France will reawaken, stronger and more united, for
misfortune draws to each other all ranks, all parties; and already
you see that we, formerly so divided, are understanding each other
better at last, and love each other more than ever.
THE MARQUIS (throwing himself into the General's arms). Ah, you
speak truly."
This scene passes in the midst of the Terror. The conclusion, the
moral of the piece, is as follows:--
"THE GENERAL. My friends, my fellow-citizens, we who, after so
many storms have finally reached port, and who, under the shelter
of the throne and the laws, taste that wise and moderate liberty
which has been the object of our desires for forty years; let us
guard it well, it has cost us dear. Always united, let us no
longer think of the evil done, let us see only the good that is,
let us put away sad memories, and let us all say, in the new
France, 'Union and forgiveness.'"
Among the spectators more than one could recognize himself in the
personages of the piece. But the allusions were so nicely made
that no one could be offended. Liberals and ultras could, on the
contrary, profit by the excellent counsels given them in the
little play of the Theatre de Madame.
Let us add, moreover, that Scribe never wished to be anything but
a man of letters. There could be applied to him the words said by
him of his confrere, friend, and nephew, Bayard:--
"A stranger to all parties, he speculated on no revolution; he
flattered no one in power, not even those he loved.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268