To 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 Church
Ordains 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 craft
Conspires against the person of the Liege,
Is ipso facto outlaw, void of rights
Such as pertain to other citizens,
Is traitor, and a public enemy,
Who may by any casual sword be slain
Without the slayer’s danger; nay, if brought
Into the presence of the tribunal,
Must with dumb lips and silence reverent
Listen 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 dispatch
This 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 utterance
Before 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 Padua
Unto 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 spent
He 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 state
As 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 office
Adjourn this court until another day?
LORD JUSTICE
Madam, you cannot stay a trial for blood.
DUCHESS
