ACT I
THE MEETING
Scene.—Blois. A bed-chamber. A window opening on a balcony at the back. To the right, a table with a lamp, and an armchair. To the left a door, covered by a portière of tapestry. In the background a bed
SCENE I
Marion de Lorme, in a very elegant wrapper, sitting beside the table, embroidering. Marquis de Saverny, very young man, blonde, without mustache, dressed in the latest fashion of 1638
SAVERNY (approaching Marion and trying to embrace her).
Let us be reconciled, my sweet Marie!
MARION (pushing him away).
Not such close reconciliation, please!
SAVERNY (insisting).
Just one kiss!
MARION (angrily).
Marquis!
SAVERNY.
What a rage! Your mouth
Had sweeter manners, not so long ago!
MARION.
Ah, you forget!
SAVERNY.
No, I remember, dear.
MARION (aside).
The bore! the tiresome creature!
SAVERNY.
Speak, fair one!
What does this swift, unkind departure mean?
While all are seeking you at Place Royale,
Why do you hide yourself at Blois? Traitress,
What have you done here all these two long months?
MARION.
I do what pleases me, and what I wish
Is right. I'm free, my lord!
SAVERNY.
Free! Yes. But those
Whose hearts you've stolen, are they also free?
I? Gondi, who omitted half his Mass
The other day, because he had a duel
Upon his hands for you? Nesmond, D'Arquien,
The two Caussades, Pressigny, whom your flight
Has left so wretched, so morose, even
Their wives wish you were back in Paris, that
They might have gayer husbands!
MARION (smiling).
Beauvillain?
SAVERNY.
Is still in love.
MARION.
Cereste?
SAVERNY.
Adores you yet.
MARION.
And Pons?
SAVERNY.
Oh, as for him, he hates you!
MARION.
Proof
He is the only one who loves me! Well,
The President?
[Laughing.] The old man! What's his name?
[Laughing more heartily.
SAVERNY.
He's waiting for you, and meanwhile
He keeps your portrait and sings odes to it.
MARION.
He's loved me two years now, in effigy.
SAVERNY.
He'd much prefer to burn you. Tell me how
You keep away from such dear friends.
MARION (serious, and lowering her eyes).
That's just
The reason, Marquis; to be frank with you,
Those brilliant follies which seduced my youth
Have given me much more misery than joy.
In a retreat, a convent cell, perhaps,
I want to try to expiate my life.
SAVERNY.
I'll wager there's a love-tale behind that.
MARION.
You dare to think—
SAVERNY.
That never a nun's veil
Surmounted eyes so full of earthly fire.
It could not be. You love some poor provincial!
For shame! To end a fine romance with such
A page!
MARION.
It isn't true!
SAVERNY.
Let's make a wager!
MARION.
Dame Rose, what time is it?
DAME ROSE (outside).
Almost midnight!
MARION (aside).
Midnight!
SAVERNY.
That is a most ingenious way
Of saying, "Time to go."
MARION.
I live retired,
Receiving no one, and unknown to all.
Besides, 'tis dangerous to be out late:
The street is lonely, full of robbers.
SAVERNY.
Well,
They can rob me.
MARION.
And oftentimes they kill!
SAVERNY.
Good! they can kill me.
MARION.
But—
SAVERNY.
You are divine!
But I'll not stir one foot before I know
Who this gay shepherd is, who's routed us!
MARION.
There's no one!
SAVERNY.
I will be discreet. We courtiers,
Whom people think so mad, so curious
And spiteful, are maligned. We gossip, but
We never talk! You're silent?
[Sits down.] Then I'll stay!
MARION.
What does it matter? Well, it's true! I love!
I'm waiting for him!
SAVERNY.
That's the way to talk!
That's right! Where is it you expect him?
MARION.
Here!
SAVERNY.
When?
MARION.
Now! [She goes to the balcony and listens.
Hark! that is he perhaps.
[Coming back.] 'Tis not.
Now are you satisfied?
SAVERNY.
Not quite!
MARION.
Please go!
SAVERNY.
I want to know his name, this proud gallant,
For whose reception I am thus dismissed.
MARION.
Didier is all the name I know for him.
Marie is all the name he knows for me.
SAVERNY (laughing).
Is't true?
MARION.
Yes, true!
SAVERNY.
This is a pastoral,
And no mistake. 'Tis Racan, pure! To enter,
I have no doubt he scales the wall.
MARION.
Perhaps.
Please go! [Aside.] He wearies me to death!
SAVERNY (becoming serious).
Of course
He's noble.
MARION.
I don't know.
SAVERNY.
What?
[To Marion, who is gently pushing him toward the door.
[He draws a book out of his pocket and gives it to Marion.
MARION (reading the title).
"Love's Garland"—ah!
"To Marion de Lorme."
SAVERNY.
They talk of nothing
But this in Paris. That book and "The Cid"
Are the successful efforts of the day.
MARION (taking the book).
It's very civil of you; now, good-night!
SAVERNY.
What is the use of fame? Alack-a-day!
To come to Blois and love a rustic! Bah!
MARION (calling to Dame Rose).
Take care of the Marquis, and show him out!
SAVERNY (saluting her).
Ah, Marion, you've degenerated! [He goes out.
SCENE II
Marion, afterward Didier
MARION (alone, shuts the door by which Saverny went out).
Go—
Go quickly! Oh, I feared lest Didier—
[Midnight strikes.
[She goes to the balcony and looks into the street.
[She comes back and sits down impatiently.
[A young man appears behind the balustrade of the balcony, jumps over it lightly, enters, places his cloak and sword on the armchair. Costume of the day: all black: boots. He takes one step forward, pauses and contemplates Marion, sitting with her eyes cast down.
[Reproachfully.
DIDIER (seriously).
I feared
To enter!
MARION (hurt).
Ah!
DIDIER (without noticing it).
Down there, outside the wall,
I was o'ercome with pity. Pity? yes,
For you! I, poor, accursed, unfortunate,
Stood there a long time thinking, ere I came!
"Up there an angel waits," I thought, "in virgin grace,
Untouched by sin—a being chaste and fair,
To whose sweet face shining on life's pathway
Each passer-by should bend his knees and pray.
I, who am but a vagrant 'mongst the crowd,
Why should I seek to stir that placid stream?
Why should I pluck that lily? With the breath
Of human passion, why should I consent
To cloud the azure of that radiant soul?
Since in her loyalty she trusts to me,
Since virtue shields her with its sanctity,
Have I a right to take her gift of love,
To bring my storms into her perfect day?"
MARION (aside).
This is theology, it seems to me!
I wonder if he is a Huguenot?
DIDIER.
But when your tender voice fell on my ear,
I wrestled with my doubts no more—I came.
MARION.
Oh, then you heard me speaking—that is strange!
DIDIER.
Yes; with another person.
MARION (quickly).
With Dame Rose!
She talks just like a man, don't you think so?
Such a strong voice! Ah, well, since you are here
I am no longer angry! Come, sit down.
[Indicating a place at her side.
DIDIER.
No! at your feet.
[He sits on a stool at Marion's feet and looks at her for some moments in complete silence.
MARION (smiling).
You've a strange nature, but I love you so!
DIDIER.
You love me! Ah, take care! One dare not say
Such words in any careless way! Love me?
Oh, do you know what loving means? What 'tis
To feel love take possession of our blood,
Become our daily breath? To feel this thing
Which long has smoldered burst to flame, and rise
A great, majestic, purifying fire?
To feel it burn up clean within our hearts
The refuse other passions have left there?
This love, hopeless indeed, but limitless,
Which outlives all things, even happiness—
Is this the kind of love you mean?
MARION (touched).
Indeed!
DIDIER.
You do not know it, but I love you so!
From that first time I saw you, my dark life
Was shot with sunlight streaming from your eyes;
Since then all's different. To me you seem
Some wonderful creation, not of earth.
My life, in whose dark gloom I groaned so long,
Grows almost beautiful when you are by.
For 'til you came, I'd wandered, suffered, wept;
I'd struggled, fallen—but I had not loved.
MARION.
Poor Didier!
DIDIER.
Speak, Marie!
MARION.
Well, then, I do.
I love with just this love—love you as much
And maybe more than you love me! It was
Not destiny that brought me here. 'Twas I
Who came, who followed you, and I am yours!
DIDIER (falling on his knees).
Oh, do not cheat me! Give me truth, Marie!
If to my ardent love your love responds,
The world holds no possession rich as mine!
My whole life, kneeling at your feet, will be
One sigh of speechless, blinding ecstasy.
But do not cheat me!
MARION.
Do you want a proof
Of love, my Didier?
DIDIER.
Yes!
MARION.
Then speak!
DIDIER.
You are—
Quite free?
MARION (embarrassed).
Free? Yes!
DIDIER.
Then take me for a brother,
For a protector—be my wife?
MARION (aside).
His wife!
Ah, why am I not worthy?
DIDIER.
You consent?
MARION.
I—can—
DIDIER.
Don't say it, please—I understand!
An orphan, without fortune! What a fool!
Give back my pain, my gloom, my solitude!
Farewell!
[He starts to go; Marion holds him back.
MARION.
Didier, what are you saying?
[She bursts into tears.
DIDIER.
True!
But why this hesitation? [Going back to her.
Can't you feel
The ecstasy of being, each to each, a world,
A country, heaven; in some deserted spot
To hide a happiness kings could not buy.
MARION.
It would be heaven!
DIDIER.
Will you have it? Come!
MARION.
[Aside.] Accursed woman! [Aloud.] No, it cannot be.
[She tears herself from out his arms, and falls on the armchair.
DIDIER (freezingly).
The offer was not generous, I know.
You've answered me. I'll speak of it no more!
Good-by!
MARION. (aside).
Alack, the day I pleased him! [Aloud.] Stay!
I'll tell you. You have hurt me to the soul.
I will explain—
DIDIER (coldly).
What were you reading, madame,
When I came?
[Takes the book from the table and reads.
[Throwing the book violently to the floor.
MARION. (trembling).
But—she—
DIDIER.
What are you doing with such books?
How came they here?
MARION. (inaudibly, and looking down).
They came by chance.
DIDIER.
Do you—
You who have eyes so pure, a brow so chaste—
Do you know what she is—this woman? Well,
She's beautiful in body, and deformed
In soul! A Phryne, selling everywhere,
To every man, her love, which is an insult,
An infamy!
MARION (her head in her hands).
My God!
[A noise of footsteps, a clashing of swords outside, and cries.
VOICE IN THE STREET.
Help! Murder! Help!
DIDIER (surprised).
What noise is that out there upon the square?
[Cries continue.
VOICE IN THE STREET.
Help! Murder! Help!
DIDIER (looking from the balcony).
They're killing some one! Ha!
[He takes his sword and step's over the balustrade. Marion rises, runs to him and tries to hold him back by his cloak.
MARION.
Don't, Didier, if you love me! They'll kill you!
Don't go!
DIDIER (jumping down into the street).
He is the one they're going to kill!
Poor man! [Outside, to combatants.
Stand off! Hold firmly, sir, and push!
[Clashing of swords.
[Noise of swords, voices, and footsteps.
MARION. (on the balcony, terrified).
Just Heaven! They are six 'gainst two!
VOICE IN THE STREET.
This man—he is the devil!
[The clashing of swords subsides little by little, then entirely ceases. The sounds of footsteps become indistinct. Didier reappears scaling the balcony.
DIDIER (outside of the balcony and turned toward the street).
You are safe;
Now go your way!
SAVERNY (from outside).
Not 'til I've grasped your hand—
Not 'til I've thanked you, if you please!
DIDIER.
Pass on!
I will consider myself thanked.
SAVERNY.
Not so!
I mean to thank you. [Scaling balcony.
DIDIER.
Can't you speak from there
And say "I thank you" without coming up?
SCENE III
Marion, Didier, Saverny
SAVERNY (jumping into the room, sword in hand).
Upon my soul! 'Tis a strange chivalry
To save my life and push me from the door!
The door—that is to say, the window! No,
They shall not say one of my family
Was bravely rescued by a nobleman
And did not in return say "Marquis—" Pray,
What is your name?
DIDIER.
Didier.
SAVERNY.
Didier—of what?
DIDIER.
Didier, of nothing! People kill you, and
I help you—that is all! Now go!
SAVERNY.
Indeed!
That's your way, is it? Why not have let
Those traitors kill me? 'Twould have pleased me more.
For without you I'd be a dead man now.
Six thieves against me! Dead! Of course! What else?
Six daggers against one thin sword—
[Perceiving Marion, who has been trying to avoid him.
[Approaches Marion, who is trembling: he recognizes her.
[Indicating Didier.
MARION (low).
Hush! You will ruin all!
SAVERNY (bowing).
Madame!
MARION (low).
I love for the first time!
DIDIER (aside).
'Sdeath!
That man is looking at her with bold eyes.
[He overturns the lamp with a blow.
SAVERNY.
You put the lamp out, sir?
DIDIER.
It would be wise
For us to leave together, and at once.
SAVERNY.
So be it, then! I follow you!
[To Marion, whom he salutes profoundly.
DIDIER (aside).
What a rare coxcomb!
[Aloud to Saverny.] Come, sir, come!
SAVERNY.
You're brusk, but I'm in debt to you for life.
If ever you should need fraternal friendship,
Count upon me, Marquis de Saverny,
Paris, Hôtel de Nesle.
DIDIER.
Enough, sir! Come!
[Aside.] To see her thus examined by a fool!
[They go out by the balcony. The voice of Didier is heard outside.
SCENE IV
Marion, Dame Rose
MARION (remains absorbed a moment, then calls).
Dame Rose!
[Dame Rose appears. Marion points to the window.
[Dame Rose, having shut the window, turns and sees Marion wiping away a tear.
DAME ROSE (aside).
She is weeping!
[Aloud.] It is time
To sleep, madame!
MARION.
Yes, time for you—you people.
[Undoing her hair.
DAME ROSE (helping her to undress).
The gentleman
To-night was pleasant. Is he rich?
MARION.
Not rich.
DAME ROSE.
But gallant.
MARION.
No, nor gallant.
[Turning to Dame Rose.
DAME ROSE.
What use is he?
MARION (pensive).
I love him!
