He has exiled my mother!
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
But he thinks He does your will. He"s faithful. He is firm And sure.
THE KING.
I hate him! He is in my way.
He crushes me! I am not master here-- Not free! And yet I might be something. Ah, When he walks o"er me with such heavy tread, Does he not fear to rouse a slumbering king?
For trembling near me, be it ne"er so high, His fortune vacillates with every breath I draw, and all would crumble at a word, Did I wish loud, what I wish in my heart!
[_A pause._ That man makes good men bad, and bad men vile!
The kingdom, like the king, already sick, Grows worse. Without is cardinal, within Is cardinal; no king is anywhere!
He torments Austria, lets any one Capture my vessels in Gascony"s Bay.
Allies me with Gustavus Adolphus!
What more? I do not know. He"s everywhere: As if he were soul of the king, he fills My kingdom, and my family, and me.
I am much to be pitied. [Going to window.
Always rain.
DUKE DE BELLEGARDE.
Your Majesty is suffering?
THE KING.
I am bored.
[_A pause._ I am the first in France and yet the last!
I"d change my lot to lead a poacher"s life-- To hunt all day; to have no cares to fret The pleasures of the chase; to sleep "neath trees; To laugh at the King"s officers, to sing During the storm; to live as freely in the woods As birds live in the air. The peasant in His hut, at least, is master and is king; But with that scarlet man forever there, Forever stern and cold, and speaking thus, "This must be your good pleasure, sire!" Oh, outrage!
This man conceals me from my people"s gaze.
As with young children, he hides me beneath His robe; and when a pa.s.ser-by asks, "Who Is that behind the Cardinal?" they say, "The King!" Then there are new lists every day.
Last week the Huguenots; the duelists To-day! He wants their heads. Such a great crime-- A duel! But the heads; what does he do With them?
[_Duke de Bellegarde stamps his foot. Enter Marquis de Nangis and Marion._
SCENE VII
_The same. Marion, Marquis de Nangis. Marquis de Nangis advances with his escort to within a few steps of The King; he kneels there.
Marion falls on her knees at the door_
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
Justice, my sire.
THE KING.
Against whom? Speak!
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
Against a cruel tyrant--against Armand, Called here the cardinal-minister!
MARION.
Mercy, My sire!
THE KING.
For whom?
MARION.
For Didier!
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
And for him, Gaspard de Saverny!
THE KING.
I"ve heard those names.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
Justice and mercy, sire!
THE KING.
What t.i.tle?
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
Sire, I am uncle of one.
THE KING.
And you?
MARION.
I"m sister Unto the other!
THE KING.
Why do you come here, Sister and uncle?
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (_indicating first one of The King"s hands, then the other_).
To entreat mercy From this hand, and justice from that! My sire, I, William, Marquis de Nangis, Captain Of Hundred Lances, Baron of Mountain And Field, do make appeal to my two lords-- The King of France and G.o.d, for justice "gainst Armand du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu.