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The Dynasts: An Epic Drama Of The War With Napoleon, a play by Thomas Hardy |
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Part 2 - Act 2 - Scene 2. Aranjuez, Near Madrid. |
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_ PART SECOND. ACT SECOND. SCENE II. ARANJUEZ, NEAR MADRID. A ROOM IN THE PALACE OF GODOY, THE "PRINCE OF PEACE" [A private chamber is disclosed, richly furnished with paintings, vases, mirrors, silk hangings, gilded lounges, and several lutes of rare workmanship. The hour is midnight, the room being lit by screened candelabra. In the centre at the back of the scene is a large window heavily curtained. GODOY and the QUEEN MARIA LUISA are dallying on a sofa. THE PRINCE OF PEACE is a fine handsome man in middle life, with curled hair and a mien of easy good-nature. The QUEEN is older, but looks younger in the dim light, from the lavish use of beautifying arts. She has pronounced features, dark eyes, low brows, black hair bound by a jewelled bandeau, and brought forward in curls over her forehead and temples, long heavy ear-rings, an open bodice, and sleeves puffed at the shoulders. A cloak and other mufflers lie on a chair beside her.]
The life-guards still insist, Love, that the King
Let them insist.
He says he comes pacifically. . . . But no!
Dearest, we must away to Andalusia,
I hold seven thousand men to cover us,
Go Fernando MUST! . . .
Such must be.
Yes, Love; I know. I yield! You cannot leave them;
True, my dear.-- [He jumps up from her side and crosses the room to a window, where he lifts the curtain cautiously. The Queen follows him with a scared look.
A riot can it be?
Let me put these out ere they notice them; [He hastily extinguishes the candles except one taper, which he places in a recess, so that the room is in shade. He then draws back the curtains, and she joins him at the window, where, enclosing her with his arm, he and she look out together. In front of the house a guard of hussars is stationed, beyond them spreading the Plaza or Square. On the other side rises in the lamplight the white front of the Royal Palace. On the flank of the Palace is a wall enclosing gardens, bowered alleys, and orange groves, and in the wall a small door. A mixed multitude of soldiery and populace fills the space in front of the King's Palace, and they shout and address each other vehemently. During a lull in their vociferations is heard the peaceful purl of the Tagus over a cascade in the Palace grounds.]
Lingering, we've risked too long our chance of flight!
The first thought now is how to get you back
I could not help it--nay, I WOULD not help!
Dear Queen, I do not:
Below. One servant with her. They are true,
I can escape. Now call them. All three cloak
Nay, now! I will not have it. We are safe;
I judge so--when I have done what's needful here.-- [The QUEEN, her lady-in-waiting, and the servant go out hurriedly. GODOY looks again from the window. The mob is some way off, the immediate front being for the moment nearly free of loiterers; and the three muffled figures are visible, crossing without hindrance towards the door in the wall of the Palace Gardens. The instant they reach it a sentinel springs up, challenging them.]
Ah--now they are doomed! My God, why did she come! [A parley takes place. Something, apparently a bribe, is handed to the sentinel, and the three are allowed to slip in, the QUEEN having obviously been unrecognized. He breathes his relief.] Now for the others. Then--ah, then Heaven knows! [He sounds a bell and a servant enters. Where is the Countess of Castillofiel?
She's looking for you, Prince.
Find her at once. [GODOY'S mistress, the DONA JOSEFA TUDO, enters. She is a young and beautiful woman, the vivacity of whose large dark eyes is now clouded. She is wrapped up for flight. The servant goes out.]
I should have joined you sooner, but I knew
Don't, pretty one! needless it is in you, [He kisses her repeatedly.]
But look, the mob is swelling! Pouring in
Not just yet, maybe. You should have sooner fled! [They leave the room. In a few minutes GODOY, having taken her down, re-enters and again looks out. JOSEFA'S coach is moving off with a small escort of GODOY'S guards of honour. A sudden yelling begins, and the crowd rushes up and stops the vehicle. An altercation ensues.]
Uncle Peter, it is the Favourite carrying off Prince Fernando.
Silence their uproar, please, Senor Count of Montijo! It is a lady only, the Countess of Castillofiel.
Let her pass, let her pass, friends! It is only that pretty wench of his, Pepa Tudo, who calls herself a Countess. Our titles are put to comical uses these days. We shall catch the cock-bird presently! [The DONA JOSEFA'S carriage is allowed to pass on, as a shout from some who have remained before the Royal Palace attracts the attention of the multitude, which surges back thither.]
Call out the King and the Prince. Long live the King! He shall not go. Hola! He is gone! Let us see him! He shall abandon Godoy! [The clamour before the Royal Palace still increasing, a figure emerges upon a balcony, whom GODOY recognizes by the lamplight to be FERNANDO, Prince of Asturias. He can be seen waving his hand. The mob grows suddenly silent.]
Citizens! the King my father is in the palace with the Queen. He has been much tried to-day.
Promise, Prince, that he shall not leave us. Promise!
I do. I promise in his name. He has mistaken you, thinking you wanted his head. He knows better now.
The villain Godoy misrepresented us to him! Throw out the Prince of Peace!
He is not here, my friends.
Then the King shall announce to us that he has dismissed him! Let us see him. The King; the King! [FERNANDO goes in. KING CARLOS comes out reluctantly, and bows to their cheering. He produces a paper with a trembling hand.
"As it is the wish of the people---"
Speak up, your Majesty!
"As it is the wish of the people, I release Don Manuel Godoy, Prince of Peace, from the posts of Generalissimo of the Army and Grand Admiral of the Fleet, and give him leave to withdraw whither he pleases."
Huzza!
Citizens, to-morrow the decree is to be posted in Madrid.
Huzza! Long life to the King, and death to Godoy! [KING CARLOS disappears from the balcony, and the populace, still increasing in numbers, look towards GODOY'S mansion, as if deliberating how to attack it. GODOY retreats from the window into the room, and gazing round him starts. A pale, worn, but placid lady, in a sombre though elegant robe, stands here in the gloom. She is THEREZA OF BOURBON, the Princess of Peace.]
It is only your unhappy wife, Manuel. She will not hurt you!
Nor with THEY hurt YOU! Why did you not stay in the Royal Palace? You would have been more comfortable there.
I don't recognize why you should specially value my comfort. You have saved you real wives. How can it matter what happens to your titular one?
Much, dear. I always play fair. But it being your blest privilege not to need my saving I was left free to practise it on those who did. (Mob heard approaching.) Would that I were in no more danger than you!
Puf! [He again peers out. His guard of hussars stands firmly in front f the mansion; but the life-guards from the adjoining barracks, who have joined the people, endeavour to break the hussars of GODOY. A shot is fired, GODOY'S guard yields, and the gate and door are battered in.
Murder him! murder him! Death to Manuel Godoy!
Go, I beseech you! You can do nothing for me, and I pray you to save yourself! The heap of mats in the lumber-room will hide you! [GODOY hastes to a jib-door concealed by sham bookshelves, presses the spring of it, returns, kisses her, and then slips out. His wife sits down with her back against the jib-door, and fans herself. She hears the crowd trampling up the stairs, but she does not move, and in a moment people burst in. The leaders are armed with stakes, daggers, and various improvised weapons, and some guards in undress appear with halberds.]
Where is he? Murder him! (Noticing the Princess.) Come, where is he?
The Prince of Peace is gone. I know not wither.
Who is this lady?
Manuel Godoy's Princess.
Princess, a thousand pardons grant us!--you [The PRINCESS bows.]
But this, Senora, is no place for you,
My wish is nought. [Several of them form an escort, and accompany her from the room and out of the house. Those remaining, now a great throng, begin searching the room, and in bands invade other parts of the mansion.]
It is no use searching. She said he was not here, and she's a woman of honour.
She's his wife. [They begin knocking the furniture to pieces, tearing down the hangings, trampling on the musical instruments, and kicking holes through the paintings they have unhung from the walls. These, with clocks, vases, carvings, and other movables, they throw out of the window, till the chamber is a scene of utter wreck and desolation. In the rout a musical box is swept off a table, and starts playing a serenade as it falls on the floor. Enter the COUNT OF MONTIJO.]
Stop, friends; stop this! There is no sense in it-- [The mob desists dubiously and goes out; the musical box upon the floor plays on, the taper burns to its socket, and the room becomes wrapt in the shades of night.] _ |
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