The Duchess of Padua
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Ah! what is that?Torches ablaze, and noise of hurrying feet.Pray God they have not seized her.
[Noise grows louder.]
Beatrice!There is yet time to escape. Come down, come out![The voice of the Duchess outside.]
This way went he, the man who slew my lord.[Down the staircase comes hurrying a confused body of Soldiers; Guido is not seen at first, till the Duchess surrounded by Servants carrying torches appears at the top of the staircase, and points to Guido, who is seized at once, one of the Soldiers dragging the knife from his hand and showing it to the Captain of the Guard in sight of the audience. Tableau.]
END OF ACT IIIACT IV
SCENEThe Court of Justice: the walls are hung with stamped grey velvet: above the hangings the wall is red, and gilt symbolical figures bear up the roof, which is made of red beams with grey soffits and moulding: a canopy of white satin flowered with gold is set for the Duchess: below it a long bench with red cloth for the Judges: below that a table for the clerks of the court. Two soldiers stand on each side of the canopy, and two soldiers guard the door; the citizens have some of them collected in the Court; others are coming in greeting one another; two tipstaffs in violet keep order with long white wands.
First Citizen
Good morrow, neighbour Anthony.Second Citizen
Good morrow, neighbour Dominick.First Citizen
This is a strange day for Padua, is it not? – the Duke being dead.Second Citizen
I tell you, neighbour Dominick, I have not known such a day since the last Duke died.First Citizen
They will try him first, and sentence him afterwards, will they not, neighbour Anthony?Second Citizen
Nay, for he might ’scape his punishment then; but they will condemn him first so that he gets his deserts, and give him trial afterwards so that no injustice is done.First Citizen
Well, well, it will go hard with him I doubt not.Second Citizen
Surely it is a grievous thing to shed a Duke’s blood.Third Citizen
They say a Duke has blue blood.Second Citizen
I think our Duke’s blood was black like his soul.First Citizen
Have a watch, neighbour Anthony, the officer is looking at thee.Second Citizen
I care not if he does but look at me; he cannot whip me with the lashes of his eye.Third Citizen
What think you of this young man who stuck the knife into the Duke?Second Citizen
Why, that he is a well-behaved, and a well-meaning, and a well-favoured lad, and yet wicked in that he killed the Duke.Third Citizen
’Twas the first time he did it: may be the law will not be hard on him, as he did not do it before.Second Citizen
True.Tipstaff
Silence, knave.Second Citizen
Am I thy looking-glass, Master Tipstaff, that thou callest me knave?First Citizen
Here be one of the household coming. Well, Dame Lucy, thou art of the Court, how does thy poor mistress the Duchess, with her sweet face?Mistress Lucy
O well-a-day! O miserable day! O day! O misery! Why it is just nineteen years last June, at Michaelmas, since I was married to my husband, and it is August now, and here is the Duke murdered; there is a coincidence for you!Second Citizen
Why, if it is a coincidence, they may not kill the young man: there is no law against coincidences.First Citizen
But how does the Duchess?Mistress Lucy
Well well, I knew some harm would happen to the house: six weeks ago the cakes were all burned on one side, and last Saint Martin even as ever was, there flew into the candle a big moth that had wings, and a’most scared me.First Citizen
But come to the Duchess, good gossip: what of her?Mistress Lucy
Marry, it is time you should ask after her, poor lady; she is distraught almost. Why, she has not slept, but paced the chamber all night long. I prayed her to have a posset, or some aqua-vitæ, and to get to bed and sleep a little for her health’s sake, but she answered me she was afraid she might dream. That was a strange answer, was it not?Second Citizen
These great folk have not much sense, so Providence makes it up to them in fine clothes.Mistress Lucy
Well, well, God keep murder from us, I say, as long as we are alive.[Enter Lord Moranzone hurriedly.]
Moranzone
Is the Duke dead?Second Citizen
He has a knife in his heart, which they say is not healthy for any man.Moranzone
Who is accused of having killed him?Second Citizen
Why, the prisoner, sir.Moranzone
But who is the prisoner?Second Citizen
Why, he that is accused of the Duke’s murder.Moranzone
I mean, what is his name?Second Citizen
Faith, the same which his godfathers gave him: what else should it be?Tipstaff
Guido Ferranti is his name, my lord.Moranzone
I almost knew thine answer ere you gave it.[Aside.]
Yet it is strange he should have killed the Duke,Seeing he left me in such different mood.It is most likely when he saw the man,This devil who had sold his father’s life,That passion from their seat within his heartThrust all his boyish theories of love,And in their place set vengeance; yet I marvelThat he escaped not.[Turning again to the crowd.]
How was he taken? Tell me.Third Citizen
Marry, sir, he was taken by the heels.Moranzone
But who seized him?Third Citizen
Why, those that did lay hold of him.Moranzone
How was the alarm given?Third Citizen
That I cannot tell you, sir.Mistress Lucy
It was the Duchess herself who pointed him out.Moranzone [aside]
The Duchess! There is something strange in this.Mistress Lucy
Ay! And the dagger was in his hand – the Duchess’s own dagger.Moranzone
What did you say?Mistress Lucy
Why, marry, that it was with the Duchess’s dagger that the Duke was killed.Moranzone [aside]
There is some mystery about this: I cannot understand it.Second Citizen
They be very long a-coming,First Citizen
I warrant they will come soon enough for the prisoner.Tipstaff
Silence in the Court!First Citizen
Thou dost break silence in bidding us keep it, Master Tipstaff.[Enter the Lord Justice and the other Judges.]
Second Citizen
Who is he in scarlet? Is he the headsman?Third Citizen
Nay, he is the Lord Justice.[Enter Guido guarded.]
Second Citizen
There be the prisoner surely.Third Citizen
He looks honest.First Citizen
That be his villany: knaves nowadays do look so honest that honest folk are forced to look like knaves so as to be different.[Enter the Headman, who takes his stand behind Guido.]
Second Citizen
Yon be the headsman then! O Lord! Is the axe sharp, think you?First Citizen
Ay! sharper than thy wits are; but the edge is not towards him, mark you.Second Citizen [scratching his neck]
I’ faith, I like it not so near.First Citizen
Tut, thou need’st not be afraid; they never cut the heads of common folk: they do but hang us.[Trumpets outside.]
Third Citizen
What are the trumpets for? Is the trial over?First Citizen
Nay, ’tis for the Duchess.[Enter the Duchess in black velvet; her train of flowered black velvet is carried by two pages in violet; with her is the Cardinal in scarlet, and the gentlemen of the Court in black; she takes her seat on the throne above the Judges, who rise and take their caps off as she enters; the Cardinal sits next to her a little lower; the Courtiers group themselves about the throne.]
Second Citizen
O poor lady, how pale she is! Will she sit there?First Citizen
Ay! she is in the Duke’s place now.Second Citizen
That is a good thing for Padua; the Duchess is a very kind and merciful Duchess; why, she cured my child of the ague once.Third Citizen
Ay, and has given us bread: do not forget the bread.A Soldier
Stand back, good people.Second Citizen
If we be good, why should we stand back?Tipstaff
Silence in the Court!Lord Justice
May it please your Grace,Is it your pleasure we proceed to trialOf the Duke’s murder? [Duchess bows.]Set the prisoner forth.What is thy name?Guido
It matters not, my lord.Lord Justice
Guido Ferranti is thy name in Padua.Guido
A man may die as well under that name as any other.Lord Justice
Thou art not ignorantWhat dreadful charge men lay against thee here,Namely, the treacherous murder of thy Lord,Simone Gesso, Duke of Padua;What dost thou say in answer?Guido
I say nothing.Lord Justice [rising]
Guido Ferranti —Moranzone [stepping from the crowd]
Tarry, my Lord Justice.Lord Justice
Who art thou that bid’st justice tarry, sir?Moranzone
So be it justice it can go its way;But if it be not justice —Lord Justice
Who is this?Count Bardi
A very noble gentleman, and well knownTo the late Duke.Lord Justice
Sir, thou art come in timeTo see the murder of the Duke avenged.There stands the man who did this heinous thing.Moranzone
My lord,I ask again what proof have ye?Lord Justice [holding up the dagger]
This dagger,Which from his blood-stained hands, itself all blood,Last night the soldiers seized: what further proofNeed we indeed?Moranzone [takes the danger and approaches the Duchess]
Saw I not such a daggerHang from your Grace’s girdle yesterday?[The Duchess shudders and makes no answer.]
Ah! my Lord Justice, may I speak a momentWith this young man, who in such peril stands?Lord Justice
Ay, willingly, my lord, and may you turn himTo make a full avowal of his guilt.[Lord Moranzone goes over to Guido, who stands R. and clutches him by the hand.]
Moranzone [in a low voice]
She did it! Nay, I saw it in her eyes.Boy, dost thou think I’ll let thy father’s sonBe by this woman butchered to his death?Her husband sold your father, and the wifeWould sell the son in turn.Guido
Lord Moranzone,I alone did this thing: be satisfied,My father is avenged.Lord Justice
Doth he confess?Guido
My lord, I do confessThat foul unnatural murder has been done.First Citizen
Why, look at that: he has a pitiful heart, and does not like murder; they will let him go for that.Lord Justice
Say you no more?Guido
My lord, I say this also,That to spill human blood is deadly sin.Second Citizen
Marry, he should tell that to the headsman: ’tis a good sentiment.Guido
Lastly, my lord, I do entreat the CourtTo give me leave to utter openlyThe dreadful secret of this mystery,And to point out the very guilty oneWho with this dagger last night slew the Duke.Lord Justice
Thou hast leave to speak.Duchess [rising]
I say he shall not speak:What need have we of further evidence?Was he not taken in the house at nightIn Guilt’s own bloody livery?Lord Justice [showing her the statute]
Your GraceCan read the law.Duchess [waiving book aside]
Bethink you, my Lord Justice,Is it not very like that such a oneMay, in the presence of the people here,Utter some slanderous word against my Lord,Against the city, or the city’s honour,Perchance against myself.Lord Justice
My liege, the law.Duchess
He shall not speak, but, with gags in his mouth,Shall climb the ladder to the bloody block.Lord Justice
The law, my liege.Duchess
We are not bound by law,But with it we bind others.Moranzone
My Lord Justice,Thou wilt not suffer this injustice here.Lord Justice
The Court needs not thy voice, Lord Moranzone.Madam, it were a precedent most evilTo wrest the law from its appointed course,For, though the cause be just, yet anarchyMight on this licence touch these golden scalesAnd unjust causes unjust victories gain.Count Bardi
I do not think your Grace can stay the law.Duchess
Ay, it is well to preach and prate of law:Methinks, my haughty lords of Padua,If ye are hurt in pocket or estate,So much as makes your monstrous revenuesLess by the value of one ferry toll,Ye do not wait the tedious law’s delayWith such sweet patience as ye counsel me.Count Bardi
Madam, I think you wrong our nobles here.Duchess
I think I wrong them not. Which of you allFinding a thief within his house at night,With some poor chattel thrust into his rags,Will stop and parley with him? do ye notGive him unto the officer and his hookTo be dragged gaolwards straightway?And so now,Had ye been men, finding this fellow here,With my Lord’s life still hot upon his hands,Ye would have haled him out into the court,And struck his head off with an axe.Guido
O God!Duchess
Speak, my Lord Justice.Lord Justice
Your Grace, it cannot be:The laws of Padua are most certain here:And by those laws the common murderer evenMay with his own lips plead, and make defence.Duchess
This is no common murderer, Lord Justice,But a great outlaw, and a most vile traitor,Taken in open arms against the state.For he who slays the man who rules a stateSlays the state also, widows every wife,And makes each child an orphan, and no lessIs to be held a public enemy,Than if he came with mighty ordonnance,And all the spears of Venice at his back,To beat and batter at our city gates —Nay, is more dangerous to our commonwealth,For walls and gates, bastions and forts, and thingsWhose common elements are wood and stoneMay be raised up, but who can raise againThe ruined body of my murdered lord,And bid it live and laugh?Maffio
Now by Saint PaulI do not think that they will let him speak.Jeppo Vitellozzo
There is much in this, listen.Duchess
Wherefore now,Throw ashes on the head of Padua,With sable banners hang each silent street,Let every man be clad in solemn black;But ere we turn to these sad rites of mourningLet us bethink us of the desperate handWhich wrought and brought this ruin on our state,And straightway pack him to that narrow house,Where no voice is, but with a little dustDeath fills right up the lying mouths of men.Guido
Unhand me, knaves! I tell thee, my Lord Justice,Thou mightst as well bid the untrammelled ocean,The winter whirlwind, or the Alpine storm,Not roar their will, as bid me hold my peace!Ay! though ye put your knives into my throat,Each grim and gaping wound shall find a tongue,And cry against you.Lord Justice
Sir, this violenceAvails you nothing; for save the tribunalGive thee a lawful right to open speech,Naught that thou sayest can be credited.[The Duchess smiles and Guido falls back with a gesture of despair.]
Madam, myself, and these wise Justices,Will with your Grace’s sanction now retireInto another chamber, to decideUpon this difficult matter of the law,And search the statutes and the precedents.Duchess
Go, my Lord Justice, search the statutes well,Nor let this brawling traitor have his way.Moranzone
Go, my Lord Justice, search thy conscience well,Nor let a man be sent to death unheard.[Exit the Lord Justice and the Judges.]
Duchess
Silence, thou evil genius of my life!Thou com’st between us two a second time;This time, my lord, I think the turn is mine.Guido
I shall not die till I have uttered voice.Duchess
Thou shalt die silent, and thy secret with thee.Guido
Art thou that Beatrice, Duchess of Padua?Duchess
I am what thou hast made me; look at me well,I am thy handiwork.Maffio
See, is she notLike that white tigress which we saw at Venice,Sent by some Indian soldan to the Doge?Jeppo
Hush! she may hear thy chatter.Headsman
My young fellow,I do not know why thou shouldst care to speak,Seeing my axe is close upon thy neck,And words of thine will never blunt its edge.But if thou art so bent upon it, whyThou mightest plead unto the Churchman yonder:The common people call him kindly here,Indeed I know he has a kindly soul.Guido
This man, whose trade is death, hath courtesiesMore than the others.Headsman
Why, God love you, sir,I’ll do you your last service on this earth.Guido
My good Lord Cardinal, in a Christian land,With Lord Christ’s face of mercy looking downFrom the high seat of Judgment, shall a manDie unabsolved, unshrived? And if not so,May I not tell this dreadful tale of sin,If any sin there be upon my soul?Duchess
Thou dost but waste thy time.Cardinal
Alack, my son,I have no power with the secular arm.My task begins when justice has been done,To urge the wavering sinner to repentAnd to confess to Holy Church’s earThe dreadful secrets of a sinful mind.Duchess
Thou mayest speak to the confessionalUntil thy lips grow weary of their tale,But here thou shalt not speak.Guido
My reverend father,You bring me but cold comfort.Cardinal
Nay, my son,For the great power of our mother Church,Ends not with this poor bubble of a world,Of which we are but dust, as Jerome saith,For if the sinner doth repentant die,Our prayers and holy masses much availTo bring the guilty soul from purgatory.Duchess
And when in purgatory thou seest my LordWith that red star of blood upon his heart,Tell him I sent thee hither.Guido
O dear God!Moranzone
This is the woman, is it, whom you loved?Cardinal
Your Grace is very cruel to this man.Duchess
No more than he was cruel to her Grace.Cardinal
Yet mercy is the sovereign right of princes.Duchess
I got no mercy, and I give it not.He hath changed my heart into a heart of stone,He hath sown rank nettles in a goodly field,He hath poisoned the wells of pity in my breast,He hath withered up all kindness at the root;My life is as some famine murdered land,Whence all good things have perished utterly:I am what he hath made me.[The Duchess weeps.]
Jeppo
Is it not strangeThat she should so have loved the wicked Duke?Maffio
It is most strange when women love their lords,And when they love them not it is most strange.Jeppo
What a philosopher thou art, Petrucci!Maffio
Ay! I can bear the ills of other men,Which is philosophy.Duchess
They tarry long,These greybeards and their council; bid them come;Bid them come quickly, else I think my heartWill beat itself to bursting: not indeed,That I here care to live; God knows my lifeIs not so full of joy, yet, for all that,I would not die companionless, or goLonely to Hell.Look, my Lord Cardinal,Canst thou not see across my forehead here,In scarlet letters writ, the word Revenge?Fetch me some water, I will wash it off:’Twas branded there last night, but in the day-timeI need not wear it, need I, my Lord Cardinal?Oh, how it sears and burns into my brain:Give me a knife; not that one, but another,And I will cut it out.Cardinal
It is most naturalTo be incensed against the murderous handThat treacherously stabbed your sleeping lord.Duchess
I would, old Cardinal, I could burn that hand;But it will burn hereafter.Cardinal
Nay, the ChurchOrdains us to forgive our enemies.Duchess
Forgiveness? what is that? I never got it.They come at last: well, my Lord Justice, well.[Enter the Lord Justice.]
Lord Justice
Most gracious Lady, and our sovereign Liege,We have long pondered on the point at issue,And much considered of your Grace’s wisdom,And never wisdom spake from fairer lips —Duchess
Proceed, sir, without compliment.Lord Justice
We find,As your own Grace did rightly signify,That any citizen, who by force or craftConspires against the person of the Liege,Is ipso facto outlaw, void of rightsSuch as pertain to other citizens,Is traitor, and a public enemy,Who may by any casual sword be slainWithout the slayer’s danger; nay, if broughtInto the presence of the tribunal,Must with dumb lips and silence reverentListen unto his well-deserved doom,Nor has the privilege of open speech.Duchess
I thank thee, my Lord Justice, heartily;I like your law: and now I pray dispatchThis public outlaw to his righteous doom;What is there more?Lord Justice
Ay, there is more, your Grace.This man being alien born, not Paduan,Nor by allegiance bound unto the Duke,Save such as common nature doth lay down,Hath, though accused of treasons manifold,Whose slightest penalty is certain death,Yet still the right of public utteranceBefore the people and the open court;Nay, shall be much entreated by the Court,To make some formal pleading for his life,Lest his own city, righteously incensed,Should with an unjust trial tax our state,And wars spring up against the commonwealth:So merciful are the laws of PaduaUnto the stranger living in her gates.Duchess
Being of my Lord’s household, is he stranger here?Lord Justice
Ay, until seven years of service spentHe cannot be a Paduan citizen.Guido
I thank thee, my Lord Justice, heartily;I like your law.Second Citizen
I like no law at all:Were there no law there’d be no law-breakers,So all men would be virtuous.First Citizen
So they would;’Tis a wise saying that, and brings you far.Tipstaff
Ay! to the gallows, knave.Duchess
Is this the law?Lord Justice
It is the law most certainly, my liege.Duchess
Show me the book: ’tis written in blood-red.Jeppo
Look at the Duchess.Duchess
Thou accursed law,I would that I could tear thee from the stateAs easy as I tear thee from this book.[Tears out the page.]
Come here, Count Bardi: are you honourable?Get a horse ready for me at my house,For I must ride to Venice instantly.Bardi
To Venice, Madam?Duchess
Not a word of this,Go, go at once. [Exit Count Bardi.]A moment, my Lord Justice.If, as thou sayest it, this is the law —Nay, nay, I doubt not that thou sayest right,Though right be wrong in such a case as this —May I not by the virtue of mine officeAdjourn this court until another day?Lord Justice
Madam, you cannot stay a trial for blood.Duchess
I will not tarry then to hear this manRail with rude tongue against our sacred person.Come, gentlemen.Lord Justice
My liege,You cannot leave this court until the prisonerBe purged or guilty of this dread offence.Duchess
Cannot, Lord Justice? By what right do youSet barriers in my path where I should go?Am I not Duchess here in Padua,And the state’s regent?Lord Justice
For that reason, Madam,Being the fountain-head of life and deathWhence, like a mighty river, justice flows,Without thy presence justice is dried upAnd fails of purpose: thou must tarry here.Duchess
What, wilt thou keep me here against my will?Lord Justice
We pray thy will be not against the law.Duchess
What if I force my way out of the court?Lord Justice
Thou canst not force the Court to give thee way.Duchess
I will not tarry. [Rises from her seat.]Lord Justice
Is the usher here?Let him stand forth. [Usher comes forward.]Thou knowest thy business, sir.[The Usher closes the doors of the court, which are L., and when the Duchess and her retinue approach, kneels down.]
Usher
In all humility I beseech your GraceTurn not my duty to discourtesy,Nor make my unwelcome office an offence.Duchess
Is there no gentleman amongst you allTo prick this prating fellow from our way?Maffio [drawing his sword]
Ay! that will I.Lord Justice
Count Maffio, have a care,And you, sir. [To Jeppo.]The first man who draws his swordUpon the meanest officer of this Court,Dies before nightfall.Duchess
Sirs, put up your swords:It is most meet that I should hear this man.[Goes back to throne.]
Moranzone
Now hast thou got thy enemy in thy hand.Lord Justice [taking the time-glass up]
Guido Ferranti, while the crumbling sandFalls through this time-glass, thou hast leave to speak.This and no more.Guido
It is enough, my lord.Lord Justice
Thou standest on the extreme verge of death;See that thou speakest nothing but the truth,Naught else will serve thee.Guido
If I speak it not,Then give my body to the headsman there.Lord Justice [turns the time-glass]
Let there be silence while the prisoner speaks.Tipstaff
Silence in the Court there.Guido
My Lords Justices,And reverent judges of this worthy court,I hardly know where to begin my tale,So strangely dreadful is this history.First, let me tell you of what birth I am.I am the son of that good Duke LorenzoWho was with damned treachery done to deathBy a most wicked villain, lately DukeOf this good town of Padua.Lord Justice