MARION DE LORME
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
| Marion de Lorme. | | |
| Didier. | | |
| Louis XIII. | | |
| Marquis de Saverny. | | |
| Marquis de Nangis. | | |
| L'Angely. | | |
| M. de Laffemas. | | |
| Duke de Bellegarde. | | |
| Marquis de Brichanteau, | } | Officers of the Regiment of Anjou. |
| Count de Gassé, | } |
| Viscount de Bouchavannes, | } |
| Chevalier de Rochebaron, | } |
| Count de Villac, | } |
| Chevalier de Montpesat, | } |
| Duke de Beaupréau. | | |
| Viscount de Rohan. | | |
| Abbé de Gondi. | | |
| Count de Charnacé. | | |
| Scaramouche, | } | Provincial comedians. |
| Gracieux, | } |
| Taillebras, | } |
| Councilor of the Great Chamber. |
| Town Crier. | | Captain. |
| A Jailer. | | A Registrar. |
| The Executioner. | | First Workman. |
| Second Workman. | | Third Workman. |
| A Lackey. | | Dame Rose. |
Provincial Comedians, Guards, Populace, Nobles, Pages.
1638.
MARION DE LORME
ACT I
THE MEETING
Scene.—Blois. A bed-chamber. A window opening on a balcony at the back. To the right, a table with a lamp, and an armchair. To the left a door, covered by a portière of tapestry. In the background a bed
SCENE I
Marion de Lorme, in a very elegant wrapper, sitting beside the table, embroidering. Marquis de Saverny, very young man, blonde, without mustache, dressed in the latest fashion of 1638
SAVERNY (approaching Marion and trying to embrace her).
Let us be reconciled, my sweet Marie!
MARION (pushing him away).
Not such close reconciliation, please!
SAVERNY (insisting).
Just one kiss!
MARION (angrily).
Marquis!
SAVERNY.
What a rage! Your mouth
Had sweeter manners, not so long ago!
MARION.
Ah, you forget!
SAVERNY.
No, I remember, dear.
MARION (aside).
The bore! the tiresome creature!
SAVERNY.
Speak, fair one!
What does this swift, unkind departure mean?
While all are seeking you at Place Royale,
Why do you hide yourself at Blois? Traitress,
What have you done here all these two long months?
MARION.
I do what pleases me, and what I wish
Is right. I'm free, my lord!
SAVERNY.
Free! Yes. But those
Whose hearts you've stolen, are they also free?
I? Gondi, who omitted half his Mass
The other day, because he had a duel
Upon his hands for you? Nesmond, D'Arquien,
The two Caussades, Pressigny, whom your flight
Has left so wretched, so morose, even
Their wives wish you were back in Paris, that
They might have gayer husbands!
MARION (smiling).
Beauvillain?
SAVERNY.
Is still in love.
MARION.
Cereste?
SAVERNY.
Adores you yet.
MARION.
And Pons?
SAVERNY.
Oh, as for him, he hates you!
MARION.
Proof
He is the only one who loves me! Well,
The President?
[Laughing.] The old man! What's his name?
[Laughing more heartily.
Leloup!
SAVERNY.
He's waiting for you, and meanwhile
He keeps your portrait and sings odes to it.
MARION.
He's loved me two years now, in effigy.
SAVERNY.
He'd much prefer to burn you. Tell me how
You keep away from such dear friends.
MARION (serious, and lowering her eyes).
That's just
The reason, Marquis; to be frank with you,
Those brilliant follies which seduced my youth
Have given me much more misery than joy.
In a retreat, a convent cell, perhaps,
I want to try to expiate my life.
SAVERNY.
I'll wager there's a love-tale behind that.
MARION.
You dare to think—
SAVERNY.
That never a nun's veil
Surmounted eyes so full of earthly fire.
It could not be. You love some poor provincial!
For shame! To end a fine romance with such
A page!
MARION.
It isn't true!
SAVERNY.
Let's make a wager!
MARION.
Dame Rose, what time is it?
DAME ROSE (outside).
Almost midnight!
MARION (aside).
Midnight!
SAVERNY.
That is a most ingenious way
Of saying, "Time to go."
MARION.
I live retired,
Receiving no one, and unknown to all.
Besides, 'tis dangerous to be out late:
The street is lonely, full of robbers.
SAVERNY.
Well,
They can rob me.
MARION.
And oftentimes they kill!
SAVERNY.
Good! they can kill me.
MARION.
But—
SAVERNY.
You are divine!
But I'll not stir one foot before I know
Who this gay shepherd is, who's routed us!
MARION.
There's no one!
SAVERNY.
I will be discreet. We courtiers,
Whom people think so mad, so curious
And spiteful, are maligned. We gossip, but
We never talk! You're silent?
[Sits down.] Then I'll stay!
MARION.
What does it matter? Well, it's true! I love!
I'm waiting for him!
SAVERNY.
That's the way to talk!
That's right! Where is it you expect him?
MARION.
Here!
SAVERNY.
When?
MARION.
Now! [She goes to the balcony and listens.
Hark! that is he perhaps.
[Coming back.] 'Tis not.
Now are you satisfied?
SAVERNY.
Not quite!
MARION.
Please go!
SAVERNY.
I want to know his name, this proud gallant,
For whose reception I am thus dismissed.
MARION.
Didier is all the name I know for him.
Marie is all the name he knows for me.
SAVERNY (laughing).
Is't true?
MARION.
Yes, true!
SAVERNY.
This is a pastoral,
And no mistake. 'Tis Racan, pure! To enter,
I have no doubt he scales the wall.
MARION.
Perhaps.
Please go! [Aside.] He wearies me to death!
SAVERNY (becoming serious).
Of course
He's noble.
MARION.
I don't know.
SAVERNY.
What?
[To Marion, who is gently pushing him toward the door.
I am going! [Coming back.
Just one word more! I had forgotten. Look!
[He draws a book out of his pocket and gives it to Marion.
An author who is not a fool, did this.
It's making a great stir.
MARION (reading the title).
"Love's Garland"—ah!
"To Marion de Lorme."
SAVERNY.
They talk of nothing
But this in Paris. That book and "The Cid"
Are the successful efforts of the day.
MARION (taking the book).
It's very civil of you; now, good-night!
SAVERNY.
What is the use of fame? Alack-a-day!
To come to Blois and love a rustic! Bah!
MARION (calling to Dame Rose).
Take care of the Marquis, and show him out!
SAVERNY (saluting her).
Ah, Marion, you've degenerated! [He goes out.