Scene IV
The populace; Quasimodo; afterward Esmeralda, and her escort; then Claude Frollo, Phœbus, Clopin Frouillefou, priests, archers, officers of the law
CHORUS.
To Notre Dame
Come, get a sight
Of the young woman
Who dies to-night!
This gypsy woman
Who stabbed, they say,
The handsomest officer
In the King’s pay.
In vain did Heaven
Beauty lend her!
Is it possible—
God defend her!—
A soul so black,
An eye so tender!
A frightful thing,
Human nature is so!
The poor unfortunate!
Come, let us go
To Notre Dame
To get a sight
Of the young woman
Who dies to-night!
[The crowd increases; noise; a gloomy procession begins to appear on the Place du Parvis. Rows of black penitents. Banners of La Miséricorde. Torches, archers, officers of the law and the watch. The soldiers disperse the crowd. Esmeralda appears. She wears a chemise; a rope is around her neck; her feet are bare, and she is covered with a long black veil of crape. Following her, come the executioners and the King’s officers. As the prisoner reaches the front of the church, a somber chant is heard in the distance, coming from the interior of the church, whose doors are closed.
CHORUS (in the church).
Omnes fluctus fluminis
Transierunt super me
In imo voraginis
Ubi plorant animæ.
[The chant draws nearer. It bursts forth, at length, when near the doors, which open suddenly and discover the interior of the church. It is filled with a long procession of priests in their robes of ceremony; banners are borne before them. Claude Frollo, in sacerdotal costume, leads the procession. He goes toward the criminal.
THE PEOPLE.
Alive to-day, to-morrow dead!
Heaven! thy wings around her spread!
ESMERALDA.
It is Phœbus who calls me
Unto our home eternal,
Where God will hold us in His arms,
Safe from misfortunes cruel.
Though plunged in the abyss of woe,
A joyful hope is given:
I am to die upon the earth
To be re-born in heaven!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
To die so young, so beautiful!
Alas! the guilty priest
Must suffer greater woe than she;
He ne’er will be released.
Oh, hapless child of sorrow,
Lost through my infamy,
You only die from off this earth,
While heaven is lost to me!
THE PEOPLE.
Alas! she is an infidel.
God’s words, unto us spoken,
Say that in heaven for such as she
No blessed gate shall open.
Death holds her fast, what misery!
She can escape it, never!
She dies unto the world this day,
And unto heaven forever!
[The procession approaches. Claude accosts Esmeralda.
ESMERALDA (frozen with terror).
It is the priest!
CLAUDE FROLLO (low).
Yes, it is I! I love you, I entreat you!
Say but one word! ’Tis not too late;
I can yet save you!
Say, I love you!
ESMERALDA.
I abhor you! Go!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Then die! I’ll go where I can find you!
[Claude turns to the crowd.
We deliver this woman to the secular arm;
At this solemn moment may the breath of the Lord
Pass over her soul!
[As the officers of the law are about to seize Esmeralda, Quasimodo jumps into the square, thrusts back the archers, takes Esmeralda in his arms, and throws himself with her into the church.
QUASIMODO.
Sanctuary! sanctuary! sanctuary!
THE PEOPLE.
Sanctuary! sanctuary! sanctuary!
Rejoice, O people!
Hail to the good bell-ringer!
Oh, destiny!
The criminal
Belongs to heaven!
The scaffold falls!
The eternal God
Instead of a tomb
Discloses the altar!
Executioners, back!
King’s officers, back!
This barrier
Limits your power.
Thou hast changed
Everything here.
The angels claim her;
She belongs to God!
CLAUDE FROLLO (commanding silence by a gesture).
She is not saved! She is a gypsy!
Notre Dame can save none but Christians!
Pagans are proscribed even when clasping the altar!
[To the King’s men.] In the name of my lord the Archbishop of Paris,
I give you back this sinful woman!
QUASIMODO (to the archers).
I will defend her! I swear it.
Approach us not!
CLAUDE FROLLO (to the archers).
Do you hesitate?
Obey me, on the instant!
Tear the gypsy from this holy place.
[The archers advance. Quasimodo places himself between them and Esmeralda.
QUASIMODO.
Never!
[A horseman is heard approaching. He calls out:
Wait! [The crowd disperses.
PHŒBUS (appearing on horseback. He is pale, breathless, exhausted as is a man who has made a long journey).
Wait!
ESMERALDA.
Phœbus!
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside, terrified).
My plot has failed.
PHŒBUS (leaping from his horse).
God be praised! I breathe
And I arrive in time!
This girl is innocent.
Behold my assassin!
[Points to Claude Frollo.
ALL.
Heavens! the priest!
PHŒBUS.
The priest alone is guilty, and I will prove it!
Arrest him!
THE PEOPLE.
Oh, wonder!
[The archers surround Claude Frollo.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
God alone is Master!
ESMERALDA.
Phœbus!
PHŒBUS.
Esmeralda!
[They fall into each other’s arms.
ESMERALDA.
My adored Phœbus, we shall live!
PHŒBUS.
Thou shalt live!
ESMERALDA.
For us shines happiness!
THE PEOPLE.
Live, both of you!
ESMERALDA.
Hear these joyous shouts!
At thy feet receive me, humble girl!
Heavens! thou art pale! What is the matter?
PHŒBUS (staggering).
I die!
[She catches him in her arms. Expectation and anxiety among the crowd.
Each step I took toward you, my beloved,
Reopened my wound, that was hardly healed.
I have taken your grave and given you life.
I die! Destiny has avenged thee.
My angel, I go to see
If heaven is worth thy love!
Farewell! [He dies.
ESMERALDA.
Phœbus! He dies! In an instant everything is changed!
[She falls upon his body.
I follow you into eternity.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Fatality!
THE PEOPLE.
Fatality!