soldier
They say the Duchess wanted to pardon him.
first soldier
Is that so?
second soldier
Ay, and did much entreat the Lord Justice, but he would not.
first soldier
I had thought, Pietro, that the Duchess was omnipotent.
second soldier
True, she is well-favoured; I know none so comely.
the soldiers
Ha! ha! ha!
·156· first soldier
I meant I had thought our Duchess could do anything.
second soldier
Nay, for he is now given over to the Justices, and they will see that justice be done; they and stout Hugh the headsman; but when his head is off, why then the Duchess can pardon him if she likes; there is no law against that.
first soldier
I do not think that stout Hugh, as you call him, will do the business for him after all. This Guido is of gentle birth, and so by the law can drink poison first, if it so be his pleasure.
third soldier
And if he does not drink it?
first soldier
Why, then, they will kill him.
[Knocking comes at the door.]
first soldier
See who that is.
[Third Soldier goes over and looks through the wicket.]
·157· third soldier
It is a woman, sir.
first soldier
Is she pretty?
third soldier
I can’t tell. She is masked, lieutenant.
first soldier
It is only very ugly or very beautiful women who ever hide their faces. Let her in.
[Soldier opens the door, and the Duchess masked and cloaked enters.]
duchess [to Third Soldier]
Are you the officer on guard?
first soldier [coming forward]
I am, madam.
duchess
I must see the prisoner alone.
first soldier
I am afraid that is impossible. [The Duchess hands him a ring, he looks at and returns it to her with a bow and makes a sign to the Soldiers.] Stand without there. [Exeunt the Soldiers.]
·158· duchess
Officer, your men are somewhat rough.
first soldier
They mean no harm.
duchess
I shall be going back in a few minutes. As I pass through the corridor do not let them try and lift my mask.
first soldier
You need not be afraid, madam.
duchess
I have a particular reason for wishing my face not to be seen.
first soldier
Madam, with this ring you can go in and out as you please; it is the Duchess’s own ring.
duchess
Leave us. [The Soldier turns to go out.] A moment, sir. For what hour is …
first soldier
At twelve o’clock, madam, we have orders to lead him out; but I dare say he won’t wait for ·159· us; he’s more like to take a drink out of that poison yonder. Men are afraid of the headsman.
duchess
Is that poison?
first soldier
Ay, madam, and very sure poison too.
duchess
You may go, sir.
first soldier
By Saint James, a pretty hand! I wonder who she is. Some woman who loved him, perhaps. [Exit.]
duchess [taking her mask off]
At last!
He can escape now in this cloak and vizard,
We are of a height almost: they will not know him;
As for myself what matter?
So that he does not curse me as he goes,
I care but little: I wonder will he curse me.
He has the right. It is eleven now;
They will not come till twelve.
[Goes over to the table.]
·160· So this is poison.
Is it not strange that in this liquor here
There lies the key to all philosophies?
[Takes the cup up.]
It smells of poppies. I remember well
That, when I was a child in Sicily,
I took the scarlet poppies from the corn,
And made a little wreath, and my grave uncle,
Don John of Naples, laughed: I did not know
That they had power to stay the springs of life,
To make the pulse cease beating, and to chill
The blood in its own vessels, till men come
And
