Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated) (1055 page)

Now I'll be bright as ever—you must, too.

MARIE LOUISE

I'll try.

[Reaching the entrance to the Salon-Carre amid strains of music

the EMPEROR and EMPRESS are received and incensed by the CARDINAL

GRAND ALMONERS.  They take their seats under the canopy, and the

train of notabilities seat themselves further back, the persons-

in-waiting stopping behind the Imperial chairs.

The ceremony of the religious marriage now begins.  The choir

intones a hymn, the EMPEROR and EMPRESS go to the altar, remove

their gloves, and make their vows.]

SPIRIT IRONIC

The English Church should return thanks for this wedding, seeing

how it will purge of coarseness the picture-sheets of that artistic

nation, which will hardly be able to caricature the new wife as it

did poor plebeian Josephine.  Such starched and ironed monarchists

cannot sneer at a woman of such a divinely dry and crusted line like

the Hapsburgs!

[Mass is next celebrated, after which the TE DEUM is chanted in

harmonies that whirl round the walls of the Salon-Carre and quiver

down the long Gallery.  The procession then re-forms and returns,

amid the flutterings and applause of the dense assembly.  But

Napoleon's face has not lost the sombre expression which settled

on it.  The pair and their train pass out by the west door, and

the congregation disperses in the other direction, the cloud-

curtain closing over the scene as they disappear.

ACT SIXTH

SCENE I

THE LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS

[A bird's-eye perspective is revealed of the peninsular tract of

Portuguese territory lying between the shining pool of the Tagus on

the east, and the white-frilled Atlantic lifting rhythmically on

the west.  As thus beheld the tract features itself somewhat like a

late-Gothic shield, the upper edge from the dexter to the sinister

chief being the lines of Torres Vedras, stretching across from the

mouth of the Zezambre on the left to Alhandra on the right, and

the south or base point being Fort S. Julian.  The roofs of Lisbon

appear at the sinister base, and in a corresponding spot on the

opposite side Cape Roca.

It is perceived in a moment that the northern verge of this nearly

coast-hemmed region is the only one through which access can be

gained to it by land, and a close scrutiny of the boundary there

reveals that means are being adopted to effectually prevent such

access.

From east to west along it runs a chain of defences, dotted at

intervals by dozens of circular and square redoubts, either made

or in the making, two of the latter being of enormous size.

Between these stretch unclimbable escarpments, stone walls, and

other breastworks, and in front of all a double row of abatis,

formed of the limbs of trees.

Within the outer line of defence is a second, constructed on the

same shield-shaped tract of country; and is not more than a twelfth

of the length of the others.  It is a continuous entrenchment of

ditches and ramparts, and its object—that of covering a forced

embarkation—is rendered apparent by some rocking English

transports off the shore hard by.]

DUMB SHOW

Innumerable human figures are busying themselves like cheese-mites

all along the northernmost frontage, undercutting easy slopes into

steep ones, digging ditches, piling stones, felling trees, dragging

them, and interlacing them along the front as required.

On the second breastwork, which is completed, only a few figures move.

On the third breastwork, which is fully matured and equipped, minute

red sentinels creep backwards and forwards noiselessly.

As time passes three reddish-grey streams of marching men loom out

to the north, advancing southward along three roads towards three

diverse points in the first defence.  These form the English army,

entering the lines for shelter.  Looked down upon, their motion

seems peristaltic and vermicular, like that of three caterpillars.

The division on the left is under Picton, in the centre under Leith

and Cole, and on the extreme right, by Alhandra, under Hill.  Beside

one of the roads two or three of the soldiers are dangling from a

tree by the neck, probably for plundering.

The Dumb Show ends, and the point of view sinks to the earth.

SCENE II

THE SAME.  OUTSIDE THE LINES

[The winter day has gloomed to a stormful evening, and the road

outside the first line of defence forms the foreground of the stage.

Enter in the dusk from the hills to the north of the entrenchment,

near Calandrix, a group of horsemen, which includes MASSENA in

command of the French forces, FOY, LOISON, and other officers of

his staff.

They ride forward in the twilight and tempest, and reconnoitre,

till they see against the sky the ramparts blocking the road they

pursue.  They halt silently.  MASSENA, puzzled, endeavours with his

glass to make out the obstacle.]

MASSENA

Something stands here to peril our advance,

Or even prevent it!

FOY

     These are the English lines—

Their outer horns and tusks—whereof I spoke,

Constructed by Lord Wellington of late

To keep his foothold firm in Portugal.

MASSENA

Thrusts he his burly, bossed disfigurements

So far to north as this?  I had pictured me

The lay much nearer Lisbon.  Little strange

Lord Wellington rode placid at Busaco

With this behind his back!  Well, it is hard

But that we turn them somewhere, I assume?

They scarce can close up every southward gap

Between the Tagus and the Atlantic Sea.

FOY

I hold they can, and do; although, no doubt,

By searching we shall spy some raggedness

Which customed skill may force.

MASSENA

     Plain 'tis, no less,

We may heap corpses vainly hereabout,

And crack good bones in waste.  By human power

This passes mounting!  What say you's behind?

LOISON

Another line exactly like the first,

But more matured.  Behind its back a third.

MASSENA

How long have these prim ponderosities

Been rearing up their foreheads to the moon?

LOISON

Some months in all.  I know not quite how long.

They are Lord Wellington's select device,

And, like him, heavy, slow, laborious, sure.

MASSENA

May he enjoy their sureness.  He deserves to.

I had no inkling of such barriers here.

A good road runs along their front, it seems,

Which offers us advantage.... What a night!

[The tempest cries dismally about the earthworks above them, as

the reconnoitrers linger in the slight shelter the lower ground

affords.  They are about to turn back.

Enter from the cross-road to the right JUNOT and some more

officers.  They come up at a signal that the others are those

they lately parted from.]

JUNOT

We have ridden along as far as Calandrix,

Favoured therein by this disordered night,

Which tongues its language to the disguise of ours;

And find amid the vale an open route

That, well manoeuvred, may be practicable.

MASSENA

I'll look now at it, while the weather aids.

If it may serve our end when all's prepared

So good.  If not, some other to the west.

[Exeunt MASSENA, JUNOT, LOISON, FOY, and the rest by the paved

crossway to the right.

The wind continues to prevail as the spot is left desolate, the

darkness increases, rain descends more heavily, and the scene is

blotted out.]

SCENE III

PARIS.  THE TUILERIES

[The anteroom to the EMPRESS MARIE LOUISE'S bed-chamber, in which

are discovered NAPOLEON in his dressing-gown, the DUCHESS OF

MONTEBELLO, and other ladies-in-waiting.  CORVISART the first

physician, and the second physician BOURDIER.

The time is before dawn.  The EMPEROR walks up and down, throws

himself on a sofa, or stands at the window.  A cry of anguish comes

occasionally from within.

NAPOLEON opens the door and speaks into the bed-chamber.]

NAPOLEON

How now, Dubois?

VOICE OF DUBOIS THE ACCOUCHEUR
[nervously]

     Less well, sire, than I hoped;

I fear no skill can save them both.

NAPOLEON
[agitated]

Good god!

[Exit CORVISART into the bed-room.  Enter DUBOIS.]

DUBOIS
[with hesitation]

Which life is to be saved?  The Empress, sire,

Lies in great jeopardy.  I have not known

In my long years of many-featured practice

An instance in a thousand fall out so.

NAPOLEON

Then save the mother, pray!  Think but of her;

It is her privilege, and my command.—

Don't lose you head, Dubois, at this tight time:

Your furthest skill can work but what it may.

Fancy that you are merely standing by

A shop-wife's couch, say, in the Rue Saint Denis;

Show the aplomb and phlegm that you would show

Did such a bed receive your ministry.

[Exit DUBOIS.]

VOICE OF MARIE LOUISE
[within]

O pray, pray don't!  Those ugly things terrify me!  Why should I be

tortured even if I am but a means to an end!  Let me die!  It was

cruel of him to bring this upon me!

[Exit NAPOLEON impatiently to the bed-room.]

VOICE OF MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU
[within]

Keep up your spirits, madame!  I have been through it myself and I

assure you there is no danger to you.  It is going on all right, and

I am holding you.

VOICE OF NAPOLEON
[within]

Heaven above!  Why did you not deep those cursed sugar-tongs out of

her sight?  How is she going to get through it if you frighten her

like this?

VOICE OF DUBOIS
[within]

If you will pardon me, your Majesty,

I must implore you not to interfere!

I'll not be scapegoat for the consequence

If, sire, you do!  Better for her sake far

Would you withdraw.  The sight of your concern

But agitates and weakens her endurance.

I will inform you all, and call you back

If things should worsen here.

[Re-enter NAPOLEON from the bed-chamber.  He half shuts the door,

and remains close to it listening, pale and nervous.]

BOURDIER

     I ask you, sire,

To harass yourself less with this event,

Which may amend anon: I much regret

The honoured mother of your Majesty,

And sister too, should both have left ere now,

Whose solace would have bridged these anxious hours.

NAPOLEON
[absently]

As we were not expecting it so soon

I begged they would sit up no longer here....

She ought to get along; she has help enough

With that half-dozen of them at hand within—

Skilled Madame Blaise the nurse, and two besides,

Madame de Montesquiou and Madame Ballant—-

DUBOIS
[speaking through the doorway]

Past is the question, sire, of which to save!

The child is dead; the while her Majesty

Is getting through it well.

NAPOLEON

     Praise Heaven for that!

I'll not grieve overmuch about the child....

Never shall She go through this strain again

To lay down a dynastic line for me.

DUCHESS OF MONTEBELLO
[aside to the second lady]

He only says that now.  In cold blood it would be far otherwise.

That's how men are.

VOICE OF MADAME BLAISE
[within]

Doctor, the child's alive! 
[The cry of an infant is heard.]

VOICE OF DUBOIS
[calling from within]

Sire, both are saved.

[NAPOLEON rushes into the chamber, and is heard kissing MARIE

LOUISE.]

VOICE OF MADAME BLAISE
[within]

A vigorous boy, your Imperial Majesty.  The brandy and hot napkins

brought him to.