ALEXANDER [quickly]
No, sire. She’s twenty-nine. If traits teach more
It means that cruel memory gnaws at her
As fair inciter to that fatal war
Which broke her to the dust!... I do confess
[Since now we speak on’t] that this sacrifice
Prussia is doomed to, still disquiets me.
Unhappy King! When I recall the oaths
Sworn him upon great Frederick’s sepulchre,
And—and my promises to his sad Queen,
It pricks me that his realm and revenues
Should be stript down to the mere half they were!
NAPOLÉON [cooly]
Believe me, ’tis but my regard for you
Which lets me leave him that! Far easier ’twere
To leave him none at all.
[He rises and goes to the window.]
But here they are.
No; it’s the Queen alone, with Berthier
As I directed. Then the King will follow.
ALEXANDER
Let me, sire, urge your courtesy to bestow
Some gentle words on her?
NAPOLÉON
Ay, ay; I will.
[Enter QUEEN LOUISA OF PRUSSIA on the arm of BERTHIER. She
appears in majestic garments and with a smile on her lips, so
that her still great beauty is impressive. But her eyes bear
traces of tears. She accepts NAPOLÉON’S attentions with the
stormily sad air of a wounded beauty. Whilst she is being
received the KING arrives. He is a plain, shy, honest-faced,
awkward man, with a wrecked and solitary look. His manner to
NAPOLÉON is, nevertheless, dignified, and even stiff.
The company move into the inner half of the room, where the
tables are, and the folding-doors being shut, they seat themselves
at dinner, the QUEEN taking a place between NAPOLÉON and ALEXANDER.]
NAPOLÉON
Madame, I love magnificent attire;
But in the present instance can but note
That each bright knot and jewel less adorns
The brighter wearer than the wearer it!
QUEEN [with a sigh]
You praise one, sire, whom now the wanton world
Has learnt to cease from praising! But such words
From such a quarter are of worth no less.
NAPOLÉON
Of worth as candour, madame; not as gauge.
Your reach in rarity outsoars my scope.
Yet, do you know, a troop of my hussars,
That last October day, nigh captured you?
QUEEN
Nay! Never a single Frenchman did I see.
NAPOLÉON
Not less it was that you exposed yourself,
And should have been protected. But at Weimar,
Had you but sought me, ’twould have bettered you.
QUEEN
I had no zeal to meet you, sire, alas!