It means divorce!--a thing more terrible Than carrying elsewhere the dalliances That formerly were mine. I kicked at that; But now agree, as I for long have done, To any infidelities of act May I be yours in name! NAPOLEON My mind must bend To other things than our domestic petting: The Empire orbs above our happiness, And 'tis the Empire dictates this divorce. I reckon on your courage and calm sense To breast with me the law's formalities, And get it through before the year has flown. JOSEPHINE But are you REALLY going to part from me? O no, no, my dear husband; no, in truth, It cannot be my Love will serve me so! NAPOLEON I mean but mere divorcement, as I said, On simple grounds of sapient sovereignty. JOSEPHINE But nothing have I done save good to you:-- Since the fond day we wedded into one I never even have THOUGHT you jot of harm! Many the happy junctures when you have said I stood as guardian-angel over you, As your Dame Fortune, too, and endless things Of such-like pretty tenour--yes, you have! Then how can you so gird against me now? You had not pricked upon it much of late, And so I hoped and hoped the ugly spectre Had been laid dead and still. NAPOLEON [impatiently] I tell you, dear, The thing's decreed, and even the princess chosen. JOSEPHINE Ah--so--the princess chosen!... I surmise It is none else than the Grand-Duchess Anne: Gossip was right--though I would not believe. She's young; but no great beauty!--Yes, I see Her silly, soulless eyes and horrid hair; In which new gauderies you'll forget sad me! NAPOLEON Upon my soul you are childish, Josephine: A woman of your years to pout it so!-- I say it's not the Tsar's Grand-Duchess Anne. JOSEPHINE Some other Fair, then. You whose name can nod The flower of all the world's virginity Into your bed, will well take care of that! [Spitefully.] She may not have a child, friend, after all. NAPOLEON [drily] You hope she won't, I know!--But don't forget Madame Walewska did, and had she shown Such cleverness as yours, poor little fool, Her withered husband might have been displaced, And her boy made my heir.--Well, let that be. The severing parchments will be signed by us Upon the fifteenth, prompt. JOSEPHINE What--I have to sign My putting away upon the fifteenth next? NAPOLEON Ay--both of us. JOSEPHINE [falling on her knees] So far advanced--so far! Fixed?--for the fifteenth? O I do implore you, My very dear one, by our old, old love, By my devotion, don't cast me off Now, after these long years! NAPOLEON Heavens, how you jade me! Must I repeat that I don't cast you off; We merely formally arrange divorce-- We live and love, but call ourselves divided. [A silence.] JOSEPHINE [with sudden calm]