR.
[_Reading another paper._]
Granted.
A WOMAN.
Father Franz--
THE EMPEROR.
What, you? All well At home?
THE WOMAN.
Oh, so-so.
THE EMPEROR.
Well, old woman? Well?
THE OLD WOMAN.
Why, don't you see, the wind has killed my chickens.
THE EMPEROR.
Granted.--A vocalist?
THE VOCALIST.
I yodle.
THE EMPEROR.
Come And yodle to the Court at Baden.
THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Name?
THE VOCALIST.
Schnauser.
THE EMPEROR.
A Highlander?
THE HIGHLANDER.
Out yonder My home is, on the mountains, in the skies. I want to be a cabman in Vienna.
THE EMPEROR.
Well, so you shall.
[_Taking another paper._]
A wealthy husbandman Begs Franz to give him back his daughter's love Which a Bohemian glass-blower has stolen.
[_Handing back the paper._]
You'll wed your child to her Bohemian lover.
THE HUSBANDMAN.
But--
THE EMPEROR.
I'll endow him.
THE CHAMBERLAIN.
Name?
THE HUSBANDMAN.
Johannes Schmoll. I kiss your hands.
THE EMPEROR.
[_Taking another paper._]
"A shepherd of the Tyrol, A friendless orphan, robbed of all his land, Driven from his homestead by his father's foes, Yearns for his native woods and skies"--how touching!-- "And his paternal meadow." 'Tis restored.
THE CHAMBERLAIN.
What is the shepherd's name, who asks for help?
THE SHEPHERD.
The Duke of Reichstadt! And the meadow's France!
THE EMPEROR.
[_To the_ PETITIONERS.]
Begone!
[_All go._]
What's this?
THE DUKE.
It seems if I were only A mountain shepherd or a forester, With nothing to attract your notice, Sire, Save a cock's feather in my huntsman's hat, You would have drawn me to your melting heart.
THE EMPEROR.
But Franz--!
THE DUKE.
Ah, now I know why all your subjects, All those who are unhappy, call themselves Your sons as much as we; but is it just, Sire, is it just, that I, when I'm unhappy, Have less of kinship than the least of these?
THE EMPEROR.
But why just now--for I must scold you, sir-- When I was busy with these wretched people-- Why come to me just now, and not in private?
THE DUKE.
I wished to find you when your heart was open.
THE EMPEROR.
My heart--my heart!--You're somewhat over-bold!
THE DUKE.
I know that you can do the thing I ask, That I am wretched almost past endurance, And that you are my Grandfather--that's all.
THE EMPEROR.
But there is Europe--England--above all, There's Metternich.
THE DUKE.
You are my Grandfather.
THE EMPEROR.
You don't know half the difficulties.
THE DUKE.
But I am the grandson of your Majesty.
THE EMPEROR.
But--
THE DUKE.
Sire, in whom alone I place my trust, Be Grandfather a little while!
THE EMPEROR.
But I--
THE DUKE.
Just for a moment drop the Emperor.
THE EMPEROR.
Ah, what a coaxing way you always had.
THE DUKE.
You know I cannot bear you when you look Like the great portrait hanging in the throne-room, With the ermine cloak and Golden Fleece upon you; But here, like this, I like you very much. With the dear silver of your floating hair, Your kindly eyes, your simple coat and waistcoat; For now you're just a dear old gentleman, By whom a grandchild might be petted.
THE EMPEROR.
Petted!
THE DUKE.
Are you not bored to see the heavy jowls Of Louis-Philip on the coins of France?
THE EMPEROR.
Hush! hush!
THE DUKE.
Do you adore these podgy Bourbons?
THE EMPEROR.
You are not like your cousins the Archdukes.
THE DUKE.
Indeed?
THE EMPEROR.
Where did you learn your saucy tricks?
THE DUKE.
I learnt them playing in the Tuileries.
THE EMPEROR.
Ah, you come back to that?
THE DUKE.
I wish I could.
THE EMPEROR.
Can you recall those days?
THE DUKE.
Oh, only vaguely.
THE EMPEROR.
Can you recall your father?
THE DUKE.
I remember A man who pressed me hard against a star, And as he pressed I felt with tears of fright The diamond star was stamped upon my heart: Sire, it has stayed there!
THE EMPEROR.
Do I blame you for it?
THE DUKE.
Yes, let the goodness of your nature speak! When I was small you loved me, did you not? You loved to have me with you at your meals, And so we used to dine together--
THE EMPEROR.
Charming.
THE DUKE.
My hair was long, and I was Prince of Parma; And when they punished me you let me off.
THE EMPEROR.
Do you remember how you hated ponies?
THE DUKE.
One day they showed me one as white as snow; I stamped with fury in the riding-school.
THE EMPEROR.
You thought a pony was a deadly insult.
THE DUKE.
I cried with rage: I want a great, big horse!
THE EMPEROR.
And now you want another great, big horse!
THE DUKE.
And how I used to beat my German nurses.
THE EMPEROR.
And how with Colin you would calmly dig Enormous holes about my park--
THE DUKE.
For Crusoe.
THE EMPEROR.
He was Man Friday.
THE DUKE.
And I used to hide. I had a gun, three hatchets and a bow.
THE EMPEROR.
Then you stood sentinel before my door.
THE DUKE.
As a hussar.
THE EMPEROR.
And ladies, coming late, Found this excuse quite natural:--"Oh, Sire, We only stopped to kiss the sentinel!"
THE DUKE.
You loved me then.
THE EMPEROR.
I love you now.
THE DUKE.
Then prove it!
THE EMPEROR.
My Franz! my grandson!
THE DUKE.
Is it true the King Would simply disappear if I appeared?
THE EMPEROR.
Well--
THE DUKE.
Is it true?
THE EMPEROR.
I--
THE DUKE.
Don't tell lies!
THE EMPEROR.
Perhaps!
THE DUKE.
I love you!
THE EMPEROR.
Yes; if you appeared alone, Without a drum, upon the bridge at Strassburg, The King would vanish.
THE DUKE.
I adore you, Grandad!
THE EMPEROR.
I'm stifled!
THE DUKE.
No.
THE EMPEROR.
I should have held my tongue.
THE DUKE.
Besides, the climate of Vienna's bad: I'm ordered Paris--
THE EMPEROR.
Really?
THE DUKE.
For my cough. If I'm to spend a season there, of course I can't stop anywhere but at the Louvre.
THE EMPEROR.
Indeed!
THE DUKE.
And if you liked--
THE EMPEROR.
They've often begged us To wink at your escaping--
THE DUKE.
Wink at once!
THE EMPEROR.
Oh, for all me--
THE DUKE.
There's no one else.
THE EMPEROR.
I'll think.
THE DUKE.
Don't think! Don't think those horrid second thoughts! Consult your feelings only, and your heart, 'Twould be so pretty if an Emperor once Upset all history to spoil his grandson. And then it's something, something rather fine, If you can just remark quite innocently, _You_ know: "My Grandson, Emperor of the French."
THE EMPEROR.
Certainly.
THE DUKE.
And you'll say it! Say you'll say it!
THE EMPEROR.
Well--
THE DUKE.
Speak, Sire!
THE EMPEROR.
Yes, then--Sire!
THE DUKE.
Ah, Sire!
[_They salute each other as equals._]
THE EMPEROR.
Sire!
THE DUKE.
Sire!
[_A door opens._]
THE EMPEROR.
Metternich. Have no fear; I'll--
THE DUKE.
All is lost!
[_Enter_ METTERNICH.]
THE EMPEROR.
It is my will this child shall reign.
METTERNICH.
Delightful. I'll tell your partisans at once.
THE DUKE.
I feared.
THE EMPEROR.
What should you fear? Am I not master here?
THE DUKE.
Whom will you send me as Ambassador?
METTERNICH.
Delightful.
THE DUKE.
And you'll visit me in state?
THE EMPEROR.
Yes, very likely; when the chambers rise.
METTERNICH.
We'll only ask some trifling guarantees.
THE DUKE.
Ask what you like.
THE EMPEROR.
Well? are you happy?
METTERNICH.
First We'll come to terms on trivial points of detail: Certain seditious groups should be dissolved: Our neighbors must not harbor thunderbolts.
THE DUKE.
Dear grandfather!
METTERNICH.
Ah--then we're very weary Of hearing of the Heroes of July.
THE DUKE.
But--
METTERNICH.
Now the imperialists and radicals Are linked: we'll cut the link; we cannot favor The dangerous modern spirit. We'll expel Lammenais.
THE DUKE.
But--
METTERNICH.
And Chateaubriand. Ah-- We'll also put a muzzle on the press.
THE DUKE.
Oh, there's no hurry.
THE EMPEROR.
Pardon me, there is.
THE DUKE.
Pardon me, that's attacking freedom.
THE EMPEROR.
Freedom!
METTERNICH.
Ah--we must have free hand in Italy. Ah--not so much excitement about Poland.
THE DUKE.
Ah? And what else?
METTERNICH.
Well, we shall have to solve The question of the names. You know, the names Of battles, Sire, which you--well--did not win: The Marshals must not wear them.
THE DUKE.
What is that?
THE EMPEROR.
Perhaps--
METTERNICH.
Forgive me; but they must not think They're lords of Austrian places; and you cannot Approve their way of carrying off to France Our villages by means of upstart titles.
THE DUKE.
Grandfather! Grandfather!
THE EMPEROR.
Well--it's evident--
THE DUKE.
Yet you and I were in each other's arms!
[_To_ METTERNICH.]
And have you nothing further to demand?
METTERNICH.
Yes; the suppression of the Tricolor.
THE DUKE.
Your Excellency wishes me to wash The banner based in blood and crowned with heaven-- For it was dipped in horrors that bear fruit, And it was bathed in universal hopes!-- Your Excellency asks me to efface That gleam of heaven and that stain of blood, And, having nothing but a blank sheet left, To make a shroud for Freedom out of that!
THE EMPEROR.
Freedom again!
THE DUKE.
Upon my father's side I am related closely, Sire, to Freedom.
METTERNICH.
Yes, the Duke's grandsire was the eighteenth Brumaire!
THE DUKE.
Yes, and the Revolution was my granddam!
THE EMPEROR.
Silence!
METTERNICH.
The Emperor a republican! Utopia!--Play the Marseillaise in A On trumpets, while the sentimental flute Sighs "God preserve the Empire" in E flat.
THE DUKE.
The two go very well together, sir, And make a tune that frightens Kings away!
THE EMPEROR.
This to my face? How dare you, sir? How dare you?
THE DUKE.
Ah, now I know what is expected of me!
THE EMPEROR.
What does it mean? What is the matter with him?
THE DUKE.
I am to be an Austrian Archduke On a French throne!
THE EMPEROR.
What has he read or seen?
THE DUKE.
I have seen egg-cups, handkerchiefs, and pipes!
THE EMPEROR.
He's mad! The words he utters are a madman's!
THE DUKE.
Mad to have thought you'd help me to my own.
METTERNICH.
'Tis you alone obstruct your going home.
THE DUKE.
Yes, in a gig instead of on a gun!
THE EMPEROR.
You shall not go at all!
THE DUKE.
A cage?
THE EMPEROR.
We'll see!
THE DUKE.
For all your cages I am still the Eaglet!
THE EMPEROR.
The eagle on my flag has many eaglets: You're one of them: that's all.
THE DUKE.
Oh, gloomy eagle! Sad, double-headed fowl, with heavy eye: Eagle of Austria, cruel bird of night! A glorious eagle of the dawn has passed Athwart thine eyrie, and with ruffled feathers, Raging and terror-stricken, thou beholdest One of thine eaglets sprouting golden plumage!
THE EMPEROR.
My heart was softening: I regret my tears. These books and weapons shall be taken from you. Dietrichstein!
METTERNICH.
He is not in the palace.
THE EMPEROR.
Poor, morbid child, we will suppress whatever Too much reminds you who your father was.
THE DUKE.
Then you must root up every violet, Drive every single bee out of your park!
THE EMPEROR.
Change all the servants!
METTERNICH.
I'll dismiss them all: Otto, Fritz, Hermann, Albrecht--
THE DUKE.
Close the shutters, Lest yonder star remind me of my father's.
THE EMPEROR.
And as for Dietrichstein, I'll sign at once New regulations--
[_To_ METTERNICH.]
Write.
METTERNICH.
Where is the ink?
THE DUKE.
My inkstand's on the table; you may use it.
METTERNICH.
Where? I see nothing!
THE DUKE.
The Minerva's head, In bronze and marble.
METTERNICH.
Still I cannot see it.
THE DUKE.
Then take the other, made of burnished gold, On yonder console--
METTERNICH.
Where?
THE EMPEROR.
What inkstands?
THE DUKE.
Sire, Those which my father left me.
THE EMPEROR.
What do you mean?
THE DUKE.
Yes! in his testament! And there, the pistols, Four pistols of Versailles. Take them away.
THE EMPEROR.
[_Bringing his fist down on the table._]
What's this?
THE DUKE.
You must not hit the table, Sire! Now you've knocked down the sword he wore as Consul!
THE EMPEROR.
These things you speak of--
THE DUKE.
Are before my eyes! "They are to be surrendered to my son When he has reached sixteen." Despite the crime Which holds them back, they're mine: I have their soul! The soul of every cross, of every jewel, And all is here: the three mahogany caskets, And all the snuff-boxes, and all the spurs, The golden garter-buckles and the gorgets, I've all! The iron sword, the enamelled sword, The sword in which a never-setting sun Has left its fires imprisoned, so that none May dare to draw it lest the sun leap forth; I have the sword-belts also, all the six!
THE EMPEROR.
Silence!
THE DUKE.
"To be surrendered to my son When he has reached sixteen." Oh, Father, sleep. For I have all; even your uniforms. Oh, yes! To you my uniform looks white-- Well, it's not true--it's false--I am pretending! Father, behold, it's blue and red, behold! Colonel? Not so! Lieutenant in your Guard! By the device your soldiers bore I know it, Father, who gave me victories for sisters! 'Twas not in vain you wished me to possess The alarm-clock of King Frederick of Prussia, Which you magnificently stole from Potsdam, For here it is! 'Tis ticking in my brain! It is the clock which wakes me every morning, Drives me exhausted by my midnight toil Back to my narrow table, to my toil, To be more fit by night-fall for the throne!
THE EMPEROR.
The throne! the throne! Oh, never hope again That you may reign in France, you--Upstart's son, Because our nobler blood has made you look Rather more kingly than your father was.
THE DUKE.
Forgive me, but at Dresden, you remember, You all appeared like lackeys of my father.
THE EMPEROR.
A common soldier!
THE DUKE.
He had but to ask And Emperors gave their daughters to this soldier.
THE EMPEROR.
Perhaps. I cannot say. Mine is a widow.
THE DUKE.
Pity I'm here as living evidence!
THE EMPEROR.
Have you forgotten how we loved each other?
THE DUKE.
No! No! My birth is proof that you were beaten! No! you can only hate me; for I am Wagram personified before your eyes!
THE EMPEROR.
Out of my sight! Begone!
[_Exit the_ DUKE.]
The child I loved!
METTERNICH.
Well, Sire, is he to have an empire?
THE EMPEROR.
Never!
METTERNICH.
Do you perceive what I have saved you from?
THE EMPEROR.
Ah! did you hear the monstrous things he said?
METTERNICH.
We must subdue him.
THE EMPEROR.
For his own sake; yes, METTERNICH.
For the world's peace and yours.
THE EMPEROR.
We must subdue him.
METTERNICH.
I'll come and speak to him to-night.
THE EMPEROR.
What grief He gives me!
METTERNICH.
[_Trying to lead him away._]
Come.
THE EMPEROR.
You'll speak to-night?
METTERNICH.
This scene Must never be repeated.
THE EMPEROR.
It has hurt me. Unhappy child!
METTERNICH.
[_Leading him off._]
Come, Sire.
THE EMPEROR.
[_Without._]
The child--
[_His voice dies away._]
[_The_ DUKE _opens his door very gently, sees they are gone, listens a moment, then enters quickly and places one of Napoleon's little hats on the table._]
THE DUKE.
The signal!
[_He returns to his room._]
[FLAMBEAU _enters._]
FLAMBEAU.
'Tis time. Well, signal? Are you here?--Perhaps.
[_He hunts for it._]
"Flambeau," he said, "you cannot fail to find it." Now, is it high or low, or black or white? Or great or small?
[_He sees the hat._]
The Emperor's--! Small _and_ great!
[_He goes toward the window._]
Oh, but the Countess watches in the park, And if the signal's here I am to signal:
[_He takes out his handkerchief._]
No! This won't do. A white flag makes her ill.
[_A servant enters with a reading-lamp, which he carries toward the_ DUKE'S _room._]
THE SERVANT.
The Duke of Reichstadt's reading-lamp.
FLAMBEAU.
[_Leaping upon him and seizing the lamp._]
You dolt! It's leaking! It must have fresh air!
[_He takes it out on the balcony._]
You wave it three times so: arrange the wick;
[_He does as he says and gives the lamp back to the_ SERVANT.]
That's it. See that?
THE SERVANT.
Oh, aren't you clever?
[_He carries the lamp into the_ DUKE'S _room._]
FLAMBEAU.
Rather! To-morrow--flight!
[SEDLINZKY _enters._]
SEDLINZKY.
The Duke?
FLAMBEAU.
[_Pointing to the room._]
In there.
SEDLINZKY.
Watch here.
FLAMBEAU.
I'm watching.
SEDLINZKY.
Lock!
[_He goes out._]
FLAMBEAU.
[_Locking the door after him._]
Locked!
SEDLINZKY.
[_Without._]
Take the key out.
FLAMBEAU.
Out.
SEDLINZKY.
None but the Emperor has the key. Be careful-- Watch.
FLAMBEAU.
As I always do.
[_He bends over the key-holes and arranges them carefully._]
And for the night I'll close the eyelids of the key-holes softly.
SEDLINZKY'S VOICE.
Good-night, you Piedmontese.
FLAMBEAU.
Good-night, my Lord.
SEDLINZKY'S VOICE.
Remember! you're on duty.
FLAMBEAU.
I'm on duty.
SEDLINZKY'S VOICE.
Well, that's all right. Good-night.
FLAMBEAU.
Good-night!
[_He throws off his livery coat. Puts on the busby, which is standing on the console, and shoulders the musket. He is now in the full accoutrement of a Grenadier of the Guards._]
And thus, Suddenly upright, thin, unliveried, Locked in till dawn, and safe against surprise, Glowering with grizzled brows beneath his busby, Straight in his ancient uniform, his gun Firm in his arm, his hand on his right nipple, The fixed and regulation attitude, Standing thus every night before your threshold, Giving himself a password full of pride, Pleased with a deed that's grave, and yet a jest, A Grenadier at Schönbrunn stands on guard About the son as once about the Father. 'Tis the last time! You'll never hear of it. 'Tis for myself. A private luxury. I must be mad to do a thing like this For no one's eye, but just to say "By Jove, That's rather good!" At Schönbrunn! In their teeth! But I'm delighted!--I'm content!
[_He hears the noise of a key in the door._]
I'm damned!
[_The door opens gently._]
Who can have got the key?
[_He retires into the shadow by the_ DUKE'S _door._]
[METTERNICH _enters, carrying a large candelabrum._]
METTERNICH.
No, no! This scene Must never be repeated.
FLAMBEAU.
Nepomuk!
METTERNICH.
Yes, I will speak to-night. We are alone.
[_As he puts down the candelabrum he sees the hat._]
What's this? I never knew he had one like-- Ah! the Archduchess must have sent him this; So there thou art, thou legendary hat! 'Tis many years--Good day!--What sayst thou? What? No, from thy little sable pyramid Twelve years of splendor gaze on me in vain, I do not fear thee now. The leathern tag With which he constantly could take thee off, And so win cheers yet leave thy shape unharmed. With thee he fanned himself after each victory; Thou couldst not fall from his unheeding fingers, But straight a king would stoop to pick thee up. To-day, my friend, thou art a reach-me-down, And if I tossed thee through the casement yonder Where wouldst thou end thy days?
FLAMBEAU.
[_To himself._] In a museum!
METTERNICH.