Act III
Scene—A field by the castle of Beaugenoy. A great gap has been made in the outer wall, through which looms the castle-keep. Two workmen are covering the gap with a vast black cloth.
A Workman: If they would hang the two young gentlemen
Outside the wall, the cardinal could see
The execution without breaking down
The ramparts in this way.
His Mate: Could he not come
Through the great gate?
A Workman: What! In a litter borne
By four-and twenty men? No! Richelieu
Travels in greater state than any king.
He enters, like a conqueror, through the breach
Made in the castles of our noblemen.
He means to kill them all, they say.
His Mate: And now
He comes in his great litter through this wall,
To see these poor boys hanged? What cruelty!
A Workman: Now come and see the gallows we have built.
[As they depart, Marion arrives at the castle gate. She knocks, but before the door opens, Laffemas, Richelieu's agent, gallops up.
Marion: An order from the king.
The Gatekeeper: You cannot pass.
Laffemas: An order from the cardinal.
The Gatekeeper: Pass in.
Marion: I have a pardon for two prisoners!
Laffemas: And I the document revoking it!
The cardinal is coming here to-night
To see the execution. It is fixed
For nine o'clock.
Marion: Then there is no more hope!
Oh, God! Oh, God! My Didier must die!
Nothing can save him!
Laffemas: You can, Marion.
Yes, you can still! I will let Didier escape
If, Marion, you will——
Marion: No!
Laffemas: Then he dies!
Marion: And if he lives, I lose him. (A long silence.)
He shall live.
[She goes into the castle with Laffemas. Didier and Saverny appear, guarded by the jailer and his men. It is now night.
The Jailer (in a whisper to Saverny): You can
escape. The Marquis of Nangis
Has made all preparations for the flight.
Saverny: For both of us?
The Jailer: No; only you. And that
May cost me my own life.
Saverny: Well, save my friend.
The Jailer: I cannot.
Saverny: Then I must remain with him.
(To Didier) They will hang us, friend, to-night.
Didier: Are you sure,
Saverny, she is Marion de Lorme?
On your honour, are you sure?
Saverny: Yes, I am.
I cannot understand you, Didier.
Are you not proud to think that you have made
So great a conquest?
Didier: And I thought she was
As innocent as she was beautiful!
Saverny: She loves you. You should be content with that.
You will not die while Marion de Lorme
Lives. And I hope that she will not forget
I am your friend, but come and save me, too.
[It grows darker Saverny falls asleep. Marion comes out of the gate carrying a bundle, and accompanied by Didier.
Marion: Put on these clothes. Richelieu has arrived;
Can you not hear the guns announcing him?
Didier: Raise your eyes! Raise your eyes, and look at me!
What sort of man, think you, am I? A fool,
Or libertine?
Marion (trembling, as she fixes her eyes passionately
on his): I love you Didier,
More than my life. Your eyes are terrible.
What have I done? Am I not your Marie?
Didier: Marie? Or Marion de Lorme?
Marion: Didier,
Forgive me! I—I—meant to tell you all.
I feared to lose you if you learnt my name.
You had redeemed me by your love. I longed
To raise all memories of my former self,
And live a new life with you, Didier.
For, oh, I love you, and I love you still,
Deeply and truly! Didier, be kind,
Or you will kill me!
Didier: How have you obtained
This favour for me? Why is Laffemas
Risking his neck by letting me escape?
Marion: Not now! I cannot tell you now!
Fly! Fly!
Hark, they are coming! Do not stop to speak.
Save yourself!
Didier: No; I have no wish to live!
Thank God, here is the headsman!
[A Headsman, carrying his axe, appears with a crowd of soldiers, officials, and Saverny.
Marion (falling to the earth): Didier!
Saverny: What a shame
To rob me of my sleep!
The Headsman (grimly): The time has come
To put you both to bed.
Saverny (gaily): A headsman! Good!
I like the axe much better than the rope.
Didier (embracing him): Good-bye, my friend!
Marion (clinging to him): And me! Didier, me!
Will you not say good-bye to me?
Didier (wildly, as the soldiers drag him off): No! No!
My heart is breaking! Oh, Marie, Marie!
I love you. I was wrong!
Marion: You pardon me?
Didier: I ask your pardon. Think of me sometimes.
Good-bye, my darling. [He is dragged behind the wall.
An Official (catching Marion in his arms as she falls):
All hope is not lost.
Look, here is Richelieu! Go and plead with him.
[The castle guns are fired. The cloth, hiding the great breach in the wall, drops. The Cardinal comes in his gigantic scarlet litter, borne by twenty-four footguards. Scarlet curtains conceal him from the shouting mob.
Marion (dragging herself on her knees to the litter):
In the name of God, oh, my Lord Cardinal,
Pardon these two poor boys!
A Voice (from the litter): No pardon!
[The litter passes on, and the crowd surges through the wall after it. Marion is left alone.
FOOTNOTES:
[J] Victor Hugo wrote "Marion de Lorme" in 1829, three months before he composed "Hernani." King Charles X., however, refused to license the play, because of the terrible way in which his ancestor, Louis XIII., was portrayed in it. But after the Revolution of 1830, and the success of "Hernani," the forbidden drama was produced on the stage. Its original title was "A Duel Under Richelieu." The whole play is built around the frustrated duel in which two young men engage against the edict of the great cardinal. This economy of stage-craft makes "Marion de Lorme" a superior work, in point of construction, to "Hernani." And though it may be less picturesque than that more famous example of the romantic drama, it is on the whole a finer effort of genius.
[Ruy Blas][K]
Persons in the Drama
Don Sallust de Bazan | President of the Magistrates | |
Ruy Blas | Lackey to Don Sallust | |
Don Cesar de Bazan | Cousin to Don Sallust | |
Don Manuel Arias | } | Counsellors |
The Count of Camporeal | } | |
Doña Maria, Queen of Spain | ||
A crowd of Spanish Grandees, Counsellors, and Alguazils | ||