JOSÉPHINE
Some other Fair, then. You whose name can nod
The flower of all the world’s virginity
Into your bed, will well take care of that!
[Spitefully.] She may not have a child, friend, after all.
NAPOLÉON [drily]
You hope she won’t, I know!—But don’t forget
Madame Walewska did, and had she shown
Such cleverness as yours, poor little fool,
Her withered husband might have been displaced,
And her boy made my heir.—Well, let that be.
The severing parchments will be signed by us
Upon the fifteenth, prompt.
JOSÉPHINE
What—I have to sign
My putting away upon the fifteenth next?
NAPOLÉON
Ay—both of us.
JOSÉPHINE [falling on her knees]
So far advanced—so far!
Fixed?—for the fifteenth? O I do implore you,
My very dear one, by our old, old love,
By my devotion, don’t cast me off
Now, after these long years!
NAPOLÉON
Heavens, how you jade me!
Must I repeat that I don’t cast you off;
We merely formally arrange divorce—
We live and love, but call ourselves divided.
[A silence.]
JOSÉPHINE [with sudden calm]
Very well. Let it be. I must submit! [Rises.]
NAPOLÉON
And this much likewise you must promise me,
To act in the formalities thereof
As if you shaped them of your own free will.
JOSÉPHINE
How can I—when no freewill’s left in me?
NAPOLÉON
You are a willing party—do you hear?