ACT III
Scene.—The front yard of a tavern. Tavern to the right; trees to the left. In the back a door, and a small low wall which closes in the yard. In the distance the roof of Notre Dame with its towers and its spire. A dark silhouette of old Paris outlines itself against the red sunset. The river Seine is at the base of the picture
SCENE I
Phœbus, Viscount de Gif, M. de Morlaix, M. de Chevreuse, and many other friends of Phœbus, seated at tables, are drinking, and singing; afterward Don Claude Frollo
CHORUS.
Be propitious and well-inclined,
Our Lady of Saint Lo,
To him who only water hates
Of all things here below!
PHŒBUS.
Give to the brave
In every place
A well-filled cellar,
A pretty face.
Happy fellow!
Help him hold
Dainty women,
Wine that's old.
If a beauty
Of cold mien
Be unwilling,
'Tis sometimes seen,
He jokes with her
With merry winks,
Then he sings,
Then he drinks!
The day goes by.
Or drunk or not,
He soon embraces
His Toinotte;
Then ferocious
He goes to bed
In a cannon's mouth,
And sleeps like lead!
And his soul,
Which often seems
To mix up women
With his dreams,
Is contented if the wind,
With its come and go,
Rocks the canvas of his tent
Gently to and fro!
CHORUS.
Be propitious and well inclined,
Our Lady of Saint Lo!
To him who only water hates
Of all things here below.
[Enter Claude Frollo, who seats himself at a table at some distance from Phœbus, and appears at first to observe nothing that passes around him.
VISCOUNT DE GIF (to Phœbus).
That pretty gypsy,
What are you doing with her?
[Claude Frollo makes a movement of attention.
PHŒBUS.
To-night, in an hour,
I have a meeting with her.
ALL.
Truly?
PHŒBUS.
Truly!
[The agitation of Claude Frollo increases.
VISCOUNT DE GIF.
In one hour?
PHŒBUS.
In one moment!
Oh, love! supremest rapture!
To feel one heart holds two!
To own the woman that one loves—
Be slave and conqueror too!
To have her soul; to have her charms,
Her song which fills with bliss;
To see her sweet eyes wet with tears,
To dry them with a kiss.
[While he sings, the others drink and strike their glasses.
CHORUS.
'Tis a rapture supreme,
Whatever one thinks,
To drink to one's love,
And to love what one drinks!
PHŒBUS.
Friends, the prettiest of all,
A grace divine,
Oh, wonder, ecstasy!
Friends, she is mine!
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
I bind myself to hell;
Misfortune on you dwell!
PHŒBUS.
Pleasure awaits us;
Exhaust without remorse
The better part of life,
Love's precious intercourse!
What matter if one dies,
When joy has passed away,
I'd give a century for an hour,
Eternity for a day.
[The curfew rings; the friends of Phœbus arise from the table, replace their swords, their caps, their cloaks, and prepare to depart.
CHORUS.
Phœbus, the hour is come;
It is the curfew-bell:
Hurry to your beloved;
God's blessing on you dwell!
PHŒBUS.
At last the hour is come;
It is the curfew-bell.
I go to my beloved;
God's blessing on her dwell!
[The friends of Phœbus go out.
SCENE II
Claude Frollo, Phœbus. Claude Frollo stops Phœbus as he is about to go out
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Captain!
PHŒBUS.
Who is this man?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Listen to me?
PHŒBUS.
Make haste!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Do you know the name of the one
Who awaits you at the meeting to-night?
PHŒBUS.
By my life, it is my beauty!
The one I love and who loves me.
My song-bird, my dancing gypsy,
My Esmeralda, it is she!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
It is death!
PHŒBUS.
Friend! First, you are an idiot;
Second, go to the devil!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Listen!
PHŒBUS.
What do I care?
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Phœbus, if you cross the threshold of that door—
PHŒBUS.
You are mad!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
You are dead!
Tremble! One of the gypsies she!
No law protects those awful places.
There love's a masquerade for hate,
Death lies concealed in their embraces.
PHŒBUS (laughing).
My dear sir, readjust your cape,
Return unto your fools' retreat!
Strange they allow you to escape!
May Esculapius, Jupiter, the Devil,
Thither conduct your straying feet!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Truly they are faithless women;
Believe that the report speaks true.
Darkness strange and deep surrounds them;
Phœbus! there death waits for you!
[Claude Frollo's earnestness seems to trouble Phœbus, who looks at his interrogator with anxiety.
PHŒBUS.
He astounds me!
Ah, he wounds me,
In spite of myself, with doubt!
This city great
Is full of hate,
And treachery is all about!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
I astound him,
And I wound him,
In spite of himself, with doubt.
The fool, he fears,
And sees and hears
Nothing but treachery about.
Believe me—my lord, avoid the siren
Who lures you to destruction.
More than one gypsy in her rage
Has stabbed a heart palpitating with love.
[Phœbus, whom he tries to drag along, recovers himself and pushes him off.
PHŒBUS.
Have I become a fool?
Gypsy, Jewess, or Moor,
The love that questions what she be
Is love most base and poor.
The fateful hour is come,
Unto my love I fly!
If death be but as sweet as she,
It will be fine to die!
CLAUDE FROLLO (holding him).
Consider! A gypsy!
Your folly is great.
How dare you thus rashly
Trifle with fate!
Oh, dread the false creature
Who waits in the gloom,
And do not thus wildly
Rush to your doom.
[Phœbus exits quickly, in spite of Claude Frollo. Claude Frollo stands gloomy and undecided for a moment; then follows Phœbus.
SCENE III
A chamber. In the background, a window which opens on the river. Clopin Frouillefou enters, bearing a torch. He is followed by several men, to whom he makes a preconcerted sign, and places them in a dark corner, in which they disappear; then he returns to the door and signals to some one to come up. Don Claude appears
CLOPIN (to Claude).
From here you can see the captain
And the gypsy without being seen.
[He shows him an alcove behind some tapestry.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
The men are stationed and ready?
CLOPIN.
They are ready.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
The projector of this must never be known.
Silence! take this purse.
I will give you as much more afterward.
[Claude Frollo hides himself in the alcove. Clopin exits with caution. Esmeralda and Phœbus enter.
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
Oh, woman adored,
Destiny's prey!
She enters in beauty,
In tears goes away.
ESMERALDA (to Phœbus).
My lord the count,
My feelings I try to hide.
My heart is filled with shame,
And filled also with pride.
PHŒBUS (to Esmeralda).
My beauty, white and red,
I beg you blush no more.
Love, entering love's domain,
Leaves fear outside the door.
[Phœbus makes Esmeralda sit down on the bench beside him.
PHŒBUS.
Dost thou love me?
ESMERALDA.
I love thee!
CLAUDE FROLLO (aside).
What torture!
PHŒBUS.
The adorable creature!
Upon my soul, you are divine!
ESMERALDA.
Your lips are flatterers;
You make me feel ashamed.
I beg of you, don't come so near.
CLAUDE FROLLO.
They love each other. How I envy them!
ESMERALDA.
My Phœbus! I owe my life to you.
PHŒBUS.
And I—I owe my happiness to you.
ESMERALDA.
Be good to me!
Oh, try to be
Gentle, I entreat,
To the young maid,
Who much afraid
Trembles at your feet!
PHŒBUS.
Oh, my white queen,
Goddess serene,
Sovereign of beauty,
Whose bright eyes shine
With fires divine
Of passion and of duty!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
I wait for them;
I hark to them.
How tender she,
How handsome he!
How near their doom!
Be joyous he,
And happy she,
While I prepare their tomb!
PHŒBUS.
Nymph or woman,
Saint or human,
Be my wife to me!
All day I yearn,
All night I burn,
Such is my love for thee!
ESMERALDA.
I am woman,
I am human,
And my soul afire,
Trembles ever,
Longs forever,
As throbs a lover's lyre!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Woman, wait!
My flame as great,
My blade must have its turn.
Oh! I admire
These souls afire,
And these hearts which burn!
PHŒBUS.
Be always white and red, my love,
And smile at our bright lot;
Smile sweet at love, which we've awaked,
And chastity, which we've forgot.
Your mouth is heaven—my heaven, love—
My soul would cling in bliss
Upon it, love, and pray that life
Might end with one long kiss.
ESMERALDA.
Your voice delights my ear, love;
Your smile is sweet and free.
The laughing passion in your eyes
Benumbs and conquers me.
Your wishes are my law, love,
But I can't yield to this:
My virtue and my happiness
Might die in that long kiss!
CLAUDE FROLLO.
Don't let them hear your step, Death,
As near to them you creep!
My jealous hatred will keep watch
While their love falls asleep.
From out their arms so closely locked
You'll steal away their bliss!
Phœbus—your wish is granted,
You die for that long kiss!
[Claude Frollo rushes upon Phœbus and stabs him; then he opens the window in the back, through which he escapes. With a great cry, Esmeralda falls upon the body of Phœbus. The men stationed at the corner rush forward, seize her, and seem to accuse her.