The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, EsmeraldaHugo, Victor
General
The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda
Hugo, Victor
French drama -- 19th century -- Translations into English
[_He goes to the parapet. A guitar and distant singing are heard._
When you sing soft at night, love,
Clasped in my arms so fond,
Can you not hear the tender thoughts
Which to your voice respond?
Your song brings back unto my heart
The happy days of yore;
Then sing, my beauty, sing, my love,
Sing on for evermore!
THE MAN.
That is my man!
[_The voice draws nearer with each verse._
When you laugh, on your lips, dear,
Love's sweetest shadows play;
And doubt and cruel unbelief
Are sudden chased away.
For laughter proves we're loyal
And faithful to the core;
Then laugh, my beauty, laugh, my love,
Laugh on for evermore!
When you sleep, calm and pure, love,
In shadow, 'neath my eyes,
And your soft breathing gives my heart
Its tenderest replies,
On your sweet form my eyes can feast,
Oh, beauty's priceless store!
Then sleep, my beauty, sleep, my love,
Sleep on for evermore!
And when you say, "I love you,"
In truth it seems to be
As if God's heaven were opening
Especially for me.
I see dreams hidden in your eyes
That we've not dreamed before;
Then love me, oh, my beauty,
Love me for evermore!
You see, the whole of life, dear,
Lies in those words, just four--
All things that people envy,
All things that men adore,
All things that are seductive,
On which our heart sets store.
To sing, to laugh, my beauty,
To sleep, to love, no more!
THE MAN.
He lands! Good! He sends off the boatmen. Excellent!
[_Comes back to the front of the stage._
Here he comes.
[_Fabiano Fabiani enters, enveloped in a cloak; he goes toward the
door of the house._
SCENE VI
The Man, Fabiano Fabiani
THE MAN (_stopping_ Fabiani).
A word with you, if you please.
FABIANI.
I believe some one is speaking to me. Who is this knave? Who are you?
THE MAN.
Whatever you wish me to be.
FABIANI.
This lantern is not very bright, but you wear a yellow cap, it seems
to me--a Jew's cap. Are you a Jew?
THE MAN.
Yes, a Jew. I have something to tell you.
FABIANI.
What is your name?
THE MAN.
I know your name, and you don't know mine. I have the advantage.
Permit me to keep it.
FABIANI.
You know my name? That isn't true.
THE MAN.
I know your name. At Naples you were called Signor Fabiani; at
Madrid, Don Fabiano; at London you are called Lord Fabiano Fabiani,
Earl of Clanbrassil.
FABIANI.
The devil take you!
THE MAN.
God keep you!
FABIANI.
I will have you cudgeled. I do not wish my name to be known when I go
abroad by night.
THE MAN.
Especially when you go where you are going.
FABIANI.
What do you mean?
THE MAN.
If the Queen knew!
FABIANI.
I am going nowhere in particular.
THE MAN.
Oh, yes, my lord! You are going to see the fair Jane, the betrothed
of Gilbert the engraver.
FABIANI (_aside_).
The devil! This is a dangerous man.
THE MAN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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