camus caligula english

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CALIGULAby

ALBERT CAMUS

Translated by Christopher WilliamsTranslation Copyright Christopher Williams 2005/2007

All Rights Reserved

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Characters

Caligula, from 25 to 29 years old

Caesonia, Caligulas mistress, aged 30

Helicon, close friend of Caligula, aged 30

Scipio, aged 17

Cherea, aged 30

Senectus, the old patrician, aged 71

Metellus, a patrician aged between 40 and 60Lepidus, a patrician aged between 40 and 60

Octavius, a patrician aged between 40 and 60

Patricius, the intendant aged, 50

Mereia, aged 60

Mucius, aged 33

Wife of Mucius

Knights, guards, servants and poets

e first, third and fourth acts take place in a hall of the imperial palace. Wesee there a full-length mirror, a gong and a bed. e second act takes place in

Chereas dining room.


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Caligulawas produced for the first time in September 1945 at the Hebertot Teatre

in Paris. Te production was directed by Paul Oettly with scenery by Louis Miqueland costumes by Marie Viton. Te cast was as follows:

Caligula ...................................................................................Gerard Philipe

Caesonia .......................................................................................Margo Lion

Helicon ....................................................................................Georges Vitaly

Scipio ............................................Michel Bouquet, then Georges Carmier

Cherea ......................................................................................... Jean Barrere

Senectus, the old patrician ................................................Georges Saillard

Metellus, a patrician ....................Francois Darbon, then Rene Desormes

Lepidus, a patrician ..................................................................Henry Duval

Octavius, a patrician .............................................................Norbert Pierlot

Patricius, the intendant ........................................................ Fernand Liesse

Mereia ........................................................................................ Guy Favieres

Mucius ......................................................................................Jacques Leduc

First guard .................................................................................... Jean Oettly

Second guard .........................................................................Jean Fonteneau

First servant ...................................Georges Carmier, then Daniel Crouet

Second servant ................................................................ Jean-Claude Orlay

Tird servant ...............................................................................Roger Saltel

Wife of Mucius ................................................................... Jacqueline Hebel

First poet .........................................Georges Carmier, then Daniel Crouet

Second poet ..................................................................... Jean-Claude Orlay

Tird poet ................................................................................Jacques Leduc

Fourth poet ...................................Francois Darbon, then Rene Desormes

Fih poet ............................................................................... Fernand Liesse

Sixth poet .....................................................................................Roger Saltel


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is translation is dedicated to the memory of my teacherBrian Syron


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ACT ONE

Scene 1Some patricians, who are very old, are grouped together in a room of the palace

and displaying signs of nervousness.

FIRS PARICIAN: Always nothing.OLD PARICIAN: Nothing in the morning, nothing in the evening.SECOND PARICIAN: Nothing for three days.OLD PARICIAN: Te couriers leave, the couriers return. Tey shake their

heads and say: Nothing.SECOND PARICIAN: Te whole country has been scoured. Tere is nothing to

be done.

FIRS PARICIAN: Why alarm oneself too fast? Lets wait. Perhaps he willreturn as he departed.

OLD PARICIAN: I saw him leaving the palace. He had a strange look.FIRS PARICIAN: I was there too and I asked him what the matter was.SECOND PARICIAN: And his reply?FIRS PARICIAN: A single word: Nothing.

(A silence. Helicon enters, eating some onions)

SECOND PARICIAN: (still nervous) Tats disturbing.FIRS PARICIAN: Come on, all the young men live like that.OLD PARICIAN: Well understood; time erases everything.SECOND PARICIAN: Do you think so?FIRS PARICIAN: Lets wish that he forgets.OLD PARICIAN: Of course! For one thrown away, ten are found again.HELICON: How do you assume that the matter is about love?FIRS PARICIAN: And of what else?HELICON: Te liver, perhaps? Or the simple disgust that you see ev-

ery day. We would tolerate our peers so much better ifthey could, from time to time, have a change of face. Butno, the menu doesnt change. Always the same stew.

OLD PARICIAN: I prefer to think that its about love. Tats more moving.HELICON: And comforting, above all, so much more comforting.

Its the kind of sickness that spares neither the clever northe foolish.

FIRS PARICIAN: Anyhow, happily, the sorrows are not everlasting. Areyou capable of grieving for more than one year?

SECOND PARICIAN: Me, no.FIRS PARICIAN: No-one is capable of that.OLD PARICIAN: Life would be impossible.

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FIRS PARICIAN: You see now. Consider this; I lost my wife a year ago. Icried a lot and then I forgot. Now and then I have dif-ficulty. But, on the whole, its nothing.

OLD PARICIAN: Nature settles these things well.HELICON: When I look at you, however, I have the impression that

it manages to miss its aim.

(Enter Cherea)

FIRS PARICIAN: Well then?CHEREA: Still nothing.HELICON: Some calm, gentlemen, some calm. Lets preserve appear-

ances. Te Roman Empire, thats us. If we lose form the

Empire goes mad. Tis is not the moment, oh no! Andin order to begin, lets eat lunch. Te Empire will sustainitself better.

OLD PARICIAN: Tats right. Its wrong to let go of the prize for the shad-ow.

CHEREA: I dont like it. But everything was going too well. Tisemperor was perfect.

SECOND PARICIAN: Yes, he was as one ought to be: scrupulous and inex-perienced.

FIRS PARICIAN: But, come, whats the matter with you and why these la-ments? Nothing stopped him from proceeding. He loved

Drusilla, thats understood. But, finally, she was his sister.o sleep with her, that was a great deal to begin with. Butto destroy Rome because she is dead, that oversteps theboundaries.

CHEREA: He wont stop. I dont like it and this perspective tells menothing.

OLD PARICIAN: Yes, theres no smoke without fire.FIRS PARICIAN: In any case, State policy cannot allow an incest that as-

sumes the demeanour of some tragedies. Te incest let itbe so, but discreet.

HELICON: You know incest inevitably makes a little disturbance.Te bed creaks, if I may express myself that way. How-ever, what tells you that Drusilla is the issue?

SECOND PARICIAN: And what to do, then, in that case?

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HELICON: Youre guessing. Mark my words, misfortune, its like mar-riage. You believe that youre selecting and then you arechosen. Its like that, you cannot help it. Our Caligula is

unhappy, but perhaps he doesnt even know why! He hashad to feel cornered, and then he has run. We all wouldhave done the same from that place. Look, I tell you, if Ihad been able to choose my father, I would not have beenborn.

(Enter Scipio)

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Scene 2

CHEREA: Now?

SCIPIO: Still no result. Some peasants are believed to have seenhim yesterday evening, near here, running through thethunderstorm.

(Cherea moves back towards the senators. Scipio follows him)

CHEREA: Tat clearly makes three days, Scipio?SCIPIO: Yes. I was present, following him, as is my custom. He

moved towards Drusillas corpse. He touched her withtwo fingers. Ten he appeared to meditate, turning in

upon himself, and went out at an even pace. Since thattime weve followed him.

CHEREA: (shaking his head)Tis lad loved literature too much.SECOND PARICIAN: Its his age.CHEREA: But its not his station. An artistic emperor. It is not seem-

ly. We have had one or two of them, to be sure - there aresome black sheep everywhere but the others have had thegood taste to stick at being office-holders.

FIRS PARICIAN: Tat was more restful.OLD PARICIAN: Everyone to his calling.

SCIPIO: What can we do, Cherea?CHEREA: Nothing.SECOND PARICIAN: Lets wait. If he doesnt return, it will be necessary to re-

place him. Among us, emperors are not lacking.FIRS PARICIAN: No, were only lacking in character.CHEREA: And if he returns ill disposed?FIRS PARICIAN: Upon my word, he is still a youth. We will make him lis-

ten to reason.CHEREA: And if he is deaf to reasoning?FIRS PARICIAN: (smiling)Well then! Havent I previously written a trea-

tise on revolution?

CHEREA: Of course, if that was wanted. But Id prefer that you leaveme to my books.

SCIPIO: I beg your pardon.

(He leaves)

CHEREA: He is offended.OLD PARICIAN: Hes a boy. Te young people are accomplices.

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HELICON: Accomplices or not, they will grow old anyhow.

(A guard appears)

GUARD: We have seen Caligula in the palace garden.

(Everyone leaves)

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Scene 3

e stage stays empty for some seconds. Caligula enters furtively from the le. He

has a distracted look, he is in a mess, his hair is all wet and his legs are dirty. Heraises a hand to his mouth several times. He moves towards the mirror and stopsas soon as he observes his own image. He mutters some indistinguishable words,then goes to sit down, to the right, his arms hanging down between open knees.Helicon enters from the le. Noticing Caligula, he stops at the edge of the stageand watches him in silence. Caligula turns around and sees him. A silence.

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Scene 4

HELICON: (from one end of the stage to the other) Good day,

Caius.CALIGULA: (with naturalness)Good day, Helicon.

(Silence)

HELICON: You seem tired?CALIGULA: I have walked far.HELICON: Yes, your absence has lasted a long time.

(Silence)

CALIGULA: It was difficult to find.HELICON: What, then?CALIGULA: What I want.HELICON: And what do you want?CALIGULA: (still natural)Te moon.HELICON: What?CALIGULA: Yes, I want the moon.HELICON: Ah! (A silence. Helicon approaches) What do you want

that for?

CALIGULA: Well! Its one of the things that I dont have.HELICON: Of course. And now, all is in order?CALIGULA: No, I havent been able to get it.HELICON: Tats annoying.CALIGULA: Yes, thats the reason Im tired. (A pause)Helicon!HELICON: Yes, Caius.CALIGULA: You think that Im mad.HELICON: You know very well I never think. Im clearly too intel-

ligent for that.CALIGULA: Yes, upon the whole! But Im not mad and even I have

never been so reasonable. Only, all at once, I feel within a

hunger for the impossible.(A pause)Tings, as they are,dont seem satisfactory to me.

HELICON: Tats a pretty common opinion.CALIGULA: Its true. But I didnt know it before. Now, I know. (Still

natural)Tis world, as it is constituted, is not bearable.Terefore I have need of the moon, or of happiness, orimmortality, of something which is demented perhapsbut which is not of this world.

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HELICON: Tat reasoning holds together. But, in general, peoplearent able to grasp it until the end.

CALIGULA: (standing, but with the same simplicity)You know noth-

ing about it. Its because people never stick to it until theend that nothing has been gained. (He looks at Helicon)I also know what youre thinking. What disturbances forthe death of a woman! No, its not that. I believe I recall,its true, that some days ago a woman that I loved died.But what is love? A slight thing. Tis death is nothing, Iswear it to you. It is only the omen of a truth which makesthe moon necessary to me. Its a truth entirely simple andentirely clear, a little thing, but difficult to discover andheavy to bear.

HELICON: And what is this truth then, Caius?CALIGULA: (turning away, in a neutral tone) Men are dying and theyare not happy.

HELICON: (aer a pause)Now then, Caius, thats a truth which peo-ple come to terms with very well. Look around you. Itsnot that which prevents them from having lunch.

CALIGULA: (with a sudden outburst)In that case, everything aroundme is fiction and me; I want only that men live in thetruth. And justly, I have the means to make them livein truth. For I know what their need is, Helicon. Teyare deprived of knowledge and they need a teacher who

knows what he is talking about.HELICON: Dont be offended, Caius, by what Im going to say to you.

But, first of all, you should rest yourself.CALIGULA: (sitting down and with gentleness)Tat isnt possible, Hel-

icon; that will never more be possible.HELICON: Why so?CALIGULA: If I sleep, who will give me the moon?HELICON: (aer a silence) Tats true.

(Caligula gets to his feet with a visible effort)

CALIGULA: Listen, Helicon. I hear some footsteps and sounds ofvoices. Remain silent and forget that youve just seenme.

HELICON: I understand.

(Caligula goes towards the exit. He turns around)

CALIGULA: And, please, help me from this moment on.

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HELICON: I have no grounds not to do so, Caius. But I know a greatmany things and not much interests me. What can I helpyou with?

CALIGULA: With the impossible.HELICON: I will do my best.

(Caligula leaves. Scipio and Caesonia enter quickly)

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Scene 5

SCIPIO: Teres nobody. Havent you seen him, Helicon?

HELICON: No.CAESONIA: Helicon, did he truly say nothing to you before running

away?HELICON: Im not his confidant, I am his spectator. Tats more

sensible.CAESONIA: I beg of you!HELICON: Dear Caesonia, Caius is an idealist, everybody knows

it. So much to say that he hasnt yet understood. As forme, yes, thats why I trouble my mind about nothing. Butsuppose Caius begins to understand he is capable, on the

other hand, with his good little heart, of thinking abouteverything. God knows what that will cost us! Now, byyour leave, lunch!

(He leaves)

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Scene 6

(Caesonia sits down wearily)

CAESONIA: A guard saw him pass through. Well, all Rome seesCaligula everywhere. And Caligula, in reality, only seeshis idea.

SCIPIO: What idea?CAESONIA: How should I know, Scipio?SCIPIO: Drusilla?CAESONIA: Who can say? But its true that he loved her. Its true that

it is hard to see dying today what he was holding tightlyin his arms the day before.

SCIPIO : (timidly) And you?CAESONIA: Oh! Me, I am the old mistress.SCIPIO: Caesonia, we must save him.CAESONIA: You love him, then?SCIPIO: I love him. He was good to me. He encouraged me and

I know by heart some of his speeches. He would tell methat life isnt easy, but there would be religion, art, lovethat we sustain ourselves with. Oen he would repeatthat to torture would be the only way to make a mistake.He wanted to be a just man.

CAESONIA: (getting up)Tis was a child.

(She goes towards the mirror and contemplates herself there)

CAESONIA: I have never had any other god than my body, and its thisgod that I would like to pray to today so that Caligula isreturned to me.

(Caligula enters. Observing Caesonia and Scipio, he hesitates and moves back.At the same moment the patricians and the intendant of the Palace enter fromthe opposite side. ey stop, taken aback. Caesonia turns around. She and Scipio

run towards Caligula. He stops them with a gesture)

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Scene 7

INENDAN: (in an uncertain voice)We we have been looking for

you, Caesar.CALIGULA: (in a curt and changed voice)I see.INENDAN: Wethat is to sayCALIGULA: (brutally)What do you want?INENDAN: We were anxious, Caesar.CALIGULA: (moving towards him)By what right?INENDAN: Ah! Well (Suddenly inspired and very quickly) Well

anyhow, you know that you have reason to determinesome questions concerning the public treasury.

CALIGULA: (seized by uncontrollable laughter)Te treasury? But its

true; let me see, the treasury, its essential.INENDAN: Most assuredly, Caesar.CALIGULA: (still laughing, to Caesonia)Te treasury, my dear, its very

important, isnt it?CAESONIA: No, Caligula, its a secondary issue.CALIGULA: But its a thing which you know nothing about. Te trea-

sury is a powerful interest. Everything is important: thefinances, the public morality, the foreign policy, the sup-plying of the army and the agrarian laws. Everythingis essential, I tell you. Everything is on the same foot-

ing: the grandeur of Rome and your fits of arthritis. Ah!I go to busy myself with all that. Listen to me a little,intendant.

INENDAN: We are listening to you.

(e patricians approach)

CALIGULA: You are loyal to me, arent you?INENDAN: (in a tone of reproach)Caesar!CALIGULA: Well then, I have a plan to lay before you. Were going

to overturn the economic policy by two measures. I will

explain it to you, intendant when the patricians havele the room.

(e patricians go out)

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Scene 8

(Caligula seats himself beside Caesonia)

CALIGULA: Listen well. First measure: all the patricians, all people ofthe Empire who possess some wealth small or large,its exactly the same thing must compulsorily disin-herit their children and instantly make their will in fa-

vour of the State.INENDAN: But, CaesarCALIGULA: I have not yet given you permission to speak. In propor-

tion to our requirements, we will put to death these per-sons in the order of a list arbitrarily drawn up. Occasion-

ally we might modify this order, but always arbitrarily.And we will inherit.

CAESONIA: (breaking away)What is the matter with you?CALIGULA: (imperturbably) In truth, the order of the executions

wont have any importance. Or rather, these executionshave an equal importance, a thing which sweeps awaythat they have no point to them. Besides, they are equallyguilty, one as much as the other. Furthermore I tell youthat its no more immoral to steal directly from citizensthan to slip indirect taxes into the price of commodities

which they arent able to indulge in. o govern is to steal.Everybody knows that, but it is the manner of doing it.For my part, I will steal openly. Tat will make a changefor you from small earnings. (Harshly to the intendant)You will execute these orders without delay. Te testa-ments will be signed in the course of the evening by ev-ery resident of Rome; in a month at the latest by all thecountry people. Despatch some couriers.

INENDAN: Caesar, youre not accounting for yourselfCALIGULA: Listen to me clearly, idiot. If the treasury is of impor-

tance, then human life hasnt any. Tat is clear. All those

who think like you must accept this reasoning and counttheir life for nothing since they value money as every-thing. Besides Ive decided to be logical and seeing thatI have the power, youre going to see what logic is goingto cost you. I will exterminate the opponents and the op-positions. If its necessary, Ill start with you.

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INENDAN: Caesar, my goodwill is not in question, I swear it to you.CALIGULA: Nor mine, you can believe me on that account. Te proof:

the fact that I agree to embrace your point of view and to

possess the public treasury as an object for meditations.In short, thank me since I buy into your game and be-cause I play with your cards. (A pause and then calmly)Aer all, my plan by its simplicity is marked with genius,which closes the debate. You have three seconds to disap-pear. Im counting: one

(e intendant disappears)

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Scene 9

CAESONIA: I hardly recognise you. Its a joke, isnt it?

CALIGULA: Not exactly, Caesonia. Its the science of teaching.SCIPIO: Tats not possible, Caius!CALIGULA: Exactly!SCIPIO: I dont understand you.CALIGULA: Exactly! Te point is about what isnt possible; or rather,

its about making possible that which isnt.SCIPIO: But its a game which has no limits. Its the recreation of a

fool.CALIGULA: No, Scipio, its the virtue of an emperor. (He lies down on

his back with an expression of fatigue)Ive finally come to

understand the use of power. It gives one chances at theimpossible. oday, and for all time to come, my libertyno longer has any boundaries.

CAESONIA: (sadly) I dont know if its necessary to rejoice about it,Caius.

CALIGULA: I no longer know it either. But I suppose that its right tolive from here.

(Enter Cherea)

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Scene 10

CHEREA: I have learned of your return. I offer up some prayers for

your health.CALIGULA: My health thanks you.(A pause and then suddenly)Go

away, Cherea, I dont want to see you.CHEREA: Im surprised, Caius.CALIGULA: Dont be surprised. I dont like literary men and I cannot

support their lies. Tey speak so as not to listen to them-selves. If they were to hear themselves, they would knowtheyre nothing and would no longer be able to speak.Go, retreat, I have a horror of false witnesses.

CHEREA: If we lie, its oen without knowing it. I plead not guilty.

CALIGULA: Te lie is never innocent. And your own gives an impor-tance to beings and chattels. Tats a thing which I cantforgive you for.

CHEREA: And yet, its clearly necessary to argue in favour of thisworld, if we want to live here.

CALIGULA: Dont argue. Te cause is understood. Tis world is with-out importance and he who recognises it gains his free-dom. (He gets up) And justly, I hate you because you arenot free. In all the Roman Empire, behold in me the onlyfree person. Rejoice, there is finally attained an emperor

capable of teaching freedom. Go away, Cherea, and youtoo, Scipio. Friendship makes me laugh. Go declare toRome that her freedom is returned to her at last and thatwith it a great trial begins.

(ey leave. Caligula turns away)

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Scene 11

CAESONIA: You weep?

CALIGULA: Yes, Caesonia.CAESONIA: But at last, what is it within you that has changed? If its

true that you loved Drusilla, you loved her at the sametime as me and many others. Tat reason wouldnt beenough to allow her death to drive you away for threedays and three nights in the country and bring you backwith this hostile countenance.

CALIGULA: (turning to her) Who speaks to you of Drusilla, mad-woman? And cant you imagine that a man cries for anyother reason than love?

CAESONIA: Pardon, Caius. But I seek to comprehend.CALIGULA: Men cry because things are not what they should be. (She

goes towards him)Leave me alone, Caesonia. (She recoils)But stay near to me.

CAESONIA: I will do what you want.(She sits down)At my age oneknows that life is not fair. But if evil is on the earth, whydesire to add to it?

CALIGULA: You cannot understand. What does it matter? PerhapsI will get out of here. But I feel rising within me somenameless creatures. What would I do against them? (He

turns towards her)Oh! Caesonia, I knew that men couldbe in despair, but I was ignorant of what that word meant.Like everyone else I believed that it was an illness of thesoul. But no, its the body that suffers. My skin gives mepain, my lungs, my limbs. I have an empty head andchurning stomach. And the most frightful is this tastein my mouth. Neither blood, nor death, nor fever, butall those at the same time. Suffice it to say that I stir mytongue so that everything becomes black again and stillthe creatures clash with me. How hard it is, how bitter itis to become a man.

CAESONIA: Its necessary to sleep, to sleep for a long time, to let your-self go and to think no more. I will watch over your sleep.Aer your awaking, the world for you will recover itstaste. Ten make use of your power to like better thatwhich can still be true. What has merit should also haveits chance.

CALIGULA: But sleep is needed on the subject; one must give up to it.Tat isnt possible.

CAESONIA: Tats what people believe in extreme tiredness. A timecomes where you find a firm hand again.

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CALIGULA: But I must know where to place it. And what is a firmhand to me, of what use to me is so much astonishingpower if I cant change the order of things? If I cant make

the sun lie down in the east, until suffering decreases andlives are no longer expiring? No, Caesonia, it is insignifi-cant to sleep or to stay awake if I dont have any influenceover the direction of this world.

CAESONIA: But that is wanting to make yourself equal with the gods.I dont know of any worse lunacy.

CALIGULA: You too, you believe Im mad. And yet, what is a god thatI desire to make myself equal to him? What I wish for to-day, with all my might, is beyond the reach of some gods.I take charge of a kingdom where the impossible is king.

CAESONIA: You wont be able to make the sky not be the sky, only abeautiful face become ugly, and a mans heart unfeeling.CALIGULA: (with a growing exaltation) I want to mix the sky with

the ocean, to blend ugliness and beauty, to make laughterburst out of suffering.

CAESONIA: (standing before him and imploring) Tere is the goodand the bad, that which is great and that which is inferior,the just and the unjust. I swear to you that all that wontchange.

CALIGULA: (in the same manner)My will is to change it. I will createfor this century the gi of equality. And when everything

will be level, the impossible finally on earth, the moon inmy hands, then perhaps I will also be transformed andthe world with me. Ten, at last, men wont die and theywill be happy.

CAESONIA: (with a cry)You wont be able to deny the existence oflove!

CALIGULA: (with a piercing voice full of rage)Love, Caesonia? (Heseizes her by the shoulders and shakes her) Ive learnedthat it was nothing! Its the other thing which is capableof satisfaction: the public treasury! Youve understood

this clearly, havent you? Everything begins with that. Ah!Its now that Im finally going to live! o live, Caesonia, tolive, its the opposite of love! Its me who tells you this andits me who invites you to a feast without limit, to a gen-eral trial, at the most beautiful of shows. And I requiresome company, some spectators, some victims and somecriminals.

(He rushes to the gong and begins to strike it, without stopping, with increasingforce. All the time he is striking while he speaks)

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CALIGULA: Make the criminals come in! I must have some crimi-nals! And they all are. (Continually striking the gong) Iwant people to send the condemned to death. Some pub-

lic, I will have my public! Judges, witnesses, accused, allcondemned in advance! Ah! Caesonia, I will show themwhat theyve never seen the only free man of thisempire!

(With the sound of the gong, the palace little by little has become full of noisesthat increase and draw nearer. Some voices, sounds of weapons, some footstepsand some stamping. Caligula laughs and keeps on striking the gong. Some guards

enter, and then leave)

CALIGULA: (still striking the gong) And you, Caesonia, you will obeyme. You will help me always. Tis will be marvellous.Swear to help me, Caesonia!

CAESONIA: (bewildered, she speaks between two hits of the gong) Ihave no need to swear, since I love you.

CALIGULA: (very animated)You will do whatever I tell you to!CAESONIA: (equally animated)Anything, Caligula, but stop.CALIGULA: (still striking)You will be cruel!CAESONIA: (weeping)Cruel.CALIGULA: (same animation)Cold and implacable!CAESONIA: Implacable.

CALIGULA: (same animation)You will also suffer!CAESONIA: Yes, Caligula, but Im going mad.

(Some patricians have entered, confused, and with them the palace attendants.Caligula strikes one last blow, raises his mallet, turns towards them and summons

them.)

CALIGULA: (insane) Come, everyone, approach! I order you toapproach! (He stamps his foot) Its an emperor whodemands that you approach. (Everyone advances, full of

terror)Come quickly. And now, approach Caesonia.

(He takes her by the hand, leads her close to the mirror and frenziedly obliteratesthe image on its polished surface with the mallet. He laughs.)

CALIGULA: Nothing more, you see. No longer any memories, allthe faces vanished! Nothing, nothing more. And do youknow what remains? Come nearer still. Look. Approach.

(He stands before the glass in a demented attitude)

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CAESONIA: (looking at the mirror, with dread)Caligula!

(Caligula, changing tone, places his finger on the glass and suddenly staring at

himself, says in a triumphant voice)

CALIGULA: Caligula!

CURTAIN

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ACT TWO

Scene 1

Some patricians have gathered at Chereas house.

FIRS PARICIAN: He insults our dignity.MUCIUS: For three years!OLD PARICIAN: He calls me little woman! He ridicules me terribly!MUCIUS: For three years!FIRS PARICIAN: Every evening he makes us run around his bed when he

goes to take a walk in the fields.SECOND PARICIAN: And he tells us that the run is good for the health.

MUCIUS: For three years!OLD PARICIAN: Tere isnt any excuse for that.HIRD PARICIAN: No, we cannot forgive that.FIRS PARICIAN: Patricius, he confiscated your wealth; Scipio, he killed

your father; Octavius, he abducted your wife and nowmakes her work in his brothel; Lepidus, he has killedyour son. Are you going to tolerate this? As for me, mychoice is made. Between the risk of running and this un-bearable life of fear and impotence, I cannot hesitate.

SCIPIO: In killing my father, he has chosen for me.FIRS PARICIAN: Will you hesitate still?HIRD PARICIAN: We are with you. He has given our seats at the circus to

the working classes and forced us, against our will, toclap with the common people in order to better punishus aerwards.

OLD PARICIAN: Tats a coward.SECOND PARICIAN: A cynic.HIRD PARICIAN: An actor.OLD PARICIAN: Tats impotent.FOURH PARICIAN: For the last three years!

(Disorderly uproar. Some weapons are brandished. A light falls. A table isupended. Everyone rushes towards the exit. But Cherea enters, impassive, which

stops this flight.)

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Scene 2

CHEREA: Where are you running to like that?

HIRD PARICIAN: o the palace.CHEREA: I completely understand. But do you believe that they

will allow you to enter?FIRS PARICIAN: Its not a question of asking permission.CHEREA: Tere you are abundantly strong at a single stroke! Can

I at least have permission to seat myself in my ownhouse?

(He shuts the door. Cherea walks towards the overturned table and sits upon oneof the corners, whilst everyone turns towards him)

CHEREA: Tis is not as easy as you believe it, my friends. Te fearthat youre experiencing cannot take the place of courageand composure. All this is premature.

HIRD PARICIAN: If youre not with us, be off, but hold your tongue.CHEREA: I believe, however, that I am with you. But its not for the

same reasons.HIRD PARICIAN: Enough of babbling!CHEREA: (standing up again)Yes, enough of babbling. I want things

to be clear. For though Im with you, Im not for you. Tis

is why your method seems no good to me. You haventrecognized your true enemy. You ascribe to him somepetty motives. He only has noble ones and you will run toyour death. First of all learn to see him as he is and youllbe better able to fight against him.

HIRD PARICIAN: We see him as he is; the most insane of tyrants!CHEREA: Tats not certain. Emperors are foolish, were aware of

that. But this one isnt foolish enough. And what I detestabout him is that he knows what he wants.

FIRS PARICIAN: He wants our death before anything.

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CHEREA: No, that is secondary. Now he employs his power in theservice of a higher and more deadly passion. He threatensus through what we hold most deeply. Without doubt,

this isnt the first time that, among us, a man has com-mand of an unlimited power. But its the first time that heuses it without constraints; as far as to deny the existenceof mankind and the world. Tat is the thing which alarmsme about him and what I wish to oppose. o lose oneslife is no great matter and Ill have this courage when itwill be necessary to do so. But to see the meaning of thislife dissipated, our reason to exist disappear, thats thething which is unbearable. A man cannot live withoutreason.

FIRS PARICIAN: Vengeance is a reason.CHEREA: Yes, and Im going to take part in that with you. But un-derstand that its not to take up the cause of your pettyhumiliations. Its in order to fight against a large ideawhose victory would mean the end of the world. I canaccept that you are turned sour from derision. I cannotaccept that Caligula carries out what he dreams of do-ing and everything he dreams of doing. He transformshis philosophy into corpses and, for our misfortune, its aphilosophy free from objections. Clearly its necessary tostrike when one cannot refute.

HIRD PARICIAN: Ten we must act.CHEREA: We must act. But you wont destroy this unjust power

by attacking it from the front, when its at full strength.Anyone can fight against tyranny; its vital to use cunningagainst disinterested malice. We must push it forwardin its own direction, in expectation that this logic mustbecome insanity. But once more, and Ive only spokenhere for the sake of honesty, understand that Im withyou only for a while. Aerwards I will not serve any ofyour interests, desirous only to recover peace in a newly

coherent world. Its not ambition that makes me act buta rational fear; the fear of this cruel lyricism, in the pres-ence of which my life is nothing.

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FIRS PARICIAN: (coming forward) I believe Ive understood, or nearly so.But the essential point is that you, like us, judge that thefoundations of our society are shaken. For us the ques-

tion is above all moral. Isnt it for you fellows? Te familytotters, respect for work evaporates, and the entire coun-try is given up to blasphemy. Virtue calls to us for help.Are we going to refuse to hear her? Conspirators, in theend, will you accept that patricians are forced each eve-ning to run around the bed of Caesar?

OLD PARICIAN: Will you allow it that he calls them my beloved?HIRD PARICIAN: Tat he abducts their wives from them?SECOND PARICIAN: And their children?MUCIUS: And their money?

FIFH PARICIAN: No!FIRS PARICIAN: Cherea, you have spoken well. You have also made us agreat deal calmer. It is too soon to act: the people, to-day at least, would be against us. Do you wish to waitwith us for the decisive moment?

CHEREA: Yes, lets allow Caligula to carry on. On the contrary, letsurge him on in this way. Lets organize his madness. Aday will come where he will be alone before an empirefull of the dead and relations of the dead.

(General clamour. Trumpets outside. Silence. en from mouth to mouth a

name: Caligula)

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Scene 3

Caligula and Caesonia enter, followed by Helicon and some soldiers. A scene

played in silence. Caligula stops and observes the conspirators. He goes fromone to the other in silence, adjusts a buckle on one, moves back to contemplatea second, looks at them again, passes a hand over his eyes and leaves without

saying a word.

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Scene 4

CAESONIA: (ironically, pointing out the disorder) Youre fighting

amongst yourselves?CHEREA: Were fighting amongst ourselves.CAESONIA: (same tone) And why are you fighting amongst

yourselves?CHEREA: We are fighting for nothing.CAESONIA: Ten its not true.CHEREA: Whats not true?CAESONIA: Youre not fighting amongst yourselves.CHEREA: Ten were not fighting.CAESONIA: (smiling)Perhaps it would be better to put the room in

order. Caligula hates disorder.HELICON: (to the old patrician)Youll end by making this man take

leave of his character.OLD PARICIAN: But aer all, what have we done to him?HELICON: Precisely nothing. Its extraordinary to be insignificant at

this point. It ends by becoming unbearable. Put yourselfin Caligulas place. (A pause)Naturally, you would plotsoundly. Isnt that so?

OLD PARICIAN: But you see its wrong. What does he believe then?HELICON: He doesnt believe. He knows it. But at heart, I suppose

that he desires it somewhat. Come on; lets help to repairthe disorder.

(ey get on with the job. Caligula enters and observes.)

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Scene 5

CALIGULA: (to the old patrician) Good day, my beloved. (To the

others)Cherea, I have decided to refresh myself at yourhouse. Mucius, I have permitted myself to invite yourwife.

(e intendant claps his hands. A slave enters, but Caligula stops him.)

CALIGULA: One moment! Gentlemen, you know that the State fi-nances only hold up because they have taken up a customwith them. Since yesterday, the custom itself no longersuffices for this. Terefore I am in the distressing need

to get on with some compressions in staff. In a spirit ofsacrifice that Im sure you will appreciate, I have decidedto reduce my establishment, to liberate some slaves andto assign you to my household duties. You would be quitewilling to prepare the table and to wait upon it.

(e senators look at each other and hesitate.)

HELICON: Come on, gentlemen, a little willingness. Youll see, more-over, that its easier to go down the social ladder than to

go up it.

(e senators leave their seats hesitantly.)

CALIGULA: (to Caesonia)What is the punishment reserved for lazyslaves?

CAESONIA: Te whip, I believe.

(e senators hasten themselves and begin awkwardly setting up the table)

CALIGULA: Now then, a little diligence! Some method, some

method! (To Helicon)It seems to me theyve lost power.HELICON: o tell the truth, theyve never had any, except in order

to beat or to command. It will be necessary to have pa-tience, thats all. It requires a day to make a senator andten years to make a worker.

CALIGULA: But Im very much afraid that it needs twenty of them tomake a worker out of a senator.

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HELICON: Tey get there, all the same. In my opinion, they have thecalling! Servitude will suit them. (A senator mops his face)Look, they even begin to perspire. Its a days march.

CALIGULA: Good. Dont ask too much of them. Its not so bad. Andthen, a moment of justice; thats always good to take.Speaking of justice, we must hurry; I have an executionto attend. Ah! Rufius is lucky that I so suddenly happento be hungry. (Confidentially) Rufius, he is the knightwho must die.(A pause)You dont ask me why he mustdie?

(General silence. During this time some slaves have brought over some food.)

CALIGULA: (good humouredly) Now then, I see that youve becomeintelligent. (He nibbles an olive)You have finally under-stood that its not necessary to have done anything in or-der to die. Soldiers, Im pleased with you. Isnt that right,Helicon?

(He pauses from eating and gazes at the guests with the expression of abuffoon.)

HELICON: Sure. What an army! But if you want my opinion, nowtheyre too intelligent and no longer want to fight. If they

progress further, the empire collapses!CALIGULA: Perfect! We will refresh ourselves. Now, lets seat ourselves

at random. No protocol. So, this Rufius is lucky. And Imsure that he doesnt appreciate this little respite. However,some hours gained over death; thats invaluable.

(He eats and the others do too. It becomes clear that Caligula behaves badlyat the table. Nothing compels him to throw his olive stones into the plate of hisimmediate neighbours, to spit his meat trimmings onto the dish as well as pickhis teeth with his nails and to scratch his head frantically. However, it is during

the meal that he will carry out so many deeds with silliness. en he abruptlystops eating and stares insistently at one of the guests, Lepidus.)

CALIGULA: (brutally)You look cross. Would that be because Ive putyour son to death?

LEPIDUS: (mouth clenched)Why no, Caius, on the contrary.CALIGULA: (expansively)On the contrary! Ah! How I love when the

face contradicts the cares of the heart. Your face is sad,but your heart on the contrary, isnt it Lepidus?

LEPIDUS: (resolutely)On the contrary, Caesar.

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CALIGULA: (more and more happy)Ah! Lepidus, no-one is dearer tome than you. Lets laugh together, do you want to? Andtell me a good story.

LEPIDUS: (who has overrated his constraint)Caius!CALIGULA: Very well, all right, Ill tell a story, then. But you will

laugh, isnt that so, Lepidus? (Giving the evil eye toLepidus) It would only be for your second son.(Laughing again)Besides, youre not in bad humour.(Hedrinks, then prompting)On onCome on, Lepidus.

LEPIDUS: (wearily)On the contrary, Caius.CALIGULA: Well done!(He drinks)Listen now. (Musing)Tere was

once a poor emperor that nobody liked. He, who lovedLepidus, had his younger son killed in order to rub out

this love from the heart. (Changing tone)Naturally, itsnot true. Funny, dont you think? You dont laugh. No-body laughs? Listen to me, then. (With a violent rage)Iwant everybody laughing. You, Lepidus and the others.Get up! Laugh!(He thumps on the table)I want to see youlaugh.

(Everybody gets up. During this scene the actors, except Caligula and Caesonia,perform like puppets. Caligula lies back on his bed, beaming with joy, seized by

an irresistible laughter)

CALIGULA: Oh behold them, Caesonia. Nothing works any longer.Honesty, respectability, the opinion of others, the wis-dom of nations. Nobody wants to say anything any more.Everything vanishes in the presence of the fear. Te fear,Caesonia, this beautiful sensation, without alliance, pureand indifferent. An extraordinary one that drags nobilityfrom the guts. (He passes a hand over his forehead anddrinks. en, in an amicable tone)Lets speak of some-thing else now. Now then, Cherea, youre very silent.

CHEREA: Im ready to speak, Caius, as soon as you will allow it.

CALIGULA: Perfect. In that case, shut up. I would very much like tohear our friend, Mucius.

MUCIUS: (reluctantly) At your orders, Caius.CALIGULA: Well then, speak to us of your wife. And begin by sending

her to my le.

(Mucius wife goes to Caligulas side)

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CALIGULA: Well now! Mucius, were waiting for you.MUCIUS: (a little lost)My wife but I love her.

(General laughter)

CALIGULA: Of course, my friend, of course. But how trivial it is! (Healready has the wife close to him and abstractedly licksher le shoulder. More and more at ease)In fact, when Ientered, you were plotting, isnt it true? Tey were con-cerned with their little conspiracy, eh?

OLD PARICIAN: Caius, how could you?CALIGULA: No importance, my pretty. Its clearly necessary that old

age be forgiven. No importance, truly. You are incapable

of a courageous act. It strikes me only with the sense thatI have some questions of State to settle. But first I mustbalance those needs with urgent desires that nature hascreated.

(He gets up and drags Mucius wife into an adjoining room)

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Scene 6

(Mucius seems to be about to spring up)

CAESONIA: (amiably) Oh! Mucius, Im very much taken with thisexcellent wine.

(Mucius, subdued, serves her in silence. A moment of uneasiness. e seats creak.e dialogue which follows is somewhat formal.)

CAESONIA: Well then! Cherea, suppose you tell me now why you lotwere beating yourselves up a moment ago?

CHEREA: (coldly)Everything happened, dear Caesonia, because of

our discussions concerning the point of whether poetryshould be murderous or not.

CAESONIA: Tats very interesting. Nevertheless, that exceeds myfeminine understanding. But I wonder that your passionfor art drives you to exchange some blows.

CHEREA: (same tone)Indeed. But Caligula tells me there isnt anyprofound passion without some cruelty.

HELICON: Nor love without a bit of violation.CAESONIA: (eating) Tere must be some truth in this opinion. Isnt

that so, you fellows?

OLD PARICIAN: Caligula is a vigorous psychologist.FIRS PARICIAN: He spoke to us with the eloquence of courage.SECOND PARICIAN: He should summarise all his ideas. Tat would be

invaluable.CHEREA: Not to mention that it would occupy his thoughts, for its

clear that he needs distractions.CAESONIA: (still eating) You will be delighted to know that he has

thought of it and is writing a large treatise at this presenttime.

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Scene 7

(Caligula and the wife of Mucius enter)

CALIGULA: Mucius, I give you back your wife. She will rejoin you.But excuse me; Ive some instructions to give.

(He leaves rapidly. Mucius, pale, has stood up.)

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Scene 8

CAESONIA: (to Mucius, who has remained standing)Tis important

treatise will equal the most celebrated ones, Mucius. Wehave no doubt about it.

MUCIUS: (still gazing at the door through which Caligula hasdisappeared)And what does he speak of, Caesonia?

CAESONIA: (indifferently)Oh, that is beyond me.CHEREA: Terefore, were right in concluding that this dra must

contain the murderous power of poetry.CAESONIA: Precisely, I believe.OLD PARICIAN: (with playfulness) Well, then! Tat will occupy him, as

Cherea said.

CAESONIA: Yes, my pretty. But what will trouble you, without doubt,is the title of this work.

CHEREA: What is it?CAESONIA: Te Sword.

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Scene 9

(Caligula enters quickly)

CALIGULA: Excuse me, but affairs of State are also pressing.Intendant, you will execute the shutting of the publicgranaries. I have just signed the decree. You will find it inthe bedroom.

INENDAN: ButCALIGULA: omorrow, there will be famine.INENDAN: But the people are going to protest.CALIGULA: (with strength and precision)I say that there will be fam-

ine tomorrow. Everyone knows famine; its a plague. o-

morrow, there will be plague and Ill stop the plaguewhen it pleases me. (He explains to the others)Aer all,I havent so many ways to prove that I am free. A man isalways free at the expense of someone. Its tedious butits normal. (With a glance towards Mucius) Apply thatthought to jealousy and you will see. (Dreaming)All thesame, how ugly it is to be jealous! o suffer through van-ity and imagination! o see his wife

(Mucius clenches his fists and opens and shuts his mouth very quickly.)

Eat up, gentlemen. Do you know that weve been work-ing hard with Helicon? Were setting down, to a degree, alittle tract on execution which you will give us your viewson.

HELICON: Tats assuming that we ask your opinion.CALIGULA: Be generous, Helicon! Unveil our little secrets for them.

Go on section three, first paragraph.

(Helicon gets up and recites mechanically)

HELICON: Execution relieves and releases. It is universal, strength-ening and as just in its applications as in its intentions.People die because they are guilty. Tey are guilty becausethey are subject to Caligula. Now, everyone is subject toCaligula. Consequently, everyone is guilty, from which itfollows that everyone dies. It is a question of time and ofpatience.

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CALIGULA: (smiling) What do you think of it? Patience, eh, thats aconception! Shall I tell you: its what I admire the mostin you. Now, gentlemen, you can dispose of yourselves.

Cherea no longer requires you. However, let Caesoniastay! And Lepidus and Octavius! Mereia also. I wouldlike to discuss with you the arrangement for my brothel.Its giving me a great deal of concern.

(e others depart slowly. Caligula follows Mucius with his eyes)

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Scene 10

CHEREA: At your orders, Caius. Whats not working? Are there

unpleasant women?CALIGULA: No, but the takings arent good.MEREIA: We must increase the price lists.CALIGULA: Mereia, youve just wasted an opportunity to keep your-

self silent. Having the good luck to be your age, thesequestions wont interest you and I dont ask for your ad-

vice.MEREIA: Ten why have you ordered me to stay?CALIGULA: Because, presently, I will need an opinion without

passion.

(Mereia turns away)

CHEREA: Caius, if I may speak with passion, its not necessary tomeddle with prices.

CALIGULA: Of course, you see. But we must recoup more than thesum total of our undertakings. And Ive already explainedmy plan to Caesonia who is going to disclose it to you. Asfor me, Ive drunk too much wine and Im starting to feelsleepy.

(He lies down and closes his eyes)

CAESONIA: Its very simple. Caligula created a new decoration.CHEREA: I dont see the connection.CAESONIA: It is there, though. Tis distinction will establish the or-

der of civic hero. It will recompense those citizens whowill have visited Caligulas brothel most oen.

CHEREA: Tats bright.CAESONIA: I believe so. I forgot to mention that the reward is be-

stowed every month, aer verification of the entry tick-

ets. A citizen who has not obtained any decoration at theend of twelve months is exiled or executed.

HIRD PARICIAN: Why or executed?CAESONIA: Because Caligula said that it doesnt have any importance.

Te main point is that he is able to choose.CHEREA: Bravo! oday the public treasury is refloated.HELICON: And note it well all the time in a very moral fashion.

Its better, aer all, to tax the vice than to fleece the virtuelike they do in the republican societies.

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(Caligula half opens his eyes and watches the old Mereia, who, le by himself,gets out a small flask and drinks a mouthful from it.)

CALIGULA: (still lying down)What are you drinking, Mereia?MEREIA: Its for my asthma, Caius.

(Caligula moves towards him, driving the others away from himand smells his mouth.)

CALIGULA: No, its a counterpoison.MEREIA: Oh no, Caius. You will laugh. I choke in the night and

Ive been looking aer myself for a very long time beforethis.

CALIGULA: So youre frightened of being poisoned?MEREIA: My asthmaCALIGULA: No. Call things by their name: you fear only that I am

poisoning you. Youre suspicious of me. Youre spying onme.

MEREIA: I say no, by all the gods!CALIGULA: You suspect me. In some measure, youre setting yourself

in defiance of me.MEREIA: Caius!CALIGULA: (harshly) Answer me! (Mathematically) If you take a

counterpoison, you therefore ascribe to me the intention

to poison you.MEREIA: Yes I mean no.CALIGULA: And from the moment where you believe that I took the

decision to poison you, you conclude that you must op-pose this intention.

(Silence. From the beginning of the scene Caesonia and Cherea have gathered thegist of whats going on. Alone, Lepidus follows the dialogue with an anguished

look.)

CALIGULA: (more and more tersely) Tat makes two crimes, and achoice which you wont get out of. Either I was not will-ing to put you to death and you suspect me unjustly I,your emperor or else I wished it, and you, insect, op-posed my plans.(A pause. Caligula contemplates the oldman with satisfaction)Eh, Mereia, what do you say to thislogic?

MEREIA: It is it is severe, Caius. But it cant be applied to thecase.

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CALIGULA: And the third crime is that you take me for an imbecile.Hear me well. Of these three crimes, only one is hon-ourable for you:the second. Because from the moment

where you attribute a decision to me and take counterac-tions, that involves a revolt on your part. Youre a leaderof men, a revolutionary. Tat is good. (Sadly)I like you agreat deal, Mereia. Tats why you will be condemned foryour second crime and not for the others. Youre going todie like a man, to embody the rebel in you.

(During all of this speech, Mereia has shrunk little by little into his seat)

CALIGULA: Dont thank me. Tats natural. ake this. (He holds out

a phial to him and says in an amiable tone) Drink thispoison.

(Mereia, sobbing, shakes his head in refusal.)

CALIGULA: (losing his patience)Come on, come on!

(Mereia then tries to escape. But Caligula, with a wild leap, catches him in thecentre of the stage, hurls him onto a low bench and, aer a few moments ofstruggle, forces the phial between his teeth and breaks it with his fist. Aer someconvulsions, his face bloody and streaked with tears, Mereia dies. Caligula stands

up and mechanically wipes his hands.)

CALIGULA: (to Caesonia, giving her a fragment of the phial fromMereia)What is it? A counterpoison?

CAESONIA: (with coolness)No, Caligula. Its a medicine for asthma.CALIGULA: (looking at Mereia, aer a silence)Tat makes no differ-

ence. It comes to the same thing. A little sooner, a littlelater

(He leaves abruptly, with a preoccupied look, still wiping his hands.)

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Scene 11

LEPIDUS: (astounded) What should we do?

CAESONIA: (with simplicity)First of all, take out the corpse, I believe.It is too unsightly!

(Cherea and Lepidus take up the corpse and drag it into the wings.)

LEPIDUS: (to Cherea) Well have to act quickly.CHEREA: We must be two hundred strong.

(Scipio enters. Seeing Caesonia, he makes a gesture in order to depart.)

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Scene 12

CAESONIA: Come here.

SCIPIO: What do you want?CAESONIA: Approach.

(Scipio goes to her. She raises his chin to her and looks him in the eyes. Pause.)

CAESONIA: (coldly)He has killed your father?SCIPIO: Yes.CAESONIA: You hate him?SCIPIO: Yes.CAESONIA: You want to kill him?

SCIPIO: Yes.CAESONIA: (releasing him)Ten why speak of it to me?SCIPIO: Because I dont fear anybody. o kill him or to be killed;

theyre the two ways of ending it. Besides, you will notbetray me.

CAESONIA: Youre right, I wont betray you. But I want to tell yousomething or rather, I wish to speak to that which isnow the best in you.

SCIPIO: My hatred, thats what is best in me.CAESONIA: Just listen to me. Its an utterance both painful and

obvious that I want to tell you. But its an utterance which,if it were truly listened to, would accomplish the onedefinitive revolution in this world.

SCIPIO: Ten say it.CAESONIA: Not yet. First of all, think of the revulsion on your fa-

thers face as they tore his tongue from him. Tink of thatmouth full of blood and that cry of a tortured beast.

SCIPIO: Yes.CAESONIA: Now think of Caligula.SCIPIO: (with all the tone of hatred)Yes.CAESONIA: Now listen: try to understand him.

(She departs, leaving the young Scipio weakened. Helicon enters)

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Scene 13

HELICON: Caligula is coming back. So, poet, youre going to eat?

SCIPIO: Helicon, help me!HELICON: Tats dangerous, my dove. And I understand nothing of

poetry.SCIPIO: You should be able to help me. You know many things.HELICON: I know that the days are passing by and that its necessary

to make haste to eat. I also know that you might be ableto kill Caligula and that he would not perceive it withan evil eye.

(Caligula enters. Helicon leaves)

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Scene 14

CALIGULA: Ah! Its you. (He pauses, a little as if he were casting

about for an attitude)Its a long time since Ive seen you.(Advancing slowly towards Scipio)What are you doing?Youre still writing? Are you able to show me your latestpieces?

SCIPIO: (he is likewise ill at ease, split between his hatred and heknows not what) Ive written some poems, Caesar.

CALIGULA: About what?SCIPIO: I dont know, Caesar. Concerning nature, I think.CALIGULA: (more at ease)Beautiful subject, and vast. What is it that

nature has done for you?

SCIPIO: (indulging himself, in an ironic and mischievous manner)It consoles me for not being Caesar.

CALIGULA: Ah! And do you believe that it might console me forbeing him?

SCIPIO: (same tone) Upon my word, it has healed some moreserious wounds.

CALIGULA: (strangely natural)Wound? You say that with malice. Isthat because I had your father killed? If you knew, though,how accurate the word is. Wound! (Changing in tone)Tere is nothing but hatred to make men intelligent.

SCIPIO: (stiffly)I have responded to your question about nature.

(Caligula sits down, gazes at Scipio, then abruptly seizes his hands and bringshim forcibly to his feet. He takes Scipios face in his hands.)

CALIGULA: ell me your poem.SCIPIO: I beg of you, Caesar, no.CALIGULA: Why?SCIPIO: I dont have it on me.CALIGULA: Dont you remember it?SCIPIO: No

CALIGULA: At least tell me what it contains.SCIPIO: (still taut and almost with regret) I spoke on the

subjectCALIGULA: Well, then?SCIPIO: No, I dont knowCALIGULA: ry.SCIPIO: I spoke on the subject of a certain union of the earthCALIGULA: (interrupting him in an engrossed tone) of the earth

and the feet.

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SCIPIO: (surprised, he hesitates and continues) Yes, thats almostit.

CALIGULA: Carry on.

SCIPIO: and also of the line of Roman hills and that fleeting,unsettling pacification that the night brings over them.

CALIGULA: Of the cry of swis in the green sky.SCIPIO: (giving himself up to it a little more)Yes, more.CALIGULA: Well?SCIPIO: And that subtle moment where the sky, still full of gold,

suddenly swings and, within an instant, shows us herother face, crammed with glittering stars.

CALIGULA: Tat scent of smoke, trees and water which then risesfrom the earth towards the night.

SCIPIO: (in full)Te noise of the cicadas and the recoil from thehot weather. Te dogs, the rumbling of the last chariots,the voices of the farmers

CALIGULA: And the roads drenched in shadow from the lentisk treesand the olive trees

SCIPIO: Yes, yes. Its all that! But how have you learned of it?CALIGULA: (pressing Scipio against him) I dont know. Perhaps be-

cause we love the same truths.SCIPIO : (shaking, he hides his face against Caligulas chest) Oh!

What does it matter, since everything captures within methe aspect of love!

CALIGULA: (still kind) Tats the power of large hearts, Scipio. If Icould at least connect with your transparency! But Iknow too well the strength of my passion for life; it wontbe satisfied by nature. You cannot understand that. Youexist in a different world. You are pure in what is good,while I am pure in evil.

SCIPIO: I can understand.CALIGULA: No. Tis thing in me this lake of silence, these rotten

weeds. (Suddenly changing tone)Your poem ought to bebeautiful. But if you want my opinion

SCIPIO: (same animation)Yes.CALIGULA: Te whole thing lacks blood.

(Scipio staggers backwards and looks at Caligula in horror.All the time recoiling, he speaks in a deep voice, in sight of Caligula,

whom he watches with intensity)

SCIPIO: Oh, monster, infectious monster! You have played a gameagain. Youve just come to mock, eh? And youre pleasedwith yourself?

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CALIGULA: (with a little sadness)Tere is some truth in what you say.I have played a game.

SCIPIO: (same animation) What a vile and bloodstained heart

you must have. Oh, how so much evil and hatred musttorture you!

CALIGULA: (gently) Hold your tongue now.SCIPIO: How I pity you and how I hate you!CALIGULA: (with anger)Shut up.SCIPIO: And what an unclean solitude must be yours!CALIGULA: (exploding, he rushes towards him and collars him; he

shakes him)Solitude! You know of solitude? Tat of po-ets and the powerless. Solitude? But which? Ah! Yourenot aware that by oneself, a man is never so! And that

everywhere the very weight of the future and the pastaccompanies us! Te lives that we have slaughtered arewith us. And this would still be easy for those ones. Butthose that we have loved, those that we havent loved andwho have loved us, the regrets, the desire, the bitternessand the sweetness, the whores and the clan of the gods.(He lets Scipio go and moves back towards his seat) Alone!Ah! Suppose however, instead of this solitude poisonedwith coffins that is mine, I could taste the truth, the si-lence and the trembling of a tree! (Sitting with a suddenweariness) Solitude! But no, Scipio. It is filled with the

gnashing of teeth and wholly resounding with noises anddoomed cries. And by the side of the women that I caress,when the night closes upon us and then I think, remotefrom my finally satisfied flesh, to seize a little of me be-tween life and death, my complete solitude fills up withthe sour smell of pleasure in the armpits of the womanwho sinks further down against my side.

(He seems to be exhausted. Long silence. Scipio passes behind Caligula andapproaches him hesitantly. He holds out a hand towards Caligula and places it

on his shoulder. Caligula, without turning around, covers Scipios hand with oneof his.)

SCIPIO: All men have a comfort in life. Tat thing helps them tocarry on. Tey turn towards it when they feel too wornout.

CALIGULA: Tats true, Scipio.

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SCIPIO: Ten isnt there anything in your life that is like this;access to tears, a quiet refuge?

CALIGULA: Yes, for that.

SCIPIO: And what then?CALIGULA: (slowly) Contempt.

CURTAIN

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ACT THREE

Scene 1

Before the rising of the curtain, we hear the sound of cymbals and of drums. ecurtain opens on a sort of strange display. In the centre, there is a tapestry, in

front of which, upon a small platform, stand Helicon and Caesonia. e cymbal-players are on each side. Seated on some benches with their backs to the audience

are some patricians and Scipio.

HELICON: (spruiking about the tone of the display)Come near! Ap-proach! (Cymbals clash)Once again, the gods are landedupon earth. Caius, Caesar and god, surnamed Caligula,

imparts to them his entirely human shape. Approach,common mortals, the sacred miracle works before youreyes. By means of a special grace in the blessed reign ofCaligula, the divine secrets are offered up to every eye.(Cymbals clash)

CAESONIA: Come near, gentlemen! Worship and give your obolus.Te celestial mystery is today placed within reach of ev-ery purse. (Cymbals clash)

HELICON: Olympus and its stages, its intrigues, its nonsense andits tears. Approach! Approach! All the truth about yourgods! (Cymbals clash)

CAESONIA: Worship and give your obolus. Approach, gentlemen!Te performance is about to begin.

(Cymbals. Movements of slaves who bring different objects close to theplatform.)

HELICON: An impressionistic reconstitution of truth, a realizationwithout precedent. Te majestic scenery of the divinepower brought back to earth. An attraction sensationaland beyond measure. Te lightning (the slaves light some

Greek fire), the thunder (they roll a cask full of stones),destiny itself in its triumphal march. Approach andbehold!

(He draws the tapestry aside and Caligula, dressed like a grotesque Venus,appears on a pedestal.)

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CALIGULA: (amiably) oday, I am Venus.CAESONIA: Te worship begins. Prostrate yourselves (Everyone,

except Scipio, bows their heads) and repeat aer me the

sacred prayer of Caligula Venus: Goddess of sorrowsand of the dance.

PARICIANS: Goddess of sorrows and of the dance.CAESONIA: Born of the waves, all sticky and bitter with the salt and

the foam.PARICIANS: Born of the waves, all sticky and bitter with the salt and

the foam.CAESONIA: You who are like a smile and a regret.PARICIANS: You who are like a smile and a regret.CAESONIA: A rancour and a yearning.

PARICIANS: A rancour and a yearning.CAESONIA: each us the indifference which brings love to life again.PARICIANS: each us the indifference which brings love to life again.CAESONIA: Instruct us in the truth of this world, which is that it is

pointless.PARICIANS: Instruct us in the truth of this world, which is that it is

pointless.CAESONIA: And grant us the strength to live up to this incomparable

truth.PARICIANS: And grant us the strength to live up to this incomparable

truth.

CAESONIA: Pause!PARICIANS: Pause!CAESONIA: (resuming)Crown us with your gis, spill on our faces

your impartial cruelty, your completely objective hatred.Open above our eyes your hands abundant with flowersand with murders.

PARICIANS: your hands abundant with flowers and with murders.CAESONIA: Welcome your lost children. Receive them in the asylum

stripped of your indifferent and painful love. Give usyour aimless passions, your sufferings deprived of reason

and your joys without hopePARICIANS: and your joys without hopeCAESONIA: (very grand)You, so empty and so fiery, inhuman, but

so earthy, intoxicate us with the wine of your equiva-lence and gorge us forever in your black and pungentstomach.

PARICIANS: Intoxicate us with the wine of your equivalence and gorgeus forever in your black and pungent stomach.

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(When the last phrase has been uttered by the patricians, Caligula, till thenmotionless, snorts and in a stentorian voice says:)

CALIGULA: Agreed, my children, your vows will be favourablyheard.

(He sits cross-legged, like a tailor, on the pedestal. One by one, the patriciansbow, deposit their obolus and place themselves on the right before going. e lastone, disturbed, forgets to deposit his obolus and shrinks away. But Caligula, with

a bound, gets to his feet)

CALIGULA: Hey! Hey! Come here, my boy. o worship is good, butto enrich is better. Tanks that will do nicely. If the gods

hadnt any other wealth than the love of mortals, theywould be as poor as poor Caligula. And now, gentlemen,youre going to be able to leave and propagate in the citythe astonishing miracle which you have been permittedto witness: you have seen Venus, something which callsto be seen, with your eyes of flesh and Venus has spo-ken to you. Go, gentlemen.(Movement of patricians)Onesecond! On your way out, take the passage to the le. Inthe one on the right Ive posted some guards in order toassassinate you.

(e patricians leave with a great deal of obsequiousness and much agitation.e slaves and the musicians disappear)

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Scene 2

(Helicon wags a threatening finger at Scipio)

HELICON: Scipio, youre still playing the anarchist!SCIPIO: (to Caligula) Caius, you have blasphemed.CALIGULA: What is it he truly means?SCIPIO: You defile the heavens aer having stained the earth with

blood.HELICON: Tis young man adores grand words. (He goes to lie down

on a divan)CAESONIA: (very calm)What a rate youre going at, my boy. Tere

are, at this moment in Rome, people who are dying for

the sake of some speeches considerably less eloquent.SCIPIO: Ive decided to speak the truth to Caius.CAESONIA: Well now, Caligula, heres the thing missing from your

reign; a fine moral figurehead!CALIGULA: (interested)So you believe in the gods, Scipio?SCIPIO: No.CALIGULA: Ten I dont understand. Why are you so quick to hunt

out blasphemies?SCIPIO: I can deny a thing without deeming myself compelled to

befoul it or to take away from others the right to believe

in it.CALIGULA: But thats modesty. Tat is some true modesty! Oh, dearScipio, how pleased I am for you! And envious, youknow for thats the only feeling that I will perhaps nev-er experience.

SCIPIO: Its not me that youre jealous of, it is the gods them-selves.

CALIGULA: If youre disposed to it, that will continue as the great se-cret of my reign. All that they can reproach me for todayis for having made only a small advancement on the roadof power and liberty. For a man who loves power, the

rivalry of the gods is something inherently vexatious. Ihave done away with that. I have proven to these illusorygods that a man, if he has the will for it, can exercise theirridiculous trade without apprenticeship.

SCIPIO: Tat is the blasphemy, Caius.CALIGULA: No, Scipio, it is clairvoyance. I have simply understood

that there is only one way of making oneself equal withthe gods: it is to be as cruel as them.

SCIPIO: Tats enough to become a tyrant.CALIGULA: What is a tyrant?

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SCIPIO: A deluded soul.CALIGULA: Tats not so certain, Scipio. But a tyrant is a man who

sacrifices some nations to his ideas or to his ambition.

As for me, I dont have any ideas and I no longer haveanything to aspire to in the way of honours and power. IfI use this power, its for the sake of compensation.

SCIPIO: For what?CALIGULA: For the stupidity and the hatred of the gods.SCIPIO: Hatred doesnt make amends for hatred. Power isnt a so-

lution. And I know only one way of balancing the hostil-ity of the world.

CALIGULA: What is that?SCIPIO: Poverty.

CALIGULA: (tending to his feet)I will have to try that too.SCIPIO: In the meantime, a great many men are dying aroundyou.

CALIGULA: So little, Scipio, truly. Do you know how many wars Ihave refused?

SCIPIO: No.CALIGULA: Tree. And do you know why Ive refused them?SCIPIO: Because you despise the grandeur of Rome.CALIGULA: No, because I respect human life.SCIPIO: Youre making fun of me, Caius.CALIGULA: Or, at least, I respect it more than I respect an ideal of

conquest. But its true that I dont respect it more thanI respect my own life. And if its easy for me to kill, thereason is its not difficult for me to die. No, the more andmore I reflect on it Im convinced that I am not a tyrant.

SCIPIO: What does it matter if it costs us as dearly as if you wereone?

CALIGULA: (with a little impatience)If you knew how to count, youwould know that the smallest war undertaking by a mod-erate tyrant would cost you a thousand times more dearlythan the caprices of my fantasy.

SCIPIO: But at least that would be rational and the essential pointis worthy of understanding.

CALIGULA: People dont understand fate and thats why I am repre-senting fate myself. I have taken the stupid and incom-prehensible face of the gods. Tats the thing that a mo-ment ago your companions learned to worship.

SCIPIO: And that is the blasphemy, Caius.

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CALIGULA: No, Scipio, it is dramatic art! Te error of all these menis not believing enough in theatre. Otherwise they wouldknow that its possible for every man to act the celestial

tragedies and become the part of god. o toughen theheart is enough.

SCIPIO: Perhaps, indeed, Caius. But if that is correct, I believethat youve now made it inevitable that one day legionsof human gods will rise up around you, implacable intheir turn, and drown your present divinity in blood.

CAESONIA: Scipio!CALIGULA: (in a hard and precise voice) Stop, Caesonia. You cant

believe how well said that was, Scipio: I have made it in-evitable. I find it difficult to imagine the day of which

you speak, but sometimes I dream about it. And in allthe faces which draw near then from the heart of thebitter night, with their features contorted by hatred andanguish, I recognize, with rapture, the only god that Ihave worshipped in this world, wretched and mean-spir-ited, like the human heart.(Irritated)And now, go away;youve said far too much about it. (Changing tone)I stillhave my toenails to paint. Tat needs hastening on.

(Everyone leaves, except Helicon, who moves in a circle around Caligula who isengrossed in the care of his feet)

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Scene 3

CALIGULA: Helicon!

HELICON: Whats the matter?CALIGULA: Is your work proceeding?HELICON: What work?CALIGULA: Well the moon!HELICON: Tat progresses. Its a question of patience. But I would

like to speak with you.CALIGULA: I might possibly have the patience but I dont have much

time. We must act quickly, Helicon.HELICON: I will act for the best, Ive told you that. But first, I have

some serious matters to advise you of.

CALIGULA: (as if he hadnt heard) ake note that Ive already hadher.

HELICON: Who?CALIGULA: Te moon.HELICON: Yes, of course. But do you know that they are plotting

against your life?CALIGULA: I had her entirely. wo or three times only, its true, but all

the same, I had her.HELICON: Clearly, its a while now that Ive been trying to speak

with you.

CALIGULA: It was last summer. From the time that I looked upon herand caressed her against the columns of the garden, sheended by understanding.

HELICON: Stop this game, Caius. Although you dont want to payattention to me, my character is to speak under any cir-cumstances. If you dont listen, so much the worse.

CALIGULA: (still occupied with colouring his toenails)Tis varnish isworthless. But, to return to the moon, it was during abeautiful August night.(Helicon turns away in vexationand remains silent and still)She had made a few appear-ances. I was already in bed. At first, she was all blood-

stained above the horizon. Ten she started to rise moreand more, buoyant with a growing velocity. Te more sherose, the brighter she became. She became like a milkylake in the middle of this night full of clashing stars. Sheapproached then in the heat, sweet, light and naked. Sheleapt over the threshold of my bedroom. With steadyslowness, she came up to my bed, glided herself into itand drenched me with her smiles and her radiance. Re-ally, this varnish is worthless. Now you see, Helicon, Ican say without bragging that Ive had her.

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HELICON: Do you want to listen to me and know what threatensyou?

CALIGULA: (stops working on his toenails and stares at Helicon)I only

want the moon, Helicon. I know in advance what will killme. Besides, I havent exhausted everything which canenable me to live. Tats why I want the moon. And youwill not show your face in this place again before havingprocured her for me.

HELICON: In that case, I will do my duty and Ill say what I have tosay. A conspiracy has grown against you. Cherea is theringleader of it. I have intercepted this tablet which caninform you of the main point. Ill leave it here.

(Helicon places the tablet on one of the benches and withdraws.)

CALIGULA: Where are you going, Helicon?HELICON: (at the threshold) o seek out the moon for you.

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Scene 4

(Someone is scratching at the opposite door. Caligula turns around and observes

the old patrician.)

OLD PARICIAN: (hesitating)By your leave, Caius?CALIGULA: (impatient) Well, then! Come in. (Watching him)Now,

my pretty, youve come to see Venus again.OLD PARICIAN: No, its not that. Hush! Oh! Pardon, CaiusI meant to

say You know that Im very fond of you and besides,I only wish to end my old life in tranquillity

CALIGULA: Hurry up! Hurry up!OLD PARICIAN: Yes, right. In short (Very quickly)Its very serious, thats

all.CALIGULA: No, its not serious.OLD PARICIAN: But what, then, Caius?CALIGULA: What are we speaking about, my love?OLD PARICIAN: (he looks around him)Te fact is (He twists round and

bursts out with)A plot against youCALIGULA: You see now, its what I told you, it isnt serious at all.OLD PARICIAN: Caius, they intend to kill you.CALIGULA: (goes to him and takes hold of his shoulders)Do you know

why I cannot believe you?

OLD PARICIAN: (making the gesture of swearing an oath) By all the gods,CaiusCALIGULA: (gently and pushing him gradually towards the door) Do

not swear, above all, do not swear. Listen first. If what yousay were true, it would infer to me that youre betrayingyour friends. Isnt that a fact?

OLD PARICIAN: (somewhat bewildered)It means, Caius, that my love foryou

CALIGULA: (something of the same tone)And I cannot assume that.I have detested cowardice so long that I could never beable to hold myself back from killing a traitor. Im well

aware what you stand for me. And surely you wouldnot wish either to betray me or to die.

OLD PARICIAN: Assuredly, Caius, assuredly!CALIGULA: You see then that I had reason for not believing you.

Youre not a coward, eh?OLD PARICIAN: Oh, no!CALIGULA: Nor a traitor?OLD PARICIAN: Tat goes without saying, Caius.CALIGULA: And, consequently, there isnt any plot. ell me now, this

was only a joke?

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OLD PARICIAN: (losing composure)A joke, a simple jokeCALIGULA: Nobody wants to kill me. Tat is clear?OLD PARICIAN: Nobody, positively certain. Nobody.

CALIGULA: (breathing fast, then slowly) In that case, disappear, mypretty. An honourable man is such a rare creature in thisworld that I couldnt endure the sight of him for too long.I must remain alone to savour this great moment.

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Scene 5

(Caligula looks at the tablet on his seat for a moment. He seizes it and reads it.

He breathes deeply and calls for a guard.)

CALIGULA: Fetch Cherea. (e guard begins to leave) One moment!(e guard halts) Show him some respect. (e guarddeparts)

(Caligula walks backwards and forwards a little. en he turns to the mirror.)

CALIGULA: You had decided to be logical, idiot. Te point is mere-ly to know how far that will go. (Ironically)If they had

brought the moon to you, everything would be trans-formed, wouldnt it? What is impossible would turn outto be possible and from the same blow, for once, all wouldbe transformed. Why not, Caligula? Who can be aware ofit? (He looks around him)Tere are less and less peoplearound me; thats curious.(To the mirror in a deep voice)oo many dead, too many dead, that deprives. Even ifthey had brought me the moon I couldnt revert. Evenif the dead were trembling anew beneath the caress ofthe sun, the murders wouldnt recede underground for so

long.(With a furious tone)Logic, Caligula, we must pur-sue logic. Power until the end. Freedom till the end. No,a man cant revert and I must go on until destruction!

(Cherea enters)

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Scene 6

(Caligula, lying down a little in his seat, is covered up in his cape. He seems to

be exhausted.)

CHEREA: You called for me, Caius?CALIGULA: (in a weak voice)Yes, Cherea. Guards! Some torches!

(Silence)

CHEREA: You have something specific to say to me?CALIGULA: No, Cherea.

(Silence)

CHEREA: (a little irritated) Youre sure that my presence isnecessary?

CALIGULA: Absolutely sure, Cherea.

(A further period of silence)

CALIGULA: (suddenly earnest) But, excuse me, Im distr

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