THE SEVEN PRINCESSES

BY MAURICE MAETERLINCK      Translated by ALFRED SUTRO

CHARACTERS
THE OLD KING.
THE OLD QUEEN.
THE PRINCE.
THE SEVEN PRINCESSES.
A MESSENGER.

SCENE—A large hall of marble , with laurel, lavender, and lilies in
porcelain vases. The hall is divided in all its length by seven marble
steps, which are strewn with cushions of pale silk, and on these the SEVEN
PRINCESSES he asleep. They are all clad in white robes, and their arms are
bare. A silver lamp sheds a faint light upon them. At the end of the
hall is a door furnished with massive bolts. To the right and the
left of this door are great windows, which almost reach to the ground.
Behind these windows is a terrace. The sun is setting : and in the dis-
tance is seen a black marshy country, with stagnant pools and forests of pine
and oak. Behind the palace, between huge willows, is a sombre, grim-
looking inflexible canal, along which a large war- ship is seen advancing.

[The old KING and QUEEN and the MESSENGER move along the terrace
and watch the war-ship as she draws nearer.]

THE QUEEN. She is coming under full sail . . .

THE KING. I cannot see clearly, there is so much mist . . .

THE QUEEN. They are rowing . . . they are all rowing . . . They
must mean to come right up to the castle windows … It is as
though she had a thousand feet . . . the sails touch the branches of
the willows . . .

THE KING. The ship seems to be wider than the canal . . .

THE QUEEN. They are stopping . . .

THE KING. They will find it difficult to turn . . .

THE QUEEN. They have stopped . . . they have stopped . . . They
are dropping the anchor . . . They are mooring the ship against
the willows … Ah! ah! some one has landed . . . that must be
the Prince . . .

THE KING. Look at the swans . . . they are going towards him . . .
they want to know what it means . . .

THE QUEEN. Are the Princesses still asleep?

[They go to the windows and look into the hall.]

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THE KING. Let us wake them . . . we should have done that
before . . . we must wake them at once . . .

THE QUEEN. Let us wait till he has come . . . It is too late now . . .
There he is! There he is! . . . My God! my God! what are we
to do? . . . They are so ill . . . I dare not! I dare not!

THE KING. Shall I open the door?

THE QUEEN. No, no! wait! let us wait!—Oh, how they sleep!
they do nothing but sleep! . . . They did not know that he was
coming back . . . that he would be here to-day . . . I am afraid
to wake them . . . the physician forbade it . . . Do not let us wake
them . . . Do not let us wake them yet . . . Oh ! oh ! I hear a
sound of footsteps on the bridge . . .

THE KING. He is there! He is there . . . He is at the foot of the
terrace! . . .

[They leave the window.]

THE QUEEN. Where is he? where is he?—Is it he?—I can scarcely
recognise him . . . Yes, yes, I know him now . . . Oh! how tall he
is! how tall he is! He is coming up the stairs . . . Marcellus!
Marcellus! Is it you? is it you? . . . Come to us, come; we are
so old, we cannot go down to you. . . . Come! come! come! . . .

THE KING. Be careful . . . do not fall . . . the steps are very old . . .
they are all shaking . . . Take care! . . .

[The PRINCE comes on to the terrace and throws himself into the arms of
the KING and QUEEN.]

The Prince. My poor grandam! My poor grandsire!

[They embrace each other.]

THE QUEEN. Oh! how handsome you are!—how tall you have grown,
my child!—How tall you are, my little Marcellus!—I cannot
see you: my eyes are full of tears . . .

THE PRINCE. Oh! my poor grandam, how white your hair is! . . .
Oh! my poor grandfather, how white your beard is! . . .

THE KING. We are a poor old couple; it will be our turn soon . . .

THE PRINCE. Grandsire, grandsire, why do you stoop like that?

THE KING. I always stoop now . . .

THE QUEEN. We have been expecting you so long . . .

THE PRINCE. Oh! my poor grandam, how you are trembling to-night!

THE QUEEN. I always tremble like that, my child . . .

THE PRINCE. Oh! my poor grandsire! Oh! my poor grandam! I
should scarcely have known you again . . .

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THE KING. Nor I either, nor I either . . . My eyes are not very
good . . .

THE QUEEN. Where have you been all this time, my child? Oh!
how tall you are!—You are taller than we! . . . See! see! I am
crying as though you were dead . . .

THE PRINCE. Why do you greet me with tears in your eyes?

THE QUEEN. No, no, they are not tears, my child . . . They are very
different from tears . . . Nothing has happened . . . nothing has
happened . . .

THE PRINCE. Where are my seven cousins?

THE QUEEN. Here, here; but be careful, do not speak too loud;
they are still asleep . . . it is not good to talk of those who
sleep . . .

THE PRINCE. They are asleep? . . . Are they all with you still, all
seven? . . .

THE QUEEN. Yes, yes, yes; be careful, be careful . . . They sleep
here; they always sleep . . .

THE PRINCE. They always sleep? . . . What? what? what?
Do . . .? All the seven! . . . all the seven! . . .

THE QUEEN. Oh! oh! oh! what did you think? . . . what have you
dared to think, Marcellus, Marcellus? Hush!—They are in there
. . . come to the window . . . come and see . . . Quick! quick!
come quick ! It is time you should see them . .

[They go to the window and look into the hall. A long pause.]

THE PRINCE. Are those my seven cousins? . . . I cannot see them
very clearly . . .

THE QUEEN. Yes, yes, they are all there, lying on the steps . . . can
you see them? can you see them?

THE PRINCE. I see nothing but white shadows.

THE QUEEN. Those are your seven cousins! . . . Can you see them
in the mirrors? . . .

THE PRINCE. Are those my seven cousins? . . .

THE QUEEN. Look into the mirrors, right at the end of the hall . . .
You can see them, you can see them. . . . Come here, come here,
you will see better perhaps . . .

THE PRINCE. I see! I see! I see! I can see all the seven of them! . . .
One, two, three [he pauses a moment] four, five, six, seven … I
scarcely recognise them . . . Oh! how white they all are! . . . Oh!
how beautiful they all are … Oh! how pale they all are! . . .
But why are they all asleep?

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THE QUEEN. They always sleep . . . They have been asleep since
noon . . . They are so ill! . . . It has become almost impossible
to wake them . . . They did not know of your coming . . . we
were afraid to disturb them . . . It is better they should awake
of their own accord . . . They are not happy, and it is not our
fault . . . We are too old, too old; every one is too old for them
. . . One grows too old without knowing it . . .

THE PRINCE. Oh! how beautiful they are! how beautiful they
are! . . .

THE QUEEN. They came to us when their parents died . . . since then
one can scarcely say that they have been alive . . . It is too cold in
this castle . . . They come from a warm land . . . They are always
seeking the sun, but it comes so seldom . . . There was a little
sunshine on the canal this morning, but the trees are too large; there
is too much shade; there is nothing but shade . . . And the sky is
never clear: it is always hidden by the mist . . . Oh! why do you
stare like that!—Do you see anything strange?

THE PRINCE. Oh! how pale they all are!

THE QUEEN. They have eaten nothing yet . . . They could not stay
in the garden: the glare of the grass dazzled them . . They are in
a fever . . . They came in at noon, holding one another by the
hand . . . They are so weak they can scarcely walk alone . . .
They were all trembling with fever . . . What it is that ails them no
one can tell . . . They sleep here every day . . .

THE PRINCE. They look so strange! . . . Oh! oh! how strange they
look! I dare not look at them . . . Is this their bed-room, then?

THE QUEEN. No, no; it is not their bed-room . . . You can see;
there are no beds . . . their seven little beds are up higher, in the
tower. They come here, waiting for the night . . .

THE PRINCE. I am beginning to distinguish them . . .

THE QUEEN. Come nearer, come nearer; but do not touch the window
. . . You will see better when the sun has set: there is still too much
light outside . . . You will see better presently. Go close up to the
panes, but make no noise . . .

THE PRINCE. Oh! how light it is in there! . . .

THE QUEEN. It will be lighter still after nightfall . . . The night is
about to fall . . .

THE KING. What is about to fall?

THE QUEEN. I am speaking of the night . . . [to the Prince] Can you
see anything?

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THE PRINCE. There is a great crystal bowl on a stand . . .

THE QUEEN. That is nothing; it is filled with water; they are always
so thirsty when they awake! . . .

THE PRINCE. But why is that lamp burning? . . .

THE QUEEEN. They always light it. They knew that they would
sleep for many hours. They lit the lamp at noon so as not to awake
in darkness . . . They are afraid of the dark . . .

THE PRINCE. How tall they are! . . .

THE QUEEN. They are still growing . . . They are growing too tall
. . . Perhaps that is the secret of their sickness . . . Do you re-
cognise them? . . .

THE PRINCE. I should perhaps recognise them if I saw them by day-
light. . . .

THE QUEEN. You played with them so often when they were children
. . . Look at them! look at them!

THE PRINCE. I can see nothing clearly but their little bare feet . . .

THE KING [looking through another window] I cannot see very well
to-night . . .

THE PRINCE. They are too far away from us . . .

THE QUEEN. There is something on the mirrors this evening; I cannot
think what it can be . . .

THE PRINCE. There is a mist on the window-panes . . . I will brush
it away . . .

THE QUEEN. No! no! Do not touch the window! They would
wake with a start!—The mist comes from within; it is on the inside;
it is the heat of the room . . .

THE PRINCE. I can see the faces of six of them quite well; but there
is one, in the centre . . .

THE KING. They are all very much alike: I can only distinguish them
by the jewels of their necklaces . . .

THE PRINCE. There is one whose face I cannot see . . .

THE QUEEN. Which of them do you like the best . . .

THE PRINCE. The one whose face I cannot see . . .

THE QUEEN. Which one? I am a little hard of hearing . . .

THE PRINCE. The one whose face I cannot see . . .

THE KING. Which one is that? I can hardly see any of them . . .

THE PRINCE. She is in the centre . . .

THE QUEEN. I knew that you would only look at her! . . .

THE PRINCE. Who is she?

THE QUEEN. Surely you know! there is no need for me to tell you . .

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THE PRINCE. Is it Ursule?

THE QUEEN. Yes, yes, yes! Who could it be but Ursule! It is
Ursule! it is Ursule, who has waited for you these seven years! by
day and by night she has been waiting for you! . . . Do you
recognise her? . . .

THE PRINCE. I cannot see her well; there is a shadow over her . . .

THE QUEEN. Yes, there is a shadow over her; I do not know what it
is . . .

THE PRINCE. I think it is the shadow of a column . . . I shall see
her better presently when the sun has quite set . . .

THE QUEEN. No, no! That shadow is not cast by the sun . . .

THE PRINCE. Let us see whether it moves . . .

THE KING. I see what it is: it is the shadow of the lamp.

The QUEEN. She is not lying like the others . . .

THE KING. She is sleeping more heavily, that is all . . .

THE PRINCE. She sleeps like a little child . . .

THE KING. Come to this window c perhaps you will see better from
here.

The PRINCE [goes to another window]. No, I see her no better; I
cannot see her face . . .

THE QUEEN. Come to this window: perhaps you will see better from
here . . .

THE PRINCE [goes to another window]. No, I see her no better . . . It
is very difficult to see her . . . One would think she were hiding her
face . . .

THE QUEEN. Her face is hardly visible . . .

THE PRINCE. I can see all but her face . . . It seems to be turned
quite up, to the sky . . .

THE QUEEN. But you only look at her! . . .

THE PRINCE [still looking]. She is taller than the others . . .

THE QUEEN. Why have you eyes only for the one whom you cannot
see? . . . There are six others! . . .

THE PRINCE. I am looking at them too . . . Oh, how well one can
see the others! . . .

THE QUEEN. Do you remember them? Genevieve, Helene, and Christa-
belle . . . on the other side Madeleine, Claire, and Claribelle, with
the emeralds . . . See how they hold one another by the hand,
all the seven . . . They have fallen asleep hand in hand … Oh!
oh! the little sisters! . . . They are afraid they may get lost while
they sleep! . . . My God! my God! if they would only wake! . . .

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THE PRINCE. Yes, yes: let us wake them . . . Shall I wake them?
The Queen. No, no: not yet, not yet . . . And we must not look at
them any more: come away, do not look at them any more; they
will have bad dreams . . . I will not look at them any more; I will
not look at them any more! . . . I should break the windows! . . .
Let us not look any more . . . we shall be afraid! . . . Come . . .
let us go on the terrace; we will talk of other things; we have so
much to say to each other . . . Come, come! it would frighten them
if they were to turn round; it would frighten them to see us all at
the windows . . . [To the KING.] And you too, you too; come, do
not press that white beard of yours against the glass; you do not
know how frightful you look! . . . For the love of God, come away,
both of you! . . . Come, come, I tell you! . . . You do not know
what is before us . . . Come here, come here, turn away, turn away!
look the other way! look the other way for a moment! . . . They are
so ill, they are so ill! . . . let us leave them . . . let them sleep! . . .

THE PRINCE. [turning round Why, what is it?—Oh! how dark it is
out here! . . . where are you? . . . I cannot see you . . .

THE KING. Wait a little: the light of the room has dazzled you . .
I cannot see either . . . come. We are here . . .

[They leave the windows].

THE PRINCE. Oh! how dark the country is! . . . where are we?

THE KING. The sun has set . . .

THE QUEEN. Marcellus, why did you not come sooner, Marcellus?

THE PRINCE. The messenger told you: I have long wanted to
come . . .

THE QUEEN. They have been waiting for you these many years!
They were always in this room, watching the canal, night and day.
. . . When the sun shone, they would go to the opposite bank . . .
there is a hill with a wide view over the cliffs, though the sea is
hidden . . .

THE PRINCE. What is that glimmer under the trees?

THE KING. It is the canal through which you came; there is always a
glimmer on the water . . .

THE PRINCE. Oh! how dark it is to-night!—I scarcely know where I
am: I feel like a stranger . . .

THE KING. The sky has become suddenly clouded . . .

THE PRINCE. The wind is in the willows . . .

THE KING. There is always wind there, day and night . . . We are
not far from the sea.—Listen; it is raining . . .

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THE PRINCE. It sounds to me like tears dropping round the castle . . .

THE KING. It is the rain falling on the water: a soft, gentle rain . . .

THE QUEEN. To me it is like weeping in Heaven . . .

THE PRINCE. Oh! how the water sleeps, between those walls!

THE QUEEN. It always sleeps like that: the water is very old,
too . . .

THE PRINCE. The swans have taken shelter under the bridge . . .

THE KING. See, the peasants are driving home their flocks

THE PRINCE. They look very old and very poor . . .

THE KING. They are very poor; I am the king of a very poor people
. . . It is growing cold . . .

THE PRINCE. What is on the other side of the water?

THE KING. There?—They were flowers: the cold has killed them.

[At this moment a monotonous chant is faintly heard, coming from far
away. Only the refrain is audible; this seems to be repeated in chorus,
at regular intervals.]

THE DISTANT VOICES. Atlantic! Atlantic!

THE KING. Hark!

THE PRINCE. Those are the sailors:—they must be turning the ship;
they are getting ready to leave . . .

THE DISTANT VOICES. We shall never come back!
We shall never come back!

THE QUEEN. All the sails are set . . .

THE PRINCE. They leave to-night . . .

THE DISTANT VOICES. Atlantic! Atlantic!

THE KING. Is it true that they will not come back?

THE PRINCE. I don’t know; perhaps not the same ones . . .

THE DISTANT VOICES. We shall never come back!
We shall never come back!

THE QUEEN. You seem unhappy, my child . . .

THE PRINCE. I?—Why should I be unhappy?—I came to see her and
I have seen her . . . I can see her closer if I wish . . . I can sit by
her side if I wish . . . Can I not open the door and take her hand?
I can clasp her in my arms whenever I wish: I have only to wake
her . . . Why should I be unhappy?

THE QUEEN. And still you do not look happy! . . . I am nearly
seventy-five years old . . . and I have done nothing but wait for
you! … It is not you! no! … It is not you, after all! . . . [She
turns her head away and sobs.]

THE KING. Why, what is the matter? Why are you crying?

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THE QUEEN. It is nothing; it is nothing;—it is not I who am crying
. . . Do not mind me—one often cries without a reason;—I am so
old to-day.—It is over now . . .

THE PRINCE. I shall look happier presently . . .

THE QUEEN. Come, come; they may have opened their eyes and be
waiting for us . . . give me your hand; lead me to the windows; let
us go and look at the windows . . .

THE DISTANT VOICES. Atlantic! Atlantic!

[They all go back to the windows, and look through again.]

THE PRINCE. I cannot see yet . . . it is too light . . .

THE QUEEN. Something has changed in there! . . .

THE KING. I can see nothing at all.

THE PRINCE. There is more light than there was before . . .

THE QUEEN. It is not as it was; something has changed in there . . .

THE PRINCE. The light still dazzles my eyes . . .

THE QUEEN. They are not as we left them . . .

THE PRINCE. Yes, yes; I think they have moved a little . . .

THE QUEEN. Oh! oh! Christabelle and Claribelle! . . . Look, look!
. . . They were holding Ursule’s hands in theirs . . . They no longer
hold their sister’s hands . . . They have let her hands fall . . .
They have turned to the other side . . .

THE PRINCE. They have been on the point of waking . . .

THE QUEEN. We have come too late! We have come too late! . . .

THE KING. I can see nothing but the lilies by the windows;—they are
closed . . .

THE PRINCE. They know that it is evening . . .

THE KING. There is a light, however.

THE PRINCE. How strangely she holds her hand . . .

THE QUEEN. Who?

THE PRINCE. Ursule . . .

THE QUEEN. What hand is that? . . . I did not notice it before . . .

THE PRINCE. It was hidden in the others . . .

THE KING. I do not know what you mean: I cannot see as far as the
mirrors . . .

THE QUEEN. She must be in pain! . . . She must be in pain! . . .
She cannot sleep like that; it is not natural . . . If she would only
let her hand fall!—My God, my God, make her drop that little
hand! . . . Her little arm must hurt all this time!

THE PRINCE. I cannot see on what it is resting . . .

THE QUEEN. I will not have her sleep like that . . . I have never seen


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her sleep like that . . . It is not a good sign . . . It is not a good
sign! . . . She will not be able to move that hand . . .

THE KING. There is no cause for such alarm . . .

THE PRINCE. The others are sleeping more quietly . . .

The QUEEN. How firmly their eyes are closed! How firmly their
eyes are closed! Oh! oh! the little sisters! the little sisters! . . .
What can we do? . . . Is there anything we can do? . . .

THE KING. Hush! hush! do not talk so near the window . . .

THE QUEEN. I am not so near as you think . . .

THE KING. Your lips are pressed against the glass . . .

THE PRINCE. I can see something in there—I don’t know what it is . . .

THE QUEEN. Yes, yes, so can I. I am beginning to see something
. . . It stretches right up to the door . . .

THE PRINCE. There is something on the steps . . . It is not a shadow
. . . it cannot be a shadow . . . I cannot think what it is . . . It might
be her hair . . .

THE QUEEN. But why should her hair be hanging down? . . . Look
at the others . . . Theirs is all fastened up . . . Look . . .

THE PRINCE. I tell you it is her hair! . . . It is moving . . . Oh! how
beautiful her hair is! . . . Can she be ill, with hair like that! . . .

THE QUEEN. She never sleeps with her hair down . . . One would say
she was thinking of going out . . .

THE PRINCE. Did she say nothing to you? . . .

THE QUEEN. At noon, as she shut the door, she cried, ‘Pray do not
wake us any more.’ And I kissed her so as not to see how sad
she was . . .

THE PRINCE. How cold they must be, with their little feet almost
bare upon the flags! . . .

THE QUEEN. Yes, yes: they must be cold!—Oh do not look at them
so greedily! [To the KING.] Nor you either! nor you either!
Do not look at them every moment! Do not keep looking at them!
—Do not let us all look together! . . . They are not happy! . . .
They are not happy! . . .

THE KING. Why, what now!—Are you the only one who may look at
them?—What ails you to-night?—You are unreasonable . . . I do not
understand you . . . You want all the others to look away; you want
all the others to look away . . . Is this not our concern as much as
yours?

THE QUEEN. Yes, yes, it is, it is . . . For the love of God, do not say
such things again! . . . Oh ! oh ! . . . do not look at me! Do not


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look at me just now! . . . My God! my God! how motionless they
are! . . .

THE KING. They will not wake to-night . . . we had better go and
sleep ourselves . . .

THE QUEEN. We must wait a little! we must wait a little! . . . We
shall perhaps know what this means . . .

THE KING. We cannot stop at these windows for ever: we must do
something . . .

THE PRINCE. Perhaps we can wake them from here . . .

THE KING. I will knock softly at the door.

THE QUEEN. No, no! Never! Never! . . . Oh! No, not you! not
you! You would knock too loud. . . . Be careful! Oh, be careful!
They are afraid of everything . . . I will knock at the window my-
self, if it must be . . . It is better that they should know who knocks
. . . Wait, wait . . .

[She knocks very softly at the window.]

THE PRINCE. They do not wake . . .

THE KING. I can see nothing at all . . .

THE QUEEN. I will knock a little louder . . . [She knocks at the window
again.] They do not stir yet . . . [She knocks again.] . . . The
room might be full of cotton wool . . . Are you sure it is sleep?—
They may have fainted … I cannot see them breathe . . . [She
knocks at another window.] Knock a little louder . . . Knock at
the other windows. Oh! oh! how thick this glass is! [The Queen
and the PRINCE knock nervously with both hands.] How still they
are! how still they are!—It is the deep sleep of sickness. . . . It is
the sleep of fever that will not go . . . I want to see them close!
I want to see them close! . . . They do not hear the noise we make
. . . Their sleep is not natural . . . It can do them no good . . . I
dare not knock louder . . .

The Prince [listening eagerly], I cannot hear the slightest sound . . .

[A long pause.]

The Queen [suddenly bursting into tears , her face pressed against the
window]. Oh! How they sleep! How they sleep! … My God! My
God! Deliver them! Deliver them! How those little hearts of
theirs sleep!—One can no longer hear their hearts beat! . . . How
awful is this sleep of theirs!—Oh! There is always dread around
sleep! . . . In their dormitory I am always afraid! . . . I can no longer
see their little souls! . . . Where are their little souls! . . . They


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frighten me! They frighten me! . . . Ah! Now I know what it
is! . . . How they sleep, the little sisters! . . . Oh! how they sleep,
how they sleep! . . . I feel they will sleep for ever! . . . My God,
my God, I pity them! . . . They are not happy! they are not
happy! . . . Now I can see it all! . . . Seven little souls all the
night! . . . Seven little defenceless souls! . . . Seven little friend-
less souls! . . . Their mouths are wide open . . . Seven little open
mouths! . . . Oh! I am sure they are thirsty! . . . I am sure they
are terribly thirsty! . . . And all those closed eyes! . . . Oh! how
lonely all the seven are! all the seven! all the seven! . . . And
how they sleep! How they sleep! . . . How they sleep, the little
queens! . . . I am sure they are not sleeping! . . . But what a
sleep! What a great sleep! . . . Oh, wake the poor hearts!
Wake the little queens! . . . Wake the little sisters! All the seven!
all the seven! . . . I can bear it no longer! My God! my God!
I pity them! I pity them! and I dare not wake them! … Oh!
the light is growing dim! . . . quite dim! . . . quite dim! . . . And
I no longer dare wake them! . . .

[She sobs piteously by the window.]

THE KING. What is the matter?—But, tell me, what is the matter?—
Come, come, do not look at them any more; it is better not to
see them . . . Come away, come away, come away . . .

[He tries to draw her away.]

THE PRINCE. Grandam! grandam! . . . What have you seen? . . . I
have not seen anything . . . There is nothing, there is nothing . . .

THE KING [to the PRINCE]. It is nothing, it is nothing; do not mind
her: she is very old, and it is late. . . . She is overstrung.—It does
women good to cry. She often cries during the night . . . [To the
Queen.] Come, come, come here . . . Be careful . . . You nearly
fell! Lean on me . . . Do not cry; do not cry any more, come . . .
[He embraces her tenderly.] It is nothing; they are asleep . . . We
sleep too . . . We all sleep like that . . . Have you never seen
people asleep before? . . .

THE QUEEN. Never! Never like this evening!—Open the door!
Open the door! . . . We do not love them enough! . . . We cannot
love them!—Open the door! Open the door! . . .

THE KING. Yes, yes, we shall open the door . . . Calm yourself, calm
yourself—do not think of it, we shall open it, we shall open it. That
is what I have been wanting to do all the time; you would not let


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me . . . Come, come, do not cry any more . . . Be reasonable . . . I
am old too, but I am reasonable . . . Come, come, do not cry . . .

THE QUEEN. There, there, it is over . . . I am not crying now, I am
not crying now . . . They must not hear me cry when they awake

THE KING. Come with me; I will open very gently: we will go
in together . . . [He tries to open the door; the handle creaks, and
the latch is seen to rise and fall inside the room.] Oh! oh! what is
the matter with the lock? — I cannot open the door . . . We must
push . . . I don’t know what it is . . . I did not know it was so
difficult to get into this room . . . Will you try? [The QUEEN tries,
but in vain.] I never go in there . . . The door will not open
They must have drawn the bolt . . . Yes, yes; the door is locked
we cannot open it . . .

THE QUEEN. They always lock it . . Oh! oh! we cannot leave them
like this! . . . They have been asleep so long!

THE PRINCE. We might open a window.

THE KING. The windows do not open

THE PRINCE. It seems to me that it is less light in the room

THE KING. It is not less light; but the sky is clearing.—Do you see
the stars?

THE PRINCE. What can we do?

THE KING. I do not know . . . There is another entrance

THE PRINCE. Another entrance! Where?

THE QUEEN. No! no! I know what you mean! . . . Not that way!
Not that way! I will not go down there! . . .

THE KING. We need not go down; we will stay here; Marcellus shall
go alone . . .

THE QUEEN. Oh! no, no, no! . . . Let us wait

THE KING. But, really, what do you want us to do?—We cannot get
in any other way . . . it is the simplest plan . . .

THE PRINCE. Is there another entrance?

THE KING. Yes; there is another little entrance . . . you cannot see
it from here . . . but you will find it easily, you must go down

THE PRINCE. Down where?

THE KING. Come with me. [He draws him aside.] It is not a door
it can scarcely be called a door . . . it is rather a trap-door . . . it
is a stone that lifts up . . . It is at the far end of the room . . .
You must go through the vaults . . . you know . . . Then you must
come up again . . . You will want a lamp . . . you might lose your
way . . . or knock against the . . marbles . . . you know what I


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mean? . . . Be careful: there are chains between . . . the little
gangways . . . But you should know the way . . . You have been
down there more than once in your time . . .

THE PRINCE. I have been down there more than once in my time?

THE KING. Yes, yes: when your mother . . .

THE PRINCE. When my mother? . . . Ah! is that the way I have to
go? . . .

THE KING [nodding]. Just so!—And . . . your father too . . .

THE PRINCE. Yes, yes, I remember . . . and others besides . . .

THE KING. You see! . . . The stone is not sealed down; you have
only to push . . . But be careful . . . The flags are not very regular
. . . The head of one of the busts leans across the path . . . it is
of marble . . . And there is a cross with very long arms . . . take
care . . . do not hurry: you have ample time . . .

THE PRINCE. And it is down there that I must . . . ? . . .

THE KING. Yes! . . . You will want a lamp . . . [He goes along the
terrace and shouts.] A lamp! a lamp! a little lamp! . . . [To the
PRINCE.] We will wait here, at the windows . . . We are too old to
go down . . . We could never come up again . . . [A lighted lamp is
brought.] Ah! here is the lamp; take the little lamp. . . .

THE PRINCE. Yes, yes; the little lamp . . .

[At this moment, suddenly from the far distance , are heard loud shouts of
joy from the sailors. The masts, bulwarks, and sails of the ship are
lit up, and stand out against the night, where the canal meets the sky,
between the willows.]

THE KING. Oh! oh! what is that?

THE PRINCE. It is the sailors . . . They are dancing on the deck; they
have been drinking . . .

THE KING. They have illuminated the ship . . .

THE PRINCE. They are glad to leave . . . They are about to set sail . . .

THE KING. Well, will you go down? . . . This is the way . . .

THE QUEEN. No, no, do not go! . . . Do not go that way! . . . do
not wake them! do not wake them! . . . you know how they need
rest! . . . I am frightened! . . .

THE PRINCE. If you wish it, I will not wake the others . . . I will only
wake one . . .

THE QUEEN. Oh! oh! oh!

THE KING. Do not make a noise as you enter . . .

THE PRINCE. I am afraid they may not recognise me . . .

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THE KING. They are sure to . . . Eh! eh! be careful with the little
lamp! . . . There is a strong wind . . . the wind is trying to blow it
out . . .

THE PRINCE. I hope they will not all wake together.

THE KING. What does that matter? . . . Do not wake them abruptly
that is all . . .

THE PRINCE. I shall be alone among them . . . It will look as though
. . . They will be frightened . . .

THE KING. You must replace the stone before you wake them
They will not notice it . . . They do not know what is beneath the
room they sleep in . . .

THE PRINCE. They will take me for a stranger . .

THE KING. We shall be at the windows . . . Go, go!—Be careful with
the lamp; and above all, do not lose your way in the vaults; they
stretch very far . . . and take care to replace the stone . . . Come
up as quickly as you can . . . We shall be waiting at the windows.
. . . Go, go . . . and be careful! be careful ! . . .

[The PRINCE leaves the terrace. The old King and Queen stand at the
windows, their faces pressed against the glass. A long pause.]

THE DISTANT VOICE. Atlantic! Atlantic!

THE KING [turning his head and looking towards the canal]. Ah! ah!
They are going . . . They will have a good wind to-night.

THE DISTANT VOICES. We shall never come back!
We shall never come back!

THE KING [looking towards the canal]. They will be in the open sea
before midnight . . .

THE VOICES [further and further away]. Atlantic! Atlantic!

THE KING [looking into the room]. If only he do not lose his way in
the darkness . . .

THE VOICES [now scarcely audible]. We shall never come back!
We shall never come back!

[A silence. The ship disappears between the willows.]

THE KING [looking towards the canal]. She is out of sight—[Looking
into the room]. Has he not come in yet?—[Turning towards the canal].
The ship has gone! . . . [To the QUEEN.] Don’t you hear me?—Why
don’t you answer?— Where are you? Look at the canal.—They are
gone; they will be in the open sea before midnight . . .

THE QUEEN [mechanically]. They will be in the open sea before mid-
night . . .

182

THE KING [looking into the room]. Can you see the stone he has to
raise?—It is covered over with inscriptions; it must be hidden
beneath the laurels. How tall Marcellus has grown, has he not?
—We should have done better to awake them before he landed.—
I wanted you to wake them.—We should have avoided all these
scenes. I do not know why he looked so unhappy this evening. It
is wrong of them to draw the bolts; I will have them taken away.
If only his lamp do not go out!—Where are you?—Can you see
anything?— Why do you not answer?—If only he do not lose his way
in the darkness.—Can you hear me?

THE QUEEN. If only he do not lose his way in the darkness . .

THE KING. You are right.—Don’t you think it is growing cold?—
How cold they must be, on the marble!—He seems to be taking a
long time.—If only his little lamp do not go out.—Why do you
not answer? What are you thinking of?

THE QUEEN. If only his little lamp . . . The stone! the stone! the
stone! . . .

THE KING. Is he there?—Is he coming in?—I cannot see so far . . .

THE QUEEN. It is rising! . . . It is rising! . . . There is a light! . . .
look! . . . listen! listen! . . . How it creaks on its hinges! . . .

THE KING. I told him to go in very gently . .

THE QUEEN. Oh! He is going very gently . . . see, see, there is his
hand, with the lamp . . .

THE KING. Yes, yes, I see the little lamp . . . Why does he not go
in? . . .

THE QUEEN. He cannot . . . He is lifting the stone very slowly . . .
Yes, yes; very slowly . . . Oh! how it creaks! How it creaks! How
it creaks! . . . They will wake in a start! . . .

THE KING. I cannot see what is happening . . . I know the stone is
very heavy . . .

THE QUEEN. He is coming in . . . He is coming up . . . He is coming
up slower and slower . . . How the stone creaks now! . . . oh! oh!
how it creaks! how it creaks! It seems to cry like a child! . . .
He is half in the room . . . three steps more, three steps more!
[clapping her hands]. He is there now, he is there! . . . Look,
look! . . . They are waking up! . . . They are all waking up with a
start! . . .

THE KING. Has he replaced the stone?

[The PRINCE, leaving the grave- stone that he has just raised, stops at the
foot of the marble staircase, his lamp still in his hand. At the last

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creaking of the hinges, six PRINCESSES open their eyes, and hesitate
for an instant on the threshold of sleep; then, with one common move-
ment, they rise as he approaches them, their arms outstretched in
gestures of azvakening. One only, URSULE, still lies at full length
on the marble steps, motionless in the midst of her sisters, while these
exchange with the Prince a long look, full of amazement, be-
wilderment, and silence.]

THE QUEEN [at window]. Ursule! Ursule! Ursule! . . . She does
not awake! . . .

THE KING. Patience! patience!—She is sleeping a little heavily . . .

THE QUEEN [shouting, her face against the glass]. Ursule!—Ursule!
Wake her! [She knocks at the window.] Marcellus! Marcellus! Wake
her! Wake her too! Ursule! Ursule! . . . Marcellus! Marcellus! . . .
She has not heard! . . . Ursule! Ursule! rise! He is there! He is
there! . . . It is time! It is time!—[She knocks at another window.]
Marcellus! Marcellus! look in front of you! look! She is still
asleep! . . . [She knocks at another window.] Oh! oh!—Christabelle!
Christabelle! Claribelle! Claribelle! Clairs! Claire! You, Claire!
She has not heard! . . . [going from window to window, knocking
violently at them all]. Ursule! Ursule! He has come back! He is
there! He is there! . . . It is time! It is time! . . .

THE KING [knocking at the window]. Yes, yes, wake her! . . . Why do
you not wake her! . . . We are waiting . . .

[The PRINCE, heedless of the noises from without, silently approaches the one
PRINCESS who has not risen. He looks at her for a moment—hesitates
then kneels before her and touches one of her arms, bare and motion-
less, that lie on the silken cushions. At the touch of her flesh he starts
to his feet with a long look of horror in his eyes, and slowly turns his
gaze upon the six PRINCESSES, all silent and extremely pale. These
seem to be hesitating, and trembling with a desire to fly; but at length,
with one common movement, they bend over their prostrate sister, raise
her in their arms, and, amid the profoundest silence, bear her to the
topmost of the seven marble steps. Her body is already rigid, and
her face cold and stark. While this is taking place, the KING, the
QUEEN, and the people of the castle, who have hastened to the spot, are
shouting and knocking violently at all the windows of the room.
The two scenes take place simultaneously.]

THE QUEEN. She is not asleep! She is not asleep!—That is not
sleep! That is not sleep! That is no longer sleep! [She rushes

184

wildly from window to window, she knocks, she shakes the iron bars:
she trembles in every limb, and her straggling white hair beats against
the glass.] I tell you she is no longer asleep! [To the KING.] Oh!
oh! oh! You are a man of stone! . . . Shout! shout! shout! For
God’s sake, I tell you, shout! I am screaming my heart out and he
doesn’t understand!— Run! run! scream! scream! He has seen
nothing! nothing! nothing! nothing! never! never! never!

THE KING. What? what? What has happened? what has happened?
Where shall I shout?

THE QUEEN. There! There! Everywhere! everywhere! On the
terrace! on the water! in the meadows! Shout! shout! shout! . . .

THE KING [at the end of the terrace]. Oh! . . . oh! . . Come here!
Come here! Ursule! Ursule!. . . Something has happened! . . .
The Queen [at the window]. Ursule! Ursule! . . . Sprinkle water
on her. Yes, yes, do that, my child! . . . Perhaps it is not
Oh! oh! oh! . . . her little head! . . .

[Servants, soldiers, peasants, women rush on to the terrace with torches
and lanterns]

Ursule! Ursule! . . . Perhaps it is not that . . . Perhaps it is
nothing at all! . . . Eh! eh! Claribelle, Claribelle! take care! . . .
She is falling! . . . Do not tread on her hair! . . . Open the door!
open the door!—She will wake! she will wake! . . . water! water!
water!—Open! open! the door! the door! the door! . . . We cannot
get in! All is closed! all is closed! . . . You areas deaf as the dead !
. . Help me! [To the people about her] You are horrible people!
My hands! . . . my hands! . . . Do not you see my hands? . . .
Help me! help me! Oh! oh! It is late! . . . It is too late! . . . It
is too late! . . . locked! locked! locked! . . .

All [shaking the door and knocking at the windows]. Open! open!
open! open! . . .

[A black curtain falls suddenly.]