Le Pré aux Clercs

Act I
In 1582, ten years after the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, the reign of the Valois is coming to an end. Henry III has succeeded his brother Charles IX. Their sister Marguerite, famous Queen Margot, is back at the Louvre to serve the policy of the Queen mother, Catherine de’ Medici. Her husband Henry, king of Navarre, consolidates his status as pretender to the throne of France. At the royal hunting ground of Étampes, innkeeper Nicette celebrates her betrothal with Girot, host of the Pré-aux-Clercs. Each one hopes to get closer to the court in this way, Nicette being Marguerite’s country goddaughter. The festivity is disturbed by horsemen from the King’s House who harass a Protestant gentleman, Mergy, recognized by Italian courtier Cantarelli as his savior at the siege of Bergerac. Thanks to his protection, Mergy will be able to fulfill his role of ambassador of Navarre to Henry III. The courtier gives him precious news about Marguerite and her favorite, the Protestant Isabelle de Montal. Enamored of the latter, Mergy learns that she resists the advances of Catholic Comminge, a formidable swordsman. As Mergy leaves to watch the hunt, Comminge comes to tell Cantarelli of his latest duel. The arrival of the hunt forces them to join the King, allowing Marguerite to be alone with Isabelle and urge her to hide her sadness, which displeases the Queen mother. Appalled to learn that the King plans to marry her to Comminge, Isabelle’s tears draw both Comminge and Mergy. The latter is protected by his status of ambassador, but the atmosphere becomes heavy when the hunt goes back to Paris despite Marguerite’s kindly invitation to Nicette and Girot.

Act II
At the Louvre on a festive evening, Marguerite is plotting a secret marriage between Isabelle and Mergy. She utilizes Cantarelli, a deft intrigant, who prepares the masquerade. The courtiers at the ball are joined by Marguerites’s guests, Nicette and Girot. Their presence gives Marguerite the idea to arrange the wedding of the Protestant lovers simultaneously with that of Isabelle and Mergy the following day at the chapel of the Pré-aux-Clercs. Clever Cantarelli reassures Comminge by claiming that Mergy is not at the court for Isabelle but for a royal mistress, Marguerite. However, Henry III announces to Mergy’s embassy that Marguerite and Isabelle are not to return to Navarre and that the latter will marry Comminge. The Catholic gives free rein to his joy. In despair, Mergy challenges him to a duel. The fight will take place the next day at the Pré-aux-Clercs.

Act III
A meeting place for duelists, the Pré-aux-Clercs is also a space where Parisians like to walk opposite the Louvre across the Seine. Girot and Nicette, who celebrate their wedding there, are already quarreling, the host being unaware that their marriage serves Marguerite’s scheme. Mergy and Isabelle have just been wed secretly. By order of Marguerite, who makes sure things go smoothly, Cantarelli brings them a safe-conduct so that they can flee to Navarre. But an imminent danger is announced by Cantarelli: Comminge comes to challenge a stranger to a duel. The newly-weds and their friends separate until nighttime, which will help them to escape, and Mergy can thus conceal from Isabelle the risk he runs against redoubtable Comminge. The latter, at first cheerful and self-confident, realizes that Cantarelli lied to him and that Mergy is loved. Hatred between the two opponents increases. A group of archers enjoins them to fight under the trees, far from the windows of the Louvre – and out of the public eye. As it strikes eight, Marguerite, Nicette and Girot are preparing the flight of the two Protestants. But where is Mergy? Cantarelli reveals that he is dueling against Comminge. At the sight of a boat carrying a dead body, Isabelle faints. But Mergy reappears, victorious. The pair can run away.