Part 13
Simultaneously the river Bidassoa, in a valley to the west, is being crossed by a train of artillery and another thirty thousand men, all forming part of the same systematic advance.
Along the great highway through Biscay the wondering native carters draw their sheep-skinned ox-teams aside, to let the regiments pass, and stray groups of peaceable field-workers in Navarre look inquiringly at the marching and prancing progress.
Time passes, and the various northern strongholds are approached by these legions. Their governors emerge at a summons, and when seeming explanations have been given the unwelcome comers are doubtfully admitted.
The chief places to which entrance is thus obtained are Pampeluna and San Sebastian at the front of the scene, and far away towards the shining horizon of the Mediterranean, Figueras, and Barcelona.
Dumb Show concludes as the mountain mists close over.
## SCENE II
ARANJUEZ, NEAR MADRID. A ROOM IN THE PALACE OF GODOY, THE “PRINCE OF PEACE”
[A private chamber is disclosed, richly furnished with paintings, vases, mirrors, silk hangings, gilded lounges, and several lutes of rare workmanship. The hour is midnight, the room being lit by screened candelabra. In the centre at the back of the scene is a large window heavily curtained.
GODOY and the QUEEN MARIA LUISA are dallying on a sofa. THE PRINCE OF PEACE is a fine handsome man in middle life, with curled hair and a mien of easy good-nature. The QUEEN is older, but looks younger in the dim light, from the lavish use of beautifying arts. She has pronounced features, dark eyes, low brows, black hair bound by a jewelled bandeau, and brought forward in curls over her forehead and temples, long heavy ear-rings, an open bodice, and sleeves puffed at the shoulders. A cloak and other mufflers lie on a chair beside her.]
GODOY
The life-guards still insist, Love, that the King Shall not leave Aranjuez.
QUEEN
Let them insist. Whether we stay, or whether we depart, Napoleon soon draws hither with his host!
GODOY
He says he comes pacifically.... But no!
QUEEN
Dearest, we must away to Andalusia, Thence to America when time shall serve.
GODOY
I hold seven thousand men to cover us, And ships in Cadiz port. But then--the Prince Flatly declines to go. He lauds the French As true deliverers.
QUEEN
Go Fernando MUST!... O my sweet friend, that we--our sole two selves-- Could but escape and leave the rest to fate, And in a western bower dream out our days!-- For the King's glass can run but briefly now, Shattered and shaken as his vigour is.-- But ah--your love burns not in singleness! Why, dear, caress Josefa Tudo still? She does not solve her soul in yours as I. And why those others even more than her?... How little own I in thee!
GODOY
Such must be. I cannot quite forsake them. Don't forget The same scope has been yours in former years.
QUEEN
Yes, Love; I know. I yield! You cannot leave them; But if you ever would bethink yourself How long I have been yours, how truly all Those other pleasures were my desperate shifts To soften sorrow at your absences, You would be faithful to me!
GODOY
True, my dear.-- Yet I do passably keep troth with you, And fond you with fair regularity;-- A week beside you, and a week away. Such is not schemed without some risk and strain.-- And you agreed Josefa should be mine, And, too, Thereza without jealousy! [A noise is heard without.] Ah, what means that?
[He jumps up from her side and crosses the room to a window, where he lifts the curtain cautiously. The Queen follows him with a scared look.
QUEEN
A riot can it be?
GODOY
Let me put these out ere they notice them; They think me at the Royal Palace yonder.
[He hastily extinguishes the candles except one taper, which he places in a recess, so that the room is in shade. He then draws back the curtains, and she joins him at the window, where, enclosing her with his arm, he and she look out together.
In front of the house a guard of hussars is stationed, beyond them spreading the Plaza or Square. On the other side rises in the lamplight the white front of the Royal Palace. On the flank of the Palace is a wall enclosing gardens, bowered alleys, and orange groves, and in the wall a small door.
A mixed multitude of soldiery and populace fills the space in front of the King's Palace, and they shout and address each other vehemently. During a lull in their vociferations is heard the peaceful purl of the Tagus over a cascade in the Palace grounds.]
QUEEN
Lingering, we've risked too long our chance of flight! The Paris Terror will repeat it here. Not for myself I fear. No, no; for thee! [She clings to him.] If they should hurt you, it would murder me By heart-bleedings and stabs intolerable!
GODOY [kissing her]
The first thought now is how to get you back Within the Palace walls. Why would you risk To come here on a night so critical?
QUEEN [passionately]
I could not help it--nay, I WOULD not help! Rather than starve my soul I venture all.-- Our last love-night--last, maybe, of long years, Why do you chide me now?
GODOY
Dear Queen, I do not: I shape these sharp regrets but for your sake. Hence you must go, somehow, and quickly too. They think not yet of you in threatening thus, But of me solely.... Where does your lady wait?
QUEEN
Below. One servant with her. They are true, And can be let know all. But you--but you! [Uproar continues.]
GODOY
I can escape. Now call them. All three cloak And veil as when you came.
[They retreat into the room. QUEEN MARIA LUISA'S lady-in-waiting and servant are summoned. Enter both. All three then muffle themselves up, and GODOY prepares to conduct the QUEEN downstairs.]
QUEEN
Nay, now! I will not have it. We are safe; Think of yourself. Can you get out behind?
GODOY
I judge so--when I have done what's needful here.-- The mob knows not the bye-door--slip across; Thence around sideways.--All's clear there as yet.
[The QUEEN, her lady-in-waiting, and the servant go out hurriedly.
GODOY looks again from the window. The mob is some way off, the immediate front being for the moment nearly free of loiterers; and the three muffled figures are visible, crossing without hindrance towards the door in the wall of the Palace Gardens. The instant they reach it a sentinel springs up, challenging them.]
GODOY
Ah--now they are doomed! My God, why did she come!
[A parley takes place. Something, apparently a bribe, is handed to the sentinel, and the three are allowed to slip in, the QUEEN having obviously been unrecognized. He breathes his relief.]
Now for the others. Then--ah, then Heaven knows!
[He sounds a bell and a servant enters.
Where is the Countess of Castillofiel?
SERVANT
She's looking for you, Prince.
GODOY
Find her at once. Ah--here she is.--That's well.--Go watch the Plaza [to servant].
[GODOY'S mistress, the DONA JOSEFA TUDO, enters. She is a young and beautiful woman, the vivacity of whose large dark eyes is now clouded. She is wrapped up for flight. The servant goes out.]
JOSEFA [breathlessly]
I should have joined you sooner, but I knew The Queen was fondling with you. She must needs Come hampering you this night of all the rest, As if not gorged with you at other times!
GODOY
Don't, pretty one! needless it is in you, Being so well aware who holds my love.-- I could not check her coming, since she would. You well know how the old thing is, and how I am compelled to let her have her mind!
[He kisses her repeatedly.]
JOSEFA
But look, the mob is swelling! Pouring in By thousands from Madrid--and all afoot. Will they not come on hither from the King's?
GODOY
Not just yet, maybe. You should have sooner fled! The coach is waiting and the baggage packed. [He again peers out.] Yes, there the coach is; and the clamourers near, Led by Montijo, if I see aright. Yes, they cry “Uncle Peter!”--that means him. There will be time yet. Now I'll take you down So far as I may venture.
[They leave the room. In a few minutes GODOY, having taken her down, re-enters and again looks out. JOSEFA'S coach is moving off with a small escort of GODOY'S guards of honour. A sudden yelling begins, and the crowd rushes up and stops the vehicle. An altercation ensues.]
CROWD
Uncle Peter, it is the Favourite carrying off Prince Fernando. Stop him!
JOSEFA [putting her head out of the coach]
Silence their uproar, please, Senor Count of Montijo! It is a lady only, the Countess of Castillofiel.
MONTIJO
Let her pass, let her pass, friends! It is only that pretty wench of his, Pepa Tudo, who calls herself a Countess. Our titles are put to comical uses these days. We shall catch the cock-bird presently!
[The DONA JOSEFA'S carriage is allowed to pass on, as a shout from some who have remained before the Royal Palace attracts the attention of the multitude, which surges back thither.]
CROWD [nearing the Palace]
Call out the King and the Prince. Long live the King! He shall not go. Hola! He is gone! Let us see him! He shall abandon Godoy!
[The clamour before the Royal Palace still increasing, a figure emerges upon a balcony, whom GODOY recognizes by the lamplight to be FERNANDO, Prince of Asturias. He can be seen waving his hand. The mob grows suddenly silent.]
FERNANDO [in a shaken voice]
Citizens! the King my father is in the palace with the Queen. He has been much tried to-day.
CROWD
Promise, Prince, that he shall not leave us. Promise!
FERNANDO
I do. I promise in his name. He has mistaken you, thinking you wanted his head. He knows better now.
CROWD
The villain Godoy misrepresented us to him! Throw out the Prince of Peace!
FERNANDO
He is not here, my friends.
CROWD
Then the King shall announce to us that he has dismissed him! Let us see him. The King; the King!
[FERNANDO goes in. KING CARLOS comes out reluctantly, and bows to their cheering. He produces a paper with a trembling hand.
KING [reading]
“As it is the wish of the people---”
CROWD
Speak up, your Majesty!
KING [more loudly]
“As it is the wish of the people, I release Don Manuel Godoy, Prince of Peace, from the posts of Generalissimo of the Army and Grand Admiral of the Fleet, and give him leave to withdraw whither he pleases.”
CROWD
Huzza!
KING
Citizens, to-morrow the decree is to be posted in Madrid.
CROWD
Huzza! Long life to the King, and death to Godoy!
[KING CARLOS disappears from the balcony, and the populace, still increasing in numbers, look towards GODOY'S mansion, as if deliberating how to attack it. GODOY retreats from the window into the room, and gazing round him starts. A pale, worn, but placid lady, in a sombre though elegant robe, stands here in the gloom. She is THEREZA OF BOURBON, the Princess of Peace.]
PRINCESS
It is only your unhappy wife, Manuel. She will not hurt you!
GODOY [shrugging his shoulders]
Nor with THEY hurt YOU! Why did you not stay in the Royal Palace? You would have been more comfortable there.
PRINCESS
I don't recognize why you should specially value my comfort. You have saved you real wives. How can it matter what happens to your titular one?
GODOY
Much, dear. I always play fair. But it being your blest privilege not to need my saving I was left free to practise it on those who did. [Mob heard approaching.] Would that I were in no more danger than you!
PRINCESS
Puf!
[He again peers out. His guard of hussars stands firmly in front of the mansion; but the life-guards from the adjoining barracks, who have joined the people, endeavour to break the hussars of GODOY. A shot is fired, GODOY'S guard yields, and the gate and door are battered in.
CROWD [without]
Murder him! murder him! Death to Manuel Godoy!
[They are heard rushing onto the court and house.]
PRINCESS
Go, I beseech you! You can do nothing for me, and I pray you to save yourself! The heap of mats in the lumber-room will hide you!
[GODOY hastes to a jib-door concealed by sham bookshelves, presses the spring of it, returns, kisses her, and then slips out.
His wife sits down with her back against the jib-door, and fans herself. She hears the crowd trampling up the stairs, but she does not move, and in a moment people burst in. The leaders are armed with stakes, daggers, and various improvised weapons, and some guards in undress appear with halberds.]
FIRST CITIZEN [peering into the dim light]
Where is he? Murder him! [Noticing the Princess.] Come, where is he?
PRINCESS
The Prince of Peace is gone. I know not wither.
SECOND CITIZEN
Who is this lady?
LIFE-GUARDSMAN
Manuel Godoy's Princess.
CITIZENS [uncovering]
Princess, a thousand pardons grant us!--you An injured wife--an injured people we! Common misfortune makes us more than kin. No single hair of yours shall suffer harm.
[The PRINCESS bows.]
FIRST CITIZEN
But this, Senora, is no place for you, For we mean mischief here! Yet first will grant Safe conduct for you to the Palace gates, Or elsewhere, as you wish
PRINCESS
My wish is nought. Do what you will with me. But he's not here.
[Several of them form an escort, and accompany her from the room and out of the house. Those remaining, now a great throng, begin searching the room, and in bands invade other parts of the mansion.]
SOME CITIZENS [returning]
It is no use searching. She said he was not here, and she's a woman of honour.
FIRST CITIZEN [drily]
She's his wife.
[They begin knocking the furniture to pieces, tearing down the hangings, trampling on the musical instruments, and kicking holes through the paintings they have unhung from the walls. These, with clocks, vases, carvings, and other movables, they throw out of the window, till the chamber is a scene of utter wreck and desolation. In the rout a musical box is swept off a table, and starts playing a serenade as it falls on the floor. Enter the COUNT OF MONTIJO.]
MONTIJO
Stop, friends; stop this! There is no sense in it-- It shows but useless spite! I have much to say: The French Ambassador, de Beauharnais, Has come, and sought the King. And next Murat, With thirty thousand men, half cavalry, Is closing in upon our doomed Madrid! I know not what he means, this Bonaparte; He makes pretence to gain us Portugal, But what want we with her? 'Tis like as not His aim's to noose us vassals all to him! The King will abdicate, and shortly too, As those will live to see who live not long.-- We have saved our nation from the Favourite, But who is going to save us from our Friend?
[The mob desists dubiously and goes out; the musical box upon the floor plays on, the taper burns to its socket, and the room becomes wrapt in the shades of night.]
## SCENE III
LONDON: THE MARCHIONESS OF SALISBURY'S
[A large reception-room is disclosed, arranged for a conversazione. It is an evening in summer following, and at present the chamber is empty and in gloom. At one end is an elaborate device, representing Britannia offering her assistance to Spain, and at the other a figure of Time crowning the Spanish Patriots' flag with laurel.]
SPIRIT OF THE YEARS
O clarionists of human welterings, Relate how Europe's madding movement brings This easeful haunt into the path of palpitating things!
RUMOURS [chanting]
The Spanish King has bowed unto the Fate Which bade him abdicate: The sensual Queen, whose passionate caprice Has held her chambering with “the Prince of Peace,” And wrought the Bourbon's fall, Holds to her Love in all; And Bonaparte has ruled that his and he Henceforth displace the Bourbon dynasty.
II
The Spanish people, handled in such sort, As chattels of a Court, Dream dreams of England. Messengers are sent In secret to the assembled Parliament, In faith that England's hand Will stouten them to stand, And crown a cause which, hold they, bond and free Must advocate enthusiastically.
SPIRIT OF THE YEARS
So the Will heaves through Space, and moulds the times, With mortals for Its fingers! We shall see Again men's passions, virtues, visions, crimes, Obey resistlessly The purposive, unmotived, dominant Thing Which sways in brooding dark their wayfaring!
[The reception room is lighted up, and the hostess comes in. There arrive Ambassadors and their wives, the Dukes and Duchesses of RUTLAND and SOMERSET, the Marquis and Marchioness of STAFFORD, the Earls of STAIR, WESTMORELAND, GOWER, ESSEX, Viscounts and Viscountesses CRANLEY and MORPETH, Viscount MELBOURNE, Lord and Lady KINNAIRD, Baron de ROLLE, Lady CHARLES GRENVILLE, the Ladies CAVENDISH, Mr. and Mrs. THOMAS HOPE, MR. GUNNING, MRS. FITZHERBERT, and many other notable personages. Lastly, she goes to the door to welcome severally the PRINCE OF WALES, the PRINCES OF FRANCE, and the PRINCESS CASTELCICALA.]
LADY SALISBURY [to the Prince of Wales]
I am sorry to say, sir, that the Spanish Patriots are not yet arrived. I doubt not but that they have been delayed by their ignorance of the town, and will soon be here.
PRINCE OF WALES
No hurry whatever, my dear hostess. Gad, we've enough to talk about! I understand that the arrangement between our ministers and these noblemen will include the liberation of Spanish prisoners in this country, and the providing 'em with arms, to go back and fight for their independence.
LADY SALISBURY
It will be a blessed event if they do check the career of this infamous Corsican. I have just heard that that poor foreigner Guillet de la Gevrilliere, who proposed to Mr. Fox to assassinate him, died a miserable death a few days ago the Bicetre--probably by torture, though nobody knows. Really one almost wishes Mr. Fox had---. O here they are!
[Enter the Spanish Viscount de MATEROSA, and DON DIEGO de la VEGA. They are introduced by CAPTAIN HILL and MR. BAGOT, who escort them. LADY SALISBURY presents them to the PRINCE and others.]
PRINCE OF WALES
By gad, Viscount, we were just talking of 'ee. You had some adventures in getting to this country?
MATEROSA [assisted by Bagot as interpreter]
Sir, it has indeed been a trying experience for us. But here we are, impressed by a deep sense of gratitude for the signal marks of attachment your country has shown us.
PRINCE OF WALES
You represent, practically, the Spanish people?
MATEROSA
We are immediately deputed, sir, By the Assembly of Asturias, More sailing soon from other provinces. We bring official writings, charging us To clinch and solder Treaties with this realm That may promote our cause against the foe. Nextly a letter to your gracious King; Also a Proclamation, soon to sound And swell the pulse of the Peninsula, Declaring that the act by which King Carlos And his son Prince Fernando cede the throne To whomsoever Napoleon may appoint, Being an act of cheatery, not of choice, Unfetters us from our allegiant oath.
MRS. FITZHERBERT
The usurpation began, I suppose, with the divisions in the Royal Family?
MATEROSA
Yes, madam, and the protection they foolishly requested from the Emperor; and their timid intent of flying secretly helped it on. It was an opportunity he had been awaiting for years.
MRS. FITZHERBERT
All brought about by this man Godoy, Prince of Peace!
PRINCE OF WALES
Dash my wig, mighty much you know about it, Maria! Why, sure, Boney thought to himself, “This Spain is a pretty place; 'twill just suit me as an extra acre or two; so here goes.”
DON DIEGO [aside to Bagot]
This lady is the Princess of Wales?
BAGOT
Hsh! no, Senor. The Princess lives at large at Kensington and other places, and has parties of her own, and doesn't keep house with her husband. This lady is--well, really his wife, you know, in the opinion of many; but---
DON DIEGO
Ah! Ladies a little mixed, as they were at our Court! She's the Pepa Tudo to THIS Prince of Peace?
BAGOT
O no--not exactly that, Senor.
DON DIEGO
Ya, ya. Good. I'll be careful, my friend. You are not saints in England more than we are in Spain!
BAGOT
We are not. Only you sin with naked faces, and we with masks on.
DON DIEGO
Virtuous country!
DUCHESS OF RUTLAND
It was understood that Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias, was to marry a French princess, and so unite the countries peacefully?
MATEROSA
It was. And our credulous prince was tempted to meet Napoleon at Bayonne. Also the poor simple King, and the infatuated Queen, and Manuel Godoy.
DUCHESS OF RUTLAND
Then Godoy escaped from Aranjuez?
MATEROSA
Yes, by hiding in the garret. Then they all threw themselves upon Napoleon's protection. In his presence the Queen swore that the King was not Fernando's father! Altogether they form a queer little menagerie. What will happen to them nobody knows.
PRINCE OF WALES
And do you wish us to send an army at once?
MATEROSA
What we most want, sir, are arms and ammunition. But we leave the English Ministry to co-operate in its own wise way, anyhow, so as to sustain us in resenting these insults from the Tyrant of the Earth.
DUCHESS OF RUTLAND [to the Prince of Wales]
What sort of aid shall we send, sir?
PRINCE OF WALES
We are going to vote fifty millions, I hear. We'll whack him, and preserve your noble country for 'ee, Senor Viscount. The debate thereon is to come off to-morrow. It will be the finest thing the Commons have had since Pitt's time. Sheridan, who is open to it, says he and Canning are to be absolutely unanimous; and, by God, like the parties in his “Critic,” when Government and Opposition do agree, their unanimity is wonderful! Viscount Materosa, you and your friends must be in the Gallery. O, dammy, you must!
MATEROSA
Sir, we are already pledged to be there.
PRINCE OF WALES
And hark ye, Senor Viscount. You will then learn what a mighty fine thing a debate in the English Parliament is! No Continental humbug there. Not but that the Court has a trouble to keep 'em in their places sometimes; and I would it had been one in the Lords instead. However, Sheridan says he has been learning his speech these two days, and has hunted his father's dictionary through for some stunning long words.--Now, Maria [to Mrs. Fitzherbert], I am going home.
LADY SALISBURY
At last, then, England will take her place in the forefront of this mortal struggle, and in pure disinterestedness fight with all her strength for the European deliverance. God defend the right!
[The Prince of Wales leaves, and the other guests begin to depart.]
SEMICHORUS I OF THE YEARS [aerial music]
Leave this glib throng to its conjecturing, And let four burdened weeks uncover what they bring!
SEMICHORUS II
The said Debate, to wit; its close in deed; Till England stands enlisted for the Patriots' needs.
SEMICHORUS I
And transports in the docks gulp down their freight Of buckled fighting-flesh, and gale-bound, watch and wait.
SEMICHORUS II
Till gracious zephyrs shoulder on their sails To where the brine of Biscay moans its tragic tales.
CHORUS
Bear we, too, south, as we were swallow-vanned, And mark the game now played there by the Master-hand!