The Duchess of Padua Part 22

Do you not hear, There is artillery in the Heaven to-night.

Vengeance is wakened up, and has unloosed His dogs upon the world, and in this matter Which lies between us two, let him who draws The thunder on his head beware the ruin Which the forked flame brings after.

[A flash of lightning followed by a peal of thunder.]

GUIDO

Away! away!

[Exit the d.u.c.h.eSS, who as she lifts the crimson curtain looks back for a moment at GUIDO, but he makes no sign. More thunder.]

Now is life fallen in ashes at my feet And n.o.ble love self-slain; and in its place Crept murder with its silent b.l.o.o.d.y feet.

And she who wrought it--Oh! and yet she loved me, And for my sake did do this dreadful thing.

I have been cruel to her: Beatrice!

Beatrice, I say, come back.

[Begins to ascend staircase, when the noise of Soldiers is heard.]

Ah! what is that?

Torches ablaze, and noise of hurrying feet.

Pray G.o.d they have not seized her.

[Noise grows louder.]

Beatrice!

There is yet time to escape. Come down, come out!

[The voice of the d.u.c.h.eSS 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 d.u.c.h.eSS 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 III.

ACT IV

SCENE

The 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 d.u.c.h.ess: 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