21. Heaven Has its Fury, Too
PORKEO, off.
Sire! Sire!
[Enter PORKEO and LEOPOLD, running. PORKEO carries a cake—a peace offering.]
Sire?
VALET.
The emperor sleeps!
PORKEO.
Asleep? But I brought cake! Cake, sire, cake!
VALET.
It matters not,
His brow does droop,
His laurels wilt!
LEOPOLD.
Wake him, I’ll speak with him.
PORKEO, fearfully.
He wouldn’t like that.
LEOPOLD.
Wake him!
PORKEO, trembling.
If you say so . . .
[PORKEO attempts cautiously to rouse MAXIMILIAN: poking him, prodding him, wafting the cake under his nose.]
My lord?
If you’ll wake,
I’ll give you cake.
My lord? My lord!
If cake won’t wake him, nothing will!
[VYSARIUS suddenly extends his arms, placing one gloved hand on either side of the VALET’s head. The VALET’s eyes flutter and he goes limp, like a puppet whose strings are cut. When he opens his eyes, his face is transformed, his placid features twisted into a look of obscene triumph. A powerful wind sweeps the garden.]
VALET, to LEOPOLD.
Stargazer!
[LEOPOLD pushes PORKEO aside and grabs MAXIMILIAN, shaking him with growing desperation.]
PORKEO.
Careful with him!
LEOPOLD.
Heaven has its fury, too!
Awake, awake!
VALET.
Far-seer!
PORKEO, fearful, noticing the rising wind.
Doctor, leave this be.
LEOPOLD.
The coldest things have found you out!
Awake, awake!
PORKEO.
Doctor, leave this be!
VALET.
Doom-sayer!
[PORKEO wraps his arms around LEOPOLD and tries to pull him away.]
LEOPOLD.
The sky is torn
And stars look down
With loveless eyes!
Awake, awake!
[A shadow grows, the sun retreats, and VYSARIUS’ eyes burn with infernal power.]
VALET.
Thou man, thou fool—know you not what you have done?
[PORKEO wrenches LEOPOLD away from MAXIMILIAN; they stagger off as the wind threatens to sweep them off their feet and the shadow of a heavenly body passes over the sun.]