_
I have pardoned all of you.
I have pardoned all of you.
World's Greatest Books - Volume 17 - Poetry and Drama
For it was I who made them fight. I lent
My sword to Didier.
THE KING (_sadly_): Oh, my poor fool!
So they will break your neck as well! Farewell!
Life will be dull without you. When you die,
L'Angely, come and tell me how it feels,
If you can, as some dead men do return
In ghostly form to earth.
L'ANGELY (_to himself_): A pleasant task!
THE KING: No! It would frighten me if you came back.
You must not die. L'Angely, do you think
That I could master Richelieu, if I wished?
L'ANGELY: Try!
THE KING: Some paper!
[L'ANGELY _gives him some; he hurriedly scrawls a few
words, and hands the writing to the fool.
_
I have pardoned all of you.
L'ANGELY (_running to_ MARION): Here is the pardon.
Thank the king for it.
THE KING (_as_ MARION _throws herself at his feet_):
I must not! Give the paper back to me!
Richelieu will be angry.
MARION (_thrusting the pardon in her bosom_): You must tear
My heart out ere you take it from me, sire!
THE KING (_lowering his eyes, dazzled by her beauty_):
Are you a sorceress? You frighten me!
Keep it and go!
MARION (_as she departs_): My Didier is saved!
THE KING: At last I have shown Cardinal Richelieu
That I am King of France--
L'ANGELY: Who in a fright
Made a mistake, and once did what was right!
ACT III
SCENE--_A field by the castle of Beaugenoy. A great gap has been made
in the outer wall, through which looms the castle-keep. Two
workmen are covering the gap with a vast black cloth. _
A WORKMAN: If they would hang the two young gentlemen
Outside the wall, the cardinal could see
The execution without breaking down
The ramparts in this way.
