Act IV
Scene.—A prison. Door in the center
Scene I
ESMERALDA (alone, chained, lying upon a bed of straw).
What! He in the tomb and I in this cell—
He a victim and I a prisoner!
I saw him fall! In truth, he’s dead!
And this crime, this awful crime—
They say it is my work!
The stem of our life, while yet green, is broken.
Phœbus has gone, and he shows me the way.
Yesterday they made his grave,
To-morrow they’ll make mine!
ROMANCE
Phœbus, is there nothing left,
No help given, to those bereft
In this cruel wise—
Neither filters, love, nor charms,
To assuage the soul’s alarms,
Or reopen closèd eyes?
God in heaven, I adore thee!
Every hour I implore thee!
Deign to end my life to-day
Or to take my love away!
Phœbus, let us turn our wings
Toward the lights supernal,
Where all things must go at last,
Where love bides and is eternal.
On earth our bodies sleep together,
In heaven our souls will live forever!
God in heaven, I adore thee!
Every hour I implore thee!
Deign to end my life to-day
Or to take my love away!
[The door opens. Claude Frollo enters, a lamp in his hand, his hood pulled over his face: he comes and stands, motionless, in front of Esmeralda.
ESMERALDA (jumping up with terror).
Who is this man?
CLAUDE FROLLO (covered by his hood).
A priest!
ESMERALDA.
A priest! How mysterious!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Are you ready?
ESMERALDA.
Ready for what?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Ready to die.
ESMERALDA.
Yes.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
It is well.
ESMERALDA.
Will it be soon? Answer me, father!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Do you suffer so much?
ESMERALDA.
Yes, I suffer.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Perhaps I, who shall live to-morrow,
Suffer more than you.
ESMERALDA.
You? Who, then, are you?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
The tomb lies between us!
ESMERALDA.
Your name?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
You wish to know it?
ESMERALDA.
Yes. [He lifts his hood.
The priest!
It is the priest! O God! my feeble strength inspire!
It is indeed his brow of ice, it is his glance of fire!
’Tis he who has pursued me, remorseless, day and night;
’Twas he who killed my Phœbus, and slew my heart’s delight.
Monster, from my prison, with death’s cold hand on me,
I’ll curse thee, till within the grave my lips shall silent be!
What have I done to thee? What is thine awful plan?
What dost thou want with me, relentless, impious man?
You hate me!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
I love you!
I love you—it is infamous!
Oh, shame to my priesthood!
This love, it is my soul;
This love, it is my blood!
At your feet I fall;
Hear my heart, which cries,
I prefer your tomb
Unto Paradise.
Pity me. I love you! Your pity I implore!
For you I’ve sinned. Have mercy, do not curse me more!
ESMERALDA.
He loves me! Oh, crown of horrors!
He holds me—this horrible sorcerer!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
The only living thing in me
Is my love and my anguish!
Hopeless anguish,
Wretched plight!
Alas! I love her,
Painful night!
ESMERALDA.
Awful moment,
Cruel fright!
Heaven! He loves me,
Fearful night.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
She shudders, quivers in my arms;
The priest has won his chance at last!
By night I bore her, once, away;
Now, in the day, I’ll hold her fast!
Death, which follows in my train,
Will give her back to love again!
ESMERALDA.
Pity—pity, let me go!
Phœbus is dead; he waits above.
Alas! I tremble, I’m afraid,
I shiver at your frightful love,
E’en as the bird which, tortured, dies
Beneath the vulture’s cruel eyes!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Accept me, I love you! Refuse me no more!
Have pity for me, for yourself, I implore!
ESMERALDA.
Your prayer is an insult.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Would you rather die?
ESMERALDA.
The body dies—the soul lives!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
To die is terrible!
ESMERALDA.
Hush! your impious words!
Your love makes death beautiful!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Choose! choose! Or Claude or death!
[Claude falls at Esmeralda’s feet in supplication. She repels him.
ESMERALDA.
No, murderer, I will not! Hush!
A crime is this foul love you’ve nursed.
Better the tomb to which I fly—
Be cursed amid the most accursed!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Tremble, for the scaffold claims you!
You know not what awful schemes
This breast of fury has engendered;
And hell abets me in my dreams.
How I love thee!
Thy hand give,
And to-morrow
Thou shalt live!
Night benumbed
With terror’s breath!
Tears for me,
For thee death!
Say, “I love thee!”
Cease thy scorning;
Thy last day
Is dawning!
Ah! since in vain I supplicate,
In vain thy hate I fight,
Farewell forever! One day more,
Then comes eternal night.
ESMERALDA.
Inhuman priest.
Go! I abhor thee!
His dear blood yet
Seems dripping o’er thee,
Oh, night of horror,
Night of shame!
Enough of tears;
Death I claim!
In prison I brave thee,
In chains defy!
Be thou accursed
Eternally!
Thy passion be thy punishment!
To God my love leads me:
The gates of heaven he’ll open,
But hell shall close o’er thee!
[A jailer appears. Claude Frollo signs to him to lead out Esmeralda. He exits while they drag forth the gypsy.