Scene IV
The same. Esmeralda. The gypsy enters timidly, confused and radiant. Movement of admiration. The crowd falls back before her
CHORUS.
Look! her brow is fair amid the fairest,
As a star would shine, surrounded by torches.
PHŒBUS.
Oh, creature divine!
Admiration is duty.
Of this ball she is queen,
Her crown is her beauty.
[He turns to Messieurs de Gif and de Chevreuse.
Friends, my soul is on fire.
War and death would I face,
To hold in my arms
Such bewildering grace.
M. DE CHEVREUSE.
She is a heavenly vision,
A dream most rare and tender,
Which, floating through earth’s darkness,
Radiates celestial splendor.
Born in the public streets—
Oh, blind caprice of fate,
To trail through muddy streams
A flower so immaculate!
ESMERALDA (fixing her eyes on Phœbus in the crowd).
It is my Phœbus, I was sure,
Just as that night I found him;
Whether in satin or in steel,
How grace and strength surround him!
Phœbus—my head is all on fire,
All burns within me, joy and pain;
My soul’s consumed for lack of tears,
Just as earth yearns for rain.
FLEUR-DE-LYS.
How fair she is—yes, I was sure!
Jealous, indeed, I ought to be;
But yet to match that loveliness
How great must be my jealousy!
Alas! perhaps we both, foredoomed
To waste ’neath sorrow’s harsh caress,
Full soon shall die—she in her flower,
I in my loneliness!
MADAME ALOISE.
A radiant creature, truly,
But, faith, ’tis a disgrace
That such a wretched gypsy
Should have so sweet a face.
Alas! the curious laws of fate
’Tis not for mortal mind to know:
The serpent hides his treacherous head
Beneath the fairest flowers that grow.
ALL (together).
She has the calmness, the delight
Of radiant skies on a warm night.
MADAME ALOISE (to Esmeralda).
Come, child! My beauty, come—
Come and dance us some new dance!
[Esmeralda prepares to dance, and draws from her bosom the scarf which Phœbus gave her.
FLEUR DE-LYS.
My scarf! Phœbus, you have deceived me!
My rival! Here she is!
[Fleur-de-lys snatches the scarf from Esmeralda, and falls in a swoon. All the people rush angrily toward the gypsy, who flies for protection to Phœbus.
ALL.
Is it true that Phœbus loves her?
Infamous creature, go—depart!
To brave us thus in our own home,
You must have an audacious heart.
Oh! height of insolence! Retire!
Go back into the public street!
The common tradesmen, they can praise
The jumping of your low-born feet.
Away with her, away at once!
Out at the door! ’Tis a disgrace
For this degraded girl to lift
Her eyes to such a lofty place.
ESMERALDA.
Oh, defend me! Help! Defend me,
Save me, Phœbus, I implore thee;
For the poor forsaken gypsy,
Stands defenseless now before thee!
PHŒBUS.
I love her, and I love but her.
Yes! her defender I will be.
I’ll fight for her, and my strong arm
Will bear my heart out valiantly.
If some one must be her protector,
I am the one—and doubt me not,
Her wrongs are mine, and who insults her
Must answer for it on the spot.
ALL.
What! She is what he loves! Indeed!
Away from here, away from here!
A gypsy he prefers to us;
With loving words he calms her fear.
Hush! silence! Both of you be still!
No further words of insolence.
[To Phœbus.] From you, ’tis too much arrogance!
[To Esmeralda.] From thee, too much impertinence!
[Phœbus and his friends protect the gypsy, who is menaced by all the guests of Madame De Gondelaurier. Esmeralda staggers toward the door.