A to Z Classics - Complete Works Of Oscar Wilde (Best Navigation) (A to Z Classics)

·155· third soldier

Ay, that is true. How old is the prisoner?

second soldier

Old enough to do wrong, and not old enough to be wise.

first soldier

Why, then, he might be any age.

second 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 with a hook hale the poor body out,

And throw it in a ditch: the body, ay,—

What of the soul? that goes to heaven or hell.

Where will mine go?

[ Takes the torch from the wall, and goes over to the bed .]

How peacefully here he sleeps,

Like a young schoolboy tired out with play:

I would that I could sleep so peacefully,

But I have dreams. [ Bending over him .]

Poor boy: what if I kissed him?

No, no, my lips would burn him like a fire.

·161· He has had enough of Love. Still that white neck

Will ’scape the headsman: I have seen to that:

He will get hence from Padua to-night,

And that is well. You are very wise, Lord Justices,

And yet you are not half so wise as I am,

And that is well.

O God! how I have loved you,

And what a bloody flower did Love bear!

[ Comes back to the table .]

What if I drank these juices, and so ceased?

Were it not better than to wait till Death

Come to my bed with all his serving men,

Remorse, disease, old age, and misery?

I wonder does one suffer much: I think

That I am very young to die like this,

But so it must be. Why, why should I die?

He will escape to-night, and so his blood

Will not be on my head. No, I must die;

I have been guilty, therefore I must die;

He loves me not, and therefore I must die:

I would die happier if he would kiss me,

But he will not do that. I did not know him.

·162· I thought he meant to sell me to the Judge;

That is not strange; we women never know

Our lovers till they leave us.

[ Bell begins to toll ]

Thou vile bell,

That like a bloodhound from thy brazen throat

Call’st for this man’s life, cease! thou shalt not get it.

He stirs—I must be quick: [ Takes up cup .]

O Love, Love, Love,

I did not think that I would pledge thee thus!

[ Drinks poison, and sets the cup down on the table behind her: the noise wakens Guido, who starts up, and does not see what she has done. There is silence for a minute, each looking at the other .]

I do not come to ask your pardon now,

Seeing I know I stand beyond all pardon;

Enough of that: I have already, sir,

Confessed my sin to the Lords Justices;

They would not listen to me: and some said

I did invent a tale to save your life;

You have trafficked with me; others said

That women played with pity as with men;

Others that grief for my slain Lord and husband

·163· Had robbed me of my wits: they would not hear me,

And, when I sware it on the holy book,

They bade the doctor cure me. They are ten,

Ten against one, and they possess your life.

They call me Duchess here in Padua.

I do not know, sir; if I be the Duchess,

I wrote your pardon, and they would not take it;

They call it treason, say I taught them that;

Maybe I did. Within an hour, Guido,

They will be here, and drag you from the cell,

And bind your hands behind your back, and bid you

Kneel at the block: I am before them there;

Here is the signet ring of Padua,

’Twill bring you safely through the men on guard;

There is my cloak and vizard; they have orders

Not to be curious: when you pass the gate

Turn to the left, and at the second bridge

You will find horses waiting: by to-morrow

You will be at Venice, safe. [ A pause .]

Do you not speak?

Will you not even curse me ere you go?—