ting with horses.]

FIRST OFFICER

He has just come from bidding the king and queen
A long good-bye.... Is it that they will pay
For his indulgence of their past ambition
By sharing now his ruin? Much the king
Did beg him to leave them to their lot,
And shun the shame of capture needlessly.
[He looks anxiously towards the door.]
I would he'd haste! Each minute is of price.

SECOND OFFICER

The king will come to terms with the Allies.
They will not hurt him. Though he has lost his all,
His case is not like ours!

[The cheers of the approaching enemy grow louder. NAPOLEON comes
out from the "Prussian Arms," haggard and in disordered attire.
He is about to mount, but, perceiving the blocked state of the
street, he hesitates.]

NAPOLEON

God, what a crowd!
I shall more quickly gain the gate afoot.
There is a byway somewhere, I suppose?

[A citizen approaches out of the inn.]

CITIZEN

This alley, sire, will speed you to the gate;
I shall be honoured much to point the way.

NAPOLEON

Then do, good friend. [To attendants] Bring on the horses there;
I if arrive soonest I will wait for you.

[The citizen shows NAPOLEON the way into the alley.]

CITIZEN

A garden's at the end, your Majesty,
Through which you pass. Beyond there is a door
That opens to the Elster bank unbalked.

[NAPOLEON disappears into the alley. His attendants plunge amid
the traffic with the horses, and thread their way down the street.

Another citizen comes from the door of the inn and greets the
first.]

FIRST CITIZEN

He's gone!

SECOND CITIZEN

I'll see if he succeed.

[He re-enters the inn and soon appears at an upper window.]

FIRST CITIZEN [from below]

You see him?

SECOND CITIZEN [gazing]

He is already at the garden-end;
Now he has passed out to the river-brim,
And plods along it toward the Ranstadt Gate....
He finds no horses for him!... And the crowd
Thrusts him about, none recognizing him.
Ah--now the horses do arrive. He mounts,
And hurries through the arch.... Again I see him--
Now he's upon the causeway in the marsh;
Now rides across the bridge of Lindenau...
And now, among the troops that choke the road
I lose all sight of him.

[A third citizen enters from the direction NAPOLEON has taken.]