The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #112385 Message #2377296
Posted By: Bonnie Shaljean
30-Jun-08 - 09:16 AM
Thread Name: Dumas fils and bagpipes
Subject: RE: Dumas fils and bagpipes
It may be alluding to a scene from a drama (though it was written by Dumas the father, not the son) in which a bagpiper is invoked. The play is called Le Vampire and seems to be a rather fantastical tale. Perhaps the plate is making a reference to this, and symbolically showing Dumas as the master piper whose characters must all dance to his tune? But that's only a guess.
Anyway, one of the characters (Gilbert) is speaking to some travellers, and says:
I have the fairy tapestry... It's one of those youthful dreams which I was telling you about just now -- The chatelaines of Tiffauges have the custom of placing their first born for a day in what we call in the chateau -- the Tapestry Room. On this Tapestry is represented the fairy, Melusina and all her court. Well, is it a dream as I said just now, or is it a reality? When I was a child, sleeping my cradle and the rays of the moon came through the immense window, at midnight, I woke up, and then to my great pleasure, I saw all the personages of the tapestry descend.
The player of the bagpipes made everyone dance -- to silent quadrilles with his silent instrument -- whose feet couldn't be heard to resound on the floor -- a huntsman chased a stag with his pack all around the room -- the birds flew about and came to refresh me with the sight of the beating of their wings -- then the fairy herself came to me, all white, all pale, all smiling and she rocked me softly in my cradle, murmuring a song I certainly knew in my childhood -- but whose air and words are lost long since in the noise and agitation of this world -- all materialist and realistic.