THE SAME. THE INTERIOR OF THE KREMLIN [A chamber containing a bed on which NAPOLÉON has been lying. It is not yet daybreak, and the flapping light of the conflagration without shines in at the narrow windows. NAPOLÉON is discovered dressed, but in disorder and unshaven. He is walking up and down the room in agitation. There are present CAULAINCOURT, BESSIERES, and many of the marshals of his guard, who stand in silent perplexity.]

NAPOLÉON [sitting down on the bed] No: I’ll not go! It is themselves who have done it. My God, they are Scythians and barbarians still! [Enter MORTIER [just made Governor].]

MORTIER Sire, there’s no means of fencing with the flames. My creed is that these scurvy Muscovites Knowing our men’s repute for recklessness, Have fired the town, as if ’twere we had done it, As by our own crazed act! [GENERAL LARIBOISIERE, and aged man, enters and approaches NAPOLÉON.]

LARIBOISIERE The wind swells higher! Will you permit one so high-summed in years, One so devoted, sire, to speak his mind? It is that your long lingering here entails Much risk for you, your army, and ourselves, In the embarrassment it throws on us While taking steps to seek security, By hindering venturous means. [Enter MURAT, PRINCE EUGÈNE, and the PRINCE OF NEUFCHÂTEL.]

MURAT There is no choice But leaving, sire. Enormous bulks of powder Lie housed beneath us; and outside these panes A park of our artillery stands unscreened.

NAPOLÉON [saturninely] What have I won I disincline to cede!

VOICE OF A GUARD [without] The Kremlin is aflame! [The look at each other. Two officers of NAPOLÉON’S guard and an interpreter enter, with one of the Russian military police as a prisoner.]

FIRST OFFICER We have caught this man Firing the Kremlin: yea, in the very act! It is extinguished temporarily, We know not for how long.

NAPOLÉON Inquire of him What devil set him on. [They inquire.]

SECOND OFFICER The governor, He says; the Count Rostopchin, sire.

NAPOLÉON So! Even the ancient Kremlin is not sanct From their infernal scheme! Go, take him out; Make him a quick example to the rest. [Exeunt guard with their prisoner to the court below, whence a musket-volley resounds in a few minutes. Meanwhile the flames pop and spit more loudly, and the window-panes of the room they stand in crack and fall in fragments.] Incendiarism afoot, and we unware Of what foul tricks may follow, I will go. Outwitted here, we’ll march on Petersburg, The Devil if we won’t! [The marshals murmur and shake their heads.]

BESSIERES Your pardon, sire, But we are all convinced that weather, time, Provisions, roads, equipment, mettle, mood, Serve not for such a perilous enterprise. [NAPOLÉON remains in gloomy silence. Enter BERTHIER.]

NAPOLÉON [apathetically] Well, Berthier. More misfortunes?

BERTHIER News is brought, Sire, of the Russian army’s whereabouts. That fox Kutúzof, after marching east As if he were conducting his whole force To Vladimir, when at the Riazan Road Down-doubled sharply south, and in a curve Has wheeled round Moscow, making for Kalouga, To strike into our base, and cut us off.

MURAT Another reason against Petersburg! Come what come may, we must defeat that army, To keep a sure retreat through Smolensk on To Lithuania.

NAPOLÉON [jumping up] I must act! We’ll leave, Or we shall let this Moscow be our tomb. May Heaven curse the author of this war— Ay, him, that Russian minister, self-sold To England, who fomented it.—’Twas he Dragged Alexander into it, and me! [The marshals are silent with looks of incredulity, and Caulaincourt shrugs his shoulders.] Now no more words; but hear. Eugène and Ney With their divisions fall straight back upon The Petersburg and Zwenigarod Roads; Those of Davout upon the Smolensk route. I will retire meanwhile to Petrowskoi. Come, let us go. [NAPOLÉON and the marshals move to the door. In leaving, the Emperor pauses and looks back.] I fear that this event Marks the beginning of a train of ills.... Moscow was meant to be my rest, My refuge, and—it vanishes away! [Exeunt NAPOLÉON, marshals, etc. The smoke grows denser and obscures the scene.]