Chapter II: Part 2

Cut their bonds; set them free! Make way for them there! (_To the peasants._) Peasants of Morbec! Last night you rose against your lord and strove To burn his house, to slay his guest and him. How shall he speak to you to-day? Poor fools! Distraught and blind you struck ere that you looked, And struck at one who fain would be your friend, Who has his vision of a seigneur’s right! These are the towers of Morbec, but I Am not Baron Henri, blind that ye are! I am Baron René, remember my name. Bread you shall have, I will think of your wrongs. No foe am I! There are the open doors. Back to the village go! but look you well. Mistake no more, it will be dangerous! Creep not this way again in the dark night, Or you may meet an ancient Lord of Morbec! More loyal grow, cease all your traitorous talk, Raise not Rebellion’s head or it will find A soldier of the King with armèd heel! Mistake no more! This once I pardon you. Begone! The fields await you and the wind Sits fair for Quiberon! Begone. (_To_ YVETTE _and_ SÉRAPHINE.) Stay!

[_The peasants press in confusion toward the doors
of the château._

THE PEASANTS

Live Baron René!

LALAIN

O Breton fools!—Yvette!

[YVETTE _does not answer. She looks at_ DE VARDES.

THE MARQUISE (_with strained laughter_)

High justice at Morbec!

THE VIDAME

Mille diables!
The wretches all go free!

COUNT LOUIS

Is this Morbec? Mort de ma vie! What is it that you do, Monsieur le Baron de Morbec?

DE VARDES

My pleasure, Monsieur le Comte de Château-Gui, upon My peasants of Morbec!

_CURTAIN_

_ACT II_

_The garden of the Convent of the Visitation at Nantes. Long lines
of fruit trees which appear to sleep in the sunshine. In the
middle of the garden a stone fountain, where rises and falls a
little jet of water. To the left the white buildings of the
convent; in the background, between the convent and the street, a
high garden wall, the tops of trees, and the roof and spire of a
church. There is a barred door in the wall. The doors and windows
of the convent parlour giving upon the garden are open. It is the
summer of 1792._

_A nun appears for a moment at the door of the convent, then
vanishes, and_ DE VARDES _and_ YVETTE _enter the garden_.

DE VARDES

What hast thou learned to-day?

YVETTE

In history: The battles of Rossbach and of Minden! The Peace of Paris—

DE VARDES

Indeed!

YVETTE

Philosophy:
Man is born free—but who will break his chains?

DE VARDES

It is a question truly!

YVETTE

Theology: God is the father of us all—and yet I think I know how feels an orphan child!

DE VARDES

Defeat of France, Rousseau, and Modern Doubt! And hast thou learnt all this in convent walls?

YVETTE

No!

DE VARDES

They are good to thee, the Sisters all?

YVETTE

Monseigneur, yes!

DE VARDES

When I did place thee here After that day thou didst not burn Morbec! I gave the Reverend Mother straitest charge,— This convent oweth much to the De Vardes. They have enriched it oft, and it in turn Refuge hath given unto noble dames. Oft did she sit beside the fountain there, That Duchess Jeanne whose look thou wearest now!

YVETTE

Oh!—

DE VARDES

How mournfully thou sighest! Yet How glorious are thine eyes this lovely day! Thou’rt well, and thou art happy, art thou not?

YVETTE

There is no hunger here, no cold, no care! I ever wished to learn and here I learn, Here where the Duchess Jeanne did sit forlorn,— And then I pray within the chapel there, And then I count the stars as they are lit,— And then I think of all the lights of Nantes!

DE VARDES

It hath been many days I’ve been away, To Morbec and to Vannes and to Vitré.

YVETTE

I thought that thou wouldst never come again!

DE VARDES

Didst think the night had ceased to long for day? Didst think the tide no more obeyed the moon? The reed no longer bowed unto the wind?

YVETTE

Ah, do not jest!—There’s blood upon thy coat!

DE VARDES

‘Tis nothing!—We have had hard words to-day, My men and I!

[_He gazes around at the quiet garden._

O holy peace! O balm! O green and sunny quietude! Outside There’s tumult, heat, confusion, enmity! Here is a haven, here ‘tis blissful sweet!

[_They sit upon the marge of the fountain._

All is dismay and doubt in France to-day. With troubled eyes men question destiny! Outside I front the storm as best I may, But here is anchorage profound and fair— There fruit trees drifting bloom, this fountain marge!

YVETTE

I better love the wild and desolate shore!

DE VARDES

What is that ribbon closed within thy hand?

[_Yvette opens her hand and shows a ribbon cockade._

The tricolour!

YVETTE

Wilt thou not wear it?

DE VARDES

No!

YVETTE

It was my favour—Fare you well, monsieur!

DE VARDES

I might not wear that ribbon, no, not if It were thy favour truly, Vivien! Ah, when will cease this discord of our minds? Wilt thou forever be a Jacobin?

[_A distant bugle, followed by a roll of drums and
martial music._

YVETTE

_Aux armes, Citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!_

DE VARDES

Where learned’st thou the Marseillaise?

YVETTE

‘Tis in the air! Oh, on these moonlight nights I dream of France and how he spoke to me Of all the wrongs of France we should redress!

DE VARDES

Who spoke to thee?

YVETTE

Rémond Lalain.

DE VARDES

Rémond Lalain was once my closest friend. He travels now a dark and winding way!

YVETTE

Where is she now, that lady bright and fair Who’s named La Belle Marquise in Morbihan?

DE VARDES

She is in Nantes.

YVETTE

Ah!—Is she not fair?

DE VARDES

Most fair.

YVETTE

And nobly born?

DE VARDES

And nobly born.

YVETTE

Alas!

_Enter_ SISTER BENEDICTA.

SISTER BENEDICTA

Monsieur le Baron de Morbec,— A courier, in haste, foam-flecked and spent, Demands to speak with you.

DE VARDES

What tidings now?
Ill news like ravens to a cumbered field!
I come, my Sister!
(_To_ Yvette.) I’ll return.

[_Exeunt_ DE VARDES _and_ SISTER BENEDICTA.

YVETTE

Alas! She is in Nantes! He sees her every day. What is this pain that’s tearing at my heart?

[_Laughing voices of young girls. Enter from the
convent_ SISTER FIDELIS _and_ SISTER SIMPLICIA
_with a cluster of young girls, pupils of the nuns or
refugees from Royalist families. They seat themselves
upon the wide steps of the fountain._ YVETTE
_leans against the basin and plays in the water with
her hand_.

A YOUNG GIRL (_to_ YVETTE)

We’re telling stories!

ANOTHER

Finish thine, Louise!

LOUISE

‘Tis told. The beau prince wed the belle princesse, And they lived happily ever after!

A YOUNG GIRL

Whose turn now?

ANOTHER

Tell us a story, Yvette!

YVETTE (_turning from the fountain_)

_Beneath the halfway tree,
‘Tween Josselin and Pontivy,
Suddenly, out of the dark,
I heard a grey wolf bark!
Hoée! Hoée! Hoée!_

_The snow was on the ground,
The shadows all around,
Laid a finger on my lip,
As I stood, hand on hip,
Listening the grey wolf bark.
Hoée! Hoée! Hoée!
Beneath the halfway tree,
‘Tween Josselin and Pontivy!_

_A little child came by.
“Yvette, the wolf is nigh!
Yvette, take thou me up,
I’ve neither bite nor sup!”
Hoée! Hoée! Hoée!_

_The child came to my arm.
He was so fair and warm!
The child came to my arm,
I kept him safe from harm!
Hoée! Hoée! Hoée!_

_A light grew round his head,
I felt all cheered and fed.
“Yvette, have thou no fear!
Who giveth aid, to me is dear!”
Hoée! Hoée! Hoée!
The child no longer pressed,
White snow lay on my breast!_

_The grey wolf ran away,
Hoée! Hoée! Hoée!
There broke a splendid day,
Beneath the halfway tree,
‘Tween Josselin and Pontivy!_

SISTER FIDELIS

A miracle?

YVETTE

I do not know.

A YOUNG GIRL

I liked best
The beau prince and the belle princesse.

ANOTHER GIRL

Oh,
Thou’rt an Aristocrat!

[_The young girls return to their embroidery._ YVETTE
_plays in the water of the fountain with her hand_.

YVETTE

Gold fish, gold fish,
How are the fish of Quiberon?

A YOUNG GIRL

Were I A fairy prince, then my princess should be Madame la Marquise de Blanchefôret!

ANOTHER

If I Were a princess, I would have for my prince Monsieur le Baron de Morbec.

[YVETTE _turns from the fountain_.

A THIRD GIRL

They say That in all France there’s none more brave than he! And far and near she’s called La Belle Marquise! A little while and there’ll a wedding be!

THE FIRST

But then, the poor Yvette! He is, you know, Her prince!

[_They laugh._

YVETTE

Oh, mockery!

SISTER FIDELIS

Hush, children, hush!
Monsieur le Baron is her benefactor!

SISTER SIMPLICIA

He plucked her from the dreadful world outside!

SISTER FIDELIS

He placed her here beneath Our Lady’s care.

SISTER SIMPLICIA

In everything he is her truest friend!

SISTER FIDELIS

But for his condescension, ah, who knows What in these fearful days might be her lot! Here in this fold she’s safe.

YVETTE (_aside_)

Alas! alas!

A YOUNG GIRL

Oh, she is fairer than the fairy queen! Clarice de Miramand and Blanchefôret!

YVETTE (_aside_)

Is she so fair? Is she so fair indeed? I broke her fan—now she will break my heart!

A YOUNG GIRL

He is a knight like Lancelot!

YVETTE

Oh me!
She is the Queen, she is that Guinevere!

[_Distant music. The noise of footsteps and voices in
the street beyond the wall._

A YOUNG GIRL

Oh, outside the wall what is there passing?

SISTER FIDELIS (_severely_)

We have nothing to do with outside the wall.

A YOUNG GIRL (_indicating the door in the wall_)

Might we open the door a little way?

SISTER FIDELIS

The blessed saints forbid!

[_From the street are heard the drums and fifes of
passing National troops. The bayonets of the soldiers
are visible above the wall._

VOICES (_in the street_)

_Allons, enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!_

A YOUNG GIRL

Oh, soldiers!

ANOTHER

Were the wall only down!

[_The circle about the fountain breaks. The young
girls walk up and down beneath the trees. The Sisters
watch them from a garden bench. The music
dies away._ YVETTE _sits upon the stone marge of the
fountain_.

YVETTE

What is this pain that’s tearing at my heart? What matters it to me whom he doth love? And what concern of mine that she is fair? I would she were not so!—Oh, misery! She is in Nantes, she is La Belle Marquise! I would that she were dead!

[_The chapel bell rings._

O Seigneur Dieu! Her death! I do not wish her death! Not I! O Our Lady! let not ill thoughts possess me! I would I were at Morbec this still eve, Herding the cows amid the golden broom, Above a sea of glass without a wind, As stagnant calm as is this prisoned water! I would gather the musk rose in the lane, I would tread the wet sand and count the ships, My brow would not burn, my heart would not ache, No tears from my eyes would I wipe away! Why should they not fall like the winter rain? I am the herd girl here as at Morbec, And she’s a great lady, loved for herself! O love! is it love that stifles me so? O love! is it love that makes me weep? I thought that love was all splendour and light, The bow in the sky, the bird at its height, The glory and state of an angel bright! What is this pain that burdens all my heart?

[_She bows her head upon her knees. The hum of the
street deepens to a continuous and sinister sound.
In the distance a roll of drums._ YVETTE _raises her
head_.

I sit by this fountain, he’ll not return! He cares not for me,—he’s the Sieur de Morbec, And I a herd girl wandering through his fields! Mother, my mother, did you sit and wait, By the wild sea rim on a glowing eve, Mid the brown seaweed on the shining sands? Your heart did it beat, and your senses swim?— But your lover, the fisher, he came, he came!

[_The voice of the street deepens._

I will not have this pain! I’ll tear it out!

[_Her hand touches the purple mark on her throat._

Ha! how burns this hateful mark to-day!

[_There comes from the church towers of Nantes a
sudden and violent crash of bells._

SISTER FIDELIS (_rising_)

The tocsin!

THE YOUNG GIRLS (_They flutter forward to the
fountain_)

The tocsin! Oh, the tocsin!
Like a hive of bees hums the street without!

YVETTE

Oh, all ye iron bells! ring on! ring on!

_Enter_ MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI _and_ SISTER BENEDICTA.

THE YOUNG GIRLS

Here is Mademoiselle de Château-Gui! She’ll tell us why the bells are ringing!

MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI

O Ciel! Would you believe it? O blessed saints above! The country is in danger!

A YOUNG GIRL

Oh! we thought
You brought us news!

MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI (_joyously_)

Do you not hear the bells? Oh, such a day outside! It is proclaimed! _La patrie est en danger!_

[_Distant trumpets._

Well you may wail, You brazen trumpets of the Revolution! The Duke of Brunswick he is marching now, And with him all our nobles back from Coblentz! O bliss! _La patrie est en danger!_

SISTER FIDELIS

Oh, hush!
The very walls have ears!

MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI

My father says The King shall have his own again, and all Will go as merry as a wedding bell! _La patrie est en danger!_

_Enter_ COUNT LOUIS, MELIPARS DE L’ORIENT, _and the_
ABBÉ DE BARBASAN.

Oh, here are
My father and Monsieur de L’Orient!

DE L’ORIENT

So sweet the flowers here—

COUNT LOUIS (_to the young girls_)

Mesdemoiselles, One garden of rosebuds time hath not touched! (_To the Sisters._) In your prayers, my Sisters, name Château-Gui!

[_The young girls curtesy, then exeunt between the
trees._ YVETTE _remains beside the fountain_. COUNT
LOUIS _looks at her through his glass_.

Ha!

DE L’ORIENT

The herd girl of Morbec!

COUNT LOUIS

I have eyes,
De L’Orient!

THE ABBÉ

Hm!—Fair child!

YVETTE (_coldly_)

Citoyen!

MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI

Monsieur de L’Orient, you promised me My father should not walk abroad to-day!

DE L’ORIENT

What could I do? He is so young and rash!

COUNT LOUIS (_taking snuff_)

‘Tis true that Nantes is dangerous to-day To all save those wild beasts the sans-culottes! But that’s no reason I should stay at home. Where is De Vardes? His man said he was here. It is his wont, pardieu!

SISTER FIDELIS

Monsieur le Comte, Monsieur the Baron of Morbec did come To see that all was well with this our charge— A peasant girl, monsieur, whom he did save From cold and hunger and ill company. But now she prospers and we think that he Will come no more.

YVETTE

Jesu Maria!

COUNT LOUIS (_with satisfaction_)

Ma foi! He is a soldier is De Vardes! He camps One day beside the hedgerow in the field! The next he’s for some royal mount of love, High as the snow and splendid in the sun! Since he’s not here I know where else he is!

DE L’ORIENT (_sings_)

_Mignonne, Mignonne!
Kiss me, rose of to-day!_

YVETTE

O heart! O world! O hedgerow in the field!

COUNT LOUIS

Well, well, her mother was as fair as she! Clarice de Miramand, long-dead Clarice! Her hair was golden too.—Old times, old times! And now it is De Vardes and the Marquise!

[COUNT LOUIS, MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI, _and_ DE
L’ORIENT _walk up and down beneath the trees_. DE
L’ORIENT _sings_.

DE L’ORIENT

_Mignonne, Mignonne!
The red rose fades away!
Mignonne, Mignonne!
The white rose will not stay!_

THE ABBÉ

My dear, that is a pretty wrist of thine!

YVETTE

Citoyen!

THE ABBÉ

Hast said thy rosary to-day?

YVETTE

Citoyen!

THE ABBÉ

A melting eye!

YVETTE

Citoyen!

THE ABBÉ

Dame! She is only good to burn châteaux!

[_He joins_ COUNT LOUIS, _etc. They walk and talk
beneath the trees._

YVETTE

The high of heart bide no man’s scorning! I Will break these bonds! I will be free! I will! O royal mount of love, snow-high, sun-kissed, Kissed by the sun which once did shine on me! If I am of the fields—

[_Her hand touches the mark upon her throat. She
laughs._

O hated flower, Which grew beneath no hedgerow on this earth! Teach me, thou poison blossom, pride of heart! Where is that Duchess Jeanne whom I am like? They say for love her heart did rive in twain, But now she smiles beside a shadowy stream In some far land where none do die of love! And where is he, Jehan the fisherman, Who loved Yvonne, who met the sea and died? They died for love who should have lived for hate! I’ll live—

_Enter_ DE VARDES. COUNT LOUIS, _etc., come forward_.

Oh, here’s the soldier! Now we’ll know
How blow the winds around the camp of love!

COUNT LOUIS

What is it, René de Vardes? What is it, man?

DE VARDES

The King hath left the Tuileries! The mob Forced the château and put his life in danger. The Swiss are murdered, cut down to a man! The Grenadiers joined with the Marseillaise! De Maillé writes—the courier’s just arrived— All is distraction, danger, and despair!

SISTER FIDELIS

Alas!

MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI

O Ciel!

THE ABBÉ

The soldiers in revolt.

DE L’ORIENT

The Swiss all murdered—the stanch Swiss!

SISTER SIMPLICIA

Alas!

COUNT LOUIS

The King hath left the Tuileries!

DE VARDES

To-night
I ride to Paris.

YVETTE

O God!

THE ABBÉ

To Paris!
As well say that you ride to death, De Vardes!

COUNT LOUIS

Ah, were I young again, I’d ride with you!

SISTER FIDELIS

Alas, they say it is a fearful place!

SISTER SIMPLICIA

It is so safe in Nantes!

DE VARDES

Ah, my Sister, Because it is so safe in Nantes I go! Once I did love this people; once I thought Beyond this Revolution lay the morn, The dewy morn of a most noble day! It may be so; I know not; but I am A soldier of the King. Needs must I go, My bugles call; I’m breaking camp. Farewell!

SISTER FIDELIS

You will return.

DE VARDES

If I’m in life I will!

YVETTE

O Our Lady! O Our Lady!

[_The noise in the street increases. The tocsin rings.
The sky begins to darken before an approaching
storm._

COUNT LOUIS

Ring on! Ye bells! ring on to the deaf sky! O France, Of old thou wast a pleasant land and free, In palace and in field a courteous place! Now thou art desolate! Come, Austria, come! Come, D’Artois, come, Brunswick, and come, Provence! Rend the tricolour from the breast of France And plant the fleur-de-lis where stood the Jacobins!

VOICES (_from the street_)

_Quoi! ces cohortes étrangères
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers!_

MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI

Hast said farewell to the Marquise?

DE VARDES

Not yet,
As far as Vannes I ride beside her coach.

YVETTE

Oh!—

MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI

Soon or late, she’ll draw you back to Nantes!
Now will she not?

DE VARDES (_smiling_)

Perhaps.

YVETTE

Jesu Maria!

SISTER FIDELIS

Monsieur, if you must go, oh, rest you sure Jealously will we guard and spotless keep The soul you stooped and drew from the foul mire!— Yvette, come make your reverence to your lord!

YVETTE

I kiss your hand, monseigneur!

THE ABBÉ

There will be
A storm to-night!

COUNT LOUIS

Come, come, René de Vardes!
I’d see the courier who brought this news!

DE VARDES

I’ll follow you, Monsieur le Comte!

[_Exeunt_ COUNT LOUIS, _his daughter_, DE L’ORIENT,
THE ABBÉ, _and the Sisters_.

YVETTE

Wilt thou go?

DE VARDES

I must.

YVETTE

Why must thou go? To-day the kingdom fell! Oh, in the dust Of old things let it rest for evermore! Take up the Revolution!

[_Lightning._

Oh, see! The flaming sword before the gates of Eden! Thou’rt safe within the garden! Go not forth. Go not to Paris! Stay in Nantes, ah, stay! Wear the tricolour—

[_Thunder._

Hark! It is the voice, The menacing voice of the Republic! It threatens thee, it threatens all who pass That flaming sword, to lift the thing that was And is not any more! Oh, let it lie!— Thou’lt not to Paris?

DE VARDES

To-night, Citoyenne!
Ah, thou art skilful at betraying!

YVETTE

Quoi!

_Enter_ SISTER BENEDICTA.

SISTER BENEDICTA

Monsieur le Baron de Morbec, the page Of Madame la Marquise de Blanchefôret Attends—

YVETTE

Name of a name!

THE ABBÉ (_appearing in the door behind_ _Sister
Benedicta_)

De Vardes, De Vardes!
You gather the furze while the red rose waits!

DE VARDES

At once, my Sister!

(_To_ YVETTE.) Ah, not in anger, Must thou and I part for this little while! If I’m in life I will return, be sure, To Nantes and all this garden loveliness, Those fruit trees and this fountain!—Fare thee well. The nuns will care for thee; I’ve ordered all. Too fierce of aspect is the world without! Here is fair peace, security, and calm; Here thou art fenced from storm and violence. Abide thou here until I come again!

[_Lightning._

YVETTE

The flaming sword!

DE VARDES

Hearest thou not, Yvette,
How sings the lark in Paimpont Wood to-day?

YVETTE

I hear the dirge of the salt sea!

DE VARDES

And there, Seest thou not through yonder trees the stone, The Druid Stone where thou didst lie in sleep?

YVETTE

I see a broken fan!

DE VARDES

Abide thou here And dream of Paimpont Wood until I come. I too will dream, I too will dream, Yvette!

YVETTE

Is not Clarice a lovely name?

DE VARDES

Why, yes, A very lovely name.—Farewell, farewell! I’ll see thy face, be sure, this very night, Upon the road before me as I ride.

YVETTE

Oh, fare you well beneath the silver moon As slow you ride beside a lady’s coach, Discoursing of the dazzling, snowy heights! I kiss your hand, monseigneur! Fare you well!

[THE ABBÉ’S _voice is heard from the doorway_.

THE ABBÉ

De Vardes! De Vardes!

DE VARDES

I come!

THE ABBÉ

The rose awaits!—

YVETTE

It is too much!

DE VARDES

Farewell, thou spirit of Paimpont!

[_Distant music._

YVETTE

Ah, ah! ‘tis worth all else—the Marseillaise!

DE VARDES

My Duchess Jeanne—

YVETTE

She is dead: cold and dead!

_Aux armes, Citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!_

DE VARDES

Perverse and strange!

YVETTE

I’ll to my beads. Adieu!

_Over Ys, the sunken town,
When thou sailest look not down,
Mariner, mariner!_

DE VARDES

What wine hast thou drunken?

YVETTE

An old wine—

_For there dwells a fairy there
Will drag thee down by the long hair,
Mariner, mariner!_

DE VARDES

Oh, thou art too wilful!

THE ABBÉ

De Vardes! De Vardes!

YVETTE (_to the fish in the fountain_)

Gold fish, gold fish, how are the fish of Quiberon?

DE VARDES

Thou sullen witch, adieu!

[_Exit_ DE VARDES.

YVETTE

Monseigneur! ah! He’s gone! He’s gone to meet the fairy queen! He’s for the roses and the dazzling peaks! The seaweed and the furze he’s left behind! He’s left the storm, he’s left the storm and me!

[_The convent bell rings._

Toll, toll! as though thou’d toll my soul away! Thou canst not toll him back! Oh, woe is me!

[_The nuns sing in the chapel._

VOICES

_O salutaris Hostia!
Quae coeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur fer auxilium!_

[_Above the wall where it is shadowed by a fruit
tree, appear the head and shoulders of_ LALAIN. _He
draws himself up to the coping, watches_ YVETTE
_for a moment, then swings himself down to the garden.
He has a rose in his hand._

YVETTE

Where is the sunshine gone? Where is the gold? It was a lovely day! ‘Tis cold and dead; No light, no warmth, no cheer!—Oh, presently Those two will take the summer road to Vannes! Ha! does he think that I will meekly stay Within this convent close, will kneel and pray, Day in, day out, for all true lovers’ weal? What is there now to do?—O Jealousy! I dream of Paimpont Wood in June! I’ll dream Of sunlit peaks, of roses named Clarice; I’ll dream of furze that’s set about with thorns And clings unto the common earth which bore it!

[_A roll of thunder._

On, on! It suits my mood, the crashing sound!— Jehan the fisherman! rise from the sea, Lay thy cold hand upon the heart of her Who’s not thy child, and teach her how to hate! Yvonne who parted from the earth one night, Come through the storm that darkens overhead And teach thy daughter how to hate! Thou too, Thou other one, thou seigneur high and grand Whose signet burns upon my aching throat, Whose nature stirs within me suddenly, Arise from hell and teach me how to hate!

[_Thunder._

VOICES FROM THE CHAPEL

_Tantum ergo sacramentum
Veneremur cernui_—

YVETTE

O Our Lady! O Our Lady! O Our Lady!

[LALAIN _throws the rose. It falls beside_ YVETTE.

Oh!—

[_She raises the flower to her lips._ LALAIN _comes
forward_.

Thou! I thought it was—I thought it was. Go! No rose of thine would I have kissed, Rémond Lalain!

[_With a wild petulance she throws down the flower
and treads upon it._

LALAIN

Now for that deed of thine
I will not spare him when the day is mine!

YVETTE

Of whom speakest thou?

LALAIN

The Citoyen Vardes.

YVETTE

Let him be!

LALAIN

The Citoyenne Blanchefôret.

YVETTE

Again!

LALAIN

‘Tis said the two will shortly wed— A fitting match!—She’s fair and nobly born. Thou mightst have seen, thou mightst have seen last night, Walking by moonlight beside the Loire, A lady the fairest and a great lord!

YVETTE

Say’st thou?

LALAIN

Beneath the trees, beside the flood,
Toying and whispering, the sword and fan!

YVETTE

Out and alas! Begone, thou torturer!

LALAIN

Oh, those old days when by the shore we walked While sank the sun beneath the emerald waves, And wild sea birds flashed all their silver wings, And long we talked of France and liberty! How thou art tamed, Yvette, Yvette Charruel! Thou carest not now for France and liberty!

YVETTE

It is not true! Thou knowest that I care!

LALAIN

This sultry night I speak to patriot hearts Of War, Dumouriez, Brunswick, Capet! All Nantes will throng to hear me where I stand, In the Church of Saint Jean, who’s now become, From crypt to spire, one mighty Jacobin! High in the gilt tribune beneath the roof, The starry roof where the archangels live! Faces me Michael with his flaming sword, And Raphael watches me with widened eyes, And Gabriel frowns between his splendid wings Because there’s no more incense! When I speak, The painted walls all vanish like a mist! On distant plains the drum begins to beat, The great dome lifts—above the angel heads I see the stars—

YVETTE

There are no stars to-night!

LALAIN

There are! There are! Eternally they shine Beyond this din, beyond these sulphurous clouds! And there’s a stairway, red and white and blue, By which to climb to some most famous star Of glory and of love! Yvette! Yvette! Climb thou with me unto that golden star!

YVETTE

Rémond Lalain—

LALAIN

Come thou with me, Yvette! Come thou with me from out this sluggish place! Come thou with me into the furious storm! What dost thou here, thou spirit of the wind, Restless, with deep eyes and with parted lips? Thou knowest thou hast naught to do with holy things. Tear off that white headdress! Red is thy colour!

YVETTE

Ay, red is my colour!

LALAIN

Last night, the while I spake of War and all the place was still, A sudden vision blazed above the lights— I saw thee dance the Carmagnole!

YVETTE

Now, now!
What whispers he to her upon the road?

LALAIN

To-night—ah, should I raise my eyes to-night And see thee smiling there, Yvette, Yvette! Beside thy sisters in the galleries! Upon thy twilight hair the bonnet-rouge, At thy small waist a pistol and a dirk— Only the Revolution in thy soul And in thy heart my name, my name, Yvette!

[_Thunder._

It thunders now, but ‘twill be clear to-night. The moon will shine, the roads will all be white.

YVETTE

The roads will all be white, the moon will shine, The poplars quiver and the eglantine, The broom and honeysuckle will be sweet, Upon the road to Vannes—

[_Lightning and thunder._ LALAIN _walks to the door
in the wall, tries it, then with a stone from the
ground beats back the rusty bolt_.

LALAIN

An easy door!

YVETTE

The moon will shine—

LALAIN

I’ll go this way, ma foi!
Not by the wall!

YVETTE

The silver poplars sway!

LALAIN

René de Vardes, once I did call thee friend And took a deal of pride in that possession! How runs the world away! ‘Twas long ago!

YVETTE

Ah, ah, that fearful dream I had last night! And while I dreamed they walked beside the Loire!

LALAIN

This night he rides away. Didst know?

YVETTE

I knew!

LALAIN

He’s said farewell to thee, but not to her!

YVETTE

Wilt thou begone!

LALAIN

Ay, through this door, Yvette! ‘Tis easy, as thou seest. And ah, to-night— The storm o’er past and shining bright the moon And the cold nuns all telling o’er their beads, How simple ‘twere—O priceless liberty! Thou wouldst not be the only one, I trow, Who may not walk beside the silver Loire!

YVETTE

Name of a name!

LALAIN

Adieu, adieu! To-night
I’ll see thee sitting in the galleries—

[_Exit_ LALAIN.

YVETTE

Ah, how the thunder shakes the air!

[_She moves to the door in the wall and replaces the
bolt, then returns to the fountain._

‘Tis so! He is her lover! Oh, he loves her true!— What will they say and whisper all the night Through light and shadow on the road to Vannes? Despair!—But I’ll not stay within these walls!

[_Knocking at the door in the wall._ YVETTE _crosses
the stage to the door_.

Who is there?

SÉRAPHINE (_within_)

Yvette! Yvette!

YVETTE

Séraphine!

SÉRAPHINE (_within_)

And Nanon too!

YVETTE

The deputy’s sister!

NANON

Let us in!

YVETTE

I dare not.

SÉRAPHINE

What!

YVETTE

Wait: I dare!

[_She draws the bolts. The door opens. Enter_ SÉRAPHINE
_and_ NANON. _The former is dressed in complete
carmagnole: short skirt, rolled-up sleeves, sash
of tricolour, and a bonnet-rouge. Pistols at her belt._
NANON _is more soberly attired but wears the bonnet-rouge.
The door closes behind them._

Séraphine!

SÉRAPHINE

Chérie!

YVETTE

Nanon!

NANON

Dear Yvette!

YVETTE

How gay you are! What of the Revolution?

SÉRAPHINE

It goes.

NANON

It goes well.

SÉRAPHINE

We have a new song!
Faith! ‘Tis a greater song than _Ça Ira_!

YVETTE (_sings_)

_Aux armes, Citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!_

SÉRAPHINE

That’s it!

NANON (_looking about her_)

So very triste it is in here!

SÉRAPHINE

So gay outside! All Nantes is dressed in red! There’s a procession, and then to-night We sit in the galleries to hear Lalain!

[_Distant music._

Hark to the fife! _Formez vos bataillons!_— And your feet keep not time to the music!

YVETTE

But my heart, Séraphine, my heart keeps time.

SÉRAPHINE

Ho! Your heart is in barracks, says Céleste.

YVETTE

Céleste!

NANON

And Angélique.

YVETTE

Angélique!

SÉRAPHINE

Faith!

Angélique is in feather now you’re gone! Cries _Vive la République!_ here in Nantes. Rides on the cannon and handles a pike; Thinks she’s in Paris and plays Théroigne, And high from the galleries applauds Lalain!

NANON

He thinks not of her; he thinks of Yvette!

YVETTE

I care not of whom he thinks!

SÉRAPHINE

On a fête day, In a car triumphal see her appear! Dressed like a goddess just down from the skies, All crowned with green oak leaves, borne shoulder high—

YVETTE

Angélique!

SÉRAPHINE (_nodding_)

Ah, you see you are not there!
But between you and me, red does not become her!

YVETTE

I should think not!—little blonde!

SÉRAPHINE

Ah, but red
Becomes you!

YVETTE

Yes!

SÉRAPHINE

Monseigneur’s gone from Nantes.
Yes, faith! I saw him ride away—

YVETTE

He’s gone! Rememb’rest thou that lady fair and proud, Madame la Marquise de Blanchefôret?

SÉRAPHINE

Ho!
(_To_ NANON.) Rememb’rest thou the Citoyenne Blanchefôret?

NANON

The proud piece! We are mire beneath her feet! Last eve her coach threw mud upon my gown! Let her beware! One day she’ll walk afoot. Let her beware! And let him too beware Who rode last eve beside her golden coach!

YVETTE

Ha, ha! ha, ha!

[_Music and voices in the street. Impatient knocking
at the door in the wall._

VOICES

Holà, Aristocrats!
Nanon! Séraphine!

NANON

Our friends await us.

SÉRAPHINE

We have business with the smith upon the quai, Where by the old dovecot he fashions pikes!

VOICES

_Allons, enfants de la patrie!_

NANON

Come, come away! We’ll leave the nun alone To say her beads for black Aristocrats! How triste to be for aye in prison here!

YVETTE (_angrily_)

Prison! I am no prisoner, I!

NANON

Then come with us into the merry streets!

SÉRAPHINE

‘Twill be a heavy storm—all are within. How easy ‘twere to slip away with us!

YVETTE

No, no!

VOICES

Citoyennes! Citoyennes!

NANON

Ma’m’selle!

YVETTE

Ma’m’selle!

NANON

Aristocrat!

YVETTE

Aristocrat!

SÉRAPHINE

Well—kept by an Aristocrat—

YVETTE

You lie.

SÉRAPHINE (_angrily_)

Saint Yves! I lie! Do I? O Seigneur Dieu! This is Yvette, the herd girl of Morbec! This is Yvette, the daughter of Yvonne! This is that same Yvette who swore one day That rather would she meet the blight of hell Than take one favour from a seigneur’s hand! Once you were hungry! Go you hungry now? You went in rags. Where is your ragged gown? Barefoot—what’s that about that throat of thine? I swear it is a jewel!—and we pine For bread, we women of the Revolution!

[YVETTE _unclasps the jewel from her neck and lets
it fall_.

I lie, do I? Diable! Just prove I lie! This night we make a little noise in Nantes Shall show Aristocrats who is in danger! Lalain will speak and all the bells will ring, And Angélique will deck herself in red! Steal through yon door, be of us evermore! I lie, do I? Then show me that I lie!

YVETTE

In Nantes where do you lodge?

SÉRAPHINE

With Angélique
Under the Lanterne, Sign of the Hour Glass.

VOICES

Nanon! Nanon! You are missing the sights!

[_Distant music._

OTHER VOICES

_Allons, enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!_

NANON

Come, come away!

[SÉRAPHINE _unbars the door in the wall. It swings
open_.

SÉRAPHINE

Faith! One can see the Loire!
‘Tis fine to walk beside it ‘neath the moon!

YVETTE

Oh!—

VOICES

_Tremblez, tyrans! et vous perfides_,—

NANON

Away! Away!

YVETTE

I’ll go—I’ll go with you.
Ye fruit trees and thou fountain, fare ye well!

[_Exeunt_ YVETTE, SÉRAPHINE, NANON. _The door
swings to. Lightning and thunder._ SISTER FIDELIS
_appears in the convent door_.

VOICES (_dying away_)

_Aux armes, Citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!_

_CURTAIN_

_ACT III_

_A square in Nantes. On the left the deep porch of a church with
pillars. To the right and in the background, a perspective of
streets with tall, many-windowed houses. Opposite the church a
great plaster statue of Liberty. Over the church door is written
in white lettering: “The Republic One and Indivisible. Liberty,
Equality, Fraternity or Death. National Property.” A distant view
of the Loire. Men and women in holiday garb, wearing liberty caps
and great tricoloured cockades, cross and recross the square.
Life, movement, colour. Red the dominant note. It is the year
1794._

_Hoarse voices within. Hawkers of Revolutionary journals cross the
square._

A HAWKER

_Le Journal des Jacobins!_

ANOTHER

_Le Discours
De la Lanterne!_

_Enter_ GRÉGOIRE.

A THIRD

_L’Orateur du Peuple!_

A FOURTH

_Le père Duchesne! Le Père Duchesne!_

GRÉGOIRE (_stopping him_)

Here!—

[_He buys a paper._

And what to-day says Père Duchesne?

THE HAWKER

He says
That Paris envies Nantes her Carrier!

GRÉGOIRE

Humph!

A HAWKER

_La Bouche de Fer!_

ANOTHER

_Les Actes des Apôtres!_

A CITIZEN

I’ll buy the _Actes_.

ANOTHER

I’ll buy the _Bouche de Fer_.

[_Enter a man with a long brush and a pot of paste.
He proceeds to cover the wooden base of the Statue
of Liberty with placards._

THE CROWD

The placards! The placards!

A BRETON SAILOR

I cannot read!

[_He catches by the arm a man in a long cloak, with
a broad hat pulled low over his face._

Prithee, Citizen, what says the placard?

THE MAN IN THE CLOAK

It says Duport is dead; Biron is dead; Barnave is dead.

THE CROWD

Ha, ha! Biron! Barnave!

A MAN

Through the little window they’ve looked at last! _À bas les Aristocrats! Vive la Guillotine!_

ANOTHER

Ah, here in Nantes we drown them in the Loire!

THE CROWD

_Vive Carrier! Vive Lambertye! Vive Lalain!_

[_The man with the brush affixes a second placard._

THE BRETON

And this, Citizen?

THE MAN IN THE CLOAK

D’Alleray is dead;
Bailly is dead; Du Barry is dead.

THE CROWD

Ha!

A WOMAN

Ho! ho! The courtesan, she’ll kiss no more!

THE CROWD

She’ll kiss no more!

[_The man with the brush affixes the third placard._

THE BRETON

And this one, Citizen?

THE MAN IN THE CLOAK (_reads_)

_The Republic One and Indivisible.
It is Decreed
There is no God. To-day we worship Reason._

[_The crowd applauds._

A MAN

In a red mantle!

ANOTHER

That’s the Paris Reason!
Our Reason wears blue.

A THIRD

And oak leaves in her hair.

THE BRETON

Is Reason truly a woman?

THE MAN IN THE CLOAK

God knows!

A MAN

Ha! he says God! God is a word forbid!

THE MAN IN THE CLOAK

Then Reason knows.

A MAN

That’s better.

[_Singing within. A band of dancers, men and women,
whirl into the square._

THE CROWD

Carmagnole!

THE DANCERS

_Dansons la Carmagnole!
Vive le son, vive le son!
Dansons la Carmagnole!
Vive le son du canon!_

[_The crowd breaks and joins the dancers. They take
hands and with uncouth and extravagant gestures
circle once or twice around the statue, then with a
long cry exeunt._

A WOMAN

The great procession forms upon the quai!

ANOTHER

It winds and winds about and comes this way!

[_Exeunt men and women._ GRÉGOIRE _and the man
in the cloak remain_.

GRÉGOIRE

The priests are gone. It is Reason’s fête day.

THE MAN IN THE CLOAK

Reason, being a woman, will have her way.

GRÉGOIRE

Still, Monsieur l’Abbé—

THE ABBÉ

I am known!

GRÉGOIRE

To serve
Monsieur, I had the honour at Morbec.

THE ABBÉ

Monsieur le Baron’s seneschal, I think.

GRÉGOIRE

The same,—but I am gaoler now in Nantes.

THE ABBÉ

That night in June your musket would not fire! Diable! I’ve played and lost! Well, fellow?

GRÉGOIRE

Hein?

THE ABBÉ

The wind blows cold in Nantes, and so I wear This cloak! So long I’ve looked on fires of hell I needs must have a hat to shade my eyes!— But now I’ll cock it in the face of all— Cold, wind, darkness, devils, and Republic!

GRÉGOIRE

I think the citizen has lost his head.

THE ABBÉ

Ay, and my heart as well. Holà! what’s that?

[_A noise without. Clash of steel and excited voices._

_Enter_ DE VARDES _and_ FAUQUEMONT DE BUC _pursued by
seven or eight red-capped men armed with pikes_. DE
VARDES _and_ DE BUC _use their swords_.

THE RED CAPS

Aristocrats! Aristocrats!

DE VARDES (_thrusting_)

Take that,
Republican!

DE BUC (_thrusting_)

Out, canaille!

THE ABBÉ

Here’s wine!
Have at you, brow-bound galley slaves!

DE VARDES (_over his shoulder_)

Ha! De Barbasan!

[_Wounds his adversary._

We’re at our last château!

THE ABBÉ

I’ve shut Voltaire! Here goes the candle out!

[_He throws his long cloak over the head of one of
the red caps and makes at another with his dagger._

DE VARDES

The window splinters!

[_He sends the pike flying from a red cap’s hand._

Take warning, sans-culottes!

THE ABBÉ

One, two, three!

DE BUC

My sword arm!

DE VARDES

Fight with your left.
I saw you do it at Nanci!

VOICES (_within_)

_Ah! ça ira, ça ira, ça ira!
Les Aristocrats à la Lanterne!_

DE VARDES

_O Richard, O mon Roi,
L’univers t’abandonne!_

[_A howl from the mob._

THE MOB

Aristocrats!

GRÉGOIRE (_from the statue_)

Desperate!

[_The red caps_, DE VARDES, THE ABBÉ, _and_ DE BUC
_fight across the stage and exeunt_. GRÉGOIRE _follows
them_.

VOICES (_within_)

_Ça ira!_

_Enter women and children of the Revolution._

A WOMAN

Upon the church steps I will take my stand!

ANOTHER

I have brought my knitting.

A THIRD

And I.

A FOURTH

And I.

ALL (_singing_)

_We are the tricoteuses!
Dyed wool we knit while rumbles by the cart.
Knit! knit! all knitting in the sun._

_We are the tricoteuses!
Red wool we knit while soul and body part.
Knit! knit! the knitting now is done!_

[_They seat themselves upon the church steps._

A CHILD

Maman! Maman! how many carts will pass?

A WOMAN

None, sweeting, none! It is a holiday.

_Enter_ CÉLESTE, ANGÉLIQUE, _and_ NANON.

NANON

It was the very night of the great storm From those dull convent walls she ran away!

CÉLESTE

Two years agone—

ANGÉLIQUE

Would she had stayed!

NANON

Ah, then,
You had been Goddess, Angélique!

ANGÉLIQUE

The witch! With her dark skin and with her purple flower! Let her beware! I know a thing or two!

CÉLESTE

_I_ know who comes from Paris back to Nantes! This morning on the quai I saw him!

NANON (_eagerly_)

Is’t That ci-devant, that black Aristocrat, De Vardes?

CÉLESTE

The man your brother loves? The same.

NANON

I spit upon his name!

CÉLESTE

Denounced!

NANON

The set of sun
Will see him so, or my name’s not Nanon!

CÉLESTE

The Loire—the Loire will close above his head!

_Enter_ SÉRAPHINE.

SÉRAPHINE

Whose head?

NANON

The Citizen Vardes.

SÉRAPHINE

Monseigneur! He’s in the prison of La Force at Paris!— One truly told me so—He’s not in Nantes.

NANON

And if he were—

SÉRAPHINE (_stammering_)

Why—why—

NANON

And if he were, You would not give him up! I know you well! I know you, Séraphine!

SÉRAPHINE

And if you do,
You know no ill of me, Citoyenne!

CÉLESTE

Yvette
Would not give him up either.

ANGÉLIQUE

No, i’ faith!
I’ll take my oath on that!

SÉRAPHINE

Your oath, lint-locks! It’s worth a deal, your oath! _Your_ mind I know! You would be Goddess, you and not Yvette!

ANGÉLIQUE

Let her beware!

SÉRAPHINE

Yvette! She’s coming now! Bright as the star that’s highest in the night! And all the men have turned astronomers! Faith! ‘tis easy work to worship Reason, When Reason is a woman, and that fair!

ANGÉLIQUE

I’ve seen her gather seaweed on the shore!

SÉRAPHINE

And now she gathers hearts in her two hands.

ANGÉLIQUE

Oh! oh!

NANON

Would that my brother hated her!
Disdainful prude!

CÉLESTE

Oh, love may turn to hate.
She’s Goddess now, but wait, but wait, but wait!

NANON

I join my brother at the Olive Tree. Come, Angélique, Céleste!

[_Exeunt_ NANON, ANGÉLIQUE, CÉLESTE.

SÉRAPHINE

Were’t not too late, I’d warn monseigneur just for old time’s sake! When all is said and done, old times are best; He gave us back Lisette, he fed us all— Eh! ‘twere a pity. What now? Who’s this?

_Enter hurriedly_ THE MARQUISE. _She looks over her shoulder
as if fearing pursuit, then, drawing her cloak and hood
closely about her, attempts to cross the square unobserved.
Enter a rabble of men and women._

THE MOB

_Ah! ça ira, ça ira, ça ira!
Les Aristocrats à la Lanterne.
Ah! ça ira, ça ira, ça ira!
Les Aristocrats on les pendra!_

A TRICOTEUSE

She hides
Her face.

ANOTHER

She draws her cloak about her!

THE FIRST

Ho!
Her hand is white and there’s a jewel on’t!

A MAN (_accosting_ THE MARQUISE)

Citoyenne!

THE MARQUISE

Citoyen—

THE MAN

Citoyenne, come!
Join our _ronde patriotique_, our _carillon_!

THE MARQUISE

Sainte Geneviève!

THE MAN

What?

A WOMAN (_her hand upon_ THE MARQUISE)

Where’s your cockade?

ANOTHER WOMAN

Show!

THE MARQUISE

_De grâce, Citoyennes!_

THIRD WOMAN

The cloak! The cloak!

[_They tear from_ THE MARQUISE _her hood and cloak_.

A CHILD

Oh, the pretty lady!

THE MARQUISE

I’ll give you gold! There, there!—My rings, my brooch—take all! Ah! let me peaceably depart—

THE MOB

Ha! ha!
Aristocrat!

A WOMAN

It is the emigrée Clarice-Marie Miramand Blanchefôret! Are not her gold locks known in Brittany?

ANOTHER

She fled to England.

A THIRD

She returned.

THE MARQUISE

O death! (_To a woman._) Citoyenne, your cockade! I’ll wear it gladly, Ay, o’er my heart I’ll pin it—

[_She takes the cockade from the woman and with
trembling fingers pins it to her gown._

THE WOMAN

Red cap as well—

THE MARQUISE

With pleasure, Citoyenne.

[_She places the bonnet-rouge upon her head._

THE MOB

Ha, ha!

A MAN

Now cry
_Vive la République!_

THE MARQUISE

_Vive la République!_

THE MAN

_Mort aux tyrans!_

THE MARQUISE

_Mort aux tyrans!_

THE MAN

_À bas
Les Aristocrats!_

[_Silence._

THE MOB

Ah—h—h!

THE MAN

_Vive la Guillotine!_

[_Silence._

A WOMAN

Take that!

[_She strikes at_ THE MARQUISE.

THE MOB

Down! Down!

[THE MARQUISE _breaks through the ring of men and
women and runs to_ SÉRAPHINE.

THE MARQUISE

I know your face!
You are a Morbec woman! Save me! Save!

SÉRAPHINE

Saint Servan! Saint Gildas! Saint Mériadek!— Ay, madame, you should have stayed in England!

_Enter_ DE VARDES, _torn and bleeding_.

DE VARDES

De Buc taken and De Barbasan! Dieu! The day’s not old. I’ll see them ere its close. We’ll meet, I think, at Carrier’s judgment bar, Then the dark river,—and then peace at last—

THE MARQUISE

_À moi, Monsieur le Baron de Morbec!_

DE VARDES

La belle Marquise!

[_He forces his way to the side of_ THE MARQUISE.

SÉRAPHINE (_from the church porch_)

Saint Yves le Véridique!

THE MOB

Both! Both!

A TRICOTEUSE

To prison with them!

ANOTHER

To the Loire!
Ho! ho! _Les Noces Républicaines!_

[_The mob surges forward, but with his sword_ DE
VARDES _keeps a clear space about him and_ THE
MARQUISE. _They move slowly backward to the
church steps, which they mount._

DE VARDES (_to_ THE MARQUISE)

We’ll smile and die!

THE MARQUISE

Together, yes!

THE MOB

Down! Down! Aristocrats!

[DE VARDES _sends a knife whirling from the hand of
a red cap_.

DE VARDES

Follow! Follow! (_To_ THE MARQUISE.) I have been long in prison.

THE MARQUISE

In England I!—And there I pined for France— This sunshine dazzles me—

DE VARDES

Clarice-Marie!

[_Trumpets within._

SÉRAPHINE

Hark! Hark, Citoyens, to the trumpets blowing!

THE MOB

She comes! Nantes’ goddess comes!

[_Faces appear at the windows of the tall houses._

A TRICOTEUSE

The windows fill!

[_The rolling of drums._

ANOTHER TRICOTEUSE

The drums begin to roll!

A MAN

Citoyens, all!
We’ll see best by the statue there!

ANOTHER (_pointing to_ DE VARDES _and_ THE
MARQUISE)

But these?—

THE FIRST

They’re safe! Let them await our pleasure! Peste! We waited once on theirs!

A THIRD

That’s true!

[_The mob divides. Men and women cluster about
the base of the statue or upon the doorsteps of the
surrounding houses. Enter men with banners._

THE MOB

Look! Look!
The painted banners! _Vive la patrie!_

SÉRAPHINE (_to_ THE MARQUISE)

Hist!
Hist, madame! behind the pillar there!

[_She points to the pillar of the church._

DE VARDES

Go!

[THE MARQUISE _conceals herself behind the pillar.
A crash of music._

_Enter_ LALAIN _and_ NANON.

LALAIN

No blood to-day! I’d have clean sleep to-night, Pure sleep and sweet, in which to dream of love!— Hast seen her in her mantle blue?

NANON

Who stands
So steadfast there with a drawn sword?

LALAIN

Diable!

[_He makes as if to cross to the church steps, where_
DE VARDES, _sword in hand, stands with his back
against a pillar. The crowd comes between._

NANON

Patience, he’ll not escape!

LALAIN (_with affected indifference_)

It is as well,— To her he’s but a ci-devant, and he, O fool! shall see in her the Revolution! Then, then, when she has passed, I’ll deal with him!

[_Singing within._

A VOICE

_With sandals on her feet,
The Phrygian cap so red
Upon her sunny head,
She comes, she’s coming sweet!
Reason, to whom we pay
All homage on this day!_

THE CROWD

The singers! The actors!

[_Enter actors and actresses of the Theatre of Nantes, dressed
as for the stage, and carrying garlands of paper flowers._

AN ACTOR

Way for Tartufe! The Citizen Jourdain, Phèdre, Célimène, Acaste, Armide, Aucassin, Nicolette! Make way! Make way!

THE SINGER

_Upon her lofty car
She sits in solemn state!
Of day the lovely mate,
Of night the shining star!
Reason, to whom we pay
All homage on this day!_

THE CROWD

Brava! What now?

THE ACTOR

Voltaire, Rousseau, Franklin, Robespierre!

[_Enter a band of students drawing a garlanded float.
Upon the float the busts of Voltaire, Rousseau, Franklin,
and Robespierre._

THE CROWD

_Vive Robespierre!_

[_The Marseillaise. Enter Republican soldiers._

DE VARDES

Oh, for the red Hussars!

[_Enter four men wearing tricolour scarfs and plumes,
huge cockades, pistols and sabres._

THE CROWD

The Commissioners!

DE VARDES

Hooded crows!

[_There crosses the stage a float upon which is fixed a
miniature guillotine._

THE CROWD

Ha! ha!
_Vive la Guillotine!_

A MAN

_Vive les noyades!_

DE VARDES

Cold
Are thy baths, O Apollo!

[_Enter red-bonneted men and women dragging a tumbril
in which are heaped spoils of the church,—broken
images, crucifixes, candelabra, chalices, patens,
etc._

THE CROWD

Ha—h—h!

DE VARDES

Jesu!

[_He crosses himself._

[_Music. The great tricolour flag of the Republic is borne across the stage._

THE CROWD

_La patrie! Vive la patrie!_

DE VARDES

France! France!

[_Stately music. Enter young men in Greek dress,
bearing a gilded framework upon which is fixed a
tall flambeau, wreathed with flowers. They advance
and place the structure before the church
steps._

A PEASANT

Brave! But what is it?

ANOTHER

The torch of Reason!
The Goddess lights it,—then we worship her!

A THIRD

No, we worship Reason!

THE SECOND

‘Tis the same thing!

[_Enter young girls clad in white, linked together
with tricolour ribbons and carrying osier baskets
from which they scatter flowers. They are followed
by children swinging censers, then by a shouting
throng drawing a triumphal car upon which sits the
Goddess of Reason. She is clothed in a white tunic
and a blue mantle; upon her loosened hair is a
wreath of oak leaves and she has in her hand a
light spear._

THE CROWD

Reason! Reason!—Yvette! Yvette!

DE VARDES

Mon Dieu!

[_The car stops._ YVETTE _rises_.

THE CROWD

_Vive la déesse! Vive Yvette!_ (LALAIN _comes forward_.) _Vive Lalain!_

LALAIN

People of Nantes! Citoyens! Patriots! Old things are past. To-day we welcome new. Gone are the priests, gone is the crucifix; Chalice and paten whelmed beneath the Loire! Kings, princes, nobles, priests, all crumbled down! Death on a pale horse hath ridden o’er them, The ravens and the sea mews pick their bones. Theirs are the yesterdays, the ci-devants! The red to-day is ours, the purple morrow!— Liberty, Equality, Fraternity! We worship Thee, Triune and Indivisible!— O Mother Nature, pure, beneficent, Redeemed from darkness of the centuries, Smile on thy children, come to worship thee! And thou, supernal Reason, Crown of Man, Eyes of the blind, divine, ascending flame, Pearl without price, rose, light, music, warmth!— O gushing spring where else were desert waste! O flooding light, celestial melody! O flower that blooms on either side the grave! O steadfast star that burns the night away! We worship thee!

[_He takes the censer from a boy and swings it to and
fro before the standing goddess. Clouds of incense
arise. The trumpets sound._

THE CROWD (_with ecstasy_)

We worship thee, Yvette!
Yvette! Yvette! Reason! Yvette Charruel!

YVETTE

O God! I knew not ‘twas like this!

LALAIN

Reason, descend! Illume thy torch, among us mortals dwell. O sweetest Reason! ne’er regret the skies! Descend—

[_He gives his hand to_ YVETTE. _She descends from
the car._

A MAN

She is the fairest Reason!

ANOTHER

Now
She’ll light the torch!

[_A boy brings her lighted touchwood._ LALAIN _fastens
it to the point of her spear, and kneeling presents it
to her. She advances to the church steps and raises
the flaming lance in order to light the torch. She
sees_ DE VARDES. _The spear falls to the earth. The
flame goes out._

YVETTE

O Our Lady!

THE CROWD

Light the torch! Light the torch!

LALAIN

What witchcraft’s this?

YVETTE

None, none!—Oh, see the heavens open!

[_Murmurs of the crowd._

ANGÉLIQUE

Goddess!
Goddess!

CÉLESTE

She hears not!

THE CROWD

Light the torch!

LALAIN

I see Hell gaping! What’s that man to thee? Death and damnation! Dost still gaze at him? Then to the winds, Irresolution!

[_He turns to the crowd._

See, Patriots, see! The light of Reason dies! Out went the sacred flame beneath the eyes, The basilisk eyes of an Aristocrat!

THE CROWD

Away with him to prison! Death! The Loire! Death to the emigré!

[_A rush toward the church steps._ DE VARDES
_throws himself on guard_. YVETTE _comes between
him and the mob_.

YVETTE

Back!

THE MOB

Ah—h—h!

LALAIN

Art mad?
Stand from between the lion and his prey!

DE VARDES (_to the mob_)

Men of Nantes! leave women to one side! (_To_ YVETTE _with a gesture toward the car_.) Goddess of Reason! Mount Olympus waits! (_To_ LALAIN.) At last, Rémond Lalain!

LALAIN

René de Vardes!

[_A man strikes at_ DE VARDES _with a long pike.
His sword arm falls, and the sword rattles to the
ground. A shout of triumph from the mob._ THE
MARQUISE’S _cry from the pillar is not heard. The
mob moves forward._

YVETTE