The Duchess of Padua Part 8

GUIDO

[rushes to the window]

The d.u.c.h.ess has gone forth into the square, And stands between the people and the guard, And will not let them shoot.

DUKE

The devil take her!

GUIDO

[still at the window]

And followed by a dozen of the citizens Has come into the Palace.

DUKE

[starting up]

By Saint James, Our d.u.c.h.ess waxes bold!

BARDI

Here comes the d.u.c.h.ess.

DUKE

Shut that door there; this morning air is cold.

[They close the door on the corridor.]

[Enter the d.u.c.h.ess followed by a crowd of meanly dressed Citizens.]

d.u.c.h.eSS

[flinging herself upon her knees]

I do beseech your Grace to give us audience.

DUKE

What are these grievances?

d.u.c.h.eSS

Alas, my Lord, Such common things as neither you nor I, Nor any of these n.o.ble gentlemen, Have ever need at all to think about; They say the bread, the very bread they eat, Is made of sorry chaff.

FIRST CITIZEN

Ay! so it is, Nothing but chaff.

DUKE

And very good food too, I give it to my horses.

d.u.c.h.eSS

[restraining herself]

They say the water, Set in the public cisterns for their use, [Has, through the breaking of the aqueduct,]

To stagnant pools and muddy puddles turned.

DUKE

They should drink wine; water is quite unwholesome.

SECOND CITIZEN

Alack, your Grace, the taxes which the customs Take at the city gate are grown so high We cannot buy wine.

DUKE

Then you should bless the taxes Which make you temperate.

d.u.c.h.eSS

Think, while we sit In gorgeous pomp and state, gaunt poverty Creeps through their sunless lanes, and with sharp knives Cuts the warm throats of children stealthily And no word said.

THIRD CITIZEN

Ay! marry, that is true, My little son died yesternight from hunger; He was but six years old; I am so poor, I cannot bury him.

DUKE

If you are poor, Are you not blessed in that? Why, poverty Is one of the Christian virtues, [Turns to the CARDINAL.]

Is it not?

I know, Lord Cardinal, you have great revenues, Rich abbey-lands, and t.i.thes, and large estates For preaching voluntary poverty.

d.u.c.h.eSS

Nay but, my lord the Duke, be generous; While we sit here within a n.o.ble house [With shaded porticoes against the sun, And walls and roofs to keep the winter out], There are many citizens of Padua Who in vile tenements live so full of holes, That the chill rain, the snow, and the rude blast, Are tenants also with them; others sleep Under the arches of the public bridges All through the autumn nights, till the wet mist Stiffens their limbs, and fevers come, and so -

DUKE

And so they go to Abraham's bosom, Madam.

They should thank me for sending them to Heaven, If they are wretched here.

[To the CARDINAL.]

Is it not said Somewhere in Holy Writ, that every man Should be contented with that state of life G.o.d calls him to? Why should I change their state, Or meddle with an all-wise providence, Which has apportioned that some men should starve, And others surfeit? I did not make the world.

FIRST CITIZEN

He hath a hard heart.

SECOND CITIZEN

Nay, be silent, neighbour; I think the Cardinal will speak for us.