Nay, 'tis for the Duchess.
[Enter the DUCHESS in black velvet; her train of flowered black velvet is carried by two pages in violet; with her is the CARDINAL in scarlet, and the gentlemen of the Court in black; she takes her seat on the throne above the Judges, who rise and take their caps off as she enters; the CARDINAL sits next to her a little lower; the Courtiers group themselves about the throne.]
SECOND CITIZEN
O poor lady, how pale she is! Will she sit there?
FIRST CITIZEN
Ay! she is in the Duke's place now.
SECOND CITIZEN
That is a good thing for Padua; the Duchess is a very kind and merciful Duchess; why, she cured my child of the ague once.
THIRD CITIZEN
Ay, and has given us bread: do not forget the bread.
A SOLDIER
Stand back, good people.
SECOND CITIZEN
If we be good, why should we stand back?
TIPSTAFF
Silence in the Court!
LORD JUSTICE
May it please your Grace, Is it your pleasure we proceed to trial Of the Duke's murder? [DUCHESS bows.]
Set the prisoner forth.
What is thy name?
GUIDO
It matters not, my lord.
LORD JUSTICE
Guido Ferranti is thy name in Padua.
GUIDO
A man may die as well under that name as any other.
LORD JUSTICE
Thou art not ignorant What dreadful charge men lay against thee here, Namely, the treacherous murder of thy Lord, Simone Gesso, Duke of Padua;
What dost thou say in answer?
GUIDO
I say nothing.
LORD JUSTICE
[rising]
Guido Ferranti -
MORANZONE
[stepping from the crowd]
Tarry, my Lord Justice.
LORD JUSTICE
Who art thou that bid'st justice tarry, sir?
MORANZONE
So be it justice it can go its way;
But if it be not justice -
LORD JUSTICE
Who is this?
COUNT BARDI
A very noble gentleman, and well known To the late Duke.
LORD JUSTICE
Sir, thou art come in time To see the murder of the Duke avenged.
There stands the man who did this heinous thing.
MORANZONE
My lord, I ask again what proof have ye?
LORD JUSTICE
[holding up the dagger]
This dagger, Which from his blood-stained hands, itself all blood, Last night the soldiers seized: what further proof Need we indeed?
MORANZONE
[takes the danger and approaches the DUCHESS]
Saw I not such a dagger Hang from your Grace's girdle yesterday?
[The DUCHESS shudders and makes no answer.]
Ah! my Lord Justice, may I speak a moment With this young man, who in such peril stands?
LORD JUSTICE
Ay, willingly, my lord, and may you turn him To make a full avowal of his guilt.
[LORD MORANZONE goes over to GUIDO, who stands R. and clutches him by the hand.]
MORANZONE
[in a low voice]
She did it! Nay, I saw it in her eyes.
Boy, dost thou think I'll let thy father's son Be by this woman butchered to his death?
Her husband sold your father, and the wife Would sell the son in turn.
GUIDO
Lord Moranzone, I alone did this thing: be satisfied, My father is avenged.
LORD JUSTICE
Doth he confess?
GUIDO
My lord, I do confess That foul unnatural murder has been done.
FIRST CITIZEN
Why, look at that: he has a pitiful heart, and does not like murder; they will let him go for that.
LORD JUSTICE
Say you no more?
GUIDO
My lord, I say this also, That to spill human blood is deadly sin.
SECOND CITIZEN
Marry, he should tell that to the headsman: 'tis a good sentiment.
GUIDO
Lastly, my lord, I do entreat the Court To give me leave to utter openly The dreadful secret of this mystery, And to point out the very guilty one Who with this dagger last night slew the Duke.
LORD JUSTICE
Thou hast leave to speak.
DUCHESS
[rising]
I say he shall not speak:
What need have we of further evidence?
Was he not taken in the house at night In Guilt's own bloody livery?
LORD JUSTICE
[showing her the statute]
Your Grace Can read the law.
DUCHESS
[waiving book aside]
Bethink you, my Lord Justice, Is it not very like that such a one May, in the presence of the people here, Utter some slanderous word against my Lord, Against the city, or the city's honour, Perchance against myself.
LORD JUSTICE
My liege, the law.
DUCHESS
He shall not speak, but, with gags in his mouth, Shall climb the ladder to the bloody block.
LORD JUSTICE
The law, my liege.
DUCHESS
We are not bound by law, But with it we bind others.
MORANZONE
My Lord Justice, Thou wilt not suffer this injustice here.
LORD JUSTICE
The Court needs not thy voice, Lord Moranzone.
Madam, it were a precedent most evil To wrest the law from its appointed course, For, though the cause be just, yet anarchy Might on this licence touch these golden scales And unjust causes unjust victories gain.
COUNT BARDI
I do not think your Grace can stay the law.
DUCHESS
Ay, it is well to preach and prate of law:
Methinks, my haughty lords of Padua, If ye are hurt in pocket or estate, So much as makes your monstrous revenues Less by the value of one ferry toll, Ye do not wait the tedious law's delay With such sweet patience as ye counsel me.
COUNT BARDI
Madam, I think you wrong our nobles here.
DUCHESS
I think I wrong them not. Which of you all Finding a thief within his house at night, With some poor chattel thrust into his rags, Will stop and parley with him? do ye not Give him unto the officer and his hook To be dragged gaolwards straightway?
And so now, Had ye been men, finding this fellow here, With my Lord's life still hot upon his hands, Ye would have haled him out into the court, And struck his head off with an axe.
GUIDO
O God!
DUCHESS
Speak, my Lord Justice.
LORD JUSTICE
Your Grace, it cannot be:
The laws of Padua are most certain here:
And by those laws the common murderer even May with his own lips plead, and make defence.
DUCHESS
This is no common murderer, Lord Justice, But a great outlaw, and a most vile traitor, Taken in open arms against the state.
For he who slays the man who rules a state Slays the state also, widows every wife, And makes each child an orphan, and no less Is to be held a public enemy, Than if he came with mighty ordonnance, And all the spears of Venice at his back, To beat and batter at our city gates -
Nay, is more dangerous to our commonwealth, For walls and gates, bastions and forts, and things Whose common elements are wood and stone May be raised up, but who can raise again The ruined body of my murdered lord, And bid it live and laugh?
MAFFIO