Oscar Wilde - The Duchess of Padua

Why, God save the Duchess again!

Come hither, fellow! what is your name?

Dominick, sir.

A good name! Why were you called Dominick?

Marry, because I was born on St. George’s day.

A good reason! here is a ducat for you!
Will you not cry for me God save the Duke?

God save the Duke.

Nay! louder, fellow, louder.

God save the Duke!

More lustily, fellow, put more heart in it!
Here is another ducat for you.

God save the Duke!

Why, gentlemen, this simple fellow’s love
Touches me much. [ To the Citizen , harshly .]
Go! [ Exit Citizen , bowing .]
This is the way, my lords,
You can buy popularity nowadays.
Oh, we are nothing if not democratic!

Well, Madam,
You spread rebellion ’midst our citizens.

My Lord, the poor have rights you cannot touch,
The right to pity, and the right to mercy.

So, so, you argue with me? This is she,
The gentle Duchess for whose hand I yielded
Three of the fairest towns in Italy,
Pisa, and Genoa, and Orvieto.

Promised, my Lord, not yielded: in that matter
Brake you your word as ever.

You wrong us, Madam,
There were state reasons.

What state reasons are there
For breaking holy promises to a state?

There are wild boars at Pisa in a forest
Close to the city: when I promised Pisa
Unto your noble and most trusting father,
I had forgotten there was hunting there.
At Genoa they say,
Indeed I doubt them not, that the red mullet
Runs larger in the harbour of that town
Than anywhere in Italy.

You, my lord,
Whose gluttonous appetite is your only god,
Could satisfy our Duchess on that point.

And Orvieto?

I cannot now recall
Why I did not surrender Orvieto
According to the word of my contract.
Maybe it was because I did not choose.

Why look you, Madam, you are here alone;
’Tis many a dusty league to your grey France,
And even there your father barely keeps
A hundred ragged squires for his Court.
What hope have you, I say? Which of these lords
And noble gentlemen of Padua
Stands by your side.

There is not one.

Nor shall be,
While I am Duke in Padua: listen, Madam,
Being mine own, you shall do as I will,
And if it be my will you keep the house,
Why then, this palace shall your prison be;
And if it be my will you walk abroad,
Why, you shall take the air from morn to night.

Sir, by what right – ?

Madam, my second Duchess