Is France a province
Of the United States? Napoleon
Page, lackey, footboy to America?
Is she an Empire, he an Emperor?
Or have we dreamed he is Napoleon?

Max. (Recovered from his bewilderment)
Withdraw his troops! He can not--dare not do it!
'T would blister history's page to set it down,
And 'tis his burning wish to be the star
Of human chronicles. I'll not believe it,
Though all my senses brand confirming yea
Upon my mind. O shout it in my ears,
And let me see the troops go marching out,
Still I'll believe it is my eyes and ears
That mutiny, not France turned traitor!

Baz. Your Majesty, you must believe the truth,
And make you ready for a swift departure.
'T will not be safe here let a moon go by.

Max. If danger's here, then here I stay to share it.
Dost think I'll leave my friends to die alone
While I by flight dishonor Majesty?

Baz. 'Tis death to stay. You would not be so mad.

Mir. Hail to our new-born king! New-born thou art
Unto our love. Nay, we did love before,
But now we'll worship thee.

Car. Napoleon!
You shall not do this monstrous thing! You shall not!

Baz. The crown of France doth ask consent of none.

Car. I'll go to him and say such words that from
His shame-marked brow his outraged crown will fall
In horror. I will go! Take out the troops,
Bazaine. Ay, take them out! He will be glad
To send them back and purchase with his blood
Redemption from such shame. He'll empty France
To do it! I will go. But I'll not kneel.
A thousand years my blood has run through kings,
And he's the _third_ Napoleon!

(Sinks, exhausted with emotion. Ladies attend her)

Mir. The traitor!
We have no need of him! To France, Bazaine,
And tell your Emperor our Emperor
Needs not his fickle strength to stand upon!
Sire, we have men, and money in our banks--

Lab. A mighty church whose power is untold
If you restore her rights, as now we hope,
And thus united we shall defy the world!

Max. And Heaven, too? For that is what we do