University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

Throne Room in the Castle. The stage is filled with courtiers.
Lude.
Is't true, my lord? They say that Coitier
Was an accomplice.

Lord.
Ay!

Lude.
Messire Tristan,
Can this be so? Nemours and Coitier?

Lord.
Ay!
They are judged—to death; and when the King revives,
To sign their sentence, justice will be done.

Lord.
The Parliament convoked, the peers assembled—
This looks like death. [Enter Commine]


Com.
A page, ho! Quick!
This to the Duke of Orleans—away!
This to the Lord of Beaujeu!

Lude.
The Duke and Beaujeu! Then the King is in extremis.

Com.
There is no hope.

Trist.
See how they flock about the coming reign.

Lude.
Be comforted, sweet Prince.

Com.
Think of Nemours.
Let your first act be one of mercy, sire.

Dauphin.
Have I the power?

Com.
Speak but one word to Tristan.

Dauphin.
Be it so.

Com.
Tristan, you have heard. Nemours—

Trist.
His highness needs but look to be obeyed.

Lude.
See, here is the Cardinal. [Enter Cardinal d'Alby]


Dauphin.
The King, my lord, the King?

Card.
Fast fleeting, Prince, inanimate.
Yet still, my lord, be comforted in this
That by his gifts and great beneficence,
The Church assures his life to come. Let us
All hope to make as Christian-like an end.

Dauphin.
Then there is no longer hope?

Card.
Accept the throne; it is your burthen, sire,
Which we will help to bear.

Dauphin.
And he will die
Without a word—a look.

Com.
My lord, 'tis hard.

Lude.
He is unnatural! He ever treated you
With cruelty.

Dauphin.
Silence! He was my father.
That which he did seemed fit to him, and must
Seem so to me. [Enter Oliver]


Oliver.
My lords, our prayers are heard.
The King revives.

Dauphin.
He lives!

Card.
Providence be praised.

Oliver.
There is no fear, his senses have returned.
There is great hope. He has desired this couch
To be prepared. Prince, he would be alone;
All must retire but Commine and Tristan.

Dauphin.
But this affects not me; I am his son.

Oliver.
Alas, my lord; trust to my offices,
And he shall ask for you anon.

Dauphin.
Accept my gratitude.

Com.
And mine.

Lude.
A king
Thus undecided if to die or not,
Compromises everybody now.
Who knows which way to turn? to whom to bow?

Oliver.
We are alone.

Com.
Well?

Trist.
Will he live?

Oliver.
Of course, to them I said so, but 'tis doubtful
Still.

Com.
Speaks he of Nemours?

Oliver.
No, he forgets.

Com.
Come death—ere he remember.

Oliver.
His brain is gone.
Just now, why, nought would serve him but he must
Preside at council. On his haggard brow
I needs must place the crown, though with the weight
His wizened chin sunk upon his breast;
And o'er his ague-stricken form, he wears
The royal mantle. Then he will walk, forsooth,
But scarce has made one pace, when, breathless, helpless,
He sinks back, crying that he never felt so well. Faith,
He never felt so well! See, he comes.

Trist.
Has such a phantom life? [Enter Louis and an Officer]


Louis.
What men are those?

Oliver.
Commine. Tristan.

Louis.
Think you I cannot see 'em?
One would suppose my eyes were failing me.
Good day, sirs.
Leave me, fellows; let go your hold.
Can I not stir without ye?

Oliver.
There, repose; rest you awhile, sire.

Louis.
I am not weary.

Oliver.
No.

Louis.
I am strong and capable.

Oliver.
Most capable.

Louis.
Since you will have it so,
Why stands he there,
And gazes on me so? Does he find me changed?

Trist.
I, sire? I never saw you look so hale.

Louis.
That's well. This room is spacious; there is air in't;
I can breathe. [Dozes]


Oliver.
He sleeps.

Com.
Remember, gentlemen,
He bade us once when his last moment came
To warn him.

Trist.
Ay.

Oliver.
He might desire to make
Some last bequest to us.

Trist.
In that case, we'll
Let him be told.

Louis.
Tristan, art thou there?

Trist.
Ay, sire.

Louis.
Watch—guard me—guard!

Trist.
Fear nought.

Com.
He sleeps again.

Oliver.
Who will assume this office?

Trist.
It must be done by one who can convey
The matter tenderly. [To Oliver]

You are the man.

Com.
The very man, indeed.

Oliver.
I would accept, but faith, I love him so
I could not keep my feelings in command.
Nay, it must be firmly done, and you,
I think, would do it best of all.

Trist.
He's right.

Com.
I am willing; but why thus prolong
His woe? 'Twere better and more merciful
To speak outright and break the truth
At once, as you would do. [To Tristan]


Oliver.
Why, so it would.

Trist.
Eh, gentlemen,
Let us confess the thing is delicate.

Louis.
Why do ye whisper there?

Oliver.
We bless the day for your recovery.

Louis.
Why is not Coitier here?
Where does he lay? Go fetch him!

Trist.
Sire, you know—

Louis.
I know—I know he never is where I
Would have him be.

Trist.
But, sire, you bade—

Louis.
Away! I bade you bring him here. No words! Obey! [Exit Tristan]

I feel in cue for
Hearty exercise. Go bid my grand equerry have the train
In readiness.

Oliver.
How, sire?

Louis.
I'll hunt the wolf
Today. Announce it loudly to my court.

Oliver.
But, sire—

Louis.
Begone!

Oliver.
Were it not well to pause
Till Coitier—

Louis.
Again?

Oliver.
He is himself again. [Exit]


Louis.
Remove this idle pomp, Commine. My crown—
Why have they thrust it on me? Place it there.
Nearer! Nearer still; beneath my eyes; under my hand! [Enter Coitier and Tristan]


Coit.
From my lips he shall learn what you so fear
To tell.

Louis.
Ah, Coitier, art thou there? Whence came ye?

Coit.
Whence! This is too much!

Louis.
Why, speak!

Coit.
Look on my wrist, still blushing with the rust
Your manacles have left there. Whence come I!
Job's patience! from the dungeon.

Louis.
A dungeon! Thou? Who gave the order?

Coit.
Who? You!

Louis.
I!

Coit.
'Fore Heaven,
He will deny it now. You in my presence
Gave it.

Louis.
Where? For what?

Coit.
Accuse me of a deed
So vile! Why, man, had I the stomach for it
What hindered me? A drug—a remedy o'erdone—
One drop too much, and I had done with ye.
But, introduce a midnight murderer
While ye were sleeping—

Louis.
Hold! Hold! That vision
In the night—behind those curtains, said ye?

Com.
Coitier, what have you done?
He had forgotten.

Louis.
No, no, I do remember now. Thanks, thanks!
'Twas he—Nemours! Nemours! A dagger raised
Against my life. [To Tristan]
Speak! He's dead?

Trist.
I waited, sire.

Louis.
How, traitor, he is not dead?

Trist.
The Dauphin, sire, forbade the execution.

Louis.
Ah, ah! My son! Doth he presume
To reign so soon? 'Tis doubtful he may reign at all.

Coit.
Oh, sire, think not on such designs.
Have done with vengeance; look to your own affairs.
Your hour is come.

Louis.
Eh? How, say you?

Coit.
The truth!
Look well, I say, to what you do.
For by the light of Heaven, this day will be
Your last.

Louis.
If so, it shall be also his.
Tristan, come here. Let it be now, at once; and hark,
No juggling with me, or your head shall answer it.
Begone!

Com.
Tristan!

Trist.
My life or his, you hear.
I have no choice. [Exit]


Louis.
My blood grows chill,
Deserts my limbs and gathers round my heart.
Nay, this weakness is but a spasm; 'twill pass,
'Twill pass, so wipe my brow. It is the sweat
Of agony, and not the dews of death.
Ah, mercy!—now it comes. Ay—go—the Dauphin—
Quick!

Com.
I fly, sire.

Louis.
No, come back!
If thus he saw me, he'd believe 'twas past
And over with me. Oh, look not so, sirs,
This is mere pain, not death. It cannot be.
Save me, Coitier! Oh, give me air—air!
Oh, all my treasure for one breath! Take, take,
But save me. Quick!
'Tis not death; 'tis not— [Falls]


Coit.
Ah, but it is. Away, apprize the Dauphin.
Tell him he is King of France. [Exit Commine]

I am free at last.
These shrunken lips and sightless glazed eyes
Bear impress of the livid seal of death. He's gone—
And Nemours, Nemours is saved—
The heart beats still! He may survive the spasm,
And live awhile—that is, if I revive him.
Wherefore? To eke his anguish out one hour?
Just time enough to act another crime—
The murder of Nemours! No, 'tis enough. Nature,
Do as thou wilt. I yield him up to thee. [Enter the Dauphin, Commine and Courtiers]


Dauphin.
My father, I am here; I come.
How now, his face is changed, Coitier. What means
This silence? Is it too late? He is no more. Leave me;
I would be alone.

Com.
My liege—

Dauphin.
Away!
I do command ye. [All retire]

Oh, my father;
Oh, my sovereign, let thy spirit hear me
And listen to thy son. Believe my heart,
Unknown, forbidden, and outcast by thee.
This poor cold hand of thine which now I take
To warm with tears. 'Tis not thy tenderness
But death that gives me leave to kiss it thus. [Places his hand on the crown]

This fatal bauble stood between our hearts,
Symbol of earthly power. [Marie rushes in, followed almost immediately by the Court]


Marie.
My liege!

Dauphin.
Marie!

Marie.
He is condemned, sire. Tristan is engaged
Upon his fatal work. Stay—stay it, sire.
I claim your royal word; see, here is your pledge.
I ask the pardon of Nemours; his life.
His life or mine! They lead him out to death.

Dauphin.
The King redeems the Dauphin's word. Nemours— [During this the King revives; the Dauphin quickly withdraws his hand from the crown]


Louis.
No, keep it; it is thine. My hour is come.

Marie.
Nemours—one word for him—

Fran.
You hear—

Marie.
My liege, my liege, as thou dost hope for pardon,
Extend it now. [Bell]

The bell! 'Tis for his death!
Oh, Heaven! See! Nemours, Nemours!

Dauphin.
One word, my father; speak and give him life.

Fran.
Sire, while thou yet hast time.

Louis.
If I forgive,
Shall I, too, in my turn find mercy?

Fran.
Would'st thou
Contract with Heaven, and die accursed
As thou hast lived?

Louis.
No—no—
I pardon. Save him! Save him!

Marie.
Hold! Ah—My life for his. [Rushes out]


Louis.
Father! Speak—save—absolve!
Is there no hope? Oh, mercy! Mercy!
The mortal foe! See! See you not? It comes!
I feel his icy grip. Pray! Pray for me!
I do entreat ye all—pray! I command— [Dies. Montjoie breaks his staff]


Mont.
The King is dead. The King is dead!
Long live the King!

CURTAIN