Candide: A Play in Five Acts. Voltaire
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UNANIMOUS SHOUT
Long live war! (Soldiers and civilians appear to be greatly enthused only one bourgeois with a placid face in the first rank of the crowd remains mute. The King silently appraises this spectator)
KING
Who is that man who remains mute in the general joy? (All eyes focus on the abstainer) Let him be brought to me (Several soldiers rush on the placid civilian, seize him violently and bring him before the sovereign not without roughing him up a little) Why don’t you join in the general enthusiasm? Why don’t you shout “Long live war!” like the good Bulgarians surrounding you? Are you a bad Bulgarian? A traitor?
PACIFIST
Sire, I am not Bulgarian—I am Dutch. I love Bulgaria, but I also love peace.
KING
Enough! That impious word will be punished as it deserves. Let him be given 4,000 whacks with the baton and shot tomorrow morning. That will teach him to be Dutch and love peace!
CROWD
Bravo! Bravo! Long live the King! Long live war! Death to the traitor! (They lead the pacifist away and rough him up more. Candide thinks he can escape. Discreetly he puts down his rifle and as rapidly and furtively disappears by way of the garden. But the two NCO’s notice his attempt to escape)
1st NCO
And the other one there who’s cutting and running. (Runs after Candide)
2nd NCO
(Running to) Stop him! Stop him!
KING
What’s happening?
VOICES
It’s a deserter—a spy! (The NCOs bring back Candide very badly mauled by the crowd. They place handcuffs on him and irons on his legs)
1st NCO
Sire, this man who enlisted this morning in the glorious army station attempted to take flight. (Exclamations of indignation)
KING
To take flight at the moment when he’s going to have the honor of fighting—perhaps, dying for Bulgaria—! Are you such a coward?
CANDIDE
Sire, I am very unfortunate and I have no wish to die even for Bulgaria.
KING
That’s enough of that! I cannot take anymore. Put him with the other traitor and let him undergo the same treatment: 4,000 blows with the baton and tomorrow morning a dozen bullets in his hide I have spoken.
CROWD
Long live the King—Long live Bulgaria!
COMMANDER
Present arms. (The army present arms. The fanfare resumes the military music. The King moves away, theatrically with his staff)
C U R T A I N
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