Semiramis and Other Plays Part 42

Mir. The traitor!

We have no need of him! To France, Bazaine, And tell your Emperor our Emperor Needs not his fickle strength to stand upon!

Sire, we have men, and money in our banks--

Lab. A mighty church whose power is untold If you restore her rights, as now we hope, And thus united we shall defy the world!

Max. And Heaven, too? For that is what we do When we set up the church in her old wrongs.

Nay, keep your aid, and I will keep my soul.

Lop. Your virtuous angel strives to make you G.o.d.

Max. No, but to keep me honest.

Mar. (Aside to Lab.) Yield to him.

'Tis not the hour to cast him off.

Lab. My lord, Your virtue conquers, and unto your hands I yield the power o' the church.

Max. I thank your grace, Nor for myself, but Mexico.

Baz. I go to France.

What message have you for Napoleon?

Max. Tell him that he has placed me here between Death and dishonor--and my choice is made.

(Bazaine and French amba.s.sadors turn slowly and go out)

Max. (Quietly to Miramon) We'll join you at the door.

(Exeunt all but Carlotta and Maximilian. He holds out his arms, and she goes silently to his embrace)

(CURTAIN)

ACT IV.

Scene I: Queretaro. Plaza La Cruz before church and convent. Grey light before dawn. Occasional distant firing of guns. Maximilian comes out of church and walks about plaza.

Max. Carlotta! Where dost thou pray to-night? In all Our fearful scanning of prophetic heavens No swart star showed us this--our separation.

Thou wert the all of me, the breath, the soul!

Nature conceived thee when her blood was young, And May was in her spirit, but stayed thy birth Till Time had taught her skill in all perfections!

... I will not weep.... Yon stars have memories too, And tell old tales of grandsire suns that shook Their locks and fell ere they were young who now Are eld of all!... (Walks) To lie so low.... O man, Who in the heavens carvest out redemption, Laying thy golden streets in very skies, Making the stars but eyets of thy port, Must thou compact thee to a little earth, Displace some few small tenants of the sod, And find thou 'st room enough?... (Looks up) City of dream!

Time's far ghost inn! Eternity's mirage!

Desire's dim temple fas.h.i.+oned out of prayer, Builded and jointured by no carpenter But captious Fancy!... O Carlotta, wife!

Thou wert my Christian heart! Faith, faith, my G.o.d!

Death to the unbeliever is to land Upon a coast dumb in the moonless dark, Where no hands wave a welcome, no eyes s.h.i.+ne With promise of sweet hours, no voices call The greeting that makes every sh.o.r.e a home.

(Listens) My officers! I can not see them yet.

(Goes in. Enter Colonel Lopez in close talk with Lieutenant Garza who is disguised as an Imperial officer)

Garza. I'm satisfied.

Lopez. This hill is the key to the city.

Gar. Yes.

Lop. And yours on terms we have considered.

Gar. Here's Escobedo's guarantee. (Gives paper)

Lop. This to my pocket, and Queretaro to the Liberals!

Gar. 'Tis heavy business. You do it lightly, colonel.

Lop. The world's a feather.

Gar. If we but think so.

Lop. At dawn my troops are yours.

Gar. And you command the Empress' regiment.

Lop. Yes. The pick of Maximilian's soldiers.

Gar. One other question. The southern gate--Hist!

Lop. The nuns. (They draw aside and converse. Two nuns come out of convent and cross plaza)

1st Nun.

The good Emperor is not out yet. He is often here long before day walking and thinking, 'Tis then, they say, his mind is on the blessed Empress who has gone across the sea to get help for him. By day he never speaks her name, but thinks only of our poor country.

2d Nun. Hark! The enemy's guns! They can not reach us.

1st Nun.

Can not? A sh.e.l.l broke here yesterday. The Emperor stood just there.

2d Nun. Holy mother! What did his Majesty do?

1st Nun.

He smiled, and said he might have chosen his place better; then moved to the very spot where the ball had burst, as though he hoped another would follow it.

2d Nun. Blessed virgin! Would he die?

1st Nun.

I'm sure he would not live. Come, sister. Ah, we have but one loaf this morning.

2d Nun. Let us be glad we can give that,--for many are hungry.