The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 31

Your Majesty is destroying herself without saving him! The second court is reached. What does the Queen command?

THE QUEEN.

You are all cowards, and Clinton is the worst of all. Ah, Clinton, I will remember this, my friend!

SIMON RENARD.

What does the Queen command?

THE QUEEN.

Oh, to be abandoned by all of you! to have confessed all without obtaining anything! What sort of creatures are these n.o.blemen here?

That populace is infamous! I would like to crush them under my feet.

There are times then, when a queen is nothing but a woman? You will pay dear for this, gentlemen!

SIMON RENARD.

What does the Queen command?

THE QUEEN (_crushed_).

Whatever you will. Do what you like. You are an a.s.sa.s.sin. [_Aside._]

Oh, Fabiano!

SIMON RENARD.

Clarence! Jarretiere! Come here! Master Eneas, open the great balcony of the gallery.

[_The balcony in the back opens. Simon Renard steps out upon it, Clarence at his right, Jarretiere at his left. Immense tumult outside._

THE PEOPLE.

Fabiani! Fabiani!

SIMON RENARD (_on the balcony, turned toward the people_).

In the Queen's name!

HERALDS.

In the Queen's name!

[_Profound silence outside._

SIMON RENARD.

People, the Queen bids you know this: To-day, this very night, one hour after the curfew, Fabiano Fabiani, Earl of Clanbra.s.sil, covered with a black veil from head to foot, bound with an iron gag, a yellow wax candle weighing three pounds in his hand, will be led, by torchlight, from the Tower of London, through Charing Cross, to the old Market-Place of the city, there to be publicly punished and beheaded, for the crimes of high treason and attempt of regicide on the imperial person of the Queen!

[_Immense applause outside._

THE PEOPLE.

Long live the Queen! Death to Fabiani!

SIMON RENARD (_continuing_).

And, in order that no one in this city of London shall ignore it, this is what the Queen orders during the entire journey, which the criminal must make from the Tower of London to the old Market-Place: The great bell of the Tower shall toll; at the moment of the execution, three cannon-shots will be fired--the first, when he mounts the scaffold; the second, when he kneels upon the black cloth; the third, when his head falls. [_Applause._]

THE PEOPLE.

Illuminate! Illuminate!

SIMON RENARD.

This night the Tower and the city of London will be illuminated with lights and torches, in sign of joy. I have spoken. [_Applause._] G.o.d protect the old charter of England!

THE TWO HERALDS.

G.o.d protect the old charter of England.

THE PEOPLE.

Death to Fabiani! Long live Mary! Long live the Queen!

[_The balcony is closed. Simon Renard approaches The Queen._

SIMON RENARD.

What I have just done will never be forgiven me by the Princess Elizabeth!

THE QUEEN.

Nor by Queen Mary. Leave me, sir.

[_She dismisses them all with a gesture._

SIMON RENARD (_low to Master Eneas_).

Master Eneas, look to the execution!

MASTER ENEAS.

Count upon me!

[_Simon Renard goes out. As Master Eneas is about to go, The Queen rushes to him, seizes him by the arm and drags him violently to the front of the stage._

SCENE X