Scene VII
The same. Councilor, Executioner, Populace, Soldiers
COUNCILOR.
I’m ready,
Gentlemen!
MARION (to Didier).
I told you that he’d come!
DIDIER (to Councilor).
We’re ready also.
COUNCILOR.
Which is named Gaspard,
Marquis de Saverny?
[Didier points to Saverny, who is asleep.
[To Executioner.] Awaken him!
EXECUTIONER (shaking him).
How well he sleeps, my lord!
SAVERNY (rubbing his eyes).
Ah, how could you
Break in on such a pleasant sleep!
Didier.
’Tis only
Interrupted, friend!
SAVERNY (half awake: sees Marion and salutes her).
Oh, I was dreaming
About you, my beauty!
COUNCILOR.
Have you made
Your peace with God?
SAVERNY.
I have, sir.
COUNCILOR.
It is well.
Please sign this paper!
SAVERNY (takes the parchment, runs over it).
’Tis the procès-verbal.
Good! This is a most curious thing—account
Of my own death, signed with my autograph!
[Signs, and reads the paper again: to Councilor.
You have made three mistakes in spelling, sir.
[Takes the pen and corrects them. To Executioner.
You have awakened me; put me to sleep!
COUNCILOR (to Didier).
Didier!
[Didier approaches: Councilor gives pen to him.
Your name is there.
MARION (hiding her eyes).
The grewsome thing!
Didier.
I could sign nothing with intenser joy!
[The Guards form themselves into a line to lead them away.
SAVERNY (to some one in the crowd).
Sir, step aside and let that young child see!
DIDIER (to Saverny).
My brother, ’tis for me you suffer death;
Let us embrace each other! [He embraces Saverny.
MARION (running to him).
And for me
No kisses, Didier!
DIDIER (indicating Saverny).
This is my friend, madame!
MARION (clasping her hands).
How hard you are upon me, a poor thing,
Who always on my knees to king or judge
Have begged mercy for you from every one!
Pardon of them for you; pardon of you for me!
DIDIER (rushes to Marion, trembling, and bursting into tears).
No, I cannot! The torture’s horrible!
No, I have loved too much to leave her so!
It is too hard to keep a cold, impassive face
When underneath the heart is breaking down.
Come to my arms, oh, woman, come!
[Presses her convulsively to his heart.
I love you!
I’m about to die. Before them all,
It is my loftiest joy to tell you this:
I love you!
Marion.
Didier!
Didier.
[Embraces her again with rapture.
To my heart, oh, come!
You who behold this direful tragedy,
I wonder if there’s one of you who would
Refuse love unto one who’d given herself
Entirely and unceasingly to him?
Oh, I was wrong! Say, would you have me face
Eternity without a pardon from
Her lips? No! Stand by me and listen, love:
Among all womankind—and those who hear
Will prove me right by their own hearts—the one
I love, the one in whom I trust, the one
I venerate is you—is always you!
For you were kind, devoted, loving, good.
My life is almost ended. When death’s near
A clearer light illuminates all things.
If you deceived me, ’twas excess of love;
And if you fell, have you not cruelly atoned?
Perhaps your mother—life’s so hard—forgot
You in your cradle, as my mother did;
When you were young and helpless, perhaps they sold
Your innocence. Ah, lift up your white brow!
And listen, all of you. At such an hour
The earth is a mere shadow and the heart
Speaks true. Well, at this moment, from the height
Of the dread scaffold—and there’s naught so high
When guiltless souls ascend it—here,
I say to you, Marie, angel of light,
Whose luster earth has dimmed, my love, my wife,
In God’s name, before whom I soon shall stand,
I pardon you.
MARION (suffocated with tears).
Ah, Christ!
Didier.
It is your turn.
Speak now, and pardon me!
[He kneels before her.
Marion.
Didier!
Didier.
Your pardon,
Love! I was the most at fault, the most
Unkind. God has chastised you much through me.
Weep for me when I’m gone, because to have
Hurt you is such a burden to take hence
Into eternity. Don’t leave it on me;
Pardon me!
MARION (inaudibly).
Have mercy on me—God!
Didier.
Just speak one word; put your sweet hands upon
My forehead. If your heart is full and you
Can’t speak, please make a sign. I’m dying; you
Must comfort me.
[Marion places her hand on his forehead; he rises, embraces her tenderly, with a smile of celestial joy.
Farewell! Come, gentlemen!
Let us move on!
MARION (throws herself wildly between him and the Soldiers).
Oh, no! Stop! This is madness!
If you think you can behead him easily,
You have forgotten I am here. Spare us!
Oh, men! oh, soldiers, judge, people! Spare us!
How do you want me to ask you? Upon
My knees? Well, here I am! Now if
In you there’s anything that quivers at
A woman’s voice, if God has thrown no curse
On you—don’t kill him!
[To the spectators.] Men and women—you!
When you go back into your homes to-night,
You’ll find your mothers and your daughters; they
Will say to you, “It was a wicked crime.
You might have saved him, and you did not. Shame!”
Didier, they ought to know that I must follow
You! They will not kill you if they want
To keep me living!
DIDIER.
Let me die, Marie.
’Tis better, dear one, for my wound is deep;
It would have taken too much time to heal.
Better for me to go; but if, some time—
You see I’m weeping too—another comes,
A happier man, more fortunate than I,
Think of your old friend sleeping in the tomb.
MARION.
You shall not die! Are these men all inhuman?
You must live!
DIDIER.
Don’t ask things impossible.
No; with your bright eyes, turn, illuminate
My grave for me. Embrace me. You will love
Me better, dead. I’ll hold a sacred place
In your dear memory. But if I lived,
Lived near you with my lacerated soul—
I, who have loved no one but you—you see
It would be painful. I would make you weep.
I’d have a thousand thoughts I could not speak.
I’d seem to doubt you, watch you, worry you.
You would be most unhappy. Let me die!
COUNCILOR (to Marion).
The Cardinal will pass by soon, madame!
You can ask pardon for him then.
MARION.
Oh, yes!
The Cardinal is coming—that is true.
You’ll see, then, gentlemen, that he will hear!
My Didier, you shall hear me talk to him!
The Cardinal! Indeed, you must be all insane,
To think such an old man—a Christian too,
The gracious Cardinal—will not be glad
To pardon you. Have you not pardoned me?
[Nine o’clock strikes. Didier makes sign to all to hush. Marion listens with terror. After the nine strokes have sounded, Didier goes and stands close to Saverny.
DIDIER (to the spectators).
You who have come to see the last of us,
If any speak of us, bear witness all,
That without faltering we have heard the hour
Bring us its summons to eternity.
[The cannon sounds at the door of the tower; the black veil which concealed the opening in the wall, falls: the gigantic litter of The Cardinal appears, borne by twenty-four foot-guards, surrounded by twenty other guards bearing halberds and torches: the litter is scarlet and ornamented with the arms of the House of Richelieu. It crosses the back of the stage slowly. Great agitation among the crowd.
MARION (dragging herself up to the litter on her knees and wringing her hands).
In your Christ’s name! In name of all your race,
Mercy for them, my lord!
A VOICE (from the litter).
No mercy!
[Marion falls to the ground. The litter passes and the procession of the condemned men follows it. The crowd rush madly after them.
MARION (alone, lifts herself half way up, and drags herself along by her hands: looking around.)
Ah!
What did he say? Where are they gone? My love!
My Didier! No one! Not a sound! Is it
A dream—this place? the crowd?—or am I mad?
[The people rush back in disorder. The litter reappears in the background on the side where it went off. Marion rises and gives a terrible cry.
He’s coming back!
GUARDS (pushing the people aside).
Make way!
MARION (erect and half-wild, pointing to the litter).
Look, all of you!
It is the red man who goes by!
[She falls senseless.