The Hunchback of Notre Dame Page #2

this eve at Angelus.

Esmeralda

"She saved my life in the

Court of Miracles."

"And you saved my life by

bringing me this message.

Let me command this honor

of the Prince of Poets."

"She gave you the letter

with her own hand?"

Slowly it dawned on

Clopin that he was

losing Esmeralda.

"As if the cursed aristocrats

were not enough, the girl

now talks of taking the veil."

"I will give myself to the

Blessed Virgin - and She

will give me peace!"

"What say you then? Half

of the treasure of Notre Dame

to you - for the hand of

Esmeralda in marriage."

"See you - 'tis gold that

makes kings and keeps them

on their thrones."

"Gold - gold and steel! My

people in the places of the

mighty!"

"Strike quickly, then, else the

treasure may be gone."

"The hour for an uprising is

not yet! There lacks the

spark to make my people

flame."

Angelus.

"Phoebus, it was only to see

you once more - and say

good-bye!"

"Dear heart, can you not see?

I must give you up for your

own sake - for your future!

Even your life itself!"

"You speak of trifles when

Heaven itself is at stake."

"By this sacred emblem

I plight my troth."

Again the King's

justice-

"Girl! Do you persist in

denying that you stabbed

Phoebus de Chateaupers?"

"Of course I deny it! How

could I? I love him more

than my own life!"

"It was he - he who

stabbed Phoebus!"

"The girl is bewitched!"

"Put her to the question!"

The "question" - the

system of the Middle

Ages to force confession.

"Do you still deny-?"

"I do - I love him!

I love him!"

"I confess ... I confess!

I confess to anything

you wish!"

Through nights of delirium,

Phoebus of Chateaupers

wondered if the charge brought

against Esmeralda were true

-whether it was she who

stabbed him.

"Monsieur, the brother of the

Archdeacon inquires the health

of Captain Phoebus."

"The wench who stabbed you

has confessed her crime. She

has been ordered hanged."

"I come to get Esmeralda."

"She has been carried to

prison by his Majesty's

servants."

"I'll get her if I have to tear

down Notre Dame rock by

rock."

"You - in the robes

of the Church!"

"Only in these robes could

I pass the prison-guard.

Quick - come with me!"

"I'd rather die!"

"Phoebus died of his wound

last night. I promised him

to save you!"

"Oh, Esmeralda, pity me! All

I have done was for love

of you!"

"Assassin!"

"Very well, then hang!"

Suddenly the date for

Esmeralda's execution

was secretly set ahead, and

orders came to the hunchback

to toll the death-knell.

For what poor soul he

rang, he did not know.

When the great bell

tolled like that, all

Paris knew some prisoner

was on the way to

execution.

"Let me kill the gypsy! Her

life for the life of my child!"

"Cursed gypsy! Cursed-

Cursed!"

"My baby! My baby!

Save her, O God!"

"Requiescat in pace!"

A pleasant diversion for

the workmen who were

repairing the Cathedral.

"... and first appear on the

steps of the Cathedral of

Notre Dame ... there to do

penance."

"Sanctuary! Sanctuary!"

"Would you violate the sacred

law of Sanctuary?"

All Quasimodo knew was

that this girl had once

been kind to him.

"My daughter, the law of

sanctuary protects you pend-

ing an appeal. Until then,

Mother Church will give you

shelter and clothing."

The night had brought a

dreamless sleep.

Esmeralda's presence

inspired Quasimodo

to express his wild joy in

the only way he knew.

With plans all made for

rescuing Esmeralda on

her way tot he gallows, Clopin

was awaiting the day that

had been announced for the

execution.

"They feared an uprising to

rescue Esmeralda. To prevent

bloodshed the King suddenly

ordered he hanged today!"

"The hour has struck. They

are about to surrender the

maid to the officers of the

King."

"Hear me, you two-legged

cattle, and learn how to

become men. Were you not

also born of women after the

manner of kings?"

"Long enough the aristocrats

have treated us as sheep.

We'll show them - we are

wolves."

"Follow me to Notre Dame!"

"To arms! To arms! Rescue

Esmeralda! Sack the City!"

"Ere dawn my people will

live in the palaces of the

aristocrats."

Clopin's call to arms

reach all the hidden

corners of Paris - a kingdom

was the stake.

"To arms! To arms! 'Tis

Clopin who calls you!"

Through all the man-

made rat-holes beneath

the ancient city.

Phoebus had recovered-

but the wound in his

heart still ached.

"Clopin and his rabble

have risen!"

"They've sworn to bring back

Esmeralda! She's in the

tower of Notre Dame!"

"Esmeralda! Alive!"

"Rouse the garrison!"

Preparing a fiery

baptism - MOLTEN

LEAD!

"To arms! To arms!"

"The hunchback has sent

us a battering-ram!"

"My children, I would have

set you free ... Fight on!

Fight on!"

"Why do you struggle?

You are mine, now!"

"Never! - God will

protect me!"

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