  SCENE IA Judgment Hall in Nantes. A dais upon which at a heavy table sit several members of the Revolutionary Committee. Behind them soldiers and a great tricolour flag. To one side a tribune draped with tricolour; opposite the tribune a gallery filled with women of the Revolution. Upon the floor of the hall a throng of red-capped men. To the right of the dais a number of the accused, men and women. To the left a small group of the condemned. Uproar in the hall. An accused who has been standing before the judges rejoins the right-hand group of prisoners. One of the judges rings the bell on the table before him. The Judge Silence, Citoyennes in the gallery! You disturb judgment! CÉleste (leaning from the gallery) We would know up here Why you did free that man? The Judge (soothingly) Ah, Citoyenne! He’s not free—he’s but acquitted! CÉleste Ah, well! (To the women about her.) He’s but acquitted! The Women (They nod their heads) Ah! Enter Lalain with Nanon and AngÉlique. CÉleste HÉ! AngÉlique! Nanon! [Nanon and AngÉlique make their way through the press to the gallery stairs. The Crowd RÉmond Lalain. A Judge Thy place is here, Lalain! Lalain Make way, my friends. The LevÉe’s thronged to-day. The Crowd Ha, ha, ‘tis so! LevÉe of the Citoyen Carrier! Vive la RÉpublique! Vive RÉmond Lalain! [Lalain sits beside the judges. A Judge (to a gaoler) The next. The Gaoler Dog of a priest! [The AbbÉ approaches the bar. On yesterday, Messieurs the Judges, you acquitted me. A Judge It is to-day. The AbbÉ Citoyen Lambertye— Lambertye (hastily) I give thee o’er—I give thee o’er— The AbbÉ Parbleu! Samaritan! Would I had played Levite! And left thee in the ditch with every wound Till Satan came to hale his minion forth!— Well, with this life I’ve done! First Judge Thou art a priest The AbbÉ Granted. Second Judge Death! A Tricoteuse (from the gallery) HÉ! Citoyen, below there! I’ve dropped my knitting. Throw it here to me! Third Judge Thou hast aided emigrÉs. The AbbÉ Granted. Death! First Judge And written unto exiles. The AbbÉ Granted. Second Judge Death! Third Judge Thou hast been heard to scorn and to lament That which the Revolution hath achieved! The AbbÉ Scorn and lament! Why, no, I’ve wept with joy To see the things the Revolution hath achieved! As— First Judge As what? The AbbÉ Why, thou death’s-head, many things! It did achieve, for one, my brother’s death! Third Judge Dost thou mourn for him? The AbbÉ Ay! Second Judge Death! Achieve! I like the word. Achieve, achieve! Ruin and downfall, death and waste of fame! Achievement of the Revolution! Ha, I’ll tell thee, farceur, what it hath achieved: It hath achieved the death of the Gironde, Death of Marat, and death of D’OrlÉans, Death of great part of its abhorrÈd brood! It hath achieved the Company of Marat; It hath achieved Jacques Carrier in Nantes; It shall achieve more death and infamy! Death! The word you are so fond of. Death! And Infamy, the thing you can’t bestow! It shall achieve the death of Carrier, The death of Lambertye and of Lalain, The death of Danton and of Robespierre!— Nature will give a grave obscene and dark, And Time will see that docks and darnels grow! [Uproar. The First Judge Death,—stand aside, condemned. Enter SÉraphine. CÉleste Ah, SÉraphine, Come up here, SÉraphine! [SÉraphine mounts the stair and sits beside CÉleste, AngÉlique, and Nanon. Nanon Where is Yvette? SÉraphine I know not, I! I saw her gliding by, Beneath the moon, last night when all was still. Against a cannon in the empty square She leaned, and on the river looked. SÉraphine What harm? AngÉlique Why, none! CÉleste (her eyes upon the prisoners below) Ha, ha! it is the old man’s turn! A Gaoler ChÂteau-Gui! The Woman Ah, ChÂteau-Gui! First Judge ChÂteau-Gui! Mlle. de ChÂteau-Gui O my father! Count Louis Unclasp thy hands, my child! What is it, Lambertye? First Judge Thou ci-devant, Thou art accused, imprimatur, of this: Once thou didst serve Capet! Count Louis The King? Capet. Count Louis I served the King of France. First Judge Twice over, death! For thou didst serve Capet; For thou dost dare say the King of France! Count Louis The King of France! The Crowd Ah!— Count Louis Son of Saint Louis! The Crowd Ah!— Count Louis Royal Martyr! The Crowd Ah—h—h. Mlle. de ChÂteau-Gui O my father! Third Judge All titles, terms of honour and of state, Majesty and reverence are forbid, They are condemned. The Crowd Condemned! Count Louis Ha, ci-devants, Titles and symbols, names and attributes, Condemned for splendour and for high estate! Ha, Croix de Saint Louis! Ha, ChÂteau-Gui! Thou goest to heaven in famous company: King, Saint, Martyr, Reverence, Majesty.— Best make the company a regiment— Regiment du Roi, in vestments gorgeous! Forbidden words! Who says to me “forbid”? Ye sans-culottes, ye bourgeois, creeping things, Adders and asps that slew a king and queen! I am a courtier of the olden time Who served le Grand Monarque, knew Mazarin, And in a Court shall still be courtier, Croix de Saint Louis, with the grande entrÉe, While ye do prowl in filthy ways of hell, Nor hardly see its red-lit Œil-de-boeuf Where everlasting Terror, groaning, reigns,— But, being lackeys, keep the lackeys’ place! First Judge Enough! Second Judge Death! The Crowd Death! The Loire! O Kings of France! O sons of Clovis and of Charlemagne! Louis the Pious and the Debonair! Philippe August and Fair, and Charles the Wise! And thou the sainted King, the Blessed Louis! And Charles Bien-AimÉ, Victorieux, Crowned by the maiden of DomrÉmy! And the good King Henri, Henri the Great! Louis the Just, Louis le Grand Monarque! Louis the Loved, and Louis lately dead, The Martyr King, the Martyr, Martyr King!— O Kings of France in that fair land ye be, To your chÂteaux and to your palaces Prepare to welcome dying loyalty! For knightly faith is marching forth from France. Throne, sceptre, orb, and majesty have passed, Ermine and coronet and spur of gold, Renown and splendid honour, valiant sway, Ancien RÉgime, noblesse of old France! The oriflamme upon its golden stem, The banner of the lilies waving high!— The Crowd Ah— Count Louis The lily banner and the oriflamme! Forgotten yonder stripes of shame and woe! The Crowd The tricolour! Death! The Loire! Death to-night! Count Louis Nightshade, mandrake, and hemlock o’er ye wave!— But I am going where, I make no doubt, The favourite flower is still the fleur-de-lis! The Crowd Ah! Count Louis And the word forbid is rÉpublique! The Crowd Down! down! Count Louis Princes and peers of France! First Judge Have done! Count Louis Anjou, Lorraine! The Crowd Ah—h—h! Count Louis Bourbon and Valois! [Uproar in the hall. Mlle. de ChÂteau-Gui clings to her father’s arm. Forbidden words! Well, well, my child, I’m done! My breath is out.—Forbidden words! Ma foi! ‘Tis to my taste to deal in contraband! [The First Judge rings the bell violently. The tumult subsides. ChÂteau-Gui, take place beside the priest! The AbbÉ Ah, Monsieur le Comte! Count Louis Monsieur l’AbbÉ! [He offers his snuff-box. First Judge The next. Enter Yvette. The crowd murmurs as it makes way. The Crowd Yvette Charruel! A Man Goddess of Reason! [Yvette mounts the stair to the gallery and sits beside SÉraphine. CÉleste So pale! AngÉlique No rose? Nanon Only her lips are red. CÉleste So heavy-eyed? Yv
ette I have not slept. A Young Girl (near her) Oh, oh, Thy voice! ‘Tis like a violin playing! I know thou didst not sleep.—How looked the Loire Beneath the moon last night? Yvette Much as ‘twill look Beneath the moon to-night. [With her chin upon her hand she studies the throng below. SÉraphine The prisoners— Yvette Who rises there? First Judge Thou ci-devant, De Vardes! The Crowd De Vardes! De Vardes! Aristocrat! De Vardes! De Vardes RÉmond Lalain— Lalain RenÉ de Vardes. De Vardes This court— Pray you conceive it is some greensward trim, My cartel sent, received, the duel fought, And thou the victor, since so wags the world, Heart’s blood of mine upon thy rapier dark! And I the vanquished in the sight of men, Drowsing to death upon the bloody sod. And all this folk but seconds, witnesses, Now, seeing death hath some prerogative, I charge thee stand, antagonist! nor leave This sunny field with thy triumphant friends Until I bid thee go! Lalain I hear! (To the crowd.) Silence! De Vardes When I do think that once I called thee friend, My wonder grows! The orchard’s blooming now Where we did lie at length on summer eves The while the mavis sang and sea winds blew, And to the nodding clover droned the bee,— Two striplings couched beneath an apple tree, Talking of knights at arms and paladins And what we each would dare in worthy cause! That brow of thine was not so swarthy then, Thine eyes were frank, we read from the same book The deeds of Palmerin and Amadis. Then up we lightly rose and went our way, Hand touching hand,—Orestes, Pylades! I, Jonathan the Prince, and David thou! The figure holds, for Jonathan will die, But wilt thou mourn him, David? No, I say!— Nor o’er his kingdom shalt thou reign, RÉmond! Lalain RenÉ— De Vardes I am, monsieur, the Baron of Morbec! Ah! Lalain Silence! (To De Vardes.) As thou wilt! He is long dead That youth thou namest David. De Vardes Ay, Citoyen, He slew himself. I see his punishment. Lalain Oh!— De Vardes Wretched man! What hast thou done? I know, And thou, RÉmond, dost know I know! Enough. O better far to lie upon this sod And hear the wings of death above my head, Than to be thou, thou stainÈd conqueror! Dishonoured thou from helm to bloody heel! Enough! When the cock crows and the morning star Shines steadfast over Loire I shall be gone. One stays, that’s God. Do thou beware, RÉmond, For God will hearken unto Jonathan— Thou canst not hurt a flower that he loved! Lalain No? De Vardes The banks of the Loire. Night. Branching trees; between their trunks is seen the river. There is a full moon, but a drifting mist obscures the scene. In the background, upon the river bank, dimly appears a crowd of the condemned, men, women, and children, soldiers and executioners of the Company of Marat. From this throng comes a low, continued, confused sound of command, entreaty, distress, and lamentation. In the foreground the condemned form into groups or move singly to and fro. Enter Yvette from the shadow of the trees. A Soldier (following her) HolÀ! Give us not the slip! Yvette Thou soldier! There is no gold could make me flee this place! How long dost think before they throw me in? The Soldier A little while! [He returns to the river. Yvette sits upon the earth at the foot of a tree, and with her chin upon her hand watches those who come and go. He comes not yet! O Our Lady! I would not drown till I have seen him once! A Woman (passing with a man) How shines the moon! Did we not always say, We two would die by such a moon as this? Rememberest thou— The Man Rememberest thou that night, That Versailles night within the Orangerie? The Woman Rememberest thou— [They pass. A Soldier (calling to another) To bind them hand and foot, We need more rope! The Second Soldier Just thrust them in the stream With bayonets! A Cry from the River MisÉricorde! [A child with flowers in her hand speaks to Yvette. The Child I’m tired— Yvette Rest here, thou little bird! My name’s AimÉe. I did not know that flowers grew at night. Is that the moon? Yvette It is the silver moon! AimÉe’s a pretty name. My name’s Yvette. The Child Kiss me, Yvette—I’ll look now for Ursule! Yvette Who is Ursule? The Child My bonne—Adieu, Yvette! [The child passes on. Voices from the River HÉlas! HÉlas! MisÉricorde! [A nun advances from the shadow. She is in ecstasy, her hands clasped, her eyes raised. The Nun The skies open: heaven appears! Heaven my home! O for the wings of the dove, The eagle’s speed! The gates of pearl are opening, My harp is strung. The Virgins come to meet me. Sainte AgnÈs, Sainte Claire! Our Lady stoops to greet me. My brothers two I see there! Who is that one Who kneels and to me beckons? ‘Tis he I loved! What radiance grows, what splendour? Who waiting stands? Light! O Light! O Christ my Lord! Heaven my home! O Love! O Death, come quickly! I would be gone! [A soldier touches her on the arm. The Soldier Thy time it is! [The nun regards him with a radiant and dazzling smile, then turns and moves swiftly before him to the river. The Voices Woe, woe! MisÉricorde! Yvette Heaven my home! Shall I see heaven then? Oh me! so much of ill thou’st done, Yvette! Alas! Alas! What if I cannot win To heaven! but must ever weeping stand With all the lost and strain my eyes to see The form I love move ‘neath the living trees, And all in vain, so great the distance is!— Not see him! O Our Lady, let me in! The Voices Woe, woe!—I die!—I die!—O countrymen! O God, and is it true I murdered her, That lady high, that fair, so fair Clarice? O God! I would that she were happy here, Alive and laughing, gay of heart again! O God! I do repent me of my sin! The Voices Ayez pitiÉ! [From a group of the condemned is heard the voice of The AbbÉ. The AbbÉ Miserere mei Deus Secundum magnam misericordiam tuam! The Condemned (kneeling) Have mercy, O God! Voices from the River MisÉricorde! [Yvette kneels. The AbbÉ In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum, Redemisti me Domine Deus veritatis! The Condemned O God, receive our souls! Voices from the River Woe, woe! We die! Soldiers That one is swimming there! Your musket! Fire!— [A musket shot. The AbbÉ Dulcissime Domine Jesu Christe, Per virtutem sanctissimae Passionis tuae Recipe me in numerum electorum tuorum! The Condemned O Christ, receive our souls! O Christ who died! The AbbÉ Maria, Mater gratiae, Mater misercordiae, Tu me ab hoste protege, et hora mortis suscipe! The Condemned O mother of God! Voices MisÉricorde! The AbbÉ Omnes sancti Angeli, et omnes Sancti Intercedite pro me, et mihi succurrite! Voices MisÉricorde! Soldiers Petit-Pierre!—AndrÉ! ‘Tis time for yonder folk beneath the trees! The AbbÉ Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis, In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen! [The condemned arise from their knees. Come your ways! [The AbbÉ and the condemned vanish into the mist upon the river bank. Voices Ayez pitiÉ! [Yvette rises from her knees. She plucks the yellow broom that grows beneath the trees. Yvette And if I may I will her servant be, And I will bring her posies every day! The Voices We die! Soldiers So, two and two! Ha, ha! [There appears in mid-stream on the river Carrier’s festal barge. It is lit from stem to stern. There is music aboard, singing and revelry of men and women. Laughter from the River Ha, ha! Ha, ha! Ha, ha! The Voices They laugh! They sing! [A sound of singing from the passing barge. A Woman’s Voice Fair Chloris bathed her in the flood, Young Damon watching, trembling stood, Behind the frailest hawthorn wall! The month was May— No, Prairial! The Woman’s Voice Her ivory limbs they gleamed and turned, Young Damon’s heart so hotly burned, Into the stream he leaped therefor! It seemed July— The Man’s Voice No, Thermidor! [The barge passes. Voices from the River O hearts so hard! Other Voices Oh, woe! Adieu! Adieu! [An old woman speaks to Yvette. The Old Woman They’ve drowned my son, my sailor son Michel! Oh, oh, my heart! he’s drifting out to sea! Yvette Poor mother! The Old Woman Oh, to and fro he sailed, he sailed! The Indies knew him and the Northern Seas! He’d bide at home a bit, then off he’d go, Another voyage make, strange things to see! Then home he’d come and of his travels tell. Oh, oh, my son, my sailor son Michel! [The old woman passes on. SÉraphine I’ve sought her here, I’ve sought her there, in vain! And perilous it is to seek one here! A Voice from the River Vive la RÉpublique! CURTAIN CAMBRIDGE · MASSACHUSETTS U · S · A By Mary Johnston
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