iers bore I know it,
Father, who gave me victories for sisters!
'Twas not in vain you wished me to possess
The alarm-clock of King Frederick of Prussia,
Which you magnificently stole from Potsdam,
For here it is! 'Tis ticking in my brain!
It is the clock which wakes me every morning,
Drives me exhausted by my midnight toil
Back to my narrow table, to my toil,
To be more fit by night-fall for the throne!

THE EMPEROR.

The throne! the throne! Oh, never hope again
That you may reign in France, you--Upstart's son,
Because our nobler blood has made you look
Rather more kingly than your father was.

THE DUKE.

Forgive me, but at Dresden, you remember,
You all appeared like lackeys of my father.

THE EMPEROR.

A common soldier!

THE DUKE.

He had but to ask
And Emperors gave their daughters to this soldier.

THE EMPEROR.

Perhaps. I cannot say. Mine is a widow.

THE DUKE.

Pity I'm here as living evidence!

THE EMPEROR.

Have you forgotten how we loved each other?

THE DUKE.

No! No! My birth is proof that you were beaten!
No! you can only hate me; for I am
Wagram personified before your eyes!

THE EMPEROR.

Out of my sight! Begone!

[_Exit the_ DUKE.]

The child I loved!

METTERNICH.

Well, Sire, is he to have an empire?

THE EMPEROR.

Never!

METTERNICH.

Do you perceive what I have saved you from?

THE EMPEROR.

Ah! did you hear the monstrous things he said?

METTERNICH.

We must subdue him.

THE EMPEROR.

For his own sake; yes,
METTERNICH.

For the world's peace and yours.

THE EMPEROR.

We must subdue him.

METTERNICH.

I'll come and speak to him to-night.

THE EMPEROR.

What grief
He gives me!

METTERNICH.

[_Trying to lead him away._]

Come.

THE EMPEROR.

You'll speak to-night?

METTERNICH.

This scene
Must never be repeated.

THE EMPEROR.

It has hurt me.
Unhappy child!

METTERNICH.

[_Leading him off._]

Come, Sire.

THE EMPEROR.

[_Without._]

The child--

[_His voice dies away._]

[_The_ DUKE _opens his door very gently, sees they
are gone, listens a moment, then enters quickly