misbehavior. Come, do you want me to speak frankly? I scorn all those who surround me—except for you and my brother-in-law from Navarre, this good little Henry, your student. I don’t say your son for I am your son and I don’t want you to have any other son but me.
(Enter the litter in which Catherine is hidden.)
ADMIRAL
Yet, sir, you have around you some brave captains and prudent counselors.
THE KING
No, God pardon me, you see, there’s only you, father, only you who are brave like Julius Caesar, and wise like Plato. So, at the moment having war in Flanders, I truly don’t know what to do—to keep you here as a counselor—or to send you there as a general. So, advise me—and who shall command? If you command—who shall advise me?
ADMIRAL
Sire, you must conquer first. Advice will come after the victory.
THE KING
Is that your opinion, father? Well, it will be according to your opinion. Tomorrow, you will part for Flanders and I will part for Amboise.
ADMIRAL
Your Majesty is leaving Paris?
THE KING
Yes, I am fatigued by all this noise and all these feasts. I am not a man of action—I am a dreamer—I wasn’t born to be King, I was born to be a poet. The title of poet is the only one for which I am ambitious. So, I have already written to Ronsard to come join me in Amboise—and there, the two of us—far from noise, far from the world, far from bad men, under our great trees beside the river, to the murmur of brooks, we will speak of things of God—the only compensation there is in this world, for the things of man.
ADMIRAL
Sire, I can only applaud such a resolution, but Your Majesty will permit me, before your departure, to solicit an act of justice which is at the same time politic?
THE KING
Speak father, speak.
ADMIRAL
An act which will give a new security to the reformed religion.
THE KING
Speak—or rather you wish my full powers to accomplish this act?
ADMIRAL
No, sire, the example will be greater coming from you.
THE KING
Then tell me what is to be done?
ADMIRAL
(making a sign to a young man who steps forward from the crowd)
Allow me, sire, to present to you Monsieur de Mouy de Saint Phale.
DE MOUY
(a knee on the ground)
Sire, justice.
THE KING
Ah—you are the son of Captain de Mouy?
DE MOUY
Yes, sire.
THE KING
Who was traitorously killed by François Louviers de Maureval?
DE MOUY
Yes, sire.
THE KING
Rise then, sir. Justice will be done.
(The King gives him his hand to kiss.)
DE MOUY
Oh, sire.
ASSISTANTS
Long live the King!
ADMIRAL
Hear them, Sire!
THE KING
Thanks, brave people, thanks. But don’t cry ‘Long live the King’ rather shout, Long live the Admiral’.
SEVERAL VOICES
Long live the Admiral!
THE KING
Goodbye, father—parting as we do, we belong to each other—body and soul.
(he embraces him)
Goodbye!
ADMIRAL
(wishing to conduct the King to his litter)
Sire, allow me—
THE KING
Not at all.
ADMIRAL
Sire.
THE KING
I wish it.
(The King gets into his litter. As the litter turns toward the audience, Catherine can be seen within, watching, listening attentively.)
THE KING
(low to his mother)
Are you pleased with me, mother? Have I played my role well?
CATHERINE
Yes, my son!
(The pages, the guards and the people leave with great acclamations.)
(The litter goes out.)
ADMIRAL
(discharging his gentlemen)
Well, de Mouy—you are satisfied, I hope?
DE MOUY
Yes—he seems to me in good faith.
ADMIRAL
Oh, I will answer for him as for myself.
DE MOUY
In any case, father, now that we can live in Paris in peace, if he doesn’t do justice on the assassin for me, I will do it myself. Now, a brief word on another subject which touches me very closely and for me is no less important.
ADMIRAL
Speak.
DE MOUY
You persist in sponsoring Henry to us as the King of Navarre.
ADMIRAL
