And banners!
Dietrichstein.
What a business!
My Lord!
The Duke.
I'm dumb!
Dietrichstein.
A little late, my Lord!
What will Prince Metternich—? These people here!
The Duke.
Moreover, that's as far as I have got.
My dear professor—
[He coughs.]
Dietrichstein.
Oh, you're coughing! Water!
The Duke.
I've made good progress with my history?
Dietrichstein.
And yet no books come near you! That I'm sure of!
Obenaus.
When Metternich discovers—
The Duke.
You won't tell him!
The blame would fall on you.
Dietrichstein.
We'd best keep still,
And ask his mother to expostulate.
[He knocks at Maria Louisa's door.]
The Duchess—?
Scarampi.
[Appearing.]
She is ready. You may come.
[Dietrichstein goes in.]
The Duke.
[Mockingly to Obenaus.]
Your course, Ad usum, sir, Delphini, sir,
Is finished, sir!
Obenaus.
I can't think how you learnt—!
[Maria Louisa comes in in great agitation, in a
superb ball-dress, and with her cloak on. Obenaus
and Dietrichstein go out quietly.]
Maria Louisa.
Oh Heavens! what is't again? What must I hear?
Perhaps you will explain—
The Duke.
[Showing her the open window.]
My mother, look,
The day is hushed, but for belated birds.
Oh, with what tenderness the gloaming fades!
The trees—
Maria Louisa.
What, you! Can you feel nature's beauty?
The Duke.
Perhaps.
Maria Louisa.
Perhaps you will explain—
The Duke.
Oh, mother,
Inhale the perfume. All the forest floats
Into the chamber on its breath!
Maria Louisa.
Explain!
The Duke.
With every gust a branch is wafted in!
A fairer miracle than that which scared
Macbeth; the forest is not walking only,
Not like a mad thing walking; lo! on wings
The scented evening sets the forest flying!
Maria Louisa.
What! You can be poetical!
The Duke.
At times.
[Distant music is heard.]
Listen! A waltz. An ordinary waltz;
Yet distance gives it dignity. Who knows?
Journeying through the woods the master haunted.
Under the cyclamen, among the bracken,
It may have chanced upon Beethoven's soul!
Maria Louisa.
What! Musical as well!
The Duke.
Yes; when I choose.
I do not choose! I hate the mystery
Of sounds! And in a lovely sunset, feel
With dread some fair thing growing soft within me!
Maria Louisa.
That fair thing in your heart, my son, is I!
The Duke.
You said it.
Maria Louisa.
Do you hate it?
The Duke.
I love you.
Maria Louisa.
Then think a little ere you do me harm.
My father and Prince Metternich are so good!
When the decree, for instance, made you Count,
I said, Not Count; Duke at the least; for Duke
Is something. And you're Duke of Reichstadt.
The Duke.
Lord of Gross-Bohen, Buchtiehrad, Tirnowan,
Schwaden, Kron-Porsitschan—
Maria Louisa.
And then, the tact!
Your father's name was never mentioned once!
The Duke.
Why not have called me "Son of unknown Father"?
Maria Louisa.
With your estates and revenues you can be
The pleasantest and richest Prince of Austria.
The Duke.
The richest Prince?
Maria Louisa.
And pleasantest—
The Duke.
Of—Austria!
Maria Louisa.
Enjoy your happiness.
The Duke.
I drain its lees.
Maria Louisa.
First in precedence after the Archdukes,
Some day you'll marry with a fair Princess,
Or an Archduchess, or perhaps a—
The Duke.
Ever
I see what once my childish eyes caught sight of:
His little throne, whose back was like a drum,
And, made of gold, more splendid since Saint Helena.
Upon that back the simple little N,
The letter which cries No to time!
Maria Louisa.
But—
The Duke.
Yes!
The N with which he branded Kings!
Maria Louisa.
The Kings
Whose blood runs through your mother's veins and yours!
The Duke.
I do not need their blood! What use to me?
Maria Louisa.
A glorious heritage!
The Duke.
Oh, paltry!
Maria Louisa.
What!
Not proud to bear the blood of Charles the Fifth?
The Duke.
No! for it courses in the veins of others!
But when I tell myself I bear in mine
A Corsican Lieutenant's blood, I weep
To see the thin blue trickle at my wrist.
Maria Louisa.
Franz!
The Duke.
And the old blood can but harm the new.
If I bear blood of Kings, let me be bled.
Maria Louisa.
Silence!
The Duke.
What am I saying, after all?
If ever I had yours long since I've lost it.
His blood and yours have fought in me, and yours
Was put to flight, as usual, by the other.
Maria Louisa.
Peace, Duke of Reichstadt!
The Duke.
Metternich, the fool,
Thought to scrawl "Duke of Reichstadt" o'er my name.
But hold the paper up before the sun:
You'll see "Napoleon" in the watermark!
Maria Louisa.
My son!
The Duke.
You called me Duke of Reichstadt? No!
But would you have my veritable name?
'Tis what the people call me in the Prater
As they make way: The Little Bonaparte!
I am his son! and no one's son but his!
Maria Louisa.
You hurt me.
The Duke.
Ah, forgive me, mother, mother.
Go to the ball, forget my frenzied words.
You need not even trouble to repeat them
To Metternich, my mother.
Maria Louisa.
Do you think so?
The Duke.
Softly the waltz floats through the evening air;
No, tell him nothing; that will save you trouble.
Forget it all: you, who forget so quickly!
Maria Louisa.
Yet—
The Duke.
Think of Parma, of the Sala palace,
And of your happy life. Is this a brow
To bear the shadow of an eagle's wing?
Ah! but I love you more than you can think!
/>
And take no heed of aught—not even—O gods!—
Of being faithful: I'll be that for both.
Come, let me thrust you gently toward the ball;
Good-night, The mosses must not wet your feet.
Your headdress is perfection.
Maria Louisa.
Do you think so?
The Duke.
The carriage waits. It's fine. The night is clear.
Good-night, Mamma; enjoy yourself.
[Maria Louisa goes out. The Duke sinks in a
chair before his table.]
Alas,
Poor mother!
[His manner changes, and he draws books and
papers toward him.]
Now! to work!
[The wheels of a departing carriage are heard.
The door at the back opens gently and Gentz
is seen introducing a woman wrapped in a
cloak.]
Gentz.
She's gone.
[He calls the Prince.]
Prince!
The Duke.
[Turning and seeing him.]
Fanny?
Fanny Elssler.
Franz!
Gentz.
[Aside.]
Farewell to dreams of Empire!
Fanny.
[In the Duke's arms.]
Franz!
Gentz.
[Going out.]
Capital!
Fanny.
[Lovingly.]
My Franz!
[The door closes on Gentz. Fanny quickly
leaves the Duke and speaks respectfully after
making a profound curtsey.]
My Lord!
The Duke.
[After looking round to assure himself Gentz is gone.]
To work!
Fanny.
[Swinging herself on to the table.]
I've learnt whole chapters for to-day!
The Duke.
Go on.
Fanny.
So, then, while Marshal Ney marched through the night,
The Generals Gazan—
The Duke.
[Learning the names by heart.]
Gazan—
Fanny.
Suchet—
The Duke.
Suchet—
Fanny.
Kept up a lively cannonade;
And at the earliest dawn the Imperial Guard—
Curtain.
THE SECOND ACT
The Duke's cabinet at Schönbrunn. It is the famous Lacquered Chamber. At the back is a window opening on a balcony. In the distance, at the end of a beautiful avenue, the "Gloriette," a Corinthian Portico. There are two doors on the left, and two on the right. Between these doors stand two large Louis XV. consoles. There is a large writing-table and other furniture in the styles of Louis XIV. and Louis XV. In the right-hand corner in front stands a large swinging mirror, with its back to the audience.
At the rise of the curtain Sedlinzky (the Prefect of the Police), the Usher, and a number of Lackeys are discovered.
Sedlinzky.
That's all?
First Lackey.
That's all.
Sedlinzky.
Nothing abnormal?
Second Lackey.
Nothing.
Third Lackey.
Eats little.
Fourth Lackey.
Reads a lot.
Fifth Lackey.
Sleeps very badly.
Sedlinzky.
[To the Usher.]
And can you trust his personal attendants?
The Usher.
Why, they are all professional policemen,
As you, the Prefect of Police, must know.
Sedlinzky.
Thank you. I fear the Duke may find me here.
First Lackey.
No, sir; he's out.
Second Lackey.
As usual at this hour.
Third Lackey.
In uniform.
Fourth Lackey.
And with his Aides-de-Camp.
The Usher.
There are manœuvres.
Sedlinzky.
Well, be keen and tactful.
Let him not know he's watched.
The Usher.
I'm very cunning.
Sedlinzky.
Not too much zeal! I dread a zealous man.
Don't listen at his keyhole in a crowd.
The Usher.
I've given that duty to a special man.
Sedlinzky.
To whom?
The Usher.
The Piedmontese.
Sedlinzky.
Ah yes; he's clever.
The Usher.
I place him every evening in this chamber
Immediately his Highness seeks his room
Sedlinzky.
Is he here now?
The Usher.
No. As he wakes all night
He sleeps by daytime, while the Duke is out.
He'll be here when the Duke is.
Sedlinzky.
Let him watch.
The Usher.
Trust me.
Sedlinzky.
[Glancing at the table.]
The papers—?
The Usher.
[With a smile.]
Searched.
Sedlinzky.
[Stooping under the table.]
The basket, too?
[Seeing scraps of paper under the table, he hastily
kneels to examine them.]
These scraps?
[He tries to read.]
Perhaps a letter?
[Urged by professional curiosity he creeps under
the table.]
But from whom?
[The Duke enters in the uniform of an Austrian
officer, followed by his Staff. The Lackeys
hurriedly range themselves.]
The Duke.
[Seeing Sedlinzky's legs protruding from under the
table; very simply.]
Why, how are you, Sedlinzky?
Sedlinzky.
[Emerging amazed on all fours.]
Highness!
The Duke.
An accident. Excuse me. Just come in.
Sedlinzky.
[Standing.]
You knew me? Yet I was—
The Duke.
Flat on your stomach?
Oh yes, I knew you.
[He sees the Archduchess, who enters hurriedly
carrying a large album.]
Ah, I feared as much!
They've frightened you.
The Archduchess.
They told me—
The Duke.
It was nothing.
The Archduchess.
But yet—
The Duke.
[Seeing Doctor Malfatti enter.]
The doctor! But I am not ill!
[To the Archduchess.]
Nothing. A choking. So I left parade.
I had been shouting.