ACT I
Scene.—The Court of Miracles. It is night. A crowd of vagrants. Noisy dancing. Male and female beggars in different attitudes of their profession. The King of Thune on his cask. Fires, lights, torches. In the shadow a circle of wretched dwellings
SCENE I
Claude Frollo, Clopin Frouillefou, then Esmeralda, then Quasimodo. The Vagrants
CHORUS OF VAGRANTS.
Long live Clopin! Long live the King of Thune!
Long live the rogues of Paris.
Let us strike our blows at dusk—
The hour when all the cats are drunk.
Let us dance! Defy Pope and bull,
And let us laugh in our skins,
Whether April wets or June burns
The feathers in our caps.
Let us smell from afar
The shot of the avenging archer,
Or the bag of money which passes
On the back of the traveler.
In the light of the moon,
We will go dance with the spirits.
Long live Clopin, King of Thune!
Long live the rogues of Paris!
CLAUDE FROLLO (apart behind a pillar in a corner of the stage. He is covered with a long cloak which hides his priestly garb).
In the midst of this infamous band
What matters the sigh of a soul?
I suffer! Oh, never did fiercer flame
Burn in the bowels of a volcano.
[Esmeralda enters, dancing.
CHORUS.
There she is! There she is! It is she—Esmeralda!
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
It is she! oh, yes—'tis she!
Wherefore, relentless fate,
Made you her so beautiful,
Me—so unfortunate?
[She reaches the center of the stage. The Vagrants form an admiring circle around her.
ESMERALDA.
An orphan am I,
Child of woe,
To you I turn
And flowers throw!
In my wild joy
Sad sighs abide;
I show a smile,
The tears I hide.
Poor girl—I dance
Where brooklets run,
As chirp the birds
My song flows on:
I am the dove
Which, hurt, must fall;
Over my cradle
Hangs death's pall.
CHORUS.
Young girl, dance on!
More gentle you make us.
Take us for family,
And play with us,
As stoops the nightingale
Unto the sea,
Teasing its waves
To ecstasy.
'Tis the young girl—
Child of woe,
When beams her eye
Grief must go.
She's like the bee
Which trembling flies
To the flower's heart,
Its Paradise.
Young girl, dance on!
More gentle you make us.
Take us for family,
And play with us!
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
Tremble, young girl—
The priest is jealous.
[Claude attempts to draw near to Esmeralda; she turns away from him with a kind of horror. The procession of the Pope of Fools enters. Torches, lanterns and music. In the middle of the procession, upon a litter surrounded with candles, Quasimodo, decked with cope and miter, is carried.
CHORUS.
Salute him, clerks of Vasoche!
Shell-heaps, lubbers, beggars!
Salute him, all of you! He comes.
Behold the Pope of Fools!
CLAUDE FROLLO (perceiving Quasimodo, and starting toward him with a gesture of anger).
Quasimodo! What a strange part to play! Profanation! Here—Quasimodo!
QUASIMODO.
Great God! what do I hear?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Come here, I tell you.
QUASIMODO (jumping from the litter).
Here I am!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Be anathematized!
QUASIMODO.
God! it is himself!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Outrageous audacity!
QUASIMODO.
Moment of terror.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
To your knees, traitor!
QUASIMODO.
Pardon me, Master!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
No! I am a priest.
[Claude Frollo tears off Quasimodo's pontifical ornaments, and crushes them underfoot. The Vagrants begin to murmur; they form menacing groups around him; he looks at them angrily.
THE VAGRANTS.
He threatens us,
O comrades!
Here in this place,
Where we reign.
QUASIMODO.
What means the audacity
Of these robbers?
They menace him,
But we shall see!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Race unclean,
You menace me.
Robbers—Jews—
But we shall see!
[The anger of The Vagrants bursts forth.
THE VAGRANTS.
Stop! stop! stop!
Down with the mar-joy!
He shall pay for it with his head;
In vain he defends himself.
QUASIMODO.
Have respect for his head.
Let every one cease,
Or I change this festival
To a bloody battle.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
It is not about his head
That Frollo is troubled.
[Puts his hand on his heart.
[At the moment when The Vagrants' fury has reached its highest pitch, Clopin Frouillefou appears at the back of the stage.
CLOPIN.
Who in this infamous den
Dares to attack my lord the Archdeacon,
And Quasimodo, bell-ringer
Of Notre Dame?
THE VAGRANTS (subsiding).
It is Clopin, our King!
CLOPIN.
Clowns! Be off!
THE VAGRANTS.
We must obey!
CLOPIN.
Leave us!
[The Vagrants retire to their hovels. The Court of Miracles appears deserted. Clopin approaches Claude cautiously.
SCENE II
Claude Frollo, Quasimodo, Clopin Frouillefou
CLOPIN.
What purpose brings you to this orgy?
Has your lordship any orders to give me?
You are my master in sorcery;
Speak—I will do all.
CLAUDE FROLLO (grasping Clopin's arm excitedly, and dragging him to the front of the stage).
I have come to end all. Listen!
CLOPIN.
My lord!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
I love her more than ever.
You behold me quivering with love and with anguish.
I must have her to-night.
CLOPIN.
You will see her pass by here—in a moment;
It is the way to her home.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
Oh! Hell has hold of me! [Aloud.] Soon—you say?
CLOPIN.
Upon the instant!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Alone?
CLOPIN.
Alone.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
That is enough.
CLOPIN.
Will you wait?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
I wait— Let me have her, or let me die!
CLOPIN.
Can I help you?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
No!
[He motions to Clopin to leave him, after having thrown him his purse. When he finds himself alone with Quasimodo, he draws him to the front of the stage.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Come! I need you!
QUASIMODO.
It is well!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
For a deed that is impious, frightful, awful!
QUASIMODO.
You are my lord and master!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Chains, death, the law—
We brave them all.
QUASIMODO.
Count upon me.
CLAUDE FROLLO (recklessly).
I mean to abduct the gypsy!
QUASIMODO.
Master, take my blood—without telling me why!
[Upon a sign from Claude Frollo he retires up stage and leaves his master down stage.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Oh, Heaven! to have given one's mind to the depths,
To have tried all the crimes of sorcery,
To have fallen lower than hell itself:
A priest, at midnight, in the dark to watch for a woman!
And to reflect that in this state in which I find my soul God sees me!
Well! what does it matter? Fate drags me on! Its hand is too strong, Its will be done! I begin life over— The priest insane Feels hope no longer, Knows terror is vain! Demon, who drugs me, Give her to me; And I, who evoked thee, Thy slave will be— Receive the priest Whose bonds are riven! Hell with her Will be my heaven! Come, exquisite woman, Your beauty I claim. You shall own me forever— I swear, in God's name! Since he—since the master By whom love was given, Bids me choose—me, a priest, Between passion and heaven!
QUASIMODO (returning).
Master, the moment is at hand!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Yes—the solemn hour:
It will decide my fate. Be silent! Hush!
CLAUDE FROLLO and QUASIMODO.
The night is dark, Footsteps I hear: In shadow does not Some one draw near?
[They go to the back of the stage to listen.
THE WATCH (passing behind the houses).
Vigilance and peace! Whoever passes here Must ope the eye to darkness, To silence strain the ear.
CLAUDE FROLLO and QUASIMODO.
In shadow they come; They make no sound: Still let us be While the watch goes round!
[The voices of the watch grow fainter.
QUASIMODO.
The watch has passed!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Our terror follows it.
[Claude Frollo and Quasimodo look anxiously at the door through which Esmeralda must pass.
QUASIMODO.
Love inspires, Hope renders strong, Him who watches While sleeps the throng. I see her come— Lo! she appears. Maid divine! Have no fears!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Love inspires, Hope renders strong, Him who watches While sleeps the throng. I see her come, Maid divine! Lo! she appears— She is mine!
[Esmeralda enters: they throw themselves upon her and try to drag her away: she struggles.
ESMERALDA.
Help—help! To me—help!
CLAUDE FROLLO and QUASIMODO.
Hush, young maiden—hush!
SCENE III
Esmeralda, Quasimodo, Phœbus de Chateaupers, the archers of the watch
PHŒBUS (entering at the head of a body of archers).
In the King's name!
[In the struggle Claude escapes. The archers seize Quasimodo.
PHŒBUS.
Arrest him! hold him close!
Be he lord or valet!
At once—we will conduct him
To the prison Chatelet.
[The archers take Quasimodo up stage and off. Esmeralda, recovered from her fright, approaches Phœbus with curiosity, mingled with admiration, and draws him gently to the front of the stage.
ESMERALDA (to Phœbus).
Deign to tell me Your name, sir! I beg you to.
PHŒBUS.
Phœbus, my child— Of the family Of Chateaupers.
ESMERALDA.
Captain?
PHŒBUS.
Yes, my queen!
ESMERALDA.
Queen? oh, no!
PHŒBUS.
Exquisite grace!
ESMERALDA.
Phœbus! I like your name!
PHŒBUS.
Upon my soul I have a blade Which has, Madame, Great havoc made.
ESMERALDA (to Phœbus).
A beautiful captain, An officer grand, With corselet of steel And an air of command! Often, kind sir, Our hearts they break, And only laugh At the tears they make.
PHŒBUS (aside).
With a beautiful captain, An officer gay, Love hardly succeeds In living a day. All soldiers desire To pluck every rose, Joys without troubles, Love without woes.
PHŒBUS (to Esmeralda).
A radiant spirit
Smiles at me
Through thine eyes.
ESMERALDA.
A beautiful captain, An officer grand, With corselet of steel And an air of command! Long watches the girl He carelessly passed; And the dreams he awakened Forever may last!
PHŒBUS.
With a beautiful captain, An officer gay, Love hardly succeeds In a living day! It's like lightning which flashes— This eager desire Which the eyes of sweet maidens Kindle to fire!
ESMERALDA (standing before the Captain and admiring him).
My lord Phœbus! Let me see you! Let me admire you a hundred-fold! Oh the beautiful scarf of silk— Oh the fine scarf with fringe of gold!
[Phœbus takes it off and offers it to her.
PHŒBUS.
Does it please you?
ESMERALDA (taking the scarf and putting it on).
Yes, it is beautiful!
PHŒBUS.
One moment!
[He goes to her and tries to embrace her.
ESMERALDA (drawing back).
Don't, I beg you!
PHŒBUS (insisting).
You must kiss me!
ESMERALDA (drawing away still more).
No, truly!
PHŒBUS (laughing).
A beauty So cruel, So haughty, Is charming.
ESMERALDA.
No, beautiful captain, In vain you plead! Can I tell how far A kiss might lead?
PHŒBUS.
I am a captain, Why abuse me? I want a kiss— Don't refuse me! Give it me—give it, or I will take!
ESMERALDA.
No, leave me! I beg of you, for my sake.
PHŒBUS.
One kiss, one kiss—'tis nothing, you see.
ESMERALDA.
Nothing to you, but much to me!
PHŒBUS.
Look at me, dear! I am playing no part!
ESMERALDA.
Alas, but I cannot look into my heart!
PHŒBUS.
To-night love shall make an entrance there!
ESMERALDA.
Wherever love enters, soon follows despair.
[She slips out of his arms and escapes. Phœbus, disappointed, turns to Quasimodo, whom the archers hold bound at the back of the stage.
PHŒBUS.
She escapes me, she resists me! A gay adventure, verily! I keep the worst of our two birds of prey— The owl remains; the nightingale flew away!
[He places himself at the head of his guard and goes out, taking Quasimodo with him.
CHORUS OF THE WATCH.
Vigilance and peace— Whoever passes here Must ope the eye to darkness, To silence strain the ear!
[The sound grows fainter and finally ceases.