The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 58

_The Comedians_, Marion, Didier

A LACKEY (_conducting the Comedians to the barn_).

This is your lodging. You're on the estate Of the Marquis de Nangis. Behave well, Try to be quiet, for some one is dead.

The burial is to-morrow. Above all, Don't mix your songs with the funereal chants Which will be sung for him throughout the night.

GRACIEUX (_small and hump-backed_).

We'll make less noise than do your hunting-dogs Who bark around the legs of all who pa.s.s!

LACKEY.

Dogs are not actors, my good friend.

TAILLEBRAS (_to Gracieux_).

Be still!

You'll cause us to sleep in the open air!

[_Lackey exits._

SCARAMOUCHE (_to Marion and Didier, who until now have remained quietly apart_).

Come! let us talk. Now you belong to us.

Why Monsieur fled with Madame on behind, If you are man and wife or lovers only, Escaping justice, or black sorcerers Who held Madame a prisoner, perhaps-- Is not my business. What I want to know Is what you'll act. Chimenes are best for you, Black eyes.

[_Marion makes a courtesy._

DIDIER (_aside, indignant_).

To hear that mountebank speak thus!

SCARAMOUCHE (_to Didier_).

For you: if you should want a splendid part, We need a bully--a long-legged man, Tremendous strides, a thundering voice; and when Orgon is robbed of wife or niece, you kill The Moor and terminate the piece. Great part!

High tragedy! 'Twill suit you splendidly.

DIDIER.

Just as you please!

SCARAMOUCHE.

Good! Don't say "you" to me!

I like "thou"! [_With a profound obeisance._ Bl.u.s.terer, hail!

DIDIER (_aside_).

What fools!

SCARAMOUCHE (_to the other actors_).

Now eat; Then we'll rehea.r.s.e our parts.

[_All enter the barn except Marion and Didier._

SCENE VI

_Marion, Didier; afterward Gracieux, Saverny, afterward Laffemas_

DIDIER (_with bitter laugh, after a long silence_).

Is't bad enough?

My Marion, have I dragged you low enough?

You wished to follow me? My destiny Precipitates itself and crushes you, Bound to its wheel! What are we come to now?

I told you so!

MARION (_trembling and clasping her hands_).

Do you reproach me, love?

DIDIER.

Oh, may I be accursed! Cursed first by Heaven, Then cursed 'mongst men: cursed throughout all my life; Cursed more than we are now, if a reproach Shall ever leave my lips for you! What matter Though all the earth abandon me, you're mine!

You are my savior, refuge, all my hope!

Who duped the jailer, filed my chains for me?

Who came from heaven to follow me to h.e.l.l?

Who was a captive with the prisoner, An exile with the fugitive? Ah, who, Who else had heart so full of love and wit, Heart to sustain, console, deliver me?

Great, feeble woman, have you not saved me From destiny, alas! and my own soul?

Had you not pity on my nature, crushed?

Have you not loved one whom all others hate?

MARION (_weeping_).

It is my joy to love you--be your slave.

DIDIER.

Leave me your eyes, dear; they enrapture me!

G.o.d willed, when placing soul within my flesh, A demon and an angel should guide me.

Yet he was merciful; his love concealed The demon, but the angel he revealed.

MARION.

You are my Didier, master, lord of me!

DIDIER.

Your husband, am I not?