SCENE III
BOULOGNE. THE ST. OMER ROAD
[It is morning at the end of August, and the road stretches out
of the town eastward.
The divisions of the “Army-for-England” are making preparations
to march. Some portions are in marching order. Bands strike
up, and the regiments start on their journey towards the Rhine
and Danube. Bonaparte and his officers watch the movements from
an eminence. The soldiers, as they pace along under their eagles
with beaming eyes, sing “Le Chant du Depart,” and other martial
songs, shout “Vive l’Empereur!” and babble of repeating the days
of Italy, Egypt, Marengo, and Hohenlinden.]
NAPOLÉON
Anon to England!
CHORUS OF INTELLIGENCES [aerial music]
If Time’s weird threads so weave!
[The scene as it lingers exhibits the gradual diminishing of
the troops along the roads through the undulating August
landscape, till each column is seen but as a train of dust;
and the disappearance of each marching mass over the eastern
horizon.]