blessed in that? Why, povertyIs one of the Christian virtues,
[Turns to the CARDINAL.]
Is it not?
I know, Lord Cardinal, you have great revenues,
Rich abbey-lands, and tithes, and large estates
For preaching voluntary poverty.
DUCHESS
Nay but, my lord the Duke, be generous;
While we sit here within a noble 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
God 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.
CARDINAL
True, it is Christian to bear misery,
Yet it is Christian also to be kind,
And there seem many evils in this town,
Which in your wisdom might your Grace reform.
FIRST CITIZEN What is that word reform? What does it mean?
SECOND CITIZEN Marry, it means leaving things as they are; I like it not.
DUKE
Reform Lord Cardinal, did you say reform?
There is a man in Germany called Luther,
Who would reform the Holy Catholic Church.
Have you not made him heretic, and uttered
Anathema, maranatha, against him?
CARDINAL [rising from his seat]
He would have led the sheep out of the fold,
We do but ask of you to feed the sheep.
DUKE
When I have shorn their fleeces I may feed them.
As for these rebels -
[DUCHESS entreats him.]
FIRST CITIZEN
That is a kind word,
He means to give us something.
SECOND CITIZEN Is that so?
DUKE
These ragged knaves who come before us here,
With mouths chock-full of treason.
THIRD CITIZEN
Good my Lord,
Fill up our mouths with bread; we’ll hold our tongues.
DUKE
Ye shall hold your tongues, whether you starve or not.
My lords, this age is so familiar grown,
That the low peasant hardly doffs his hat,
Unless you beat him; and the raw mechanic
Elbows the noble in the public streets.
[To the Citizens.]
Still as our gentle Duchess has so prayed us,
And to refuse so beautiful a beggar
Were to lack both courtesy and love,
Touching your grievances, I promise this -
FIRST CITIZEN Marry, he will lighten the taxes!
SECOND CITIZEN Or a dole of bread, think you, for each man?
DUKE
That, on next Sunday, the Lord Cardinal
Shall, after Holy Mass, preach you a sermon
Upon the Beauty of Obedience.
[Citizens murmur.]
FIRST CITIZEN I’ faith, that will not fill our stomachs!
SECOND CITIZEN
A sermon is but a sorry sauce, when
You have nothing to eat with it.
DUCHESS
Poor people,
You see I have no power with the Duke,
But if you go into the court without,
My almoner shall from my private purse,
Divide a hundred ducats ‘mongst you all.
FIRST CITIZEN God save the Duchess, say I.
SECOND CITIZEN God save her.
DUCHESS
And every Monday morn shall bread be set
For those
