Enter to them from the south a small detachment of lancers with an aide-de-camp at their head. They ride up to within speaking distance.] LESSARD They are from Bonaparte. Present your arms! AIDE [calling] We'd parley on Napoleon's behalf, And fain would ask you join him. LESSARD Al parole With rebel bands the Government forbids. Come five steps further and we fire! AIDE To France, And to posterity through fineless time, Must you then answer for so foul a blow Against the common weal! [NAPOLEON'S aide-de-camp and the lancers turn about and ride back out of sight. The royalist troops wait. Presently there reappears from the same direction a small column of soldiery, representing the whole of NAPOLEON'S little army shipped from Elba. It is divided into an advance-guard under COLONEL MALLET, and two bodies behind, a troop of Polish lancers under COLONEL JERMANWSKI on the right side of the road, and some officers without troops on the left, under MAJOR PACCONI. NAPOLEON rides in the midst of the advance-guard, in the old familiar “redingote grise,” cocked hat, and tricolor cockade, his well-known profile keen against the hills. He is attended by GENERALS BERTRAND, DROUOT, and CAMBRONNE. When they get within gun-shot of the royalists the men are halted. NAPOLEON dismounts and steps forward.] NAPOLEON Direct the men To lodge their weapons underneath the arm, Points downward. I shall not require them here. COLONEL MALLET Sire, is it not a needless jeopardy To meet them thus? The sentiments of these We do not know, and the first trigger pressed May end you. NAPOLEON I have thought it out, my friend, And value not my life as in itself, But as to France, severed from whose embrace] I am dead already. [He repeats the order, which is carried out. There is a breathless silence, and people from the village gather round with tragic expectations. NAPOLEON walks on alone towards the Fifth battalion, Throwing open his great-coat and revealing his uniform and the ribbon of the Legion of Honour. Raising his hand to his hat he salutes.] LESSARD Present arms! [The firelocks of the royalist battalion are levelled at NAPOLEON.] NAPOLEON [still advancing] Men of the Fifth, See--here I am!... Old friends, do you not know me? If there be one among you who would slay His Chief of proud past years, let him come on And do it now! [A pause.] LESSARD [to his next officer] They are death-white at his words! They'll fire not on this man. And I am helpless. SOLDIERS [suddenly] Why yes! We know you, father. Glad to see ye! The Emperor for ever! Ha! Huzza!