for the Lord Justice of Padua!
[The Lord Justice is seen through the grated window passing down the corridor preceded by men bearing torches.]
duchess
It is too late.
a voice outside
Room for the headsman.
duchess [sinks down]
Oh!
[The Headsman with his axe on his shoulder is seen passing the corridor, followed by Monks bearing candles.]
guido
Farewell, dear love, for I must drink this poison.
I do not fear the headsman, but I would die
·174· Not on the lonely scaffold.
But here,
Here in thine arms, kissing thy mouth: farewell!
[Goes to the table and takes the goblet up.] What, art thou empty?
[Throws it to the ground.]
O thou churlish gaoler,
Even of poisons niggard!
duchess [faintly]
Blame him not.
guido
O God! you have not drunk it, Beatrice?
Tell me you have not?
duchess
Were I to deny it,
There is a fire eating at my heart
Which would find utterance.
guido
O treacherous love,
Why have you not left a drop for me?
duchess
No, no, it held but death enough for one.
·175· guido
Is there no poison still upon your lips,
That I may draw it from them?
duchess
Why should you die?
You have not spilt blood, and so need not die:
I have spilt blood, and therefore I must die.
Was it not said blood should be spilt for blood?
Who said that? I forget.
guido
Tarry for me,
Our souls will go together.
duchess
Nay, you must live.
There are many other women in the world
Who will love you, and not murder for your sake.
guido
I love you only.
duchess
You need not die for that.
·176· guido
Ah, if we die together, love, why then
Can we not lie together in one grave?
duchess
A grave is but a narrow wedding-bed.
guido
It is enough for us
duchess
And they will strew it
With a stark winding-sheet, and bitter herbs:
I think there are no roses in the grave,
Or if there are, they all are withered now
Since my Lord went there.
guido
Ah! dear Beatrice,
Your lips are roses that death cannot wither.
duchess
Nay, if we lie together, will not my lips
Fall into dust, and your enamoured eyes
Shrivel to sightless sockets, and the worms,
Which are our groomsmen, eat away your heart?
·177· guido
I do not care: Death has no power on love.
And so by Love’s immortal sovereignty
I will die with you.
duchess
But the grave is black,
And the pit black, so I must go before
To light the candles for your coming hither.
No, no, I will not die, I will not die.
Love, you are strong, and young, and very brave;
Stand between me and the angel of death,
And wrestle with him for me.
[Thrusts Guido in front of her with his back to the audience.]
I will kiss you,
When you have thrown him. Oh, have you no cordial,
To stay the workings of this poison in me?
Are there no rivers left in Italy
That you will not fetch me one cup of water
To quench this fire?
guido
O God!
·178· duchess
You did not tell me
There was a drought in Italy, and no water:
