The action takes place in a richly decorated bedroom. On one side of the stage there is a fortepiano, on the other an elaborate desk. At the back of the stage are portraits of the Emperor, the Queen’s brother, and the Empress, the Queen’s mother.

FIRST ACT.

FIRST SCENE.

BARNAVE, MADAME ELIZABETH.

MADAME ELIZABETH, eagerly.

Barnave! is that you?

BARNAVE.

The very same, Madame.

MADAME ELIZABETH.

I thought you had left for Coblentz. You must go and join my brothers, you have taken leave of the King and Queen, I fear that this delay could harm the interest that you were able to inspire in them.

BARNAVE.

Alas….

MADAME ELIZABETH.

You sigh. Do you fear being arrested?

BARNAVE.

May it please the Gods that I need only fear arrest: a power stronger than that of the State detains me in Paris despite myself. I wish to flee but at every turn I find a precipice.

MADAME ELIZABETH.

It is true that we are quite unhappy, and that we are more so because our friends are lost on our behalf. You, Barnave, especially, since your unexpected return saved us from the scaffold to which the factious members of the National Assembly wished to send us.

BARNAVE.

Fatal trip to Varenne[s] I saw you Madame, and I lost sight of my Nation’s cause.

MADAME ELIZABETH.

Even in betrayal you are serving it. Barnave, do not regret attaching yourself to the King’s cause. I congratulate myself on innocently making it happen and far from being offended by an illegal love, I accept and appreciate the homage.

BARNAVE, throwing himself at her feet.

Oh divine Princess! What? Could I flatter myself that I have aroused your interest and that the immense distance that separates us will not be a barrier to my feelings?

MADAME ELIZABETH, raising him up.

Barnave, stand up! If we were seen….I can no longer deny it. I love you: but, after this pledge, do not expect me in any way to fail in my duty. I can only be joined to a king. You may lay claim to my heart in silence, citizen, but you will never be my husband.

BARNAVE, vexed.

What? A barbarous prejudice, a tyrannical law, would oppose our happiness. Consider, Madame, that a representative of the people, a Barnave, is worth the Kings that you mention. I only differ from them in this vein of politics, of betrayal. I have imitated them to gain you. What more do I need to be worthy of you?

MADAME ELIZABETH.

Royal blood.

BARNAVE.

Consider that I have redeemed this blood through the one I have spilt, America [still steams] with the blood that you find unacceptable. Cruel one, when maybe I alone have saved the throne for your brother, you disapprove of my birth! Can you have forgotten that perhaps it was dependent on me alone to abolish the monarchy in France. Can you have forgotten your brother’s and the Queen’s supplications at my knees, can you have forgotten your prayers? Barnave, you said with that sweet heavenly voice of yours, be our tutelary God, save us. Then I could have laid claim to your hand. Do you find me less worthy today! And the revision in the Constitution, is that not my work? And the endless agitations in France and America, do they not give me the right to claim you?

MADAME ELIZABETH, aside.

Such noble courage enchants me and is worthy of me. (Aloud?) Ah! Barnave, why has fate placed you in such obscurity….but, someone is coming. I was supposed to instruct you on what is being prepared and I have only spoken of myself. I blush at my own weakness. Farewell, I leave you. I see the Queen, avoid her presence, our love does not serve her interests….(She exits.)

BARNAVE, following her.

I will not leave you, I must claim you, oh my Princess. Ambition and love belong to all men.

He follows her.

SECOND SCENE

MARIE-ANTOINETTE, hair loose, wearing a day dress.

Uncertainty is too dreadful! Death or victory, there is my last word. The storm is formed, the tempest is above me, so be it, the alternative that I am reduced to does not give me enough time to push the explosion further off. (She reflects.)….The crisis will be appalling….(Walking around.) ….Let me cast away all pity from my bosom. My husband, my children, cast yourselves from my eyes to save yourselves. I endanger my days but of what use is a life ceaselessly threatened, of what use is a reign exposed to the common people! And you, anxious King, the most pusillanimous of men, see the fruit of this cowardice that you call virtue! Already there is talk of deferring your power; soon you will be dethroned. What am I saying! A horrible prison, perhaps the scaffold, will be the just reward for a king who did not know how to reign. But I will not be your spouse for in vain; the daughter of Maria Theresa will not in vain have mounted the throne of France in order to descend from it a vile slave. I will drag down with me both the false and the credulous citizens. (She turns away and consults her watch.)

They are late in coming….it’s only six of the clock…may he who calculates his fortune by the speed of a few hours suffer centuries of troubles….what are our forces…Ten thousand National Guardsmen, about fifteen hundred artillerymen….two thousand Swiss guards…. Those will be worth at least four thousand. Ten thousand Knights of the Dagger. I’m not counting on them too much, they are cowards and might betray me, but they’ll make up the numbers. Oh, if only the Faubourgs could have been won on my behalf. I was promised it by that writer of tuppenny sheets. But, to count on those sorts of promises….Those pamphlet writers and all those scribblers on paper are not worth a Marat or a Robespierre. Using the specious language of patriotism they throw everything over in the name of the people, they appear to be in the service of propaganda yet never have leaders of factions better served the cause of Kings. Rushing towards the same goal, they lead two parties simultaneously. I like these enterprising men, they possess the difficult art of profoundly misleading feeble people. They understood from the start that in order to serve me they must beat a path in the opposite direction. Calonne, congratulate yourself, this is your work, and your reward will be proportional to your efforts.

THIRD SCENE.

A FOOTMAN, THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, MARIE-ANTOINETTE.

THE FOOTMAN.

Madame the Princess of Lamballe.

THE QUEEN, running forwards.

Oh, my most loyal friend. I was about to send for you. Have you seen the Princess of Tarente this morning? What did she tell you, what did she do? Can I truly count on the National Guard, are you not both fooling each other?

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

You should have more faith in those who have only your interests at heart. Opinions are divided, the King’s cause will prevail over that of the people.

THE QUEEN.

You think so?

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

I am convinced of it. (She takes out a letter.) Read this.

THE QUEEN, taking the letter and putting her hand on her heart.

Let me see….(She reads.) Madame, the time has come at last for their majesties to leave the distressing situation in which they have found themselves for the last four years. The affair that is planned for the ninth to the tenth (tonight) is known to the combined armies….

(She continues.)….The inhabitants of the border towns and the Kingdom’s interior capitals yearn to open their doors to the foreigner. The Jacobins destroyed, we would be masters of the Nation. At midnight tonight, Marat and Robespierre will incite their faction, the faubourgs will rise up and descend, fully armed, on the chateau. The rallying point of the Royalists is decided, the numbers are formidable, I can count on at least fifty thousand well armed men, furnished with munitions to shoot all the Jacobins in the universe. Madame, the Queen must be warned and she must be told once again to frighten the King, to persuade him to send for the Mayor of Paris to attend him at ten of the clock tonight. The tocsin will ring from the chateau at midnight. I have ordered the entire public force for this night, blood will run. By tomorrow the rebels and the philosophers will be no more. I will not sign my letter, you know me. (End of the letter.)

….At last I can breathe again! For the first time since this odious revolution…..Come, we must renew our courage.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Oh! What could you still fear? Everything is serving your purpose, even hatred. The French are in such a confused state of mind, that they cannot push beyond the recklessness of this supposed liberty, they are actually outdone by it, and only too happy to bend to the power of their erstwhile master, you will soon see them at your feet praising you as before, blessing your virtues and your courage.

THE QUEEN.

Let them do their duty, that is what I demand of them. What do I care for their frivolous love and capricious devotion? Peoples are made for irons. Kings for the good of the world. Nonetheless I will not hide from you my anxieties, it can be with kings as with peoples, often playthings that fate enjoys persecuting. With good reason I fear that fortune is bored. I am not blind. I know my rights, they are only as extensive as the errors of mankind. It is only by propagating them that thrones strengthen themselves. Instruction undermines them, philosophy destroys them and this seductive doctrine fills me with fear.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

I can no longer see, Antoinette, the woman who rivets an astonished universe with her constancy and wit. Is the naturally frivolous character of the French so unknown to her that she despairs of their repentance?

THE QUEEN.

You have said it, I despair of everything and yet I flatter myself….but see, the Princess of Tarente.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Gaiety shines from her eyes.

THE QUEEN, aside.

If I relied on the looks my courtiers adopted I would never need wish for anything more.

FOURTH SCENE.

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE, THE QUEEN, THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE.

All is going well, Madame, you can no longer doubt the attachment and fidelity of your subjects: you will reign once more. Other times, other customs. Previously it was thanks to a respectful love! Today it is through fear and terror: timid citizens, that we name tremblers, who fear the abusive power that a perturbing faction has abrogated. The Jacobins’ propaganda commands despotically, spreading terror and discord. It serves your interests well.

THE QUEEN.

I know: but do you not realise that in this perverse society one finds proud, rigorous philosophers, insolent citizens who despise kings and lean towards a Republic? And if they win there will be no more monarchy, no more hope.

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE, interrupting.

They will be the first to be assassinated. Within the sect there are several parties. The brigands dominate the philosophers. Those that they name, amongst themselves, good citizens have no rallying point.

THE QUEEN.

One can be formed in the eye of the storm. I have all to fear, I know the reversals of kings.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Would you fear the fate of the Tarquins?

THE QUEEN.

Yes, since it must be spoken. They will be strong enough to chase us out. What shame!

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE.

Oh! Do not imagine they are so generous, if the brigands carry the day the King is finished, he will perish on the scaffold like Charles I.

THE QUEEN.

Oh! If at least I could deny them my son’s head! If only before my death, and that of his unfortunate father, I could entrust him to a safe pair of hands who could take him to the bosom of my family. The Tarquins left no descendants. The sons of Charles I troubled England for centuries. What am I saying? They propagated a love of monarchy, each one defended his King: And, you can even witness, among these republicans, that the Robespierres, the Panises, the Marats sense the need for absolute power. The throne or the scaffold, that is where the hope of the ambitious resides.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Why bolster yourself with sinister foreboding? Everything assures the repentance of minds. You can observe that even the partisans of the Revolution have abandoned their parties and all have taken up the defence of the Monarchy.

THE QUEEN.

Speaking well of the Constitution, is that what you call love of monarchy?

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE.

The Queen is right. These men are more redoubtable than the factious! From the Constitution to the Republic is but one step. (To the Princess of Lamballe.) Is this not the sad experience that you yourself have observed? You have seen this woman at your home: through her writings she pursues the factious and kings, and faces all daggers with a stoic courage. Have you not heard her speak to you in the audacious language of a republican? All true constitutionalists are the same, they want an executive power but they want it to be arbitrary, always submitted to the law and the sovereignty of the nation.

THE QUEEN.

Regarding this woman…. is it therefore impossible for us to bring her over to our side? I had charged you to find out….

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, stopping her.

What can you expect from a fanatical heedless scatter-brain, who pays no attention to anyone’s advice, who says anything, prints anything and on whom one cannot count in any way?

THE QUEEN, thoughtfully.

Oh! I do not hate…. these minds, they serve us better than you imagine. See how her national pact agrees with us wholeheartedly, it generates reconciliation, and if this reconciliation had been maintained for two weeks alone, that would have been the end of the Jacobins and the supposed philosophers. These benign spirits, believe me, serve the cause of kings better than the public good they think they are defending. I’m not sure…. but I would have liked to meet this woman.

FIFTH SCENE.

A VALET, THE SAME.

THE VALET, to the Queen.

Madame, forgive me, but circumstances, and my zeal, oblige me to make known to you what is happening in the chateau. A woman who exhibits neither the attitude nor the language of a rebel asks to speak to you. She assures that, having only your interests at heart, she wishes to converse with you. Her discourse is full of wisdom. She draws the attention of the assistants, and if I may repeat, Madame, what is being said in the gallery, you should hear her.

THE QUEEN, looking at the Princesses of Lamballe and Tarente.

What do you advise? Can I receive this woman? (To the Valet.) Were you given her name?

THE VALET.

No, Madame, it is merely said that she is a good patriot.

THE QUEEN.

What can she have to say to me. Meanwhile, each of you, give me your advice.

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE.

Madame, you are the Queen, and you know that etiquette forbids all interviews with commoners. The assassin’s plan, their endeavours, all impose a duty on you not to receive this unknown woman; meanwhile she must be heard so I will go, if you order it….

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

No, I will take charge of receiving her, I suspect that she is this individual. The same woman that we were discussing, and whom you have wished to meet for so long.

THE QUEEN, eagerly.

Show her in.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Stop…. (To the Queen.) Forgive me, you cannot see, or hear her, without compromising your honour, deign, I beg you, to hide in this cabinet; there you will easily overhear our conversation.

THE QUEEN.

I bow to your opinion.

SIXTH SCENE.

THE QUEEN ENTERS THE CABINET WITH THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE, the Valet leaves.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, alone.

If I am not mistaken, this woman is the same one who presented herself to me at the festival for the Mayor of Estampes.

I hope that the Queen will be punished for her curiosity. Her principles are so different to her maxims!…. (Looking at the cabinet.) But you wished for this, you are going to be satisfied.

SEVENTH SCENE.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, OLYMPE DE GOUGES.

THE PRINCESS, aside.

There she is, the audacious woman. Let us humiliate her pride: let us sit down.

OLYMPE, surprised, disdainfully approaches the Princess, looking at her with air of pity, shrugs her shoulders and smiles.

Let us sit down as well. (She takes a seat, sits down and leans her elbow on the fortepiano.)

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, getting up angrily.

What audacity. (To Olympe.) Have you forgotten that your are in the Queen’s apartments, and that this lack of respect could cost you dear?

OLYMPE, laughing openly stays seated.

What a great adventure I wouldn’t swap it for an empire, it will be worthy of a comic scene that will attract all of Paris.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Again….

OLYMPE.

Why not, you endlessly amuse me and I will frankly admit, given that my heart is incensed by the public calamities resulting from the Court’s endless depravations, I had not thought to laugh so heartily with one of its heroines. Really, Madame, in all seriousness, do you chastise me for sitting down when you led the way?

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

My rank, my birth….

OLYMPE.

Vain fantasy; rank and birth never gave you, at any time, the right to offend anyone with impunity. When, great God, did you allow yourself this excess, this superstition, this madness, this extravagance? (Standing up.) But let us stop there, I have not come wishing to take your fantasies away from you, that would be to attempt the impossible, and I certainly do not feel I have the courage to even try. But you are the Queen’s friend; for a long while you have been leading her to the precipitous edge that is opening up at her feet. Such perfidy; you are ruining her and you will create crimes of a type never before seen on earth. I know that the Court is hatching a plot, at least that is what is suspected.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

And you believe it?

OLYMPE.

I believe you capable of anything, there is nothing you would not do, you courtiers, to satisfy your blind ambition. All your efforts will be impotent, the mass of good citizens want liberty and equality. You will all perish; no force, no authority, will be able to alter your resolve. Reason, justice, nature, belong to the national sovereignty; you are nothing now, nothing I tell you…. Meanwhile it still depends on you, vile courtiers, to save this bloody throne, this spectral monarchy imposing centuries of ignorance, censor of the people, and oppressor of the most beautiful rights of man! In the end there is still time to prevent this awful massacre. You are not listening to me….. Heaven….. It is true then: the language of virtue is not the one of courtiers! But do not think that timidity or fear have made me behave this way. I pursue rebels scrupulously. I abhor tyrants but I do not want assassins’ weapons used in order to destroy them. I do not want my nation to be sullied by the blood, even of the guilty. I know that the Court is heading for the same end as these assassins, who under the mask of patriotism cheat good citizens. I want to enlighten my Nation and the monarch, if it is possible that he be worthy of being King of the French: this is the point of such an approach.

EIGHTH SCENE.

THE SAME.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, to her Valet.

Show Madame the way out.

OLYMPE.

To the Queen’s apartments. For the first time she will hear the truth. I see too clearly the reason for it being kept from her ears.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, aside, biting her fingertips.

What a nightmare!…but let me pretend. (Aloud.) The Queen, Madame, cannot be seen. I will not fail to share with her you[r] approach, rest assured, she will [be] informed.

OLYMPE.

Will you repeat my conversation to her accurately, Madame?

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Yes, Madame, it will be as though she heard it herself.

OLYMPE.

That will please me, Madame.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

You can count on it, Madame.

OLYMPE.

Would you be so kind, Madame, as to give her this poster, which should have been placarded these days past but has yet to be put up, such is the credit given to those with evil intent at the moment.

THE PRINCESS DE LAMBALLE, jeering.

The Queen does not accept anything, Madame, but I am surprised at your aversion to the factious! Your language, your writings justify them enough.

OLYMPE.

Say more! I unmask them and that is why you are desperate. I know that these last loathe me as much as the courtiers but what do I care for their hatred, or yours. I do everything for my motherland, I risk my life, I know, but how beautiful it is to lose it for such a fine cause. If either of us perish by the hand of assassins, posterity will approve or revenge our death. That is the only difference that I can find between us. May the fate that threatens us both strike me alone and remind you of a dissenter such as I…Farewell. (She exits with pride)

THE VALET, surprised.

What audacity!

OLYMPE, with contempt.

Lower your eyes, servile valet to a slave.

 

NINTH SCENE.

THE QUEEN and THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE, coming out of the cabinet, THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

THE QUEEN.

What a woman! All my blood froze in my veins!

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

What, Madame, you seem moved. You, so unafraid of any peril, have been affected by the words of a fanatical woman. Oh! I pray, do not allow yourself to be beaten down at a time when you need all your strength.

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE.

A fanatical patriot, a scatter-brain who puts herself forward wanting to teach us a lesson! I admire the Princess of Lamballe’s patience. If I had been in her position I would have had her restrained by my servants for her impertinence.

THE QUEEN, troubled.

This scatter-brain, this fanatic, this audacious woman is perhaps right.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

Do you think so?

THE QUEEN.

I do not know; but if I were in her place I would perhaps think the same and I will admit to you that I view her quite differently than you do. No doubt if she had served my interests, she would have defended them to the death.

The Princess of Lamballe and the Princess of Tarente pull faces.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE.

What! Abase ourselves?

THE QUEEN, interrupting her.

Yes! Caress her folly, flatter her civic duty, her philosophy. These supposed philosophers are so stupid: you see, their patriotism is so strange, so subject to change. Do you think that it cost me any less to flatter, to encourage, everyone who surrounded me? Did you see those proud followers of the Parisian guard spew up insults against me from a distance? Barely had they approached me, than they became pliable, submissive, and then you could hear them praising me, sympathizing with me and taking my defence. In the end this happy return to a majority was thanks to me for however much gold and silver was spread around, nothing prevailed upon hearts as much as my benevolence. My friends, allow me to tell you that for Court minds you lack the art of seducing feeble humans. When one faces adversity one must know how to bow to the rigour of fate in order to triumph over it one day.

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE.

No doubt when dealing with those who are making a mark on the revolution. But a woman, a wayward one, whose only ambition is to create trouble in all parties, and who is detested by all.

THE QUEEN.

That is why I fear her more. Her austere philosophy kills our own interests and may lead to the state no longer wanting a monarchy; it takes skill to change hearts and minds. I know that these can only be seduced by exciting their pity. No doubt it is a great misfortune to have to humiliate oneself to this degree but one must know how to control pride, immolate one’s own amour propre and sacrifice it all to one’s ambition.

 

TENTH SCENE.

THE SAME, THE PRINCE ROYAL, MADAME ROYALE, MADAME ELIZABETH.

THE PRINCE ROYAL, jumping.

‘Three cheers for the Nation! Three cheers for the Nation!’ Sister, why don’t you shout like me, ‘Three cheers for the Nation’? Mama, isn’t it true that we must shout ‘Three cheers for the Nation’?

THE QUEEN, with a forced smile.

Yes, son, we must always shout, three cheers for the nation. (In a whisper.) Let us not alter his innocence, he amuses the people with his cries; it takes a child to deceive the common herd.

MADAME ROYALE.

But Mother, he shatters my ears all day long!

THE PRINCE ROYAL, angrily.

Sister, you are an aristocrat, I know, and I have been told that I am a patriot, so to make you really furious I will sing ‘Ça ira’ and ‘La Carmagnole’, also, the people’s hymn from Marseilles, that will kill all the tyrants on the earth. It is brand new, that one, Mama, no one knows it yet…. A grenadier has just whispered it to me. I will sing it to you, Mama, and then I will sing it to Papa King.

THE QUEEN, dissimulating.

Really, son. (Aside.) Let us pretend, then we will know more about this song!

THE PRINCE ROYAL.

I don’t know it all. But the tune is like this.

MADAME ROYALE.

Do it anyway!

The Prince Royal sings the first couplet of the people’s hymn from Marseilles.

THE QUEEN.

That’s enough, son. That’s enough!

 

ELEVENTH SCENE.

THE SAME, THE KING, SEVERAL PAGES, A FOOTMAN.

[THE FOOTMAN?]

The King!

THE PRINCE ROYAL, running towards the King.

Ah, Papa, did you hear me? It’s pretty that one, isn’t it? It’s as lovely as ‘La Carmagnole’.

THE KING, touching his hand.

What is it? (To the others.) What does he mean?

THE PRINCE ROYAL.

The people’s hymn from Marseilles, don’t you know it yet? It will please you, I promise. You’re not a tyrant, not you. But beware of my sister, and all women, they are all aristocrats, they will have our heads chopped off. You are a good king though, and I, I am not wicked, you know that…. You’re crying…. But I haven’t done anything, will I be killed too? I love the Nation. Oh, I am so pleased with my National Guard uniform. Here, look at me, Papa King. See how I do my drill for you.

THE KING.

My son, my dear son, your gladness breaks my heart. He is happy and I, too unhappy Father, am an even unhappier King. (With sorrow.) My wife, my daughter, my sister, my son! How can I save you?

THE PRINCE ROYAL.

Goodness, what is the matter with you? You make me sad.

THE QUEEN, firmly.

Look at yourself! You are making us all miserable.

THE KING, reassuring himself.

It’s nothing, my son, kiss me. Go to your rooms, and I will join you and we will play together.

THE PRINCE ROYAL.

No, I don’t want to leave you; if they came to take you away, you would be hurt and if I am with you that won’t happen. Everyone knows that I am a patriot and only patriots are popular, you know that.

THE KING.

Alas!….

THE QUEEN.

Go, my son, go to your rooms. (To the footman.) Take Monsieur le Dauphin away. Follow him, daughter.

MADAME ROYALE.

Mama.

THE QUEEN.

Do as you are told.

THE PRINCE ROYAL.

I’d rather go alone, she enrages me too much. And you always send me away. I neither know what you are saying, nor what you are doing. But I know well enough that you don’t love the Nation as I do, and I have been assured that you will be the reason I will never be King. Yet it is so nice to be King when one is a good Citizen. Oh, I know it well, I…Oh my Goodness, what a face you’re all pulling at me! I’m leaving, quick. (He exits with Madame Royale.)

 

TWELFTH SCENE.

THE SAME, THE KING, [CLERMONT TONNERRE, (sic)], SEVERAL PAGES, A FOOTMAN.

THE FOOTMAN.

Monsieur de Clermont Tonnerre!

THE KING.

What has he come to tell us?

CLERMONT TONNERRE, audaciously.

Sire, the moment of vengeance approaches, you will once again sit on the throne of your ancestors.

THE KING, troubled.

This throne will cost me dear…..

THE QUEEN.

What are you saying? Is this how you encourage your faithful subjects? King of the most ancient of empires, when will you cease putting down the sceptre that is still in your hands? And why am I not in your place! My friends, you see him, you hear him, at the moment of triumph he digs his own chasm!

CLERMONT TONNERRE.

Sire, now is not the time to draw back, the faubourgs are rising up. Tonight, they will come to your palace, tonight they will come to assassinate you. Half the armed force is on your side. The officers are all totally devoted to you.Ten thousand nobles are already in the castle, they await your signal. You must conquer or die, Sire, today that is the motto for everyone. Would you be less resolute than your enemies? You hesitate!…. A dark cloud passes over your features….(Throwing himself at his feet.) Oh my King, open your eyes to the abyss that is ready to engulf you. Strengthen your throne that is about to crumble! Save your wife, your children! I expiate my sin at your feet. I repair my wrongs by betraying a perfidious Nation for my King!

THE QUEEN, with tenderness.

Do you hear him? Can you believe him? (She throws herself at his feet.) Oh, my husband, my friend, save your son, his crown and sacrifice me alone.

THE KING, with tenderness.

You! My wife!

MADAME ELIZABETH, throwing herself at his feet.

My brother, my dear brother, let yourself be guided by those who only wish you well.

THE PRINCESS OF LAMBALLE, kneeling.

Oh, my King, I will die for you.

THE PRINCESS OF TARENTE.

I will confront all dangers to defend my King!

THE KING, in the deepest despair.

Very well, I consent to it all!

CLERMONT TONNERRE, getting up quickly.

Knights of the most ancient nobility, come and surround your King.

 

THIRTEENTH SCENE.

THE SAME, a considerable number of KNIGHTS OF THE DAGGER.

THE KING, in distress.

God, I will be the instrument and the accomplice of the worst assassinations! No, I cannot resolve myself to do it. You are all deceiving me; my heart never deceives me. (To his wife.) I always give in to your entreaties, and it has done me no good.

THE QUEEN, in a fury.

It is too late to retract, and I am beside myself at your conduct and its mishaps! Your character, as fickle, as incomprehensible, as the Revolution leads us from one reef to the next, and while our friends risk themselves to open up a favourable path for us, your weakness, or to put it better, your poltroonery, blocks us with its terrifying barrier. Cruel father and perfidious husband, all that is left is for you to deliver up yourself, your wife, your children, into the hands of your executioners. (Pretending to leave.) Order them to open the doors, I will myself….

THE KING, stopping her.

Madame, stop, you will have no cause to complain of me, if I die, if you drive me to destroy myself, your interests, and mine at least I will have obeyed you, there is my defence, what more do you want?

THE QUEEN, dissimulating.

I can feel all the weight of your sacrifices, but you must believe that I only want what is best for you, for our children, and glory for this illustrious nobility that lays down its fortune and its life to fly to our defence.

THE KING, with greater strength.

Their zeal delights me, but what can they do to defend us? They are not armed.

All together they [KNIGHTS OF THE DAGGER] draw a dagger and a pistol from their belts.

[KNIGHTS OF THE DAGGER]

God save the King and our Queen.

The King, afraid, moves back against the Queen and turns his head.

CLERMONT TONNERRE.

Take courage, Sire, they are not your assassins!

THE KING, somewhat emotional.

I was not expecting it, I admit…and the surprise caused my alarm….But among these conspirators is that not Barnave that I see?

BARNAVE, coming out of the ranks.

Yes Sire, it is I. Just as I was leaving to join my brothers, I heard that your Majesty and your august family were surrounded by assassins. And that tonight the chateau is to be besieged and torched. I ran, I flew, to be near my King! Oh, what an agreeable surprise! I see him surrounded by his most faithful subjects. I am admitted to this bellicose nobility. If an illustrious blood does not circulate in my veins, at least my ancestors transmitted courage and a love of our kings. Mandatary of a great people, premier orator of the world, faithful subject of my King, I have perhaps merited a recompense worthy of the cause I serve today.

THE KING.

Barnave, I will remember the services that you have given me.

THE QUEEN.

Do you believe that honours, rewards…..

BARNAVE, interrupting her by looking tenderly at Madame Elizabeth.

I ask for only one, she is dear to my heart.

MADAME ELIZABETH, aside, blushing.

I tremble….

THE QUEEN, considering Madame Elizabeth.

My sister, ah, what shame!

CLERMONT TONNERRE, whispering to the Queen.

Madame, remember that the Mayor of Paris must be called to the King tonight at ten!

THE QUEEN, quietly.

I will take charge of it!

CLERMONT TONNERRE.

I will answer for the rest.

THE QUEEN, considering Madame Elizabeth and noticing that her interests are of more value to her than her sister’s shame, to the King.

Sire, accompany me to my apartment, I need to speak to you…. (To the Knights of the Dagger) I leave you, Gentlemen, for a moment, please believe that, forever, you will be present in my thoughts. (To Clermont Tonnerre.) And you, faithful friend, always serve your King, you know how grateful he is. (She exits giving Barnave a withering look.)

CLERMONT TONNERRE, to the Knights.

Sole supporters of the monarchy, friends of the King, follow me, let us go and prepare to do battle.

 

FOURTEENTH SCENE.

BARNAVE, MADAME ELIZABETH.

BARNAVE, stopping Madame Elizabeth.

You are abandoning me, cruel one, without a word of our plan!

MADAME ELIZABETH.

Ah, Barnave, what have you done, the Queen knows all.

BARNAVE, surprised.

What are you saying, who could have told her?

MADAME ELIZABETH.

You.

BARNAVE.

Me!

MADAME ELIZABETH>

I’m telling you, you and you alone.

BARNAVE, surprised.

How?

MADAME ELIZABETH.

Your look, your language, what more does the most skilful woman of her sex need. Did you not notice the look of utter contempt she gave you as she left?

BARNAVE.

I had eyes for you alone, what do we care of her opinion, since I may only win you by your own accord. If my princess, taking advantage of tonight’s disturbance, consents to follow me, then I would be the happiest of mortals. Far from the court, and far from any factions, the two of us would lead a peaceful life together.

MADAME ELIZABETH.

Oh, Barnave! I fear that our joy is a mere vision, a deceptive dream, and that on awakening it will all be but a terrible outlook! Never mind, I am pleased by its charm, and however much pride courses through my blood thanks to my birth, I have experienced love, I have met my conqueror. I must succumb to your rapture. I obey my feelings, I will follow my spouse!

BARNAVE, enraptured.

Oh, my princess! Tell me the time and the place…..

MADAME ELIZABETH, stopping him.

When the brass resounds through the air, here, at midnight, at the very heart of the unrest, I will open up a path and follow you!

BARNAVE.

Daughter of our kings! I would follow you were you engulfed by flames. At midnight precisely, surrounded by my friends, I will carry off my princess!

MADAME ELIZABETH.

Farewell, may this disturbance that I fear serve my brother’s vengeance and our love!

BARNAVE, proudly.

Never doubt it, you will be fulfilled.

FIFTEENTH SCENE.

BARNAVE.

Fortunate Barnave! Fortunate trip to Varenne! Finally I have arrived where I belong; I will walk alongside kings, Louis XVI on the throne of despotism will not be able to act towards me with the rigour of a particular prejudice. I have saved his crown, in recompense I will marry his sister. I will marry her clandestinely, it is true, but circumstances oblige me to, and when recalled to his court I will be able, in my turn to punish my enemies. Let us not lose time, let us prepare for such a grand enterprise.

End of the first Act.