Bonaparte, François-Charles-Joseph, Herzog von Reichstadt, 1811-1832 -- Drama
And it must be stifled.
A LADY.
Yes;
Volcanoes first, then hydras.
A MAID OF HONOR OF MARIA LOUISA.
[_Followed by a servant bringing a tray with large
glasses of iced coffee._]
_Eis-Kaffee?_
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
[_Seated; to a young lady._]
Recite some verses, Olga.
GENTZ.
May we have
Something of Heine's?
SEVERAL VOICES.
Yes!
OLGA.
[_Rising._]
The Grenadiers?
METTERNICH.
[_Quickly._]
Oh! No!
SCARAMPI.
[_Coming out of_ MARIA LOUISA'S _apartment._]
Her Majesty is on her way!
ALL.
Scarampi!
SANDOR.
We'll drive out to Krainerhütten,
The ladies there can rest upon the green.
METTERNICH.
[_To_ GENTZ.]
What are you reading yonder?
GENTZ.
The "Debats."
LORD COWLEY.
The politics?
GENTZ.
The Theatres.
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
How futile!
GENTZ.
Guess what they're playing at the Vaudeville.
METTERNICH.
Well?
GENTZ.
"Bonaparte."
METTERNICH.
[_With indifference._]
Oh?
GENTZ.
The Nouveautés?
METTERNICH.
Well?
GENTZ.
"Bonaparte." And the Variétés?
"Napoleon." The Luxembourg announces
"Fourteen years of his life." At the Gymnase
They are reviving the "Return from Russia."
What is the Gaiety to play this season?
"Napoleon's Coachman" and "La Malmaison."
An unknown author's done "Saint Helena."
The Porte-Saint-Martin's going to produce
"Napoleon."
LORD COWLEY.
It's the fashion.
TIBURTIUS.
It's the rage.
GENTZ.
The Ambigu "Murat;" the Cirque "The Emperor."
SANDOR.
A fashion.
BOMBELLES.
Yes, a fashion.
GENTZ.
Yes, a fashion
Which will recur from time to time in France.
A LADY.
[_Reading the paper over_ GENTZ'S _shoulder through
a long-handled eye-glass._]
They want to bring his ashes home.
METTERNICH.
The Phoenix
May rise again, but not the eagle.
TIBURTIUS.
What
An unknown quantity is France!
METTERNICH.
Oh, no;
I've gauged it.
A LADY.
Well, then, mighty prophet, speak!
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
His words are graven in bronze.
GENTZ.
Or, maybe, zinc.
LORD COWLEY.
Who will be France's Saviour?
METTERNICH.
Henry the Fifth.
The others--Fashion.
THERESA.
That's a useful name
For calling glory by at times.
METTERNICH.
So long
As all the shouting's only done in theatres,
I think there's no--
CRIES.
[_Without._]
Long live Napoleon!
ALL.
What?--Here, at Baden!--Here!
METTERNICH.
Ridiculous!
Pray, have no fear!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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