Etext by Dagny
This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in print or other media may be made without the express consent of the Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130
A Patriotic Opera
In one act and two scenes
By Edouard Brisbarre and Saint Yves
1848
Translated and Adapted by
Frank J. Morlock
C 2003
++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHARACTERS:
MAZAGRAN, an apprentice mechanic, fifteen years old
PERE SIMON, former carpenter, age eighty
VINCENT, worker, printer, thirty-six
A STUDENT FROM THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
THERESE, Vincent's daughter
VALENTIN, Sergeant of the 52nd, of the Line
++++++++++++++++++++++++
The stage represents a barricade on a Paris street. To the spectators' right, a house with a sign. “Buisson, Merchant of Curiosities”
AT RISE, a lively fusillade has just made itself heard. All the combatants place themselves in different ways on the barricade, brandishing their arms and finishing the song of the Marseillaise.
VINCENT: (on the barricade, peering) Fine—very fine! Our fusillade terrified them. They're heading towards another barricade which will receive them the same way! Children of Paris—you are worthy of your brothers of 1830.
A MAN OF THE PEOPLE: (on the barricade) Who goes there?
PERE SIMON: (outside) A Friend.
VINCENT: (looking) Ah! It's Papa Simon, the doyen of the Carpenters' Guild.
PAPA SIMON: (entering, climbing the barricade) Myself, gang, myself.
VINCENT: You here, at your age?
PAPA SIMON: Is there an age for patriots? I'm an old rabbit from '89 who took the Bastille. The Hotel de Ville in 1830 and I intend to take a few little things again this time.
VINCENT: But you are unarmed.
PAPA SIMON: I gave my musket, which proved itself at Marengo, to a neighbor because he's got a better eye than I do. Although old, my heart's still good, but my hand trembles. But that doesn't prevent me from digging up paving stones like anybody else.
VINCENT: You've made barricades?
PAPA SIMON: I've helped cut down trees, overturn carriages, break street lights. I do what I can.
VINCENT: Like 1830.
PAPA SIMON: Like in '89.
VINCENT: While singing the Marseillaise.
PAPA SIMON: We also sang that at Arcole and Lodi. Nothing can resist that tune.
VINCENT: (waving his rifle) Especially when it is well accompanied. And I think that was not very badly performed! Besides, they've just beat it!
PAPA SIMON: I saw them. I was there under a carriage gate. One of their shots went splat on a wall two inches from my head. I brought it, see. (showing a lead ball) We must send it back. I don't like taking gifts from anybody.
VINCENT: (taking the ball) Don't worry, I'll make it get to them, accompanied by several others. But all the same, Papa Simon, it's not prudent for you to stroll around Paris when it's raining sugared almonds of this caliber. You must leave the job to the young who have good feet and good eyes.
PAPA SIMON: Leave me alone, will you. This rejuvenates me. The odor of gunpowder. And if you need a hand, you will see the old are still good for something. And then, I'm uneasy about this poltroon of a Mazagran.
VINCENT: Your grandson, the apprentice mechanic?
PAPA SIMON: Who escaped the house two days ago, despite me, despite his mother.
VINCENT: Like me in July, saying I was going to the printers.
PAPA SIMON: Oh! Those Paris kids. They are still all the same.
VINCENT: In the morning they are children, and by the night of a revolution they are men.
PAPA SIMON: So long as he isn't exposed, that comedian. His poor mother is taking it out on me. I rocked his cradle when he was still little to the song of the Departure. Oh, I must bring him back at any price. Where can he have got to?
MAZAGRAN: (appearing at the top of the barricade) Up here, Grand p'pa! Up here.
(Mazagran armed with a stick and followed by young kids of his age dressed in blouses, holding iron curtain rods, hatchets, and the like, runs to the front of the stage.)
PAPA SIMON: (joyfully) It's really him!
MAZAGRAN: (taking Papa Simon by the head and embracing him several times) Yes, grand p'pa, it's me, your grandson, Dodo, called Mazagran.
PAPA SIMON: (struggling with himself) Do you really think you can cajole me like that, rogue that you are! What kind of behavior is this? To jump over the wall when Paris is aflame and bloody.
MAZAGRAN: Heavens! Heavens! You yourself escaped by the window, you did—to go take the Bastille.
PAPA SIMON: That's true but—(to himself) I was wrong to tell him that.
VINCENT: You must go home with your grandfather.
MAZAGRAN: Not yet. I intend to have my three days in February; you Already had your three days in July.
VINCENT: (to Papa Simon) It's—he's right.
PAPA SIMON: Certainly. He's behaving very well. He has excellent taste. I was like that in '89.
MAZAGRAN: You see plainly—
PAPA SIMON: (stuttering) N'no. —I—You're going back.
MAZAGRAN: For heaven sake! People will think I'm not of the family.
PAPA SIMON: Well, then—! I will stay here with you. And the enemy will see, on the same barricade, '89
VINCENT: 1830.
MAZAGRAN: And 1848!
PAPA SIMON: Three epochs.
VINCENT: Three reigns!
MAZAGRAN: Three days! (placing the weapon on his arm with his stick) And I am going to begin my patrol. (looking at the barricade) Oh. This is your barricade.
VINCENT: It's well made, isn't it? July edition.
MAZAGRAN: We've pretty well perfected it in February. You must see the ones we made, we mechanics—with loopholes for firing, after the government model.
VINCENT: He's right, this kid!
PAPA SIMON: The rest of you to work.
(Papa Simon starts to work on the barricade.)
MAZAGRAN: Don't touch that Grandpa, you aren't strong enough.
PAPA SIMON: (sighing) I used to be.
VINCENT: (rebuilding the barricade) I am—
MAZAGRAN: I will be.
(Everybody tidies up the barricade.)
MAZAGRAN: (to Papa Simon) A revolution is fine, huh?
PAPA SIMON: My word, yes.
MAZAGRAN: This reminds me of the Olympic-Circus.
MAZAGRAN: (singing) Yes, by all our rights of conquest.
It's a joy, it's a celebration.
They hear glorious songs
Which made our forebears free.
Over there it's a troop we face,
Here it's a boulevard we uproot.
There it's a post you take
Or it's a friend you defend.
Each one makes his barricade.
We take part in the fusillade.
There, no more titles, no more rank,
In combat all are equal.
CHORUS: What happiness, what delight,
To conquer or die.
SECOND COUPLET: What royalty cultivates
Through its errors is revolt.
In its days of carnage Revolt makes
Many men of children,
For from combat, despite their age,
Many made their apprenticeship,
Fixing when God permitted it
Their stolen liberty.
But if ever at the frontier
Foreigners make war on us,
Threatening our rights and our treasure,
He will find the Parisians.
CHORUS: With joy, with delight
We all will learn to conquer or die.
VINCENT: It's because they're all like that, these devils of children. Even Therese, my daughter, a kid of seventeen, wanted to come out with me this morning, pretending concern about my nourishment. Here's what I told her: Rifle shots were not invented for women.
MAZAGRAN: Why, she should be allowed to come. As for me, I haven't eaten the least bit of grub since yesterday.
VINCENT: Me neither.
PAPA SIMON: Nor I.
ALL: Nor I.
A MAN OF THE PEOPLE: (on the barricade) Who goes there?
THERESE: (shouting outside) A Citizeness of Paris.
(Therese arrives with other young girls and women bearing bread and bottles of wine.)
VINCENT: Here! My daughter!
THERESE: Eh, yes! It's me. I said to myself, poor father he's too busy to come home to eat a bite. Must spare him that trouble. I came with comrades.
VINCENT: Through the barricades—despite the danger.
THERESE: Do we think of that? We only thought of our brothers who might have need of us—and here we are!
PAPA SIMON: Ah, these Parisiennes, they are worthy of Parisians.
MAZAGRAN: Long live the Parisiennes!
ALL: Long live the Parisiennes!
THERESE: (to the young girls) Come on, there are the soldiers. Let's be Vivandiere's.
MAZAGRAN: Attack the comestibles. A glass for grandpa.
(Therese and the young girls distribute bread and wine.)
CHORUS: Let's drink for a moment to forget
That our nation is in tears.
Generous country wine,
Come support your defenders.
VINCENT: Let's hope that a propitious destiny,
Breaking our lease to misfortune,
Will give to each fairly
His share of bread and labor.
REFRAIN: Let's drink for a moment to forget
That our nation is in tears.
Generous country wine,
Come support your defenders.
SECOND COUPLET: Let's form a complete family,
Noble shield of poverty,
And let's display on our banner
Order, union, fraternity.
REFRAIN: Let's drink for a moment to forget
That our nation is in tears.
Generous country wine,
Come support your defenders.
MAZAGRAN: (leaving with a few young folk carrying bread and wine) Ah, indeed. Mustn't forget the others.
THERESE: (to Vincent) Father, you aren't wounded, are you? And no engagement has taken place over here with troops of the line? You haven't seen Valentin's regiment?
VINCENT: No, my child.
PAPA SIMON: Valentin—the son of your deceased neighbor, brave worker.
VINCENT: Whose regiment was garrisoned in Paris yesterday.
THERESE: Who hasn't forgotten he's a son of the people, and who has sworn to me he'll die a thousand times rather than fight his brothers!
MAZAGRAN: (running in) Hey! Say there! the rest of you. Attention! Attention!
ALL: What's wrong?
PAPA SIMON: You can't break a crust of bread without being disturbed.
VINCENT: You know very well, Papa Simon, that the government doesn't like banquets.
MAZAGRAN: What's certain is that I am announcing that company's coming —and a lot.
PAPA SIMON: What uniform?
MAZAGRAN: You'd never believe it, grandpa. It's of the line.
ALL: Of the line!
THERESE: (with fire) Impossible.
VINCENT: Be quiet, Therese.
MAZAGRAN: Turning down the street I found myself nose to nose with their scouts, and I recognized at their head a denizen of the quarter, a bold Sergeant Valentin.
ALL: Valentin!
THERESE: It's impossible, I tell you.
VINCENT: Therese.
MAZAGRAN: For all that, as if I don't know him—Valentin—who pounded bronze before putting his hand into the sack of the militia.
VINCENT: You see, Therese, the voice of discipline was more powerful than his.
THERESE: Oh! This is horrible. But, I swear to you father, everything is over between us.
PAPA SIMON: Mustn't judge without hearing.
VINCENT: Well, if they want to have a chat—Let's go meet them. (to Therese) And you, get out that way.
PAPA SIMON: That's it. To meet the others who can't be very far off. Are you naive, Papa Vincent?
MAZAGRAN: From which it follows we will be in a crossfire. (twirling his stick) Sonofabitch! I'll have trouble going two rounds with my baton.
PAPA SIMON: Now that's what comes of disobeying me, you little scamp.
MAZAGRAN: That's what comes of not having loaned me your musket from Marengo, grandpa. Ah! If we had weapons! The least little thing— What!
PAPA SIMON: Wait. Right in this street I've an acquaintance who sells curiosities—old armor—scrap iron—what do I know?
MAZAGRAN: Where's that? Where's that?
PAPA SIMON: (indicating the house) Ah! There!
MAZAGRAN: Come on, friends, we must take it politely.
(They all rap loudly.)
CHORUS: Open, open
And be without concern.
We are asking for your weapons
And you will deliver them.
Open, open.
PAPA SIMON: (rapping more softly)
My dear Mr. Buisson,
It's I who entreat you.
Loan us, without making difficulties,
Your hardware.
CHORUS: (rapping harder) Open, open
Or indeed, you'll repent of it.
(The door opens and Mazagran rushes in with all the children of Paris.)
VINCENT: (to Therese) My dear child, seek asylum in a house of the quarter.
THERESE: No, father, don't worry. You can be proud of me.
(Mazagran, returns with his comrades with helmets, bucklers, and old weapons of all sorts.)
MAZAGRAN: (First Couplet) Lances held high and helmets on
heads
Like ancient paladins.
My friends, you're all prepared
To fight the Saracens. (Second Couplet) Armor, used by tyranny
For a detestable purpose,
By striking for liberty
May our hand sanctify you.
(Therese seizes a musket. The other women also arm themselves.)
THERESE: As for us, we will guard with zeal your barricades.
VINCENT: Child—no vain bravado.
THERESE: If need be, we'll call.
PAPA SIMON: (lowering his voice)
Prudently, silently,
Let's advance.
No noise.
Glory will lead us. (refrain—in a deep voice)
Prudently, silently.
(They leave with caution.)
THERESE: They are moving away. We are alone. If someone approaches this barricade we will warn my father and his friends of the danger. Courage!
ALL: Courage!
THERESE: Let's not forget that several of our mothers had their share in the glory of 1830.
ALL: Yes. Yes.
THERESE: Who will be our leader?
ALL: You.
THERESE: Well—I accept and I will know how to show myself worthy of your confidence. Attention. Two sentinels here—here, three—and two there.
(They all place themselves on duty on the barricades.)
THERESE: (First Couplet) Let's stay here, faithful guards.
Down there, our brothers, our husbands,
Are braving the wrath of kings
For our immortal liberties.
Sentinels,
Look out for yourselves! (in the distance, off)
Sentinels,
Look out for yourselves! (even further off)
Sentinels,
Look out for yourselves!
THERESE: Do you hear the voice of the Nation
Watching with her defenders
To repulse the blind tyranny of oppressors?
Do you hear the voice of the Nation
Watching with her defenders
To repulse the blind tyranny of oppressors? (Second couplet)
For heroes, laurels are lovely.
Martyrs, fight, get revenge,
And with these paving stones, our frail hands
Will carve a throne for you.
Sentinels,
Look out for yourselves!
A WOMAN: (on the right) They're coming.
THERESE: (rushing with her musket) Who goes there? (no reply) Who goes? Stop or I am going to shoot. Who goes?
(Therese fires at the same moment that Valentin rushes on stage.)
VALENTIN: (appearing without arms) Therese!
THERESE: Valentin. Then it's true. Wretch!
VALENTIN: Don't you see I am unarmed?
VINCENT: (rushing on stage followed by several men) That rifle shot.— Valentin. Death to the traitor!
(The men aim at Valentin.)
THERESE: (throwing herself in front of him) Stop! He's unarmed.
VALENTIN: Yes, because I swore, like my soldiers, not to fire on my brothers. And rather than betray our oaths, we preferred to give up our weapons to the people who demanded them of us.
VINCENT: What! You did that, Valentin?
THERESE: And I suspected you. I told you so indeed, father.
VALENTIN: Aren't we, like you, children of the same country?
And do you think by entering the service we relinquish our rights as
children? (First couplet) My wish agrees with yours.
To your arms, I add mine.
Oh, yes. This heart beating beneath the uniform,
Will always be that of a citizen.
If I swore to defend France,
To protect her from her enemies,
I still think I'm protecting her
By smashing the power of a king.
Yes, I will know how to defend my country. (Second couplet)
Prince, born of our victory,
You are betraying your word today.
Monarch, have you forgotten
Those days that consecrated you king?
Remember where your crown came from!
Before, the nation placed it on your head.
It can take back what it has given.
And to overthrow your July throne,
It is breaking your July throne.
(Firing can be heard a bit further off.)
VINCENT: Children—Listen. Over there. Firing. And I am not there.
VALENTIN: Ah! If I hadn't given up my weapon!
THERESE: (giving him her rifle) Take this one.
VALENTIN: Thanks, Therese.
VINCENT: Let's march,
MAZAGRAN: (entering with several combatants) Victory! Victory! The barricades are free.
VINCENT: They defended them without me.
THERESE: Father, didn't you save yours?
MAZAGRAN: He's selfish. Everybody has his barricade. (shouting) Choke the ministers!
ALL: Down with the ministers!
VINCENT: Instead, let's shout: Long live reform.
ALL: Long live reform.
PAPA SIMON: (appearing followed by several National Guards) Come on. There's no more of that. Long live the Republic.
ALL: The Republic!
PAPA SIMON: Yes, the Republic. As in '90. Thanks to the joint work of these brave citizens, who indeed have the right to be heard a bit. We are refusing all new concessions from the crown. It's much too late. And all that remains for us is to plant the tree of liberty.
ALL:: Long live liberty.
MAZAGRAN: But grandpa, where will we find this Republic?
PAPA SIMON: At the Tuileries. I already found one indeed, on the 10th of August. All these kings resemble each other. There's only one way. That's to know how to make 'em vanish.
VINCENT: And once we've conquered the palace of tyranny, we will sanctify it by giving it a more noble function. Let it become the palace of the invalids of labor, and let this old geezer be the first to inaugurate it.
ALL: To the Tuileries! To the Tuileries!
VALENTIN: My friends, the army that conquered Italy, Belgium, and Holland was Republican. Open your ranks for me then, and I take the engagement in its name. All my regiment will follow my example.
VINCENT: Indeed, Valentin—and henceforth it will be called the first regiment of the Republic. To the Tuileries! To the Tuileries!
FINALE: Forward!
And let's march, drum beating.
Forward!
Triumph awaits us.
CHORUS: Forward!
And let's march, drum beating.
Forward!
Triumph awaits us.
(A sort of funeral march is heard.)
VALENTIN: But what's that funereal noise?
THERESE: A wounded that they're bringing to these parts.
(A student from the Polytechnical School enters, supported as he walks by two men of the people.)
VINCENT: Again, this celebrated school whose blood is so precious.
CHORUS: And may his heart beat to our tune,
To serve our beautiful France,
Resume its noble spirit.
(During the chorus Therese dresses his wounds.)
STUDENT: (coming to bit by bit) Friends, what does life
matter
When one gives it to the nation!
THERESE: No. You won't die.
STUDENT: Yes, I am reborn and energy
Is reviving my soul in your arms.
A sword! O heaven what a prodigy,
I am wearing it firmly.
Ah, the power that directs it
Is the love of liberty.
Friends, to finish the conquest
Of our rights that they intend to ravish from us,
You see my hand is ready.
Follow me, to conquer or die.
VALENTIN: Tremble, perfidious and perjured king.
For these twenty-year-old generals,
Who gave you your throne without defiling it,
Are fighting in our ranks to oust you from it.
REFRAIN BY CHORUS: Forward!
And let's march, drum beating.
Forward!
Triumph awaits us.
(Everyone leaves to the beat of the drum which beats the charge.)
BLACKOUT/CURTAIN
People enter carrying the armchair throne taken from the Tuileries, rushing in guided by the student from the Ecole Polytechnic on horseback. They place the throne on the base of the column; they form a hedge around it.
CHORUS: Brave children of the nation
Raise your face with pride.
No more tyranny in France.
Long live, long live—Liberty!
VINCENT: Glory to all you of our France.
Noble and proud representatives,
France's power is transmitted to you
Through the mouths of its children.
This civic crown
Needed a worthy support.
Liberty will give it
And honor will be its guardian.
REPRISE BY CHORUS: MAZAGRAN
Young folks worthy of your fathers,
In all ranks and conditions,
Poor or rich, remain brothers
And with heart and arm
French! In this heroic shock,
Your cities are as they once were,
The daughters of the Republic.
But Paris is your eldest son.
REPRISE BY CHORUS: VALENTIN
Let the union be founded in our homes.
Let's rally to this flag
Which has already made a world tour
And which will make it anew.
It's the emblem that is cursed
By these horrid tyrants.
It's the Republic and the Empire,
Our glory and our liberty.
REPRISE BY CHORUS: THE STUDENT FROM THE POLYTECHNICAL SCHOOL
In the old days we saw
Kings unite in an impious league
To enchain our country.
Against them let's convert this memory.
Shaking your shackles
And breaking an inhuman yoke,
Awaken, enslaved people,
France extends her hand to you.
REPRISE BY CHORUS: PAPA SIMON
No more titles or privilege
Or odious monopolies.
No more sacrilegious taxes
That fall only on the wretched.
We will form a single family
To the shouts of a great nation assembled.
Till on the last Bastille
The last throne is burned.
REPRISE BY CHORUS
(The people set the throne on fire to shouts of: Long Live the Republic!)
CURTAIN