The Duchess of Padua Part 27

COUNT BARDI

Madam, I think you wrong our n.o.bles here.

d.u.c.h.eSS

I think I wrong them not. Which of you all Finding a thief within his house at night, With some poor chattel thrust into his rags, Will stop and parley with him? do ye not Give him unto the officer and his hook To 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 G.o.d!

d.u.c.h.eSS

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 even May with his own lips plead, and make defence.

d.u.c.h.eSS

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 state Slays the state also, widows every wife, And makes each child an orphan, and no less Is 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 things Whose common elements are wood and stone May be raised up, but who can raise again The ruined body of my murdered lord, And bid it live and laugh?

MAFFIO

Now by Saint Paul I do not think that they will let him speak.

JEPPO VITELLOZZO

There is much in this, listen.

d.u.c.h.eSS

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 mourning Let us bethink us of the desperate hand Which wrought and brought this ruin on our state, And straightway pack him to that narrow house, Where no voice is, but with a little dust Death 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 violence Avails you nothing; for save the tribunal Give thee a lawful right to open speech, Naught that thou sayest can be credited.

[The d.u.c.h.eSS smiles and GUIDO falls back with a gesture of despair.]

Madam, myself, and these wise Justices, Will with your Grace's sanction now retire Into another chamber, to decide Upon this difficult matter of the law, And search the statutes and the precedents.

d.u.c.h.eSS

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.]

d.u.c.h.eSS

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.

d.u.c.h.eSS

Thou shalt die silent, and thy secret with thee.

GUIDO

Art thou that Beatrice, d.u.c.h.ess of Padua?

d.u.c.h.eSS

I am what thou hast made me; look at me well, I am thy handiwork.

MAFFIO

See, is she not Like 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, why Thou 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 courtesies More than the others.

HEADSMAN

Why, G.o.d love you, sir, I'll do you your last service on this earth.