DODART: Abominable!
BOUVIGNY: The country is infested with quantities of worthless books.
ROUSSELIN: Unfortunately, it has not the proper persons in authority to conduct its affairs. Ah! there is so much high-mindedness to be found among the nobility! On that point I fully agree with some of the most prominent public men in England.
BOUVIGNY: Your words are as welcome as a refreshing breeze, and if we might hope —
ROUSSELIN [mysteriously]: To tell the truth, Monsieur, the democracy really terrifies me. I do not know what madmen my seize upon me, what malicious impulse —
BOUVIGNY [suppresses a smile]: Oh, come! I think you go rather too far.
ROUSSELIN: NO, no, I was guilty of — you see, I am really a staunch Conservative, but perhaps I have not fully understood certain shades of meaning —
DODART: All honest men understand one another!
ROUSSELIN [shakes hands with Bouvigny]: Certainly, my dear Count, certainly! Monsieur Dodart is quite right!
SCENE VIII.
(Enter Murel, Ledru, Onésime, and several Workmen )
MUREL: Thank heaven! I find you without your electors, my dear Rousselin!
BOUVIGNY [aside]: I thought they were at swords' points!
MUREL: Here are a few more voters. I have shown them that the ideas of Gruchet do not meet the requirements of our time; and now that I have explained to them what you said to me this morning, they understand you better. These worthy citizens are not only republicans, but socialists!
BOUVIGNY [jumps]: What! Socialists!
ROUSSELIN: He brings me socialists!
DODART: Socialists! I think my presence is no longer required here! [Slips away noiselessly]
LEDRU: Yes, citizen! We are socialists!
ROUSSELIN: Well — ahem! — I see no harm in that.
BOUVIGNY: And just now you were declaiming against this sort of rabble!
ROUSSELIN: Pardon me! There are several ways of looking at these matters.
ONESIME [springing from a chair]: No doubt — several ways!
BOUVIGNY [scandalised]: What! even my son?
MUREL [to Onésime]: What are you doing here?
ONESIME: I heard that something of a political nature was going on at Monsieur Rousselin's house, and I wished to show him that my sentiments were in sympathy with his own.
MUREL [aside]: Intriguing little puppy!
BOUVIGNY: I never expected, my son, to see you, in the presence of the author of your being, renounce the faith of your ancestors!
ROUSSELIN: Very fine!
LEDRU: And why "very fine"? This gentleman is the Count de Bouvigny [to Murel, indicating Rousselin], and you would have us believe that Monsieur Rousselin demands the abolition of all titles.
ROUSSELIN: Certainly!
BOUVIGNY: What! He demands that?
LEDRU: Yes, indeed! So he says!
BOUVIGNY: Ah, this is too much! [About to go]
ROUSSELIN [tries to hold Bouvigny]: I do not wish to destroy our mutual understanding so abruptly. Listen to me! Many of these men are simplv mistaken in judgment. Let us manage them together.
BOUVIGNY [loudly]: No more of your management for me, Monsieur! A man of honour does not ally himself with, the advôcates of disorder, and I tell you, fairly and squarely, that 1 will have no more to do with you or your election. Come, Onésime! [Exit the Bouvignys.
LEDRU: SO he was in favor of your election, was he? We all know what that would mean for us! I wish you good-day, Monsieur!
ROUSSELIN: In order to stand by my convictions, I have sacrificed a friend of thirty years' acquaintance!
LEDRU: We demand no sacrifices! But you blow first hot and then cold, and I think you are a regular old humbug! Come along, friends! Let us go back to Gruchet. Are you coming, Murel?
MUREL: I will be with you in a moment.
[Exit Ledru and Workmen.
SCENE IX.
MUREL: You must see, my dear friend, that you have put me in a very embarrassing situation.
ROUSSELIN: Perhaps you do not think that I am in one also.
MUREL: See here! you must settle on some decided line of action at once. Be on one side or the other. But decide quickly — let us have an end of this dilly-dallying.
ROUSSELIN: But why be so radical, one way or the other? Is there not something worth having in all parties?
MUREL: Yes! Their votes!
ROUSSELIN: YOU are very witty, upon my word! Your humour is delicate, yet always irresistible. I am not surprised that a certain person loves you!
MUREL: Some one loves me! Who is it?
ROUSSELIN: Innocent! A little lady named Louise!
MUREL: Oh, what happiness! Thank you, thank you a thousand times! Now I shall do some lively work in your behalf. I will convince those fellows that they did not understand you — that it was all a mistake. As to The Impartial —
ROUSSELIN: There, at least, you are master.
MUREL: Not altogether. We depend upon Paris, which gives the word of command. You must be very much fatigued.
ROUSSELIN: Oh, hang the fatigue!
MUREL: SO much the better! But now, tell me, how shall I make Julien understand the reason why we wish him to do exactly the contrary thing from the orders he received this morning?
ROUSSELIN: I don't know. What shall we do?
MUREL: Wait a moment! In your house there is a person that has a certain influence over him.
ROUSSELIN: Who is it?
MUREL: Miss Arabella. From something she said to me, I have reason to believe that she is interested in the young poet!
ROUSSELIN: Ha! ha! The romantic verses were addressed to the English girl, after all, eh?
MUREL: I cannot answer for the verses, but I believe they are in love with each other.
ROUSSELIN: I was sure of it! Never in my life have I been deceived in matters of that sort! Well, so long as my daughter is not concerned, there is no danger, and I should have a good laugh if — but I must speak to my wife about it. I must tell her everything.
MUREL: Meanwhile, I will try to warm up those voters who were rather chilled by your lukewarm philosophy.
ROUSSELIN: Don't go too far, for fear Bouvigny —
MUREL: Have no fear! I will re-paint your patriotism in glowing colors! [Exit.
ROUSSELIN [alone]: We must be shrewd, quick, and subtle!
SCENE X.
(Enter Mme. Rousselin and Miss Arabella )
ROUSSELIN [to Arabella]: My dear child, — my almost fatherly affection for you allows me to address you thus — I am about to ask a great favour of you. Will you meet Monsieur Julien Duprat and take a short walk with him?
ARABELLA [joyfully]: You wish me to do that!
MME. R. [haughtily]: What an extraordinary request!
ARABELLA: Monsieur Duprat strolls along this promenade every evening, smoking his cigar. It would be very easy to meet him.
MME. R.: It would be highly unconventional! It seems to me that I am the proper person to meet this gentleman.
ROUSSELIN: Well, yes, I suppose it would be rather more suitable for a married woman to have the interview with him.
ARABELLA: But I should like very much to meet him!
MME. R.: I forbid you to do so, Mademoiselle!
ARABELLA: I obey, Madame! [Aside, as she goes up stage] Why should she wish to prevent me from seeing him? I will try to find out! [Exit.
MME. R.: My dear, you have very singular ideas sometimes! Fancy your asking a young woman, our daughter's governess, to do a thing like that! Did you wish her to see him with regard to something concerning your election?
ROUSSELIN: Yes, of course! And it struck me that Arabella, because of the evident fancy she has for the young man, was the very person to have an interview with him.
MME. R.: Ah, you do not know her! She is both sly and violent, and under her romantic airs she hides a small, mean nature. I think we should do well to keep a close watch of her.
ROUSSELIN: Perhaps you are right. Here
comes Julien. You know, of course, the general import of what I wish to have said to him, with regard to the course his journal is to take.
MME. R.: Leave him to me! I shall know how to manage him.
ROUSSELIN: Very well. I trust everything to you. [Enter Julien. Rousselin bows to him and goes out. Twilight comes on]
SCENE XI.
(Madame Rousselin, Julien )
JULIEN [sees Mme. R.]: She! [Throws away his cigar] Alone! What shall I say? [Bows] Madame!
MME. R.: Monsieur Julien Duprat, I believe.
JULIEN: Alas! yes, Madame.
MME. R.: And why "alas"?
JULIEN: I have the misfortune to be connected with a journal the sentiments of which must be displeasing to you.
MME. R.: Well — yes, so far as its political tone is concerned.
JULIEN: If you only knew how distasteful are the affairs that occupy my time!
MME. R.: But a bright intellect may apply its efforts to almost anything without being lowered in the least. Your disdain of your occupation is not surprising. When a man can write such remarkable verses as you have produced —
JULIEN: Ah, now you are unkind, Madame! Why do you laugh at me?
MME. R.: I do not, I assure you. I make no profession of being a literary critic, but it seems to me that you have a brilliant future, Monsieur.
JULIEN: No, such possibilities are closed to me, by reason of my enforced environment. Art does not flourish in the provinces. A poet who finds himself compelled to remain there, and is obliged by poverty to perform uncongenial work, is like a man trying to run in a muddy field. A weight attaches itself to his feet,- dragging him down, and the faster he tries to run, the deeper he sinks. And something within him continually protests and complains. Then, to console himself for his hard fate, he dreams of what might have been, and time slips away, until finally he forces himself to be satisfied with his own mediocrity, and feels only resignation — the calmer phase of despair!
MME. R.: I understand you, and I pity you!
JUUEN: Ah, Madame! your compassion is sweet, although it only augments my sadness!
MME. R.: Have courage! Success will surely come to you some day!
JULIEN: Here, in my isolation, is it possible?
MME. R.: But, instead of flying from the world, approach it! Its language is not like your own — but learn it! Submit to its demands. Reputation and power are gained only by coming in contact with people; and, since society is naturally a state of war, range yourself on the side of the strong, the rich, the happy. Of your inmost thoughts and feelings I will not speak, for reasons of — prudence! When you go to Paris to live, as we intend to do —
JULIEN: But, Madame, I have not the means to live in Paris.
MME. R.: Who knows? To a man with your versatility of talent nothing is difficult; and you must use it in such a way as to make the right persons show their gratitude for it. But it is growing late! I hope for the pleasure of seeing you again, Monsieur! [Curtseys, and goes up stage]
JULIEN: Oh, do not leave me, in heaven's name! I have waited so long for this moment! I have vainly tried so many devices in order to approach you! Besides, I did not fully understand your last words. You appear to expect me to perform some service. Do you wish to give me a command? Give it, then — I will obey!
MME. R.: What devotion! Darkness increases ]
JULIEN: I tell you, Madame, you occupy my whole life! Many a time, as twilight comes on, do I climb one of these hills to breathe a freer air; and when I turn my gaze in the direction of the town, my eyes wander, in spite of myself, towards the dwelling that shelters you — this house, that gleams like a pearl in a green setting. The sight of a royal palace would not give me so deep a feeling of covetousness! Sometimes I see you in the street — a dazzling vision! I stop! I try to walk near you, unobserved, following your dainty, airy veil, that floats about your head like a blue cloud. Often I have stood outside your garden gate, only to catch a glimpse of you and hear the rustle of your skirt as you walked among the violet-beds. Your slightest word, your most ordinary phrase, possesses a value quite unintelligible to anyone but me; and I treasure every utterance like a prize! Do not drive me away! Pardon me! I dared to send you some verses. They were lost, like the flowers that I gather in the country without being able to offer them to you; lost, like the words I murmur to you at night — words that you never hear! You are my inspiration, my muse, the embodiment of my ideal, my delight, my torment!
MME. R.: Calm yourself, Monsieur! This exaggeration —
JULIEN: Ah, I belong to the days of 1830! I learned to read by studying Hernani and often have I wished I could have been the romantic Lara! I execrate my dull contemporaries, the commonplaces of modern life, the ignominy of matter-of-fact happiness! The grand passion that caused the lyres of the great masters to vibrate, swells my own breast! In my thoughts you are inextricably entwined with all that is beautiful in the universe! Everything in the world is influenced by your personality! These trees were made only to shade your face; the night comes only to shelter you and to soothe your spirit; the stars, that beam as softly as your eyes, were made to shed their light upon you!
MME. R.: The reading of romantic literature has made you over-enthusiastic, I fear! What confidence can a woman have in a man that cannot control his language or his passion? I believe you are sincere. But you are young, and you ignore certain necessary restraints. Some women in my place would have taken offence at the freedom of your language. You must promise me —
JULIEN: But you tremble, too, Madame! I knew it! No woman could repel such love as mine!
MME. R.: My courage in listening to you surprises even myself. The people hereabouts have malicious tongues, Monsieur. The slightest suspicion of scandal would ruin us.
JULIEN: Fear nothing! My lips shall be sealed, my eyes closed, my manner indifferent; and if I should present myself at your house —
MME. R.: But, Monsieur, my husband —
JULIEN: Do.not speak to me of that man! .
MME. R.: I must defend him.
JULIEN: I have done that — for love of you!
MME. R.: He will hear of your defense of him, and you never will have reason to regret your generosity.
JULIEN: Let me kneel before you, that I may look at you more closely. I will do all that you wish, and boldly, too, for I have gained new strength. I wish to become a part of your life, to enjoy with you all the intoxications that life affords; all the enchantments of art, all the blessings of heaven!
ARABELLA [enters softly, and slips behind a tree]: Aha! I was sure of it!
MME. R.: I expect from you an immediate proof of confidence and love.
JULIEN: Only tell me what you wish!
SCENE XII.
(The same, then Murel and Gruchet, followed by Rousselin )
MME R.: Some one approaches! I must go into the house.
JULIEN: Not yet! [Enter Murel, L. 3. E., walking leisurely across back of stage]
GRUCHET [enters L. 3. E., running after Murel]: Give me back my money!
MUREL [still walks slowly]: Go away! You annoy me!
GRUCHET: Rascal!
MUREL [turns suddenly and strikes Gruchet]: Thief!
ROUSSELIN [enters just as the blow is struck]: Why, who is here? What is the matter? JULIEN: Grant me only this favour, Madame! [Kisses her hand audibly]
ARABELLA [recognises Julien]: Ah! it is he! [Runs off]
ROUSSELIN: What is going on here? [Sees Arabella running] Arabella! I will put her out of the house to-morrow!
ACT III.
Scene: A public ball-room in the Salon de Flore. At the back, facing the audience, a platform for an orchestra. A bass-viol stands in a corner, L. Several musical instruments hang on the walls; also a stand of tri-colored flags. In the middle of the platform are a table and chairs; two other tables stand R. and L. on the stage proper. Lower platform is placed directly in front of the orchestra platform. Many chairs stand R. and L. At the rear is a practicable balcony.
SCENE I.
ROUSSELIN [standing C.]: I think it would sound well if I should compare Anarchy to a serpent — and a hydra-headed one at that! And Power — I might call that a vampire. No, that word is a little too pretentious. I must find some effective phrase that will arouse enthusiasm, such as: We must close the era of revolutions! — comrades! — indefeasible rights! — and some words ending in "ism," — parliamentarism, and things like that!
Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert Page 411
