Tête-d'Or. Paul Claudel

implore you!

      You have robbed me of the light of my eyes! You have carried away my hope and my joy!

      You have taken from me the woman I love and brought her to her death! So now it is to you that I make my cry!

      I charge you by the woman we both have loved,

      And by the pity, greater than that of a father for his child,

      Which you must feel for me who am the image of yourself.

      Do not leave me to languish in the depths in which I lie!

      O father, O father, for am I not now your child,

      By all that I lack, I beseech you!

      See, I will not let go your hands,

      And as did that woman when she died, I will hold them close against my cheek, thus,

      Until you have answered me!

      Simon: I could stay here the whole night through, not stirring from this place,

      And I would not say a word and those who passed would not see me.

      I am here alone and the multitude of men is about me on every hand, in the fields or in the houses that they have made, beside the lamps that they have lighted.

      And standing at this cross-road I will raise my hand,

      And I will not be afraid and I will make a vow repeating the words that have been taught me.

      (He raises his hand.

      Cébès: O Simon, I will not let go of your other hand.

      Simon: Know that a right has been given to me! Know that a force has been given to me!

      Who are you and what do you want?

      Cébès: One who appeals to you for help, O young elder brother!

      Simon: In whom do you put your trust! For a terrible thing has been shown to me, to me who was but a child.

      And I am weak and in pain.

      Take my other hand also, brother!

      (He gives him his right hand.

      In the midst of this vast universe we are like two little children who wander in the dark. Yet there is a force in me, and I pity you!

      Cébès: Save me!

      Simon: Love me! Understand me! Swear that you will be loyal and put yourself wholly in my hands.

      This is a serious matter. Do not decide it too soon.

      Cébès: I am ready to do whatever you ask.

      Simon: What you will do for me I will also do for you.

      Will you love me? You ask me for words

      And I will surrender to you my sovereign self.

      Cébès: What did you say?

      Simon: You hold between your hands a living man.

      I live and I am here with the mystery of my soul.

      O death, O night, there are here two guilty persons, who have found each other.

      You lay your hand on my blouse and that which you touch is still yourself.

      It is also I and I am only a man!

      Understand me! With your hands lay hold upon this sorrow! The irresolute man bereft of knowledge!

      How fine a thing it is that these lips should say "I."

      Yet my eyes, those consuls that should always be vigilant,

      Close, and he who is standing must take good heed lest he fall.

      All things change. I must be strong and resist! I have been a wandering fire, I must rise like a rooted flame!

      Do not leave me alone! Trust in me! Tell me I have the power!

      Cébès: Hope!

      Simon: Yes, I can do it.

      Cébès: Here I, the first, salute you!

      Simon: You have knelt before me, alas!

      Yet honor me, since thus we have encountered, since we are here together.

      Stay, and that I may serve you as an altar,

      Draw near and lay your head against my side.

      Cébès: I give you my prayer and my salutation.

      Simon: O pride! you embrace me then!

      Cébès: Ah!

      What is this that drips on my head!

      Simon: It is my blood; thus man, though he has no breasts, knows how to pour forth his milk!

      And now, O Cébès,

      You are like a servant who before he departs

      Clasps to his breast the cross,

      But that crucified thing with its lips of granite draws towards heaven a band of briars,

      And a robin is singing on its ruined shoulder.

      Receive my blood upon you! Oh, I will stab myself to the heart that my blood may burst forth like a fountain, as you drive in the bung of a cask with a resolute blow!

      It is my blood. Thus do we greet each other, you and I, we who walk through the shades with warm blood in our veins.

      Like two brothers who, after death, recognise one another in the eternal night, although they cannot see

      And throw themselves into each others' arms, the tears streaming down their cheeks.

      Cébès: I salute you, O King!

      I hold you in my arms, Majesty!

      And I have tasted of your blood, like the first wine trod from the wine-press!

      (He rises.

      Simon: Farewell!

      Cébès: Farewell!

      (He goes out.

      Simon: And whom have I myself? And whom have I?

      (He paces to and fro, for a little, with a hesitating step.

      Two trees and all the night behind!

      The mist parts and in places the stars appear!

      O equilibrium of things in the night! O energy that acts with unconquerable power, according to its nature!

      I also will do my work. Creeping beneath it I will cause the great stone to tremble!

      And with a blow I will take the burden upon me, as a butcher takes on his back a side of beef!

      Oh, to act! To act! To act! Who will give me the strength to act!

      Ah! ah!

      (He throws himself flat on the ground.

      O night, my mother!

      Crush me or close my eyes with earth!

      Mother, why have you cleft through the midst the skin of my eyelid! Mother, I am alone! Mother, why do you force me to live!

      Far better it would be for me if to-morrow the dewy earth in the East should not be reddened by the dawn! O night, you seem very beautiful!

      I cannot do it! Comfort me, your child!

      And you, O Earth, look how I lie on your breast!

      O sheltering night, earth! earth!

      (He faints.

Act II