The Duchess of Padua Part 19

I do not know, my lord, I did not give it, and I dare not take it.

MORANZONE

I do not thank G.o.d often; but I think I thank him now that I have got no son!

And you, what b.a.s.t.a.r.d blood flows in your veins That when you have your enemy in your grasp You let him go! I would that I had left you With the dull hinds that reared you.

GUIDO

Better perhaps That you had done so! May be better still I'd not been born to this distressful world.

MORANZONE

Farewell!

GUIDO

Farewell! Some day, Lord Moranzone, You will understand my vengeance.

MORANZONE

Never, boy.

[Gets out of window and exit by rope ladder.]

GUIDO

Father, I think thou knowest my resolve, And with this n.o.bler vengeance art content.

Father, I think in letting this man live That I am doing what thou wouldst have done.

Father, I know not if a human voice Can pierce the iron gateway of the dead, Or if the dead are set in ignorance Of what we do, or do not, for their sakes.

And yet I feel a presence in the air, There is a shadow standing at my side, And ghostly kisses seem to touch my lips, And leave them holier. [Kneels down.]

O father, if 'tis thou, Canst thou not burst through the decrees of death, And if corporeal semblance show thyself, That I may touch thy hand!

No, there is nothing. [Rises.]

'Tis the night that cheats us with its phantoms, And, like a puppet-master, makes us think That things are real which are not. It grows late.

Now must I to my business.

[Pulls out a letter from his doublet and reads it.]

When he wakes, And sees this letter, and the dagger with it, Will he not have some loathing for his life, Repent, perchance, and lead a better life, Or will he mock because a young man spared His natural enemy? I do not care.

Father, it is thy bidding that I do, Thy bidding, and the bidding of my love Which teaches me to know thee as thou art.

[Ascends staircase stealthily, and just as he reaches out his hand to draw back the curtain the d.u.c.h.ess appears all in white. GUIDO starts back.]

d.u.c.h.eSS

Guido! what do you here so late?

GUIDO

O white and spotless angel of my life, Sure thou hast come from Heaven with a message That mercy is more n.o.ble than revenge?

d.u.c.h.eSS

There is no barrier between us now.

GUIDO

None, love, nor shall be.

d.u.c.h.eSS

I have seen to that.

GUIDO

Tarry here for me.

d.u.c.h.eSS

No, you are not going?

You will not leave me as you did before?

GUIDO

I will return within a moment's s.p.a.ce, But first I must repair to the Duke's chamber, And leave this letter and this dagger there, That when he wakes -

d.u.c.h.eSS

When who wakes?

GUIDO

Why, the Duke.

d.u.c.h.eSS

He will not wake again.

GUIDO

What, is he dead?

d.u.c.h.eSS

Ay! he is dead.

GUIDO

O G.o.d! how wonderful Are all thy secret ways! Who would have said That on this very night, when I had yielded Into thy hands the vengeance that is thine, Thou with thy finger wouldst have touched the man, And bade him come before thy judgment seat.

d.u.c.h.eSS

I have just killed him.