The Goddess of Reason 14
YVETTE
Monseigneur,
They are so hungry! Monseigneur, ‘tis said
You are a soldier and have been to war!
Oh, to us all there comes one battle-field
When we must look into a conqueror’s eyes!
Think then upon that last dark plain and show
Mercy to us who in the shadow stand!
We are your enemies!
DE BUC
Faith of an officer!
De Vardes—
YVETTE
The children are crying at home,
Monseigneur!
A WOMAN
O Sainte Vierge, have pity!
YVETTE
With bowed heads the old men wait!
A WOMAN
Oh, my father!
YVETTE
The young men hear the ravens crying!
THE PEASANTS
Aie!—
YVETTE
The nets are dry, the red sails laid away,
And all the boats lie idle by the shore.
A FISHERMAN
Star of the Sea! Pray for poor fisherfolk!
A PEASANT
I left my sickle in the standing corn.
YVETTE
The wheat must fall, the flax be gathered soon,
Or else we’ll sing no songs in Morbihan!
THE PEASANTS
Aie! The songs of the _diskanerien_!
YVETTE
The hearths are cold and the wheels turn not,
And Hunger sits on every doorstep!
THE PEASANTS
Aie!—
YVETTE
To-morrow is the Pardon of the Birds.
The birds go free—the birds go free, monseigneur!
DE BUC
And so I swear should you!
THE PEASANTS
The birds go free!
A WOMAN
My little bird at home!
THE MARQUISE
Give her, monsieur,
Another fan to break!
YVETTE
Not one of yours,
Madame la Marquise!
DE VARDES (_to the sergeant_)
Give them liberty.
THE SERGEANT
My Colonel?
DE VARDES
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_
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_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—
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