| Show TIlE THE DEATH OF THE DA DAUPHIN From the French of Alphonse Dan Daudet et The little Dauphin is sick the little Dauphin is going to die In all the churches of the kingdom the holy sacrament sacrament sacrament sacra sacra- ment is exposed night and day and great candles handles are burned for forthe the recovery of the royal child The streets of the theold old capital are sad and silent the bells no long longer r ring Ting the carriages go at a walk The citizens full of cUl curiosity look the theiron theiron theron iron ron gates of the yard place-yard at the Swiss guards in their gold lace as they talk in inthe inthe inthe the courts with an important air i t The whole castle is in ina a state of excite excite- ment Chamberlains and majordomos run up tip and down the m marble stairs The rhe galleries are full of pages and courtiers in silk attire who go from group to group to ask the thc news in low tones On the great stair-cases stair the mai maids s of honor all in tears make deep bows while wiping their eyes with pretty em embroidered broidered chiefs In the there is a numerous company of doctors in their robes the windows you can see them shaking their long black sleeves and bending their wigs with a professional air The tutor and the riding master of the little Dauphin Dauphi walk up tip and arid down before the door awaiting await await- ing ring the thc decision of the doctors Kitchen servants pass without saluting them The riding master swears wears like a pagan pagan the tutor repeats verses from flom Horace And wring during this time down yonder by the J 1 stables you can hear a long plaintive neigh It is the chestnut horse of the little Dauphin which the grooms have forgotten and which i is neighing mournfully mournfully mournfully mourn mourn- fully before its empty manger And the king Where is my lord the king The king has shut himself up all alone in a room at the end of the castle Their majesties dont don't like to be seen weep weep- ing As for the queen that is another matter Seated beside the pillow of the little Dauphin her beautiful face bathed in tears she sobs aloud in the presence of all just as a woolen draper would The little Dauphin whiter than the cushions where he lies remains with his eyes closed in his small lace-embroidered lace bed They think he is asleep but no the little Dauphin Dauphin Dauphin Dau Dau- phin is not asleep He turns toward his mother and seeing her weeping says to her Madame the queen why do you weep Do you really believe like the others that I am going to die The queen tries to answer Sobs prevent her from speaking P Please lease dont don't weep Madame the queen you forget th that t I am the Dauphin and that Dauphins cannot die thus The queen sobs more violently and the little Dauphin begins to be afraid Here now he says I I dont don't want death tc to come and take me and I know very well how to prevent his arrival here Have I them send at once forty very strong trong soldiers soldiers soldiers sol sol- diers to mount guard around our bed Let a hundred great cannon be ready night and day with matches lighted under our window and woe be to death if he dare approach us I ITo To please the royal child the queen gives the signal Immediately the great cannons are heard rolling into the court courtyard courtyard courtyard yard and forty tall soldiers in hand come to range themselves around the room They are old soldiers with gray mustaches The little Dauphin claps his hands at the sight of them He recognizes recognizes recognizes rec rec- one of them and calls him Lores Lor es vain I The soldier takes a astep astep astep step toward the bed I love you well my old Let me see your great sword a minute If death tries to take me you must kill him isn't it so answered Yes my lord and two large tears roll down his swart swarthy y cheeks At this moment the chaplain approaches approaches approaches ap ap- the little Dauphin and talks to him a long time in d a low voice while presenting presenting presenting pre pre- to him the crucifix The Th little Dauphin listens with an air of great astonishment astonishment astonishment aston aston- and then suddenly interrupts him I understand very well what you say to tome tome tome me my lord the abbott but after all couldn't my little friend Beppo die instead of me if we gave him a good deal of money The chaplain continues to talk to him himin himin himin in a low voice and the little Dauphin grows more and more astonished When the chaplain finishes the little Dauphin begins again with a adeep deep sigh All that you have just said to me is very sad my lord the abbott but one thing consoles me and that is that up above in the starry paradise I am going to be the Dauphin still I know that the good God is my cousin and that he cannot fail to treat me according to my rank Then he adds turning towards his mother Have them bring me my most beautiful suits my doublet of white er er- er mine and my velvet shoes I want to to- look fine for the angels and enter paradise paradise paradise para para- dise in the costume of the Dauphins A third time the tl-e chaplain bends towards toward the little Dauphin and talks to tc him a longtime longtime longtime long long- time in low tones In the midst of his his- discourse the royal child interrupts him angrily But then he cries of of- no use at all take the Dauphin And refusing to hear anything more the little Dauphin turns toward the wall and weeps weeps- bitter bitterly y |
