Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated) (1081 page)

into the room from fifes and drums without.  A young lady in a

dressing-gown, who has evidently been awaiting the sound, springs

from the bed like a hare from its form, undraws window-curtains

and opens the window.

Columns of British soldiery are marching past from the Parc

southward out of the city by the Namur Gate.  The windows of

other houses in the street rattle open, and become full of

gazers.

A tap at the door.  An older lady enters, and comes up to the

first.]

YOUNGER LADY
[turning]

O mamma—I didn't hear you!

ELDER LADY

I was sound asleep till the thumping of the drums set me fantastically

dreaming, and when I awoke I found they were real.  Did they wake you

too, my dear?

Younger Lady
[reluctantly]

I didn't require waking.  I hadn't slept since we came home.

ELDER LADY

That was from the excitement of the ball.  There are dark rings round

your eye. 
[The fifes and drums are now opposite, and thrill the air

in the room.]
  Ah—that "Girl I've left behind me!"—which so many

thousands of women have throbbed an accompaniment to, and will again

to-day if ever they did!

YOUNGER LADY
[her voice faltering]

It is rather cruel to say that just now, mamma.  There, I can't look

at them after it! 
[She turns and wipes her eyes.]

ELDER LADY

I wasn't thinking of ourselves—certainly not of you.—How they

press on—with those great knapsacks and firelocks and, I am told,

fifty-six rounds of ball-cartridge, and four days' provisions in

those haversacks.  How can they carry it all near twenty miles and

fight with it on their shoulders!... Don't cry, dear.  I thought

you would get sentimental last night over somebody.  I ought to

have brought you home sooner.  How many dances did you have?  It

was impossible for me to look after you in the excitement of the

war-tidings.

YOUNGER LADY

Only three—four.

ELDER LADY

Which were they?

YOUNGER LADY

"Enrico," the "Copenhagen Waltz" and the "Hanoverian," and the

"Prime of Life."

ELDER LADY

It was very foolish to fall in love on the strength of four dances.

YOUNGER LADY
[evasively]

Fall in love?  Who said I had fallen in love?  What a funny idea!

ELDER LADY

Is it?... Now here come the Highland Brigade with their pipes

and their "Hieland Laddie."  How the sweethearts cling to the men's

arms. 
[Reaching forward.]
  There are more regiments following.

But look, that gentleman opposite knows us.  I cannot remember his

name. 
[She bows and calls across.]
  Sir, which are these?

GENTLEMAN OPPOSITE

The Ninety-second.  Next come the Forty-ninth, and next the Forty-

second—Sir Denis Pack's brigade.

ELDER LADY

Thank you.—I think it is that gentleman we talked to at the

Duchess's, but I am not sure. 
[A pause: another band.]

GENTLEMAN OPPOSITE

That's the Twenty-eighth. 
[They pass, with their band and colours.]

Now the Thirty-second are coming up—part of Kempt's brigade. Endless,

are they not?

ELDER LADY

Yes, Sir.  Has the Duke passed out yet?

GENTLEMAN OPPOSITE

Not yet.  Some cavalry will go by first, I think.  The foot coming

up now are the Seventy-ninth. 
[They pass.]
... These next are

the Ninety-fifth. 
[They pass.]
... These are the First Foot-

guards now. 
[They pass, playing "British Grenadiers."]
... The

Fusileer-guards now. 
[They pass.]
  Now the Coldstreamers. 
[They

pass.  He looks up towards the Parc.]
  Several Hanoverian regiments

under Colonel Best are coming next. 
[They pass, with their bands

and colours.  An interval.]

ELDER LADY
[to daughter]

Here are the hussars.  How much more they carry to battle than at

reviews.  The hay in those great nets must encumber them. 
[She

turns and sees that her daughter has become pale.]
  Ah, now I know!

HE has just gone by.  You exchanged signals with him, you wicked

girl!  How do you know what his character is, or if he'll ever come

back?

[The younger lady goes and flings herself on her face upon the

bed, sobbing silently.  Her mother glances at her, but leaves

her alone.  An interval.  The prancing of a group of horsemen

is heard on the cobble-stones without.]

GENTLEMAN OPPOSITE
[calling]

Here comes the Duke!

ELDER LADY
[to younger]

You have left the window at the most important time!  The Duke of

Wellington and his staff-officers are passing out.

YOUNGER LADY

I don't want to see him.  I don't want to see anything any more!

[Riding down the street comes WELLINGTON in a grey frock-coat and

small cocked hat, frigid and undemonstrative; accompanied by four

or five Generals of his suite, the Deputy Quartermaster-general

De LANCEY, LORD FITZROY SOMERSET, Aide-de-camp, and GENERAL

MUFFLING.]

GENTLEMAN OPPOSITE

He is the Prussian officer attached to our headquarters, through whom

Wellington communicates with Blucher, who, they say, is threatened by

the French at Ligny at this moment.

[The elder lady turns to her daughter, and going to the bed bends

over her, while the horses' tramp of WELLINGTON and his staff

clatters more faintly in the street, and the music of the last

retreating band dies away towards the Forest of Soignes.

Finding her daughter is hysterical with grief she quickly draws

the window-curtains to screen the room from the houses opposite.

Scene ends.]

SCENE V

THE FIELD OF LIGNY

[The same day later.  A prospect of the battlefield of Ligny

southward from the roof of the windmill of Bussy, which stands at

the centre and highest point of the Prussian position, about six

miles south-east of Quatre-Bras.

The ground slopes downward along the whole front of the scene to

a valley through which wanders the Ligne, a muddy stream bordered

by sallows.  On both sides of the stream, in the middle plane of

the picture, stands the village of Ligny, composed of thatched

cottages, gardens, and farm-houses with stone walls; the main

features, such as the church, church-yard, and village-green

being on the further side of the Ligne.

On that side the land reascends in green wheatfields to an

elevation somewhat greater than that of the foreground, reaching

away to Fleurus in the right-hand distance.

In front, on the slopes between the spectator and the village,

is the First Corps of the Prussian army commanded by Zieten, its

First Brigade under STEINMETZ occupying the most salient point.

The Corps under THIELMANN is ranged to the left, and that of

PIRCH to the rear, in reserve to ZIETEN.  In the centre-front,

just under the mill, BLUCHER on a fine grey charger is intently

watching, with his staff.

Something dark is seen to be advancing over the horizon by

Fleurus, about three miles off.  It is the van of NAPOLEON'S

army, approaching to give battle.

At this moment hoofs are heard clattering along a road that

passes behind the mill; and there come round to the front the

DUKE OF WELLINGTON, his staff-officers, and a small escort of

cavalry.

WELLINGTON and BLUCHER greet each other at the foot of the

windmill.  They disappear inside, and can be heard ascending

the ladders.

Enter on the roof WELLINGTON and BLUCHER, followed by FITZROY

SOMERSET, GNEISENAU, MUFFLING, and others.  Before renewing

their conversation they peer through their glasses at the dark

movements on the horizon.  WELLINGTON'S manner is deliberate,

judicial, almost indifferent; BLUCHER'S eager and impetuous.

WELLINGTON

They muster not as yet in near such strength

At Quatre-Bras as here.

BLUCHER

     'Tis from Fleurus

They come debouching.  I, perforce, withdrew

My forward posts of cavalry at dawn

In face of their light cannon.... They'll be here

I reckon, soon!

WELLINGTON [still with glass]

     I clearly see his staff,

And if my eyes don't lie, the Arch-one too....

It is the whole Imperial army, Prince,

That we've before us. 
[A silence.]
  Well, we'll cope with them!

What would you have me do?

[BLUCHER is so absorbed in what he sees that he does not heed.]

GNEISENAU

     Duke, this I'd say:

Events suggest to us that you come up

With all your force, behind the village here,

And act as our reserve.

MUFFLING

     But Bonaparte,

Pray note, has redistributed his strength

In fashion that you fail to recognize.

I am against your scheme.

BLUCHER
[lowering his glass]

     Signs notify

Napoleon's plans as changed!  He purports now

To strike our left—between Sombreffe and Brye....

If so, I have to readjust my ward.

WELLINGTON

One of his two divisions that we scan

Outspreading from Fleurus, seems bent on Ligny,

The other on Saint-Amand.

BLUCHER

     Well, I shall see

In half an hour, your Grace.  If what I deem

Be what he means, Von Zieten's corps forthwith

Must stand to their positions: Pirch out here,

Henckel at Ligny, Steinmetz at La Haye.

WELLINGTON

So that, your Excellency, as I opine,

I go and sling my strength on their left wing—

Manoeuvring to outflank 'em on that side.

BLUCHER

True, true.  Our plan uncovers of itself;

You bear down everything from Quatre-Bras

Along the road to Frasnes.

WELLINGTON

     I will, by God.

I'll bear straight on to Gosselies, if needs!

GNEISENAU

Your Excellencies, if I may be a judge,

Such movement will not tend to unity;

It leans too largely on a peradventure

Most speculative in its contingencies!

[A silence; till the officers of the staff remark to each other

that concentration is best in any circumstances.  A general

discussion ensues.]

BLUCHER
[concludingly]

We will expect you, Duke, to our support.

WELLINGTON

I must agree that, in the sum, it's best.

So be it then.  If not attacked myself

I'll come to you.—Now I return with speed

To Quatre-Bras.

BLUCHER

     And I descend from here

To give close eye and thought to things below;

No more can well be studied where we stand.

[Exeunt from roof WELLINGTON, BLUCHER and the rest.  They reappear

below, and WELLINGTON and his suite gallop furiously away in the

direction of Quatre-Bras.  An interval.]

DUMB SHOW
[below]

Three reports of a cannon give the signal for the French attack.

NAPOLEON'S army advances down the slopes of green corn opposite,

bands and voices joining in songs of victory.  The French come

in three grand columns; VANDAMME'S on the left
[the spectator's

right]
against Saint-Amand, the most forward angle of the Prussian

position.  GERARD'S in the centre bear down upon Ligny.  GROUCHY'S

on the French right is further back.  Far to the rear can be

discerned NAPOLEON, the Imperial Guard, and MILHAUD'S cuirassiers

halted in reserve.

This formidable advance is preceded by swarms of tirailleurs, who

tread down the high wheat, exposing their own men in the rear.

Amid cannonading from both sides they draw nearer to the Prussians,

though lanes are cut through them by the latter's guns.  They drive

the Prussians out of Ligny; who, however, rally in the houses,

churchyard, and village green.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

I see unnatural an Monster, loosely jointed,

With an Apocalyptic Being's shape,

And limbs and eyes a hundred thousand strong,